In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

He had been gone for over a year, and the officials originally selected from humble backgrounds had long since disappeared, having been transferred and scattered by Changsun Wuji's Guanlong Group.

The rest were all officials from powerful and influential families.

Being unfamiliar means needing to adapt to taking over.

Differences in stance also mean an inability to connect openly and inefficiency.

Li Yuanchang was inevitably unhappy with Li Shimin because of this.

Li Shimin actually knew everything, but he still tacitly approved of Changsun Wuji's actions and his targeting of him.

Despite his displeasure, Li Yuanchang was no longer the same person who had just transmigrated and, in a moment of impulsiveness, had beaten the prince consort half to death.

Looking back now, he was too impulsive and too young at that time.

Many things are not about right or wrong, but about perspective and viewpoint.

From Li Shimin's perspective, he wasn't wrong to do this. He was simply trying to maintain a balance and take care of the Li Tang royal family's base.

It also reflects the support of the entire political party behind Li Zhi, the successor.

As an emperor and as a father, he did nothing wrong.

Li Yuanchang simply sided with the other side because of his political views and personality.

As long as Li Shimin doesn't go too far, and as long as people like Changsun Wuji don't cross his bottom line, he can accept it; after all, that's politics.

Politics is never just about friends and enemies, nor is it simply about friendliness and hostility; it's a complex and multifaceted system of things.

Take Li Shimin for example; he suspected Li Yuanchang, yet he still wanted to give him an important position.

Take Changsun Wuji for example. He had an insatiable thirst for power and always put Changsun above all others, yet he was still the most outstanding minister during the Zhenguan era.

Including Li Yuanchang, who was in this imperial court, his relationship with Li Shimin was both close and distant, but they were still ruler and subject, and brothers.

and so!

Li Yuanchang could only do his best within the limited resources available to him.

His first step was to contact Li Wei, the Minister of Revenue, to conduct a survey of the country's silk and other precious materials.

With the support of the Southern Song and Northern Qin dynasties, as well as the resources raised from various regions, there was certainly no shortage of supplies. As long as they were allocated reasonably, the national treasury could certainly maintain its operation without increasing the burden on the people.

The second step he took was to initiate the transfer of grain from prefectures and counties, and to undertake the task of "flying to transport grain," which meant conscripting laborers from various places to transport grain.

This method has been used throughout history, but it often leads to a fatal tragedy: nine out of ten houses are empty.

With the fighting on the front lines, hundreds of thousands of laborers were forced to work behind the scenes. The people suffered greatly, and the labor force was lost on a large scale, leaving the land barren.

Emperor Wu of Han is criticized by later generations largely because of his aggressive military campaigns.

The Han Dynasty was incredibly powerful in its battles, but the common people suffered terribly.

History books only record the grandeur, but no one mentions how miserable the common people were.

Therefore, Li Yuanchang issued the strictest ban this time, prohibiting the conscription of only sons from families, and each laborer would be strictly paid wages to settle down.

These two steps are nothing special.

Whether it works or not depends on whether it can be done well.

He couldn't make up his mind on his own; he had to get Li Zhi, the Crown Prince who was in charge of the country, to agree.

Therefore, for several days in a row, he frequently went to the Eastern Palace to pay his respects.

In order to accomplish the task of logistical coordination, Li Zhi provided considerable support to Li Yuanchang.

Not only did he issue an edict approving both methods, but he also frequently invited Li Yuanchang to dine at the Eastern Palace.

Gradually, after returning to Chang'an, everything got back on track.

Li Yuanchang's daily routine consisted of three places: the Eastern Palace, the Ministry of War, and the Prince of Han's residence. Occasionally, if he had time, he would visit Su Qing.

March 1st has arrived.

As usual, Li Yuanchang reported and discussed some daily matters with Li Zhi, and was walking up the steps towards the outside of the East Palace.

A guard suddenly blocked the way.

"Your Highness."

"The Crown Princess would like to invite you to the garden for a chat, saying that she has something she would like you to pass on to the Princess Consort of Han."

Li Yuanchang raised an eyebrow. Was there something to be given to the Princess Consort of Han?

This sounds like a ruse. If it were truly a matter between noblewomen, they could simply send someone to deliver a gift; there's no need for Li Yuanchang to pass it on.

But since the other party had invited him, he couldn't very well refuse outright.

He nodded and followed the guard.

In a garden filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, almost a miniature version of the Imperial Garden, the arrival of early spring brings forth flower buds and tender shoots, with grass growing and birds flying, creating a breathtaking scene, just like a giant oil painting.

The most eye-catching figure in the oil painting is Crown Princess Wang, who later became Empress Wang.

Her elegant and luxurious palace attire, with its high-waisted skirt reaching her armpits, exuded royal dignity. It was completely different from the low-cut dresses seen in later films and television dramas, which were purely for attracting attention.

At least during the Zhenguan era, things were very conservative, and it was absolutely impossible to expose one's breasts!

"Your subject greets the Crown Princess."

Lady Wang smiled and said, "Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities."

"The Crown Prince instructed that, in the absence of outsiders, members of the royal family should be treated according to their seniority and addressed accordingly."

"I greet Seventh Uncle."

Li Yuanchang was reminded of Su Qing's refined manners; the saying "anything produced by the royal family is bound to be of the highest quality" was gaining increasing weight.

"Your Highness is benevolent and filial; I admire him greatly."

As he spoke, he glanced around. Since his arrival, almost everyone else had left, leaving only his personal maid.

This scene looks a bit contrived.

"The Crown Prince often speaks highly of Your Highness's loyalty and filial piety."

"Seventh Uncle, why don't you sit down and have a cup of tea?" Madam Wang invited.

The two had met many times, but this was their first time speaking at close range. Li Yuanchang maintained his distance, saying, "Thank you, Crown Princess."

The Crown Princess Wang personally poured tea, which made Li Yuanchang feel flattered.

Although the two had no personal grudges and her relationship with Li Zhi was acceptable, he and the Wang family were irreconcilable enemies. Even though she was now the Crown Princess, her position and status were different.

Such enthusiasm is unusual!

"If the Crown Princess has anything to say, she can speak directly. It is too much of a burden for this humble subject to do so," Li Yuanchang said, getting straight to the point.

"It seems nothing can be hidden from Seventh Uncle." Madam Wang didn't beat around the bush anymore, and with a smile, she first served tea to Li Yuanchang.

In social interactions, this is called "offering tea first," which is a kind of overtly calculated benefit.

She, a crown princess, personally served tea; if she asks for a favor later and you refuse, it would seem disrespectful.

Li Yuanchang could roughly guess that the other party must have something to say.

But he is certainly different from Su Qing back then. The current Li Zhi has almost no natural enemies, and plenty of people carry his sedan chair.

Wang looked at him with her beautiful eyes and said, "Seventh Uncle, to be honest, I do have a small favor to ask of you."

"Recently, Seventh Uncle has been stationed at the Ministry of War, in charge of logistics and dispatch. This involves warhorses. All eight workshops and forty-eight supervisory offices of the Tang Dynasty have received orders from the Ministry of War to allocate warhorses for transportation along the logistics route and for army reserves."

Li Yuanchang raised an eyebrow.

He only issued that order a few days ago.

"Your Highness, it is indeed true," he said calmly.

Madam Wang frowned and said, "Seventh Uncle, it's like this."