Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 283 The Great "Ming" Dynasty

A few months ago, in Pingzhou, it was the season when peach blossoms were in full bloom.

"Father Fang, I don't understand this. Aren't you encouraging redundant officials and staff?"

Early in the morning, Li Ming complained to Fang Xuanling who was working at the next workstation in a very unhappy tone.

"I have three intelligence agencies. The Intelligence Committee under the charge of Yuchi Xunyu is responsible for external affairs. The Anti-Counterrevolutionary Committee under the charge of Di Renjie and Lai Junchen is responsible for internal affairs. The Tang Dynasty Chamber of Commerce under the charge of Zhi Shi Buzhen monitors the private economy."

Fang Xuanling nodded calmly:

"Yes."

Li Ming continued:
"The division of labor is already very clear, but why did the Prime Minister want to add the 'Domestic Intelligence Office' and the 'Economic Monitoring Office' to the Intelligence Committee, which is responsible for external affairs? The other two departments have also been stuffed with departments with overlapping functions."

Fang Xuanling lifted the teacup lightly:

"Yes."

Li Ming was a little anxious:

"But won't this put the three departments at odds with each other?"

Hiss~ Fang Xuanling sipped his tea leisurely:

"Yes."

Seeing that he was keeping out of the matter, Li Ming got a little angry and took away his teacup.

"You are still drinking tea leisurely? The functions of various departments overlap and the division of labor is unclear. When they start fighting, won't they bother you and me to death?"

"Hey be careful not to fall!"

Fang Xuanling's expression became a little disturbed when his beloved teacup was snatched away. The boss explained unhappily:
"We just want them to come to you, Your Highness."

Hiss... Li Ming raised his eyebrows, feeling that Fang Xuanling had other intentions.

"What the Prime Minister means is..."

"Let the three departments hinder each other. I ask Your Highness to be their referee and uphold justice." Fang Xuanling took back the cup and returned to his expressionless state with satisfaction:
"Make them all need you and respect your authority, so that you can maintain control over them."

Li Ming understood immediately:
"What the Prime Minister wants to do is... to add sand to their war?"

"It's not mixed with sand." Fang Xuanling drank his tea slowly:
"It's the Emperor's mind."

He did not hesitate to utter the two treasonous words "emperor".

This old man is becoming more and more frank in his various overt and implicit suggestions of "helping His Highness to move up a level".

Not only Lao Fang, but also the ministers under Li Ming would use the "throne" to test Li Ming from time to time.

Who doesn’t want to be a loyal minister?

The Northeast now has its own political power, its own official system, its own army, and even its own culture, and has essentially nothing to do with the Tang Dynasty.

Anyway, everything that should be done has been done, and they are all head-killing jobs. All that is missing from becoming an independent emperor is a banner.

As for what the common people think - what? Isn't our Li Ming the emperor?
Li Ming had also been through the test of the throne for a long time, and was completely immune to Lao Fang's tactics of using presumptuous words to change the subject, so he went straight to the core of the issue:
"Won't the overlapping functions of various departments lead to discord among colleagues and reduced work efficiency?"

Fang Xuanling put down his teacup and said solemnly:
"Your Highness, the area you now rule is no longer limited to Pingzhou and Yingzhou.

"Instead, it was a vast empire covering the vast territory of Goguryeo, Xueyantuo, Hebei, the old lands of Qi and Lu, and part of the Central Plains, and included many ethnic groups such as Han, Xianbei, Turkic, Tiele, Buyeo, Khitan, and Mohe.

"Ruling a large country with the old methods of governing a small country with a small population will lead to disaster."

Li Ming understood what Lao Fang meant:

"What you mean, father-in-law, is that my effective control over the departments below is more important than administrative efficiency?"

“Governing a big country is like cooking a small fish.” Fang Xuanling smiled slightly and warmed his hands with the teacup.

Li Ming had some understanding:

"I understand. What my father said is absolutely right."

Fang Xuanling drank his tea leisurely:
"Your Highness, please understand. Governing a country is a process that is done step by step. The Northeast has expanded too quickly, and it is inevitable that some problems will be exposed in management. We just need to correct them in time."

Li Ming looked at the smug old man and curled his lips:
"My father reminded me that a small horse cannot pull a big cart, and we should indeed make an adaptive reform to the existing institutions.

"Start with the core governance level and find a capable deputy for my father-in-law."

Fang Xuanling: "Who?"

Li Ming: "Changsun Wuji."

Fang Xuanling: “Puff!”

Lao Fang sprayed tea all over the table and hurriedly wiped the water droplets off the documents with his sleeve.

"Your Highness, this is not funny," he protested expressionlessly.

"I'm not kidding." Li Ming said slowly.

"Changsun Wuji really came to Pingzhou to seek refuge with me."

Even with a high level of cultivation like Fang Xuanling, he couldn't help but twitch his lips when he heard this earth-shattering news.

Who is Zhangsun Wuji? The uncle of the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, the most powerful minister in the world, a die-hard royalist and a legitimate son party, a villain who repeatedly plotted against Li Ming and even wanted to kill him.

He is also Fang Xuanling's arch-enemy that he has been fighting against since the founding of the Zhenguan era.

What's wrong with this villain who is at odds with Li Ming from both objective standpoint and subjective emotion? Why would he abandon the pleasure of being arbitrary and above the line in Chang'an and come to the Northeast to be humble and submissive?
Just when Fang Xuanling was embroiled in a lawsuit, a message came:

"Your Highness, the guests from Chang'an have arrived."

"Let him in." Li Ming nodded to Fang Xuanling with a smile.

After a while, an old face that looked embarrassed but polite appeared outside the door.

"Your Highness the Regent, Zuo Pushe, I hope you are both well."

The person who came was Changsun Wuji.

When enemies meet, they are extremely jealous of each other. When Fang Xuanling saw that familiar yet annoying face, he felt like his brain blood vessels were about to burst.

"Da Sikong, how are you?"

He almost squeezed out these words from between his teeth and glared at a naughty kid who was watching the show nearby.

Li Ming responded with a smug look, as if to say:
The Emperor's Mindset?

Lao Fang felt like he was shooting himself in the foot, and he slammed his hands on the table to prop himself up.

"I have to go to the meeting on the border war first. You two can chat slowly. Bye."

Unable to get along with this power-obsessed tyrant, they just left, leaving their world to the playboy and his new love.

"It seems that I came at the wrong time." Changsun Wuji watched his old rival pass by angrily, and his back disappeared in the corridor.

"No, you came just in time, Uncle."

Li Ming welcomed Uncle Sun Guo into the house generously:

"Please come in. I have already conveyed your uncle's greetings to the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother is in good health and has asked me to take good care of your daily life.

"Pingzhou is not like Guanzhong. You are old now, so it is inevitable that you will not be able to adapt to the climate and environment."

"Your Majesty the Queen and Your Majesty the Regent are so thoughtful, I am very grateful." Changsun Wuji greeted politely.

"We are all from the same family, no matter what two families say."

Li Ming said some cheap polite words and sat back in his seat.

After all, he had knelt in the ancestral hall of the Changsun family and acknowledged Empress Changsun as his mother. In theory, he was half a member of the Changsun family.

"Ayan, you also encountered it, right? If you had come earlier, wouldn't the grandparents and grandchildren be reunited earlier?"

"My humble grandson has grown amazingly under your care."

Changsun Wuji thanked him sincerely and stood at the bottom in a proper manner.

Li Ming pointed to the seat:

"Come on, please sit down, don't be restrained."

"I am here to escape disaster and dare not cause Your Highness any worry." Chang Sun Wuji said self-deprecatingly.

The reason why he ran away had already been discussed with His Highness Li Ming in advance.

To put it bluntly, he was abandoned by Li Zhi and hastily turned to His Highness Li Ming, whom he had often persecuted in the past.

You know, just a year and a half ago, it was he who sent troops to besiege Li Ming and his mother in the small Lide Hall.

If the prince had not dissuaded him, they would have been executed on the spot without my permission!

Apart from the superficial affection, the two are undoubted political enemies.

Now, how will His Highness Li Ming treat this mortal enemy who is now cornered?

Changsun Wuji didn't dare to hold too much hope.

Anyway, if you put yourself in his shoes, he doesn't have such a big heart, and he will definitely not miss this great opportunity to take revenge. For the sake of Chang Sun Yan, he will probably keep him alive and hide in a corner...

"It's no big deal, that position will be your desk from now on.

"From now on, my uncle and Mr. Fang will be my right-hand men and women, helping me govern the country."

Li Ming called him "uncle" and "father-in-law" one by one, and his little mouth seemed to be covered with honey.

"Oh... huh???"

Changsun Wuji was stunned when he heard this, unable to hide his expression of disbelief, and looked towards his future "workstation" -

It was just below Li Ming's desk, next to Fang Xuanling's workstation.

With three people sitting in a study, the conditions are definitely a bit simple.

But the meaning contained in it was of great significance, which shocked Changsun Wuji greatly——

Isn't this exactly what he wanted, to return to the core decision-making circle? !
No, this is more than just a return!

When Your Majesty was still in Chang'an, he did not have the privilege of being able to sit in the same room and work with Your Majesty!

If he could listen to the Hadith all the time, he would be willing to do it even if he had to kneel down to work every day without getting paid!

"Your Highness, I..." After all, Changsun Wuji is not the expressionless Fang Xuanling. Even at his age, he was still very moved.

His Highness Li Ming is so much like his father, as he could employ the vicious scholar who once tried to kill him without hesitation, just like Your Majesty employed Wei Zheng!

"You better hold on to this seat, don't let your deskmate squeeze you out."

Li Ming watched the fun and added fuel to the fire.

What Fang Xuanling had just said reminded him that governing a big country did require some reference to the political tactics of the Legalists.

For example, let the ministers fight with each other and create conflicts to prevent them from forming an ironclad group and bullying the superiors and the subordinates.

Li Ming is indeed a good student of Mr. Fang. He immediately followed his advice and arranged for the two enemies to sit together.

This way I can sit in the office every day and watch them perform the Shura show.

Li Ming gradually understood his father's happiness.

If I could sit on a higher "VIP" throne, I could overlook the bigger show being performed by the officials in the court.

For example, on the dragon throne.

What a beautiful thing this would be...

"Your Highness, I have a question that I don't know whether I should ask or not."

Changsun Wuji quickly got into work mode.

Can I answer "not appropriate to talk about"... Li Ming waved his hand:

"Mr. Changsun, please feel free to speak."

"Your Highness, perhaps it's because I'm new here and don't know the local area well, so I asked such a naive question."

Changsun Wuji also put on a layer of armor for himself:

"Does this piece of land you are managing have a name?"

"Name?" This question really confused Li Ming.

"Pingzhou and Yingzhou belong to Liaodong of the Tang Dynasty. You used to hold the title of Jiedushi of Liaodong." Changsun Wuji said:
“And now, based on Liaodong, you have successively annexed Goguryeo, Hebei, most of Xueyantuo, and the old lands of Qi and Lu.

"I'm afraid it's not appropriate to call this large territory 'Liaodong' or 'Northeast', right?"

"That's true. It's not very convenient without a name..." Li Ming smacked his hands in confusion.

It was just a name, he thought it was just a minor detail.

The Grand Chancellor of the Tang Dynasty brought this up so solemnly. Isn't it a bit of an overreaction?

How about starting from Liaodong and calling it Dayan? No, this name is too acacia and has no sense of existence in history.

Yuan Dynasty? It’s a good name, but it’s criticized, and the short reign is unlucky.

He had been the King of Cao, Lu and Song, but these names were not loud enough as the names of his country.

Name, title, country name...

"Hiss, wait!"

After thinking it over, Li Ming suddenly figured out Zhangsun Wuji's true intention and turned his head abruptly to stare at him.

"Uncle, are you advising me to name my own country? Break away from the Tang Dynasty and establish my own regime?"

Chang Sun Wuji naturally shook his head at this unfounded accusation:
"Your Highness, you are joking. You and I are both loyal subjects of the Tang Dynasty. How could we betray His Majesty?

"It's just to give this land a name so that people all over the world can call it by it."

"Convenience... Yeah, yes, if it's for the convenience of the world, then there's nothing we can do about it..."

Li Ming seemed to be thinking about something. After a moment, he abruptly changed the subject:
"Speaking of which, your uncle has come at the right time. There is a very difficult administrative task right now, and it is up to you and Mr. Fang to take the lead."

Zhang Sun Wuji naturally sat down at the table:
"Your Highness, please give me your instructions."

"The current administrative structure of our Ming Dynasty was built based on the original two states of Liaodong."

Li Ming intentionally or unintentionally emphasized the pronunciation of two words:

"Nowadays, the situation has changed. The territory of the Ming Dynasty is no longer what it used to be, and the population has increased several times. If we continue to use the old framework, it will inevitably be like a small horse pulling a big cart and it will be difficult to exert force."

The name of the country is "Da Ming"? The "Da Ming" Dynasty can be said to be in line with the lawless character of His Majesty Li "Ming"...

Zhang Sun Wuji understood and took over the topic tacitly:

"This is indeed a problem that needs to be solved urgently. Our Ming Dynasty has expanded too fast, and the administrative management mechanism must be changed accordingly, otherwise there will be endless disasters.

The tyrannical Qin Dynasty is a lesson for us. Although it swallowed up the six kingdoms and unified the world, its laws, systems and government offices at all levels still continued the Qin Dynasty's system during the Warring States Period, which led to its demise in the second generation.

"This matter is extremely urgent and cannot be delayed. I wonder what I can do for the Ming Dynasty?"

He said "Da Ming" naturally, as if this land had been called this name since the beginning.

It's so easy to talk to smart people.

"You and Fang Xuanling draft a reform plan for the departmental institutions to adapt to a great empire, a very large empire." Li Ming emphasized:
"Let me standardize, streamline and institutionalize the administrative work of Daming."

Changsun Wuji nodded:
"As long as His Royal Highness issues an order, selects dedicated officials to handle the matter, and selects the leading, hosting, and co-hosting departments, the matter can proceed in an orderly manner."

Li Ming was delighted to hear the bureaucratic suggestions from his uncle:
"Uncle, you are indeed the talent I need!"

At this time, Fang Xuanling came back in a hurry.

Seeing this pair of uncle and nephew hit it off right in front of him, he said expressionlessly:
"It seems I came at the wrong time."

"No, you came at the right time." Li Ming pointed to the workstation belonging to the old house:
"Now, let's get started. You and Zhangsun Wuji will jointly draft a plan for the institutional reform of the Ming Dynasty."

What the hell is the Ming Dynasty... Fang Xuanling glanced at Changsun Wuji who was drinking tea by himself and let out a breath.

"Your Highness, let's put administrative matters aside for now. The news from the northern border is not optimistic."

He had just slipped away in the name of a "Border War Meeting", but he actually got some bad news from the messenger, so he reported it first.

Li Ming changed his casual attitude, and Changsun Wuji also put down his teacup seriously and touched his chin.

"It's the Xueyantuo again? Are the remnants of the Tiele reviving, or are the Turks invading?"

Fang Xuanling shook his head:

“Ashina Simo, who had colluded with the Xueyantuo and betrayed Your Majesty, is wreaking havoc and accumulating strength in the Xueyantuo’s former territory, but this is not the point.

“The focus is on the northeast.”

"Northeast...is it Goguryeo? The remnants of Goguryeo rebelled?" Li Ming asked.

"The Goguryeo people have a very high level of recognition of Your Highness, and the sinicization work is progressing quite smoothly. There is no need to worry about them rebelling."

Fang Xuanling said:

"The problem is the barbarians to the north of the former Goguryeo territory. They are causing trouble."

Chang Sun Wuji interrupted and said:
"North of Goguryeo was the territory of the Mohe people, which was divided into seven tribes, extending all the way to the Heishui River (Heilongjiang River)."

"Thank you for your explanation, Grand Marshal. If it weren't for you, we fools who have governed Goguryeo for more than half a year wouldn't know it." Fang Xuanling made a sarcastic remark, making Changsun Wuji so angry that he kept silent, and then continued:
"The seven Mohe tribes, instigated by a group of Shiwei people, launched continuous attacks on Goguryeo, causing great suffering to us.

"And the Shiwei people who were trying to sow discord were the ones who betrayed the Tang Dynasty together with Ashina Simo more than half a year ago, attacking from both the east and the west with the intention of murdering Your Majesty. Their leader was Moheduo."

The Mohe people are an ancient fishing and hunting ethnic group in the Baishan and Heishui regions, and the ancestors of the Jurchens and Manchus.

Li Ming suddenly felt a toothache.

The barbaric hunters from the deep forests of Northeast China invaded the country...

Isn’t the name “Da Ming” a bit hasty?
(End of this chapter)