Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 208 Expanding the Zhechou Mansion?
There is still one hour before the temporary court meeting.

While all the ministers were preparing to discuss the land system at the upcoming court meeting, Liu Rengui had already changed into his official uniform and arrived outside Chengtian Gate.

It was just past noon and still early, and there was no one outside Chengtian Gate.

Liu Rengui passed through Chengtian Gate and headed north along the palace road.

He knew that the emperor would definitely see him first, so he went into the palace in advance.

Sure enough, when he arrived outside Ganlu Gate, he happened to meet a eunuch who was leaving the palace.

"Prime Minister Liu, you've come at the right time. His Majesty has summoned you to an audience." The eunuch greeted him with a smile.

Liu Rengui returned the half-salute and said, "Thank you, eunuch, for leading the way."

After a while, Liu Rengui followed the eunuch to Ganlu Palace.

The outer hall was too cold, so Li Zhi summoned Liu Rengui into the bedroom. He first ordered someone to pour Liu Rengui a cup of hot tea, and only spoke slowly after he finished drinking it.

"Mr. Liu, you should know why I summoned you to see me, right?" Li Zhi asked while sitting cross-legged on the couch.

Liu Rengui put down his teacup and said, "It's because of the memorial I submitted."

When all the ministers were submitting memorials to discuss the land system, Liu Rengui was the only exception. He actually recounted his experiences during his trip to Hebei and proposed that a Zhechoufu should be set up in Hebei.

This memorial was extremely inappropriate. If it had been submitted by someone else, Li Zhi would have ignored it at all.

It was Liu Rengui's memorial that prompted Li Zhi to invite him into the palace to inquire about the reason.

Moreover, the area that Li Zhi was most worried about in promoting the land system reform this time was actually Hebei.

Among the ten prefectures and counties across the country, the people in Hebei were the most wary of the court. Although Li Zhi reduced taxes for three years, it was not clear whether this changed their attitude towards the court.

Li Zhi said slowly, "In your memorial, Mr. Liu mentioned your experiences in Hebei. I was just about to ask, have you ever visited the people?"

Liu Rengui said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, whenever I arrive in a state, I will go incognito for a day, visit the countryside, and visit the farmhouses."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "Very good, then tell me what you saw and heard."

Liu Rengui knew what Li Zhi wanted to hear and said bluntly, "Your Majesty, although you have exempted Hebei from tax, they still do not trust the court and even think that these three years of tax exemption may be revoked at any time."

Li Zhi frowned and asked, "Is it because the time is too short?"

Liu Rengui shook his head and said, "That's not the case. Even if you continue to exempt taxes, it won't have much effect."

Li Zhi pinched his knee and sighed, "I don't understand. If we give them tax exemptions, don't they feel any gratitude at all?"

Liu Rengui: "They think the court has other motives for exempting taxes."

"What purpose?"

Liu Rengui shook his head and said, "I can't really explain it, but their distrust of the court is deeply ingrained."

Li Zhi sighed and said, "I knew it would be difficult to pacify Hebei, but I didn't expect it to be this difficult. Do you know the root of their distrust of the court?"

Liu Rengui: "The people of Hebei are martial and righteous. They don't trust the court because the court doesn't trust them."

Li Zhi's mind moved: "Why do they have such thoughts?"

Liu Rengui took a deep breath and looked up at Li Zhi.

"Your Majesty, do you really trust the people of Hebei?" It takes great courage to question a king like this.

In fact, Liu Rengui had always wanted to ask the emperor this question after returning from Hebei. It was not until the emperor wanted to revise the land system that he finally made a decision.

Li Zhi looked at him and said, "Of course."

Liu Rengui breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then the problem I was most worried about is gone. I only have one question left."

"speak."

Liu Rengui: "Although the people of Hebei were busy with their farming, they knew in their hearts that the imperial court was unwilling to establish a Zhechoufu in Hebei because they were worried that they would rebel."

Li Zhi's eyes flickered as he asked, "So that's why you proposed to set up a new Zhechoufu?"

Liu Rengui said, "Yes, Your Majesty, if you want to change the land system, Hebei will be the most difficult. If you want to make the people of Hebei trust the court, the most direct way is to establish more Zhechoufu. In fact, there are many righteous people in Hebei who have no way to serve their country. Isn't this a pity?"

Li Zhi remained silent and said nothing.

Changsun Quan had mentioned this issue to him once. At that time, he only solved the problem of corvee labor, but did not solve the problem of Zhechoufu.

The reason is that this matter is extremely difficult, even more difficult than changing the land system.

Only civil officials would oppose the modification of the land system.

However, the establishment of the Zhechoufu was opposed by both civil and military officials. Most of the generals in the court came from the Guanzhong Army, and some veteran generals had fought against Hebei during their campaigns in the Central Plains and suffered heavy losses.

For example, Li Ji was defeated by Liu Heita's Hebei army in Songzhou, with heavy casualties. Xue Wanjun and Xue Wanche were captured alive, and only Li Ji escaped alone.

Both Dou Jiande and Liu Heita caused extremely heavy casualties to the Tang army. Most of the generals who participated in the Battle of Hebei were middle-level generals in the army.

If the expansion of Hebei Zhechoufu is proposed, it will definitely cause dissatisfaction among the military.

Therefore, Li Zhi put this matter at the back of priority and changed the military system after the land system and tax system were revised.

By skipping Zhechoufu, they could directly recruit an army in Hebei to attack the Korean Peninsula without having to send the Guanzhong Army on a long expedition.

As long as Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje are eliminated and the Hebei Army makes meritorious contributions, they will have a place in the Tang Army.

"Mr. Liu, do you know how difficult it is to expand the Zhechoufu in Hebei right now?"

Liu Rengui said, "I know that if I bring this up, it will be met with unanimous opposition from the entire court, both civil and military officials. Therefore, Your Majesty cannot bring this up."

"Then who can say it?" Li Zhi was stunned.

Liu Rengui: "I have something to say."

Li Zhi was taken aback and said, "Liu Qing, you don't understand the situation in the army. If I were to speak, veteran generals like Li Ji might reluctantly agree. But if you were to speak, they would probably strongly oppose it."

Liu Rengui said calmly, "Of course I know. Your Majesty has won the hearts and minds of the generals, and therefore, you have absolute authority in the court, and those nobles are able to behave themselves. If Your Majesty develops a rift with the generals over this matter, it will be a disaster for the Tang Dynasty."

Li Zhi stared at Liu Rengui without saying a word.

Liu Rengui continued, "On the contrary, from my perspective, they will only resent me, and their relationship with Your Majesty will not be affected in any way, and the country will remain stable."

Li Zhi said slowly, "Lord Liu, do you know that when you were rectifying the civil administration for me, you have already offended many civil officials? If you offend the military officers in the court as well, how difficult your situation will be?"

When Liu Rengui first rectified the administration of officials, many officials initially resented Di Renjie.

However, as time went on, everyone figured it out.

Di Renjie was just a Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, and the person who was really in charge of this matter was Liu Rengui, so he transferred his anger to Liu Rengui.

In addition, during the last court meeting, Liu Rengui mentioned the land annexation in Hebei, which completely offended Lu Chengqing and Du Zhenglun.

Liu Rengui had previously offended the aristocratic faction, Li Yifu, and Li Jingxuan. It can be said that except for the upright officials, he had offended almost all the civil servants.

When these people submitted memorials, they would never say anything good when it came to Liu Rengui.

This subtle influence is huge.

Li Zhi's impression of Liu Rengui gradually declined without him realizing it, and he no longer assigned him to do many things.

Liu Rengui bowed and said, "I thank Your Majesty for your care. I was originally just a small official, but Your Majesty has promoted me. I am happy to be able to share your worries."

Li Zhi frowned and said, "Even if you propose to establish a new Zhechoufu, I'm afraid it will be difficult to push forward with the strong opposition from the military commanders."

The most important thing at the moment is to revise the land system. Li Zhi has been planning for this for a long time and is unwilling to change his plan because of Liu Rengui's sudden decision.

Liu Rengui said sternly, "Your Majesty, don't worry. I have my own way of convincing the generals. When the time comes, Your Majesty will only need to make a ruling, and the generals will have no objections."

"How do you plan to persuade them?" Li Zhi was still worried.

Liu Rengui smiled faintly and said, "I will use my position as Prime Minister, as well as my life and property, as a guarantee. I will resign my position in the court and ask Your Majesty to banish me from Chang'an."

"If any problems arise in the Hebei Zhechou Prefecture in the future, I will bear the responsibility alone. In this way, I believe the old generals will not say anything."

"Mr. Liu, why do you do this?" Li Zhi asked in surprise.

Liu Rengui said slowly, "Your Majesty just said that I have offended too many officials in the court. I am well aware of this. I made this decision not only to relieve Your Majesty's worries, but also to find a way out for myself."

Li Zhi immediately understood that Liu Rengui was retreating to advance, using this incident to eliminate the resentment of court officials towards him.

After two or three years, when the matter of Zhechoufu was settled, Li Zhi summoned him back to Beijing to serve as prime minister. With this experience of demotion, his situation in the court would be much more relaxed.

Liu Rengui added, "Your Majesty, when I push for the Zhechoufu, those who oppose the land system will also oppose it. As long as this succeeds, it will have a psychological impact on those people, and then when they oppose the land system again, they will not be so fierce."

Li Zhi sighed and said, "Are you, Liu Qing, prepared to sacrifice yourself to help me accomplish this?"

Liu Rengui said solemnly, "As I just said, this matter is both for Your Majesty's relief and for my own benefit. Please make a decision quickly, Your Majesty!"

Li Zhi's eyes flickered for a moment, and he took a deep breath and said, "Well, then, I will fulfill Liu Qing's painstaking efforts, and I will also arrange a good place for Liu Qing."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Liu Rengui bowed.

At this time, he did not understand the meaning of Li Zhi's last sentence. He just thought that Li Zhi was going to transfer him to a place very close to Chang'an to serve as a governor.

(End of this chapter)