Chapter 326: Have you ever considered following the rules forcefully?
Even if Li Chengqian said so, Li Shimin couldn't do anything to him.

After all, these were just private conversations between Li Chengqian and his wife behind closed doors, and Old Li would not question his eldest son for this.

Besides, he is the emperor emeritus now, and he should give the new emperor some confidence. If he were to launch an attack to punish him just because of a single sentence, it would not seem like he should resign to the second line.

If it weren't for Li Tai's previous behavior, Li Shimin would probably have just laughed it off and let the matter go.

It can be said that Li Tai is somewhat of a tea art master.

Li Shimin did not mention this matter that afternoon.

Seeing that he didn't mention it, everyone tacitly agreed not to mention it.

"In February, Ke'er will be going to be a vassal," Li Shimin suddenly said, "Do you have a plan in mind for the selection of officials at all levels in your Han Kingdom?"

"Replying to Father, I have already decided that it is better to let the court appoint officials at all levels of the Han Kingdom." Li Ke said honestly: "As for the positions of Dianjun and Youxiang, I do have some close candidates."

The reason why Li Ke did not select his own officials was not because his political intelligence had suddenly improved, but because he did not know many people. If he were asked to choose by himself, he would be completely in the dark. It would be better for him to leave it to the court to figure out.

After all, the imperial court is professional in this matter and can arrange everything clearly for him, saving him both worry and effort.

Li Shimin nodded and said, "It's good that you have made your decision. I will not interfere. As for other matters, please discuss them with your brothers. As for money and grain, please talk to Shu'er more. Don't be embarrassed to speak for the sake of face."

Li Ke scratched his head and said, "Don't worry, Father. I'm not the kind of person who would rather suffer than save face."

"Really?" Li Shimin looked at Li Shu with a smile.

Seeing Li Shimin's eyes looking at him, Li Su smiled and said, "Don't worry, my brother, when he was still in Cuiwei Palace, wrote to me, saying that he would be appointed as a prince in the Western Regions, and asked me to help him and raise money and food for him for the sake of our brother-sister relationship."

"Is there such a thing?" Li Shimin laughed.

He had heard Li Xiang suggest Li Ke to do this matter, and thought Li Ke would not tell Li Su, but he never expected that Li Ke, for the sake of his Han country, really didn't care... about the world's opinion.

Come to think of it, with this face...this worldly view, how much is he worth?

What falls into your hands is valuable. It doesn't matter if people laugh at you now. It is better than being short of money and food, right?

"Of course. Even I have been borrowed several people by my third brother." Li Zhi said with a bitter face.

There weren't many people in his Prince Jin's Mansion to begin with, and Li Ke had borrowed several of them. Now he had fewer people he could use around him.

But he actually didn't care much, he just said it casually. After all, his Prince Jin's Mansion didn't plan to set up a literary museum like Li Tai's.

"Who said it wasn't?" Li Tai also sighed: "Many people have borrowed my Prince Wei's Mansion from my third brother..."

Don't say it, after hearing Li Tai's words, Li Shimin suddenly said: "Speaking of your people, have they all followed the third brother?"

"When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter." Li Tai did not say it clearly, "Rather than continue to follow the child, it is better to follow the third brother to go out and build achievements. You can also fight for a title and a son. It is better than wasting time by my side."

Of course, this cannot be said openly. After all, the people around Li Tai all came to him in order to compete for the throne.

Li Shimin knew this matter clearly, and everyone present, including Li Ke, Li Tai, Li Shu, and Li Mingda, knew about it, but they could not say it out loud.

Now that Li Chengqian has become the emperor, the last glimmer of hope is gone, so these people no longer think about following the hopeless Li Tai, but start to think about a way out for themselves, whether it is changing their allegiance or doing anything else, at least they cannot hang themselves on Li Tai's tree.

"It's better to disband. You can have some peace and quiet." Li Shimin gave him a meaningful look and said, "Now you should wholeheartedly assist your elder brother."

"Compared to assisting my elder brother, I prefer to be idle." Li Tai smiled and lifted his big belly: "When I think of my elder brother suffering in Xuanzheng Hall while I am playing with my young slave, I feel full of energy..."

Li Shimin didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so he reached out and pointed at him. He still agreed with what he said.

Seeing that his eldest son and fourth son had become bad friends, he was naturally very happy.

It's much better than being gloomy every day, looking down on each other, and shouting and killing each other.

"Of course, I still think that you are energetic in handling government affairs." Li Tai added sarcastically, "After all, you are a man who is determined to lead the Tang Dynasty out of the Valley of Shadows, so you are naturally full of energy!"

Hearing what Li Tai said, Li Shimin took a deep breath.

I clearly forgot about this matter, why are you bringing it up again?

He finally realized that Qingque was just trying to flatter Gao Ming.

These two bastards... Li Shimin shook his head helplessly.

Li Chengqian certainly didn't know that his private conversations with his wife had been leaked to the Lizheng Hall by his good daughter. Not only was he reading memorials in the Xuanzheng Hall, he even called Li Xiang over.

Today, Li Xiang is no longer the crown prince, but the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty. Besides, Li Chengqian relies on him, so he will talk to him about any strange ideas.

The Daming Palace can indeed be called the best palace in the world. Although Li Xiang has never seen the palace complex of the Han Dynasty, he feels that the Daming Palace is definitely not inferior to the palaces of the Han Dynasty in terms of grandeur.

As for the Forbidden City?
That can't really be compared with the palaces of the Tang Dynasty.

The Forbidden City of later generations only covers an area of ​​3.2 square meters; while the Daming Palace alone in the Tang Dynasty covered an area of ​​ square kilometers, which is as high as million square meters when converted into square meters.

In terms of area alone, it is more than four times larger than the Forbidden City.

The Taiji Palace covers an area of ​​4.2 square kilometers, or million square meters.

Of course, the palace complex of the Han Dynasty was larger than that of the Tang Dynasty, but Li Xiang had never seen it with his own eyes. All he had seen with his own eyes were the Forbidden City, Taiji Palace and Weiyang Palace, so he could only make a comparison in this way.

When Li Xiang arrived at the Xuanzheng Hall, Du He and Zhao Jie had already left.

After being informed, he entered the hall and saw Li Chengqian sitting on a chair with his eyes closed.

"Aye." Li Xiang called.

"Xiang'er is here?" Li Chengqian opened his eyes, saw Li Xiang, and greeted him with a smile: "Come here, show the prince a seat."

"I'm a little uncomfortable with what you said." Li Xiang sat on the brocade cushion and put his arms on the table. "I've been the crown prince for so many years, and suddenly I became the crown prince. I'm a little uncomfortable for a while."

"Wait a few days for you to adapt, and you'll naturally get used to it." Li Chengqian said with a smile, "Just like when I suddenly became the crown prince from the Prince of Hengshan, it took me more than a month to get used to it." "Isn't it? Every time someone mentioned the crown prince, I always thought they were talking about you." Li Xiang said.

After the two chatted for a few more sentences, Li Chengqian said: "Actually, I'm thinking..."

Before Li Chengqian finished speaking, Li Xiang showed a standard smile with the emotional value at its maximum.

"Aye, that's awesome."

Originally, Li Chengqian meant "he is thinking", but after Li Xiang's praise, it started to imply "it's great to be able to think".

Li Chengqian glanced at Li Xiang and saw that his expression was sincere, so he ignored the displeasure of being interrupted and continued, "Since I ascended the throne, it has been... let me think, nineteen days."

"I have to say that you are a very good emperor." Li Xiang added in another funny remark.

"I'm not telling you this just to flatter you." Li Chengqian glared at him, then said happily, "Although what you said is also right."

"Of course." Li Xiang's expression clearly said 'Aye is the best'.

Li Chengqian cleared his throat and said, "When I met with the leaders of various states at the fifteenth court meeting, I discovered a problem."

"What's the problem?" Li Xiang asked with concern.

"Do you think that conferring the title of Duke on all the leaders of various states is a bit like..." Li Chengqian stretched out his hand and knocked on the table, searching for an adjective for a long time.

"Like selling salted fish in Dengzhou?" Li Xiang gave an adjective considerately.

Li Chengqian nodded: "Yes, that's it... I counted them specially, there are a total of 47 dukes and 11 princes, and they are all hereditary titles."

"So, Aye, what do you mean?" Li Xiang asked.

"Add to that the more than 70 county dukes, doesn't it seem that the title is... worthless?" Li Chengqian frowned and said, "Let's not talk about others, just take Yuchi Jingde as an example, he followed the emperor in many battles and fought for the title of Duke..."

"Let me interrupt, Aye." Li Xiang suddenly said, "For the title of Duke of E, strictly speaking, those veterans in the previous battles are not as good as the heaven-sent rescue when King Chaola strangled Aong with a bowstring until he rolled his eyes."

Li Chengqian took a deep breath...

How to describe this child?
What does "squeezed to the point of rolling eyes" mean?
But considering that he was not involved and he was not the one rolling his eyes, Li Chengqian automatically skipped over this sentence.

"This is also a fight of putting one's head on the belt." Li Chengqian emphasized, and then said: "Now, as long as the leaders of foreign tribes lead their tribes to surrender, they can be granted hereditary titles based on population. In this way, won't those meritorious officials who have worked hard for the Tang Dynasty feel disheartened?"

"That won't happen, Aye." Li Xiang crossed his hands on the table. "It's just a hereditary title. Their fiefdom is the population of their tribe. The Tang Dynasty doesn't need to bear the burden. The Tang Dynasty only gives them a title."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, he understood what Li Xiang meant.

It is nothing more than getting something for nothing. When foreign nations come to surrender, their headquarters are the same as before, except for an empty title and a few bureaucrats sent by the Tang Dynasty to provide guidance.

"In that case, I understand." Li Chengqian said, "Then we will continue to implement this policy. In addition, I suddenly remembered that you had a lecturer in the caravan before. I think this is a good policy. When sending officials to the surrendered tribes, we can also send some poor scholars. What do you think, Xiang'er?"

Oh, yes, you can.

Unexpectedly, Aye still remembered this unwritten policy established in the 16th year of Zhenguan, and even carried it forward in the "grand blueprint".

Yes, Li Xiang also heard about Li Chengqian’s “grand blueprint”.

However, Li Xiang had actually forgotten what Li Chengqian had just said. Since the rule of adding officials has already been formed, why not add some scholars?

Let them go and teach the children of each tribe to speak Chinese, learn Chinese etiquette, and write Chinese characters...

In the future, they will all be staunch loyal subjects of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Xiang looked at Li Chengqian in surprise and said with a smile, "No one is more wise than Aye."

"Flatterer." Li Chengqian cheerfully stretched out his hand and shook his finger at Li Xiang.

Li Xiang smiled and asked, "By the way, Aye, what were you talking about just now? Are you thinking?"

Hearing Li Xiang's words, Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment.

Then he recalled what he was thinking about, and smiled and said to Li Xiang: "Yes, I remember, I was thinking just now, how should we continue the success of the Zhenguan Reign and let the Tang Dynasty reach another peak?"

Li Xiang smiled inwardly. Didn’t you say that my grandfather’s Zhenguan Reign was a valley of shadows, and that you wanted to lead the Tang Dynasty out of this valley of shadows and climb to the top - why are you saying now that the Zhenguan Reign was a success?
Of course, this is also very likely from the heart, Li Xiang thought.

No matter what he thought, he still had to answer Li Chengqian's question, so he raised his eyebrows and asked, "Xiao Gui Cao Sui?"

The so-called "Xiao rules and Cao follow" means that Xiao He established rules and regulations. After his death, Cao Shen succeeded him as prime minister and still implemented the policies set by Xiao He.

Generally speaking, this phrase is used to describe doing things completely in accordance with the established rules of predecessors.

But Li Chengqian was an emperor who wanted to do something after all. He was not willing to do nothing and just sit there and enjoy the great achievements of the Zhenguan Administration.

We can't keep going like this, we have to strike hard! A combination of punches!

Li Chengqian pounded the table with gnashing teeth: "I cannot live under the shadow of your grandfather. I want to prove to the world that I must be tough and lead the Tang Dynasty to the glory that belongs to me!"

Whenever Li Chengqian thought about the fact that in the future people would always say that he was the son of Li Shimin and the father of Li Xiang, he felt a little bit unacceptable.

Even Big Li is a person who cares about face.

"Of course, Father. You are absolutely right - but have you ever considered following his example forcefully?" Li Xiang still had the same expression.

Upon hearing Li Xiang's words, Li Chengqian choked up noticeably.

This little bastard, is he just trying to piss me off?

But he quickly recovered his breath and said firmly: "No, it is not my character to stick to the old ways. I have decided to make a change—"

"That's great, father. I'm all ears." Li Xiang said with a smile.

(End of this chapter)