The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

Supplying the army with winter clothes for soldiers, if they are to be equipped, the court will have to pay for it.

Every copper coin in the treasury is strictly watched by the people in the Ministry of Revenue.

As an emperor, he cannot spend more money.

If the price of cotton is high, wouldn’t that cost the lives of the people in the Ministry of Revenue?

If it is distributed to the army, the quantity will not be small.

Even if a single winter coat is cheap, the number of soldiers is there.

You can’t say that you give it to this one and not to that one, isn’t that provoking trouble?

While the two were talking, the eunuch outside hurried in.

Bowed.

“Your Majesty, there is news from the Pei family that Minister Pei is seriously ill and is about to die.”

“What?!” Li Shimin widened his eyes.

Li Fu also had an expression of disbelief on his face.

He invited this old man to Pingkangfang two years ago.

Why is he seriously ill?

“Wasn’t he fine before?” Li Fu asked.

"Shangshu Pei is old. Although he was in good spirits before, his health has been failing since last winter." Li Shimin said, "Last year, when we went to the prairie, there were many things in the Ministry of Revenue, which were very complicated. He had always been in charge of the Ministry of Revenue himself. He was exhausted once. I asked him to go back and have a good rest, but he was stubborn and refused."

Pei Ju was over 80 years old.

When a war breaks out, the entire Ministry of Revenue has to work around the clock, with food, military pay, and all kinds of supplies.

Once it gets busy, it's really not something an old man in his 80s can handle.

Li Shimin asked him to rest, but he didn't rest.

"Huairen, come with me to Pei's house to see him." Li Shimin looked serious.

"Okay." Li Fu responded.

Li Shimin asked Wang De to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau to deliver an oral order, asking them to go to Pei's house.

The two rode to Pei's house.

When walking out of the palace, Li Fu asked.

"It stands to reason that Minister Pei is so old that he should know his health. Why is he so stubborn and refuses to rest?" Li Fu wondered.

"Speaking of which, Pei Ju has been dealing with the Turks for his entire life." Li Shimin explained, "Perhaps he also thought that he could see the Tang Dynasty pacify the Turks in his lifetime."

"The relationship between him and the grasslands is very long."

"During the pre-Sui Dynasty, the Turks were very powerful. Princess Dayi, the wife of Dulan Khan at that time, was a member of the royal family of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Therefore, the Turks on the grasslands often invaded the borders of the Sui Dynasty. In the 13th year of Kaihuang, Princess Dayi had an affair with her followers and was exposed by Changsun Sheng. Pei Ju took the opportunity to request to be an envoy to the Turks to persuade Dulan Khan to kill Princess Dayi. , and later, Princess Dayi was killed.

"If we say that Changsun Sheng split the Turks, Pei Ju also contributed a lot."

"The grievances between the Central Plains and the grasslands did not start in the pre-Sui and Tang dynasties."

"When Qimin Khan was in charge of the Turks, Pei Ju also went to the grasslands and met Qimin Khan."

"When Emperor Yang of Sui was in power, Pei Ju managed the Western Regions and persuaded Tiele to send troops to attack Tuyuhun. Tuyuhun was defeated, and Khan Fuyun sent an envoy to the Sui Dynasty to surrender."

When Li Fu heard Li Shimin talk about Pei Ju's youth, he kept saying "Wow" in his heart.

This old man is a great man.

When we drank together, I didn't hear him bragging about his youth even though I was drunk.

Pacified Lingnan, conquered the Turks, managed the Western Regions, followed the expedition to Liaodong, and led the Northern Frontier.

He traveled all over the east, west, south and north.

He lived to be over eighty.

If he had not been forced to participate in the pacification of the Turks, he might have lived longer if he had taken some time off at his post and recuperated.

"When forty countries in the Western Regions surrendered to the Sui Dynasty and expanded the territory by thousands of miles, Pei Ju made an indelible contribution. His contribution to the communication between China and the West was comparable to that of Zhang Qian." Li Shimin sighed, "You can take a look at the "Records of the Western Regions" he compiled. Maybe there is something you are interested in."

The two came to the horses and got on the horses.

Then he whipped the horses and rushed towards the Pei family.

And Li Fu wrote down the name "Records of the Western Regions".

This time, Li Shimin and Li Fu left the palace to the Pei family, and they only brought a few guards, so they walked fast.

In less than a quarter of an hour, they had arrived at the door of the Pei family.

After getting off the horse, he threw the reins to the guards.

Walked to the front door of the Pei family.

The doorman recognized Li Shimin, bowed in a hurry, and then ran all the way in to report.

Pei Xuanji, the son of Pei Ju, hurried out of the inner house to greet Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Li Shimin raised his hand.

"How is your father?" Li Shimin asked, "I came to see him."

"Father, he has been bedridden for some time. In the past two days, his condition has been particularly serious. Many doctors have been invited to come, but they only prescribed medicine, but there is no improvement.. "Pei Xuanji said.

"Come here." Li Shimin called out to the person behind him: "Go and urge the people from the Imperial Medical Bureau."

"Yes." The guard bowed in response.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Pei Xuanji bowed again.

"Didn't I ask the people from the Imperial Medical Bureau to come before? What did they say?" Li Shimin asked Pei Xuanji as he walked towards Pei Ju's residence.

"My father's condition was not so serious before. The people from the Imperial Medical Bureau said that my father was overworked. He was old and his body was not as strong as before. They prescribed medicine to regulate his body, but later...it got worse and worse." Pei Xuanji said.

"Minister Pei has worked hard for the court all his life. Alas." Li Shimin sighed heavily.

"It's also because my father is too old. "Pei Xuanji echoed.

It is rare for a person to live to 70 years old. Living to more than 80 years old is a great blessing even in the eyes of family members.

Arriving at Pei Ju's bedroom, Li Shimin walked to Pei Ju's bed.

Pei Ju was not asleep at this moment, so he lay on the bed with his eyes open, looking extremely weak.

"My dear Pei." Li Shimin came forward, sat beside the bed, and took Pei Ju's hand.

"Your Majesty..." Pei Ju saw Li Shimin coming, forced himself to cheer up a little, and also held Li Shimin's hand.

"I am afraid that I am...I am afraid that I can't do it. "Pei Ju said with difficulty.

"Pei Aiqing, don't say such discouraging words. I have sent people from the Imperial Medical Bureau to come. By the way, there is also Taoist Sun Simiao. He will also come to Chang'an. You have to hold on. When Taoist Sun comes, he will definitely..."

Pei Ju shook Li Shimin's hand vigorously, staring, and interrupted Li Shimin's words.

"Your Majesty."

Li Shimin stared at Pei Ju in a daze, with a bit of sadness on his face.

"I know my body. It's enough to live to this age."

"I am content to see your majesty pacify the Turks."

While speaking, Pei Ji seemed to be in a much better spirit.

"I have some words to say to your majesty."

"This is also the last chance for me to advise your majesty."

Li Shimin's eyes were slightly red.

"My dear, you speak, and I listen. ”

The emperor and his minister held each other's hands tightly.

"Your Majesty is wise and broad-minded, so the ministers in the court dare to offend the emperor and dare to make honest remonstrations. If the court continues to be like this in the future, there will be no worries about the country being governed. ”

"I have experienced four dynasties in my life, Qi, Zhou, Sui, and Tang. The rise and fall of dynasties depends on the emperor and the ministers in the court. The previous dynasty fell, and Your Majesty was always vigilant. ”

“During the pre-Sui Dynasty, forty countries in the Western Regions submitted to the Sui Dynasty and respected Emperor Yang of Sui as the Holy Khan. Now, twenty-nine countries in the Western Regions have submitted to the Tang Dynasty and respected Your Majesty as the Heavenly Khan. However, the Tang Dynasty must not follow the example of the pre-Sui Dynasty, which had continuous exchanges with the various Hu people in the Western Regions, and wasted millions of dollars in the counties it passed through, causing the Central Plains to be exhausted and even destroyed. This is a mistake I have made. Your Majesty, you should take it as a warning... cough cough cough cough cough..."

After saying so much, Pei Ji's spirit was about to collapse.

But he still used all his strength to hold Li Shimin's hand tightly. He wanted to see Li Shimin promised himself.

Never make the same mistake that has happened before.

Do not be too ambitious for the title of "Heavenly Khan" and treat the Western Regions with all kinds of preferential treatment, which will damage the interests of the court.

Surface work and face issues are secondary to the lives of the people in the Central Plains and the stability of the court.

The court is strong, the people are rich, and the Tang Dynasty is strong. Even if these unnecessary things are not done, the grasslands and the Western Regions still have awe for the Central Plains.

If you are weak, even if there is a big show, these Hu people will dare to covet it.

"Pei Aiqing." Li Shimin looked at Pei Ju worriedly, and turned his head to look at the attendants he brought with him.

"Where is the imperial physician?!"

"Why hasn't he arrived yet?!!"

"Your Majesty. "Pei Ju pulled Li Shimin's hand.

Li Shimin turned his head and looked at Pei Ju lying on the bed.

Pei Ju shook his head slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"It's useless..."

Pei Ju's breath was getting weaker and weaker.

In the haze, he also saw Li Fu standing behind Li Shimin.

"Prince Jingyang."

Li Fu was paying full attention to Pei Ju, and when he heard his voice, he hurried forward.

"Minister Pei." Li Fu came to Li Shimin and also came close to Pei Ju.

"Prince Jingyang, if you have the ability, can...can...assist...your majesty."

"Your majesty.......Then, a wise ruler...can...prosper the Tang Dynasty...and the country..."

After saying this, Pei Ju closed his eyes, his mouth still slightly open, but he was already dead.

"Lord Pei?" Li Shimin called softly.

"Minister Pei?" Li Fu's eyes were filled with disbelief.

Li Shimin let go of his hand, and Pei Ju's hand slipped and fell on the quilt.

Pei Xuanji, who was standing behind, saw this and knew that his father was gone.

He fell to his knees.

"Father! ! ”

He knocked his head hard on the ground and burst into tears.

The servants in the room knelt down one after another and began to cry silently.

“Pei Aiqing, you, you…” Li Shimin stammered for a long time and didn’t say anything else, but the tears in his eyes had already burst out.

Li Fu’s eyes were also red.

He had also dealt with Pei Ju several times.

This old man is stingy and would rather break a copper coin into two halves to spend.

But how many ministers of the Ministry of Revenue are not stingy?

He Why is he so stingy? Because he has experienced so much, he is afraid.

He is afraid that he cannot manage the money for the court. He is afraid that if the Tang Dynasty is like the former Sui Dynasty, he will go down the old path.

So he is cautious.

When the Tang Dynasty was about to send troops to the grassland, did he ever sting?

He never said a word about food and grass supplies, military pay and materials...

He wants to use the best steel on the blade!

"Pei Qing..." Li Shimin also choked and cried.

"Your Majesty, I am sorry." Li Fu helped Li Shimin stand up.

Li Shimin looked at Pei Xuanji.

"I am sorry. "

Pei Ju passed away, and the Pei family was going to hold a funeral. It was not appropriate for Li Shimin and Li Fu to stay here any longer.

Li Shimin had to return to the palace to discuss with his ministers how to posthumously confer a title on Pei Ju.

When Li Shimin reached the door, the people from the Imperial Medical Bureau hurried over.

Li Shimin looked at them, sighed, and waved his hand.

"Go back. "Li Shimin's tiredness has already appeared on his face.

Although Pei Ju is old, he used to be vigorous and never made any mistakes in handling political affairs.

In the Xuanwu Gate incident, although Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji died, the remnants of the two kings still guarded the East Palace and wanted to fight Li Shimin.

It was Pei Ju who went to persuade them, which calmed down the last fight.

Pei Ju was a great contributor to the Tang Dynasty and the Zhenguan Dynasty.

Li Fu returned to the palace with Li Shimin and met several ministers in the court with Li Shimin.

Everyone was sorry after hearing that Pei Ju had passed away.

"Pei Shangshu is knowledgeable and involved in classics, history, and collections. He is a very talented person and a talent for doing things." Wei Zheng's face was also a bit sad: "He is over 80 years old, but he is still loyal to his duties, cautious and not slack, and he is diligent in his official duties from morning to night. It is almost unprecedented. "

"Yes, the Turks were pacified, and the 29 countries in the Western Regions surrendered. He saw it, and it was also a relief for him." Fang Xuanling also sighed.

In his life, Pei Ju experienced two Western Regions surrendering to the Central Plains dynasty.

One was the former Sui Dynasty, and the other was the Tang Dynasty.

He hoped that the same thing, the Tang Dynasty must have a different result, must do better.

So at the last moment of his life, he held Li Shimin's hand and gave him many instructions.

In his heart, didn't he feel that the fall of the Central Plains had his own reasons and responsibilities?

Carrying such guilt, when he left, he didn't want the Tang Dynasty to follow in such a footsteps.

"Pass the decree to posthumously award Pei Ju the governor of Jiangzhou, and the posthumous title of Jing." After Li Shimin finished speaking, he sighed again.

"He is over eighty years old. It is a funeral, but also a happy funeral. Everyone, don't be like this. Go to Pei's house and send him off." Li Fu said.

"Yes. "Fang Xuanling also echoed: "People in their eighties can all live to a ripe old age, and their kindness extends to plants, trees and insects."

"It is enough for Minister Pei to live to eighty-four."

Everyone nodded.

"The position of Minister of Revenue is vacant." Changsun Wuji said.

Li Shimin thought for a while.

"Then let Dai Zhou go to the Ministry of Revenue."