Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 413: Killing with Blade and Politics

Ah Sizi?
Hasn't she been avoiding me and sulking with me? Why...

Li Ming glanced at Changsun Wuji standing beside him with a puzzled look.

Zhang Sun Wuji also looked helpless and managed a forced smile:
"The study is cramped and stuffy. I also suggested that the princess go to the pavilion to rest for a while, but she refused..."

Seeing his uncle in such a dilemma, Li Ming just wanted to hold his forehead with his hand.

First of all, how did an outsider get into the State Council?
Theoretically, Li Mingda, like Li Chengqian and Li Zhi, was also a prisoner of war.

It would have been fine if she could just stroll out of the "prisoner-of-war camp" (that is, the palace).

How did he sneak into the ruling center of the empire?
This is even freer and happier than back home in Chang'an!
Of course Li Ming knew that the blame was not on the poor old security guard.

This pot has to be borne by Empress Dowager Yang herself.

The Queen Mother must have brought Li Mingda here to visit whenever she had time.

Over time, the carbon-based face recognition system here was fooled...

As if sensing Li Ming's suspicious gaze, Li Mingda took the initiative to speak:

"Your Majesty, I am not trespassing, nor am I incompetent as a guard. I have the permission of Her Majesty the Queen Mother!"

As he spoke, he straightened his waist and deliberately showed a gold-engraved waist badge to His Majesty Li Ming.

Mom... Looking at the autograph of Empress Dowager Yang on this temporary waist badge, Li Ming couldn't help but twitch his mouth.

"I came here this time to speak out my advice and to point out Your Majesty's mistakes to his face!"

Li Mingda explained the purpose of his visit, trying his best to make his tone sound cold and businesslike.

However, she lacked the aura, which resulted in the actual effect being like a child pretending to be an adult, and even the well-trained Changsun Wuji could not help but:

"Pfft..."

He covered his mouth and laughed secretly.

Although my work has been affected a little.

But it is also quite interesting to secretly watch the life of my nephew and niece. It can be used as a way to entertain myself after work.

Li Ming glanced at someone who was gloating over someone else's misfortune and said coldly:
"This matter involves state secrets. People who are not involved please stay away."

Zhang Sun Wuji: "Oh? What secret is it that even the Deputy Prime Minister cannot know?"

Li Ming: "It is a secret that only the Prime Minister is worthy of knowing. Whoever hears it must become my Prime Minister."

Changsun Wuji: "Goodbye."

Feeling full of regret for not being able to eavesdrop on the gossip, the prince's uncle left reluctantly.

Only the brother and sister were left in the study.

Li Ming sighed and said:

"Sister, I didn't ignore you on purpose before, it's just that the time has not come yet. If the time comes, I believe you will understand..."

"I don't know what your majesty is talking about, and I dare not guess your majesty's intention. Whether to place me in prison, imprison me, or kill me is up to your majesty's decision."

Li Mingda pushed back in a harsh tone.

Li Ming has a headache.

What’s going on? Why do I have the illusion that I’m coaxing my girlfriend?

You are the older sister and I am the younger brother.

Li Ming, who felt that he had suffered a great loss, could only follow the other party's words. Under Li Mingda's resentful gaze, he slowly returned to his dragon couch, put on the airs of an emperor, cleared his throat and said:

"What do you have to report? I am always happy to hear your criticism."

Hey, hey, hey, you stinky little brother, you are really arrogant! ... Li Mingda secretly gritted his teeth and angrily "reported":

"Your Majesty launched a war to fight for the throne. So many people died and so much money was spent.

"We could have avoided the war, we could have written a letter to our father and resolved the issue through politics. Why did we choose this worst option?

"Later, my brother surrendered, and no one was fighting for the throne with you. Why didn't you stop and fight with your father?

“Though our ancestors and the Bodhisattva have blessed us, my father and brother are safe and sound.

"But the soldiers and civilians who died as a result of this will not be resurrected! How will Your Majesty give them an explanation?!"

The tone was so aggressive that it could no longer be considered "advice" but rather a scolding in person.

Of course, Li Ming was not angry. Instead, he asked back with a smile:
"In your mouth, I am truly an unforgivable warmongerer.

"But the incident has already happened. According to your opinion, what should I do? Should I issue an edict of repentance and abdicate the throne?"

"Ah, this..." Li Mingda was stuck when asked.

She was filled with passion and had been furious since the beginning of the war until now, but she had not yet thought calmly about how things should end.

Li Ming looked at the confused little girl with a smile.

Princess Jinyang was angry not only about the fratricide.

What’s more, compatriots are killing each other and causing great suffering.

Being able to stand in the shoes of ordinary soldiers and the people of the world shows that one's awareness is not low.

only……

"Politics is not so simple, it's not black or white. Politics goes against common sense."

After having fun teasing the little sister, Li Ming became serious.

"Killing is to protect life; killing karma is not killing people."

"Your Majesty, what are you talking about? We are not discussing Buddhism." Li Mingda didn't quite understand.

But she didn't want to show it, so she put her hands on her hips stubbornly, as if she was angry at being fooled by the other party.

"What I want to say is that some sacrifices have to be made for the success of reform, for the creation of a better country, and for the well-being of the people of the world." Li Ming looked straight into his sister's eyes.

"War is sometimes the fastest, most effective and least costly shortcut."

What a specious argument... Li Mingda subconsciously wanted to refute.

But she restrained herself.

Because she knew that brother Li Ming was not the kind of person who would flatter himself.

Although Li Ming can make wild assumptions and say fantastic words.

However, all the boasts he made came true without exception.

Under his rule, the country was safe and the people were happy, healthy and prosperous.

So, Li Mingda was even more confused.

Why would a wise king do something so outrageous and incomprehensible?
And why did this stupid thing get the approval of another wise emperor, their father, Emperor Li Shimin?

Yes, it takes two to tango.

Although this war was initiated by Li Ming, it would not have been possible without the full cooperation of Li Shimin.

Especially after Li Chengqian and Li Zhi were both captured.

The battle for the throne is essentially over.

Three of the four contestants were eliminated, and Li Ming has become the undisputed leader of the world.

Why did Li Shimin, the referee, personally step in and drag this war into a battle for supremacy between the Ming and Tang dynasties?

Li Shimin is not the emperor, he has already retired! The throne that Li Ming seized is not his!

If the emperor is not in a hurry, why should the emperor emeritus be in a hurry?
"I remember my father said that you did this to establish your prestige and pave the way for domestic reforms, so he cooperated with you..."

Li Mingda muttered.

Li Ming raised his eyebrows and asked in surprise:
"Have you even asked Grandpa?"

Although the girl had almost no political experience, she was very direct and sensitive. She even saw the "tacit understanding" between him and Li Shimin and his son, and actually asked about it...

"Yes, if you don't see me, then I can only ask the same question to my father, which is——"

Li Mingda's expression was very serious.

"Since my brother had already surrendered, why did my father still refuse to surrender at that time, and why did he still want to fight a battle of Jinyang with my brother Li Ming.

"That's what Father answered at the time."

“But I don’t understand, your prestige in the country is unrivaled and unshakable.

"Why do you have to resort to such a desperate measure?"

Li Ming folded his arms:
"Didn't Grandpa answer you at that time?"

Li Mingda's little face flushed red, and he said awkwardly:

"Later, Concubine Wan came in, and my father sent me out..."

My goodness, who is the young stepmother that Concubine Wan is?
Li Ming has lost the urge to complain about this scumbag father.

Similarly, he had nothing to complain about his black-hearted mother who passed the buck.

Did the parents-in-law discuss this and kick the ball back to me? So that I can personally give an explanation to the innocent Miss Li Mingda?
What a scheming couple of in-laws. One of them kept her on suspense with half of her words, while the other stuffed a pass into her hand without saying anything...

"Alas... this is also the cause and effect of my own actions."

Li Ming sighed inadvertently, sorted out his thoughts for a while, and said:

"Yes, my prestige is indeed very high, unmatched in my land.

"But this level of prestige is not enough for what I want to do."

Li Mingda tilted his head slightly, thought for a moment, and immediately guessed:

"You mean to weaken the nobles and take over and divide up all the land in the world?"

As expected of the clever Princess Jinyang, Li Ming nodded in appreciation and said:

"exactly.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard of this saying: It’s harder to touch interests than to touch the soul.”

Li Mingda murmured again: "Benefits, soul..."

"Yes, my reforms will inevitably affect the interests of many nobles, and their most fundamental interests." Li Ming explained:

"I am touching their land, the foundation of their affluence, their status, their political influence.

"Isn't it understandable that my confiscation of their land will lead to a strong backlash from them?"

Li Mingda frowned, feeling that he had discovered a verbal trap:
"I don't understand. You have popular support, a strong army, and a huge bureaucracy that controls all the way down to the countryside.

"Compared to your power, what are the nobles? What policies do you want to implement in the country? Are you afraid that they will hinder you?"

"Afraid." Li Ming said bluntly.

"Huh?" Li Mingda was even more confused.

"I am not afraid of one noble. But if ten, a hundred, a thousand, or even all the noble families in the world unite to oppose me, who wouldn't be afraid?"

Li Ming said seriously:
"The noble families have all been cultivating the local area for hundreds or thousands of years, and some of them can even trace their family ties back to the Spring and Autumn Period.

"They have deep roots and their relationships are complicated. I want to completely eradicate the soil they rely on for survival. How easy is that?"

Li Mingda seemed to understand a little:

"Are you afraid that they will rebel?"

"Yes, but not completely." Li Ming said:

“If they start a rebellion, it will be troublesome.

"But it pales in comparison to the other trouble they could cause."

Li Mingda's curiosity was completely aroused, and he hurriedly asked:

"What trouble?"

"Non-violent non-cooperation." Li Ming replied.

"Non-violence...non-cooperation." Li Mingda chewed it carefully.

I seem to understand some, but not much.

"No matter how ingeniously the system is designed, no matter how noble the original intention is, things are done by people. If the implementation is wrong, everything will be in vain."

Li Ming sighed:
"Take the Ming Dynasty as an example. Northeast China and Liaodong were originally foreign lands, so there was no such problem.

"Hebei is a difficult problem. The gentry in Hebei still have great power in the local area. They will make excuses and resist policies that are not in their favor.

"As a result, the progress of land recovery and redistribution has been greatly slowed down, resulting in a huge fiscal deficit, and tax revenue is even lower than that of Liaodong and Northeast China, which have smaller populations."

He stood up, walked to the filing cabinet, took out a file and handed it to Li Mingda.

"See for yourself."

Li Mingda flipped through it and immediately frowned.

This is a document submitted by the magistrate of Zhuo County, Hebei Province, saying that when he was transferred to Hebei Province to promote land distribution, he encountered countless obstacles, both soft and hard.

Today, the team going to the countryside was robbed by "bad guys", tomorrow the clerk in charge of re-measuring the land fell ill, and the day after tomorrow, the local hired porters went to a wedding banquet...

In short, various situations occurred one after another, and they all "happened" to occur at the critical moment when the county magistrate was preparing to take action on the land.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that there were problems in the local area and that there were dark forces working against the imperial court.

But there is no evidence.

Even with evidence, they dare not overturn the table. After all, the power of the local tyrants in the local area cannot be underestimated.

“Each of them is a local tyrant, each of them is Murong Yan.

"But how many Li Mings can deal with them?"

There was a flame burning in Li Ming's eyes.

“This is just Hebei, and Hebei has already bowed down to me.

"What about other places in the world? What about other prefectures and counties that were originally under the jurisdiction of the Tang Dynasty? Central Plains, Guanzhong, Sichuan, Jiangnan...

“What kind of rebound will they have, what kind of tricks will they have?
"And because of their interference, how many people will be separated from their wives and children, and their families will be destroyed? To what extent will the country be corroded, to the point that the world is in chaos and the country is no longer a country?

“How many people will die because of this?

"Is there any difference between killing people with a sword and politics?"

Li Mingda remained silent after hearing what Li Ming said.

"My prestige is still not enough!" Li Ming said in a heavy tone.

“So, I’m going to fight a battle, an unprecedented victory, and bring down the most prestigious man in the world.

"Only with the might of this battle can I deter the villains and enforce my will.

"Compared with the lives and dynasties saved, the number of people who died in the war is nothing. This is already a very cost-effective deal."

The words from the heart linger in my ears.

Li Mingda heard the heavy breathing and didn't know what to feel.

After a long while, she said in a dry voice:

"Politics is really not something that ordinary people can handle..."

Before he could finish his words, footsteps were heard at the door.