Chapter 16 Summoned by the Emperor
"There are too many people in the court who are Li Linfu's followers and who fear Li Linfu. Father can summon officials from the local areas who are famous and not afraid of power to help him implement the government orders. People like Wu Jing, a great historian, will also help father's reputation in the court and the country."

"A prosperous era mainly relies on the rectification of official administration. When officials are honest and upright, the country will be stable. Father has served in local government for more than ten years and knows how the people in a place live. The character of the local governor and county magistrate is particularly important. However, most of the current governors and county magistrates have joined forces with the powerful and oppressed the people. This is what father needs to pay attention to. There are so many assistant officials in the Ministry of Personnel. I don't understand too much. The details still depend on father."

"In addition, the slave issue is also a hidden danger for the Tang Dynasty. Father needs to issue a decree prohibiting high-ranking officials from harming slaves and servants, and strictly supervise it. Currently, land annexation is serious, and many poor families sell their children as slaves. Officials do not take action, which casts a dark cloud over the prosperous times."

"These are just my humble opinions. A policy that can truly benefit the world needs to be formulated based on the people, the region, and the weather. I am far from being able to do that."

After pondering for a moment, Li Xuan offered some suggestions.

He had just arrived in the Tang Dynasty and needed to increase his knowledge, enrich his experience, and understand the customs and practices of different places.

Otherwise, no matter how much you say, it will just be empty talk.

"Although Qilang's views are simple, they are the ambitions of a prime minister. Qilang also knows Wu Jing, which is beyond my expectation."

Li Shizhi nodded approvingly.

Wu Jing was an upright person who dared to speak out against the emperor. He was the most famous historian of our time, and had been compiling history for more than 40 years, enjoying great prestige in the government and the country.

The emperor often asked about Wu Jing's whereabouts, but Li Linfu felt that Wu Jing was difficult to control and did not use him on the grounds that Wu Jing was old.

Once, Prime Minister Zhang Shuo knelt down to ask Wu Jing to change a few words, but was ruthlessly rejected by Wu Jing.

How could Li Linfu dare to keep such a person in the court?
Now Wu Jing is the prefect of Ye County.

"Father, remember, don't be like Wei Zheng and Song Jing and speak out against the emperor. Just follow the emperor's wishes. Look at Li Linfu, how smart he is!"

Li Xuan had read "Zhenguan Zhengyao" compiled by Wu Jing, but he was not familiar with Wu Jing and was reluctant to say more. He changed the subject and solemnly reminded Li Shizhi.

"A minister of remonstrance must be remembered in history. Alas, now the sage will not listen to unpleasant words."

Li Shizhi sighed. He also knew what had happened in the past few years.

"Fortunately, the saint is old."

Li Shizhi said with a hint of meaning that there were only the two of them, father and son, in the main hall, and it would be extremely disrespectful to say such things outside.

When Li Xuan heard what Li Shizhi said, he shook his head and smiled.

Li Longji had a long life. Even after the devastation of the An-Shi Rebellion, he still lived to be nearly eighty years old.

The father and son now talked about everything. After asking Li Shizhi some questions, Li Xuan returned to his courtyard to practice calligraphy and study.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed...

Not long ago, Wang Wei personally visited Li Xuan and presented him with a painting of "Spring Outing in Chang'an" and a poem to thank Li Xuan for the gift.

Li Xuan was overjoyed to be given poems and paintings by a great poet like Wang Wei.

On that day, Li Xuan drank with Wang Wei and spent several days learning pipa at Wang Wei's home.

At the same time, Li Xuan also asked Wang Wei about the basics of music.

Because Li Xuan is going to bring "Song Ci" to life in the future, he needs to write lyrics based on the melody.

The lyrics of this era are different from those of the Song Dynasty in terms of tone and rhyme.

Li Xuan must be proficient in music.

During this period, Li Xuan also visited He Zhizhang, from whom he learned some profound truths.

He felt that it would benefit him for the rest of his life.

He visited Li Bai twice, but Li Bai was not at home once and was in the palace once.

Some regrets.

A few days ago, the craftsmen sent by Li Shizhi to Longsha River in Luonan County discovered a gold mine.

Although the scale of the gold mine was still unknown, when the news reached Chang'an, Emperor Li Longji was very pleased and rewarded Li Shizhi with a thousand pieces of brocade and thirty pieces of gold artifacts.

Yesterday morning, Li Shizhi formally proposed to Li Longji to "change the year to year".

Yao and Shun used records to record years, and boasted that Li Longji was a sage king of all ages comparable to Yao and Shun.

Li Longji was pleased with such flattery, and the way he looked at Li Shizhi suddenly changed.

The Secretariat was immediately ordered to draft a summons, and starting from the third year of Tianbao, the year was changed to year.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Li Shizhi asked Li Longji to summon famous officials such as Wu Jing and Xiao Yingshi to the court, and Li Longji readily agreed.

Li Shizhi wrote a letter to strengthen the assessment of county governors and magistrates, select the best and punish the worst. Li Longji felt that Li Shizhi was pragmatic and capable.

That night, Li Longji ordered his trusted eunuch Lin Zhaoyin to bring imperial delicacies to the Zuo Xiangfu to reward Li Shizhi for his hard work for the country.

Before this, only Li Linfu could enjoy such treatment.

Li Linfu saw all this.

At this time, Li Linfu regarded Li Shizhi as a thorn in his side.

If this continues, Li Shizhi will definitely threaten his position.

Behind the bedroom of Li Linfu, the right prime minister, there is a curved hall shaped like a crescent moon, which he called "Yuetang".

Every time he wanted to frame a minister, he would ponder over it in Yuetang.

If Li Linfu came out with a smile in the early morning, it must be that he had thought of a good plan. Whoever was targeted would have his family destroyed.

Sitting quietly in the Moon Hall, Li Linfu thought about everything that had happened during this period.

Li Linfu was certain that Li Xuan was the one who planned Xiao Jiong's demotion.

Combined with Li Shizhi’s recent words and deeds.

There was also a rumor in Chang'an that Zuo Xiang Qilang was a talented young man.

After his staff explained the poem "Ode to Willow", Li Linfu was so angry that his blood pressure soared.

Being so young, he had such talent and wisdom, which made Li Linfu feel uneasy.

After a night in Yuetang, Li Linfu thought of a way to deal with Li Xuan. The next day after the morning court session, Li Linfu went to see Li Longji.

"What's the matter, Right Prime Minister?"

In the Qinzhengwu Building, Li Longji met with Li Linfu.

"The Turkic people have been in chaos in recent years. Although Wang Zhongsi's strategy is being carried out in an orderly manner, the Turkic tribes each act on their own. Sometimes they even invade the border and plunder, killing our Tang merchants. At this critical moment, I would like to recommend a brave general to Your Majesty."

Li Linfu replied after meeting Li Longji.

"There is no shortage of brave warriors on the border. Without a brilliant strategy, it will not help the battle."

Li Longji did not agree immediately. He was determined to destroy the Turks and accomplish a historic feat.

Since the Turkic minister Meiluchuo poisoned and murdered Bilge Khan in the 22nd year of Kaiyuan, the Turkic people have been fragmented. In just a few years, they have changed five khans.

During the reign of Pyrga Khan, the Turks submitted and paid tribute every year.

But once the Turkic people fell into chaos, the various tribes were no longer restrained. Due to various factors, they did not abide by morality and invaded the border one after another. Sometimes they even allied with the Khitan, Nujie, Xi and other tribes.

Li Longji realized that only by destroying the Turks could the border be permanently secured.

The Turks submitted to the Tang Dynasty because they were in decline. If they rise again, they will surely be a formidable enemy.

In February last year, Wang Zhongsi, the god of war of the Tang Dynasty, presented the "Eighteen Strategies to Pacify the Barbarians" to Li Longji in a black bag with a double seal. The strategy was to alienate the Turks in the north, in order to completely wipe out the Turks who posed a threat to the Tang Dynasty in order to secure the border.

Wang Zhongsi was Li Longji's adopted son. Li Longji watched him grow up. "Zhongsi" was the name Li Longji gave him, which means "descendant of a loyal minister."

Wang Zhongsi was well versed in military tactics, brave and skilled in fighting, and invincible in every battle. Li Longji trusted him very much at this time.

Amid the endless internal strife among the Turks, Li Longji pacified the Nine-Surname Tiele.

Among the nine Tiele tribes, the Huihe tribe was the most powerful, and there was a tendency for them to unify the other nine Tiele tribes.

Moreover, Li Longji also pacified the Basmil and Qarluk Turkic tribes.

The conditions are in place to launch a general offensive against the Turks.

Last autumn, Wang Zhongsi contacted the Basmi, Uighur and Karluk tribes to jointly attack and kill the Turkic Khan Ashina Gudu, and nominated the chief of Basmi as Jiedie Yishi Khan.

The leaders of the Uighurs and the Karluks served as the left and right Yehu respectively.

The Turks were naturally dissatisfied. They appointed Panqueteqin's son as Usumish Khan and his son Geladuo as Xisha.

Li Longji sent an envoy to persuade Wusumishi to surrender to the Tang Dynasty, but he refused to listen. Wang Zhongsi, the governor of Shuofang, stationed a large number of troops at Qikou, heading straight for the grassland.

Usumish was terrified and quickly sent messengers to verbally express his willingness to surrender.

But in reality he delayed the process, mobilizing various tribes on the grassland internally and trying to form an alliance with the three tribes of Uighur, Qarluk and Basmil that were affiliated with the Tang Dynasty externally.

Wang Zhongsi saw that the Turkic Khanate was playing both sides and feared that something unexpected would happen, so he ordered the Basmils, Huihe and Karluks to attack the Turkic Khanate. The royal court of Usumish was weak and could only flee.

Wang Zhongsi took the opportunity to launch a surprise attack and directly attacked the right wing of the Turks. The army was like mercury pouring out of the ground, unstoppable.

After the disastrous defeat in the battle, the Western Yehu of the Turkic Khanate Abusi, Xisha Geladuo, Mochuo's grandson Bodezhi and others led more than a thousand tents of their tribesmen and surrendered one after another.

Li Longji also went to Hua'e Tower to entertain the returning Turkic leaders and rewarded them with a lot of gold, silver and jewelry to demonstrate the majesty and benevolence of the Tang emperor.

The Turkic Khanate now only has the left wing and the weak main tent of the Turkic Khan. As long as the left wing is taken, the main tent will not be a problem. The Turkic Khanate can be completely destroyed with a sweeping force.

But Li Longji also had concerns, because Wang Zhongsi had recently sent a letter revealing Basimi's ambitions and suspected him of being disloyal.

The Uighur tribe also showed signs of stirring up trouble.

Although Basmil and the Uighurs assisted Wang Zhongsi in suppressing the Turks, everyone wanted to inherit the boundless grassland.

"Your Majesty, this man is the seventh son of the left prime minister, named Li Xuan. He is the best among my clan members. He is only sixteen years old, good at riding and shooting, and as brave as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei in ancient times. He can knock down dozens of people with his bare hands. He can also write poetry, so he is a master of both literature and martial arts."

Li Linfu recommended Li Xuan to Li Longji and praised him highly.

He had already heard that Li Xuan often went to Longshouyuan to practice riding and archery, and he personally sent people to observe, knowing that Li Xuan was an expert in riding and archery.

"I have never heard that the left prime minister has such a son?"

Li Longji turned his head and looked at Li Linfu.

"The left prime minister dared not recommend his son to Your Majesty, fearing that he would be criticized. Although I have a rift with the left prime minister, I do not want his talent to be buried. Your Majesty only needs to summon him to the palace and let him show his riding, archery and martial arts skills, and you will know that what I said is true."

Li Linfu said sincerely.

Then Li Linfu took out the poem written by Li Xuan to Wang Wei, as well as several poems about objects that had recently been circulating in Chang'an, and showed them to Li Longji.

"When I read his poems, I think of a gentleman as gentle as jade. When I stopped caring about the affairs of Chang'an, such a poet appeared."

After watching it, Li Longji clapped his hands and cheered.

He felt that Li Xuan was an ambitious man, and he should meet him just based on his reputation as a royal family poet.

"Your Majesty, poetry is only one side of Li Qilang. When he was young, Li Qilang had a chivalrous spirit and loved to fight bravely... From his proficiency in riding and shooting, we can tell that his ambition must be to become a famous general."

Li Linfu did not want Li Longji to deviate from his mind, and emphasized to him that Li Xuan was a talented general, not a scholar.

"The left prime minister is still a little lacking in decisiveness. As the old saying goes: when recommending someone from outside, do not hide your enemies; when recommending someone from within, do not hide your sons. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Qi Xi, a minister of the State of Jin, was able to recommend his son Qi Wu as the lieutenant of the Central Army, and also recommended Jie Hu, the enemy who killed his father, to take his place. This is what a prime minister should do!"

"The Right Prime Minister has the qualities of Qi Xi, and is truly the backbone of the country."

Seeing that Li Linfu was so dedicated to the country, Li Longji did not hesitate to praise him.

"I dare not. This is my duty."

Li Linfu bowed quickly, but a smile appeared on his face.

After discussing with Li Linfu, Li Longji immediately asked his trusted eunuch Lin Zhaoyin to go to the Left Prime Minister's Mansion and summon Li Xuan into the palace.

……

(End of this chapter)