Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

In the past, the imperial court had always waged wars against foreign tribes, spending a large amount of silver on military expenses, resulting in the treasury being empty year after year.

When the imperial court was impoverished, it was unable to take care of ordinary people. There was nothing that could be done about it.

But now the national treasury is so full, and it is wealth plundered by soldiers at the risk of their lives, but it is still hidden and not willing to distribute it to the soldiers. This is unacceptable.

If this money is not distributed to the people, it will be consumed in the next ten years or so, and a large part of it will fall into the pockets of corrupt officials.

In this case, it would be better to give more to the civilians who were seriously injured and died in the war.

On the imperial platform.

When Li Shimin saw that all the civil and military officials in the court agreed to increase the pension, he couldn't help but look up to Du He.

This brat has an amazing talent for sophistry. Even someone as eloquent as Chu Suiliang was forced into silence by his few words.

I wonder if Wei Zheng could have silenced Du He on the issue of increasing the pension if he were still alive?

Li Shimin turned his gaze to the prince on the side, then asked with a smile on his face.

"Prince, do you have a different opinion on Chu Suiliang and Du He's views?"

Hearing that His Majesty actually asked the Crown Prince for his opinion, the civil and military officials in the court all turned their eyes to Li Chengqian with curious expressions on their faces.

Although the decree has been enacted, the prince's attitude towards it can indicate his future governance style.

Li Chengqian clasped his fists and replied, "My father often said that the people are water and the king is a boat. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it."

"I think the relationship between the people and the court is the same. The people are the water and the court is the boat. The court should be better to the people!"

"Minister Chu is only thinking about the future of the court and is taking a long-term view. I think this is not wrong, but he just doesn't consider the current actual situation."

"And what Minister Du said is more reasonable considering the current situation of the people of the Tang Dynasty and the fullness of the national treasury."

As the commander-in-chief of the Liaodong Campaign, Li Chengqian was very fond of these simple soldiers, especially after experiencing the attack by the Xueyantuo cavalry.

If it weren't for these soldiers who risked their lives to protect him, he probably wouldn't have been able to come back alive.

Therefore, from a personal perspective, Li Chengqian supported giving more pensions to the families of soldiers.

In addition, Li Chengqian did not reject Chu Suiliang's opinion outright, which was also determined by his status as the crown prince.

As the future emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he could not openly take sides in the Taiji Hall, otherwise it would give neutral court officials the illusion that he favored his advisers.

Once the neutral ministers have this idea, I am afraid they will not support him as the crown prince so wholeheartedly.

After all, every official is pursuing benefits for himself and his family. If the new crown prince only favors his own people, they will definitely not sit still for the sake of their own interests.

"Your Highness is right!" Li Shimin nodded slightly and praised.

Looking at the prince who was becoming more calm and capable, Li Shimin's gaze quickly swept over Hou Junji, Du He, Li Jing, Wang Jun'e, Xiao Kai and others.

There was silence for a few moments.

Li Shimin said to Tang Jian calmly, "Tang Jian, rewards and pensions for soldiers should be distributed according to this standard!"

Tang Jian, who thought things would turn around, had a slightly regretful look on his face. He quickly stood up holding his tablet and responded.

"The minister obeys the order!"

After the two major events were announced, the next half hour was spent by the heads of various departments reporting on their respective affairs.

The main matters that Du He reported were the affairs of the Yubu Division and the Shuibu Division.

The Yu Department is currently mainly preparing firewood and charcoal to cope with the coming cold winter, while the Water Department is dredging rivers during the dry season and reinforcing dams in flood-prone areas.

After all departments had finished reporting, Li Shimin also told everyone the third piece of important news.

"My dear ministers, there are many important positions vacant in the court, and many elderly officials have resigned from their posts due to poor health."

"After many days of deliberation, I have also made corresponding changes to some ministers."

Boom!

Li Shimin's words were like a heavy punch, hitting the hearts of all the civil and military officials.

Many officials looked around in panic and talked in low voices.

"Why did your majesty suddenly issue this order?"

"There is still one month left before the Ministry of Personnel assessment!"

"I don't know which ministers His Majesty is going to take action against?"

"Since the army returned from the conquest of Goguryeo, six ministers have been replaced. I didn't expect that the positions would be replaced again now!"

A group of officials sitting in the middle and back seats, especially the older ones, all had worried expressions on their faces.

They are used to a life of luxury and although they haven't made any big mistakes, they haven't made any obvious achievements either.

If Your Majesty wants to transfer him from a position of real power to a less busy pension department, it would be tantamount to depriving them of their power in disguise.

Not only were a group of fourth and fifth rank officials worried, but even prime ministers such as Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling and Li Ji had expressions of astonishment on their faces.

Because of the major official transfers that would be announced later, His Majesty did not discuss them in advance, and they did not know that those people would be changed.

Just as the hearts of the civil and military officials were in turmoil, Li Shimin waved to the eunuch guarding one side of the hall, signaling him to read the imperial edict.

The eunuch in charge of reading the imperial edict walked to a corner of the imperial platform, held up the imperial edict and read it aloud.

"The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty has promoted General Xue Wanche of the Right Guard to the rank of General of the Right Guard, and married him to Princess Danyang, and appointed him as the Prince Consort of the Emperor!"

Xue Wanche stood up from the line of generals with an excited look on his face, saluted while holding a tablet and said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"

Xue Wanche's promotion to the rank of Right Guard General and Princess Shang was no secret in the court, and both civil and military officials knew about it in advance.

Therefore, when everyone heard the appointment, their expressions did not change at all.

The reason why Xue Wanche was so excited was that the issuance of the imperial edict meant that the dust had settled and there would be no further unexpected events.

From today on, he, the number one general under Li Jiancheng, also became one of the Sixteen Guards Generals.

The general of the Sixteen Guards was the highest-ranking military commander with real power.

The eunuch then read out, "The Emperor of the Great Tang ordered that the Minister of the Central Secretariat Yang Shidao resign from his post due to his advanced age and poor health, and be appointed as a special official instead!"

"Promote the Secretary of the Central Secretariat, Cen Wenben, to be the Minister of the Central Secretariat!"

wow~

When they saw that the first person His Majesty moved was the Minister of the Central Secretariat, a huge noise suddenly broke out in the Taiji Hall.

Although the official rank of Tejin is higher than that of Zhongshu Ling, the former is a civil official without real power, while the latter is a civil official with real power. The power gap between the two is very large.

In addition, Yang Shidao had served as the Minister of the Central Secretariat for many years and had not made any mistakes, but it was unexpected that His Majesty still chose to take action against him.

Yang Shidao and Cen Wenben, who knew the result already, stood up one after another and responded.

"I accept the decree!"