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

Chapter 30 Du Qu Meets the King of Qin

Chang'an, Taiji Palace,
Li Shimin, who had just returned from the front line in Jingzhou, was receiving the imperial edict of further conferring titles. The emperor appointed him the King of Qin, and appointed him as the Governor of Yongzhou. He also served as the Minister of the Chancellery, the General of the Left, and the Marshal of the Western Expedition.

His elder brother Li Jiancheng was officially canonized as the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, and his fourth brother Yuanji was canonized as the King of Qi, General Zhenbei, Governor of Bingzhou, and in charge of the military affairs of fifteen states.

On this day, the emperor also conferred the title of prince on nine members of the royal family, including Li Baiju, Duke of Huanggua.

After the enthronement ceremony, Li Shimin returned to Chengqian Hall in the West Palace where he lived.

His wife, Changsun, came forward to greet him.
"Erlang, I'm pregnant."

Upon hearing this sudden news, Li Shimin was stunned and stopped in his tracks. It took him a while to finally come to his senses. He said happily, "Why didn't you write to tell me earlier?"

"Your Highness is leading the troops at the front, I dare not distract you."

Li Shimin went forward to touch his wife's belly, but Changsun quickly pushed him away and said, "It's only two months, it's too early for you to show your pregnancy."

"Hahaha, then I want to touch my son too."

"How do you know it's your son?"

"The first one must be a son."

Li Shimin just turned twenty this year, and his wife is only seventeen, but in fact the two have been married for more than four years. Guanyinbi married Li Shimin at the age of thirteen, but they were too young to consummate the marriage so early. After leading his troops into Guanzhong last year, Li Shimin brought his wife to Chang'an to officially consummate the marriage.

"Your Highness, the recorder Fang wants to see you." The eunuch Zhang Ananda came in to report.

Li Shimin sighed, "This Xuanling, he never gives me any free time."

"It seems that Fang Jishi wants to see you for an urgent matter." Zhang Ananda reminded him that this skinny eunuch was the chief steward in Chengqian Palace. His official position was the fifth-rank internal official, but he had the title of founding marquis of Wenjiang County.

He came from a family of officials. His grandfather was a Palace Attendant of the Liang Dynasty. He served the Crown Prince Yang Zhao of the Sui Dynasty and participated in the Yanmen Campaign. As a result, he got to know Li Shimin and later became Li Shimin's confidant. Legend has it that he was also a master of swordsmanship. When he followed Li Shimin from Hedong to Guanzhong, he even put on armor and rode a horse to fight with Li Shimin in the battle, and was praised by Li Shimin as the bravest of the three armies.

"Well, please ask him to come."

Fang Xuanling looked worried. "Your Highness, are you aware that the Eastern Palace has suggested to Your Majesty that officials from the Prince of Qin's Palace be transferred to other locations?"

"I just came back and didn't know about this." Li Shimin frowned when he heard this.

"The imperial court has issued an edict, and many people have been relocated to other places," said Fang Xuanling.

Li Shimin couldn't help but get anxious. "I'm on the front lines leading the troops in battle. How could the prince stab me in the back?"

"Your Highness, although many of the staff in the palace have left, there is no need to worry. There is only one person who must not leave."

"You mean Keming?"

"Indeed, Du Ruhui is intelligent and insightful. He has the talent to assist the king. If the king is to govern a certain region, he will not be of much use. But if he is to govern the four regions in the future, Du Ruhui must be the one."

"What position has Ke Ming been transferred to?"

"He was transferred to be the Chief Secretary of the General Administration Office of Shanzhou. The General Administration of Shanzhou is Li Xiaoji, who was conferred the title of Prince of Yong'an today." Fang Xuanling said that although Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin were brothers from the same mother, the Crown Prince had obviously begun to guard against this brother who had made many meritorious deeds.

Moving the Qin Wangfu's staff to other places would weaken Li Shimin's power.

The Shanzhou General Administration Office was newly established, and its first general was Emperor Li Yuan's cousin Li Xiaoji. Du Ruhui was appointed as the Chief Secretary, a recognition of his ability, and a promotion from the fifth rank. Du Ruhui had originally been only an eighth rank military officer in the Duke of Zhao's office, but was now promoted to the fifth rank.

Li Yuan also wanted Du Ruhui to assist his cousin Li Xiaoji in managing the Shaanxi and Guo areas outside Tongguan.

"If you hadn't reminded me, I would have lost Du Ruhui. You and Ruhui are my left and right arms, and neither of you can be lost. Draft a petition for me right now. I must keep Ruhui."

Fang Xuanling reminded Li Shimin that Du Ruhui's transfer order had been issued, and he was being promoted from the eighth rank to the fifth rank. If Du Ruhui was to be kept, this must be taken into consideration and Du Ruhui's official position must be raised.

Otherwise, it would become a barrier to people's promotion.

It was just that Li Shimin had just been promoted to King of Qin, but his chief secretary and Sima had already been appointed as his staff. Chief Secretary Quan Hongshou and Sima Dou Lu Kuan were both arranged by Li Yuan to work in Li Shimin's court after he started the rebellion in Taiyuan.

The emperor even arranged for key Qin officials. The military advisors were Dou Lun and Xiao Jing. Dou Lun was a member of the empress's family, and Xiao Jing was Xiao Yu's brother. The Qin Prince's friend was Yu Zhining, a prominent member of the Guanlong aristocracy. After Li Yuan entered Tongguan, Yu Zhining led the charge to greet him. The literary officials Yao Silian and Yan Shigu, as well as the East and West Pavilions' chief academicians Wang Da and Quan Wanchun, all defected to Li Yuan shortly after the uprising and were subsequently assigned to his court.

These people occupied important positions in the shogunate. Each of them had a very important background and could not be easily moved.

"I suggest that Your Highness retain Du Ruhui and appoint him to the Qin Prince's Palace and concurrently serve as a military officer."

Shu is of the upper sixth rank, and Heyuan is the official position second only to Changshi and Sima in the royal palace staff. These two positions cooperate with each other, assist Changshi and Sima in their work, and are responsible for the execution and management of specific affairs of the royal palace.

Fang Xuanling is currently serving as a Jishi Canjun, Li Shimin's confidential secretary, with a rank of sixth grade. The Canjuns in the royal palace are of the seventh rank.

Although the Qin Wangfu's staff were of the sixth rank, which was lower than the fifth rank of the Chief Clerk of the Shaanxi Prefecture General Administration Office, one assisted Qin Wang Li Shimin and the other assisted Yong'an Wang Li Xiaoji, so they were definitely different.

"If Your Majesty wants to transfer other people, I can let them go, but I must ask Your Majesty to keep Du Ruhui."

After some discussion, Li Shimin immediately went to Taiji Hall to ask to see his father and told him in person that he wanted to keep Du Ruhui. Li Yuan pulled his son to sit on the emperor's couch and finally agreed to his request.

When Li Shimin emerged from the Taiji Palace, Fang Xuanling hurriedly inquired about the outcome. "Your Majesty has agreed to allow Du Ruhui to remain in the Qin Palace as a military officer, but he has also not dismissed him from his position as Chief Clerk of the Shaanxi Prefecture General Administration Office."

"Your Highness, why don't you go to Duqu in the south of the city and have a chat with Ruhui in person?"

"it is good."

Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling rode on horseback towards Duqu.

At the foot of Shaolingyuan, beside the Weishui River.

Fengxiang Marquis Mansion,

Du Ruhui, who was appointed as the Chief Clerk of the Shaanxi Prefecture General Administration, returned to Du Qu's home and made preparations to take office.

The Fengxiang Marquis Mansion is very large, with a layout of two inner and outer corridor courtyards and a side courtyard. The outer courtyard is long and narrow, while the inner courtyard is wide and square. In the middle of the inner courtyard are two central halls connected by a corridor, forming an I-shaped hall. There are houses surrounding it on all four sides, all connected by corridors. In addition, there is a cross courtyard on the east and west sides, and a large back garden.

Du Ruhui's family lived in the west wing, which was also composed of three courtyards, inner and outer courtyards, with more than 30 rooms and a back garden.

Mrs. Guo, wife of Marquis Fengxiang, and Du Yan lived in the middle courtyard, while the third legitimate son Du Rui lived in the west wing.

The East Wing was originally allocated to Du Ruhui's father, Du Zha. After Du Zha's death, the three Du Ruhui brothers now live together. In name, the three Du Ruhui brothers, Madam Guo, and their uncles Du Yan and Du Rui still live together in common, but in reality, they had already separated themselves from the family.

Even the door leading to the central courtyard from the east wing has been locked for many years.

Guo has always disliked the Du Zha family left by her husband's ex-wife. Du Ruhui and his brothers have suffered from them since childhood and are unwilling to get close to them.

Normally, the two sides do not interfere with each other.

But today, Du Sanlang Du Cheng from the Central Courtyard came to the East Courtyard with his son-in-law Guo Erlang, and followed by Du Shiniang, the beloved granddaughter of Mrs. Guo from the Central Courtyard.
Du Ruhui was a little surprised, and what was even more surprising was that Du Sanlang and Du Shiniang brought an outsider to pay a visit.

"This is Li Dalang, the Li Yi from Luojiabao in Yushuchuan. He got the stewing cup from Li Dalang last time. He has always wanted to meet Dalang."

Du Ruhui looked at the young man they brought with them. He was young and tall. He stood there as straight as a poplar, with a smile on his face. His eyes were neither humble nor arrogant, without any of the awe that the common people had for the aristocratic families.

"Brother, Li Lang is here to give you an invitation. Mr. Dong from Fengjiabao in Shenheyuan wants to accept Li Lang as his student, so he specially asked him to send the invitation and invite you to witness it." Seeing her cousin sitting there without saying anything, Du Shiniang quickly spoke up.

Du Ruhui glanced at Shi Niang sideways. He was surprised that Shi Niang would speak up for this young man.

"Mr. Dong and I are friends regardless of age. I respect his talent and moral character. I didn't expect that he would accept students." Du Ruhui had previously accepted a stewing cup given to him by Guo Erlang, a very special gift. He gave it to the second prince and did not care much about the cup's original owner, Li Yi.

But now, Du Ruhui was quite curious about Li Yi, who could make Du San and Shi Niang speak for him like this, and even be accepted as a disciple by Dong Xiucai.

Dong Xiucai was known as Mr. Leng. He was well-educated but had a bad temper. He would never flatter even the powerful and wealthy. So why would he accept a young Taoist priest who had just returned to secular life as his student?

Du Shiniang said, "Li Lang plans to open a private school and teach children from the village for free. Not only will he not charge them tuition, but he will also provide them with lunch and paper and pens."

Du Ruhui was surprised again.
Is this man really just a Taoist priest who has just returned to secular life, a small village chief in the countryside?

Du Ruhui has been in contact with Dong Xiucai for many years. Since Dong Xiucai wants to accept this person as his student and even sends out such a grand invitation to invite friends to witness it, it means that this young man must be extraordinary.

"Tomorrow you will have the apprenticeship ceremony at the private school in Fengjiabao on Shenheyuan, right? Okay, I will definitely go." Du Ruhui accepted the invitation.

"Thank you, Dulang, for your honor."

Du Shiniang smiled and took out a framed calligraphy piece. "Brother, I know you like calligraphy. This Thousand Characters Essay with Thin Bones will definitely please you."

When this calligraphy was unfolded in front of Du Ruhui, Du Ruhui, who loved calligraphy, was immediately attracted by it.

"The sky and the earth are dark yellow, the universe is vast and boundless," it is the familiar Thousand Character Classic, but it is in a completely unfamiliar font. There are ten characters in each line, a total of one hundred lines, with a reasonable layout and smooth strokes.

After looking at it for a long time, Du Ruhui couldn't help but admire it, "The brushwork is soaring, with the feeling of soaring into the sky. The left stroke is like a dagger, the right stroke is like a knife, the vertical hook is slender and restrained, the connected strokes are flying and crisp, the brushwork is thin and vigorous, upright, and beautiful."

Du Shiniang said proudly, "Brother, this Thousand Character Essay is quite good, isn't it?"

"Who created this new font?"

"It is far away in the horizon, yet it is right before my eyes. To be honest, this Thousand Character Essay was written by the man in front of you, Li Lang. Today I would like to offer you this Thousand Character Essay by Li Lang." Du Shiniang recently asked Li Yi for a lot of his calligraphy works, and had them all framed by famous artists. Of course, it would be rude not to reciprocate, so she also gave Li Yi a lot of her own paintings.

Du Ruhui was shocked again. He could hardly believe that this calligraphy style that could establish a new school in the calligraphy world was actually created by this young man.

Li Yi said modestly, "The thin tendon font was actually created by my master, Master Li, after learning from many masters. I only learned this font under his guidance, and I only got a basic understanding of his skills."

When Du Ruhui heard that Master Li Yi had passed away unexpectedly not long ago, he lamented: "God is jealous of talented people. The world of calligraphy has lost a master."

A hearty voice came from outside the door, "Who is it that makes Ke Ming so respected?"

"Why is His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin here?" Du Ruhui quickly stood up to greet him when he heard the familiar voice.

When Li Yi heard him call His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin, he immediately turned his head and looked. His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin, wasn't that Li Shimin? He hadn't expected to meet Er Feng here.

(End of this chapter)