The Great Wei Music Bureau

Last time we talked about Minister Kong giving Li Yi some precautions for the Queen Mother’s birthday banquet and mentioned demonstrating the country’s prestige. This caught Li Yi’s attention. So how would Li Yi view this issue? Let’s look on.

Li Yi asked Minister Kong why the Queen Mother's birthday was related to showing off the country's prestige. Minister Sun stood up and said solemnly, "Xiuyuan, this year is the Queen Mother's 50th birthday. It is natural to celebrate the 50th birthday in a big way. His Majesty has ordered me to draft an amnesty order at the beginning of the year, and I will announce the amnesty at the Queen Mother's birthday banquet. Moreover, not only will the Southern Liang and Western Chu send envoys to celebrate this birthday, but even the Xiongnu in the north and the Qiang and Di tribes in the northwest will send envoys to come, so we must show the strength of our Great Wei! We can't let these outsiders look down on us."

Li Yi nodded, and then suddenly asked: "Sir Shangshu, before this, who was responsible for this matter?"

"The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue jointly prepared it. What's wrong?"

Li Yi bowed and said, "Xiu Yuan has some ideas about the birthday banquet, but the time is too short to realize it. Please show me the banquet rules and program that you have prepared."

Minister Kong took a memorial from the table and handed it to Li Yi. Li Yi opened it and took a quick look, then said, "The rules will basically remain unchanged, but the program and venue will have major changes. But the most important thing is not these but the theme!"

Minister Kong was shocked and asked, "Theme? What is the theme of the Queen Mother's birthday banquet besides celebrating her birthday?"

Li Yi smiled and said, "Didn't you say that you wanted to use the Queen Mother's birthday banquet to promote the prestige of our Great Wei Kingdom? So you still need the help of the Ministry of War."

Minister Kong did not understand why a birthday banquet needed the help of the Ministry of War, and Li Yi bowed and said, "Minister Kong, Xiuyuan has important matters to discuss with Mr. Tao. Please forgive Xiuyuan for leaving first." After saying that, he turned around and left. Minister Kong stretched out his hand to stop him, but Li Yi had already rushed out. He shook his head and smiled, muttering to himself, "Okay, Li Yi, Li Yi, I have to help you with your business! You are really amazing!"

Looking at Li Yi again, he had already walked out of the Ministry of Rites. The yamen runner at the door saw Li Yi leaving and bowed, asking, "Master Li, are you leaving now?"

Li Yi walked away while bowing, saying, "I have something important to do. Please get busy first!" He quickly got on the carriage. Shi Yu saw that Li Yi came back so quickly and asked, "Li Lang, have you finished all the formalities so quickly?"

Li Yi smiled and said, "Nothing has been done! There is no time left, let's go to the Gentleman's Pavilion!"

Along the way, Li Yi told Yu Shiyu about his imagined banquet process and program arrangement. Shiyu nodded frequently and said with a smile: "Li Lang is really amazing. He thought of it so quickly. But why did you tell me about it?"

Li Yi said: "The time is too short, I'm afraid it won't be enough, so I need your help. You have to arrange a lot of things!"

Shiyu asked: "Me? How can a woman like me participate in such a big event?"

Li Yi said, "Your Majesty has asked the Queen to supervise my work. Isn't the Queen also a woman? So you don't have to worry about this. Besides, you were the one who coordinated the singing competition before. You have accumulated a lot of experience. And you are the only one I can trust right now."

When Shiyu heard this, she was delighted and agreed. When the carriage arrived at the Gentleman's Pavilion, Li Yi jumped off the carriage and walked in quickly. As soon as he entered the door, he shouted, "Mr. Tao! Li Yi has something important to discuss with you."

Tao Zhongwen walked over slowly and asked, "Why is Xiu so flustered?"

Li Yi said, "Li Yi has a plan to deal with Hu, and I would like to discuss it with you, sir."

Tao Zhongwen pulled Li Yi to a quiet room. Tao Zhongwen looked at Li Yi and asked, "Ping Hu Ce? What's the name?"

Li Yi nodded and said, "Although I dare not say that I can put down the rebellion in the northern border, I can ensure peace in the northern border for ten years."

Tao Zhongwen asked: "Can you really keep the northern border safe for ten years?"

Li Yi thought for a moment and said, "Xiu Yuan came to discuss this with you, sir, just to hear your thoughts."

So Li Yi expressed his ideas. His strategy for pacifying the Hu people was divided into four steps:

The first step was deterrence. The Zhenbei Army took the initiative to attack, break the Hu people's momentum and force them to negotiate.

The second step of the negotiations clarified trade matters. Not only did all cities have to be opened for trade, but the safety of caravans also had to be protected. The main purpose of trading with the Huns was to exchange the abundant materials in the Central Plains for horses, cattle and sheep. Trading with the Qiang and Di was not only to exchange for horses, cattle and sheep, but more importantly to reopen the Silk Road.

Although trade was allowed, copper and iron transactions were strictly prohibited, and salt could only be traded by the court. The most important purpose of trade was to publicize the power of Wei and let all the surrounding tribes feel the power and wealth of Wei.

The third step was assimilation. A series of policies were issued to attract the Hu people, such as tax exemptions for household registration, settlement allowances, land distribution, and rental of farm tools. These policies were only for the northern border. The purpose was to attract the Hu people to become the subjects of Wei, and then assimilate them and settle the nomads. When they settled in the northern border, if someone invaded the border again, they would fight the enemy to protect their own interests.

The last step is to induce surrender. When there are enough Hu people who become citizens of Wei, we can start persuading some small tribes to surrender with their entire families, and then connect the points with lines, and use the lines to lead the whole area, turning the northern grassland into the territory of Wei.

Tao Zhongwen nodded after listening to Li Yi's strategy and said, "Although the strategy is good, there are too many problems in its implementation. The most important thing is that the Hu people who have been herding for generations cannot easily give up their old customs and settle down to farming! This strategy to pacify the Hu people is different from the strategy to control monks and Taoists. Once problems arise, it will easily shake the foundation of the country! The northern border cannot be in chaos! It cannot be decided based on your lofty talk."

Li Yi nodded and said, "Of course, Xiuyuan also knows that this policy of pacifying the Hu people is a national policy, and it cannot be decided casually. So Xiuyuan thought that you could take this strategy to the Secretariat for discussion to see what others think. In addition, Xiuyuan has also thought about the resettlement issue you mentioned, and is thinking about starting from the three aspects of faith, culture, and economy."

Li Yi spoke out all his ideas. Tao Zhongwen laughed and said, "Your idea is good, but the generals will be the first to disagree with your strategy. If there is no war to fight in the North, do you want them to retire?"

Li Yi smiled and said, "Of course not! Could it be that the soldiers of the Great Wei only want to fight the Xiongnu and dare not fight against the Southern Liang and Western Chu? Don't they want to establish an unprecedented achievement?"

Tao Zhongwen suddenly understood Li Yi's intention. The real purpose of this Pinghu Strategy was to maintain stability in the northern border, so that he could free up his hands to go south and unify the nine provinces! He looked at Li Yi, and in his mind appeared a picture of Li Yi standing in the position of the Prime Minister in the court many years later, pointing out the situation. He gradually showed a gratified smile, and then said: "Xiuyuan, I will take your Pinghu Strategy to the Secretariat to discuss it with someone to see if it is feasible. If it is feasible, how about I report it to His Majesty?"

Li Yi nodded and said, "Please tell His Majesty that the preparation for this plan will be completed at the Queen Mother's birthday banquet! Let's use the Queen Mother's birthday banquet to promote the prestige of our Great Wei! Show the great Chinese country to all the foreigners who come to celebrate the birthday." When Li Yi left the Gentlemen's Pavilion, Tao Zhongwen went out to see him off until he got on the carriage. After the carriage left, Tao Zhongwen turned around and ordered someone to prepare a carriage to go to the Secretariat...

Li Yi asked Shiyu to go home and wait for news, while he went to the Ministry of Industry to find Lu Shu, the Minister of Industry. He drew more than 20 pages of drawings for Lu Shu, all of which were drawings of the stage, including the artificial lifting platform. Lu Shu took these and looked at them repeatedly, and asked Li Yi: "Xiu Yuan, do you also know mechanical engineering?"

Li Yi waved his hand and said, "I only know the basics, Lord Lu, with only one month, can this stage be built?"

Lu Shu looked through it a few more times and said, "If there are no major changes, twenty days will be enough!"

Li Yi smiled and said, "Great! Lord Lu is still reliable!"

After leaving the Ministry of Works, Li Yi returned home and worked with Shi Yu, writing nine music scores overnight. Because of their experience in the singing competition, the two of them had a tacit understanding. When the music scores were finished, they also tacitly fell asleep in bed. Unprecedentedly, Li Yi got up first the next day, and started working immediately after waking up. He picked up a pen and wrote a list of several pages, then took the list to the Ministry of Rites and handed the music scores and the list to Minister Kong's desk.

When Minister Kong took it and looked at it, he couldn't help but frowned and said, "Xiuyuan, you suddenly asked for so many things, which is really difficult to deal with!"

This is what Li Yi wanted to hear. He said, "Sir Shangshu needs a helper in Xiuyuan. Does your Excellency have a suitable candidate?"

Li Yi didn't wait for him to speak and said again: "Xiu Yuan does have a candidate who is very suitable to help me share the preparation work this time."

Minister Kong asked, "Who?" "My wife, Wan Shiyu."

Minister Kong shook his head and said, "Xiuyuan, I know what you mean. The previous singing competition was arranged by your wife, and you have a close rapport. She is the most suitable candidate both emotionally and logically. However, it is difficult for me to handle this matter. I can't let the three departments of etiquette, household and labor revolve around you two."

Just as the two were arguing, they heard a message from outside the door that the Queen had arrived! The two immediately knelt down to greet her. The Queen Gongsun Feng said softly, "Stand up!" The two stood up and bowed their heads. Gongsun Feng said, "I am here on the orders of Your Majesty to check on the progress of the Queen Mother's birthday banquet. May I ask how is the preparations of Li Changshi going?"

Li Yi suddenly had an idea and said solemnly, "Reporting to Her Majesty the Queen, there has been no progress."

Minister Kong looked at Li Yi with a squinting eye, wondering if this kid was going to cause trouble! He was already causing trouble on the second day after taking office?

Gongsun Feng was surprised and asked, "Li Changshi, I just came from the Ministry of Works. Minister Lu is using the drawings you gave me to make a budget and write a petition to ask for money. How can you say there is no progress? Yesterday, Minister Kong sent someone to report that you have seen the procedures and program of the birthday banquet. Didn't you say that the procedures will basically remain unchanged, but only some of the programs will be changed?"

Li Yi replied, "Reporting to the Queen, it is still unknown when the silver bill will be issued. I have discussed with Lord Lu that the construction period is about 20 days. The silver bill will be submitted, the Ministry of Revenue will review it, and then the money will be approved. The Ministry of Works will get the silver and then start the construction. This will take time. If the silver is not approved in time, the stage cannot be built. Therefore, as long as the silver is not approved, there will be no progress on the part of the Ministry of Works.

Besides, the list of items I made has just been handed over to Minister Kong, and he has to write a request for money before he can start purchasing. There are many items needed, and it will probably take several days just to purchase them. Then we have to find suitable dancers, singers and musicians. In short, there are too many trivial matters to prepare, and it is difficult for me to take care of them all by myself. There is only more than a month left before the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, and I am a little overwhelmed. "

Gongsun Feng looked at Minister Kong and asked, "Didn't the Minister assign some capable assistants to Li Changshi?"

Just as Minister Kong was about to speak, Li Yi answered, "Your Highness, the Minister is very dedicated and serious about the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, but some things are not convenient for the Ministry of Rites to prepare. So I want my wife to help with the preparations. She was in charge of all the matters of the previous singing party. If my wife can help, I think it will be more efficient."

Minister Kong understood Li Yi's intention. He knew that the Ministry of Rites had no right to let Shi Yu participate in the preparations, so he wanted to skip the Ministry of Rites and ask the Queen to come forward directly. However, although Li Yi's plan was very sound, the Queen's words did not count in this matter. He thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, Li Changshi was just talking to me about this matter. Your Majesty also knows that this matter is very serious.

First, although Li Changshi's wife has been redeemed, she was a prostitute after all, so it is not in accordance with etiquette. Second, Li Changshi's wife has no official position, so it is not in accordance with etiquette to participate in the preparation of the Queen Mother's birthday banquet. Third, if Li Changshi's wife is really allowed to participate in the preparation work, it is against the law for the Ministry of Rites to agree. For these three reasons, I cannot agree to Li Changshi's request. "

Gongsun Feng knew how upright Kong Shangshu was. He was fair in everything he did and would not target anyone. Li Yi also knew that Kong Shangshu was telling the truth and had no intention of doing anything bad. Gongsun Feng looked at Li Yi and asked, "Li Changshi, what Kong Shangshu said is very true, but I am curious about what is inconvenient for the Ministry of Rites to prepare? Do you have to ask your wife to participate?"