At the end of March in the fourth year of Yuanzhen of the Tang Dynasty, the great dynasty held a meeting.
This is a date that should be highlighted at the beginning of the founding of the Tang Dynasty.
At the court meeting, Zhongshu Ling, the founding Duke Xiao Yu and others were ordered to draw up the Tang Code. On this day, the imperial edict was announced to everyone.
Strictly speaking, this is the first comprehensive code of law in the Central Plains Dynasty since ancient times. It only took less than two years to complete the initial draft.
It is indeed rushed in terms of time, but it can also be said that it came into being at the right time.
From the end of the Han Dynasty to the former Sui Dynasty, various legal provisions emerged one after another, and the changes were indescribable. This was one of the iconic features of the troubled times. It was changed in the former Sui Dynasty.
The right to interpret the law gradually vested in the central government.
It was only during the Daye period that chaos broke out again, and later it evolved into a situation where the princes were separatist.
After Li Po became king in Jin, he began to ask his ministers to revise the laws of the former Sui Dynasty. When he entered Chang'an, he once again ordered Xiao Yu and others to draw up Tang laws.
It can be said that with his efforts, Tang Dian was born in a short period of time.
On this day, in the main hall of the Taiji Hall, amid the yin and yang of the eunuch nearby, the newly completed Tang Code was displayed in front of the courtiers.
After reciting for more than two hours, the eunuchs who chanted the chant changed to five people, but the courtiers listened attentively, and no one dared to look away.
Everyone can actually realize that this is a historic moment.
No one will think that the provisions in the Tang Code are irrelevant to them, so they don't need to listen carefully, because for many people, this is the first time they have come into contact with the complete picture of the Tang Code, and it may also be the last time.
After the Tang Code is drawn up, it will be hidden in the Guanwen Palace, and only a handful of people will be able to access the entire text. Most of the courtiers will only be able to see the transcripts of their own government affairs.
Every article recited here may not matter, but it may represent the direction of the future government. If someone's political views are contrary to the inclination of Tang Dian in the future, it will be a departure from national policy, and the outcome can be imagined.
This time the imperial meeting lasted for a whole day. In addition to Tang Dian, there were also prospects for military and political affairs throughout the year. Restoring people's livelihood was the top priority.
In the evening of that day, the king and his ministers dispersed in hunger.
It is estimated that there will be another visit at the beginning of April, and by then some practical announcements will be made.
For example, if spring plowing is approaching and the Tang Code is completed, then land division, taxation and other matters will be stepped up. If local officials can do their jobs effectively, they can be implemented before and after spring plowing.
After all, Hubu and Sinong Temple have been making preparations for this matter since last year, waiting for the moment when Tang Dian is completed.
Moreover, at a time like the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, there was no need to doubt the efficiency of the government. Officials were much more diligent than those in peacetime, and everyone's yearning for better days would dominate their behavior to a large extent.
For example, the matter of the big festival will also be brought up in the court meeting. Spring is about to pass, and the whole year begins with spring. Spring festivals often have the meaning of praying to God for good weather, and you are still praying after spring plowing.
The other one is the imperial examination. As a talent selection system written into the Tang Dynasty, it will completely replace the imperial examination system in the future.
Of course, this cannot be absolute. The inspection and examination system will exist for a long time, but the mainstream trend is about to change, and Datang will have to make great efforts to achieve this.
In addition, there are also reform measures such as the Zhechong Mansion. They have been tried out for a while and seem to be very suitable for places that have just experienced war. Especially in terms of re-gathering the government soldiers, it is much easier than in the former Sui Dynasty.
And a very important point is that it helps centralize power in the center, which can make up for some shortcomings of the former Sui army system to a certain extent.
In addition to implementing the Zhechongfu system, the Ministry of War also had to organize the military system in accordance with the Tang Code.
All signs indicate that the fourth year of Yuanzhen of the Tang Dynasty was another busy year...
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Although the emperors and ministers of the Tang Dynasty were gearing up for a big fight, everything was not peaceful.
In spring, everything revives, and many animals that had spent the winter hiding in corners emerge again. In March alone, dozens of rebellions, large and small, occurred everywhere.
Hebei, Shandong, and Henan are still the hardest-hit areas, and the impact of the war in the late Sui Dynasty on people has not been eliminated.
Those who put down their hoes and picked up their knives and guns back then were probably forced by current events and had no choice but to do so, but today, it is difficult to get them to put down their knives and guns and pick up their hoes again.
Accustomed to living a life of today and no tomorrow, and taking whatever they like, many people can no longer adapt to the life of working in the fields.
The people's peace of mind is real, but some people still want to rely on "their own efforts" to live a prosperous life surrounded by people, wearing bright clothes and angry horses. The calls of princes and generals to live in harmony have repeatedly sounded across the land of the Central Plains.
The scale of the rebellion was not large, and most of them were from Dou Jiande's old troops. Almost all the Tang troops came upon hearing the news, and the rebellion was put down without much impact.
The south is very peaceful in comparison, and the difference between southerners and northerners is very concrete at this time.
When news of the counter-rebellion reached the capital, they were all good reports of merit by the generals. Most of them would not even go to the emperor's desk and were only kept in the Ministry of War.
Datang's footsteps staggered slightly, but it still moved forward firmly, with no signs of collapse. In fact, over the past few years, it has gradually shown the image of a unified nation.
It just takes some time to get recognition from people everywhere.
The overall situation is still improving.
The fact that both the Eastern and Western Turks sent envoys to make good relations with the Tang Dynasty is proof...
However, the surrounding situation is still unstable.
At the beginning of April, the report of Yu Wenxin, the general manager of Youzhou, reached the capital. The Turkic Eastern Khan Ashina Duo heard that he had sent troops to camp in the state, seemingly to block the Tang army's way north. In fact, everyone knew that he still coveted Liaodong City.
No one knows whether he will lead his army to attack Liaodong City this year. Judging from the signs that he has increased his troops in Yingzhou, it is very possible.
Beyond that, the northeastern tribes such as the Khitan and the Xi tribe are gradually becoming more active. Enemies are frequently seen outside the Great Wall. They must have been instructed by the Dongfang Khan Tent and will continue to test Youzhou's defense.
Tens of thousands of Tang troops were stationed in Youzhou, and behind them there were Buqun, Yuchi Kai, Li Nian and others as backup. They led troops who had experienced hundreds of battles, and a few temptations were not a threat to the Tang troops.
Yu Wenxin wanted to send someone to see Ashina Duowen, but his opinion was still the same as before. The Tang army could not be stationed in Hebei all year round. It needed to fight the Turks to let the Turks know how powerful they were.
Completely stabilize the situation in the northeastern frontier.
At the same time, it can also intimidate the Northeastern savage tribes such as the Xi tribe and the Khitan tribes.
Li Po thought about it again and again. Although he was moved, he finally decided to wait until after the alliance.
A local war would be beneficial to the Tang Dynasty, but it could not evolve into a full-scale war with the Turks, which would be of no benefit to everyone.
So is it possible to gain the understanding of the Turkic Khan Ashina Yanghuan in the alliance? Just like the fatal blow to Ashina Ellivo...
The Tang Dynasty and the Turks are good neighbors. Pruning each other's branches and leaves should get the approval of the tolerant and flexible Turkic Khan, right?
It seems that more envoys will be sent to the Turks this year. In addition to trying their best to influence the Turkic nobles, they also need to understand the situation in the Turkic country and see the evaluation of the two khans in the East and West in the Turkic royal court.
The situation is actually similar to the situation in the Central Plains. When everyone speaks well of a person, that person is about to be unlucky.
In addition, Yu Wenxin wanted to send someone to talk to Ashina Duowen, but Li Po immediately rejected it. What would happen if the border guard sent an envoy outside? This precedent cannot be set.
This incident reminded Li Po of Ashina Luoheng, the great Turkic leader in Dali City. That man once sent someone to Jinyang to talk to him, and his disobedience was clearly revealed.
In the end, he listened to Yang Gongren's suggestion and ignored him. Now it seems that it was obviously a wise move. It was very suitable to use Dingxiang County as a buffer zone between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks.
He first made a mental note to Yu Wenxin. This guy had made a lot of contributions, but he was never very honest. He was always very cunning and could pull off some tricks every once in a while.
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Ashina Duowen in the northeast is making small moves, but in the land of Lingnan, Li Daozong has already begun his journey of conquest.
At the end of March, he used Kan Ling as his deputy general to attack Linyi on the grounds that Fan Fanzhi, the leader of Linyi, had instigated the rebellion of the officials of Rinan and Jiuzhen counties, and then took in the rebel officials of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Daozong sent his general Qiu Ju to lead 1,500 troops out of Yuetang. He and Kan Ling led their troops to sail along the coast and landed in Linyi at Bijing.
In early April, Li Daozong led his army to defeat the Linyi defenders and successfully landed.
Soon after, they reunited with Qiu Ju and crossed the river to defeat the Linyi defenders again.
Lin Yi was defeated one after another, and finally used his best tactics. He also saw the fighter plane and wanted to destroy the Tang army south of the Chali River.
So Fan Fanzhi, the leader of the Linyi Kingdom, personally led more than 10,000 people, with elephant soldiers as the forerunner, and took the initiative to attack the Tang army for the first time.
The Tang army was well prepared and had many bows and crossbows. When they saw the elephant soldiers rumbling in, the Tang army immediately divided into several groups and made a withdrawal gesture while firing at the elephant soldiers.
The elephant soldiers who were driving the elephants were shot to death one after another, and the elephants were also scurrying around in pain. The soldiers of both families were dumbfounded. The Tang army turned around and ran away, and Lin Yi's army was also timid under the raging elephants.
They broke apart and fled away one after another.
This battle has left everyone in disgrace and with lingering fears.
Not to mention what was going on over there in Lin Yi, Li Daozong and Kan Ling were both frightened. It was the first time they saw such a huge creature. They went crazy and couldn't stop it. The soldiers of the Tang Dynasty who were running slower were immediately attacked by the crazy beast.
The elephant was either trampled to a pulp, or its muscles and bones were shattered and killed by the impact.
I really saw a ghost.
Of course, this could not stop the Tang army from advancing. Fan Fanzhi gathered his soldiers and fought another battle with the Tang army. There is nothing to say about this.