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

Chapter 191 Bah, you are worthy

Prince Yi'an Li Xiaochang was in his thirties. He wore brocade furs and gorgeous clothes, a large jade pendant around his waist, a emerald green jade ring on his finger, and even the sword he wore was inlaid with gold and jade. He looked like a nouveau riche.

He was very enthusiastic towards Li Yi, as if Li Yi was really his nephew.

"Xiao An and I were best friends when we were children, but unfortunately he died young. Thank you, Saint, for granting Wu Yi the title of heir. Er Lang now has an heir."

Li Xiaoan died when he was in his teens and did not grow up. In such cases, it is not usually necessary to adopt a nephew.

The emperor has issued an edict, and Xiao'an has an heir, which is of course a good thing for Li Xiaochang and their family.

Because Li Yuantong was not recognized by Li Jing, this branch of his family actually had few descendants. Although they were registered as Zongzheng, they were only considered distant descendants five generations older than Li Yuantong. Li Yuantong's second son died young, and his third and fourth sons, Xiaoben and Xiaozhi, were originally Qianniu Beishen, serving as attendants to Emperor Yang Guang.

When news of Li Xiaochang's surrender of the Yongfeng granary to Li Yuan reached Jiangdu, Yang Guang imprisoned the brothers Xiaoben and Xiaozhi, preparing to execute them. Later, Yuwen Zhi and the others plotted a mutiny, partly because many of the sons of the noble officers accompanying the emperor in Jiangdu were in Guanzhong and had either defected to Li Yuan or were likely to do so.

When Yang Xuangan rebelled, many nobles in Luoyang followed him, leading to numerous subsequent incidents and ultimately forcing those people to rebel and kill the king. However, Li Xiaoben and Li Xiaozhi, brothers, later joined Sima Dekan in preparing to rebel against Yu Wenhuaji, but were defeated and killed.

Li Xiaochang took off the precious jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Li Yi. "Consider it a meeting gift!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"You should call me father!" Li Xiaochang tied the jade pendant on Li Yi with a smile.

"Thank you, Father!"

Li Zhi stood by, feeling extremely terrified and upset. He felt uneasy and angry. The wicked boy was clearly his son, but now, without his consent, he was adopted by the saint and given to Li Xiaochang's short-lived brother.
What made him even more angry was that Li Xiaochang was still so enthusiastic towards Li Yi, and Li Yi's constant calling him "father" made him feel even more upset.

When Li Zhi was very young, he knew about Li Yuantong and Li Xiaochang, father and son, and also knew that that family was a taboo in their Tianshui Li family and was not allowed to be mentioned by his grandfather.

It is the shame of their Li family.

My great-grandfather refused to acknowledge the lowly illegitimate son he had with a maid from the Yang family. Later, this lowly illegitimate son became a favored new noble by serving the emperor, and he turned around and disowned Li Jing.

In the previous dynasty,
Li Zhi looked down on Li Xiaochang. During the Daye period, he had already served as the prefect of Longxi and the Marquis of Yuanqiu County, while Li Xiaochang, who was younger than him, was only the magistrate of Huayin County at the end of the Daye period.

but now,
Li Xiaochang was the Prince of Yi'an, but he didn't even have a title.
Even that wicked son is now the Earl of Shallow Water,

The more I think about it, the more upset I feel.

No one paid any attention to Li Zhi in the corner.
Li Xiaochang held Li Yi's hand and was very close to him. He even asked the emperor for a reward for his nephew.

"Sage, I dare to ask for a title from you. Wuyi has made many contributions to the court. He offered elixir to cure the King of Qin, helped to win the victory at Changwu, participated in the expedition to Jingzhou, and offered fried rice to help defeat Xue Ju and his son. He also offered Wude Plow and Auspicious Golden Potato. He is truly a hero of the imperial family..."

I, your humble brother, request a title for Wuyi."

Emperor Li Yuan smiled and asked, "What title does Prince Yi'an want for Wuyi?"

Li Xiaochang smiled and said, "The Duke of Pingkou County or the Marquis of Yuanqiu County are both fine."

Li Zhi, who was standing by, was so angry that her mouth twisted.
His grandfather Li Jing participated in suppressing the rebellion of Yuchi Jiong after the founding of the Sui Dynasty. After the war, he was awarded the title of Duke of Pingkou County. Marquis of Yuanqiu was also Li Jing's title. During the Daye Dynasty, Emperor Yangdi reduced the nine ranks of nobility of Emperor Wen's Dynasty to three ranks: king, duke, and marquis.

Li Jing was granted the title of Marquis of Yuanqiu, and later promoted to Duke of Hua for his merits. Later, the title of Marquis of Yuanqiu was given to Li Zhi.

Li Zhi thought, Li Xiaochang, if you want to ask for a title for that evil creature, why don't you ask for the title of Marquis of Xin'an or Duke of Wan'an? Those were the titles that bitch Li Yuantong had bestowed upon him.

Why do you insist on asking for the title that my grandfather once conferred on you? Are you trying to suppress our Tianshui clan on purpose?
"Wu Yi presented the auspicious golden potato last time, so it's not too much to confer him the title of county duke or county marquis."

Li Yuan was never stingy with rewards. Even though many ministers advised him against excessive rewards, he still did what he wanted. Just yesterday, Li Yuan bestowed upon the palace dancer An Binu the title of fifth-rank Palace Attendant.

Li Gang, the Minister of Rites and the Crown Prince's Secretary, advised that musicians and scholars were not considered equal in history. Even virtuous people like Zi Ye and Shi Xiang were allowed to continue their careers for their entire lives. Only in the late Northern Qi Dynasty did Cao Miaoda become a king and An Maju become a chief minister. Those who had a country should take this as a warning.
Today, the country has just been established, and all the heroes who have made contributions to the cause have not yet been rewarded. There are still many talented and learned people who have not been appointed to positions among the people.

However, he first promoted the dancing Hu people to the fifth-rank official, let him hold an official position and wear a seal, and walk in the temple. This is not an act of setting rules for future generations.

But Li Yuan only replied to Li Gang with one sentence: I have already given it to you, and it cannot be taken back.

Li Yuan was so willful and generous.

When Yang Guang was besieged in Yanmen by the Turkic Shibi Khan's army of 200,000, he had no choice but to issue a reward order. However, afterward, he only rewarded more than 3,000 of the more than 30,000 soldiers.

When Li Yuan gathered his 30,000 troops in Taiyuan, he first gave them all the ranks of the seventh or junior officials.

From the beginning of the rebellion in May last year to now, in just over a year, Li Yuan has bestowed countless official titles. He reduced the eleven ranks of official positions under Emperor Wen of Sui to twelve ranks, which was excessive. He also revived the seventeen ranks of official positions under Emperor Yang Guang and conferred them excessively.

But Li Yuan didn't care.

Just like Li Xiaochang, who was not originally a member of the royal family, but was just a county magistrate. Although he made a great contribution by donating the Yongfeng Granary, he was listed as a minor official and granted the title of a prince.

For royal family members within the five degrees of mourning, they were all granted the title of prince.

Li Yuan asked Li Yi with a smile, "Which one do you want, the Duke of Pingkou County or the Marquis of Yuanqiu County?"

"I have made some minor contributions, and Your Majesty has already rewarded me generously. How dare I accept another title without any merit?" Li Yi replied.

Li Xiaochang said from the side: "Do you dislike those two titles? They were once used by people from that room?"

This was simply a murderous act. Li Zhi was so angry that his face turned pale.

"The two titles of Xin'an and Wan'an that your grandfather once held have now been inherited by your brother Yi Zong Yi Li. You should not despise that they have been used." Li Xiaochang continued to make Li Zhi feel upset.

Li Xiaochang's eldest son, Li Yizong, was older than Li Yi and was granted the title of Duke of Wan'an County. His second son, Li Yili, was granted the title of Marquis of Xin'an County.

Li Yi noticed from the corner of his eye that Emperor Li Yuan was looking at him with a smile.
"If the golden potatoes are harvested next year and can fulfill my promise, with an output of two to three thousand kilograms per mu, Your Majesty will reward you according to your merits."

Li Yuan smiled even brighter at Li Yi's answer. His face was full of wrinkles, making him look like a grandmother.

The emperor was happy.

Li Yi's position was restored and he no longer had to be suspended for reflection.

And Li Xiaochang was also appointed by the emperor.

"Appoint Prince Yi'an Li Xiaochang as the governor and governor of Lizhou."

Lizhou controls important places such as Jianmen and Jiameng. It is the main passage from Yizhou to Hanzhong and Guanzhong. It is also the gateway for the Tang Dynasty to control Shu.

Previously, Li Yuan took advantage of the Chipai Qiang rebellion in Guanzhong and fled to Hanzhong to order Pang Yu to lead his troops to pursue him into Hanzhong. He took the opportunity to announce the decree, appointing Pang Yu to replace the father and son Chen Mao and Chen Zheng who were killed one after another, and to take over as the governor of Liangzhou, stationing troops in the important place of Hanzhong.

Li Xiaogong, a member of the imperial clan, was stationed in Xinzhou to pacify Shannan.

Previously, Dou Jin was sent to serve as the governor of Yizhou, and now Li Xiaochang was selected as the governor of Lizhou. The emperor took steps one by one to gradually strengthen his control over the entire Bashu.

"Wuyi, do you know the origin of the name Lizhou?"

The emperor asked Li Yi with a smile.

Li Yi actually knew this. He had traveled to Guangyuan before, and Wu Yi also returned to Guanzhong from Shulong with Li Laodao.

"Your Majesty, the name Lizhou is said to have originated from the Western Wei general Yuchi Jiong's attack on Yizhou and the conquest of Chengdu in the west. He named it Lizhou to symbolize smooth sailing."

"That's right. Lizhou was renamed from Xiyizhou. Lizhou connects to Liangzhou in Hanzhong on one side and Jianzhou in Shuzhong on the other. It's a strategic location. Prince Yi'an, please guard this place for me."

In the afternoon,

Li Yuan took a walk around Fengyi Palace and then returned to the palace.

After the expansion, the Fengyi Palace today no longer resembles the old house where Li Yuan's three generations of ancestors lived.

Although the palace was well built, Li Yuan could not find any of his childhood memories in it, and he felt a little unhappy.

Li Xiaochang was very happy to be appointed as the governor of Lizhou.

He held Li Yi's hand and said that he was still relying on him for this.

Li Yi resumed his post as director of Fengyi Palace, but he didn't mind it. He even liked the state of having no job.

Li Zhi looked at them hatefully.

He spat fiercely on the ground, turned around and left.

"Wait a moment,"

Li Xiaochang called Li Zhi.

"I just said that I would compensate you with four good horses on behalf of Wuyi. I, Li Xiaochang, keep my word and will compensate you with the horses now."

He waved his hand, and his servants came with four fine horses from Hexi.

Li Zhi's face was uncertain.

"Your Majesty, you are too polite. A few horses are nothing to worry about. No need to give them to me."

Li Xiaochang, however, had a cold expression on his face. "We have our own ways. You, the Tianshui Li family, and we, the royal Li family, have no relationship at all. There's no need to try to get close to us. I'll compensate you with four horses if I say so. I don't want to owe you any favors."
Bah, you guys are worthy!"

Li Xiaochang spat and it landed directly on Li Zhi's shoes.

"Sorry, I've been feeling a bit irritated lately and have a lot of phlegm. Did I spit it on your boots? I'll compensate you with four pairs!"

Li Zhi was so angry that her lungs were about to explode.

But I dare not attack,
Now he is only a fourth-rank official, while Li Xiaochang is a prince and general manager.

Four horses, four pairs of boots.

The most hateful thing was the four pairs of boots that Li Xiaochang had his family soldiers take off from their feet.

Li Zhi gritted his teeth, asked the servants to lead the horse and take the boots, and prepared to turn around and leave.

"Wait a moment,"

Li Xiaochang stopped him and said, "Court Li Kaifu, are you forgetting something?"

"what?"

"You accepted four fine horses and four pairs of boots from me. Shouldn't you have left me a receipt? What if you later deny it and try to cheat?"

"Li won't."

"That's not necessarily true. Your Tianshui Li family is the most scoundrel."

Li Zhi had no choice but to ask someone to bring paper and pen, wrote the receipt in person, and handed it to Li Xiaochang.

"To Wuyi."

When Li Yi took it, he nodded disdainfully.
Li Zhi couldn't stand it anymore.

draw the knife,

Holding the iron sword, he struck with one blow after another.

Four consecutive strikes,

The four newly acquired Hexi horses were all stabbed in the neck.

The horses neighed and whinnied,
Fell to the ground,

Blood was everywhere.
Li Zhi was panting, his eyes were red.

Looking at the palace guards who drew their swords to protect Li Xiaochang and Li Yi, he shook off the blood on his sword.

Li Xiaochang shouted, "Li Zhi, what do you want to do?"

"Is it not a problem for the king if I kill my own horse?"

Li Yi said with a smile: "General Li, it seems that you have never read the court laws. Anyone who steals horses and cattle from the government and kills them will be sentenced to two and a half years in prison... Anyone who kills horses and cattle himself will be sentenced to one year in prison.

These horses and cattle are very useful. Cattle are the basis of farming, and horses are used to carry troops far away. They are precious strategic assets, so you can't kill them at will.

According to the law, if the owner kills his horse or cattle, he will be sentenced to one year in prison. This time you killed four good horses, and they were war horses. Haha,

General Li, please explain this to the Dali Temple."

Li Zhi glared at Li Yi angrily. She didn't expect this evil creature to be like this. What a beast.

Li Xiaochang laughed and said to his guard, "Report it, report it immediately."

(End of this chapter)