Chapter 348 Princess Honghua

"According to what I know, before the Sui Dynasty and the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the Northern Zhou Dynasty had 4.22 million households. The Northern Zhou Dynasty only controlled half of the country, and its territory could not be compared with that of the Tang Dynasty today. Why is it that the number of households in our Tang Dynasty is still less than that of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, not to mention compared with the Sui Dynasty?" Li Chengqian asked.

"Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Yuwen Yong, was a man of great talent and strategy. He destroyed the Northern Qi and unified the north. The population had already reached more than 3 million households, and then after a period of development."

"The population of the Northern Zhou Dynasty reached 4.22 million households. Since there was no more war in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the people lived and worked in peace and prosperity. Later, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Jian, replaced the Northern Zhou Dynasty and unified the world!"

"Until the Daye period, the population of the Sui Dynasty grew to more than 9 million households. This was all because the Sui Dynasty had a stable government and people, and it did not have to fight on all sides like the Tang Dynasty."

"At the end of the Sui Dynasty, various anti-kings revolted. When the Tang Dynasty was founded, it was only then that the Central Plains was obtained. Other places were occupied by Dou Jiande, Wang Shichong and others. The Eastern and Western Turks in the north were powerful and were eyeing the Central Plains."

"After years of unification wars, the population of the Tang Dynasty has dropped from more than 9 million households to 2 million households."

"The Tang Dynasty has been fighting the Turks in the north for years, and there have been natural disasters and man-made disasters. I don't know how many people have died. It is not easy for the population to recover to the current number of households." Gao Luxing said.

Gao Luxing was right! It was mainly due to the unrest at the end of the Sui Dynasty that led to a sharp decline in population. In addition, coupled with years of war, the population has grown to more than three million households, which is already very difficult!

Li Chengqian did not dwell on the population. After asking about some other things and asking about Li Xiang's recent performance, he let Gao Luxing leave.

...

"Meet Wang Jian!" The Minister of the Palace Museum bowed to Wang Quan.

"The Minister of Rites has something to see Your Majesty!" Wang Quan bowed and said, "I wonder which foreign country it is about?"

The Minister of Rites was the head of the Ministry of Rites, which was under the Honglu Temple. His main duties were to manage foreign affairs and entertain foreign guests.

"The Princess Honghua, who married Tuyuhun, came to the capital to pay homage to Your Majesty! I am reporting this to Your Majesty. Wang Jian, is Your Majesty inside?" The Minister of Rites asked.

"Yes! Your Majesty is going to the toilet!" Wang Quan said.

"Oh! In that case, I'll wait here." The Minister of Rites said that it would be easy to smell if he went in now.

It would be better to wait outside and go in after Li Chengqian was done, so there would be no smell.

Although reporting to the emperor that Princess Honghua came to the court to pay homage to the emperor was a big deal, how could it be as important as the emperor's excretion?

While waiting, the Minister of the Palace and Wang Quan chatted casually until someone came out to say that the emperor had finished, and then they went in.

"Your Majesty, I, Zhao Xiang, the Minister of the Palace of the Palace of the Honglu Temple, pay my respects to you!" The Minister of the Palace greeted Li Chengqian after seeing him.

"No need to be polite! Are you here to see me about foreign matters?" Li Chengqian asked.

"Your Majesty! Queen Tuyuhun, our Princess Honghua of the Tang Dynasty wants to come to the court to pay homage to Your Majesty! I have come to ask whether we can arrange it according to the old rituals." The Minister of the Palace asked.

Princess Honghua was originally a daughter of the royal family. Later, she was chosen by Emperor Taizong of Tang as a candidate for marriage, and was named Princess Honghua and married to Tuyuhun.

In terms of seniority, the current emperor Li Chengqian and Princess Honghua are of the same generation, and she is older than the emperor.

After Li Chengqian succeeded to the throne, he conferred the title of Princess Honghua as the eldest princess. This was the first time that Princess Honghua had come to Chang'an to pay homage to the emperor since her marriage. Therefore, the Honglu Temple attached great importance to it.

The Honglu Temple Minister handed over such an important task to the Dianke Office.

The Dianke Office had a disagreement over this matter. Some people thought that the standard treatment should be improved. After all, Princess Honghua was the emperor's sister.

Others strongly opposed it, believing that all matters related to welcoming foreign guests were clearly stipulated, and that as long as they followed the rules, there was no need to raise any standards. Doing so was not in line with the rules.

In short, neither side could convince the other.

Therefore, the Dianke Ling decided to hand over this difficult issue to the emperor for decision. No matter what the result was, as long as the emperor decided, the other party had to execute it.

"No need! Just receive her as you should!" Li Chengqian said.

Is it worth asking him about such a small matter? There is no need to raise the standard of reception for a princess of the royal family!

"Yes!" The Minister of Rites saluted and responded.

With the emperor's clear instructions, they knew what to do next.

"When will Princess Honghua arrive in Chang'an?" Li Chengqian asked.

"Your Majesty! Princess Honghua will arrive in Chang'an in three days." The Minister of Rites said.

"Then you can go back and prepare to welcome my sister!" Li Chengqian said.

"Yes!" The Minister of Rites saluted and withdrew.

Since she has come to Chang'an, she must meet her and ask her about Tuyuhun's situation and Tuyuhun's attitude towards the Tang Dynasty's stationed troops in Dafeichuan.

And what is Tuyuhun

's attitude towards the Tang Dynasty, is he friendly to the Tang Dynasty, or is he secretly colluding with Tubo. This is related to how the Tang Dynasty should treat Tuyuhun in the future.

Princess Honghua is undoubtedly loyal to the Tang Dynasty. She will not hide anything and will tell him about Tuyuhun's situation.

Three days passed in a blink of an eye.

Princess Honghua and her entourage entered Chang'an and stayed in the post house under the guidance of the officials of the Ministry of Rites.

All the treatment here is in accordance with the treatment of receiving princesses.

This time, Princess Honghua not only came to see the emperor alone, but also brought her son, Murong Zhongsi, to see him together.

"Princess, please take a rest here. Tomorrow, His Majesty will hold a banquet in the Liangyi Hall to welcome the princess. If the princess needs anything, please send someone to tell me. I will definitely do it for her." The official of the Palace of Reception said.

"Thank you for your help! These are already very good. This princess is a little tired. You can leave first! If there is really anything I need, I will send someone to find you." Princess Honghua said.

"Then I will take my leave!" The official of the Palace of Reception said, and turned away.

The next day, Li Chengqian held a banquet in the Liangyi Hall to formally summon Princess Honghua.

"Your Highness Princess Honghua of the Great Tang and Queen Li of Tuyuhun pay their respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang!" Princess Honghua saluted. "

Your Highness Prince Murong Zhongsi of Tuyuhun pays his respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang!" Murong Zhongsi saluted.

"No need to be polite!" Li Chengqian said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Princess Honghua and Murong Zhongsi thanked him.

"Sister, nephew, please take your seats! Today's banquet is a welcome banquet specially arranged for you and your nephew." Li Chengqian said.

After Princess Honghua and Murong Zhongsi took their seats, they thanked Li Chengqian repeatedly for his hospitality.