Datang: Rebirth of Li Chengqian, the beginning of the treason interrogation

Chapter 175 Li Chengqian's threat must be quelled
“Use it for the people and take it from the people.”

The existence of money lies in circulation, not storage.

Nowadays, all measures are used for people's livelihood, and it is also to let the people spend the money. Only in this way can it benefit the people. Otherwise, if the money is kept, it will hinder the prosperity of business and hinder government affairs.

"Instruct all states and provinces to implement the salt monopoly law. The sale of salt is a government monopoly. No person or organization is allowed to smuggle and sell salt. Once discovered, they will be killed without mercy and their entire family will be implicated."

"Salt should be managed by the government in a unified manner, including production, sales and price regulation."

Li Chengqian had actually wanted to achieve a salt monopoly for a long time, but the time was not yet ripe. Now that the time, place and people are all right, he can implement the salt monopoly law.

Salt is "the life of the people and the foundation of the country."

After the An-Shi Rebellion, the Tang Dynasty's military service system and equal-field system were destroyed and had to be replaced by a recruitment system.

However, recruiting soldiers required money and food, so in order to survive, the rulers of the time came into being with the salt monopoly law, which indeed prolonged the Tang Dynasty's national prosperity.

However, this is not good news for salt merchants.

However, the Anshi Rebellion has been put down. Who do you think you are as salt merchants? It would be better if you were not beheaded. Why do you still want to make money from the court?

However, among these salt merchants, there was one named Wang Xianzhi and another named Huang Chao.

Since I couldn't be an official, I sold salt and lived a comfortable life. However, the implementation of the Salt Monopoly Law was going to cost him his life, so Huang Chao had no choice but to rebel.

This series of actions is closely related to the destiny of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Chengqian has now established enough prestige in Goguryeo and is not afraid of similar incidents happening at all.

"Also, build coins!"

As Liaodong Province, Pyongyang Province, Baekje Province and Silla Province gradually prospered, they could appropriately issue coins into the market, which would further stabilize prices and allow Li Chengqian's government to generate money out of thin air.

Of course, the distribution of money cannot be done casually, but must be based on social productivity, otherwise turmoil will easily occur.

"Your Highness, do you have any requirements for the name and style of the coin?"

They are going to print coins, so what else can this be but independence?
"Like the Tang Dynasty, our four states have been Tang territory since the change of route."

It's just internal fighting, how can it draw national boundaries?

I am still the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty. Just because you say I am deposed, does that mean it’s over?
Since ancient times, those with strong military forces and powerful horses have always competed for the throne.

Moreover, once the minted coins are circulated, the Tang Dynasty will back them up, so there is no need to worry about currency problems.

Money can be produced infinitely, but there is only so much material in society.

Therefore, coins cannot be made randomly, otherwise the turmoil in the country will be even worse than that of war.

"I will write down all of them and immediately have someone draft a document to notify all the states."

Wu Xing bowed and stepped back.

It was at this time that Lin Zhi took a few steps forward.

"General Liu Rengui is asking for an audience outside the palace!"

Li Chengqian was startled. Was there something serious going on? Liu Rengui actually came here in person.

However, Li Chengqian now has someone looking for Liu Rengui for an important matter.

"Xuan, come in!"

Li Chengqian nodded.

"Your Highness, I'm afraid that's not possible. General Liu Rengui is kneeling outside the palace waiting for you. I wanted to bring him in, but he refused!"

Liu Rengui was highly regarded by Li Chengqian, so no special notification was needed for a meeting with him.

Li Chengqian frowned, feeling something was wrong, and walked out quickly.

In front of the majestic palace gate, Liu Rengui knelt on the ground, looking as small and fragile as a speck of dust.

"Zhengze, why has it come to this?" Li Chengqian asked softly.

Liu Rengui, whose courtesy name was Zhengze.

"Liu Rengui feels ashamed of his duty to Your Highness and would like to resign from the position of commander-in-chief of the Baekje Province." Liu Rengui kowtowed heavily, his face full of shame.

“What happened?”

Li Chengqian looked at Liu Rengui in confusion, then looked at Lin Zhi. If there was a major incident in Baekje Road, the Bad People would report it to him immediately.

"I dare to ask, Your Highness, are you planning to start a war?" Liu Rengui raised his head with a determined look. The current situation was clear at a glance, and the generals at all levels in the four roads had noticed some clues.

"Just because of this matter? Stand up and talk." Li Chengqian smiled slightly and personally helped Liu Rengui up.

"Are you here to dissuade me too?" Li Chengqian asked with a smile, speculating secretly in his heart.

Liu Rengui shook his head and said firmly, "No, I understand that Your Highness is raising an army for the sake of the people of the world. Now the people of Baekje are living and working in peace and contentment. I have seen it with my own eyes and I am very happy. What Your Highness has done is to benefit the people and will benefit future generations."

"However, before I met Your Highness, I was once favored by Your Majesty. If Your Highness raises an army to start a rebellion, I will find it difficult to forget the kindness of the previous master."

Li Chengqian was relieved when he heard this. He smiled and said, "I thought it was a big deal! Whether to start a rebellion depends on how the situation in the court develops. What I am thinking about now is how to make the people prosperous. I don't want a war to break out."

His eyes were bright and his expression was serious. He continued, "However, if anyone dares to come and undermine the policies and regulations that I have formulated here, then we will have to fight to the death."

The conflict with the Tang Dynasty should naturally be delayed as long as possible. After all, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. What's more, the Tang Dynasty is still at its peak.

"If it's a defensive battle, I will take the lead."

Liu Rengui said this with a firm face, but in his heart he did not want to lead his troops to attack Li Shimin.

But defense is another matter.

"Let's go inside and talk. Even if you don't come, I will come to find you."

Li Chengqian said, and turned to walk into the palace gate behind him. This is the imperial palace in Pyongyang, which has now become his temporary palace.

After entering the palace, Li Chengqian sat in the main seat, looked at Liu Rengui and said, "I know your difficulties, but the world's major issues are not just war and chaos."

Liu Rengui was filled with gratitude and bowed his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness!"

Li Chengqian nodded and continued, "Now, in addition to training, the navy also needs to extract salt from the sea. As for how to extract it, I will pass on the method to you."

He thought that the mouth of the Han River was an estuary, and that he could refine sea salt nearby, and by combining it with the salt monopoly system, he would definitely be able to increase his income.

Then, Li Chengqian instructed: "Also, you should collect more iron tools in Baekje and ask Yan Lide to build iron ships. The navy will need them for long voyages in the future."

Li Chengqian felt that it was time to add some technological elements to this era, starting with improving ships. After the Hundred Schools Academy was established and mature, various technological theories of later generations could be brought out to communicate with these creative ancients, and perhaps products that transcend the times could be created.

"I will arrange what you said as soon as I return to Baekje Province."

"Also, when I was in Baekje, I received a secret decree from Chang'an. I'm afraid that I may not be the only general to receive the secret decree."

Liu Rengui took out a piece of yellow cloth from his sleeve.

Li Chengqian glanced at it and did not take it. Instead, he frowned, a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes, and he said lightly: "Humph, this kind of handwriting, you don't even need to see it to know that it must have come from the hands of those treacherous villains in the court. They actually want to use such despicable means to alienate the relationship between you and me."

Indeed, regardless of whether this secret letter could successfully incite rebellion, it would plant a seed of mutual suspicion in the hearts of Li Chengqian and his generals.

As the saying goes, if the lord doubts his minister, the minister will be disloyal; if the minister doubts his lord, the minister will be untrustworthy.

This is a clever conspiracy that targets people's hearts.

"The military is a complex place, and it's inevitable that some people will want to take shortcuts to gain fame and honor. Your Highness should be careful."

Liu Rengui said anxiously, his face full of worry. After all, not everyone can maintain their current position in the face of the huge benefits promised by the court.

Moreover, most of them are people in the court, and not all of them are Li Chengqian's direct descendants.

"The people who are in charge of the situation now are all selected by me personally. As the saying goes, the more dangerous the time, the more you need to trust your people. I trust them with my life, and the soldiers should also treat them as heroes of the country."

Li Chengqian acted insignificant towards such a counter-espionage plot.

Li Chengqian has absolute control over the army, which is the fundamental reason why he can deal with it calmly.

After several years of careful planning and development, the power of the Bad People has penetrated into the military at all levels. They are like an invisible net, closely monitoring every military and political official.

Li Chengqian could quickly detect any disturbance.

The human heart is unpredictable, who can guarantee that everyone is loyal and reliable?

The Bad Guys is Li Chengqian's countermeasure.

"That's because I was too worried. I'm sure Your Highness has a foolproof plan. But I also heard that His Majesty has issued an order to abolish Your Highness's position as the Crown Prince. I'm afraid it will cause panic among the military and civilians."

Liu Rengui said worriedly. The situation is tense now. When the news of Li Chengqian being deposed as the Eastern Palace is spread, it will definitely cause anxiety and panic among the soldiers in the army.

Liu Rengui also understood that at this point, Li Chengqian seemed to have no choice but to rebel.

"Zhengze, didn't you just hear about it? Hearsay may not be true. Besides, if they want to depose me from the position of Crown Prince, they still need to ask me if I agree or not."

Just words.

Three people can make a tiger. As long as we control the direction of public opinion, this is nothing to worry about.

"They are now just accusing me of rebellion and seeking a pretext for launching a war, but why can't I use the excuse of clearing the court of evil officials?"

Everything is relative, and Li Chengqian had already thought of the name of the expedition.

It is impossible to do that to Li Er, the real leader of the Tang Dynasty. He is the ruler of the Tang Dynasty, and he cannot gain a firm foothold no matter from what angle.

But clearing out the emperor's entourage and eradicating the treacherous and corrupt officials is the most common slogan.

You can pick one from any of the important ministers, for example, Zhangsun Wuji, Xiao Yu and other heavyweight figures.

Liu Rengui couldn't help but reveal a hint of mockery on his face. He thought he was thinking too much and worrying unnecessarily.

Just take care of your own business.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had already been prepared for such a plan that could influence the overall situation.

Regarding the court officials' plan to counter-espionage and persuade Li Chengqian to surrender, after a period of time, there was no response at all.

Even if the news of abolishing Li Chengqian's position as crown prince spread, the impact on Li Chengqian's authority was minimal.

There is no other reason, because Li Chengqian's control over the land of Goguryeo is beyond everyone's imagination.

Once the news was passed back, the aristocratic clans could no longer sit still. This was a huge hidden danger.

Political discussion is indispensable.

Li Shimin was half lying on the dragon throne, looking weak and listless, as if he was indifferent to everything.

"Your Majesty, Li Chengqian has established himself as an independent ruler in Liaodong. He has become a major concern for our dynasty. He has disobeyed your Majesty's orders, and this is an act of treason and betrayal."

After a while, it was Changsun Wuji who took the lead in speaking.

"Your Majesty, this has obviously been planned for a long time. It was premeditated long ago. Li Chengqian has made a big plan."

Wei Ting also added fuel to the fire at the right time.

Li Shimin's blurry eyes suddenly lit up. Although he had been plagued by illness and was physically and mentally exhausted, his mind was still sharp.

He knew clearly about everything that happened in Liaodong. He was the emperor with real power. Even at the moment of his death, he had the ability to change the world.

He has not expressed his opinion yet, which means he has his own calculations.

"Li Chengqian did not obey the order, which was indeed a treason, but what can the Tang Dynasty do now?"

Li Shimin propped himself up and looked down at his ministers.

"You suggested that I issue an edict to surrender, and I did. You said that Crown Prince Li Chengqian was plotting treason and asked me to depose him from the throne, and I did. What can I do now?"

Li Shimin's current state shows how foolish he is. He seems to have no opinion of his own and is controlled by his ministers.

"The threat from Li Chengqian must be resolved, otherwise people's hearts will be uneasy."

Cui Yi said loudly, with a very tough attitude.

"To suppress the rebellion, I want to ask you, what do we have to suppress the rebellion now? Do we have soldiers and food?"

"Moreover, since the end of the Sui Dynasty, the people of Tang have never lived and worked in peace. The people are tired, and war should not be started lightly."

Li Shimin spread his hands, a helpless expression on his face.

It’s not that I don’t want to send troops, but I have neither soldiers nor food.

The troops mobilized a few years ago all became Li Chengqian's wedding dress, and those nearly 100,000 soldiers are still all in Goguryeo.

The Tang Dynasty was founded on war, and wars have never stopped since the uprising at the end of the Sui Dynasty.

He quelled domestic unrest, established the Tang Dynasty, destroyed the Eastern Turks, invaded Tuyuhun, fought Gaochang, resisted the Xueyantuo in the north, and now is destroying Goguryeo in the east.

The people of Tang suffered greatly from the war. Although they won, they also suffered great losses.

Now a large-scale war is about to be launched, which is difficult for the Tang Dynasty to bear.

"Although the national treasury has no money or grain, our Tang Dynasty is extremely wealthy. Once Your Majesty orders donations to quell rebellions and border troubles, I believe that a large amount of money will be collected in a short period of time."

Chu Suiliang stood up and bowed to look at Li Shimin.

The clan leaders sensed the crisis and were ready to step forward and shed some blood.

"Is this okay?"

Li Shimin asked back uncertainly. He had gotten to know this group of people. It would be very difficult to get any meat from them without seeing the rabbit.

(End of this chapter)