Chapter 11: Requesting a Marriage Decree, Su Liang Recruiting Workers

A guard ran over and whispered in Li Shimin's ear, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Son-in-Law has composed more than ten good poems in Pingkang Ward, and I have already copied them down."

He then took out several poems from his bosom and respectfully handed them to Li Shimin.

After Li Shimin took them and examined them carefully, he praised them endlessly, "Good poems, good poems, truly good poems! Guanyinbi, come and take a look."

He then handed the poems to Empress Zhangsun.

After Empress Zhangsun took them and looked, there were more than a dozen poems, all of which were famous lines through the ages.

She couldn't help but sigh, "As expected of being called an immortal, this line 'Alone in a foreign land as a stranger, I miss my family all the more on every festive day' is very fitting."

Empress Zhangsun didn't dare to recite the last two lines, fearing it would disturb Li Shimin's mood.

Princess Changle saw this and leaned over, "Is this a poem written by Brother Su?"

A moment later.

Princess Changle also finished reading all the poems, then looked at Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun, blushing and saying, "Father, Mother, do you think Brother Su's line 'If the two feelings last for a long time, why should they be together day and night' was written for me?"

"Hahaha..."

Li Shimin looked at his most beloved daughter and laughed, "Hahaha... it must be, it must be. My Changle is naturally beautiful, that boy must be thinking of my daughter day and night, wishing he could marry my Changle into his house sooner."

Empress Zhangsun teased, "Another day, Mother will take you to Furong Garden, and you can ask your Brother Su Liang yourself, won't you know then."

Princess Changle blushed, rubbed the corner of her clothes, not knowing what she was thinking.

Li Shimin then smiled and ordered the guard, "Have someone copy a few copies and distribute them to the ministers to see."

Li Shimin asked, "By the way, when did the Imperial Son-in-Law write these poems?"

The guard respectfully replied, "An hour and a half ago."

Li Shimin wondered, "Then why did you come to report only now?"

The guard truthfully replied, "I wanted to wait for the Imperial Son-in-Law to finish all the poems, copy them all down, and then give them to Your Majesty. Then I heard that the Imperial Son-in-Law would not write any more poems today. Only then did I send them. I heard the Imperial Son-in-Law was going to compose music."

Li Shimin thought for a while and said, "Alright, you go down first, keep an eye on the Imperial Son-in-Law, and see what he is doing today. I asked him to come to the banquet today but he didn't come. If there is any situation, report it in time. I would like to see what kind of music he can compose."

Inside Pingkang Ward.

Su Liang looked at the stunned crowd and smiled lightly.

Everyone staring at Su Liang felt like they were bathed in a spring breeze.

The crowd who had come to their senses still refused to let Su Liang go and begged him to compose a few more pieces of music.

Facing the insatiable crowd, Su Liang also had a headache and couldn't help but think of many historical figures like the poet Li Bai and the poet Du Fu. Wasn't their situation the same?

After thinking about it, he agreed to their request.

At this moment, Su Liang was still not satisfied, so he asked someone to get a top-quality zither.

At this time, the Great Tang zither only had thirteen strings. Although the sound quality was not as good as the twenty-one strings of later generations, it was enough for Su Liang to make do.

At the same time, Su Liang also secretly decided that he must make a top-quality zither another day. He must also promote some improved musical instruments and invented musical instruments of later generations to the Great Tang.

Not long after, a noble daughter walked up slowly, blushing and handing over her beloved zither.

After Su Liang took it, he immediately adjusted his sitting posture, placed his hands lightly on the zither, and plucked the strings one by one to test the tone of this strange zither.

Everyone saw this and waited silently.

A moment later, Su Liang signaled everyone to be quiet.

Then he placed his hands on the zither again, and everyone understood that Su Liang was about to start.

Then a beautiful melody immediately rippled in Pingkang Ward...

Everyone was immersed in this beautiful tune.

Suddenly, Su Liang's round and jade-like singing voice reached everyone's ears.

A play... water sleeves rise and fall...

Singing of joys and sorrows, partings and reunions... nothing to do with me...

Fans open and close... gongs and drums sound and then go silent...

Feelings in the play, people outside the play... who can say...

Accustomed to blending joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness into the makeup...

What if the old words are sung through... bones and green ashes are all me...

Floating duckweed in troubled times, enduring the sight of war burning the mountains and rivers...

Humble in position, I dare not forget to worry about the country... even if no one knows me...

People under the stage pass by... not seeing the old colors...

People on the stage sing... heartbreaking parting songs...

It's hard to put feelings into ink... she sings and must harmonize with blood...

The play curtain rises... the play curtain falls... who is the guest...

Ah...

People under the stage pass by... not seeing the old colors...

People on the stage sing... heartbreaking parting songs...

It's hard to put feelings into ink... she sings and must harmonize with blood...

The play curtain rises... the play curtain falls... in the end, it's just a guest...

You finish singing and I take the stage...

Don't mock the wind and moon play... don't laugh at people being absurd...

I have also asked about the green and yellow... I have also sung about the rise and fall with a clang...

Say it's heartless... say it's affectionate... how to think about it...

Say it's heartless... say it's affectionate... it takes thought...

Before the song was finished, Pingkang Ward was full of people shedding tears.

Many actors were already in tears.

"The world says actors are heartless, and the feelings on the stage are all performed..."

"But how can a heartless person be an actor..."

"Only Young Master Su doesn't think so..."

"Young Master Su is going to clear the name for us actors..."

Inside Pingkang Ward, many actors were discussing one after another.

Those eyes, already full of tears, were now looking at Su Liang with affection, as if only Su Liang understood them in this world, and the immortal had come to save them.

Long after the song ended, many scholars and noble daughters also came to their senses and wiped the tears from the corners of their eyes.

The line "Humble in position, I dare not forget to worry about the country... even if no one knows me" moved everyone.

One song sang out the bitterness of parting, truly making the listeners sad and the hearers shed tears.

Everyone crowded around Su Liang, asking one question after another.

"Young Master Su... Young Master Su... what musical instrument did you just use? Why is the sound so ethereal and soft."

"Handpan!"

"Young Master Su... Young Master Su... what are the names of those two pieces of music?"

"Longing Across Time and Space, Red Actor."

"Young Master Su... Young Master Su... can you make the music score public?"

"Yes."

"Young Master Su... Young Master Su..."

Facing everyone's burning gazes, Su Liang answered them one by one.

A moment later.

Su Liang left the complete music score, fearing they would remember it wrong, and then continued to drink and listen to music. Many people also learned it in a decent way, and seeing this, Su Liang smiled slightly.

At the same time, the lyrics and music of Red Actor also spread into the palace. Li Shimin saw it and laughed, "Good, good, good, what a line 'Humble in position, I dare not forget to worry about the country'!"

He then spread the lyrics of Red Actor throughout the banquet, intending to tell everyone that they were in high positions and should share the worries for him.

Everyone went through another round of crazy flattery, flattering Li Shimin until he forgot himself, which was met with a round of crazy rebukes from Wei Zheng.

At this moment, inside Pingkang Ward.

Su Liang was lying in Ruyan's arms, drinking wine.

A woman walked towards him. She was wearing a light pink floral dress, a skirt with hundreds of flowers trailing on the ground, her hair like a waterfall, wearing a hundred-flower bun, her wrists like frost, holding a golden silk thin green gauze.

The woman was beautiful, her skin like grease, walking slowly, her smile moving people's hearts, her autumn eyes capturing people's souls.

Su Liang knew at a glance that she must be a noble lady, far beyond what ordinary wealthy daughters could compare to.

A moment later.

The woman walked to Su Liang's side, bowed slightly, and then whispered, "Little girl Zhangsun Yue, I have met Young Master Su."

Su Liang wondered, the surname Zhangsun was not common, could it be... so he asked, "Oh, who are you to Zhangsun Wuji?"

Zhangsun Yue pulled the corner of her clothes with her uneasy little hands, then said, "Replying to Young Master Su, he is my father."

Su Liang examined Zhangsun Yue carefully, thinking about why this girl came, could it be... then the corners of his mouth rose slightly, and he asked with a smile, "I don't know why Miss Zhangsun came here?"

Zhangsun Yue said shyly, "Little girl... little girl wants to ask Young Master Su to give that handpan to me, little girl is willing... willing to pay a heavy price to thank you."

Su Liang immediately became interested and asked with a smile, "Oh? Does Miss Zhangsun think that I, the Young Master, lack silver?"

Zhangsun Yue was immediately panicked and said, "I... I..."

How could Ruyan not see what Zhangsun Yue was up to? She stared at the blushing Zhangsun Yue and teased, "That handpan took my Young Master several days to build. Today, Miss Zhangsun is like this, I'm afraid the drunkard's heart is not in the wine."

Seeing Ruyan speak so bluntly, Zhangsun Yue's already blushing face became even redder, as if it were a ripe peach, which could drip water if pinched, and then she lowered her head and remained silent.

Tens of breaths later, Zhangsun Yue slowly raised her head, her eyes looking at Su Liang as if looking through autumn water, and said, "Little girl has admired the Young Master for a long time, and is willing to be a concubine for the Young Master, hoping the Young Master will fulfill my wish."

This was the daughter of a Duke, yet she was willing to be a concubine for Su Liang. Su Liang was silent for a moment and then said, "Since the young lady is so kind, how can I not marry you! But your father's side..."

"There is no need for the Young Master to worry about this, I will handle it properly."

After Zhangsun Yue said this with a blushing face, she left on her own.

A quarter of an hour later.

At the palace banquet.

A guard reported, "Your Majesty, Zhangsun Yue, the daughter of the Duke of Zhao, requests an audience."

Li Shimin nodded slightly and said, "Let her come over."

A moment later.

Zhangsun Yue came to Li Shimin, bowed, and said, "Please Your Majesty, bestow a marriage for your subject's daughter."

Li Shimin examined Zhangsun Yue, who was already fourteen years old, and asked, "Oh? Which young master has Yue'er set her eyes on?"

Zhangsun Yue said slowly, word by word, "Prince of Chu, Su Liang. Your subject's daughter is willing to be a concubine for Young Master Su, please Your Majesty bestow a marriage."

Zhangsun Wuji on the side heard this, and the hand that was stroking his beard trembled, and he instantly pulled out a handful of his beard.

Little did he know that this action of Zhangsun Wuji caused a misunderstanding by Li Shimin.

Li Shimin, who heard this, looked at Zhangsun Wuji and happened to see this action.

Li Shimin thought his brother-in-law had already agreed, and he couldn't say anything, so he immediately said, "Good, I just saw your father agree, so I will promise you. Next year, you and Changle will marry over together. You two grew up together, so you can take care of each other."

Zhangsun Wuji:...

The next morning, regardless of Zhangsun Wuji's obstruction, Zhangsun Yue moved to Furong Garden.

Anyway, she was a concubine, so what did it matter if it was early or late? Zhangsun Wuji was so angry that he blew his beard and stared.

Three days later.

A piece of news shocked the entire Changan City.

The current Imperial Son-in-Law, Prince of Chu Su Liang, was recruiting workers on a large scale.

Because Lantian County needed a large number of hands, a notice was posted outside Furong Garden: Anyone who is a worker can be hired, with a daily wage of one hundred copper coins, and only four hours of work per day. For those with excellent skills, the remuneration can be determined accordingly.

The entire Changan City went crazy... rushing to Furong Garden...

For a time, Furong Garden was crowded with people, and all the goldsmiths, carpenters, masons, and tailors of Changan City were here.

Many craftsmen from surrounding counties also rushed here upon hearing the news.

There was no other way, the Imperial Son-in-Law gave too much money.

At this time, the average daily wage of Tang Dynasty craftsmen was only about 20 wen.

One hundred wen a day, three thousand wen a month, which was a full three taels of silver.

One tael of silver in the Tang Dynasty was equivalent to about 6000 yuan in modern society.

At this time, the monthly salary of a second-rank official in the imperial court was only about 9000 wen.

The monthly money given by the Imperial Son-in-Law could catch up with a fifth-rank official in the imperial court, and not only did they only need to work for four hours a day, but everyone also had eight days of rest a month, and they could enjoy the daily wage during the holidays, so how could they not be crazy.

At first, everyone didn't dare to believe it and came with a skeptical attitude.

And what awaited them were contracts.

For several days in a row.

The craftsmen were all signing and pressing their fingerprints, and only after recruiting 100,000 people did they stop recruiting.

At this time, the population of Changan City was only nearly one million.

Not only that.

Su Liang even had the accountant advance them a month's salary, telling them to go to Lantian County one after another two days later, and someone would guide them then.

The ninth year of Wude, the fifteenth day of the ninth month.

Taiji Palace, inside the Liangyi Hall.

The ministers were whispering to each other, full of noise.

A eunuch shouted at the top of his voice, "If you have anything to report, report it; if not, retire from the court!"

Feng Deyi, the Minister of the Right, said slowly, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Son-in-Law now has 100,000 craftsmen in his hands, of which 80,000 are young and strong, and they are all concentrated in Lantian County. If..."

Pei Ji, the Minister of the Left, continued after hearing this, "Your Majesty, if the Imperial Son-in-Law has a crooked mind and lures the craftsmen with profit, it may cause trouble!"

Hearing the two ministers from the Ministry of Secretariat speak one after another, the ministers also offered advice one after another.

"Your Majesty, we second the motion!"

"Your Majesty, we second the motion!"

"Your Majesty, we second the motion!"

Seeing the ministers offering advice one after another, Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Cheng Yaojin, and others on the side were all silent.

Everyone looked at the civil officials who offered advice with disdain, and couldn't help but think in their hearts: "What a bunch of fools. If the Imperial Son-in-Law really had the intention to rebel, His Majesty has entered and exited Furong Garden many times, and he would have been beheaded long ago."

Suddenly, Wei Zheng stood out, pointed at the ministers who offered advice, and scolded sternly, "You are truly small-minded. The Imperial Son-in-Law has made extraordinary contributions to our Great Tang, how can you slander him indiscriminately? The craftsmen recruited by the Imperial Son-in-Law all have complete contracts and have not violated any laws of the Great Tang. I would like to ask what actions the Imperial Son-in-Law has taken that have displeased you ministers, so that you slander the Imperial Son-in-Law."

Everyone was stunned when they heard this. The Imperial Son-in-Law's move was nothing more than having a lot of money, which was why he could recruit workers on such a large scale. Everything the Imperial Son-in-Law did in his fief was registered in documents and did not violate any laws of the Great Tang.

At this moment, Li Shimin was quietly scanning the ministers who offered advice, and also noticed that more than 80% of them were civil officials. He was immediately full of disdain, then slapped the table and snorted coldly.

"You are presumptuous, simply slandering indiscriminately. If Su Liang had a disloyal heart, I have entered and exited Furong Garden many times, how could I be here now."

"If Su Liang had the intention of rebellion, why would he offer the Imperial Jade Seal to me? Why would he give me sweet potatoes and potatoes?"

"If Su Liang really had a different heart, just based on the two crops of sweet potatoes and potatoes, he could definitely cultivate a million-strong army in time."

"I think you civil officials have ruined your brains by reading books. You can let the military generals in the court say, if the Imperial Son-in-Law really rebelled, who could stop him. He wouldn't need to wait until today!"

"Besides, Su Liang is my son-in-law. If you do this again, don't blame me for not cherishing old feelings!"

After speaking, he immediately flicked his sleeves and left.

Just a few steps away, he turned back to look at everyone and said sternly, "I remind you all, Su Liang is not only my son-in-law, but also the Prince of Chu of our Great Tang. In the future, if there is no real evidence, you will be punished for false accusation!"

Suddenly, all the ministers were silent, and the hall was eerily quiet, without any sound.

Until a long time later.

Everyone left one after another. The Emperor had left, so why stay? ===== CHAPTER 12 =====