Chapter 904: Prince Wei
This is the case with empires that are vast in territory and populous in number.
The Western Expedition to the State of Yan seemed to be a major event that the whole country should pay attention to, but in fact it was not. For the State of Yan, this was a matter of life and death, but for the Tang Dynasty, it was just an expedition that could be afforded to lose. Only the Ministry of War and the Privy Council had been paying attention to this matter.
The memorial from Anxi entered the center of the empire, passed through the Lifanyuan, and reached Li Shimin. After reading the memorial in his hand, Li Shimin was very angry. The prime ministers in the Taiji Hall could feel Li Shimin's emotions, but in the end Li Shimin suppressed all his emotions and said: "The customs of the Western Regions have been long-standing. They have not been returned to the Tang Dynasty for a long time, and they are still unable to change their customs. I should understand that I will pass the imperial edict to the Anxi Grand Protectorate and ask the Prince of Hejian to send an envoy to represent me to Shenlin City to celebrate the opening of the Wuzhe Conference."
Seeing that Li Shimin did not get carried away and launch an expedition that would produce no results, the prime ministers sitting down all breathed a sigh of relief.
Everyone present is very busy and has almost endless things to do. If Li Shimin lacks any prime minister, the court affairs will pile up.
…
There was a very special one among the prime ministers, that was the Minister of Personnel and Vice-Chancellor Luo Xuanchen. He did not attend almost half of the hundreds of meetings held in the Council of State during the eight or nine years of Zhenguan.
Because he is often not in Chang'an.
He is the Minister of Personnel, responsible for selecting officials for the court, and is known as the Heavenly Official. Although his ranking in the Council of State is low, his power is enormous. If it were just the Minister of Personnel in the past one or two hundred years, the scope of his power could still be roughly understood, but now there have been tremendous changes.
That is the large-scale implementation of the imperial examination system. How to advance this policy is a very serious issue. It determines the level and quality of officials in the Tang Dynasty in the next few decades or even a hundred years. It is truly a century-long plan.
Especially after Luo Su proposed to give the Hu people separate list and subject examinations, Luo Xuanchen thought of doing the same within the Tang Dynasty. Because within the Tang Dynasty, the education level was very uneven. Some counties, such as those in Hexi and Lingnan, might not produce a Jinshi in a hundred years.
Luo Xuanchen summoned many people in several key states in the Tang Dynasty to investigate the acceptance of this policy and how to more appropriately implement a complete imperial examination system in local areas. Therefore, he did not stay in Chang'an for half of the time. But after a long period of investigation, Luo Xuanchen gave up this idea.
Because the resistance was too great, several regions with very strong traditional aristocrats and the highest education levels, in other words, the regions with the most court officials, all opposed this policy, and their reasons were very just, "Selecting talents for the country and promoting them based on their talents, is the court discriminating against our origins?"
After the policy of selecting officials based on state boundaries failed, the implementation of the imperial examination system in various places can be said to be relatively smooth.
A very counterintuitive point is that the imperial examination system was not actually that big of a threat to the gentry.
Because studying is an expensive thing, the gentry in various places can hardly see any disadvantages.
Because of the previous economic form, it was the best solution for the gentry to serve as officials locally. However, with the development of the country focusing more on internal affairs and less on external affairs, the central government's power became increasingly stronger, and scholars from all over the world were trying their best to go to the central government. There was even a saying that officials from other states were automatically one level lower than officials in Beijing.
The Jinshi examination required selection by the county, state, and Ministry of Personnel, and candidates had to be excellent in appearance, talent, and moral character. This was obviously the selection of important officials.
In the past, if the gentry wanted to become officials, they had to go through complicated exchanges of interests. It was not easy to get recommendations. Many talented scholars had to serve as staff members for princes or relatives before they could become officials.
But now?
As long as you sign up for the imperial examination, you can become a Jinshi, a Jinshi who is to be appointed as an official by the court, based on what you have learned since childhood and the knowledge gained from being born into a noble family.
To rise to the top in an upright and honest way through ability is the honorable and correct way. This is the new circle of contempt, that is, I am a Jinshi, and you have risen to the top by relying on your ancestors' influence.
The children of aristocratic families compete in everything, and the status of a Jinshi will be a new thing for them to compare.
…
In the Ministry of Personnel, Luo Xuanchen was carefully looking at the performance evaluation of officials from various states at the end of the eighth year of Zhenguan, as well as the information of candidate officials who had not yet been appointed.
Why is the Minister of Personnel called the Heavenly Official? Because he has real power. As long as Luo Xuanchen is willing, he can legally and reasonably prevent a scholar from becoming an official for his entire life.
"Thump, thump, thump."
A pair of footsteps came in from outside, and then walked to Luo Xuanchen's side. Luo Xuanchen looked up and saw that it was one of the heads of the Ministry of Personnel. He said with a flattering smile on his face: "Sir Shangshu."
Luo Xuanchen raised his eyebrows. Although with Luo Xuanchen's status and reputation in the literati circle, he could call him "Sir", but generally only those who were obviously younger would call him that. Most people would call him Minister Luo.
Luo Xuanchen knew that this was something important, so he asked solemnly, "What's the important matter?"
The official looked around and whispered, "Sir, an invitation has been handed over. It's from the Prince of Wei's Palace."
I see.
No wonder the person in charge spoke so attentively. I didn’t expect that he came here to establish a relationship on behalf of the King of Wei.
Luo Xuanchen's mind raced, and he said slowly: "The King of Wei and I have never had any friendship, and the Prime Minister and the vassal king should not meet in private. Please report this to the King of Wei."
After saying that, he stopped talking. Seeing this, the person in charge could only leave in disappointment. It was just as expected.
When the person in charge walked out, Luo Xuanchen's expression suddenly became serious.
This was not a good sign. What could the King of Wei want from him? He just wanted him to give him some convenience when selecting officials. Since ancient times, princes made friends with ministers with ulterior motives.
After Luo Xuanchen finished his work at the court, he thought for a while and did not return to his own residence. Instead, he turned around and went to Prince Zhou's mansion first.
After Princess Pingyang Zhao passed away, Luo Xuanye moved to Prince Zhou's Mansion in order to avoid being reminded of her by the sight of her belongings.
When Luo Xuanye heard that Luo Xuanchen was coming to visit suddenly, he knew that something must be going on. If it was just a daily gathering, he would have notified in advance and would have called Luo Xuanling and Luo Xuanjing. Now that he came alone, it might not be a small matter.
As expected, as soon as Luo Xuanchen entered the mansion, the solemn expression on his face foreshadowed something. After the two hurried into the house, Luo Xuanchen immediately said, "Aye, the King of Wei sent me an invitation today, inviting me to his mansion for a banquet."
Luo Xuanye was shocked when he heard this, and then he slowly said: "Fourth brother, you shouldn't come here to talk about this. This is not good for you."
It is no secret that Luo Xuanchen came to Luo Xuanye's house today. King Wei must know about it. King Wei is very favored now, which is indeed not a good thing for Luo Xuanchen.
But Luo Xuanchen didn't care, and said calmly: "The worst case scenario is that I will be dismissed from my position as prime minister, but the prince is not wrong. The King of Wei has no great achievements or virtues, but he is directly trying to seize the throne. This is not in line with my style of doing things."
Luo Xuanchen's words were very clear, Crown Prince Li Chengqian was not a bad person, and you, the Prince of Wei, were not that good either. You had not made any great contributions to the Tang Dynasty, and you would not die if you did not fight for the throne. This was different from the relationship between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin. So, you, the Prince of Wei, were just looking for trouble by trying to seize the throne.
If you, Prince of Wei, Li Tai, really had the ability of Li Shimin, I would help you without you saying anything, but you don’t, so you are just dreaming about peaches.
Luo Xuanye was quite moved when he heard this and said, "Fourth brother, don't tell anyone about what happened today, and don't get involved in the affairs of the Crown Prince and King Wei. To be honest, there have been too many cases in history where Crown Princes were unable to inherit the throne. Your Majesty asked me to be the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, so I did it, but I never thought of letting you get involved in the affairs of the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace."
Luo Xuanchen understood Luo Xuanye's painstaking efforts. The crown prince position was the source of trouble. With the Luo family's status, there would not be much to gain by participating in it, but if they failed, they would lose too much.
Luo Xuanye added: "I have been going to the East Palace more often recently. Since the seventh year of Zhenguan, Jun Cheng said that the prince often cried, so I went to see him more often."
Luo Xuanchen's heart trembled, and he asked in a low voice: "Is the prince so seriously injured?"
The common people don’t understand royal affairs, so how could high officials like Luo Xuanchen not know about them?
After recovering from a serious illness in the seventh year of Zhenguan, Li Chengqian's foot disease began to affect his walking. Now at the end of the eighth year of Zhenguan and the beginning of the ninth year of Zhenguan, Li Chengqian sometimes even has to drag his legs when walking. In other words, Li Chengqian really became a cripple, and his cripple was getting worse and worse.
This seriously affected Li Chengqian's mental health. He was not a man with a strong will. If Luo Juncheng had not been by his side and his sisters had not counseled him, Li Chengqian would probably have become autistic and twisted.
But even so, Li Chengqian often woke up from his sleep, hugging his legs and crying loudly.
Luo Xuanchen pondered for a moment and said, "Aye, you have to think of a solution. If you can't think of one, go to Lingtian Pavilion. The ancestors always make valuable suggestions."
Luo Xuanye nodded silently.
When Luo Xuanchen walked out of the palace, he turned around and looked at the majestic and solemn palace rules. Lanterns were hung high, but there was a trace of sadness. He sat in the carriage, and his heart was also a little confused. "Can the Tang Dynasty really accept a crippled king?"
Li Shimin didn't know, Luo Xuanye didn't know, no one knew, but almost everyone was trying their best to make Li Chengqian believe that the leg would not affect his right of inheritance.
In order to prove that his regard for Li Chengqian had not changed at all, Li Shimin equipped Li Chengqian with a luxurious group of teachers in the East Palace, almost every one of whom was a reputable and well-known figure.
Luo Xuanye thought for a long time and came to Lingtian Pavilion.
"Grandfather, please give me some advice. How can I cheer up the prince?"
Luo Su did not speak, but carefully looked at Luo Xuanye's eyebrows again, and said after a long time: "The emperor has equipped the prince with a teacher who looks luxurious on the surface, but in fact it is not good enough.
The emperor wanted to train Li Chengqian in the same way he trained himself, but that was too much to ask. Those who advised Li Chengqian were too harsh. Although Li Chengqian was not a rotten wood, he was not a pillar either. If he was trained in that way, it would only break. You have to pay attention to this point.
Wei Zheng was a man well-known for his frank advice. Although he often made Li Shimin very angry, in fact, he had skills in giving advice. It's just that sometimes even his skills didn't work.
If you can get the emperor to transfer Wei Zheng and Li Jing to the Eastern Palace, and add you, maybe Li Chengqian will regain his confidence and stop worrying about his position as crown prince."
This is not an easy task. Only when Li Shimin himself is aware of this situation can this goal be achieved.
Luo Xuanye left Lingtian Pavilion. Luo Su looked at Luo Xuanye's leaving figure, confirmed some things, slowly closed his eyes, and began to recall the people he had met before. Then he fixed his sight on one person, King Wu Li Ke.
…
The atmosphere in the Eastern Palace is very tense. There is a very bad trend in the Eastern Palace now. That is, several ministers who teach Li Chengqian are all learning from Wei Zheng.
Wei Zheng's status became increasingly high during the Zhenguan period. When Li Shimin commented on the prime ministers, he even said that to conquer the world, one had to rely on Fang and Du, to gain the world, one had to rely on Zhangsun Wuji, and to govern the world, one had to rely on Wei Zheng.
This certainly does not mean that Wei Zheng's contribution to governing the world is really greater than Fang Xuanling's, but it means that in Li Shimin's heart, Wei Zheng is already on par with Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Zhangsun Wuji.
When Luo Juncheng walked into the East Palace, he heard Kong Yingda sternly say, "Your Highness, are you going to imitate Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty?
Your Majesty has sent an envoy to teach Your Highness, so I cannot sit idly by and watch Your Highness go to waste. I ask Your Highness to quickly dismiss those flatterers who only know how to flatter. "
Kong Yingda's voice and tone were very intense. Luo Juncheng felt his blood boiling when he heard it. He walked quickly into the hall and saw that the prince was a little confused and his face was red. It was obvious that he was ashamed of being scolded. Luo Juncheng immediately said to Kong Yingda in a stern voice: "Master Kong, are you threatening the prince?"
Kong Yingda turned around and saw that it was Luo Juncheng. He said sternly, "It turned out to be the prince of Zhou. As the prince's companion, you tolerate those flatterers who only know how to have fun to appear beside the prince. Is this right?"
Luo Juncheng naturally did not accept this accusation and immediately retorted: "Master Kong is a descendant of Confucius, doesn't he know the principle of teaching students in accordance with their aptitude?
Master Kong is your Majesty's subject. Doesn't he know that your Majesty has said that it is all right for the prince as long as he can talk about principles?
What lesson have you taught the prince by scolding him so harshly?
Who is considered a flatterer in Master Kong's eyes? Am I a flatterer?"
Although Luo Juncheng was not particularly old, he was very tall and had a loud voice. At this moment, it was as if he was roaring on the battlefield. He was so close to Kong Yingda that his eardrums were buzzing.
Kong Yingda was very angry at Luo Juncheng's attitude. He left in anger and said, "Since the prince said so, let your majesty judge."
Li Chengqian was a little scared when he heard this. Ever since he felt more and more inferior to his legs and feet, he didn't want to see Li Shimin, but Luo Juncheng whispered, "It's okay. My father is in the palace and will definitely make sure these people don't get into trouble."
Li Chengqian finally felt relieved when he heard that Luo Xuanye was in the palace.
(End of this chapter)
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