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

Chapter 247 Prime Minister
After the palace banquet,

Li Yi couldn't wait to rush home.

The guards at the north gate of Pingkangfang all stepped forward to salute Li Yi, still wearing his gorgeous silk armor, and said, "Congratulations to the Grand Secretary on your triumphant return!"

The Fang Zheng even personally brought several Fang guards to clear the way for Li Yi and escorted him to the door.

"Master, come back home!" Fang Zheng shouted outside the Wutou Gate.

"Alang is back!" The doorman Fu Bo came out upon hearing the voice and happily stepped forward to lead Li Yi's horse.

I've only been away from home for about a month.
The plaque of Qianshui County's Founding Marquis Mansion has been changed to Qianshui County's Founding Duke Mansion.

The Wutou Gate seems to have been raised and widened.

All that was missing was the halberds in the gate, and Li Yi was only one step away from the third rank.

inside the house,

"My Lord, the Lord has returned home and is outside the Wutou Gate."

Shuying ran into the backyard like a gust of wind and told Du Shiniang the good news.

In the inner courtyard living room,
Du Shiniang was entertaining a group of women from Luojiabao. They had also heard the news of their husbands' triumphant return and had come to Chang'an early.
At this moment, the women in Luojiabao were chatting with each other, and it was quite lively.

Shi Niang, holding the silver hand warmer with twin lion patterns, smiled brightly: "Sisters, they are back. Let's go and welcome them."

From a distance, Li Yi saw his wife coming to greet him with her concubines and maids, followed by the wet nurse holding Li Shu, and a group of women from Luojiabao.

Today, Shi Niang is wearing a Western Region red flower-dyed persimmon red jacket and a Sogdian style brocade beaded lapel and cuffed robe, paired with a torn interlaced skirt.
She had a bun twisted to the side of her head with a pair of golden hairpins inserted into it.

"Alang,"

Li Yi hugged Du Shiniang into his arms and kissed her twice without caring about the people around. This made Du Shiniang blush and she felt very shy.

Ji Lingyi and Jin Yusu watched with smiles on their faces.

"Come, let me kiss you twice,"

Li Yi called the two of them over, hugged them on both sides, and kissed each of them twice.

Ji Lingyi's belly was already slightly bulging, and she looked a little plumper.

"Heizi, Dafu, your wives are here, why don't you come over quickly? When you were outside, you kept saying that you believed in your new wife. Now that you are home and meeting her, why are you staying so far away? Just hug her and kiss her." Li Yi said with a smile.

Instead, it made the women of Luojiabao blush. Which couple would be like Li Yi, hugging and biting each other in public? It was so embarrassing.

"Ten new recruits from our Luo Family Fort went with me on the expedition, and I brought them all back today intact. Not only was there nothing missing, but each of them also received a second-level honor."

This time, Liu Heizi, Luo Wu and other new recruits from Luojiabao followed the expedition as soon as they were selected as palace soldiers. They were Li Yi's personal soldiers and basically did not encounter any danger. They successfully obtained the second-level honorary officer. This time, each of them can also get a permanent farm for the honorary officer, in addition to rewards of money and silk.

It can be said that Liu Heizi and his team made the right decision when they decided to recruit palace soldiers a few years ago.

Liu Heizi's wife Cao Yanxiu and others smiled and said that they had to thank Li Yi for helping to recruit the palace soldiers and leading them to the battle and making great contributions.

Li Yi saw Luo Sanniang coming with his second sister-in-law. Dafu was talking to his wife holding hands, while Sanniang was standing aside and looking at him silently.

Shi Niang squeezed Li Yi's hand and said, "Last time, you promised Uncle Luo that you would take San Niang as your concubine. The Luo family has been waiting for news. This time when I come back, I must hurry up and send the betrothal gifts, ask the matchmaker to witness, set up a banquet, and get the matter done."

Li Yi felt that this was the only way it could happen.

"When the time comes, I'll take Shuying as my concubine."

Li Yi invited everyone back to the mansion to drink tea and eat snacks in the living room in the front yard.

Shi Niang had already ordered the slaughter of sheep, and today she was going to prepare a delicious meal to welcome everyone.

On the kang in the living room, Li Yi listened to Liu Heizi and the others bragging to the women about the wonderful battle of Guzhou, when Uncle Fu came over to make a complaint.

As soon as he saw the red gold foil note, Li Yi guessed something.

It turned out to be Shang Yitong Yuwen Shiji who came to visit.

But he is not the only one here today, there is Feng Lun from Bohai.

Seeing the name on another business card, Li Yi thought for a moment and remembered that Feng Lun should be Feng Deyi, the grandson of Feng Longzhi, the Grand Tutor of Northern Qi. He followed Yang Su in his early years. Yang Su admired this man very much and married his niece to him.

This man was extremely intelligent and served as the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat during the Sui Dynasty. After Yang Su's death, he was trusted by another confidant of Yang Guang, Yu Shiji.

After the Jiangdu Rebellion, he was appointed as the Internal History by Yuwen Huaji. Later, he persuaded Yuwen Shiji to return to the Tang Dynasty. But when he arrived in Chang'an, Yuwen Shiji granted him the title of Shang Yitong. However, he was disliked by Li Yuan, who said that he was flattering and disloyal. He was severely reprimanded, dismissed from office and sent back.

"Please invite them to the East Courtyard lobby for tea. I'll be there shortly."

Yuwen Shiji is a good guy. He has never met Feng Deyi. But although this guy is not favored by Li Yuan now, he was soon relied upon by Li Yuan in history. He was promoted to the position of prime minister. Even Li Shimin always trusted him.
It was not until after his death that someone reported that he was playing both sides and was betting on both the Crown Prince and the King of Qin, which made Li Shimin so angry that he revoked his posthumous title.

Yuwen Shiji's gilded business card was stained with ambergris. Although Feng Deyi's business card was not made of pure gold foil, it was made of extremely precious paper and also had gold powder on it.

The word "pay homage" on it made Li Yi laugh secretly.
Those two, especially Feng Deyi, are definitely old hands in the officialdom. They are well versed in the rules of the court and can always get along quite well. He is a very versatile person.

Li Yi even guessed his purpose for visiting him today. Li Yi was now rewarded by the emperor, and the prince also appreciated Li Yi. Even the King of Qin was very good to Li Yi. This was all recognized. Feng Deyi was undoubtedly just like those scholars in the previous dynasties when they took the imperial examination.
He petitioned princes, nobles and high-ranking officials everywhere, hoping to be recommended by them.

It is estimated that Feng Deyi could not get along with Li Yuan, so he wanted to curry favor with the Eastern Palace.

Li Yi first went to the inner courtyard to change his silk armor, and then went to the living room in the east courtyard.

As soon as he entered the door, Yuwen Shiji immediately stood up to greet him, and there was a scholar who was much older than him next to him.

"Congratulations, my dear brother, on your new achievement and your promotion to the rank of County Duke. I've been hearing all these wonderful stories about your life in Guzhou in Chang'an these past few days. You are truly both wise and brave."

Feng Deyi, who was standing beside him, also bowed and smiled, saying, "County Lord Li was escorting a group of new soldiers to transport food and grass. When he encountered a cavalry attack led by a peerless general like Luo Shixin, he was able to remain calm in the face of danger and even persuaded him to surrender with just a few words. This kind of ability is like Zhuge Liang reborn.

What's even more amazing is that he turned around and took Luo Shixin with him, and captured Wang Shichong's three forts and five strongholds in one night. In the end, not only did he remain unmoved under the fierce attack of the Guandong generals such as Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin, but he was also able to sneak into the enemy camp at night and persuade the eight generals to lead their troops to surrender again.
All I can say is, I admire you.”

Li Yi looked at Feng Deyi with a smile. He looked quite elegant and about forty years old, but he estimated that this guy should be at least fifty years old.

The guests and hosts took their seats.

Feng Deyi took out an envelope and handed it to Li Yi. "It's a shame to say that I'm already in my prime, but I've accomplished nothing. Your Majesty has reprimanded me, stripped me of my position, and dismissed me..."

This guy cried poor to Li Yi, saying that he could only sell some land and that living in Chang'an was very difficult.

The one thousand acres of land were all within the two counties of Chang'an and Wannian. Although it was not an entire manor, but rather scattered land of dozens or hundreds of acres, there was no manor or workshop, it was just land for sale, but he only sold one piece of silk for one acre.

One thousand acres of land only cost one thousand pieces of silk.

This is not selling land, this is giving it away.

No matter how turbulent the situation is, the land is not valuable, but this is Guanzhong, the capital, and the suburbs of Chang'an. The land is just scattered, but it is still good.

According to the market price, one acre of land can still be sold for several pieces of silk, and its value will become more and more in the future.

It’s basically free, sold at 90% off.

The old hands know how to get things done.

This is called asking someone to do something for you, not just asking for help by bringing some local specialties. People are very sincere from the start.

His words also hinted that if he could help, he would reward him handsomely afterwards.

"If Lord Feng is currently short of money, I can lend him 1,800 strings of cash," Li Yi said with a smile, pretending not to understand the hidden meaning.

At this time, Yuwen Shiji spoke up and said that Feng Deyi was very talented and capable.

"Brother Deyi still wants to do his bit for the court, but as newly surrendered people like us, we don't have the opportunity for the time being."

Li Yi looked at the two of them.
They all have the ability, but they really have no chance now. He believes that it is not that Li Yuan is unaware of their abilities, but that Li Yuan deliberately leaves them out. Firstly, these two people originally followed Yu Wenzhi, which had a bad influence. Secondly, the emperor may need to observe them more.

Feng Deyi took out a book from his pocket.

It was a secret plan he had written after returning to the capital, with many suggestions to help the emperor pacify the world. "Please take a look at it, sir."

Feng Deyi was also willing to invest. Seeing that Li Yi was not interested in the 1,000 acres of land, he immediately gave Li Yi the secret plan that he had worked so hard to write, and even said frankly that he was willing to give it to Li Yi.

This means that Li Yi can submit these to the emperor as his own suggestions.

Li Yi took a closer look. It was no wonder that Feng Deyi was a man who had always been in the center of the court. This man had always been at the center of the court and had an extraordinary vision.

No wonder after Yang Guang of Jiangdu was murdered, although he temporarily attached himself to Yuwen Huaji, he also saw that this man would not have a good end. After the Battle of Tongshan, although he did not directly surrender to Tang like Xu Jingzong, he immediately persuaded Yuwen Shiji to leave Huaji under the pretext of collecting grain and recruiting soldiers, and ran to Jibei to recruit soldiers.

When Yu Wenhuaji was captured in Liaocheng, he immediately persuaded Shiji to ignore everything and go directly to Chang'an, and asked him to present his sister to the emperor.

This person has always had a sharp eye and is very capable in troubled times.

Many of his suggestions seemed quite far-sighted to Li Yi, a time traveler.

"These secret plans of Feng Gong for pacifying the world are very far-sighted and insightful. If presented to the emperor, he will surely be highly valued and rewarded."

Feng Deyi smiled bitterly: "I have been reprimanded by His Majesty, so how can I have another chance? If the county lord does not mind, then take it. If I can become a guest of the county lord, I will be satisfied."

Li Yi knew that this guy would never really be willing to be his retainer.

The polite words sound really nice.

"Duke Yuwen, Duke Feng, the world is still unsettled and the court is in need of personnel. The King of Qin will soon be stationed at Changchun Palace. He holds several important positions: Minister of the Chancellery, Governor of Yongzhou, Minister of the Grand Secretariat of the Eastern Shaanxi Road, Governor of Puzhou, and Governor of Puzhou. He is also the Right Marquis of Wu.

I heard that the King of Qin is recruiting talented people everywhere. You two are both very talented. Since there is no good place to go in Chang'an now, why don't you follow the King of Qin to Changchun Palace first, do some practical things and make some real achievements. Then the saint will naturally notice it."

Li Yi's words were beyond their expectations.
The two of them came to visit today because they were indeed a little restless. They wanted to catch the prince's eye through Li Yi and enter the Eastern Palace. It was better than being idle every day.

Unexpectedly, Li Yi, the Inspector of the Prince's Left Guard and an official of the Eastern Palace, recommended the two of them to go to the Prince of Qin's Palace.

"With your abilities, if you go to King Qin, you will be at least a fifth-rank official."

Yuwen Shiji was still hesitant, but Feng Deyi had already made up his mind. He once again pushed the deed to the thousand acres of land in front of Li Yi and said, "Thank you, County Master, for your support and recommendation. I am willing to give it a try. I hope you can help me purchase the thousand acres of land so that I can prepare some gifts to visit the King of Qin."

Li Yi accepted it this time. He offered a thousand rolls of silk for a thousand acres of fertile farmland outside the capital. The commission wasn't cheap. Seeing Feng Deyi's quick decision, Yuwen Shiji hesitated for a moment, finally deciding to try his luck with the King of Qin. He also produced the deed to a thousand acres of land. This time, the reason wasn't that he wanted to sell the land for a gift, but rather that the land was scattered and he had just returned to Chang'an, so he didn't have enough people to manage it. So, he sold it to Li Yi.

It is also priced at one thousand pieces of silk.

Li Yi accepted them all with a smile.

He was promoted to Duke of the County and then to the Grand Secretary, and was given an additional 1,500 mu of permanent farmland. After returning to Beijing, the emperor granted him another 1,000 mu, and now he has acquired another 2,000 mu of land.

The land under Li Yi's name has exceeded ten thousand acres.

(End of this chapter)