Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 417 It’s all Baekje’s conspiracy!
"Haha, this is not a big deal~"

Li Ming shrugged lightly, as if he was just doing something as a matter of course.

"Because I'm doing this for their own good."

His ugly face looks like some extremely controlling fathers.

Under the banner of "doing good for the children", they actually do things that are good for the children.

"The real world is not some random myth from the West. If only politics were as simple as you say!"

Li Shimin replied in a muffled voice.

He also had many ideas that benefited the country and the people, as well as the bureaucratic gentry.

For example, equal distribution of land across the country and curbing land annexation.

He often used the historical lesson of the late Han Dynasty, when separatist factions emerged and fought against each other, the people suffered and finally the Five Barbarians Invasion, in which no one, whether officials or civilians, had a good ending, to advise his civil and military officials.

They were advised to be more polite in their behavior and not to openly go against the equal-field system, and not to pry openly into the corner of the Tang Dynasty's feudalism so blatantly, but to leave some soup for the common people, especially those in Guanzhong, Hebei, and so on.

As a wise emperor who was renowned for his civil and political skills, he realized early on that "the ruler" and "the people" are not always in opposition.

There is a middleman called "Chen" in the middle.

Many times, even the monarch and the people have the same stance, and both sides have to work together to deal with the middlemen who take the difference in price.

"The monarch, the ministers, and the people are originally one. The three parties are in the same boat and have one mind. It is not that the monarch and the ministers join forces to deceive the people, or that the ministers deceive the monarch and oppress the people" - this is what Li Shimin often said.

However, in response to the earnest advice of the former emperor, the reaction of the middle class "ministers" was surprisingly consistent -

Can't read back.

After all, most of the officials of the Zhenguan Dynasty were representatives of the aristocratic families in the core court, and some were even the heads of a family.

Asking them to curb mergers and reform themselves is no different from trying to get the skin of a tiger.
Even if this matter is beneficial to their overall and long-term interests, they are unwilling to temporarily sacrifice short-term and local interests for this.

The logic is not complicated.

After all, people are short-sighted.

A father can teach his children to study hard and make progress every day, and the children also know the importance of studying hard.

But no matter how much they talk and do, how many children can really listen to advice and work hard from the bottom of their hearts?
I’m afraid even getting the children to go to bed on time every day would be a complete mess, right?

Managing children and managing ministers are, in a sense, the same.

Even supervising children to study is very difficult.

How can they use the pie in the sky of "long-term overall interests" to fool those old foxes in officialdom into giving up a little bit of their own interests and willingly suffering a little loss?

It is more difficult to touch interests than to touch the soul.

Therefore, the value of Li Ming's move becomes more prominent.

This king and father has clearly arranged the interests and souls of his subjects.

Not only did they make them hand over the land obediently.

They were even allowed to eat whatever they wanted and do whatever exercises they wanted.

This is really treating your subjects as your sons!

He is very good at taming foxes. He has tamed these old guys so well. How did he do it?
"Your Majesty, although I am not good at politics, I also know the truth that 'everything will turn into its opposite when it reaches its extreme'.

"Will your intrusion into the lives of your subjects so deeply... backfire?"

Empress Dowager Yang recovered from her initial shock and looked a little worried.

"Yes, yes, you are being too rough."

Li Shimin also came back to his senses, and the wife followed the husband's lead and said:
"Now that you are controlling even the diet and daily life of your subjects, aren't you afraid that they will become dissatisfied with you and thus rebel even more?

"Like King Li of Zhou who guarded against the people's mouths like guarding against a river?"

Although Haodaer has trained the ministers to be obedient, this operation is very satisfying.

But the reality is not a happy story after all.

It is human nature that does not like being controlled. The stricter the control, the greater the backlash.

It's like a bamboo. The harder you press it, the harder it will slap you back.

Li Ming scratched his head:
“I understand the reason, but I didn’t force them.

"The ministers thought my method was good, so they just followed it."

Li Shimin and Empress Dowager Yang's eyelids twitched, and they just looked at him with their arms folded.

Really? I don't believe it~
"It's true. The ministers all volunteered - ahem, of course, I also used some tricks."

Li Ming coughed lightly.

"I have consulted my mother about this matter before. According to my mother, we should not interfere too much with the diet of officials.

"Afterwards, I also asked my eldest grandson uncle what he thought. His approach was the opposite of my mother's. He believed that my power as the emperor was unlimited and that my subjects must eat whatever they were supposed to eat.

"After that, I collected opinions from many parties. The ideas of each party were different. According to the political map, some people supported the Queen Mother's party, while others supported the Prime Minister Sun's party.

"So I mixed up the opinions of all parties and invited you all to a feast in the form of a 'dinner party'. Everyone will participate voluntarily, so no one can say anything, right?"

Li Shimin couldn't help but sneer when he heard this.

Yes, the emperor is inviting us to a meal, who would dare not volunteer?

He could see the nature of the Ming officialdom.

It seems that there are different positions and many parties.

But they really only have the right to make suggestions and cannot interfere in decision-making at all.

As long as Li Ming gives the order, no matter how the final plan is changed, they can immediately stop the dispute and implement it seriously.

The numerous political parties actually dispersed the power of the bureaucracy, making them a group of scattered people who were unable to contend with the tyrannical imperial power on their own.

How can this be called a multitude of political parties?

It is clear that there is only one faction, the "Li Ming Party"!

At first, I was worried that the young emperor would be deceived by the old fox, but it seems that I was worrying for nothing.

Who is playing who here?

"The emperor is really good at handling things. He is worthy of being the most wise and holy ruler and father of the entire Ming Dynasty." Empress Dowager Yang smiled.

It is forced, but not completely forced, giving people the illusion of "free choice".

It can indeed offset the other party's resistance psychologically to a certain extent.

Although shameless, it works.

"It's just that, Your Majesty, you are really too kind. I don't have any followers or factions. I just happened to share the same views as some ministers~"

Mrs. Yang then said something extraordinary without changing her expression.

"Oh, you are too kind, mother. The civil officials are so subservient to me, and it is also due to my checks and balances~"

Li Ming also laughed without changing his expression.

When masters fight, their moves are as fast as falling flowers and running water, leaving no trace.

Li Shimin was caught between the mother and son, with a very unhappy face.

As an old father, even he felt a little uneasy after hearing this.

If this power-crazy mother and son were in the previous dynasty, they would have caused a disaster as horrific as the Witchcraft Rebellion.

The relationship between the two is now so harmonious, and Queen Yang’s gentle personality is certainly one of the reasons.

But more of it should be attributed to Li Ming's political skills.

Filling the court with a large number of members with conflicting views allowed Empress Yang to experience the power, but it was really just an "experience" in the literal sense.

Of course, Li Shimin also understood that political skills were just icing on the cake for Li Ming.

Having means but no hard power will only lead to officials hindering each other and causing chaos, and the Ming Dynasty will stagnate.

For example, there was a certain Ming dynasty with the same name in later generations, and a certain Taoist emperor among them. But the Ming dynasty under Li Ming was obviously not like this -

The imperial power penetrated every corner, and the emperor and his subjects were one and the same, like an arm or finger. Officials could make suggestions, but once a decision was made, it had to be implemented, with no room for bargaining.

This is obviously not a level that can be achieved by fancy moves like "power politics".

The fundamental secret method that really made the ministers so obedient and obedient to the young emperor was the hard power that Li Ming possessed -

The army that obeyed his orders, the people who were infinitely loyal, the vast country, and the beautiful war of annihilation against the Tang Dynasty -

Li Ming created all of this almost from scratch, which undoubtedly pushed his fame to a height that was unparalleled in his time and difficult to achieve in later generations.

The officials had different positions and were like a pile of scattered sand in the face of imperial power, and could not unite at all.

They dare not resist, cannot resist, and do not want to resist.

Because facts have repeatedly proved that there is meat to eat if you follow Li Ming. Even though the process is a bit weird, the ending will definitely be a happy one for everyone.

As long as you stop thinking and act according to His Majesty's decree, there will be a happy ending.

With both civil and military measures in place, it is no wonder that the officials allowed Li Ming to control them. They did not resist being manipulated like elementary school students and even enjoyed it.

"I built my own country from scratch, and I selected my own officials... I am free to do whatever I want to them."

As a fellow emperor, Li Shimin was truly envious of this free-spirited state.

Haodaer achieved the pinnacle in the art of power and reached the free kingdom of the profession of "emperor".

This is a state that even he can hardly reach or even desire.

Although Li Shimin himself was the General of Tiance, Tian Khan, and had many other honorary titles.

However, his power is also limited.

Because in the process of gaining power, he inevitably formed alliances with the major aristocratic families. Even the rise of the Li family relied on his status as a powerful family in Longxi.

That's why he was able to rise so quickly, overwhelm the common people at the end of the Sui Dynasty, sweep across the world, and establish the Tang Dynasty.

However, the gifts of fate are all secretly marked with a price.

Precisely because he relied on the powerful family to rise to power, Lao Li was also constrained by the family in his administration and was unable to make full use of his power.

He was even often bullied by his subordinates in the name of "giving advice", and he had to listen obediently.

He was even humiliated in public by a book called "Clan Records".

The same ministers were well behaved in the Ming Dynasty. They ate chicken breast obediently and did exercises when asked to do so.

Li Ming's power as emperor was truly unlimited.

The lower the starting point, the higher the end point.

This guy started out as a peasant in Liaodong and built his own empire.

In other words, the world belongs to him and no one can share it with him.

Of course, you can do whatever you want...

"It's getting late, it's time for dinner.

"If your Majesties don't mind, how about we have a meal here?"

The day seemed a little boring, and as the host of this place, Empress Dowager Yang gently reminded.

Li Shimin was cheered up and his appetite increased.

"Very good, very good."

Since moving to Lide Hall, the family of three rarely ate together.

I wonder what the center of power in the world eats for lunch?

The answer will soon be revealed——

Boiled eggs!
Boiled mustard greens!

Rice mixed with millet!
There is also the heavyweight, highly acclaimed, Baekje Black-bone Chicken Breast!
Li Shimin's smile froze instantly, and the feeling of rough muscle fibers that were hard to swallow immediately appeared in his mouth.

This must be a conspiracy of Baekje...

…………

After finishing the green and healthy royal lunch, Li Ming took a stroll out of the "palace" and turned left to the State Council Office where he worked.

A small palace has its advantages as I can go home for lunch every day.

"How long will this rain last?"

Li Ming was holding an umbrella, wearing waterproof deerskin boots, and stepping on the puddles with a clattering sound.

It’s good to be an emperor. You have the best food, clothing and other necessities, and you never have to worry about your shoes leaking.

But if it goes any further, our agricultural empire will be lost.

I wonder how the dikes are being built in various places...

Thinking of this, he quickened his pace and arrived at the gate of the yamen, surrounded by plainclothes officers disguised as "concerned citizens".

The porch was crowded with people, all of them officials who responded to the call for health preservation and took a walk after dinner.

Seeing His Majesty coming, all the ministers immediately sang in unison:

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

"Okay, okay, hello, comrades~" Li Ming waved to his subordinates amiably and walked into the yamen.

He ran into Di Renjie head-on.

He was not with his followers today and was alone.

"You still dare to be alone now? Aren't you afraid of being put in a sack and beaten by the ministers?" Li Ming grinned and said:
"You have established your authority ruthlessly. It has made everyone in the Tangzhou officialdom feel insecure. Everyone knows your great name, Prime Minister Di."

Of course, he was totally kidding.

Everyone knows that Di Renjie is carrying out the will of His Majesty Li Ming.

If anyone dares to touch Di Renjie, nine clans may be too many.

"Your Majesty, please stop teasing me..."

Di Renjie looked bitter.

The task assigned to him by Li Ming was to focus on investigating the arson case at the Shangshi Bureau, but since he was already here, he might as well "take the opportunity" to investigate the problems in the State Council Yamen.

For example, corruption and so on.

When it comes to improving work efficiency - or in other words, squeezing out as much as possible - who can compare to His Majesty Li Ming!
However, Di Renjie had the qualities of a prime minister after all, and he conscientiously completed the "both necessary and essential" tasks assigned by His Majesty.

From the chaotic and fearful officialdom, we can tell that he completed at least the second task of "rectifying discipline" very well.

"Have you eaten? I still have things to do, so you can take a nap and rest for a while at noon."

Li Ming's mind was full of water conservancy and embankments. He exchanged a few words with his old classmates and was about to say goodbye.

But Di Renjie grabbed his sleeve.

"That is why I am reporting to you alone, Your Majesty."

He lowered his voice.

Li Ming's expression immediately became serious.

The other party looked so serious, could it be that...

"Have you found any clues to the arson?"

Di Renjie nodded:

“Yes, your majesty.

"The suspect is from Baekje!"

(End of this chapter)