Chapter 390: Fengxian Hou enters Zhongshu Province
Zhang Yang followed Li Chengqian and Fang Xuanling all the way to Wude Hall.
"Since Grandpa Huang went to Lishan, my father would often come to Wude Hall to relax." Li Chengqian explained as he walked along, and asked again: "I wonder how Grandpa Huang is doing in Lishan now?"
"He lived a very fulfilling life in Lishan."
"Tian Gu will also go to Lishan Mountain to meet Grandpa Huang in a few days."
Talking along the way, he followed Fang Xuanling to Wude Hall.
Li Shimin was sitting in the palace, eating his meal.
Fang Xuanling walked in front and stepped into the palace and said: "Your Majesty, the negotiations between the Foreign Affairs Council and Lu Dongzan have ended."
Li Shimin nodded slightly, still eating mutton in his mouth.
Fang Xuanling handed over several volumes of documents, "Your Majesty, they have all been recorded in the eucalyptus."
The Tian Khan first wiped his fat hands, then picked up the documents and looked through them, still chewing them in his mouth.
I don’t know if the emperor washes his hands before eating, but his concept of hygiene is as worrying as ever.
"Zhang Yang, did Lu Dongzan agree to these conditions?"
Hearing this and seeing Fang Xuanling's eyes, Zhang Yang stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, regardless of whether Lu Dongtsen and Songtsen Gampo agree or not, this is what Datang wants to fight for."
After flipping through these documents, Li Shimin smiled again, "Five thousand hectares of land, plus 300,000 guan. If you don't give it, we will take away the holy mountain of Tibet, and Songtsen Gampo will come to pay tribute next year..."
After saying this, Li Shimin put down the documents and said, "You really can speak."
"Your Majesty, since Songtsen Gampo is the monarch of Tibet, he must pay the due price for his words and deeds and the reason why he attacked the Tang Dynasty."
Li Shimin asked again: "If these five thousand hectares of land are to be managed, will the court need to send more manpower and officials?"
Zhang Yang nodded, "That's right. We need to send people to educate the Tibetan herdsmen, let them learn Guanzhong dialect, and make them literate and write articles."
"How much money do you think this will cost?"
Zhang Yang frowned and said, "Is Your Majesty negotiating the cost with me?"
Li Shimin nodded and said: "How easy is it to govern a bitter and cold place like Tubo?"
Zhang Yang cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, there are three great lakes in Tubo."
"Three Great Lakes?"
Taking another step forward, Zhang Yang said in confusion: "Zhabu, Sugan, and Xihai are the three largest salt lakes in Tubo, and they are rich in minerals."
"Salt? Salt Lake?" Li Shimin swallowed hard the mutton he was chewing, and then took a sip of tea. "Is it really Salt Lake?"
"That is natural, it is recorded in the classics, and His Royal Highness the King of Wei is asking Cen Wenwen and others to compile geography. I think His Majesty knows all these things."
After another thought, Zhang Yang spoke again: "If your Majesty feels that governance is too troublesome, it is better to leave it to me. Although I don't have many manpower at my disposal, as long as I take my time, I will be able to develop it sooner or later."
Li Shimin cleared his throat vigorously, "Have I said no? I'm just... thinking about manpower arrangements."
Zhang Yang nodded clearly, "That's right, then I'll be relieved. I still advise your majesty to study more and become a literate person. Even such a big salt lake doesn't know how to deal with it. If this happens,
It’s very embarrassing to be laughed at.”
"You mean I haven't studied enough?"
"I urge your Majesty to study more."
"..."
Li Shimin stared and was speechless for a while.
I still have some doubts and puzzles in my heart. Tubo actually has three large salt lakes in these five thousand hectares of land?
If you don't know about this, you have to think of your son's compilation of topography, and later on geography.
Of course, just after hearing these words, who knows what Qingque asked people to compile.
I have never asked about it, and I will not be idle reading the topography about Tubo.
Li Shimin put his hands on the table, "I will arrange for people to manage them. Are these three salt lakes very big?"
Zhang Yang nodded and said: "It's very big. There are salt lakes along the snow-capped mountains for nearly ten thousand miles. Congratulations to Your Majesty that the court will be able to produce its own salt in the future. However, the salt from the salt lake needs to be refined before it can be eaten, and it is all fine salt."
"Of course I understand." Li Shimin still nodded. As the emperor, he now felt that the three hundred thousand guan was not important. If it was true what Zhang Yang said, there would be no shortage of salt in the Tang Dynasty.
Fine salt has always been expensive, so I certainly understand its value.
Although his heart was burning, Li Shimin looked very calm, "Is this the explanation you want to give me?"
"Of course that's not all. The snow-capped mountains to the west of Tubo can also be captured. Once the snow-capped mountains are captured and the Tubo herdsmen are civilized, there will be no more wars in the west of the Central Plains. Congratulations to your majesty, we are one step closer to the great cause of eternal life."
Fang Xuanling and Li Chengqian also bowed and saluted.
What is the concept of North Korea and China being able to obtain fine salt? There is no need to guard against these salt merchants in the future.
Li Shimin looked at his son-in-law again. The way this boy was bargaining with me was very annoying, but the benefits this boy can bring to the court are also huge.
Looking at Fang Xuanling again, Li Shimin said: "How does Mr. Fang think we should prepare for this matter?"
Fang Xuanling bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I think we should send people to Tubo to inspect the three major lakes. If salt can be produced, the salt can be transported to Guanzhong. Zhongshu will discuss with the provincial capital to arrange manpower and send officials to manage it."
Zhang Yang added: "Your Majesty, although these three lakes are a huge wealth, we must seize the three hundred thousand silver."
"I understand."
"Why does Your Majesty nod so perfunctorily?"
"..."
Li Shimin was speechless for a while. Do you want me to hold a banquet to thank him for his contribution to the Tang Dynasty?
Listening to the conversation between his father and Zhang Yang, Li Chengqian held his forehead in pain, and it was like this again. Zhang Yang didn't know what was wrong with him recently, so it was fine to just listen to him say a few words. If he talked too much, he would feel like he would be choked to death.
.
Could it be possible that he also learned this from Mr. Zheng?
Soon, Li Chengqian immediately rejected the idea. Zheng Ping was very kind and comfortable talking to him, unlike Zhang Yang, who hit the nail on the head and made it difficult to refute.
A huge fortune was in front of him, and Li Shimin felt that paying off his son-in-law's money was just around the corner.
Asking the eunuch on the side to remove the food in front of him, Li Shimin stood up and said loudly: "Zhang Yang, do you have any specific arrangements in mind? There are only the prime minister and the prince here, so you don't need to be secretive."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "I understand." After saluting again, Zhang Yang continued: "First, control the Western Regions, and secondly, contain and govern Tubo. If Tubo can also conquer all the people,
If we return home, then we can talk about Tibet's inclusion in the territory of the Tang Dynasty. I think it will be the best time to let Songtsen Gampo come to Chang'an next year."
Seeing Li Shimin nod, Zhang Yang continued: "Your Majesty should eat less meat and wine, as this is not good for your health."
Li Shimin, who just felt in a good mood, was poured cold water on him again.
"Your Majesty should also pay more attention to the establishment of official schools. As for the affairs of Western Turks, please leave it to the Foreign Affairs Council to handle it with full authority."
Li Shimin nodded slowly, "I will ask Xuan Ling to go to your Diplomatic Academy. For your arrangement, the Ministry of Public Affairs can also arrange manpower for you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will take my leave first." Just as he was about to leave, Zhang Yang turned around and warned again: "Your Majesty, eat less greasy food and drink less alcohol. Your Majesty looks bad today, so you should pay more attention to your health."
"I understand."
Li Shimin was extremely annoyed. This guy was becoming more and more like Wei Zheng, and he might even be worse than Wei Zheng in the future.
The achievements made by the Foreign Affairs Academy are no different from opening up new territories.
This was the first time that Li Shimin felt that if the Diplomatic Academy could be used well, it could have military exploits comparable to those of thousands of troops.
After discussing with Fang Xuanling for a long time, Li Shimin returned to the Zhengzheng Hall. He hung up a huge map, which showed the territory of the Tang Dynasty and the territory of Tubo.
Seeing the smile on Li Shimin's face, Empress Changsun smiled and said: "Your Majesty seems to be in a good mood."
"I used to underestimate the Foreign Affairs Academy."
"Is the matter with Tubo completed?"
"Well." Li Shimin drew a circle on the land, enclosing the Western Regions, Tubo and Gaochang. "This boy often encourages me, saying that I must be ambitious. As long as things go well, this large area will be my Tang Dynasty."
territory.”
Empress Changsun put a coat on Li Shimin and said, "I congratulate Your Majesty."
Li Shimin nodded and said: "Recovering the four towns of Anxi during the Han Dynasty and recovering Tubo seems to be not enough for Zhang Yang."
"Zhang Yang is usually a diligent and frugal person. How could someone like him be so ambitious?"
"Ms. Guanyin, does she know that when Zhang Yang erected a monument for his teacher, he has never paid homage to her yet?"
Queen Changsun said doubtfully: "Your Majesty should not speculate on the thoughts of your ministers like this. Since it is a matter of erecting a monument, you cannot think about Zhang Yang's character like this."
"You mean I shouldn't pursue it?"
"It's not that we shouldn't be held accountable, but we can't be held accountable." Empress Changsun said in a low voice: "Those days are not the same as they are now. Zhang Yang has been a country boy since he started his career in Chang'an. I think it doesn't matter who he studied under, the important thing is
What kind of person is Zhang Yang?"
Li Shimin nodded and said, "What you said makes sense."
Empress Changsun bowed slightly and said, "I have made a mistake."
In front of other concubines, His Majesty will not talk about court affairs. Only in front of the Queen can His Majesty talk about trivial matters in the court, and can also say some true words in front of the Queen.
"His origin is not important, nor is who he studied under. What is important is that he has a kind heart and has his own principles and bottom line."
The queen added: "Since your majesty first talked about his concubines, Zhang Yang has not had any concubines since he accompanied Yue'er. I heard from Yue'er that many beautiful women in Chang'an City can't catch his eye. His pickiness is so picky.
People point their fingers."
Li Shimin smiled instead, "Why does he like Zhong Yue'er again?"
Empress Changsun shook her head, "I don't know who I am, so it's not easy to interfere with the affairs between them."
"Right."
There are many talents in Chang'an City, but Zhang Yang is a very self-respecting boy. He has always maintained a poverty-stricken lifestyle, never going to banquet places, let alone making friends.
Thinking about it carefully, Li Shimin felt that Zhang Yang was like an outlier among talents. How could a person's life be so simple and simple?
Doesn't he find his life boring?
Those who didn’t know better thought that Zhang Yang was in Qing Dynasty.
He doesn't respect me enough, doesn't care enough about the court, likes money, and has a tough style. In the past two years, he has learned to admonish me...
To say that this child is good, he still has a lot of problems.
In the eighth year of Zhenguan, in the summer of June, Zhongshu Sheng issued six consecutive decrees to Tubo. Tubo fought with the Tang Dynasty. The Foreign Affairs Academy declared to the world with a complete victory that the Tang Dynasty was not easy to mess with. The Foreign Affairs Academy even more
Not to be trifled with.
For a time, many people from the Western Regions and Turks in Chang'an City also lived their lives with their heads down.
Lu Dongzan led his people back to Tibet. He was not as high-spirited as last year. This time he left very lonely.
Xu Jingzong personally bid farewell to the Prime Minister.
Several more fast horses left Chang'an City and headed towards Longxi.
The Foreign Affairs Council’s contribution is not small. It has opened up new territory and expanded its territory, but the public officials in the DPRK have been silent.
Li Shimin gave Zhang Yang a bag of goldfish, granted him the title of 500 households in Hou Shiyi of Lishan County, and granted him the title of Minister of Public Affairs.
After the edict was recited, there was a discussion in the Tai Chi Hall, but no one stood up to object.
Even if there are people who want to object, they are silent at the moment.
The four ministers of the Foreign Affairs Academy were all awarded a salary of one hundred stones.
Ever since Zhang Yang was a small prose official in the Ministry of Rites, at the age of twenty and three, he had already entered the Zhongshu Province, a goal that many scholars and literati could not achieve in their lives.
And this person's name will also be written in the history books.
It's just that Zhang Yang was not in the Taiji Hall when the decree of reward was read out. He had not gone to court for a long time.
An alley in Chang'an City, in a house.
At this moment, Zhang Yang was sitting at home, eating dumplings made by his wife, and listening to an eunuch reciting the will.
Li Tai stood aside very proudly, as if his brother-in-law had rewarded him and his entire brother-in-law had also received the reward.
"I would like to ask my father-in-law, if I am already the Minister of Rites, and I am given the title of Minister of the Zhongshu, will my salary be doubled?"
"This old slave doesn't know very well. It involves the salary and I have to ask the Prime Minister and the Minister of Civil Affairs, Yang Shidao."
Zhang Yang handed over another basket of salted duck eggs, "Thank you, father-in-law."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! The old eunuch who passed the order smiled and took the salted duck egg, "We are all the ministers of Zhongshu. From now on, we will all call ourselves the county marquis. Don't be so polite."
.”
"It should, it should."
Zhang Yang said goodbye to the eunuch, returned to the courtyard, and continued to eat dumplings from his bowl.
Li Tai saw that there were a few more dumplings in the bowl than he could eat, so he fed them to the little bear, "Brother-in-law, why do you eat dumplings every day these days?"
Zhang Yang looked back at his wife, "Your imperial sister paid for this."
I don’t know what’s wrong with my daughter-in-law recently. She has to eat dumplings every day. Or is it because pregnant women have such strange tastes?
"Congratulations to brother-in-law, you are already a county marquis at a young age."
"Don't congratulate me. I haven't received your father's salary since I came out of the East Palace."
"My brother-in-law's family is so rich, so they don't lack such a little salary." Li Tai leaned closer and whispered: "I don't know recently. My father has added a lot of manpower to the literature museum, and he wants me to compile geography and geography.
Chi."
Li Yue watched her husband finish the dumplings in the bowl and drink the soup, feeling very satisfied.
Ignoring Li Tai's words, Zhang Yang took out two blankets from the room and said, "Give these two blankets to your mother."
Li Tai stroked the blanket, "What a beautiful blanket. What kind of fur is it made of? It's very smooth."
Zhang Yang pointed to the little bear beside him.
Li Tai compared the hair color and found that it really was the hair of a bear.
Little Bear glanced at Li Tai, then turned his head and continued to lean against the wall to bask in the sun.
"I don't know if it's because it's growing too fast or because of the warm weather. My bear has been losing its hair recently. Xiao Wu usually picks up all the fallen hair when taking care of it. Bear hair is rare and it's a pity to lose it.
"
Zhang Yang took a sip of tea and then explained: "Wool is also the same. It can also be used to make blankets and various fabrics."