Chapter 191 Tiance General 2.0 (asking for monthly ticket)

Seeing that Old Li's face was darkening, Li Xiang immediately offered him a sweet date.

"Aunt, I asked Feng Qing to build a palace in Dengzhou, and asked Master Yan to draw the blueprint. I, your grandson, paid for it out of my own pocket, and subsidized it by 500,000 strings of cash."

Hearing this, Lao Li's expression softened.

"Why is it so wasteful?"

"It's not wasteful, and there's no need to impose corvée labor to build the palace. The people can benefit, and it can also promote the development of the Dengzhou area. Why not do it?" Li Xiang began to reason with Li Shimin.

Li Shimin listened and nodded slightly, saying, "I know how filial Xiang'er is."

Li Xiang thought to himself, I built it for you, but when you die one day, won’t all these things be mine?
In fact, giving things to Lao Li is just like transferring them from the left hand to the right hand, it’s just a little earlier.

Of course, filial piety is definitely there.

You are my dearest and most beloved uncle!

"Well, Aye." Li Mingda tilted his head and looked at Li Shimin. "Xiang'er has made great contributions this time. He destroyed two countries in one battle, which is comparable to Aye's capture of two kings in one battle. I wonder how Aye will reward Xiang'er?"

If you ask me how to reward Li Xiang, Old Li already has a plan in mind.

But when he heard Li Mingda say this, he felt uneasy again.

Hmm...from what Sizi said, it seems that Xiang'er is the young general of Tiance.

But then again, Xiang'er's contribution is indeed worthy of the title of General Tiance, or... ?
Tian Ce General 2.0, right?

"Let's deal with this matter on New Year's Day. Now is not the time to announce it." Li Shimin waved his hand, looking mysterious.

Seeing Li Shimin so mysterious, Li Xiang and Li Mingda looked at each other, and he really became interested.

It’s New Year’s Day. If it’s an ordinary reward, then it can be announced without even waiting until he returns to Beijing; but it’s so formal that it even has to wait until the New Year’s Day court meeting to be announced, which makes people think deeply.

"I have also discussed this matter with your father, and he agreed." Li Shimin added.

"What on earth is this? Yeah yeah." Li Mingda's curiosity was aroused: "You actually need to discuss this with your elder brother?"

Li Shimin blinked and smiled very maliciously: "I won't tell you."

"Look, they're just making empty promises again." Li Xiang Xiaoxiang spread his hands and said angrily, "If I believed it, I'd probably cry my heart out—"

Lao Li took a deep breath...

After hearing this, Li Mingda covered his mouth and chuckled.

This little elephant...added a lot of fun to life after coming back.

It has to be admitted that Li Shimin's family...including Li Xiang, all have the potential to be entertaining people, especially Li Xiang.

Sometimes Li Xiang wondered if he had passed this trait on to his entire family.

"Oh, by the way, Uncle, I want to hold a sports meeting in Chang'an and invite athletes from all over the world," Li Xiang suggested. "It has been two years since we held a sports meeting in Shuozhou. It is time to hold one in Chang'an. Not only will it allow foreign countries to enjoy the royal rule, but it will also allow the people of the Tang Dynasty to enjoy it as well."

"You can take the lead in this matter." Li Shimin naturally had no objection: "I am planning to merge Chang'an and Wannian into one prefecture, and call it Jingzhao Yin. Since you have the leisure time, then you can take the responsibility of being the first Jingzhao Yin."

"Isn't this a bit hasty, old man?" Li Xiang looked at Li Shimin and said, "After all, this is the capital area and the capital Chang'an. We must make a careful decision. At the very least, we should discuss it with the important officials in the court."

"I have already discussed this matter with Auxiliary Machine and others. Your second uncle is the most supportive." Li Shimin stretched out his hand and nodded at Li Xiang.

"Ah? Second Uncle?" Li Xiang scratched his head: "What does Second Uncle have to do with this?"

"Second brother is the governor of Yongzhou, so he is the right person to take care of you, the little elephant!" Li Mingda stretched out his finger and tapped Li Xiang's head.

After hearing this, Li Xiang refused to do it.

"Hey, Second Uncle controls me?" Li Xiang patted his chest and said, "I am the Grand Commander of Dengzhou and the Grand Protector of Andong. In terms of rank, I am not afraid of Second Uncle..."

"Hahaha, look at how petty you are." Li Shimin pointed at him and said, "Your second uncle's title of governor of Yongzhou is just an honorary title. Logically speaking, he has no control over you."

"That's good." Li Xiang patted his chest and said with a smile.

At this moment, the palace door was also opened.

"I said this kid is undisciplined." Li Tai pointed at Li Xiang and complained to Li Zhi.

Li Zhi smiled gently at Li Xiang and did not respond to Li Tai's words.

"Second brother, brother!" Li Mingda stood up and greeted with surprise.

She thought that her two brothers had forgotten their sister because they had found sisters-in-law and left the palace to go home. She never expected that she would be eavesdropping outside the Lizheng Hall.

"Eavesdropping is so ungentlemanly, uncles." Li Xiang said with a dark face.

"Otherwise how could I know how cunning you are?" Li Tai retorted.

Li Xiang: …

Forget it, I won’t bother with the fat guy.

"What do you think about your sports meet?" Li Shimin asked after a pause, "Or will we divide the teams by country like we did in Shuozhou?"

"No." Li Xiang answered straightforwardly: "This is a national sports meeting. The Tang Dynasty divides the contestants according to each path, and they compete on the same stage with the contestants from the vassal states or tribes."

"Do you mean to put the vassal states on the same level as the Tang Dynasty?" Li Shimin asked.

"Yes." Li Xiang nodded and said, "Since they are a vassal of the Tang Dynasty, they cannot be treated on the same level as the Tang Dynasty. They should be treated according to the level of the Dao."

"Okay." Li Shimin agreed with Li Xiang's idea.

"I will also ask Grandfather to issue an order to select some athletes from the ten provinces to participate in the competition." Li Xiang said with a smile: "In addition, I plan to build a stadium on the outskirts of Chang'an so that the people of Chang'an can watch the games during the sports meeting."

"Under normal circumstances, the sports field can also be used for other things," he added.

"What?" Old Li was obviously interested.

"I haven't thought about it yet." Li Xiang spread his hands, "But I do have a rough outline of a plan. We can start a professional polo league in the Tang Dynasty, and major cities across the country can form professional polo teams..."

Li Xiang applied the later NBA to what he called the professional polo league and gave a detailed explanation to Li Shimin and others.

Polo is a sport that is beneficial to physical and mental health and is loved by everyone.

The Tang people were martial people and were very keen on this highly competitive and confrontational sport.

While being passionate about sports, Tangren also likes to bet a little money.

This... is a considerable income.

What's more, the professional league makes money not only from this. Li Shimin and the other two pondered for a moment and felt that this suggestion was very good and very tempting.

"While carrying out polo activities, we can also switch to other types of sports. After all, polo is expensive, and it is also very boring if you only watch one type." Li Xiang said with a smile: "Aung, do you still remember the rugby?"

Old Li had actually seen rugby before. When he was in the Dengzhou Navy, he often watched people play it.

Wearing armor and fully armed, running wildly on the field, and engaging in high-intensity physical confrontations, Lao Li thinks that is the sport that men should play.

Don't doubt the Tang people's sports aesthetics, they are much more red than the rednecks.

"Rugby is not bad." Li Shimin nodded and said, "We can add this sport to the sports meeting and promote it."

"As expected of an old man, he thinks of everything." Li Xiang gave him a thumbs up.

After chatting for a few more words, Li Xiang was dragged away by Li Mingda to play shuttlecock in the yard.

Li Tai and Li Zhi stayed in the Lizheng Hall and continued to talk with Li Shimin about the development of the Bohai Rim region.

From the current perspective, the prospects for development are still good. Li Tai and Li Zhi followed the rules of Xiao and Cao, copied the Dengzhou model completely, and used formulas to solve problems quite quickly.

The two of them didn't think it was a big deal. They both felt that it was nice to run around outside, which was better than staying in Chang'an.

After dinner, the uncle, nephew and two others left Lizheng Hall and went back to their homes.

Li Zhi didn't have many friends. He didn't have deep roots in Chang'an like Li Tai. When he got home, he went straight to the Princess of Jin's room.

Li Tai was different. When he returned to the Prince of Wei's Palace, Wei Ting, Cen Wenben, Liu Li and other officials from the Prince of Wei's faction were waiting for him there.

After some greetings, Li Tai invited them to take a seat with a smile, and asked the eunuch to take the little gadgets he brought back from Dengzhou.

Wei Ting and others did not go to Liaodong or Dengzhou, so they were still very curious about these seafood.

It was also thanks to not going to Liaodong. In history, Wei Ting who went to Liaodong was dismissed for his poor performance, and Cen Wenben died suddenly in the army due to illness...

It’s a good thing not to go, it’s like being fanned by Li Xiang, the little butterfly.

After receiving these little gadgets, everyone expressed gratitude.

It would be a good thing if the king could think of them after he leaves.

"But, Your Majesty." Wei Ting's face was not without worry. "The Prince of Hengshan has made great contributions in Liaodong. The position of the Crown Prince will be more secure. How can Your Majesty help the Prince of Hengshan to govern Dengzhou? Isn't this just making wedding clothes for others?"

When Li Tai heard Wei Ting say this, an embarrassed look appeared on his face.

This matter was so complicated that Li Xiang got so involved that he forgot that he was here to fight for the throne...

In fact, as Li Xiang became more and more outstanding, Li Tai's attention became less and less focused.

To be honest, the reason why Li Tai wanted to fight for that position was because he felt that Li Chengqian was a worthless person. Rather than letting the Tang Dynasty fall into ruin in his hands, it would be better for him to give it a try.

However, what Li Chengqian never expected was that just when he was about to take a wrong step, there was suddenly a loud noise in the sky and the little elephant made a brilliant appearance.

To be honest, Li Xiang has not caused any trouble to Li Tai since his rise. On the contrary, Li Tai will never forget him whenever something good happens.

Unlike the expected confrontation, there was no tension between the two as before with Li Chengqian, and even the relationship with the eldest brother was better than before.

This kind of life is actually not bad.

But when Wei Ting said this, Li Tai suddenly remembered what happened before.

Behind him, there is not only himself, but also Wei Ting, Cen Wenben, Liu Li and others.

Even if he wanted to withdraw, the subordinates behind him would not agree.

Li Tai sighed inwardly. You asked him to play some conspiracy with Li Xiang to make things difficult for Li Xiang, but Li Tai really couldn't do such a thing.

The round-faced fat chicken is a hipster, and everyone who knows hipsters knows their temper. They would rather save face than suffer in vain and refuse to leave a bad reputation.

However, if he attacked Li Xiang head-on, he might not be able to defeat him.

Thinking of this, Li Tai felt like giving up.

But there is no way. There are so many people watching behind him. If he retreats, won’t the others be doomed?
We should always think of a way to have the best of both worlds.

"I have my own conclusion on this matter." In order to give everyone a reasonable explanation and shut them up, Li Tai began to speak with great emotion: "Every time I see the people of Dengzhou go from being poor to having meat in every household, I can't help but feel happy, and I want to learn from Xiang'er's experience."

"Now that it's being used in Laizhou, the effect seems pretty good. Seeing the people's happy smiles from the bottom of their hearts, I feel that everything is worth it."

"Your Majesty is kind-hearted and compassionate. I admire you for that." Cen Wenben bowed to Li Tai with true admiration.

The most important reason why he followed Li Tai was Li Tai's kind heart.

It's not that Li Tai is pretending. Literary youths have strong empathy. At least in Li Xiang's eyes, Li Tai is much better than Li Chengqian in some aspects.

However, in general, Li Xiang still liked Li Chengqian more. After all, only after spending more time with him could he discover the preciousness of his father's holy character.

Liu Li said hesitantly: "It's just that the saint has postponed the awarding of the title to the Prince of Hengshan to the New Year's Day court meeting. I'm afraid that I am among them..."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the main hall nodded.

"Who says it's not? Who knows what kind of reward the saint will give to the Prince of Hengshan?" Cen Wenben twisted his beard. "If we follow the formality of the New Year's Day court meeting, the reward will not be low."

"The Prince of Hengshan captured two kings in one battle in Liaodong, which is quite like the style of the saint back then." Wei Ting pondered and said, "Could it be that... the saint wants to confer the title of General of Heavenly Strategy on the Prince of Hengshan and allow him to establish a government?"

"It shouldn't be possible." Cen Wenben said firmly: "The saint will not give the title he has used to anyone else. Even if he likes the Prince of Hengshan County very much, he will not do so."

After hearing this, everyone felt that it made sense.

After all, the truth cannot be told casually. Li Xiang was given the title of Prince of Hengshan, which was the title once used by Li Xiang's father, Li Chengqian.

But Li Shimin was different. Neither the title of King of Qin nor the title of General of Tiance could be given to Li Xiang.

After all, he has come this far step by step - what, do you want to repeat the process of getting to the top?
The ancients believed in evil, even the emperor was no exception.

"It's nothing more than fighting back when the enemy comes and covering up when the water comes."

Li Tai cheered up. He also figured it out. It was not his character to just sit there and wait for death. He had to make one last effort.

It is not only for the officials of King Wei's party, but more for his own efforts over the years to give an account of his efforts.

It can't just go out silently, right?

(Ask for monthly ticket)

(End of this chapter)