Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 253 Changsun Wuji’s Changes

In March, spring is warm and flowers are blooming.

Li Zhi went to the Duke of Yingguo's mansion early in the morning.

At the beginning of the year, Li Ji fell ill again and did not get better until the end of February.

After Li Zhi received the victory report from the front, he was busy discussing Tubo affairs with his ministers for more than a month and had no time to come to see him.

It was not until today that the post-war governance plan for Tubo was finally agreed upon, and only then did he come to visit him.

By the way, I also told him about the agreed plan and asked for his opinion.

Li Zhi entered the Duke of Ying's mansion in disguise through the back door. Li Ji's eldest son, Li Zhen, personally led him to the back garden.

At this time, in the back garden of Li's mansion, Li Ji was fishing by the lake, and there was an old man next to him, who was Zhangsun Wuji.

The two were mortal enemies, but their relationship gradually eased because of the fight against Tubo.

Li Ji also contributed to Changsun Wuji's ability to leave Zhaoling, so when he heard that he was ill, he came to see him.

The two men sat side by side, fishing while leisurely chatting about the old days when they followed the late emperor to conquer the world.

"...You don't know how ugly the late emperor's face was when he heard that you were defeated by Liu Heita." Changsun Wuji said with a smile.

Li Ji smiled bitterly and said, "That guy fights without any rules or strategies, always surprising people. He's a bit like Su Dingfang."

While the two were discussing, a young man quickly ran to the lake and said anxiously, "Aung, the saint is here."

Hearing this, Changsun Wuji immediately stood up and began to reel in the fishing line.

Li Ji glanced at him sideways and asked, "Are you leaving?"

Changsun Wuji said, "Your Majesty is here to see you. I'm afraid you don't want to see my old face. It's best for you to leave."

Li Ji smiled and said, "In my opinion, His Majesty will be very happy to see you."

Changsun Wuji turned his head to look at him, waiting for his further explanation.

Li Ji said slowly, "Although I haven't been to court, I know that many major events have occurred in the past few days, especially regarding the post-war governance of Tubo, where the ministers have different opinions."

Changsun Wuji's eyes flashed.

The emperor came to the Duke of Ying's mansion at this time, most likely to discuss the post-war policy against Tubo.

Changsun Wuji was a veteran of three dynasties and was more familiar with government affairs than Li Ji. Naturally, he could give some useful suggestions to the emperor.

The emperor was naturally happy to see him.

These thoughts flashed through his mind.

He put the fishing rod on the ground and said to Li Ji, "I'll take shelter first." Then he walked away.

Li Ji stood up, straightened his clothes, and went to welcome the emperor with Li Jiye.

After walking along the path in the back garden for a while and turning a corner, they saw Li Zhen leading the emperor towards them.

Li Ji stepped forward quickly and bowed in greeting.

"Old minister Li Ji pays homage to Your Majesty."

Li Zhi raised his hand and said, "Mr. Li, there's no need to be so polite. I heard you were ill, so I came to see you. Are you feeling better?"

Li Ji said, "Thanks to the treatment of the imperial physician Fei, my illness has been completely cured."

After Sun Simiao entered the Shang Pharmacy, because of his great reputation, the concubines in the harem liked to ask him to diagnose their pulses, and some officials and their wives also asked for permission to let him go to their houses to help treat illnesses.

Sun Simiao entered the palace for two purposes.

One was to help the emperor diagnose and treat headaches, and the other was to read through the palace medical classics and compile medical books, rather than running errands for the powerful.

He asked his two apprentices Fei Shisan and Meng Shiyi to work in Shang Pharmacy, so that if someone asked him to see a doctor, he could send the two of them to take their place.

Li Zhi said: "Then I am relieved."

Li Zhi followed Li Ji to the lakeside and saw two stools and fishing rods on the shore. He asked curiously, "Lord Li, was there anyone fishing here just now?"

Li Ji whispered, "Your Majesty, it's the King's uncle."

Li Zhi's eyes flashed: "Where is my uncle?"

Li Ji said, "He is now a commoner and is afraid of disturbing Your Majesty, so he is avoiding you."

Li Zhi shook his head and said, "He is my uncle. Even though he holds no official position, it is not a cause for concern. Please invite him over. I haven't seen him for a long time."

After a while, Changsun Wuji was invited over, knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Li Zhi.

"I, Changsun Wuji, pay my respects to Your Majesty."

Li Zhi walked over quickly, helped him up, and looked at him carefully.

After not seeing him for nearly two years, Changsun Wuji has more white hair on his head, but he is still in good spirits.

"Uncle, there's no need to be so polite. Seeing that you are in good spirits, I am relieved."

Changsun Wuji smiled and said, "I am delighted to see that Your Majesty is in good health."

The three of them came to the pavilion by the lake and sat around drinking tea.

After finishing his tea, Li Zhi put down his teacup and said slowly, "Mr. Li, uncle, the court has recently agreed on a plan regarding the Tubo issue. I would like to hear your opinions."

The two men said in unison: "Your servants (common people) listen respectfully."

Li Zhi said, "The ministers' opinion is to establish a Protectorate-General in Tubo. Under the Protectorate-General, there will be nine Military Governorates and thirty-six vassal states."

After listening to this, Li Ji and Zhangsun Wuji looked at each other.

They were all veterans of three dynasties, and they knew as soon as they heard it that the ministers were imitating the resettlement method after the attack on Xueyantuo.

Both men frowned, lost in thought. Li Zhi quietly drank his tea and waited.

After a while, Li Ji spoke first.

"Your Majesty, will the new vassal states be set up according to the methods adopted after the reform?"

Li Zhi said, "Yes, the newly established vassal states will have to bear certain taxes, and the appointment of provincial governors will no longer be hereditary, but will require examination and approval by the imperial court."

Li Ji said, "Then I, this old minister, have no objection."

"Uncle, what do you think?"

Changsun Wuji said, "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, if the name is not right, then the words will not flow. If we continue to use the term tributary prefecture to distinguish the official prefecture, the people of the tributary prefecture will subconsciously realize the difference between them and the Tang people, creating a gap and a rebellious heart. I believe that the term tributary prefecture should be abolished and all should be designated as official prefectures."

After listening to this, Li Zhi stared at Zhangsun Wuji. Zhangsun Wuji had always supported the policies of the previous emperor, but now he was actively proposing to revise the old policies. It seemed that the years in Zhaoling had also changed him.

Li Ji smiled and said, "Brother Wuji, your words make sense. Right now, our Tang Dynasty is at the peak of its military might, and its power is undeniable. It is time to take advantage of this opportunity to improve our policy of restraint."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "Okay, I'll follow your uncle's advice on this matter."

After a pause, he continued, "The Arab and Tibetan envoys are on their way to Chang'an. What are your thoughts on this matter?"

Li Ji asked, "Your Majesty, are the Arab troops still in Gar City?"

"Yes, according to the news from Anxi, they are gathering troops in the Great Bolor Kingdom and can provide assistance to Gar City at any time."

Li Ji said in a deep voice, "It seems they want to take all the land north of Gar City for themselves. They sent envoys here to demarcate the land."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "It should be good."

Zhang Sun Wuji suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, what are the ministers' opinions on this matter?"

Li Zhi said, "Xue Rengui and Su Dingfang jointly submitted a memorial advocating a war with them. Generals in the court, led by Cheng Zhijie and Yuchi Gong, all supported them."

After a pause, he continued, "The civil officials are divided into two factions, one advocating peace, the other advocating war..."

The peace faction was composed of officials led by Lu Chengqing, Du Zhenglun and others, who opposed continuing the war.

Although the Tang Dynasty won the battle against Tubo, the amount of money, food and supplies consumed was extremely astonishing.

They believe that the country is in the stage of reform and should focus on maintaining internal stability and should no longer be obsessed with external wars.

It would be fine if we win, but if we lose, internal reforms are likely to rebound, and the country will be trapped both internally and externally, which will definitely cause serious damage to its vitality.

Moreover, the area north of Gar City only accounted for less than 30% of Tubo, so it would not matter if it was given to the Arabs. Most of the land was still in the hands of the Tang Dynasty.

After listening to this, Li Ji said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I believe that Lu Chengqing and the others are just scholars. Our army currently holds the initiative in Tibet and has the support of the Tibetan people. We should seize all of Tibet in one fell swoop. How can we abandon such a golden opportunity and cede the area north of Gar City to the Arabs?"

Li Zhi did not express his opinion and looked at Changsun Wuji again.

"Uncle Yuan, what do you think?"

Zhang Sun Wuji smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty, the peace advocates do have their reasons for saying so."

Li Zhi said: "Oh?"

Li Ji's eyes fixed and he glanced at Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji smiled and said, "Brother Li, don't glare at me. Why don't you change your perspective and think about it from the perspective of a civil servant, and you will understand."

Li Ji said in a deep voice, "I am a warrior, I cannot understand their thoughts."

Changsun Wuji said slowly, "For the civil officials, another war would only cost the nation money and grain. If they win, all the credit goes to the generals on the front lines. If they lose, they'll be left with a mess. So why would they support this?"

Li Ji was stunned. Zhangsun Wuji was nominally speaking for the civil officials, but in fact he was just stating an objective fact.

War is not good for civil servants, and it is difficult to gain their support.

Changsun Wuji continued, "Most civil servants spend their entire lives sitting in the offices of Chang'an City. They've barely even seen a few Tibetans, let alone the true situation on the front lines. How can they make the right decisions if they're left to make decisions on the front lines?"

Changsun Wuji's meaning was very clear.

In matters of war, the emperor should mainly follow the opinions of military generals and not listen too much to the opinions of civil officials.

It is normal for them to object, and there is no need to take it too seriously.

Li Zhi nodded and said, "I have benefited greatly from your words, uncle. I have made up my mind to fight the Arabs and annex all of Tibet into the Tang Dynasty!"

After the important matters were settled, Li Zhi was in high spirits and went fishing by the lake with Li Ji and Zhangsun Wuji.

There were many fish in the lake of the Duke of Ying's Mansion. Even Li Zhi, who was not good at fishing, caught a few.

It was almost three o'clock in the afternoon when Li Zhi left the Duke of Ying's mansion and returned to the imperial palace.

As soon as he returned to Ganlu Palace, he learned from the eunuch that Crown Prince Li Hong was waiting for him in the room.

Li Zhi was about to enter the house when Wang Jishan suddenly came to his side.

"Your Majesty, news has come from Anxi that a group of Persians entered Anxi and attempted to assassinate the Arab envoys. They have been captured by the Anxi army."

Li Zhi frowned and asked, "Persians? How did they get across the border?"

Wang Jishan said, "It is said that they used an official document that had been stamped by General Xue."

Li Zhi frowned. Was it related to Xue Rengui again?
Wang Jishan continued, "It was thanks to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince that the Persian assassination was prevented."

Li Zhi asked curiously, "Hong'er?"

Wang Jishan said, "Yes, the prince sent a general to alert the Anxi army, and that's how they captured those Persians."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "I understand." He stepped into the hall.

Inside the hall, Li Hong was sitting on a chair, flipping through a history book that Li Zhi had placed on the desk. When he saw Li Zhi come in, he hurriedly stood up to greet him.

Li Zhi walked over to the couch and sat down, saying, "Hong'er, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Li Hongdao said, "Father, I have something to report."

"Tell me, what's the matter?" Li Zhi took a cup of tea from Wang Fusheng.

Li Hong then told Xue Na about how her mother Liu had helped the Persian prince.

Li Zhi suddenly realized something and said, "No wonder the news came from Anxi that you sent people to the Anxi Protectorate to help them capture a group of Persians. This is actually the case."

Li Hong pleaded, "Father, Liu had no prior knowledge of their plan to assassinate the Arab envoys. Please be lenient with me."

Li Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I can spare Liu's punishment, but you must tell Xue Na to remind his mother to be more careful in the future."

This is the second time something has happened in the Xue Mansion.

Liu didn't seem to be used to the change in status.

Xue Rengui's status is becoming more and more prominent, and there will definitely be more people eyeing the Xue Mansion in the future. If she, the hostess, is not vigilant, the Xue Mansion will be in constant trouble!
Li Hong said happily, "Thank you, father. I believe that Liu will learn her lesson after this incident."

"Hong'er, what do you think should be done with the Persian prince?" Li Zhi suddenly asked.

Li Hong lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said, "Why not expel him from the country?"

Li Zhi's eyes flickered as he said, "Alright, I'll leave this matter to you."

Li Hong felt his father's trust, nodded his head seriously, and said with a bow, "I will definitely handle this matter." Then he took his leave.

(End of this chapter)