Tang Dynasty: The Holy Prince, the Dragon that Reigns Over the World

Time has come to the fifth year of Zhenguan. Since the autumn of the first year of Zhenguan, the court has spent nearly five years working hard to govern and reform the government.

The power of the Tang Dynasty grew rapidly, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. The treasury of the Tang Dynasty became more and more abundant, and the people's lives became more and more prosperous. The Tang Dynasty had begun to show signs of prosperity.

Over the past five years, Li Chengqian presided over the reforms under the instructions of Li Shimin, with the help of his ministers, and under the intimidation of his powerful army and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

In the past five years, Li Chengqian opened a central bank, built a post office for civilians, and promoted the tax distribution according to the land. He encouraged the people to reclaim wasteland and cracked down on the tyranny of the aristocratic families. He emphasized agriculture, promoted commerce, was cautious about the criminal law, and spread education throughout the country. He recruited children from poor families to serve as officials in the court, and reduced taxes throughout the country to rest the people.

Li Chengqian also optimized the papermaking process, lowering the price of paper, and thus lowering the price of books, which was highly praised by poor students all over the world.

Li Chengqian designed and built wind and water power workshops that could grind and forge iron. He published the design drawings to benefit the people. Li Chengqian improved iron smelting technology and used wind and water power workshops to produce steel that was refined hundreds of times or thousands of times. The equipment of the Tang Dynasty was far superior to that of other countries.

Li Chengqian built cement roads, using labor instead of corvée. He paid wages to every citizen who participated in the construction. The people benefited greatly and were very motivated. It was originally planned to complete the main road construction in ten years, but unexpectedly, 70% of the progress was completed in just five years.

The people of the world appreciate the efforts of the Li family father and son, and all praise the saintly virtues of Li Shimin and Li Chengqian. People all say: Our Tang Dynasty has a saintly emperor who governs the country, and wise ministers and good generals who assist him. Later, there is a saintly prince who is the crown prince of the country. With the two saints in power, the Tang Dynasty will surely be strong.

In the past few years, in addition to being busy with government affairs, Li Chengqian has also been worried about the health of Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wugou. Especially Zhangsun Wugou, in history, Empress Zhangsun suffered from respiratory disease in her early years and often had lung disease, and finally died young. Li Chengqian did not want this woman who truly loved him to die early.

So he visited famous doctors and found that the famous doctor Sun Simiao often came to the palace to treat Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wugou. He also spent a lot of money to buy methods of strengthening the body and nourishing qi from the system for the two to practice.

Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wugou were very happy to see Li Chengqian being so filial. They loved Li Chengqian even more, and loved him more than any other sons and daughters.

One day, Li Chengqian was practicing martial arts in the Prince's Mansion. He danced with a purple-gold dragon-roaring halberd with great vigor and power. Li Chengqian finished his practice and was about to wipe his sweat and drink tea when he suddenly heard someone laughing and praising him.

"Da Lang's martial arts have improved again. Who else in the world can be my son's opponent?" Li Chengqian turned around and saw Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wugou standing at the door, looking at him with a smile. Li Chengqian hurried over, stretched out his hand to help Zhangsun Wugou walk in, and said with a smile.

"Father, how come you have time to come to my place today? You didn't even ask anyone to let me know. I'd better go to the gate to greet you."

"I come from my hometown, do I need a messenger? Why go through all those empty formalities? Your mother is pregnant again. Your father is happy, so I will take your mother to go shopping with you." Li Shimin said happily.

"Mother just gave birth to Chengyang at the beginning of last year, and now she is pregnant again. Father-in-law is as vigorous as a dragon and a tiger, and his skills are still as good as ever. I admire you." Li Chengqian bowed.

"You rebellious son, how dare you tease your father?" Li Shimin pretended to be angry, but his eyes were full of pride. Changsun Wugou blushed and glared at Li Shimin in reproach.

"Da Lang, I know you are in good health. But it is only March now and the weather is cold. How can you wear so little? What if you get sick?" Changsun Wugou took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off Li Chengqian's head lovingly.

"Yes, yes. Mother is right. I will pay attention to it next time." Li Chengqian said with a smile.

"Da Lang, change your clothes. Go walk around the streets with your father and mother." Li Shimin stroked his beard.

Li Chengqian changed his clothes and accompanied Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wugou to stroll around Chang'an City without any guards. This was also Li Shimin's request. In Li Shimin's words, "My family is out strolling to enjoy the happiness of family life. What's the big deal about guards following us? Besides, with Dalang by my side, who in the world can hurt me?"

The merchants and vendors in Chang'an were already used to seeing the father and son of the Li family wandering around the city. When they saw the father and son of the Li family strolling around, they did not kneel down to greet them, but just smiled and bowed to greet them.

As the Li family father and son went out shopping, an incredible scene appeared on the street. The Li family father and son took the initiative to take whatever they liked, and then turned around and walked away without paying. The seller was not only not happy, but smiled and asked for more. Someone even took the initiative to invite the Li family father and son to taste for free.

There was a Hu person who had just arrived in Chang'an. After seeing this scene, he exclaimed, "Why don't you report to the authorities?" The people around him immediately looked at him as if he was a fool.

"Hey, you're new to Chang'an, right? The three people in front of you are the saints of the Tang Dynasty, the Queen and the Holy Prince. You just don't pay for the things you're taking? What's so surprising?" Someone said. The people around him all looked as if it was natural.

"You can't not pay." The Hu man was still puzzled.

"Hu'er, let me tell you. The reason why we, the common people, can live in peace and prosperity today is all thanks to the Saint and the Holy Prince. It's not that the Saint and the Holy Prince didn't give us money, but it's because of our gratitude and filial piety." Someone said in a serious tone.

At this time, the family of three was tired from walking, so they sat in a barbecue stall run by a Hu person and ordered a handful of roasted lamb. The restaurant next door saw the father and son of the Li family and immediately sent two pots of top-quality grape wine with a smile.

"Uncle Alifa, the meat is too salty today." Li Chengqian called out.

"Oh, that's not good. My dear, please sit still. I will grill it for you again." Alifa rubbed his hands, spoke fluent Chang'an dialect, and said with a silly smile.

"No need. You guys have spoiled this child too much. It's just right to eat it with wine." Li Shimin smiled and waved his hand.

The family of three was eating. Changsun Wugou said, "Dalang, before the New Year, your father announced to the world that you will be given a coming-of-age ceremony in October this year, and the surrounding countries will be invited to watch the ceremony. What are your plans?"

"I have already started to prepare. However, I am still young, so there is no rush." ​​Li Chengqian said. As soon as he finished speaking, someone suddenly interrupted.

"Nonsense, a man's coming of age ceremony is at the age of thirteen, this is the etiquette. Besides, the emperor's words are final, how can they be easily changed?

Qian'er has completed the coming-of-age ceremony, and now he has become an adult. In two years, I will find you a crown princess and let you get married. You can then give birth to more children for our Li family. "The family of three turned around and saw Li Yuan standing not far behind them. With the constant matchmaking of Li Chengqian and Zhangsun Wugou, the rift between Li Yuan and Li Shimin was resolved. The relationship between father and son became stronger day by day.

"Grandfather/Father/Father-in-law." The three of them stood up and saluted.

"Erlang, how come you have time to come out today?" Li Yuan smiled and sat down. Li Shimin personally poured a glass of wine for Li Yuan and said with a smile, "There is no important government affairs recently, and Guanyin is pregnant again. So I came out for a walk."

Li Yuan looked at the bustling Chang'an City, people's faces were filled with happiness. Li Yuan sighed, "Hey, Erlang, you are better than your father as the emperor."

"Grandfather, why do you say that? Grandfather was a man of great talent and strategy. He established the Central Plains and founded our Li family's eternal foundation. He was an unrivaled leader." Li Chengqian said with a smile.

"It's good that my grandson can talk and always wants to make grandfather happy." Li Yuan looked at Li Chengqian and scratched his nose lovingly.

"Erlang, it's time to consider Qian'er's marriage." Li Yuan said.

"We don't have to worry about this. Shibobi's daughter Ashina Yun has long been deeply in love with Dalang." Li Shimin said with a smile, stroking his beard.

"Ashina Yun? She likes me? How come I don't know?" Li Chengqian said in surprise.

"You are good at both civil and military affairs, but you are just a blockhead. Even a fool can see how much the young lady loves you. But you don't know it." Li Shimin teased.

"Isn't this just following Erlang? Erlang didn't see my deep love for you back then." Zhangsun Wugou smiled with her hands covering her mouth. Li Shimin paused and turned his head away.

"The lady from the Shibobi family is a good candidate." Li Yuan stroked his beard and nodded.

A few people chatted and laughed for a while, then dispersed when they saw it was getting dark.

On the second day of the morning court, Li Dao Zong, the Minister of the Honglu Temple (Li Shimin attached great importance to Li Chengqian's coming-of-age ceremony and specially ordered Li Jing to go to Lingzhou to temporarily replace Li Dao Zong.) bowed and said.

"Your Majesty invites foreign nations to attend the Crown Prince's coming-of-age ceremony. Currently, Eastern Turkic, Tuyuhun, Gaochang, Yanqi, Kucha, Tubo, Ryukyu, Goguryeo, Silla, Baekje, Shiwei, Mohe, and Dongying have sent envoys to express their willingness to attend the Crown Prince's coming-of-age ceremony with gifts."

"Order the Secretariat and the Honglu Temple to cooperate in receiving envoys from foreign countries, and Li Daozon will be the chief envoy to receive them. The time for the crowning ceremony for the crown prince is tentatively set for the tenth day of the tenth month." Li Shimin gave the order.

Before Li Chengqian's coming of age, envoys from various foreign countries came to Chang'an one after another. On the way to Chang'an, the envoys saw a thriving scene. When they saw the wide and smooth cement road, they were all amazed. When they arrived in Chang'an, they were even more shocked by the prosperity of Chang'an.

In ancient times, the ceremony of capping was held in the ancestral temple. The ceremony was very grand and complicated. Ten days before the ceremony, the person to be capped had to divine an auspicious day. If there was no auspicious day within ten days, the auspicious day in the next ten days would be chosen. Then the auspicious day would be announced to relatives and friends. Three days before the ceremony, the divination method was used to select the guest of honor to preside over the ceremony, and a "praiser of the capping" was selected to assist in the ceremony. During the ceremony, the host (usually the father of the person to be capped), the guest of honor and the person to be capped all wore formal attire.

On the tenth day of the tenth month in the fifth year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin invited Changsun Wuji, the Minister of the Left, as the guest of honor and Chen Shuda, the Minister of Rites, as the assistant to the emperor. A ceremony of crowning Li Chengqian was held in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Ministers of the court and envoys from foreign countries came to watch the ceremony.

Li Chengqian knelt in the Imperial Ancestral Temple in his court robes. Li Yuan also sat in his court robes. When the auspicious time came, Shangshu Zuo Pushe Changsun Wuji said in a loud voice, "The ceremony of capping begins."

Li Shimin, dressed in the imperial court robes, said loudly, "I have a son at home, he is thirteen years old. Choose an auspicious day, invite guests, play the harp and the flute, and let them watch the ceremony."

Shangshu Zuo Pushe Changsun Wuji said in a clear voice, "First."

Chen Shuda, the Minister of Rites, sang loudly, "I wish you: On this auspicious day of the month, I will wear your first clothes, abandon your childhood name, and let you become virtuous. I wish you a long life and great happiness."

After the song was over, Li Shimin took the black cloth crown from Zhangsun Wuji and put it on Li Chengqian himself. He said loudly, "With this crown, my son has become an adult. He can rule people."

Shangshu Zuo Pushe Changsun Wuji said loudly again, "Add more."

Minister of Rites Chen Shuda sang again loudly, "I wish you: In this auspicious month and day, I will dress you well, respect your dignity, and be prudent and virtuous. May you live a long life and receive blessings forever."

After the song was over, Chen Shuda, the Minister of Rites, took off the black cloth cap from Li Chengqian's head. Li Shimin took the leather cap from Zhangsun Wuji and put it on Li Chengqian himself. He said loudly, "With this cap, my son can gallop on the battlefield and command the army."

Shangshu Zuo Pushe Changsun Wuji said "three plus" loudly for the third time.

Minister of Rites Chen Shuda sang loudly for the third time, "I pray: With the right year and the order of the month, all are blessed, and brothers are present to complete their virtues. Huang Lao has no boundaries and receives the blessing of heaven."

After the song was over, Chen Shuda, the Minister of Rites, took off the leather cap from Li Chengqian's head. Li Shimin took the cap from Zhangsun Wuji and put it on Li Chengqian himself. He said, "After this cap is put on, my son can enter the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices to the ancestors. You can offer sacrifices."

Minister of Rites Chen Shuda said loudly, "The three crowns have been added, and the name has been granted."

Changsun Wuji followed and sang loudly, "Now that you have reached adulthood, I grant you a special name. It is: Gao Ming."

After the third coronation, Li Shimin held a banquet for the guests. Then Li Chengqian met his family. The whole subsequent process was cumbersome and complicated, which made Li Chengqian very upset.