Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 182 I only governed two countries, but my brothers were actively talking nonsense
Goguryeo, a corner that no one cares about.

Iron ore between the mountains.

The miners went to work as usual.

Since ancient times, mining has been a hard job that no one wants to do.

After all, no one knows when the stone will fall from their head.

No one knows when deadly poison gas will gush out from the ground and kill people invisibly.

Therefore, miners are a profession that people avoid.

He was unwilling to even touch prisoners, and would rather be exiled to the freezing cold Far North to bare his teeth at Siberian tigers, silly roe deer and Mohe barbarians.

If there was no food to eat, who would be willing to work in the mines?

Xiao Gao is a case in point.

Ever since Yeongryu King Go Geon-mu failed and died in his southward expedition last year and Daemoli branch Yeon Gaesomun became regent, tribal leaders from all over the country have accepted the title and become appointed officials of the royal court.

The tribal chieftain of Xiao Gao's tribe suddenly became the local county magistrate, powerful and influential, and easily swallowed up his family's land.

The forest also became the private property of the "county magistrate", cutting off his access to the mountains for fishing and hunting.

He was left with no choice but to put his head on his belt, muster up his courage, and join the iron mine near the village.

Eat as many days as you can. If you can eat in one day, you will make back your investment. If you can eat for two days, you will make a profit. It is better than starving to death.

He was surprised to find out that the mine was run by Tang people.

In his impression, the Tang Dynasty seemed very far away, and the people of the Tang Dynasty always presented themselves as superior.

But this group of Tang people was very strange. They always called themselves "Liaodong people" to outsiders.

Since last year, they have suddenly appeared in large numbers in every corner of Goguryeo.

They neither fought wars nor preached the half-understood "Four Books and Five Classics".

Instead, they mined in the mountains and built bridges and roads in order to transport the ore out.

In just less than a year, the mine was opened all the way to this remote mountain valley.

But Xiao Gao didn't have the energy to think so much.

Whether they were Tang people or Goguryeo people, he would work for whoever gave him food.

He followed the crowd and headed into the dark mine.

At the door, a big man dragged him out.

"Why did you go into the mine without a helmet? Do you understand the safety regulations?"

Xiao Gao blinked his confused eyes.

Such a niche Goguryeo language. I know every word, but why can’t I understand it when it’s spelled together?

The big man nodded at the thing on his head, which looked like an upside-down iron pot. It was padded with soft, sweat-absorbent cotton linen and tied tightly under his chin with a hemp rope.

Xiao Gao then raised his head and found that except for him, everyone who went down the mine was wearing this thing.

His eyes widened in surprise.

Although they live close to the mine, most people in their village do not have iron tools.

The iron pot for cooking was used by neighbors in turn, and the farm tools belonged to the landlord, and one had to pay extra sorghum and corn to borrow them.

But the low-level miners working in the Tang people’s mines, who are regarded as worthless by the chiefs of various tribes, actually have an “iron pot” in their hands?
Even the warriors of the Great Molizhi can't ensure that everyone has a helmet!
"You're new here, right? Go to the on-the-job training first."

The big man kicked him to the side of the mine, where there was a simple shed. An old miner was writing Chinese characters on a black wooden board with white plaster like a teacher.

There was a group of people sitting below, old, middle-aged and young, listening attentively.

Although these regulations are complicated, it is difficult for all illiterate people to remember them.

But behind every word is a bloody lesson.

The Goguryeo nobles only treated them as leeks, and only the Tang people from Liaodong treated them as human beings.

They can't mistreat themselves any more.

Xiao Gao was sitting at the back. After listening for a while, he couldn't help but ask a man wearing a red headscarf next to him in surprise:

"Isn't this a Chinese character that only nobles can learn? Can people like us learn it too?"

The man in the red turban spat and said contemptuously:

"Are those nobles farming or mining? They feed and clothe us, so why are they superior to us?"

In the evening, Xiao Gao returned to the village with a handful of sorghum and barley distributed by the mine.

He clearly did nothing except learning "Safety Production Regulations" and Chinese characters for a day, but he still got paid!
And this kind of life will continue for ten days. Before he actually goes down to the mine, he can continue to eat free food for ten days!

The Tang people from Liaodong who were distributing grain were even embarrassed to tell Xiao Gao that according to Liaodong regulations, the workers should have been paid more.

But the bulk of the mine's profits were taken away by local chiefs, so the profits could only shrink.

After returning home, Xiao Gao's head was still groggy and he felt that everything that had happened was unreal.

But my chest was burning.

His subconscious told him that as long as these people from Liaodong made a call.

Even if there was a blade of a Great Molizhi warrior in front of him, he still dared to charge.

…………

"Damn, these Liaodong guys..."

In Anhak Palace in Pyongyang, Regent Yeon Gaesomun's face looks very bad.

This was originally the palace of the Gao royal family, but Yeon Gaesomun asked the puppet Treasure King he supported to move away and he occupied this place himself.

"I organized a group of people to reclaim some wasteland, but these Liaodong guys are trying to interfere?

“What do you mean by ‘unsatisfactory environmental assessment’?
"Environmental protection, environmental protection, environmental protection, damn it!"

Yeon Gaesomun was helpless and furious.

The Liaoshui River basin occupied by Goguryeo was densely covered with forests and swamps, and had a crisscrossing network of rivers.

There was water and fertile black soil, and the temperature was mild during the Tang Dynasty, which was perfect for farming.

Therefore, Yeon Gaesomun issued an order directly without going through the puppet king.

Ordered all places to drain swamps, cut down forests and reclaim wasteland.

As a result, according to last year's armistice agreement, various environmental protection organizations planted by the Tang Dynasty in Liaodong in Goguryeo suddenly jumped out.

With the words “forests are the lungs of the world” on the left and “wetlands are the home of rare animals” on the right, they are trying hard to prevent development.

In cooperation with a series of newspapers such as the Pyongyang Evening News, which were published throughout Goguryeo in accordance with the armistice agreement, they simultaneously stirred up momentum and incited local scholars who were ignorant of the truth to cause trouble.

After a series of combined punches, there was actually a wave of trouble out of nowhere, because "environmental protection", a trivial matter in Yeon Gaesomun's eyes, caused a huge wave.

The local forces that were not convinced by Yeon Gaesomun also took the opportunity to stir up trouble.

Those tribal chiefs and local warlords who had originally surrendered to the Damolizhi, after receiving bribes from the Liaodong people in the form of "tribute" for mining, became arrogant again and dared to challenge the royal court in Pyongyang!
As a last resort, Yeon Gaesomun had to revoke his order.

Let large tracts of black soil remain empty and the people continue to go hungry.

Of course, the public will not blame the seemingly harmless "environmental protection organizations" for this.

Instead, he would vent his anger on the incompetent Goguryeo royal court.

"What the hell, I just want to grow crops and eat, who cares about your 'biodiversity'!"

Yeon Gaesomun became even more helpless and furious.

He did a lot of stupid things that were not human-like, and finally came up with an anthropomorphic policy of "reclaiming wasteland".

The landlords got the land, the peasants got some rice, and the conscripted laborers got work to do.

Everyone benefits, so there is no way the calculation is wrong.

Even this can be ruined!
Yeon Gaesomun couldn't bear it anymore.

Even land reclamation has to be stopped. This is no longer an ordinary environmental protection organization and strong measures must be taken.

Look, he is sending out his cavalry to send these insect organizations and the newspapers that spread rumors and cause trouble to hell one by one!
"Your Excellency Damolizhi." A close minister came to report:
"News came from the front line of Jian'an City. The Tang army's Yingzhou Military Governorate and Pingzhou Military Governorate were conducting siege drills at the border."

Yeon Gaesomun's mouth twitched.

Whenever he had a bold idea, Datang had a way of fighting that would go deep into his bones.

“Please…invite the Tang envoy stationed in Pyongyang to come to Anhe Palace for a banquet.

"Our country will definitely abide by all peace treaties with the Tang Dynasty. Our two countries will be good neighbors and friendly, and will never be enemies."

The close ministers received the order and left.

Yeon Gaesomun's anger also deflated, and he slumped down on the mat.

There were many countries that were foolish enough to go to war with the Tang Dynasty.

Some were for national survival, and some were for resisting invasion.

But if they were to go head-on and attack the Tang Dynasty's heavenly soldiers just for the sake of "environmental protection", then this reason for starting a war would be a bit too funny.

It's really an exaggeration.

But if he didn't fight, these nails buried in Goguryeo's body would sting him like fleas, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

Environmental protection is still a small matter and is at most a little disgusting.

The other little actions that the Liaodong people did in Goguryeo were really painful.

The mining rights not only allowed the other party to plunder Goguryeo's mineral resources at will, but also enabled them to penetrate into the fields and villages and obtain detailed local information.

Even more detailed than what he got in the Pyongyang Palace.

Free trade also allowed the other side's ironware and other products to flood Goguryeo, causing countless workshops in the country to close down and craftsmen to be recruited by the other side.

What's worse, the Liaodong people absorbed too much labor in Goguryeo's industries.

Plus the noisy brainwashing from newspapers.

If the two countries really fight, who knows which side they will stand on.

It feels bad to put your lifeline in the hands of another country.

Especially since the other side is a potential enemy country with which we just fought a war last year.

Yeon Gaesomun felt that his head was in the other party's hands.

"I fell into that guy's trap!"

It was not until today that Yeon Gaesomun suddenly realized that the so-called "armistice agreement" was actually a huge strategic trap!

The three seemingly harmless measures of “free trade”, “freedom of the press” and “environmental protection” are actually deadly!

It is far more dangerous than Goguryeo ceding a few impregnable cities or even overthrowing the entire mountain city defense system, and it also harbors sinister intentions!

The current Goguryeo is like a giant with insects in its body.

Despite his brute strength, he was bitten by tiny insects and felt uncomfortable all over.

"Damn it, how did the country become like this?

"Cunning Li Ming..."

Whenever Yeon Gaesomun thought of that arrogant little brat, he felt so angry that his teeth itched.

He originally wanted to take advantage of this truce to recuperate, and then in a few years, when the Tang Dynasty was not paying attention, he would move south and annex Liaodong in one fell swoop.

Unexpectedly, Li Ming seized the time node before he completed the national integration and infiltrated the fabric of the national economy.

The internal structure of Goguryeo was reduced to loose sand, and it could no longer form a fist and work together!
"Report to His Excellency Damolizhi." The close minister came to report again.

Yeon Gaesomun turned around angrily:
"what's up?"

The close ministers reported:

"The Tang Liaodong Trading Company came to visit us and requested to purchase the swampland outside Jian'an City and at the mouth of the Liao River (today's Panjin) to develop a farm."

"Ha." Yeon Gaesomun said sarcastically:

"Why, we Goguryeo people are destroying the environment by developing wasteland, but they Tang people are protecting the environment by developing it?"

"They have great monks from the Tang Dynasty chanting sutras and performing rituals, which have been certified by environmental protection agencies as being beneficial to the environment." The close minister copied the words recorded in the Pyongyang Evening News verbatim.

Yeon Gaesomun was shocked by the shameless behavior of the Liaodong people. He could no longer hold back and could not help but curse:
"fart!"

The ministers had long been accustomed to Yeon Gaesomun's mood swings, and they calmly waited for their master to finish his madness, and said leisurely:
"In addition, the envoy of the trading company brought some 'gifts' to His Excellency Damo Lizhi."

"Oh?" Yeon Gaesomun paused.

"Fifteen carts." said the close minister.

Yeon Gaesomun's anger immediately turned into joy:
"Please come quickly!"

…………

Information about Goguryeo's economic status and various social classes was gathered in Liaodong through trading companies, mines, farms, and newspapers throughout the country.

After being processed and compiled by professional bureaucrats in Liaodong, lines of data indicators were formed and sent to Chang'an continuously every day through the post stations.

It was delivered to Li Ming's desk in the form of daily briefings, ten-day reports and monthly reports.

Although we are thousands of miles apart and there is a delay of nearly a month.

But despite these unfavorable factors, Li Ming's understanding of the entire country of Goguryeo, from the mountains and fields to the royal court in Pyongyang, far exceeded that of his ruler, Yeon Gaesomun.

It is no exaggeration to say that Li Ming ruled Liaodong and, through Liaodong, actually controlled the larger Goguryeo.

“The origin of raw materials in the commodity market…cannot be overdone.

"Goguryeo is not a colony. It will be my core territory in the future. We cannot let it be stained with too much blood debt..."

While reading the report sent by Wei Daijia, Li Ming talked to himself and thought about fine-tuning the policy.

"Your Highness, what did you say?" Fang Xuanling moved his eyes away from his official documents and looked at Li Ming, who was almost blocked by the piles of account books.

He felt that the Chinese spoken by His Highness was a bit niche.

I can roughly guess what it means, but I can't guess exactly what it means.

"I mean……"

Li Ming put down the account book in his hand and said:
"It's time to establish a branch of the Red Turban Army in Goguryeo."

…………

At the same time, the Zheng Hall was established in Taiji Palace.

"I think that we should set up charity granaries in various parts of the south, and immediately release grain to provide relief wherever there is famine."

"My Royal Brother, what you said is wrong. It is just treating the symptoms instead of the root cause. We should organize the people to repair the river bank, store water in the dry season and release water in the flood season, which is the fundamental solution."

"The King of Wei's idea is nothing but a castle in the air. May and June are the time for planting and harvesting. There is a shortage of manpower in the countryside. How can we free up manpower to build the dike?"

In the emperor's study, Crown Prince Li Chengqian and Prince of Wei Li Tai are debating the impending grain harvest failure in the south.

Because of the heavy rains in the south earlier this year, which destroyed and rotted many rice seedlings, it can be predicted that this year's autumn harvest will not be very optimistic.

"What you said makes sense." As a referee, Li Shimin happily listened to the children expressing their opinions.

Ever since Crown Prince Li Chengqian suddenly "changed his nature", became interested in state affairs, and actively repaired his relationship with his father.

Li Tai was not to be outdone. He intensified the study of political affairs and came to the Lizheng Hall to pay his respects more frequently.

As a result, the two brothers, who were on the verge of a conflict, were bound to meet.

At the awkward moment, the third brother Li Zhi suggested that why don't the brothers discuss the issue of state governance peacefully?

As a result, the style of the struggle for the throne suddenly changed.

From the previous undercurrents, it has become the current gentleness, courtesy, frugality, fairness, justice and openness.

Li Shimin was so relieved that he almost cried.

This is exactly how he envisions selecting talented people for positions of power!

If we can continue like this, we can replicate the beautiful story of Yao and Shun's abdication.

In the bloody history, there is a story of a loving father and a filial son, and a friendly brother and a respectful younger brother.

"Pheasant." Li Shimin asked kindly:
"Why don't you join in the discussion with your brothers?"

Li Zhi was taking notes attentively. When his father called his name, he scratched his head awkwardly and replied:

"I still need to learn. Listen more, watch more, remember more, and talk less."

With an honest attitude, he secretly insulted his two eloquent imperial brothers.

Li Shimin naturally would not think about it that way. He felt that all three legitimate sons were good people.

Li Chengqian goes without saying.

He finally acted like a big brother taking the lead, stopping the evil trend of using conspiracy and trickery to fight for the throne, and set an upright example for his younger brothers.

Li Tai was also good. Not only did he follow closely behind, he also changed his previous attitude of talking about love and romance and became pragmatic.

He also carried out a large-scale "cutting down of redundant staff" in his own mansion, dismissing most of the servants and attendants of the Prince of Wei's mansion in Kaifeng.

Not only that, he went a step further and opened the door of the Prince of Wei's Palace to take in a large number of refugees.

This includes the Turkic street thugs who don't want to go back to the desert, have no skills, and can only wander around and steal and rob.

Although King Wei now lives in Wude Hall.

But it takes a lot of courage to transform one's own property into a shelter.

As for Li Zhi, he was even more loved by Li Shimin.

Although he has an honest character and does not show off.

But it was Li Zhi who put together this situation where the brothers could sit down and talk peacefully.

The three legitimate sons each showed their talents and made achievements, which made Li Shimin particularly happy and satisfied.

However, he always felt that there was someone missing in this harmonious and beautiful family story.

…………

As the sun sets, Li Ming returns to Taiji Palace as usual, walking on the orange sunset.

"I'm back. I'm going to Lide Hall to have dinner with my mother. Bye~"

Li Ming just showed his head in Lizheng Hall and ran out without stopping.

"wait."

Li Shimin left court early today just to trap this little loach.

"What for?" Li Ming asked as he walked out.

"Your mother came to Lizheng Hall for dinner today." Li Shimin lied casually.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Li Ming made a sharp turn and returned to the Lizheng Hall.

Li Shimin stretched out his dark hand and grabbed the back of his neck.

Li Ming was shocked by the old emperor's shameless sneak attack:

"Grandpa?"

"Follow me to the study."

Li Shimin had a dark face and dragged the brat into the palace.

"My mother is not in Lizheng Palace at all. Where did you hide her?"

Li Ming pouted angrily.

Li Shimin ignored his willful behavior and asked seriously:

"What do you do when you go out every day?"

"Busy." Li Ming's words were as good as saying nothing.

Li Shimin had no interest in arguing with him, so he just went straight to the point:

"Do you know what your three royal brothers are doing recently?"

Li Ming: “I don’t care.”

Li Shimin: "Here, discuss state governance with your father, me."

Li Ming: “Oh.”

Of course, Li Ming knew exactly what was going on in the palace.

What was removed from him was just a nail planted in the East Palace.

The other spies and palace maids in Taiji Palace are still alive.

Although not as talented as Hu Sanniang, these nails are also very capable.

They set up a DingTalk group to report the palace's developments to him in real time.

Therefore, Li Ming knew clearly that the three competitors had changed their style and focused on attacking his father.

I still say that, as long as those three brothers don't assassinate him personally or do anything that is against the law.

He doesn't care about licking his father or pretending to be a good boy.

Fair play.

"Don't you have any sense of urgency?"

Li Shimin's words became more serious:
“Your brothers have made suggestions for the country and the people and actively participated in politics.

"What are you doing? Wandering around, wasting time?
"If you just want to be an idle prince, I can banish you now."

Li Ming, who had food and guns in his hands, was not afraid of the threat from the emperor.

He answered calmly with a hint of sarcasm:
"Your Majesty, I do not have the time to talk about governing the country like my three brothers.

"I am truly governing the country."

Li Shimin responded with the same sarcasm:

"Look how busy you are. Just your little Liaodong? Pingzhou and Yingzhou, those two inferior states?"

Li Ming was stunned and scratched his head in confusion:
"If you include Liaodong, then I am governing two countries."

If Ning insists on separating Liaodong from the Tang Dynasty, then I have no objection.

Li Shimin:?

He didn't understand what Li Ming was talking about, and didn't intend to delve into it, so he brought the topic back to the topic:

"In short, you should learn more from your brother, join in the discussion, and offer suggestions for the people of the Tang Dynasty!

"Don't limit your vision to your own little piece of land, but look at the whole world!"

Suggestions? Haha…

Li Ming's tone lowered, he crossed his arms, and a faint smile appeared on the corners of his mouth:
"May I ask what advice and strategy your brother has offered?"

Li Shimin: =_=+
The emperor was very angry at her for showing such an "everything is under control" attitude in front of him.

Fortunately, Li Shimin's blood pressure did not rise so easily due to his light diet during this period. He suppressed his temper and said in a rough voice:

“Regarding the poor harvest in the south in autumn, the King of Wei suggested concentrating on building dams, while the Crown Prince suggested setting up charity granaries first.

"What do you think?
"Don't tell me 'I want it all'. The country doesn't have that much spare capacity."

Li Ming listened carefully to the opinions of the two people as relayed by his father, and his face darkened little by little.

Seeing the boy's increasingly serious expression, Li Shimin curled his lips in satisfaction:

"How is it? Do you feel some pressure from your brothers?
"You should stay in the palace and learn how to govern the country from your father and brothers.

"Don't sneak out of the palace all day and mix with all kinds of people."

Listening to his father's earnest teachings, Li Ming looked confused:
"The Crown Prince and the King of Wei, what the hell are they talking about?

"If we follow their bad idea, the Tang Dynasty Pills will be gone."

(End of this chapter)