Chapter 5 Xingqing Palace

"As a general, you need to hone your commanding talents and keep the borders and the people safe. Qilang has no qualifications or political achievements now. Even if you join the army, your father cannot arrange for you to take charge of an army."

When Li Shizhi heard Li Xuan's words, he was stunned for a moment and then spoke earnestly.

In Li Shizhi's opinion, Li Xuan's military career should at least start as a commander of an army, just like him.

Instead of being a low-ranking captain and leading hundreds of people in bloodshed.

Although martial spirit was prevalent in the Tang Dynasty, joining the army for long expeditions, making meritorious contributions on the frontier, and seeking to be granted a title of nobility or a general was a path for ordinary children of noble families and common people, not the path for true "aristocrats" like them.

"If I join the army, I will start from the bottom. Even if I lead a hundred people, I will charge into battle at the command of the commander, ready to die!"

Li Xuan expressed his ambitions.

Li Shizhi was not only the prime minister, but also the Minister of War. He only needed Li Shizhi's letter of recommendation.

Li Xuan knew his own limitations and realized that it was unrealistic for him to be a military envoy or a guard envoy. He needed to be recommended by the military governor and appointed by the emperor.

With Li Shizhi's recommendation and his family background, he was more than qualified to be a yamen official.

Of course, it is also possible to recommend Li Xuan to gain experience in the Jiedushi's court, but that is not what Li Xuan is pursuing.

Li Xuan must make good use of resources and get the opportunity for promotion as quickly as possible.

"Qilang, the battlefield is no joke, you can't act willfully."

"On the battlefield, swords and spears are blind, and hidden arrows are hard to guard against. If you really want to join the army, as father said, you should train yourself to become a commander of an army, and then establish border defense."

After hearing what Li Xuan said, Li Qian and Li Jiqing immediately spoke out to stop him.

Li Xuan is not yet an adult, how can he go to the battlefield?

Those sons of aristocratic families who entered officialdom through family connections all started out as members of the Imperial Guard or Langwei.

"In the past, Su Dingfang and Xue Rengui were both famous for their bravery and were able to command large armies. Even Emperor Taizong charged into battle without fear. How could I be afraid?"

Li Xuan felt that this was the fastest way for him to become a general or a prime minister.

He had the confidence to fight hard once, because the Tianbao years were when Li Longji was most eager for "martial arts".

"Nonsense! Since you know Xue Rengui and Su Dingfang, don't you know how many brave warriors like Xue Rengui and Su Dingfang died on the battlefield on their way to becoming generals?"

Li Shizhi's expression suddenly changed and he scolded Li Xuan.

He absolutely did not approve of Li Xuan joining the army at the border now. Once he charged into battle, he would be in danger of death.

He had two sons who died young and was afraid of losing Li Xuan again.

"Of course I know that I will stand out like them." Li Xuan was not afraid of Li Shizhi's rebuke and looked at Li Shizhi with firm eyes.

His heart is as strong as iron and he won't waver.

"Qi Lang, if you can pass the military examination this year, I will recommend you to be the deputy driver of the frontier county."

Under normal circumstances, Li Shizhi would definitely be angry, but Li Xuangang helped him see through Li Linfu's conspiracy, which made him see Li Xuan's talent. So he calmed down and thought of a compromise.

He didn't think Li Xuan could pass the military examination.

He would be even happier if his son could pass the exam because he could openly recommend his son to the emperor.

"I listen to my father!"

Li Xuan knew that Li Shizhi and his brothers would not let him join the army at the frontier, so he could only agree superficially.

Next month, he will leave on his own.

The martial arts examination will not be held until September.

In addition, this year's military examination is for generals and generals with wisdom and strategy. One cannot pass the exam just by relying on martial arts, riding and archery, but also has to write down "military strategies".

As the son of the current prime minister and a member of the royal family, his status is more useful than passing the military examination, so there is no need to waste time on it.

Li Shizhi was very satisfied with Li Xuan's compromise, and then the family had dinner together in the main room.

Li Shizhi was so happy that he asked someone to bring him some wine and drank a few cups.

A few years later, Li Shizhi's romance in "Song of the Eight Immortals Drinking" was actually more of a helplessness. "Drinking is like a whale sucking in hundreds of rivers" is true, but Li Shizhi is also a human being and cannot "drink a thousand cups without getting drunk". After a while of drinking, Li Shizhi became a little indulgent.

Li Shizhi put down his wine glass only after Li Qian persuaded him that he had to attend court early the next day.

It was already dusk when I returned to my courtyard.

"Thank you very much for saving me, my lord."

As soon as Li Xuan entered the garden, a young girl came to thank him. She had been looking forward to it for a long time.

The girl looked to be about fourteen or fifteen years old. Although she was wearing an ordinary plain-colored narrow-sleeved skirt, her bright eyes and white teeth could not be concealed.

She is Shuang'er who was abducted by Li Yi.

Like Luo Xing, she was Li Xuan's exclusive servant.

In the Tang Dynasty, slaves were divided into official slaves and private slaves. They had no freedom or rights and were treated by their masters as laborers, thugs, or playthings.

Shuang'er was an official slave. When the rank and salary of an official in the Tang Dynasty reached a certain level, the court would reward him with some slaves.

Shuang'er was bestowed upon her by the court when Li Shizhi was the Chief Secretary of the Youzhou Military Governor's Office and the Jiedushi of Youzhou.

"Well, I have taught Li Yi a lesson to vent your anger."

Li Xuan comforted Shuang'er.

In his eyes, people can be divided into high and low, but not noble and humble.

The slave system is so unfair.

Shuang'er, Luo Xing and other slaves were probably demoted to slaves and deprived of their freedom for the rest of their lives because their fathers or elders made mistakes.

Because even the marriage of slaves had to be decided by their masters, a good family marrying a slave would be sentenced to two years in prison. If a slave committed a crime, the crime was even more serious.

Over the past two months, in the eyes of the servants in the Left Prime Minister's Mansion, Li Xuan was approachable.

"I dare not ask for more, but my husband did not bring back the rice paper he bought."

Shuang'er said somewhat sadly.

She had long since submitted to her fate. In her eyes, Li Xuan was everything to her.

Although Li Xuan was reckless and aggressive before, he was nice to the servants and never beat or punished them.

Since two months ago, Li Xuan has become unusually easy-going, mature and steady. He no longer goes out casually and concentrates on studying.

Everyone in the Zuo Xiang Mansion felt that Qilang had grown up.

Not only Shuang'er, other servants are also willing to be close to Qilang.

"No problem, I'll go to the East Market to get it myself tomorrow."

Li Xuan waved his hand and asked Shuang'er to go back and rest.

Shuang'er knew that Li Xuan didn't like to meddle in other people's business now, so she could only obey Li Xuan's orders.

She lived in the ninth courtyard, which was where the servants in the Left Prime Minister's Mansion lived.

Tomorrow morning, she and Luo Xing will come to serve Li Xuan.

Li Xuan continued to read late into the night, practice calligraphy, and read historical books and laws to enrich himself.

He didn't fall asleep until midnight.

...the next day.

Xingqing Palace.

Xingqing Palace is located on the east side of Chang'an City, close to the east outer city wall, with Yongjiafang to the north, Shengyefang to the west and Daozhenfang to the south.

It was the residence of Li Longji when he was a vassal king. After Li Longji ascended the throne, he repeatedly expanded the area where he was located until it reached the scale of today's Xingqing Palace.

The center of the Tang Dynasty had also moved from the Taiji Palace in the imperial city to the Xingqing Palace, known as the "Nan Nei".

Normally, court meetings, hearings, and banquets for ministers were usually held in Xingqing Palace. Only large-scale court meetings, gatherings, and ceremonies would be held in the Taiji Palace in the imperial city, or in the Daming Palace in the northeast of Chang'an.

Before dawn, the ministers, led by the Censor, were waiting outside the inner gate.

At dawn, after the captain of the gate had finished reading the list, all officials followed and, to the sound of drums and music, a morning court ceremony lasting half an hour was held.

After the ceremony, all officials filed in.

Deep in the Xingqing Hall, the emperor's curtains had been set up and the seats for the officials had been spread out.

The incense table is placed before your majesty.

The smoke from the incense burner curls up...

After Li Shizhi and Li Linfu entered the Xingqing Hall, they led the provincial officials under their jurisdiction to stand in front of the incense table.

Other officials knelt on both sides of the palace.

"Your Majesty has arrived..."

Following the call of the master of ceremonies, all officials stood up and bowed first.

Li Longji, wearing a golden dragon robe and a crown on his head, walked into the first door surrounded by palace maids.

Ask for a fan.

Fan closed.

When Li Longji sat on the throne.

Fan open.

Return to the left and right.

The left and right Yulin troops, holding ceremonial guards, entered from the east and west pavilions.

"Greetings to Your Majesty!"

After the ceremonial reading by the Tongshi Sheren, the two prime ministers led all the civil and military officials to pay homage to Li Longji again.

"Everyone is safe!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Only after Li Longji raised his hand did the ministers return to their seats.

He is nearly sixty years old, but he looks like a middle-aged man, with black hair at his temples.

In addition to his nobility and majesty, Li Longji also has an elegant temperament.

At the court meeting, the first things to be dealt with were memorials submitted to the "Political Affairs Hall".

Next come some daily affairs and local matters.

Li Linfu reported the matter to Li Longji and gave a proper plan.

Li Linfu was already in his sixties. Although he was old, one could still tell from his facial features that he had the charm of his former years. He spoke eloquently in the court, his descriptions were vivid and well-reasoned.

He always made all the ministers clap their hands and cheer, and Li Longji nodded in satisfaction.

Of course, there were also people who disliked Li Linfu, but ever since the Censor Zhou Ziliang wrote to the emperor in a letter saying that Niu Xianke was not qualified to be a prime minister and was beaten to death by Li Longji in anger, the censors and ministers no longer dared to say much.

I can only hide my dissatisfaction deep in my heart.

Li Longji was very satisfied to see that Li Linfu handled government affairs in an orderly manner.

another beautiful day!
Just as Li Longji was about to leave the court to visit his "Lady Yuhuan", Li Shizhi stood up with a hu tablet in his hand and walked to the center of the hall: "Your Majesty, I have something to report..."

"Please speak."

Li Longji suppressed his thoughts and signaled Li Shizhi to speak frankly.

Li Linfu, who was sitting on the right, raised the corner of his mouth slightly when he saw Li Shizhi stand up at this time.

Everything is under his control!
"The other day, the Right Prime Minister told me that there is a gold mine in Huashan Mountain and asked me to report to Your Majesty and start mining. But after careful consideration, I immediately realized that Huashan Mountain is where Your Majesty's royal aura resides and it is not suitable for mining. The Right Prime Minister's idea is somewhat ill-considered."

History changed at this moment. Li Shizhi no longer wrote to Li Longji to mine the Huashan gold mine, but used the matter of the Huashan gold mine to counterattack Li Linfu.

As soon as Li Shizhi said this, the ministers were in an uproar and immediately started whispering to each other.

Many ministers do not understand the meaning of "royal spirit", but smart people understand it immediately.

More importantly, the Left Prime Minister of the current dynasty directly attacked the Right Prime Minister.

Li Shizhi and Li Linfu had served as prime ministers together for several months, but this was the first time that Li Shizhi openly turned against Li Linfu.

Li Linfu's expression changed even more. This was not in line with common sense!

He thought that Li Shizhi, who was of a withdrawn character, would use the Huashan gold mine to seek credit from the emperor. Then he would come out to refute Li Shizhi, making Li Shizhi lose face in front of the emperor.

Now this happened, Li Linfu was at a loss for a moment.

"Right Prime Minister, is this true?"

Li Longji frowned and questioned Li Linfu.

He pursued the way to immortality and had absolute faith in "royal energy" and "dragon energy".

Mining Huashan, isn't that going against his will?
"Your Majesty, this is absolutely not the case. I told the Left Prime Minister that there is a gold mine in Huashan, but I also said that gold mines are the lifeblood of saints and cannot be mined. I also believe in Taoism. My daughter levitated and entered the Taoist sect. This is a well-known fact. How could I not do my best for Your Majesty? The Left Prime Minister is slandering me. Your Majesty, please understand!"

Li Linfu immediately stepped out of the ranks, bowed to Li Longji, then turned around and glared at Li Shizhi, as if he hated Li Shizhi for slandering him.

He was extremely cunning and reacted quickly, citing the fact that he also believed in Taoism and insisting that Li Shizhi was using politics as an excuse to attack him.

If you endure such a big thing, no good will come of it, even if you are favored.

Besides, at that time, there were only him and Li Shizhi, and neither of them could testify against him.

"You are all members of the royal family, so you should serve the country wholeheartedly. Don't do things that would upset me, like Xiao Song and Han Xiu did."

Li Longji looked at the two prime ministers suspiciously. At this moment, he thought that the "prime minister struggle" had begun again. Having been in power for more than 30 years, he had seen too many similar things.

As a monarch, he was happy to see the previous struggles.

Now that he has created the prosperous Tang Dynasty, it is time for him to enjoy the happiness of family.

Even farmers have time to enjoy their retirement, so can't the emperor take a break?

So Li Longji didn't want to see such upset fights again.

The result of the open and secret struggles between Xiao Song and Han Xiu was that they were both dismissed from their positions as prime ministers by Li Longji.

Using Xiao Song and Han Xiu as examples was a warning to Li Shizhi and Li Linfu.

It was more of a warning to Li Shizhi. After all, when Li Linfu and Niu Xianke were partners, the court was stable and the country was prosperous, which made Li Longji very comfortable in those years.

(End of this chapter)