Chapter 51: Epidemic

"That's right!"

Li Shimin's expression did not change, but his eyes carried appreciation:

"Building a temple requires telling the populace of Silla what kind of temple it is and why they must sacrifice.

They can only say that the soldiers of Great Tang sacrificed to protect the populace of Silla. Why protect the populace of Silla? Because they are all people of the Xia.

With one telling ten, and ten telling a hundred, the populace of Silla will certainly develop a favorable impression of Great Tang. If the Silla court disregards the will of the people in the future, Great Tang raising the banner of righteousness to rescue the populace of Silla can also be considered having a teacher's name."

"Ah?"

Li Tai exclaimed: "Eldest Brother wanted Kim Chunchu to admit he is a person of the Xia from the very beginning?

Is he human or ghost? Why would he think Kim Chunchu would admit it, and why would Kim Chunchu bring history books to seek aid?"

Li Zhi lowered his head, a look of wariness flashing in his eyes:

*'I'm afraid he thought of today back at that court meeting, which is why he specifically said that as long as someone from Great Tang is bullied outside, we must send troops to rescue them. *

*Eldest Brother wasn't saying it for us to hear; he was saying it for the envoy of Silla. *

*If I'm not mistaken, the moment Kim Chunchu entered Chang'an, Eldest Brother sent someone to remind him.'*

"Zhinu, are you overthinking? Eldest Brother is human, not a god. Even if Eldest Brother were a god, Kim Chunchu is not.

Could it really be as Eldest Brother said, that the history book was written yesterday, written..."

At this point, Li Tai's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief:

"No, no way! No one could be so shameless as to write history books casually?

Although Eldest Brother is shameless, he wouldn't do such a thing!"

"Cough, cough!"

Li Shimin coughed lightly, then looked at the two with a serious face:

"This matter has nothing to do with Gaoming. This is the Silla history book Kim Chunchu brought out; history books are still worth believing.

You two must go and consult Gaoming often. As long as it doesn't affect his plans, he will certainly speak."

"Father, I understand!"

"You two go back first. If you don't understand, just go and ask Gaoming directly."

"Good!"

Li Shimin looked at the yellow paper on the desk, faintly glimpsing Li Chengqian's thoughts. He felt that if things continued like this, even if he were unwilling, he would have to stabilize Li Chengqian's position as Crown Prince.

*'Gaoming, is this the retreat you found for Qingque? *

*Holding and filling it is not as good as stopping; sharpening and pointing it cannot be preserved for long; a hall full of gold and jade cannot be guarded. *

*No wonder he was never afraid of Qingque and Zhinu coming to snatch the Crown Prince position; I just need to not offer help. *

*As long as Qingque obtains the right to compile books, even if I offer help, it will be useless.'*

Just as Li Shimin thought, as long as Li Tai obtained the right to compile books, Li Tai would lose the qualifications to ascend the throne, unless Li Shimin disregarded the risk of Great Tang's collapse and forced Li Tai to the top.

Li Chengqian was in a very good mood. With Hou Junji watching Silla, he was not afraid of Kim Chunchu breaking his word.

"Selling tangyuan, selling tangyuan..."

"Shoo..."

Li Chengqian leaned back, then swung the fishing rod hard, and the fishing line flew toward the distant lake surface.

"You are always too soft-hearted, too soft-hearted..."

Listening to the sound like a crow's cawing, Wang Qi sat uneasily, a 'chuan' character wrinkle appearing on his face.

To avoid suffering, Wang Qi asked:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, the people have already arrived in Wannian County. Yuwen Ding sent news that the person who came is Cui Zhiwen, from the Yanling Ward of Xuzhou, of the Qinghe Cui Clan.

There is also Su Liangsi, who is a clansman of the Crown Princess."

"Who did you just say and who?"

Li Chengqian's hands loosened unconsciously, his eyes wide:

"Cui Zhiwen and Su Liangsi?"

"Yes! Just these two people!"

"Hahahahahaha..."

Li Chengqian spread his arms and laughed at the sky, his face full of excitement.

One a Prime Minister of the Gaozong era, one a Prime Minister of the Wu Zhou era—either one could help with the upcoming plans.

Suddenly, Li Chengqian frowned slightly. He only realized that Cui Zhiwen came from the Qinghe Cui Clan, and some plans could not let him know.

*'Test him first to see if he can truly be used by me. If not, arrange for him to go to Jiaozhi. *

*The candidate for Jiaozhi is also very important; there is still no suitable person yet.'*

"Eldest Brother, Eldest Brother!"

Just then, Li Tai walked over, his round belly trembling, followed by Li Zhi.

"Ouch, isn't this Qingque and Zhinu? Haven't seen you for several months; you've lost weight!"

Li Tai paused, unable to keep up with Li Chengqian's jumping mind:

"Eldest Brother, didn't we just see each other?"

"A day without seeing is like three autumns. For Eldest Brother, it's like not seeing you for several months."

Li Tai did not want to continue discussing meaningless things with him. After finding a place to sit, he got straight to the point:

"Eldest Brother, did you let Kim Chunchu bring that history book?"

"No! I just had someone remind him to find people to ask about the attitude of the civil and military officials.

As for that history book, the news I got is that he wrote it in a hurry yesterday."

"You all are too shameless. How can history books be tampered with? That's a history book!"

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes: "What are you getting excited about? It didn't change your family's history book.

You came to find me today just for this? Then you can go; I still have to fish."

"No!"

Li Zhi hurriedly spoke: "Eldest Brother, I want to ask about Bingzhou government affairs."

"Why don't you ask Uncle? He will definitely teach you."

"Father told me to come and ask you."

"Is that so! I'm in a good mood today; I can help you."

"How can we make the population of Bingzhou increase greatly?"

A look of surprise appeared in Li Chengqian's eyes. This was the first time since he arrived in Great Tang that he heard someone ask about population growth.

"It can't be done!"

Li Chengqian's expression was calm: "People take food as their heaven. Bingzhou doesn't have much farmland, so it's destined not to attract too many people.

Plus, the people of the Xia are attached to their land and hate moving; unless they can't survive, they won't leave their homes to come to Bingzhou.

Grandfather's Equal-Field System has a distinction between narrow land and wide land. Narrow land is a place with a large population and scarce land, while wide land is the opposite. Grandfather always wanted to let the populace move to wide land voluntarily, but the effect has never been obvious.

Bingzhou wants to increase its population; currently, it can't be done, unless..."

"Forget it, saying it is useless; it can't be done!"

Li Zhi's expression was solemn, and he bowed: "Please tell Zhinu, Eldest Brother. Whether it can be done or not, one must try to know."

"Increase grain output, protect newborns well, and let men and women of age marry when they reach the age.

Do these few points well, and don't worry about the population not rising."

Speaking of this, Li Chengqian's expression became serious:

"Population growth is easy; the difficulty is how to feed these people, just like the eastern expedition.

The eastern expedition is easy; the difficulty is how to feed the soldiers of the eastern expedition and how to handle compensation so the commoners have no complaints.

In a situation where grain is insufficient, don't force population growth; this is seeking one's own death."

"If people are insufficient, tax revenue is insufficient; if tax revenue is insufficient, we cannot recruit civil and military officials, and we cannot protect Great Tang well.

Eldest Brother, is there no other way?"

"There is!"

Li Chengqian spoke indifferently: "Just exterminate Buddhism. If you clear out the Buddhist temples in Bingzhou, a large amount of farmland will appear, and then you can distribute the land according to the Equal-Field System."

Li Zhi shook his head repeatedly. He was not a fool; wouldn't exterminating Buddhism now be equivalent to giving up the fight for the throne?

"Eldest Brother is joking!"

Li Chengqian gave an ambiguous answer: "Perhaps! Zhinu, you are still young; don't be anxious."

After finishing, he turned his gaze to Li Tai: "Qingque, what question do you have?"

"There is an epidemic in the three prefectures of Tan, Hao, and Lu. Eldest Brother, how do you think it should be handled?"

"Epidemic?" ===== CHAPTER 52 =====