A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 190: Cutting off a finger to repay a favor
Fengzhengyuan after the snow,

It is like a giant python lying on the north bank of the Wei River.

The emperor returned to the old house where he was born and felt very emotional.

This old house, which has been passed down by three generations of the Li family, was rebuilt, expanded, and renovated into Fengyi Palace, a royal villa.

"Emperor Taizu Jing established his government office here, and I was also born here."

When Li Yuan was born, his grandfather Li Hu had been dead for twelve years.

Two years before he was born, his father Li Bing inherited the title of Duke of Tang and served as the governor of Anzhou. Later, Li Yuan also followed his mother to Anlu where his father was.

Li Bing served as the governor of Anlu for four years and was promoted to the governor of Anzhou, in charge of the military affairs of eight states.

When Li Yuan was two years old, his father was transferred back to Chang'an by Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, Yuwen Yong. He was highly favored and stationed in Xianyang to defend Chang'an. When Li Yuan was six years old, his father died. In the same year, Yuwen Yong executed the powerful minister Yuwen Hu.

Seven-year-old Li Yuan returned to Chang'an from Anlu and inherited the title of Duke of Tang. Because his mother, Lady Dugu, was in poor health, he was taken to her husband's family by his aunt to be raised.

My father died early, and my brothers also died early.
His mother was in poor health, and Li Yuan had a hard time at that time. His sisters-in-law were unwilling to take care of his mother.

Although his aunt was nice, the children of his uncle Yang Jian were not very kind to Li Yuan, especially his cousin Yang Guang, whose nickname was Amo, who disliked him the most. Even decades later, Yang Guang still disliked Li Yuan.

those years,
The glory of Li Yuan's family as one of the Eight Pillars of the State is gone, and the Tang Guogong Mansion has fallen into decline, with few carriages or horses in front of the gate.

On the contrary, the Yang family, which was originally only one of the twelve generals, gradually reached the pinnacle of power under the leadership of the uncle-in-law Yang Jian.
Especially as his cousin Yang Lihua became the empress and empress dowager, the status of Yang Jian's family and Li Yuan's family were completely reversed.

When the uncle took advantage of Emperor Xuan of Zhou's critical illness to control the palace and the imperial city, and forged an imperial edict to become the powerful prime minister,
Li Yuan was sixteen years old that year. He saw everything with his own eyes and remembered it all in his heart.

After his uncle ascended the throne, he gave Li Yuan a sixth-rank official position as a bodyguard.

The sixteen-year-old Li Yuan was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the army and began to lead the troops to fight.
Later, Li Yuan married Dou, the niece of Emperor Wu of Zhou, Yuwen Yong. Dou's father was Dou Yi, the Grand Marshal and Governor of Youzhou of Northern Zhou, and her mother was Princess Xiangyang, Yuwen Tai's sister.

Standing under the big tree in front of the door,

Li Yuan recalled the past, it seemed like a dream.

The old house where he lived as a teenager was increasingly dilapidated with few visitors. He spent his childhood in Anlu, where he met classmates Xu Shao, Fan Fang and others.

Later, she returned to Chang'an and was taken to her uncle's house to be raised. She grew up with a group of cousins including Yang Lihua, Yang Yong, Yang Guang, and Yang Xiu. She was considered to be living under someone else's roof.
At that time, Li Yuantong, a servant of Yang Jian's family, was much older than them. This illegitimate son, who was not recognized by his father, although had a low status in the Yang family, was good to Li Yuan.

Every time Li Yuan was bullied by Amo and others, Li Yuantong would come forward to help him.

Many people say that Li Yuan once recognized Li Yuantong as his uncle because Li Yuantong was very favored during the reign of Emperor Wen and was a close minister trusted by the emperor. That is why Li Yuan wanted to curry favor with Li Yuantong and called him uncle.

In fact, it is completely wrong.

When Li Yuan met Li Yuantong, he was a household slave of Yang Jian. Born to Yang Zhong's maid, he had lived in poverty and hardship since childhood. Later, he became a steward in Yang Jian's mansion. Although young, he was dignified and respectful, and everyone respected him.

The wet nurse of Yang Yong, the eldest son of Yang Jian, was so proud of her favor that she looked down on Li Yuantong and Li Yuan, who was staying at Yang's house. Once, when Yang Jian was hosting a banquet, Li Yuantong was in charge of the kitchen. The food that was supposed to be provided to Li Yuan was taken away by the wet nurse without permission.
Li Yuantong angrily scolded the wet nurse and slapped her more than ten times. The screams echoed throughout the room, even startling Yang Jian.

Yang Jian and Dugu learned about this later. Instead of blaming Li Yuantong, they felt that he was capable of the task. They asked him to take a seat and specially served him and Li Yuan a portion of food.

After that incident, Li Yuan was very grateful and trusted Li Yuantong, who was much older than him. The two of them formed a friendship. When Li Yuantong was still a slave of the Yang family, Li Yuan called him uncle.

Li Yuan lost his father at a young age and was forced to be fostered in the Yang family. Li Yuantong's father was Yang Zhong's personal guard and his mother was Yang Zhong's maid. After the two had an affair and gave birth to him, Li Jing refused to acknowledge him, so Li Yuantong could only be a slave in the Yang family.

Their almost similar miserable backgrounds actually brought them close.

After Yang Jian ascended the throne, Li Yuantong had already made many contributions to Yang Jian and was awarded the titles of Minister of Internal Affairs and Earl of Xin'an. Li Yuan, who was sixteen years old, was also awarded the title of Qianniu Beishen and entered the official career.

"King Yi'an."

"The minister is here."

Li Xiaochang stepped forward,
Li Yuan looked at him. Ever since the incident in which Li Yuantong slapped Yang Yong's wet nurse, Li Yuan and Li Yuantong had formed a deep friendship and had a very good relationship.

Li Xiaochang surrendered Yongfengcang to the Tang Dynasty, which was a great achievement, but it was not enough to make him a king.

This is more of the old friendship left by Li Yuantong,
What made Li Yuantong most indignant back then was Li Jing's abandonment of him. He could never let it go for the rest of his life, and he never forgave Li Jing. He never recognized Li Jing as his father in his entire life.

Letting Li Xiaochang belong to the clan leader was a wish of Li Yuantong's and gave him some comfort.

"Prince Yi'an has heard a story recently that you have a new nephew." Li Yuan looked at Li Yi in the distance and waved to him.

Li Xiaochang naturally heard the news,
After all, it has something to do with him.
Li Xiaochang was influenced by his father and actually hated the Tianshui Li family and Li Jing.

These days, he suddenly heard that Li Jing's grandson Li Zhi had broken off his engagement with Zhang, and that Zhang had given birth to a son for him, who is now the Earl of Qianshui Li Yi. He was a little surprised when he first heard this.

Later, I thought it was normal. After all, although Li Jing and Li Zhi were brave and good at fighting, they had bad personal ethics and bad reputations. Not to mention Li Zhi, who had fifteen sons, thirteen daughters, and a dozen illegitimate children.

Li Yi saw the emperor waving at him and strode over.

"What's your majesty's order?"

Li Yuan smiled and beckoned him over. "This is Yi'an Prince Xiaochang, my cousin and your uncle. His father is the illegitimate son of Li Jing, and you are the illegitimate son of Li Zhi, the grandson of Li Jing. Both of you are not recognized by the Tianshui Li family, but you have also made great achievements."

Li Yuan then called Li Zhi over.

The relationship between the king and his four ministers is quite complicated.

Li Zhi married Yang Su's daughter, and Li Yuan also took Li Zhi's sister-in-law as his concubine.
Li Yuan also recognized Li Xiaochang's father, Li Yuantong, as his uncle.

Li Yi is Li Xiaochang's nephew in terms of seniority. Now, Li Xiaochang and Li Yi, the two illegitimate sons of the Shui Li family, are both members of the Zongzheng clan.
Li Yi is now also Li Yuan's nephew.
He is of the same generation as Crown Prince Jiancheng, Prince of Qin Shimin, Li Daozon, Li Daoxuan and Li Xiaogong.

"Wuyi, this is Yi'an Prince Xiaogong, your uncle."

"Li Zhi, the General of the Left Guard, is your biological father."

"Give them both a formal salute," Li Yuan said with a smile.

"Your Majesty, there is an old saying among the people that if you give birth to a child but don't raise him, you can repay him by cutting off a finger. Today, I ask Your Majesty to give me a knife and I am willing to cut off a finger to repay you." Li Yi faced Li Zhi with no good expression at all.

"Hahaha, good boy, seeing you makes me feel like I'm seeing Lord Wan'an again. Do you know that Lord Wan'an is Nine Fingers?"

Li Xiaochang nodded, "My late father did lose a finger."

"Does Prince Yi'an know how Lord Wan'an lost his finger?" Li Yuan pointed at Li Yi. "Thirty-eight years ago, Lord Wan'an was granted the title of Baron Huaichang. Li Jing found Lord Wan'an and wanted him to recognize his ancestral roots.
At that time, Lord Wan'an said the same thing to his biological father Li Jing as Li Yi just said.

Giving birth to a child but not raising him, he could pay by cutting off a finger. Then he drew his sword, cut off a finger in front of Li Jing, threw it to Li Jing, and turned away.

Lord Wan'an never had any contact with his biological father, Li Jing, and never even addressed him.

Li Yuan sighed, "If we are not from the same family, we will not enter the same door."

Duke Wan'an, Li Yuantong was later granted the title of Duke Wan'an.

"Li Jing later participated in suppressing the rebellion of Yuchi Jiong. After the war, he was awarded the title of Duke of Pingkou County. Li Jing approached Emperor Wen of Sui and wanted to transfer the title of Duke of Pingkou County to Li Yuantong, just to let him recognize his ancestral roots.

But Lord Wan'an was not interested. He said that although I had been trapped in poverty, how could a sparrow understand the ambition of a swan?

He had no desire for Li Jing's title of Duke of a county, and even drew his sword to cut off another finger and return it to Li Jing. Emperor Wen of Sui intervened and reprimanded Li Jing, forbidding him to harass Li Yuantong again. Their friendship was completely severed.

"Wu Yi,

I know you have a grudge against Li Zhi. You just wanted to cut off your finger to repay her, which reminded me of Lord Wan'an.

I don't want to see you cut off a finger,
I also understand your intention.

Li Zhi, did you hear that? If you give birth to a child but don't raise him, you can cut off your finger to repay him. But Li Yi is my Fengyi Palace Supervisor and a meritorious official of the court, so I won't cut off this finger. I will let Li Yi give you a sum of money to repay the kindness of giving birth to you.

How much money do you want?"

Li Zhi didn't expect the emperor to speak up for Li Yi like this.
Standing there speechless.

"If you won't tell me, then I will," Li Yuan said to Li Yi, "You killed a horse last time, so you should compensate me with one and another horse as a repayment for the broken finger.

You must compensate Li Zhi with two fine horses, and we will no longer be friends."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Yi's thanks came from the bottom of his heart. He really felt disgusted with Li Zhi, and even the Tianshui Li family felt disgusted.

Li Yi was very happy that he could now completely get rid of Li Zhi.

But he still made a request.

"Your Majesty has ordered the construction of a family temple for me. May I request that you not offer sacrifices to the Tianshui Li family?"

This request is quite special.

But Li Yi had already severed all ties with Li Zhien, and had also become a member of the Zongzheng clan, so it was indeed different.

Li Yuan thought for a while.
"Mr. Wan'an's second son, Xiao'an, died young and had no children. I think Wuyi can be adopted under Xiao'an's name."

If a child is adopted and becomes an heir, then in the family tree, the biological father is no longer the father.

Li Zhi had nothing to do with Li Yi from now on.

Li Yi's family temple offered sacrifices to the three temples.

This time, the ancestor of the ceremony was Li Chong, the ancestor of Longxi Hall. The Tianshui Li family was a branch of the Longxi Li family, and the Longxi Li family originated from Li Chong, the eldest son of Li Tan, the prime minister of Qin.

Then came Zhao Li Yuantong and Mu Li Xiaoan.

This way he wouldn't have to sacrifice those disgusting Li Jing, Li Zhi and others.

The Longxi Li family has many branches, such as the Fanyang branch, the Dongqiu branch, the Shengong branch, the Danyang branch, the Anyi branch, the Zhenyuan general branch, the Pingliang branch, the Guzang branch, the Dunhuang branch, the Pushe branch, the Jiangjun branch, the Wuling branch, the Wuyang branch, the Tianshui branch, and so on.

The Longxi Li family among the five surnames, seven clans and ten families generally refers specifically to the Guzang, Dunhuang and Pushe branches of Li Bao's descendants, and the Pushe branch of Jiangjun is also included.

The other Li families of Longxi include the royal Li family. Although the current royal Li family and Li Bao are both descendants of Li Hong, the king of Xiliang, the Longxi Li among the Five Surnames and Seven Families specifically refer to several branches of Li Bao's line who later moved eastward and surrendered to the Northern Wei Dynasty. They are descendants of Li Bao's six sons and were also the family where marriage was later banned.

But in this case,
Li Yi was adopted by Li Yuantong's second son Li Xiaoan, so Li Xiaochang became his uncle.

"Li Kaifu, the Marquis of Qianshui owes you two fine horses as compensation. My Yi'an Palace has already paid for them and will give you two more. Tomorrow I will have someone send you four fine horses. From now on, you and us will have nothing to do with each other.

You, the Longxi Tianshui House, and we, the Longxi Chang'an House, should keep our distance from each other!" Li Xiaochang said to Li Zhi, looking down at him with disdain.

In the past, Li Jing's grandparents always suppressed them, but now the Tianshuifang has completely fallen into decline. Instead, these illegitimate children are much stronger now.

(End of this chapter)