Chapter 43

The so-called five categories are similar to our Tang's Way, but they can command military.

Each Eastern Tai is a thousand-household unit, with a commander of a thousand households. It also manages military affairs and civil administration. Below, from the commander of a thousand households down to the commander of ten, each level has dedicated military officers.

Likewise, military and civil affairs are not separated.

Seeing Fang Chongyong's puzzled expression, Li Mi patiently explained. Although he had studied the teachings of the various schools, he was not well-versed in current affairs; that was all he knew.

Moreover, Li Mi usually wouldn't say so much!

"I understand, thank you for the instruction."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly, deep in thought.

It sounds like the Tibetan organization is somewhat like the "Eight Banners", broadly similar.

The same tribe is both an administrative unit and a military unit. Many organizational forms are similar across ancient and modern times.

"Is this system strong?"

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but ask Li Mi a strange question.

Li Mi shook his head and remained silent; according to his earlier statement, not speaking meant he didn't know.

It seems he felt his attitude was a bit aloof, but Li Mi finally spoke up and explained: "The households of the Eastern Tai are divided into Gui and Yong. Gui corresponds to the Tang militia, Yong to corvée laborers. These people combine peacetime and wartime duties, providing their own weapons and rations; when one goes to battle, the whole family goes on campaign."

"Strength and weakness cannot be generalized."

Upon hearing this, Fang Chongyong pondered. Since Gui is like the militia and Yong like corvée laborers (auxiliary troops), isn't this just the early Tang militia's elite plus a mix of conscripts, damn it?

It's merely a weakened knockoff version.

The Tibetan army's logistics are inferior to the Tang militia, and its mobility is also worse. The entire tribe goes into battle together, with fighters at the front and dependents providing logistics in the rear!

Don't be misled by the occasional several hundred thousand Tibetan troops; in fact, the number actually fighting on the front lines is far lower.

"With so many going into battle, if they lose, it's understandable that soldiers can flee quickly, but what about the families?"

After thinking, Fang Chongyong voiced his doubts.

"If we can manage, we go together; if we can't, then..."

Li Mi frowned slightly; as someone deeply immersed in the Daoist school, he even more so believed in "Heaven and earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs."

In simple terms, it's called "Life and death are fated; wealth and honor are from heaven."

Everything cannot be forced.

What can be done if the Tibetan families cannot escape? What else can be done?

Fang Chongyong's questions are too utilitarian, which Li Mi dislikes. He still clings to the theory of heavenly mandate, believing that everything in the world is predetermined and cannot be forced.

"I believe that things depend on human effort. The Tibetans always place their families in mortal danger when they go to war; this method's drawbacks are obvious, so the Tibetans will surely change their military system. Worldly affairs are impermanent; anything unreasonable will inevitably change."

Fang Chongyong expressed his view.

"You're right."

Li Mi nodded slightly, not denying it. He is still diligently studying to increase his experience. Today he came not to teach Fang Chongyong, but under Li Longji's order to probe him.

"Now that the militia system has collapsed, how should the court handle future military needs?"

Fang Chongyong continued questioning, looking at the young man and not holding back too much.

Li Mi answered without thinking: "If the militia system collapses, just rebuild the militia; there really isn't any other good solution."

I didn't expect that to be the answer.

Fang Chongyong secretly thought, this young man named Li Mi is indeed not simple; he also saw the drawbacks of conscription. But the other party probably also had no better solution, so he could only emphasize "rebuilding the militia".

If the militia can be rebuilt, why doesn't Li Longji think of a way?

"When I was in Kuizhou, I heard that the court's finances are insufficient nowadays; is there a way to relieve the strain?"

Fang Chongyong then asked.

"Adjust official salaries, cut redundant staff, rectify grain transport." Li Mi said in twelve characters.

"Anything else?"

"None."

"Then I have no more questions."

Fang Chongyong let out a light sigh; he had no interest in the classics and didn't think he needed to take the imperial exams. The teacher sent by Li Longji was really boring.

This is an era of boiling oil over a fierce fire; while there's still opportunity to stir things up, one must surely find a path and not be swallowed by the tide of the times. He truly had no time to waste on those boring matters.

"The sage sent me to test whether you are a prodigy."

Li Mi suddenly blurted out a frightening remark.

"Then what?"

Fang Chongyong asked curiously.

"I will tell the sage that you are not a prodigy, but an auspicious omen of the Tang."

Li Mi stood up and bowed to Fang Chongyong.

"Don't screw me over!"

Fang Chongyong quickly grabbed Li Mi's sleeve and pleaded.

"Rest assured, I was just joking. I will say that although you are smart, your talent is mediocre. After I return to make my report today, I will go travel the world, my whereabouts uncertain. Chang'an is a place of right and wrong; you must always be wary of the dangers around you, farewell."

"When we meet again in the future, I will take on the persona of a poor Daoist; until then."

Li Mi gave a light smile, then bowed deeply to Fang Chongyong and left in a carefree manner. He came in haste and left in haste, leaving Fang Chongyong staring blankly.

"This Chang'an city truly produces extraordinary people one after another."

Fang Chongyong watched Li Mi's retreating back at the door, unable to help but sigh. He had heard from Zheng Shuqing that Li Mi was a prodigy who composed poetry at seven, and by ten often entered and left the palace, chatting and laughing with Li Longji.

"Instead of staying by Li Longji's side as a close attendant, he wants to travel the world—could it be because he has already seen through the world's falseness?"

What Fang Chongyong did not know was that Li Mi's hasty coming and going was not without reason.

That day, this young man of prodigy origin took his leave of Li Longji and went to Mount Hua to travel; from then on he disappeared from the sight of court and provincial officials and the imperial relatives.

……

"Dedicated exclusively to military supply, switching silk for cotton; permitting grain transport, imitating Sogdian cloth to raise funds. This memorial is rather interesting."

In the study of Li Linfu's residence in Pingkang Ward, this newly appointed Right Minister of the Great Tang read through the memorial that Zheng Shuqing had personally delivered, and could not help nodding after finishing it.

Of course, this memorial could not be Fang Chongyong's original version; rather, it was one that Zheng Shuqing had transcribed, adapting the wording according to his own understanding.

"The various prefectures of Hexi constantly complain that bows, crossbows, and arrows are insufficient and that consumption is too great. The fact that you could see this shows you put real thought into it. However, someone will handle this matter. This minister shall now make a trip to Xingqing Palace and secure an official post for you."

Li Linfu stroked the long beard on his chin, quite satisfied with the line of reasoning in this memorial. If Zheng Shuqing had merely proposed transporting grain and fodder to Hexi or something of the sort, that would truly have been uninteresting—any dog could have thought of that.

The purpose of suppressing the Sogdian merchants was to make them stand on the Great Tang's side and end the war sooner. That way, these people would not take advantage of the turmoil to secretly transport essential goods to the Tibetan side. Being able to think of this proved that Zheng Shuqing was already a central official with a big-picture mindset.

And was no longer limited to being merely a regional dignitary.

"This is all thanks to the Right Minister's cultivation."

Zheng Shuqing said cautiously, currying favor.

"This memorial, this minister will bring before the court for discussion. As for the matter of imitating Sogdian cloth, you must keep a close eye on it. The Sage is very attentive to such avenues that can generate wealth. If you are entrusted with overseeing this matter, you must see it done well."

Although Li Linfu wore a smile on his face, there was not the slightest hint of jest in his eyes.

Zheng Shuqing bowed solemnly and said, "I shall certainly not fail what the Right Minister has entrusted to me."

"Let us go. Come with this minister to Xingqing Palace."

Li Linfu rose and left at once. He was a decisive man; if he could secure this Vice Minister of Revenue post today, he would absolutely not wait until tomorrow to act.

……

"Sigh!"

At this very moment, Li Longji was pacing back and forth in the study of the Qinzhengwubenlou, so irritable he wanted to hit someone.

Gao Lishi just stood quietly by the desk, his head slightly lowered, saying nothing.

"How many times has Consort Wu Hui told Us she wants Li Shou made Crown Prince?"

Li Longji asked Gao Lishi in return, his tone laced with complaint.

"To answer the Sage, your servant does not quite remember either. In any case, she has said it many times."

Gao Lishi said softly, unwilling to raise his head to look at Li Longji's face.

"Who becomes Crown Prince—shouldn't this matter be for Us to decide? Does she want to emulate her great-aunt? Is she thinking that after We are gone, she shall become Empress?"

Li Longji slapped the desk in anger, producing a dull thud.

Today Consort Wu Hui had once again wept and complained before Li Longji, saying that many people wanted to harm her, and that only after the Prince of Shou became Crown Prince would she and her son be respected by others, and so forth.

Li Longji had not shown his anger on the surface, but afterward he was furious beyond restraint.

Just then, a eunuch came in and whispered a few words into Gao Lishi's ear. Gao Lishi walked over and said softly to Li Longji, "Sage, the Right Minister requests an audience."

"The curfew has already begun. Why has Genü come to Xingqing Palace?"

Li Longji was suddenly a bit puzzled. It was true that the Right Minister of the Great Tang was very busy, but no matter how busy, he should be handling affairs at home. What matter required reporting to the Emperor in person?

Before long, Li Linfu was ushered in by a eunuch. Without a word, the former produced Zheng Shuqing's memorial and presented it before Li Longji.

"Never mind."

Li Longji took the memorial with resignation. At this hour he had not wanted to handle official business at all. But Consort Wu Hui had put him in such a foul mood that reading a memorial now to change his frame of mind would not be a bad thing.

"So the soldiers of Hexi have been enduring such hardship... Why has no one mentioned this to Us before?"

After finishing the memorial, Li Longji sighed with emotion. It was the first time he learned that the silk goods of Hexi could not fetch a decent price, that the extra woven fabric could not be exchanged for money, and that they were being exploited in disguised form by the Sogdian merchants of the Western Regions.

"Promoting Gaochang cotton in the Hexi Corridor seems acceptable. It can first be planted in military colonies. The Western Regions possess the technique of cotton spinning, so expanding it should pose no difficulty."

Li Linfu said cautiously.

Seeing no reaction from Li Longji, Li Linfu continued to add, "After the military colonies harvest the Gaochang cotton, it can be transported back to Chang'an for spinning and sale. The profits would be considerable, and the timing is right to apply them toward military expenditures."

"Furthermore, the household tax in Hexi can be increased and the proportion of the land tax and corvée reduced. Once the common people have surplus grain, a price-stabilization grain-purchasing law can be implemented, using the wealth and silk from the treasury to purchase grain from the local Hexi populace at high prices. Then, for the military campaign in Hexi, there will be no shortage of army rations."

Li Linfu bowed deeply to Li Longji.

"Mm, have it carried out accordingly. By the way, who submitted this memorial?"

Li Longji nodded slightly and asked.

"Zheng Shuqing, who previously served as Inspector of Kuizhou."

"So it is him. That is no wonder."

Li Longji still had a deep impression of Zheng Shuqing's 'wealth-management' methods. In fact, if Old Zheng had been willing to take the blame, the post of Mayor of Jingzhao would have been his long ago.

He remembered that the man was indeed a master at raking in money!

"Then let Zheng Shuqing fill the currently vacant post of Vice Minister of Revenue."

"Mm, build a workshop outside Chang'an for imitating Sogdian brocade, and select the finest craftsmen from the palace to go there. All the cloth woven must be sent to the treasury of the Daming Palace, and must not be allowed to circulate on the market."

"Understood? Have Zheng Shuqing treat this matter as his top priority upon taking office."

Li Longji said with a smile.

"I shall faithfully follow the Sage's decree."

Li Linfu bowed cautiously and withdrew. Though fully satisfied, he still dared not show it.

When he had nearly retreated to the door, he was suddenly called back by Li Longji.

"Genü, now that the Crown Prince has been deposed, whom do you think We should establish as Crown Prince? The Crown Prince is the foundation of the state, and the position cannot remain vacant indefinitely."

Li Longji let out a long sigh and asked.

"To answer the Sage, the Prince of Shou is benevolent and loves the people, modest and prudent. The Prince of Shou may be established as Crown Prince."

Li Linfu said without batting an eye.

"Mm, We understand."

Li Longji nodded noncommittally and signaled Li Linfu to withdraw.

Only after this Right Minister of the Great Tang had withdrawn did Li Longji say to Gao Lishi with a cold expression, "Consort Wu Hui must have already arranged things with Genü, to forcefully push the Prince of Shou as Crown Prince."

For Li Linfu, who does not rise early without profit, if there is nothing to do, saying nothing is best.

One sentence—"Sage family matters can be decided on one's own"—is enough to cut off all risk.

Is it worth recommending the Prince of Longevity, Li Chang?

Li Longji, raised in the palace since childhood and long accustomed to intrigue and scheming, could tell with his toes what's really going on.

"Making the Prince of Longevity heir still won't work..."

Li Longji rested one elbow on the desk, the other hand tapping his thigh, his mind constantly weighing the advantages and disadvantages.

Things like deploying troops to Hexi, clearing river channels, improving grain transport, and similar tasks can be handed over to others; Li Longji normally only has to issue a command.

Only things related to imperial authority must he keep tightly in his grasp; he cannot have others handle them.

If the Prince of Longevity is made crown prince, Consort Wu Hui could whisper in his ear, and with Li Linfu's strong support from the outer court officials, wouldn't the Prince of Longevity, Li Chang, become a powerful crown prince?

If he also gained the support of a frontier general, wouldn't Li Chang have the ability to take the throne early?

Such a situation is not within Li Longji's scheming layout.

As long as he does not breathe his last, no imperial prince can become emperor.

"Gao Lishi, tomorrow go to the outer court and spread a rumor, saying that I intend to make the Third Prince (Li Heng) crown prince, but I have not yet decided and am quite hesitant."

Li Longji said in a deep voice.

Gao Lishi understood, bowed respectfully, and said nothing.

"Crown Prince..."

Li Longji muttered these two words, as if they were quickly becoming a heart ailment of his.