Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 399: The first day as emperor?

"Your Majesty, we love you!"

"There is no two suns in the sky. Your Majesty is the brightest sun in my heart!"

"Your Majesty's kindness is not enough. Your Majesty's achievements are higher than the sky, and your Majesty's kindness is deeper than the sea!"

"loyalty!"

Pingzhou Port - now officially renamed "Tangzhou Port", also known as "Tangshan Port" by the people because of a small hill nearby - was filled with loud gongs and drums and cheers.

The people spontaneously poured into the streets to celebrate the victory and welcome His Majesty back to his loyal capital.

The streets were deserted and the event was unprecedented.

Not only did almost the entire city of Tangzhou come out to celebrate, but among the celebrating crowd there were even many die-hard fans living on the borders of the empire.

They traveled thousands of miles across mountains and rivers just to join in the event and catch a glimpse of their idols.

"They are..."

Li Shimin leaned against the railing of the boat, looking at the crazy crowd on the shore with a dull look in his eyes.

When he single-handedly drove out the Tartar invaders, ended the chaos since the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and ushered in a new era of prosperity, the people's support for him was not even one-tenth of what it is here.

As a top political animal, while admiring the great popularity achieved by his eldest son Li Ming, he subconsciously thought of something else.

The scene before my eyes was so exaggerated that it was no longer just "support".

Rationally speaking, this war did have a negative impact on the lives of the people of the Ming Dynasty.

The soaring oil prices are an example. From the perspective of ordinary people, this is entirely caused by Li Ming’s arbitrary rule and is completely avoidable.

However, the people of the Ming Dynasty seemed to be unconcerned about the inconveniences in life caused by His Majesty's whim, and still fanatically supported all his decisions.

This is no longer a rational behavior, it is actually developing into a "lean religion".

"What's going on with these people?" Li Shimin shifted his gaze away from the noisy port and looked directly at his youngest son beside him.

Li Ming shrugged innocently:

"I don't know. Maybe the newspaper just happened to publish the time and place of my return to the city. Oh, those reporters who are everywhere, I have to give Pei Xingjian a good talk when I go back..."

"Don't laugh it off. What I'm asking is, what have you done to your people? Why are they so crazy about supporting you?"

Li Shimin said, we are all thousand-year-old foxes, who are you going to sing Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio with?
After experiencing the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period and the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the emperor had long since fallen from the altar, and transformed from a "son of heaven" into a competitive job where "only those with strong soldiers and horses can do it."

It's not normal for the common people to support an emperor to the point of being "brain-dead".

Li Ming continued to sing with an innocent look on his face:

"I am ashamed to say that I only did a small amount of work. In the two or three years I was in Liaodong, I did nothing else but three things: dividing the land equally, rectifying the administration of officials, and encouraging industry and commerce..."

"Don't joke with me. Do you think I haven't done these jobs during my tenure?" Li Shimin directly interrupted the other party's long speech.

He looked annoyed, thinking that the little guy looked down on him and was fooling him by treating him like Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji.

They are all colleagues who are emperors. Who can hide the weirdness from whom?

"I even ended the chaos with my own hands, but you were the one who started it. But why do people love you so much more than me?"

As expected of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, his political acumen is extremely sharp, even higher than the most capable minister in the world.

To be fair, comparing Old Li and Little Li, Old Li is indeed slightly inferior in terms of civil administration, but it is hard to say about his martial arts skills.

Although Xiao Li used the "Xiejiao" spirit to castrate the northern barbarians, he solved the biggest border threat in the north once and for all.

However, Lao Li's direct and violent punch to break up the Turkic Khanate swept away the haze of long-term oppression of the Han people by the northern nomads since the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Five Barbarians. This was of groundbreaking significance and even greater historical significance.

The father and son directly confronted each other, and although Li Ming won a great victory, this does not prove that Li Ming's martial arts is necessarily stronger than his father's.

After all, Li Shimin was under unfavorable conditions in terms of politics, economy, manpower and supplies, and was suffering from a serious illness. He was covered with debuffs and had to withstand the violent attacks of the elite troops of Li Ming and Li Jing.

In the end, the opponent was forced to resort to a surprising tactic, which was to sail on dry land, and he finally won.

It's hard to say that this isn't a victory in defeat.

Therefore, there is no reason for the huge gap in popularity between the two sides. When has Li ever been so glorious?
That guy must have tried some unconventional tricks!

Seeing that he couldn't get away with it by laughing it off, Li Ming lowered his voice:
"I didn't do anything else except convey the good things I did to my people in a more 'full' way."

Li Shimin frowned when he heard this:
“Newspapers…are you using newspapers to consolidate your rule?
"Is this the fundamental purpose of your establishing Chang'an Newspaper and many other newspapers?"

Although the word "brainwashing" had not yet been coined, the ancient kings were not fools and it was impossible for them not to know the importance of public opinion and propaganda.

There were systematic laws restricting private publications during the Spring and Autumn Period. Lao Li himself stipulated in the "Zhenguan Law" which books were not allowed to be published.

Xiao Li's tricks could not escape the eyes of the older generation of artists.

"Oh, how could that be? I always act realistically." Li Ming laughed.

Li Shimin looked at him deeply, then turned his gaze back to the shore.

"It's up to you, you are the emperor, you have the final say.

"But it's not that easy to be a god. Be careful not to get backlashed."

"I will." Li Ming nodded calmly.

The father and son stopped talking and looked at the bustling port, each with their own thoughts.

"Your Majesty! Prepare to dock..."

The temporary servant Qibi Heli came to the deck excitedly, but found that he came at the wrong time, so he slowly shrank back.

Want face.

This smart Tang brother first swore that he would never betray the Tang Dynasty.

Then he swore never to use force against the Tang army.

When the final battle came, he personally led his troops and shouted "Ura" to His Majesty Li Shimin.

His flexible moral bottom line made him feel a little overwhelmed.

How can I face His Majesty the Khan...

But Li Shimin also saw him, and naturally would not miss the opportunity to play with this toy, so he deliberately said loudly and sarcastically:

"Oh, isn't this the loyal general of the Ming Dynasty, General Qibi Heli? Are you getting along well with your wife?
"Oh, your wife is a remnant of the Tang Dynasty. I'm sure the general would not like her. I'm so sorry."

His wife was the Princess of Lintao, the daughter of a royal family of the Tang Dynasty, and the marriage was arranged for him by the Khan himself.

It sounds very dirty when a Phoenix Man blames his father-in-law's family for his mistakes.

Stop talking, stop talking... Qibi Heli was so ashamed that he didn't know whether to leave or stay, and he almost buried his head in the ground.

Li Ming glanced at his embarrassed younger brother and helped him out:
"Okay, I will personally escort my father off the ship. You go and command the corps."

Phew, no need to live in awkward relationship with the Heavenly Khan... Qibi Heli bowed to Emperor Li Ming with gratitude and retreated tremblingly.

After the merger of Ming and Tang, Your Majesty will inevitably come into contact with the Khan. I can't do this secretarial work anymore, so I might as well return to the army.

Li Shimin looked at the back of Tiele's younger brother, stroked his beard, and said meaningfully:

"I didn't expect you to be so protective of your subordinates."

"What else?" Li Ming asked as a matter of course. Li Shimin turned around and changed his previous nonchalant attitude and said very seriously:
"You can't be intimate with your subordinates."

What?
Li Ming was full of questions after hearing this.

Communicating with employees from the heart is the core technology of his rule, and the harmonious relationship between the ruler and his subjects among the Fourteen Evil Clan is envied by others.

If there is no emotion involved, would his subjects still be willing to assist him and work like slaves for him?

As a former rookie, he knew only too well how much damage a ruthless leader who treated his subordinates like beasts of burden could bring to a team.

Only when you have been caught in the rain yourself will you hold an umbrella for others. After becoming a big leader, Li Ming resolutely learned from his lessons and vowed not to be a team poison.

Why did the father do the opposite?
However, Li Ming was not a young man full of idealism. Counting two lifetimes, his actual age was not much younger than the current Li Shimin.

He knew that as a senior in the same industry and a man known in history for his "attachment to feelings", Emperor Taizong of Tang must have his reasons for saying such a seemingly contradictory statement as "Don't be intimate with your subjects".

"You don't seem to be disgusted by my weird ideas?"

Li Shimin observed his son's expression from the side.

"I have always been open to different opinions," Li Ming answered ambiguously.

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows: "Will you listen if I tell you?"

Li Ming: "It is you who gives suggestions, not me, and it is you who makes decisions, not me."

Li Shimin: "Good boy, I'll give you all the advantages, right?"

Old Li cursed a lot, but he was very pleased in his heart.

There have been many capable young masters in history, but Li Ming is probably the only one who has the aspirations of an emperor from the very beginning.

This kid is born to be an emperor.

Because of this, Li Shimin was willing to teach his most practical and darkest imperial skills.

It’s like a jade craftsman seeing the most perfect piece of raw jade and can’t wait to carve it into the most round bead.

"How long have you been emperor?" Li Shimin asked.

Li Ming did some calculations in his mind:
“If we start from the time when the Ming dynasty was launched, it will probably take less than a year.

"If you include the time I was in charge of Liaodong, it's probably been two or three years."

"Oh." Li Shimin nodded and said, "Then you are half an emperor."

Li Ming was puzzled: "Why do you say that?"

No matter how you calculate it, the six-month internship period has definitely passed, and it still doesn't count as rich grassroots work experience.

How can he be considered half an emperor?

"Because you have only been an emperor in troubled times, not an emperor in peaceful times." Li Shimin said slowly.

Li Ming's eyebrows furrowed deeper and deeper:
"What's the difference? Besides, isn't it harder to be an entrepreneur in troubled times than to be a maintainer in peaceful times?"

Li Shimin nodded, then shook his head:
“Although starting a business is harder than maintaining one, the two are essentially two different things and cannot be simply compared in terms of difficulty.

“Some of your qualities may be suitable for starting a business, but not for harvesting.”

Li Ming raised his eyebrows: "For example?"

Li Shimin: "For example, you won't shirk responsibility."

Is passing the buck a skill worthy of praise and learning?

Li Ming sneered and was about to retort.

Li Shimin continued:
"During the time you were the 'emperor', you, your subjects, your country, and your people had a common goal, which was to overthrow the Tang Dynasty.

“Under this common goal of unity, internal disputes can be temporarily bridged, greed can be temporarily suppressed, and the people’s dissatisfaction can be temporarily shelved with the prospect of a better future.

"Now, the Tang Dynasty has fallen. But can life immediately become better? Will the government be clean and honest forever, will there be no natural disasters, and will the people have enough food and clothing and live a happy life from now on?
"Is there no place in this vast world where there is grief and wailing? Isn't there anyone who is dissatisfied?"

Li Ming shook his head silently:

"It should be impossible."

"Will all these problems eventually be attributed to you?" Li Shimin raised his voice:
"To bear the disgrace of the country, is he called the master of the country?"

Li Ming didn't answer.

"However, since the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the emperor has taken turns to rule, and the emperor has lost his divinity. Everyone knows that the emperor is just a mortal."

Li Shimin's tone gradually became heavy:

“How can a mere mortal contain the filth of an entire country?

“So, in order to ensure the long-term stability of your rule, you must properly throw the dirt onto your subordinates.

"For example, you took the responsibility of killing Li Tai on yourself.

"I am reasonable and can understand and forgive you for the time being.

“But if it were an ordinary person, an ordinary citizen.

"Because of your decision, whether it was a wrong decision or a necessary sacrifice for the right decision, their father, husband, and son were killed.

"Do you think they'll forgive you?"

As he spoke, Li Shimin patted his son's shoulder meaningfully.

“With such a tiny body, if you don’t shirk your responsibility, do you want to take all the responsibility of the world on your shoulders?
Li Ming still said nothing.

"As for your solid and reliable subjects forming a meritorious group, gradually evolving into a new aristocratic family, engaging in corruption and monopolizing national resources, etc., I believe you know this 'routine' problem better than I do, so there is no need for me to elaborate."

Li Shimin turned back and leaned against the railing, and finally said:

“You want to shift the blame to your subordinates, but you also want your subordinates to prevent deceiving their superiors and oppressing your people.

"Under such circumstances, can you still be open with your subjects?"

Li Ming only felt numbness in his hands and feet, and his mind was heavy with worry.

Contradictions always exist when the main contradiction turns from external to internal.

Internal friction inevitably occurred.

The utopian relationship between the monarch and his subjects in the past was bound to not last long.

Is this the cold reality of politics?

"So..." When Li Ming said this, he suddenly realized that his voice was unusually dry.

"So, father. Was the close relationship you showed with your subjects in the past all just an act?"

Li Shimin's lips trembled slightly and he let out a long sigh.

Ugh……

After a long silence, he looked at the heaving sea and said in a low voice:

“I hope I’m not acting.”

(End of this chapter)