Chapter 71: Helping Out at the Ministry of Revenue

Li Shimin laughed at himself: "In that case, I, this Emperor, can also be considered a mediocre person.

The Master's reminder is correct; I have indeed been somewhat slack recently."

"What Your Majesty has done already surpasses most monarchs; Emperors Wen and Xuan of Han were no better than this."

"How could I dare compare myself to those two emperors? Master, there is no need to comfort me; I know my own worth well enough.

You have been in Chang'an for some time now, Master; have you heard of the Spirit Child? Is the child in Gaoyang's womb a Spirit Child?"

Daolin pressed his palms together and bowed: "Naturally! Just as the Buddha said, everyone possesses Buddha Nature, and everyone can become a Buddha.

Every child in the world is a Spirit Child. Gaoyang Princess is devoted to kindness, and the son-in-law Fang is devoted to practicing Buddhism; under their influence, this child will surely become a person of virtue.

Being able to descend into the residence of a kind person, this child must have accumulated more good karma than evil in their past life, so calling them a Spirit Child under the Buddha's seat is not inappropriate."

Li Shimin nodded slightly, as if agreeing with this statement:

"Fang Jun has indeed changed a lot recently; I hear he has already cultivated the Self-Nature Light. If you have time, Master, could you go and teach him?"

"It would be my greatest honor, poor monk."

After Daolin left, Li Shimin swept his gaze over the officials and spoke indifferently:

"Su Jun's administrative achievements are outstanding, so transfer him to the Ministry of Revenue. As for the position of Prefect of Qianzhou, let the Ministry of Personnel submit a few candidates.

I hear Scholar Chu is bedridden with a serious illness; Scholar Chu, write a Buddhist Sutra for me to pray for Scholar Chu's recovery."

Chu Suiliang's eyes turned red instantly, and he knelt on the ground, crying out:

"Thank you, Your Majesty! My death ten thousand times would not be enough to repay Your Majesty's grace!"

Li Shimin shook his head secretly; he did not want to drive Chu Suiliang out of Chang'an again, so he could only use this method.

With Daolin appearing in everyone's eyes, Li Chengqian's goal had been achieved. With Chu Suiliang present, at the very least, the outcome would not be decided so quickly; perhaps he would still have time to control the situation after returning from the eastern expedition.

At this moment, Zhangsun Wuji stepped forward: "The eastern expedition is imminent; I ask Your Majesty to decide on the personnel for supervising the state."

"It is indeed time to decide!"

Li Shimin slowly stood up and spoke loudly to everyone:

"Decree: Crown Prince Chengqian shall supervise the state! Zhao State Duke Zhangsun Wuji, Liang State Duke Fang Qiao, and Prince of Wei Tai shall assist."

From this point on, Li Tai began to participate in court politics; this was a signal released by Li Shimin, and whether it could be understood depended on the individual wisdom and intelligence of the officials.

Li Chengqian had no reaction; Li Tai's participation in court politics was already within his expectations.

Since he wanted to push Li Tai to the top, it was inevitable that he would let him gradually come into contact with court politics and handle major national affairs.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince! Why are you still fishing? Are you not anxious?"

"Is being anxious useful?"

Li Chengqian stared fixedly at the lake surface: "Cui, the official, what you should be worried about is whether you have the talent of a Prime Minister, and whether you have the ability to make the people of Great Tang live better."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, if you cannot ascend the throne, it will be useless even if I have the talent of Xiao He.

In my opinion, we should still find a way to defeat the Prince of Wei."

Li Chengqian sighed softly: "How is the Qinghe Cui Clan passed down? If the eldest son of the main branch of the Qinghe line were deposed for no reason, what would you think? What would your father do?"

"Fight them at their doorstep! This is a destruction of ritual and law, a destruction of the foundation of the family; no one can break this."

"Then there you have it! Don't look at me as being in a precarious situation; I am very safe!

The one who is anxious now is Father, not me!

Still the same words: do your own job well, and leave the rest to me.

You are still young, and you have seen few things and people; many times, you cannot just look at the surface."

"This official understands!"

Just then, an attendant came to Wang Qi's side, whispered a few words, and then hurried away.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince! Medicine King Sun has been found, and the Prince of Qi has already met with him!

However, the epidemic in Luzhou has not completely ended, and Medicine King Sun does not want to come to Chang'an for the time being.

Son-in-law Du asks if he should be forcibly brought back?"

Li Chengqian put down his fishing rod, silently calculated the time in his heart, and then spoke indifferently:

"Give him half a year; he must arrive in Chang'an before the eighth month of the eighteenth year of Zhenguan.

Tell Yuwen Ding that the gift for the King of Bohai can be sent over; I want to see Minister of the Imperial Clan Court Dou Dan immediately after I begin supervising the state."

"Yes!"

Ever since Li Shimin issued the decree to transfer Su Jun to Chang'an, Zhangsun Wuji and the others had completely fallen silent, and Li Tai and the others had made no moves.

All of Chang'an suddenly became calm and peaceful, and Li Shimin felt a bit dazed:

'If it could be this quiet after the eastern expedition, how good that would be!'

He knew this was wishful thinking; the peace was just a show for him. He could be certain that as soon as he left Chang'an, all the monsters and demons would emerge.

Li Chengqian's arrival finally influenced the direction of world history; Li Shimin, who in original history did not go on the eastern expedition until the nineteenth year of Zhenguan, officially set foot on the path of the eastern expedition in the first month of spring in the eighteenth year of Zhenguan.

On the walls of Chang'an City, watching the receding backs of Li Shimin and the Great Tang soldiers, Li Chengqian muttered to himself:

"Do not speak to me of titles and honors; for one general to succeed, ten thousand bones must wither."

"Since Your Highness knows the war is tragic, why must you say those things?"

"Lord Fang, I only speak and do not act, while Father only acts and does not speak.

Look at the Great Tang; which year has there not been a war? Isn't this eastern expedition something Father wanted to do himself?"

Fang Xuanling looked calm: "Goguryeo should be destroyed, but there is no need for Xinluo Guo."

"Hmm?"

Li Chengqian looked at Fang Xuanling curiously: "Lord Fang, are you so certain that I will ascend the throne?"

"I am reminding the Crown Prince to think of the people of Great Tang; once war breaks out, everyone suffers, and there is no winner.

Sometimes ambition is not important; one does not bring anything into this life, and one takes nothing away when one dies, so why be obsessed with an illusory future."

As soon as the words fell, Li Tai approached with heavy footsteps:

"Big Brother, Lord Fang, what secret words are you whispering? Father has already gone far, and we should also head to Liangyi Hall to handle state affairs!"

Li Chengqian rested his right hand on Li Tai's shoulder, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly:

"Qingque, you are impatient again! Haste makes waste."

"Uncle has been preparing for a long time; you had better be careful!"

"Do you think I am afraid of him?"

Li Tai's eyes showed disdain: "Isn't it just like you, wanting to send me a gift? Can't I just refuse to accept it?"

"Wow!"

Li Chengqian exclaimed: "Qingque, you are too amazing; you even thought of that."

"But why was Su Jun still transferred back to Chang'an? Could it be that you are playing a double game?"

"It seems I must take you seriously, otherwise I really might be defeated by you."

"Shut up!"

Li Tai was ashamed and angry, staring bitterly at Li Chengqian:

"Don't think I don't know your plan; wanting to be the fisherman who gains from others' conflict, don't dream!"

"The rumors about the Prince of Bohai last time were spread by you; I will get my revenge for this sooner or later."

"What? Have you started studying the Gongyang Spring and Autumn? Preparing to enact 'a hundred-generation feud can still be avenged'?"

"Is that not allowed?"

"It is!"

Li Chengqian's expression was serious: "Don't say Big Brother didn't give you a chance; Minister of the Imperial Clan Court Dou Dan is already waiting at Liangyi Hall."

"Go quickly! Use the Prince of Bohai to deal a fatal blow to Big Brother!"

???

Li Tai's eyes widened abruptly: "What have you done again? What has the Prince of Bohai done now? Why has even the Minister of the Imperial Clan Court come?"

"You want to kick the Prince of Bohai out of the Zushu? You are too vicious!"

"If Big Brother weren't vicious, how could your integrity be highlighted?"

"Qingque, Big Brother is doing this for your own good; don't be ungrateful!"

Li Tai could not be bothered to waste any more words with Li Chengqian and hurried toward the bottom of the city wall.

Fang Xuanling, who was to the side, spoke up at the right moment: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, what are you planning to do? Didn't you say you wouldn't contact the imperial clan for the time being?"