Chapter 59 Dialogue between the emperor and his son-in-law
Chapter 59 Conversation between the Emperor and his Son-in-law
The autumn wind blew by, and Li Shimin sat for a long time with a gloomy face.
Zhang Yang looked at him and said, "Why are you still looking so sullen?"
Li Shimin said: "It's nothing."
Zhang Yang put the bamboo basket on his back and walked while saying: "My wife's health is not very good. Many people only care about their son and not their daughter, let alone a frail and sick daughter."
Li Shimin said: "Maybe he has something to hide?"
Zhang Yang said: "But what about her father? He didn't visit her for years and months. At least he sent a message."
There was indeed less concern for Yue'er before. There were many things going on in the court in the past two years.
I have indeed neglected her before.
Li Shimin was thinking in his mind.
Zhang Yang said: "Do you think that kind of father is really a good father?"
After standing there and thinking for a long time, Li Shimin whispered: "Maybe not."
In fact, Li Shimin also knew that he was not a good father, let alone a good son.
Asking himself, he did not regret what happened to Xuanwu Sect.
I also try my best to make up for my neglect of my children.
Li Shimin said: "You don't like worldly views, but you can't change them."
Li Shimin's expression was very calm when he said this. He knew what Zhang Yang meant, and this worldly view could not be changed at all.
Li Shimin patted him on the shoulder and said, "This is the way the world is."
Zhang Yang said: "The world where men are superior to women is really ridiculous."
Li Shimin said: "You must believe that Datang will make the world a better place."
Zhang Yang shook his head and sighed. He had read history in this era from later generations and knew the trajectory of history. The Tang Dynasty generation became more and more chaotic as it entered the later period.
Looking at his expression, Li Shimin frowned and said, "Don't you believe in the court?"
Zhang Yang smiled disdainfully and said: "The Tang Dynasty seems peaceful, but in fact, strong enemies still exist externally. For example, Tubo will definitely become a headache for the Tang Dynasty in the future."
"Tubo? Now Tubo is deep in the quagmire of Tuyuhun."
"Songtsen Gampo was able to put an end to the civil strife in Tubo at a young age. This time it will hinder his progress, but not for long."
"Yeah?"
Li Shimin frowned and said: "But the officials of the Tang Dynasty governed the Qingming Dynasty, and there were countless generals and civil servants in the court. Even if there are foreign enemies, you still have to trust the generals in the court."
After washing the radish, Zhang Yang took a bite and said, "Well, it's quite refreshing."
The white radish was handed to him, and Zhang Yang said, "Would you like to eat one too?"
Li Shimin took the white radish and took a bite. It was a bit spicy but crispy.
Zhang Yang looked at the cloudless sky, "The Tang Dynasty seems to have officials who govern the Ming Dynasty, but the national policy is not good, and the official ranks of civil servants are unclear, resulting in too many idle officials and unclear official positions. Even illiterate officials are eating their salaries.
But I can’t find the place of responsibility. Apart from wasting my salary, it has almost no use, and I don’t understand why the government wants to keep idle people in vain.”
Li Shimin thought deeply about his words.
"And Datang's supervisory system is in name only and is simply a hotbed of corruption."
Li Shimin's breathing began to become heavy.
Zhang Yang said again: "Under this kind of supervision system, the most likely place for trouble to happen is the issue of Datang's resources, and the most obvious place where resources are involved is the land."
"There is also an imperial examination submission system. Submissions basically rely on interpersonal relationships. Even if a scholar wants to submit a good article, he will often be turned away by some powerful officials. If you meet several dignitaries and civil servants who are on good terms with each other, they can communicate with each other.
Tongqi, once you offend someone, you can hardly stand up."
Listening to what Zhang Yang said, Li Shimin felt that his original self-confidence had suffered a huge blow.
It seems that in his eyes, my empire is full of loopholes and I will perish sooner or later.
After being distracted for a moment, I found that Zhang Yang had already walked away.
Looking at his back, he looks diligent.
Li Shimin was deeply moved.
It is a good thing to have such a man taking such good care of Yue'er.
Stopping and looking at the autumn scenery, in the empty fields under the sunshine, there was only the figure of Zhang Yang carrying a bamboo basket and working hard for life. Looking at this young man made Li Shimin feel at ease inexplicably.
Seeing that Li Shimin looked bad, Li Junxian held the handle of the knife and said, "Your Majesty, this man is so rude, do you need to take down his position to take him down?"
Li Shimin took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "No need."
"Here!"
Li Junxian stood aside again.
Although I still want to chat with him a few more words, there are many matters between the DPRK and China that still need to be dealt with.
After returning to the palace, Li Shimin looked at the battle report sent from the border. The battle report mentioned the war situation between Tuyuhun and Tubo. King Tuyuhun and 30,000 Tuyuhun people had entered the territory of Tubo, and the fighting was raging at the moment.
Songtsen Gampo kept sending envoys to Tuyuhun to explain the misunderstanding, but once the war started, it was not so easy to stop.
Li Shimin wrote down a decree, put it into a bamboo tube, sealed it with sealing wax, and handed it to Li Junxian, "Hurry up and deliver it to Niu Jinda who is stationed in Liangzhou."
"Here!"
Li Junxian took the bamboo tube and left quickly.
Li Shimin wrote down what Zhang Yang had said and looked at the shortcomings of the method of submitting documents. When the power of supervision is weak, there will be no way to submit documents. Official positions are not clear, and officials in the DPRK and Central Government are not clear.
Can't find the place of responsibility? Land resources issue? Is he talking about land occupation?
After thinking for a long time, Li Shimin summoned Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling.
Li Shimin looked at the two of them and said, "What do you think of Tubo Songtsen Gampo?"
Changsun Wuji said and Fang Xuanling was silent for a long time. Why did Your Majesty suddenly ask this?
Fang Xuanling said: "According to rumors, Songtsen Gampo is a very young man, but he is very influential in commanding tribes."
Li Shimin whispered: "Do you think Tibet will become a threat to the Tang Dynasty?"
Fang Xuanling added: "Whether the barren land of Tubo is a threat, I think it will take some time to see."
In the quiet Manna Hall, Li Shimin could even hear his own breathing, "How long will it take for Tubo to get out of the conflict in Tuyuhun?"
Changsun Wuji said: "It's impossible in a short time. It may take several years, at least three years."
Listening to the replies of the two people in front of him, Li Shimin thought to himself, these two people were his right-hand men when he conquered the world, and their strategies are what I rely on most.
Without these counselors and generals under his command, Li Shimin would not have been able to sit in this position.
Zhang Yang smiled with some relief, maybe Zhang Yang also said this because he was worried about the country and the people.
But he will never be more resourceful than Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji.
Even Changsun Wuji said that it would be difficult for Tibet to escape.
Zhang Yang’s words may not be believed.
Li Shimin nodded and said: "I understand, you can go back."
The two walked out of the Manna Palace and on the way out of the palace, Changsun Wuji asked curiously: "Why did your Majesty suddenly ask about Songtsen Gampo?"