Chapter 194: Silver Spear Filial Festival (Part Two)

Brother slave! You actually dare to deceive me!

When Li Linfu arrived, Ji Ge immediately blurted out a baffling remark.

At this moment, in the second‑floor corridor of the Huake Xianghui Tower, only the rustling of wind through leaves could be heard. Fang Youde, Gao Lishi, Li Shizhi and others beside Li Longji remained silent, awaiting Li Linfu's answer.

"Your Majesty, I am unaware of any offense against the sovereign; please inform me. If indeed there is such a matter, I request Your Majesty to punish me."

Li Linfu removed his official hat, placed it on the ground, and bowed with clasped hands, his demeanor exceedingly humble.

"I ask you, are you aware of the Yangzhou civilian unrest, the canal workers and weaving households attacking the county seat, killing officials and rebelling?"

Li Longji asked coldly.

"Your Majesty, I have heard of this in passing. However, the Yangzhou Prefecture has not reported any civilian unrest; please examine the matter yourself."

Li Linfu said slowly.

"The Yangzhou prefect Yang Zhao was killed, and you, Prime Minister, apparently did not know! You slave, how did you become the Tang right prime minister!"

Ji Ge seemed to be in a terrible mood today, but it was more like he was "seizing the opportunity to elaborate".

"Your Majesty, regarding the killing of the Yangzhou prefect, I was about to report it, but the matter may differ from what you think. I believe it would be better to let Jiedushi Fang speak."

Li Linfu spoke while glancing at the elderly yet vigorous Fang Youde beside him, and again bowed to Li Longji.

"Quan Zhong, do you also know about this matter?"

Li Longji turned his head to ask Fang Youde.

"Your Majesty, Yang Zhao oppressed the people and harmed the region. This unrest in Yangzhou originated from him; the rebels shouted the slogan 'Kill Yang Zhao'. I returned from Lingnan to Chang'an, passed through Yangzhou, happened upon the unrest, and entered Yangzhou city to organize troops to quell the rebellion.

Having no weapons in hand, I was forced to kill Yang Zhao in front of the rebels, using the opportunity to launch a general attack and swiftly suppress the revolt.

After returning to Chang'an, I encountered Li Heng's treason, and was compelled to persuade the southern palace guard to quell the disturbance.

Numerous affairs came one after another, leaving me with no time to report to Your Majesty; I ask for Your Majesty's forgiveness.

Fang Youde bowed with clasped hands and said, in a few words, shifting all responsibility cleanly.

"I must secure Yangzhou first, then secure Chang'an. Why do you now ask me why I had to kill Yang Zhao?"

"If I hadn't killed that bastard, I would have had to stay in Yangzhou to suppress the rebellion and could not return to Chang'an. If I don't come to Chang'an, you, dog emperor, will be finished, still babbling here?"

Although Fang Youde's words were implicit, they made Li Longji's face flush red and then pale repeatedly.

"Yang Zhao is dead, that's that; no need to mention it further, it looks good on the surface. Fang Youde killed Yang Zhao first, then quelled the rebellion in Chang'an—quick action, indeed!"

"If he lags even a step, can this Tang Emperor still smile till the end? It remains to be seen."

"Well done, truly well done!"

"Earlier Yang Zhao kept bragging to me, claiming his financial acumen; I was deceived by that dog thief."

"Quan Zhong acted for the country, doing a good deed for me."

Li Longji said calmly, his face unmoved, his words almost clenched with teeth against Yang Zhao.

This Tang Emperor had selectively forgotten that two months earlier, Yang Zhao sent him a final tribute worth three million strings, purportedly to wish the sovereign a long life, which locally was almost a ground‑scraping amount.

It was this boundless plundering that finally forced the highly organized local weaving households and canal workers into rebellion.

For Ji Ge, Yang Zhao was like a capable good dog; alive was fine, but if he died by accident, one could simply raise another—no big deal.

"People are dead, what more do you want? Who are you crying for?"

At that moment, Ji Ge's heart was brutally honest; his grief over Yang Zhao's death was akin to hearing that a palace dog in the Forbidden Garden had died—hardly more than a trivial remark.

"I have summoned all of you, esteemed ministers, because there is an urgent matter that needs discussion."

Li Longji sighed lightly and continued, "Li Heng plotted treason; his entire family has been executed. Yet, I feel unusually sorrowful."

He spoke while shaking his head, his face marked with melancholy, as if truly heart‑broken.

Seeing this, everyone present performed the salute in unison, saying, "Please, Your Majesty, mourn, and take care of your dragon body."

"Enough."

Li Longji helplessly waved his hand and continued, "Li Heng's treason was heinous, but remembering past events teaches future ones; how should the Ten Kings Residence be managed, how should my sons be managed, do any of you have opinions?"

"Here it comes!"

Li Linfu and the others felt a sudden tension, instinctively clenching their fists.

This question not only met their expectations but, before anyone arrived, they already knew what Li Longji would ask today.

After all, Li Heng's rebellion, Xue Wang's rebellion, the Wei clan's involvement, plus rumors that Shou Wang held the sovereign hostage at a wedding banquet—if Ji Ge had not handled these crises and lacked remedial measures afterward, he would have been a useless emperor for all these years.

Anyone whose mind had not completely deteriorated would, at this moment, seek counsel from senior ministers.

"Your Majesty, I think we could strengthen the management of Zongzheng Temple, increase surveillance over the Ten Kings Residence, to prevent similar incidents."

Li Linfu bowed with clasped hands to Li Longji and said.

In truth, he had no real solution, merely offering idle words. As a distant royal relative, what could he say about the emperor's and princes' conflicts? What could he possibly contribute?

Can a "small figure" like him even intervene in such matters?

"You slave, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Li Longji stood up, pointed at Li Linfu, and scolded him angrily.

"Please, Your Majesty, forgive me."

Li Linfu, terrified, immediately knelt on the ground.

"Enough, your old clichés need not be mentioned."

"When Li Heng plotted treason, what did the Ten Kings Residence do, and what did Zongzheng Temple do?"

"Whether I am emperor or not has no impact on them! Henceforth, these words need not be raised again!"

Li Longji, with an icy tone, rebuked Li Linfu, then raised the tablet high before gently lowering it, imposing no punishment.

The Ten Kings Residence is where the princes reside, but it is effectively house arrest, granting no personal freedom.

Yet does this completely eradicate rebellion? From Li Heng's scheme, it does not. Princes cannot act, but the powerful in Chang'an can. Their movements generate immense energy; the princes are right beside the palace, making a coup virtually bridge the distance barrier.

The Tang Empire is Li Longji's Tang Empire, but it is also the Tang Empire of the aristocracy, especially the Guanlong nobles.

Keeping the princes in Chang'an is, for Ji Ge, the biggest drawback, because it lowers the rebels' cost of revolt to the point where anyone with a little strength can give them a hammer blow.

The first step is to briefly control Ji Ge.

The second step is to support a prince residing in Chang'an.

The third step is to issue abdication and enthronement edicts and subdue the various imperial guards in Chang'an.

This has already become the standard procedure.

As long as the princes remain in Chang'an, they will inevitably become the banner for the powerful's rebellions in the future.

Northern Wei is a vivid example: after Emperor Xiaowen Yuan Hong, up to the Er Zhu Rong He‑Yin incident, the imperial clan members living in Luoyang became restless one after another, colluding with powerful officials in rebellion as a norm, which eventually allowed the incompetent Empress Dowager Hu to ascend.

The story of Northern Wei is only about two hundred years ago.

"Your Majesty, throughout the ages, managing imperial relatives has never been easy.

Generally, princes are either sent out to a region or kept in the capital. Both have pros and cons and cannot be judged uniformly."

Suddenly, Fang Youde crossed his arms and saluted Ji Ge, saying.

"Quan Zhong's words are reasonable."

Li Longji nodded slightly and said.

Fang Youde's words are indeed mature and cautious; how could Ji Ge not understand them?

Many things Li Linfu cannot speak of conveniently, being also of the imperial clan. Yet a confidant like Fang Youde faces no such obstacle, since whether princes are sent out has almost no direct impact on him.

Ji Ge knows well that many matters follow objective laws and will not fundamentally change due to human will. Throughout the ages, the relationship between the emperor and princes has always been difficult, and the models for managing the imperial clan essentially fall into two types.

The first type is the enfeoffment system for princes and imperial clan members dating from the Han dynasty, whereby adult princes must be sent out of the capital to prevent them from posing a threat to the emperor.

The second type goes the opposite way: it confines princes and clan members within five degrees of kin to the capital, placing them under the administration of the Imperial Clan Office for routine affairs, and essentially never sending them out.

So, which type is truly better?

In the early Tang, the first type was practiced; from the Wu Zhou onward, the second type was adopted. Since the Kaiyuan era, Ji Ge has reinforced the second type, making the management of princes and close clan branches increasingly strict.

It was once thought everything was fine, but it is evident from the recent rebellion of Li Heng and Prince Xue that no system can guarantee princes will not revolt, nor is there any flawless system.

"Then Quan Zhong, what do you think is better?"

Li Longji's eyes burned as he looked at Fang Youde and asked.

"Replying, 'Your Majesty, I think it is still best to send the princes out.'"

Fang Youde crossed his arms and saluted, saying.

Before Li Longji could speak, the hot‑tempered Li Shizhi immediately interjected, scolding, "Nonsense! If we release all the princes from Chang'an, aren't we encouraging them to rebel? If this continues, the state will cease to be a state!"

Li Shizhi, being quick‑tempered, knew the situation would turn bad the moment he heard Fang Youde's words.

Now the princes are confined in the Ten Princes' Residence; even these people already harbor resentment toward Li Longji, a sentiment that is obvious. If they are sent out of Chang'an and establish offices and yamen across the lands, new local powers will arise, making rebellion inevitable sooner or later!

"Your Majesty, Fang Youde's words should not be believed! While the princes are in Chang'an they can be restrained; if sent out, they are like fish in the sea, or tigers returning to the mountains!"

Li Shizhi hurriedly knelt and kowtowed to Li Longji, pleading with Ji Ge not to heed Fang Youde's slander.

"I have my own opinion."

Li Longji waved his hand, signaling Li Shizhi to stand, then looked at Fang Youde and asked, "What does Quan Zhong say?"

"Replying, 'Your Majesty, let the princes relocate out of Chang'an but not far, settling only in the surrounding prefectures and counties.'"

"At the same time, restrict their authority: they may not hold offices such as governor or military governor, and may not enter Chang'an without imperial decree. To enter the capital, they must first obtain the sovereign's approval, and they may not bring personal retainers into the city."

Fang Youde concisely expressed his thoughts.

Put plainly, it is to kick the princes out of Chang'an like a rubber ball, but not too far—just settle them in the nearby outskirts, and deny them any chance to hold office.

If they are not in Chang'an, the powerful cannot use them to plot rebellion. One must consider that Li Longji, being an old man, if he were to fall into a coma and become unable to govern, it would be easy for nearby princes to seize the opportunity.

Moreover, the threshold is extremely low, even to the point where a powerless prince like Prince Shou can take the risk.

This is the benefit of kicking the princes out of Chang'an; of course, this move only benefits Ji Ge, and whether it benefits the Great Tang is another matter.

Then, arranging the princes around Chang'an can minimize the risk of them raising armies. To rebel, they cannot even find a border commander to fight with!

After all, being outside Chang'an city makes many actions inconvenient. The outer city of Chang'an itself is a high‑threshold "natural fortress," which greatly raises the cost of rebellion for the princes.

Of course, if these princes were sent to places like Youzhou or Liangzhou, that would be a different story.

It can be said that Fang Youde's suggestion indeed has a chance of implementation and is not the "heretical words that confuse the masses" that Li Shizhi claimed.

Wasn't the Great Tang's past just like that?

Only now that the door to sending princes out has been opened, who can predict what will happen in the future?

Li Shizhi's worry is about distant future concerns, not the imminent near worries.

"Three days later, let's bring this matter to the court council for discussion."

Li Longji waved his hand and said, without stating which of the two methods was better or worse.

After the ministers departed, Fang Youde was left alone with Li Longji; the two went to the newly renovated Imperial Study to discuss.

"Quan Zhong, today's suggestion doesn't quite match your usual style. Is there any hidden agenda?"

After they sat down, Li Longji, looking exhausted, said,

"Your Majesty, my humble opinion is for the Great Tang's centennial plan, not merely for you."

Fang Youde crossed his arms and saluted Li Longji, saying,

"I know your loyalty, but how should I phrase this?"

"Replying, 'Your Majesty, the Ten Princes' Residence policy indeed makes management easier and seems able to keep the princes' restless hearts in check.'"

"However, from a long‑term perspective, the Crown Prince may not be removable, and princes also need competition to spur advancement. If they are kept forever in the Ten Princes' Residence, in the future they may become even less worthy than the wayward sons of ordinary noble families."

Fang Youde, emboldened, said, a remark that was quite taboo. Yet he and Fang Chongyong had discussed it at length, and Fang Chongyong was convinced that Li Longji now simply wanted to keep his wayward offspring far away, out of sight and out of mind.

Or perhaps have them all eliminated.

But the latter possibility is less likely.

"Quan Zhong's words deeply resonate with me. I think the same: sending princes out may cause internal strife, but… it will not turn them all into pigs and dogs."

I'm just old now; I can't handle them anymore. Quan Zhong, do you have a good plan to deal with them?

Li Longji asked, his face weary.

Fang Youde thought for a moment, then clasped his hands in salute and said: "Rumor has it that the Sage and the Prince of Longevity are at odds, so please have the Sage appoint the Prince of Longevity as crown prince."

The Prince of Longevity...?

Li Longji thought about it, then suddenly froze, realizing this plan was absolutely brilliant!

First, appoint the Prince of Longevity as a target, so that my own sons will all focus on him! Because of this incident, all the princes basically hate the Prince of Longevity to the core; it's absolutely impossible for anyone to side with him.

Moreover, the Prince of Longevity has no real influence at court, and his mother is Consort Hui, which will remind officials of the distorted era when Wu Zetian held sway.

In short, the Prince of Longevity is currently the weakest in influence at court, and also the most disliked prince!

No matter who inherits the throne, that person will certainly not be the Prince of Longevity, Li Chang!

First, set up this target, then slowly cultivate a younger prince. This plan… seems quite promising!

"Go back and think about it for now; we'll discuss it again at the court assembly in three days."

Li Longji gave a noncommittal reply. Although he had already inwardly approved Fang Youde's suggestion, he still wanted to wait until after the court assembly to decide, first to see what the officials would say.

"Then this humble official takes his leave; please take care of your health, Your Majesty."

Fang Youde clasped his hands in salute to Li Longji, then slowly withdrew. Only after walking out of Xingqing Palace did he realize his back was soaked in cold sweat.

"Fang Chongyong, you scoundrel, what terrible idea is this, actually proposing to make the Prince of Longevity the heir!"

With no one around, Fang Youde couldn't help muttering under his breath, inwardly cursing the Fang Chongyong who had given him those instructions to the point of near death.

(End of chapter)