The Tang Dynasty: Wu Zetian made me her imperial tutor

At the street corner, a thin man in hemp clothing was looking around with his head down. When he caught sight of Lu Jun approaching, he took off running.

"As expected, someone was watching him..." Lu Jun stared at his retreating figure, lost in thought.

Was he a cruel official?

After the Lijing Gate incident, Zhou Xing apologized on the spot, which must have been at the Empress Dowager's behest. Seeing that he was being given important responsibilities, he probably wouldn't target him again anytime soon.

Someone surnamed Li?

It seems that the matter of granting land to officials and the granting of land is just the beginning; the other party has its eyes on me and will not let this go easily.

Lacking connections and power, I was helpless and truly passive when faced with such a situation.

But connections are something you can never gain by currying favor or flattering others.

If you are useful to someone, that person is your connection.

Lu Jun took out the jade pendant from her bosom, and was hesitating when the sounds of horses' hooves, wheels, and shouts mingled into the street.

"Lu Shiyi, the princess has asked the Empress Dowager to borrow you for a day, and the Empress Dowager has agreed. Please do me the honor."

Inside the carriage, Feng Yan wore that meaningful smile once again.

A quarter of an hour later, at the Princess's residence.

It's still that same clear blue water, that same painted boat, that same purple dress, and that same beautiful woman.

Li Lingyue's eyebrows, which were previously drawn flat with a sharp edge, have become curved like willow leaves in the past few days, adding to her charm.

"Chu Yu, your analysis is correct. I have already promised my mother that I will prepare to marry Wu Youji in July."

She brought up this matter right away, but unlike last time, she showed no sadness whatsoever.

Sipping the tea Lu Jun had ordered, a smile played on her lips:

"I've figured out two things..."

"First, if you want to be emperor, you must be like your mother, able to assess the situation and not act on emotion or blindly.

"If I insist on making you my son-in-law, not only will I fail, but I will also harm you."

"I must endure this. If I can't even endure this, how can I rule the world in the future?"

She remained steadfast in her devotion to that dragon bed... Lu Jun remained silent, her eyes lowered in contemplation.

Li Lingyue stared intently at him, making the person opposite her feel a little awkward, and then she chuckled:

"Secondly, I think this matter is complicated, and there's no need to be so sad."

"Marrying Wu Youji won't stop me from seeing you. He can live his life, and I can live mine, isn't that fine?"

"My mother only wants me to marry into the Wu family; she can't force me to like or dislike anyone!"

Cough cough--

Lu Jun cleared her throat: "I know Your Highness borrowed people because you have something to say, and I also have something to say to Your Highness."

"Your Highness's tip last time allowed me to prepare in advance, for which I am very grateful."

"I have two suggestions regarding political affairs that Your Highness might consider presenting to the Empress Dowager; she will surely be pleased..."

"I knew it!" Li Lingyue's eyes lit up.

Her voice was as soothing as if touched by a warm breeze: "Chu Yu is by no means a heartless person. You like me, don't you?"

Whether I like it or not is another matter, sister, you're not only good to me... Lu Jun held back her words.

"The first suggestion is to reinstate horse administration."

"I wrote about this matter in my policy essay and also mentioned it briefly during the audience after the palace examination, but now that border affairs are so numerous and the court is too busy, I will not mention it again for the time being."

"The timing of His Highness making this suggestion to the Empress Dowager is just right, neither too early nor too late."

"While there are still shortcomings in horse breeds, the regulations for selecting officials, employing staff, and rewarding and punishing officials in the pastoral area need to be established first."

"Horse administration is extremely important. At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, it was precisely because of the abundance of warhorses that it was able to traverse the vast deserts..."

Lu Jun patiently explained the situation to Li Lingyue.

When Emperor Taizong was conquering the country, he had the elite Xuanjia Army as his trump card, and he was very clear about the importance of warhorses.

He appointed Zhang Wansui, the Grand Master of the Palace, to manage the pastures in Longyou. Zhang Wansui was extremely skilled at raising horses and worked diligently for forty years, resulting in the rapid growth of the number of horses in Longyou to over 700,000!

Zhang Wansui was credited with the Tang Dynasty cavalry's ability to pacify Goguryeo, destroy the Western Turks, and deploy troops in Qinghai.

Unfortunately, after Zhang Wansui's death, the Ma government never recovered.

The Tang Dynasty suffered repeated defeats, resulting in severe losses of warhorses. Coupled with poor maintenance, the number of herd horses plummeted.

Ten years ago, during the Yonglong era, nearly 200,000 horses in Xia Prefecture died or were plundered in just two or three years!

Today, there are only about 200,000 horses left in the country.

Among them were many of ordinary physiques, who could only serve as pack horses or post horses, but not as warhorses.

The imperial court has failed in its duties regarding the protection of pastures, the reward and punishment of officials, and the selection and appointment of personnel.

If the situation is not corrected in time, the Tang army will soon be unable to organize cavalry legions and will only be able to hold their ground, unable to launch long-range flanking maneuvers.

"The princess could propose re-electing capable officials, rigorously evaluating them, and encouraging the private sector to raise horses..."

"Once the tea-horse trade opens and the number of fine horse breeds increases, the previous preparations will immediately come in handy..."

Lu Jun's suggestion was exactly what Emperor Xuanzong had done during the Kaiyuan era—

Trade for fine horse breeds

Encourage private horse breeding

Appoint an official skilled in horse breeding to be in charge.

Among these, the trade involved exchanging silk with the Turks, which was much more expensive than tea, but there was no other way to avoid it.

After years of efforts by Emperor Xuanzong, the horse administration of the Tang Dynasty finally flourished again, and it was historically known as "the Tang Dynasty's horse industry was the most prosperous since the Qin and Han Dynasties".

With its superior warhorses, the Tang Dynasty reached its peak of power, enabling it to wage war in all directions and travel thousands of miles.

Li Lingyue listened attentively, nodding frequently: "Revitalizing horse administration is indeed very important, and it should be done sooner rather than later..."

He frowned slightly: "But Chu Yu, why is it that I'm the one to bring this up? The timing is perfect."

She remembered that Lu Jun had said that the court was busy with affairs.

This means that even if it is proposed, it cannot be implemented immediately.

Lu Jun replied, "At the family banquet at Shangyang Palace the other day, I mentioned the tea-horse trade, saying that it would be helpful for future horse administration. If Your Highness had brought it up immediately, the Empress Dowager would not have suspected that I had instructed you to do so. On the contrary, she would have praised Your Highness for being so attentive to political affairs, even at banquets."

"That makes sense!" Li Lingyue suddenly realized.

Her eyes sparkled, and she smiled, "Chu Yu, you thought of this back then, didn't you? That means you had feelings for me!"

Sister, the building is leaning again... Lu Jun ignored her.

"The second suggestion still concerns the imperial examination system."

"Last time I mentioned anonymizing and sealing papers, but because the scale was too large and the time for grading was limited, I didn't go into more detail."

"We can add another step: before the examiners review the papers, they should have the scribes make a copy to avoid identifying candidates by their handwriting."

"Furthermore, the imperial examination can be established as a precedent, with the emperor personally determining the rankings, so that the candidates will feel even more grateful for the emperor's favor."

Wu Zetian's extensive selection of people was nothing more than an attempt to win over the hearts and minds of the people, and this kind of suggestion certainly suited her wishes.

This time, Li Lingyue figured it out herself: "I made the suggestion about the imperial examinations, so Mother won't suspect that you taught me; rather, it means I've gained some new insights, right?"

Lu Jun nodded.

Upon receiving two excellent proposals at once, Li Lingyue was overjoyed, her chest heaving with the rhythm of the lake.

"I've learned a few tricks myself, let me make you some tea." She took the roasted tea cake and began grinding it with a pestle.

She stood up and sat opposite Lu Jun, winking: "This princess will personally serve you."

Lu Jun was surrounded by the bright spring sunshine and had no choice but to look away.

Li Lingyue's lips curled into a smile: "Do you have many more ideas that you've been keeping to yourself?"

Lu Jun replied, "There are indeed some, but if we tell Your Highness everything, the Empress Dowager will become suspicious. We have to proceed slowly..."

There are many suggestions, but I'll keep most of them to myself and give some to the princess, since she's genuinely trying to help me.

Li Lingyue arched her eyebrows slightly: "Chu Yu, you're quite cunning! This way you'll have more opportunities to see me, right?"

I'll give you a disdainful look; you'll understand.

Li Lingyue giggled: "Okay, I admit I wanted to see you. Saying that will make you happier~"

He prepared the tea, handed it over, and suddenly asked, "Chu Yu, were you ever engaged?"

"No? My father and mother have already passed away..." Lu Jun was taken aback. "Why does Your Highness ask this?"

At this time, marriage was a matter of parental arrangement and matchmaker's word, so naturally no one would arrange it for them.

"In order to uphold your family's reputation, you did not fear the prime minister and argued against Wu Chengsi during the court hearing. When this reached the ears of the gentry, many people felt that you had the demeanor of a noble family and had a good impression of you."

"There is also the popularity of peony poems and new tea drinks, and many famous poets and writers have praised you highly."

"Not to mention, you are now a favorite of Mother, often seen entering and leaving the Huiyou Palace with the Prime Minister, and your future is limitless."

"Therefore, someone came to me, wanting me to act as matchmaker and propose marriage to you."

At this point, Li Lingyue smiled and said, "Don't you think they're trying to get something from a tiger? They're blinded by greed!"

Is this how you use the phrase "to seek help from a tiger"?... Lu Jun didn't answer, but thought of another question.

Who has the ability to ask the princess to be their matchmaker?

"Your Highness, is that 'someone' a retainer of the princess?" His eyes darted around. "Does Your Highness wish to introduce us?"

"Chu Yu is Chu Yu, she understands everything immediately!" Li Lingyue gave a thumbs up.

"If I keep looking for you like this, Mother will be unhappy. Therefore, from now on, someone will need to act as a messenger..."

"Furthermore, you keep to yourself advising the court and rarely go out to make friends, so your network of connections is always too narrow. I have asked my retainers to invite a few famous scholars to a gathering."

"It's perfectly normal for poets and scholars to associate with each other. Your mother won't mind, so you can go without worry."

"I've already had someone check about the land assignment the Winter Official gave you last time. You might as well ask him in person."

"However, let's make this clear first: you can't agree to their marriage proposal, or I'll get jealous!"

Her lips were pouting so high they seemed to reach the sky.