Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 105 "It's all fake, Li Ming is not favored at all"

Wei Daijia finally found the opportunity to speak and asked earnestly:
"Your Highness, what else can I do for you?"

"It's about the appointment and removal of officials in Pingzhou and Yingzhou in Liaodong."

Li Ming tapped the table and said:

"Father still refuses to hand over the personnel power of the two states. What should I do?"

Upon hearing that it was this difficult problem, Wei Daijia immediately fell silent.

I guess the only person in the world who can treat the most crucial power, personnel matters, as bargaining at a vegetable market is His Highness Li Ming.

Fang Xuanling said calmly:
"Your Majesty will not allow Your Highness to do whatever he wants."

"How is this illegal? I just want to appoint bureaucrats who can truly do things for the people." Li Ming began to make a fuss.

"That's it." Lian Hou Junji also stood on Li Shimin's side this time:
"The appointment of officials is a great power, how can it be given to anyone easily?"

As the Minister of Personnel, he understood too well the importance of personnel power.

Because princes in various places had a certain degree of autonomy in taxation and expenditure, in special years, the imperial court also allowed the princes to mint coins.

Therefore, the concession policy of the two states of Liaodong was only slightly deeper and not as special as that of other feudal states.

However, personnel rights are different.

"Kaifu" has always been a great honor, so by the time of the Tang Dynasty, "Kaifu Yitong Sansi" basically became an honorary position and it was not possible to really establish a government.

The officials in the palace opened by the prince are generally appointed by His Majesty and are central officials.

It is impossible to allow the prince to keep a large number of retainers as he did in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

And Li Ming’s plan is awesome.

He established a government directly in the Liaodong border area far away from the central government and recruited his own troops.

What do you want to do?
Even the chieftains in the vassal areas do not have such strong autonomy!

Do you want to divide the territory or go against the central government?
"But if I can't appoint my own people, how can I guarantee that my power in Liaodong won't be taken back by my father one day?" Li Ming was very unwilling:
"If you're in this state now, you might not even be able to become a prince one day."

Li Dao Zong burst into laughter when he heard this:
"Your Highness, do you know what you are saying?

"Thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all grace from the emperor. Your Majesty can give them if he wants. If your Majesty doesn't want to give them, you can naturally take them back at any time.

"Not only you, but also anyone in the Tang Dynasty and even in the whole world can stop your majesty's will?"

Even hostile tribes like the Xueyantuo and Western Turks had to first see the mood of His Majesty the Khan if they wanted to go south to graze their sheep.

Hou Junji stroked his steel whiskers thoughtfully:

"If even His Majesty can't take away your things, it's not impossible. But you need to have the ability and confidence to compete with him..."

"Jun Ji, what are you talking about?" Li Daozon's expression turned stern and he shouted loudly.

Hou Junji spread his hands innocently:

"I am just analyzing every possibility with Your Highness."

Wei Daijia felt that this topic was too dangerous. He dared not say a word and wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Fang Xuanling took a sip of tea and said slowly:

"Why are you rushing, Your Highness?
"You want to do it all at once and directly control all personnel appointments and dismissals in the two states, but His Majesty will naturally not allow it.

"But what if you take it slow?"

Li Ming put his head close to his chief historian:
"How do you 'take it slow'? Explain in detail."

Fang Xuanling ate a piece of preserved fruit slowly and said:
"For example, you can make 'suggestions' to His Majesty on who should serve as the county magistrate and county magistrate of Pingzhou and Yingzhou.

"Considering your contributions and talents, His Majesty will consider your suggestions."

It is equivalent to taking a step back. Li Ming can choose candidates from among the court officials and place and train his own people to a limited extent.

The imperial court still held ultimate control over Liaodong officials.

Moreover, all appointment and dismissal procedures are in line with the court's operating rules.

"Is this the only possible solution..."

Li Ming tilted his head back and tapped his fingers on the table.

Fang Xuanling glanced at him and said:
“I know several young talents, all of whom have just passed the imperial examinations. They are intelligent, loyal and hardworking.

"If they can serve as officials in Liaodong, it will be a blessing for Your Highness and the local people."

Li Daozong and Hou Junji looked at each other and also rushed to speak:

"What a coincidence, we also know a few of them."

Li Ming glanced at the three old foxes who suddenly became "active" with a half-smile, and said leisurely:
"I will discuss this with Father tomorrow.

"He gave me to someone else as his son, shouldn't he compensate me in other ways?"

…………

September, the day of autumn hunting.

Royal hunting is a large-scale event with ceremonial and social characteristics, usually held in the forbidden gardens north of the palace.

Because it was an internal activity of the royal family and no outsiders participated, the concubines in the harem were also able to show up and participate in this event.

This year's autumn hunting is particularly special.

Even the married princes who were living in distant places rushed back to the capital.

In name only, the emperor's eleven surviving sons gathered together to "play a few rounds" with their old father who had escaped death.

In fact, everyone has heard a general idea through their own channels:
During this autumn hunt, there will be an important event to be announced concerning the royal family.

"Brother, what happened this time?"

Among the princes, the sixth prince Li Yin asked the third prince Li Ke.

Both of them were born to Emperor Yang of Sui's daughter, Concubine Yang, and were brothers from the same mother, so their relationship was better than that with other brothers.

Wu Wang Li Ke replied in a low voice:

"I heard that the emperor is going to adopt the two princes to our eldest uncle and fourth uncle." Li Yin's face suddenly changed when he heard this:
"Brother, this is a topic that cannot be touched!"

It is extremely politically incorrect to recognize the traitor Li Jiancheng as the eldest uncle and Li Yuanji as the fourth uncle!
Li Ke glanced at his brother who was not very well-informed.

"No, my father has posthumously conferred the titles of Hidden Crown Prince and Nest King on them. What's done is done."

Li Yin felt as if he was in another world:
"To think this could have happened! Father is truly a man of extraordinary generosity..."

He digested this huge amount of information for a while and thought of the next level:
"According to convention, the ones who should be adopted are the Thirteenth Brother, Li Fu, and the Fourteenth Brother, Li Ming, right?"

"That's the custom. Alas..." Li Ke couldn't help but sigh:
“The last time I saw those two brothers was on New Year’s Day this year.

"I didn't expect that after more than half a year, we couldn't be brothers anymore."

"It's hard to predict what's going on in this world." Li Yin smiled bitterly and suddenly thought of something:
"But didn't Li Ming perform many extraordinary feats? Recently, he saved the lives of my father and the crown prince in Jiucheng Palace, didn't he?
"Is this the case? I am going to give it to a dead person as his son?"

Li Ke frowned immediately:

"Be careful!"

Only then did Li Yin shut his mouth obediently.

"But..." Li Ke looked up and sighed:
"This kind of treatment is indeed...inappropriate."

Li Ke was often described by others as "very similar to his father". At least in terms of sentimentality, he did inherit Li Shimin.

"Humph, what's wrong with that? The son of a traitor's wife or concubine has returned to the traitor."

There was a harsh sound beside me.

Li Ke and Li Yin turned their heads at the same time and saw that it was the fifth brother, Prince of Qi Li You.

This dandy man, who was uninterested in literature and history and who loved hunting, was standing there with his shoulders slanted, looking very lazy.

"What about 'Li Ming's meritorious service in protecting the emperor' and 'young talent'? They are all fake."

"Fake?" Li Yin was stunned and asked quickly:
"You said that Li Ming's achievements in Jiucheng Palace... and in the case of Li Xiaogong and the case of His Majesty's acute illness, are all fake?" Li Yin was stunned.

Li Ke's brows furrowed even more tightly.

He had also heard the rumors that Li You mentioned.

The general idea is that all the achievements made by Li Ming are false, or exaggerated.

This suspicion is not without reason.

An extremely naughty kid suddenly became a child prodigy.

Not only did his medical skills surpass the entire Shang Pharmacy, he also truly brought the dead back to life.

Moreover, within one day, a strange case that the Dali Temple, the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate had been studying for half a year was solved.

On the same day, he rode alone to Jiucheng Palace and saved the entire royal family.

Such deeds would be considered exaggerated even if written in mythology.

Therefore, many people have questioned the authenticity of Li Ming's various deeds.

"I don't think so." Li Ke shook his head.

"My father personally issued an edict to commend Brother Ming. Moreover, many people witnessed Li Ming's deeds, and my uncle Li Daozong even participated in it personally.

"If you have any questions, why don't you ask him in person?"

Li You laughed awkwardly and said indifferently:
"Who knows? Maybe my father, my uncle, and the entire court have some purpose that we cannot ask about, so they spread false news to deceive the whole world."

Let's put the facts aside, right... Li Ke didn't want to argue with Lao Wu about such groundless things, so he ignored him.

But his younger brother Li Yin was not as clear-headed as his brother.

"Fifth brother, is everything you said true?"

"Of course." Li You nodded affirmatively:

“If Li Ming really had accomplished extraordinary feats, how could the emperor be willing to give him to Li Yuanji as his son?

"It can even be said that it was precisely because it was fake that my father was so anxious to adopt him out after the Jiucheng Palace incident."

Explained from this perspective, it does make sense.

Everyone wants to snatch this "child next door" to raise.

How could I be willing to give it away?
And it was given to His Highness Li Yuanji, who had a bad reputation?
Li Ke couldn't help but look sideways.

"Besides." Li You patted his chest confidently:

"What can a little kid accomplish?
"If you really want to save me and kill all the Turks for me, you need a hero like me!"

He only knows how to hunt and his brain isn't very smart, but he is very confident in his muscular body.

And this body of muscles full of masculine charm is indeed very convincing.

Compared to the little brat who could be thrown away with one hand, Li You obviously gave people a greater sense of security.

Li Yin nodded in agreement:

"What Fifth Brother said makes sense."

Li Ke was also a little unsure and subconsciously glanced at the brothers who were present.

But I found that the protagonist of the story was missing.

"Li Ming, where is brother Li Ming?

"Is the autumn hunting about to begin?"

His question attracted Li Yin and Li You who were talking, and they also glanced over.

It was discovered that one of the eleven princes was missing, and Li Ming was not among them.

"Where has that kid gone to make trouble again?" Li Yin was a little annoyed with the naughty child.

Li You shrugged nonchalantly and said:
"How could a man who is not even on time for the autumn hunt achieve great merit and win the favor of the emperor?
"They are all fake, just give them away quickly."

(End of this chapter)