Chapter 70: A Private Visit (1)

After recovering from his illness in Jiucheng Palace, Li Er did not return to Chang'an, but went directly to Luoyang.

He wanted to go directly north from Luoyang to conquer Goguryeo, so he did not return to Chang'an to avoid the hassle of going back and forth.

Li Er issued an edict to appoint Zhang Liang, the Minister of Justice, as the General Manager of the Pyongyang Road Army, commanding 40,000 troops from the four states of Jiang, Huai, Ling, and Xia. He

also recruited 3,000 soldiers and 500 warships in Chang'an and Luoyang, and crossed the sea from Laizhou to Pyongyang. He also

appointed Li Yan, the Prince's Secretary and the Left Guard, as the General Manager of the Liaodong Road Army, commanding more than 60,000 infantry and cavalry as well as the surrendered Hu troops from Lanzhou and Hezhou to approach Liaodong.

The two armies, land and sea, simultaneously surrounded and advanced on Goguryeo.

The armies from all directions gathered in Youzhou. Emperor Taizong sent Jiang Xingben, the general manager of the army, and Qiu Xingyan, the junior supervisor of the Ministry of Rites, to Anluo Mountain to supervise the craftsmen in making ladders for practicing high-altitude charging.

In Chang'an, Li Chengqian was listening to the reports from the officials of the Eastern Palace on the situation of the school experimental site.

The school was completed in May, and Li Chengqian specially allocated a sum of money as the school's funds so that the school could operate smoothly.

However, he found that except for the two counties in the capital, the other experimental sites did not seem to be going smoothly, but he did not know what the problem was.

This led to the fact that the education was not as ideal as he imagined.

Li Chengqian decided to send someone down to see the situation first.

After waiting for half a month, the people sent to investigate came back, but still did not bring any important information to Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian planned to go on a private visit, to personally investigate the situation and go out to relax.

It was too boring to stay in the capital all the time. As for the government affairs, there were Fang Xuanling and Yang Shidao, so there was nothing to worry about.

Li Chengqian acted immediately and called a group of confidants to discuss how to arrange after leaving Chang'an.

"What? Your Highness is leaving the capital and going to the prefectures and counties for a private visit? What if you encounter danger?"

"A gentleman should not stand under a dangerous wall. It is too dangerous for Your Highness to do so. I oppose Your Highness to do so. If Your Highness has something to do, you can let me do it for you. Why does the prince have to come in person?" Du He was the first to stand up and object when he heard that Li Chengqian was going to go on a private visit.

"Now that the world is peaceful, what danger can there be for me to go on a private visit to the prefectures and counties? What's more, Cheng Wuting, Pei Xingjian, Wang Fangyi and others are accompanying me. They can protect my safety."

"I have lived in the deep palace for a long time and don't know much about the sufferings of the people. It's a good opportunity to go down and understand the people's sentiments." Li Chengqian said.

"Your Highness is right! Only by going deep into the masses can we better understand the real life of the people." Di Renjie agreed.

"The people's sentiments are not managed by the local government. Your Highness can listen to the reports of local officials or send people from Chang'an to investigate." Li Yifu said, he also opposed Li Chengqian's incognito visit. "

Listening to the reports of officials will inevitably lead to some omissions, and it is far worse than seeing it with your own eyes. What if there are people who are doing nothing and deceiving me?" "

In short, I have decided to go on an incognito visit this time, and I will never change it!" Li Chengqian said.

Li Chengqian was determined to go on an incognito visit this time and investigate the grassroots.

Seeing that they could not persuade Li Chengqian to give up the incognito visit, Du He and others had to think of another way.

"I wonder which prefecture and county your Highness intends to visit incognito?" Zhao Jie asked.

Since the exile of Li Tai, the Prince of Wei, Zhao Jie was recalled to Chang'an and is now an official of the Eastern Palace.

"I haven't decided which places specifically, but I've decided to go to Fangzhou Fucheng as the first stop." Li Chengqian said.

"Your Highness! How should we leave Chang'an? Prime Minister Fang and the Left Prime Minister will not agree, and they will definitely prevent your Highness from visiting incognito." Du He said. Now

that the destination has been decided, the next thing to do is to figure out how to leave Chang'an easily under the eyes of Fang Xuanling and others.

"I plan to invite the Minister of the Central Secretariat Yang Shidao to go hunting together tomorrow. We can leave during the hunting trip, and that will solve the problem." Li Chengqian said.

"Your Highness! What if the Prime Minister of the Left blocks us?" Zhao Jie asked.

"Don't worry about that! I have my own arrangements!" Li Chengqian said.

Since the prince has a countermeasure, they can't say much.

What they are thinking about now is not how to leave the capital, but how to ensure the safety of the prince when he visits incognito.

"Wang Quan, go and prepare some clothes for His Majesty. No silk or satin, just ordinary ones! This way it won't attract attention." Li Chengqian ordered Wang Quan to prepare the equipment for the tour.

"Yes!" Wang Quan accepted the order.

"Du He, in my name, you go and invite the left prime minister to go out of the city with me for hunting tomorrow. You must get the left prime minister to agree." Li Chengqian said to Du He.

"I obey your order!" Du He accepted the order.

"After leaving Chang'an, Wang Fangyi, Cheng Wuting, Di Renjie will go to Fucheng with me, and Qiu Shenji, Pei Xingjian and others will be divided into two groups to go to other counties to investigate the situation." Li Chengqian made some arrangements for the travel personnel and security.

Even the number of guards and how many guards will follow in secret were clearly arranged.

"Your Highness! I also want to accompany Your Highness, please allow it!" Du He said.

"I also want to go with Your Highness! Please allow it!" Zhao Jie said.

"Your Highness! I also want to accompany Your Highness, please allow it!" Li Yifu said.

"Okay! Du He and Zhao Jie, you two will also come with me to Fucheng, and the other arrangements remain unchanged." Li Chengqian said.

"Yes!" Everyone accepted the order.

"The fact that I am going to visit incognito must not be leaked, especially not to the Right Guard Zhang Daliang and several teachers."

"Before we leave Chang'an, only we know about it, and no one else is allowed to tell it." Li Chengqian said.

"Your Highness! Even the Crown Princess cannot know it?" Wang Quan asked.

"I said that no one should know it, does it mean that everyone should know it?" Li Chengqian emphasized.

"Yes!" Wang Quan saluted.

"Okay! Does everyone have anything else to add? If there is nothing to say, just stay here, and everyone go down and get ready!" Li Chengqian said.

"I'm leaving now!" Du He, Di Renjie and the others stood up, bowed and left.

After Wang Quan left the East Palace, he asked someone to buy some clothes for ordinary people outside the palace so that he could change them tomorrow.

Du He personally visited Yang Shidao, explained his purpose, and invited Yang Shidao to go hunting with the prince tomorrow.

After some arguments, and with the persuasion of Zhao Jie, the step-son, Du He finally convinced Yang Shidao and agreed to go hunting with the prince tomorrow.

Now everything is ready, only the east wind is missing.

After going hunting tomorrow, we will leave Chang'an for Fucheng.