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

During this period, Li Chengqian was busy arranging personnel and materials for Xizhou and Zangzhou. Fortunately, the Tang Dynasty had many capable officials, and the core ministers were all capable of governing the country. Therefore, the Tang Dynasty court was very efficient. Every decree issued by Li Chengqian could be implemented efficiently, quickly and thoroughly.

On this day, after finally dealing with the affairs of Xizhou and Zangzhou, there was nothing important to deal with in the morning court. Li Chengqian finally had some free time, and after the morning court, Li Chengqian yawned and walked out of Yanying Hall.

Li Chengqian was thinking about going home to take some time off, play with the kids, and invite Chang Sunchong and others to go to Chang'an Street to find a quiet place to drink some wine and listen to some music. When they passed by the Central Secretariat outside the Yanying Palace, the Palace Internal Affairs Office and other central agencies, they suddenly heard a female voice laughing.

"The morning court session has just ended, and today's state affairs have just begun. The Crown Prince is not in Yanying Palace to handle state affairs. Where is he going?"

"Which palace maid is so blind as to meddle in other people's business. Do I have to report to you what this prince is going to do and where he is going?" Li Chengqian thought, among all the women in the palace, there were only a few who dared to talk to him like this, and he was familiar with all those voices.

This voice was a bit familiar and a bit strange. Li Chengqian thought it was a palace maid. So he turned around and said dissatisfiedly.

"I'm tired recently and I'm going to skip work. Why do you care?" When he saw the man, Li Chengqian was stunned and petrified. He had only one thought in his mind: "It's over. I'm in trouble." The man opposite was someone that even Li Shimin had to be polite and humble to.

“Oh, little Cheng Qian is becoming more and more promising. The aura of this crown prince is getting stronger and stronger! How dare you be so arrogant to me? Even your father doesn’t dare to talk to me like that.” The woman opposite had a half-smile on her face, her eyelids twitching, and it was obvious that her anger value was rising.

A man beside him stroked his beard and smiled. Seeing Li Chengqian's horrified face, he couldn't help laughing. Li Chengqian couldn't afford to offend the Princess Pingyang, the female warrior of the Tang Dynasty, and the leader of the "women's army", Li Xiuning. He could only run to Li Xiuning and smile.

"Oh, why is the eldest aunt here? She didn't even inform me when she came, so that I could go out thirty miles from the city to meet you and uncle."

"How dare I? I am old and can't take care of the prince. The prince's imperial aura is getting stronger and stronger. I dare not trouble him." Li Xiuning said with narrowed eyes.

"Aunt, you'd better hit me twice. Otherwise, if Aye finds out, he will beat me to death. You can hit me less harshly. Besides, I'm your dear and well-behaved nephew. You won't be willing to hit me, right?" Li Chengqian looked at Li Xiuning pitifully.

"Haha, you. In recent years, people have said that the prince has become more wise and brave, and decisive in killing. He is the Holy Prince of the Tang Dynasty and the future holy monarch. How come you are still as cunning as when you were a child today?" Li Xiuning nodded Li Chengqian's head and laughed heartily.

"Hehe, in front of my eldest aunt, I am still a child. By the way, what are aunt and uncle doing in Beijing this time? If you need anything, let me know and I will send it to you." Li Chengqian said flatteringly.

"You are still a child, but you are already a father. I came to Beijing this time because I haven't seen you for a long time, especially Dalang, your children and Lingwu. I miss them very much.

Second, your father is going on a trip, and he wrote to me, saying he wants to go to Jinyang to see me. I discussed it with your uncle, and we have nothing to do anyway, so why not go on a trip with your father." Li Xiuning said with a smile.

"Traveling? Father never mentioned it?" Li Chengqian looked confused.

"Now the real ruler of the Tang Dynasty is Dalang, and your father is waiting to pass the throne to you. With a wise and capable crown prince like Dalang, your father has nothing to do or worry about, so he just wants to go out and take a walk." Chai Shao said with a smile.

"What should I say? What can I do with such a shirking father? Happy? Or angry? He is the emperor of the Tang Dynasty after all. He usually doesn't care about anything. Now he wants to go out and play, and throws all the state affairs to me, the crown prince. How can he still go out and play?

The most annoying thing is that you didn’t even take me with you when you went out to play.” Li Chengqian complained.

"How about it? Is it the same as Erlang said? When Dalang knows about it, he will definitely be dissatisfied because he is not taken with him." Li Xiuning said with a smile.

"No one knows a son better than his father. If you want to go, go ahead and tell your father. Dalang has worked hard for a long time and it's time for him to take a rest. If Erlang doesn't agree, there's your aunt." Chai Shao nodded and smiled.

After the three of them finished talking, they set off towards the Lizheng Hall. Before they reached the hall, they saw Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wugou waiting at the gate.

"Why haven't you come yet? I should have gone out of town to meet my elder sister. My elder sister has been in poor health for the past few years. Although Dalang has sent famous doctors to treat her many times, and I have also sent her many precious supplements.

However, the illnesses that my elder sister and brother-in-law contracted on the battlefield are not easy to recover from. I wonder how they are recovering. Oh, if I had known earlier, I would not have listened to my elder sister. I should have gone to Jinyang to visit my elder sister and brother-in-law.

And you, Guanyinbi, why did you agree to your elder sister's request?

Wang De, Wang De, where have you been, old slave? Go to the palace gate and see if my elder sister has come. No, send someone to the city gate to check immediately. Oh, by the way, Xiang'er (Changsun Wugou's personal maid), is the food I prepared for my elder sister ready? And the fragrant tea must also be prepared, my brother-in-law likes it. "Li Shimin walked around anxiously, muttering.

Zhangsun Wugou looked at Li Shimin in front of him with both helplessness and amusement. Li Shimin, who was already 45 years old, had attached more and more importance to family affection in recent years, especially after handing over the government to Li Chengqian, he became more and more like an ordinary rich man who enjoyed his grandchildren and spent his old age in peace.

"Okay, okay, everything has been arranged. Erlang, don't walk back and forth anymore. You've made me dizzy." Changsun Wugou smiled helplessly.

Li Xiuning stood far away, seeing Li Shimin's anxious look and hearing his words. She was in a trance for a moment, as if she had returned to the past, when Li Shimin, a child, saw her and happily called her "sister" and ran towards her. When he was wronged, he ran to her arms and cried.

Li Shimin had the closest relationship with Li Xiuning since childhood and was the most dependent on this sister. Li Xiuning also loved Li Shimin the most. When Li Shimin was fourteen years old, Empress Taimu passed away, and Li Shimin's wedding was still arranged by Li Xiuning.

After Li Yuan started his rebellion, the brother and sister fought side by side. Li Xiuning made great contributions to the establishment of the Tang Dynasty. Li Shimin respected and loved this sister, and their feelings for him were much deeper than those with his other brothers and sisters.

Li Xiuning cried softly with tears in her eyes.

"Erlang, my sister is here."

Li Shimin trembled when he heard this, and turned around quickly. After seeing Li Xiuning, Li Shimin was overjoyed and ran towards Li Xiuning happily, shouting as he ran.

"Sister, you are here. Erlang missed you so much."

"Slow down, slow down. You are not young anymore, and your body is not strong enough. Don't fall." Li Xiuning saw Li Shimin running towards her, and was worried that Li Shimin would trip, so she hurried forward to meet him.

Li Shimin ran too fast and stumbled, and was caught by Li Xiuning. Li Xiuning patted the dust off Li Shimin and scolded him.

"You are the emperor of the Tang Dynasty after all. You are my grandfather. How can you still be so impetuous? If outsiders see you, it will be a loss of dignity for the emperor."

"Hehe, I miss you, sister. Come with me into the hall, I have prepared your favorite snacks for you." Li Shimin scratched his head and grinned, then pulled Li Xiuning and walked towards the Lizheng Hall.

"Grace Guanyin greets my sister and brother-in-law. Erlang, don't be anxious." Changsun Wugou stepped forward and bowed slowly at the gate of the courtyard.

"Haha, Guanyinbi is getting younger and younger." Li Xiuning said with a smile.

"Hey, stop talking here, let's go inside and talk. Sister, I'm telling you, I knew you were coming, so I asked someone to make you your favorite red bean paste cake. You'll have to eat a few more later, sister." Li Shimin smiled and pulled Li Xiuning inside. Along the way, he kept showing off, talking about what good things he had prepared for sister, how his polo skills had improved a lot, and so on.

Li Xiuning listened to Li Shimin's speech with a smile on his face, and exclaimed in admiration from time to time. Behind him, Changsun Wugou, Chai Shao and Li Chengqian also followed with smiles. Li Chengqian and Chai Shao joked from time to time, and both sides laughed a lot.

Everyone was chatting and laughing in the Lizheng Hall. When they talked about Li Shimin's outing, Li Chengqian immediately got upset. Li Chengqian was very dissatisfied that Li Shimin didn't take him out to play, and strongly demanded to take him with him, almost throwing a tantrum.

Li Shimin said that as Li Chengqian was the regent and crown prince, how could he leave the court at will? He just disagreed.

Li Shimin and his son argued over this matter, and finally, with the strong intervention of Li Xiuning, Li Shimin was defeated, rubbing his head, and reluctantly agreed.

After discussing the itinerary, they decided to go south and then take a boat in Yangzhou to Goryeo to visit Li Ke. The people on the trip included Li Shimin and his wife, Concubine Yang, Li Xiuning and her husband, Changsun Wuji and his wife, Changsun Chong and his family of three. That is, Li Chengqian, Su Wan'er, and Li Yun. Li Chengqian's other children were still young and could not accompany them.

The court was supervised by Li Tai and Li Zhi, assisted by ministers such as Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui. When in doubt, they could send letters to Li Chengqian via carrier pigeons from the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Under the repeated persuasion of Changsun Wugui, Changsun Wuji had already applied to resign from the position of Shangshu Zuo Pushe, and took the title of Sikong, taking up the idle position of Taizi Taifu. In the past year, he has not participated much in political affairs, but occasionally served as a senior advisor to Li Chengqian and gave Li Chengqian some advice.

In the past few years, when Li Chengqian was not in the court, Li Tai was the supervisor. Li Tai also did a good job and was dedicated to helping Li Chengqian. However, this time, Li Tai and Li Zhi were both unhappy. After Li Chengqian promised to bring them many gifts when he returned, they reluctantly agreed.

After a few days of preparation, the group set off with a 10-man guard lineup consisting of the Prince's guards, Li Shimin's personal guards, and a dozen maids, disguised as wealthy people.

To ensure safety, Chang Sun Chong secretly ordered the Jinyiwei and Anbu to protect them along the way. The whereabouts of Li Shimin and his entourage were kept as top secret, and they were not allowed to disclose their whereabouts or inform the local authorities privately.

After discussing with Li Shimin and Li Chengqian, they decided that since they were going out to have fun and understand the people's sentiments, there was no need to harass the people and local officials along the way. The group was not in a hurry to travel, so they stayed in inns if there were towns, stayed in post houses if there were post houses, and camped if there were none.

Everyone left Chang'an City, laughing and talking all the way. Every time they arrived at a town, the women took their children to play and shop, while Li Shimin took the men to wander around and understand the people's sentiments. Although they were out for fun, as the emperor and crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, the people's sentiments and livelihood were more important.

After leaving Chang'an, the group saw a prosperous country and a thriving people. The people were filled with happiness and spoke well of the local officials.

The governance levels of local officials vary, but they have one thing in common: no one dares to be corrupt, and they all respect and care for the people.

It's not that all officials don't want to be corrupt or abuse their power, but they don't dare to do so and it's not worth it. Under Li Chengqian's rule, the Tang Dynasty implemented a system of high salaries to maintain integrity and severe punishment for crimes.

Citizens are also encouraged to report illegal behavior of officials to local supervisory agencies or the Imperial Uniform Guard. For all reports made under real names, the local supervisory agencies or the Imperial Uniform Guard must investigate the officials involved and give conclusions in a timely manner after receiving the report.

Li Chengqian introduced a decree stipulating that any corrupt official, in addition to recovering the stolen money and sentencing the person in accordance with the law, would be banned from holding office or doing business within three generations of his clan, and his crime would be made public. The punishment for bribery was the same as for bribe-takers.

Li Chengqian's reform of the local government separated the three powers of administration, law enforcement and trial, and each item was handled by professionals, so false cases and the phenomenon of "local emperors" were basically eliminated in the Tang Dynasty.

In addition, with the presence of supervisory agencies and the Imperial Guards, it is almost impossible to accept bribes privately without being discovered.

Under strict laws, the separation of powers and the supervision system, officials would not take bribes or pervert the law for a small profit. After all, the salary in the Tang Dynasty was the highest in history, enough to support a family and live a comfortable life.

Moreover, once the law is violated, the briber and the bribee will be equally guilty, and the three generations of relatives will be affected. No matter whether the briber or the bribee dares to act rashly.

Therefore, the Tang Dynasty is now politically clear and its national strength is growing. Li Shimin is happy every day when he sees such a prosperous time, and he is more and more satisfied with Li Chengqian.