Chapter 12: Naming the Local Gazetteer

Hou Junji sighed softly: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, according to what you say, only by protecting the King of Wei and the King of Jin well will the Emperor not depose you.

But this is fundamentally impossible; the struggle between the Emperor and Li Jiancheng back then was also like this.

The Emperor is actually still conflicted, but we ministers know that once Li Jiancheng ascended to the top, we would be the ones to die, which is why we kept urging the Emperor to act.

And it was precisely because Li Jiancheng was mindful of brotherly affection and did not listen to Wei Zheng that we succeeded."

"This matter must be planned slowly; there is no need to rush. You first help me collect intelligence on the surrounding countries."

"Understood! The north is simple, but the south is covered in dense jungles where various barbarians are entrenched. Their customs are not entirely the same, and in some places, even across a single mountain, the languages spoken are different.

Without temptation, the spies likely won't put their hearts into the work."

Li Chengqian had long thought of this point; he took a scroll of paper from the book basket beside the desk and handed it over:

"Tell them, the Eastern Palace doesn't have much wealth and can only use these things as rewards. I won't force those who are unwilling."

Hou Junji curiously opened it and took a look: "A page in the Zushu, a line in the local gazetteer? The Eastern Palace will compile a Zushu for them and specifically send people to teach them clan rites?"

"Snap!"

Hou Junji clapped his hands together and folded the paper in half, a strange light flickering in his eyes:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, rest assured, this minister guarantees that within five years, I will investigate the surrounding countries clearly.

After Your Highness ascends the throne, could you issue an edict to write this minister's name on the first page of the Zushu? Will the first incense offering in the clan always be mine in the future?"

"The Minister of Works Hou from the Han Guangwu Emperor's era is your ancestor; do you want to compete with him? Can you win?"

"Uh..."

Hou Junji's expression stalled: "That was a Prime Minister; this junior really cannot win against him.

Forget it! My portrait is also hung in the Lingyan Pavilion; I will leave this first incense offering to my ancestor."

The two talked for another half an hour before Hou Junji left, and Li Chengqian walked behind the screen.

Looking at the blank screen, Li Chengqian used simplified characters to write words like Zushu:

'The Zushu, marriage alliances, Three Rites, and the right to speak have all begun. To make the plan go smoothly, the right to speak must be obtained first. I hope Du He can be effective.'

Just at this moment, a voice sounded outside the room:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Sage requests your presence in the palace."

"Understood!"

After saying this, Li Chengqian casually picked up a cloth to cover the screen and gave instructions aloud:

"Wang Qi, from today on, you are responsible for cleaning the study; no one else is allowed to enter."

"Yes!"

Li Chengqian looked at the sky and saw that the sun had already set. He felt some confusion in his heart; he did not know why Li Shimin was calling him so late.

'Was he unhappy about being retorted by me this morning, so he called me into the palace to lecture me?'

Harboring various doubts, Li Chengqian arrived at the Ganlu Hall in the Taiji Palace:

"Father, what is the matter that you are looking for your son so late?"

Just after speaking, Li Chengqian noticed Li Zhi standing to the side:

"Oh? Zhinu is here too! You haven't been to the Eastern Palace for a long time. Come to the Eastern Palace tomorrow, and Big Brother will take you to Pingkang Fang to see the prosperity of Chang'an."

"Hmph!"

Li Shimin sneered: "What prosperity? Pingkang Fang is full of pleasure quarters; what are you trying to take Zhinu to do?"

"Father, where has your mind gone? Pingkang Fang isn't just pleasure quarters; most of the powerful and noble families reside in Pingkang Fang. Your son is just taking Zhinu to meet more friends."

"Bang!"

Li Shimin slapped the desk heavily, his eyes staring coldly at Li Chengqian:

"What exactly are you trying to do? Why did you write a letter to the Seventh Son? Do you not understand what kind of place Yizhou is?

I can't even handle it, so why do you think you have this ability?"

Li Chengqian found a low stool and sat down: "What your son wants is not regional power, nor do I intend to fight them to the death."

"Then what do you want?"

"Military power!"

Since Li Shimin had not dealt with Hou Junji and Li You, it already showed that he did not care about Li Chengqian obtaining those troops.

Now Li Chengqian wanted to test Li Shimin's bottom line, so he did not hide anything:

"The Duke of Lu is the Chief Clerk of the Jiang Prince Mansion; for your son to win over the Duke of Lu, I can only resort to this desperate measure!"

"..."

Li Shimin had black lines all over his head: "You harmed Cheng Zhijie and still want him to help you; do you think that is possible?"

"Why is it impossible? Qingque is still thanking your son even now; not only does he thank me, but he also wants to protect your son with his life. This is what is called deep brotherly affection and a harmonious relationship between monarch and minister.

Your son believes that as long as the Seventh Brother is willing to cooperate, the Duke of Lu will certainly be as grateful to your son as Qingque is."

"Give up this idea; Cheng Zhijie is loyal and devoted, and I will not let him get dragged into this."

"Fine! Your son will give you this face and not make a move against the Duke of Lu. Anyway, after your son ascends the throne, he will be your son's man regardless."

Li Shimin had never wanted to hang Li Chengqian up and beat him as much as he did today. He took two deep breaths to suppress the surging emotions in his heart before speaking slowly:

"The Libationer Kong has already spoken with you. Whatever thoughts you have, you can tell me now. Let us father and son have an honest and open talk."

"Are you sure about now?"

Li Chengqian pointed at Li Zhi: "Although Zhinu was forcibly dragged out by your son to be a target, he inevitably has some thoughts in his heart.

If we father and son cannot reach an agreement, Zhinu's thoughts will only grow deeper."

Li Zhi lowered his head and whispered: "Big Brother, Zhinu does not have any thoughts of seizing the succession; I ask Big Brother to bear witness."

"Just because you don't doesn't mean our uncle and Li Shiji don't. I know you are smarter than me, but our uncle and the others don't know that..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was directly interrupted by Li Shimin:

"I told you to speak, so speak! Why so much nonsense?"

"Then this son will speak! When does Father intend to destroy Goguryeo?"

Li Shimin frowned: "Why must they be destroyed? Do you not know the consequences of Emperor Yang of Sui's three campaigns against Goguryeo?"

"Once war begins, the common people of the world suffer. Great Tang has only recently destroyed the Turkic people, so we should focus primarily on rest and recovery."

"How can one allow others to snore beside one's bed?"

Li Chengqian looked solemn: "Goguryeo is located northeast of Youzhou. Not only are there nearly seventy million mu of farmland there, but these fields are situated deep within the mountains, easy to defend and difficult to attack; it is another Guanzhong Plain."

"Two generations of emperors of the Former Sui wanted to destroy Goguryeo; this cannot be explained away by a single phrase like 'seeking merit and fame'."

"I know Father also wants to destroy Goguryeo, it is just that Great Tang currently lacks the certainty to settle the matter in one battle."

"According to what you say, as long as you ascend the throne, you will definitely raise a massive army to destroy Goguryeo?"

"Yes!"

Li Chengqian's eyes revealed a look of determination: "Not just Goguryeo; any surrounding nation that poses a threat must be destroyed."

"Fertile land should only be occupied by the commoners of Great Tang; a bunch of barbarians are not worthy of possessing fertile fields."

"To say nothing of the distant past, the rebellion of the Six Garrisons of Northern Wei, the Yuwen Family, the Yang, and even our own Li Clan—cannot these teach you a lesson?"

"Why should one stop eating for fear of choking?"

Li Chengqian truly could not understand: "Govern the country with civil administration, secure the country with military force; the Guanlong Aristocratic Group were originally just garrison soldiers."

"Why does Father believe that men like Li Shiji, who are of humble origin, cannot become a new aristocratic group?"

"You want to use the imperial clan to contend for local power, but have you considered that the Jin Dynasty also did this, which ultimately led to the Eight Princes Rebellion?"

"Supporting civil officials while suppressing military generals will lead to a collapse of military morale, making us unable to resist when foreign enemies invade."

"Supporting military generals while suppressing civil officials will put the state in danger of collapse."

"Maintaining a balance requires a wise ruler, but throughout the dynasties, how many wise rulers can there be?"

"Then what is to be done? One can only find an enemy for Great Tang from time to time; if civil officials become too powerful, prepare for war and support the generals; if military generals become too powerful, support the civil officials."