Li Zhi truly felt the crisis. If he did not make changes, his position as crown prince would be taken away by his grandson Li Jue sooner or later.
Therefore, he suppressed his fear of his father and knelt before him, begging for a chance to prove himself.
Li Shimin understood Li Zhi's thoughts, but after observing him silently for half a year, he had long since lost faith in his former beloved son.
When an epidemic broke out in Chang'an, Li Jue's handling of the situation was remarkable and commendable.
In contrast, the crown prince locked himself in his palace all day, fearing that he would contract the plague and die.
Can such a cowardly person, who is afraid of death, really shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Tang Dynasty?
But seeing Li Zhi kneeling on the ground, his face streaked with tears as he looked at him, Li Shimin's heart softened.
"What do you want to do?"
"Father, your son...your son only asks for a fair chance to compete!"
"fair?"
Li Shimin sighed leisurely.
"The hardest thing in this world is fairness!"
"Choose one of the six departments; go to whichever department you like!"
Li Zhi hesitated slightly upon hearing this, then spoke weakly.
“Father, I want to do something practical, such as governing a county or a prefecture…”
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately understood that the child wanted the title of "Governor of Yongzhou" that he had just bestowed upon Li Jue!
The concept of "one prefecture and one county" is not difficult to apply to other parts of the Tang Dynasty, but in the Guanzhong region, or even the capital region, the choices are limited.
Now that Li Zhi is the crown prince, he cannot be sent to serve as a county magistrate in another region. He can only choose one of the two counties, Chang'an and Wannian.
How about letting Li Zhi and Li Jue each govern a county?
Li Shimin thought this was a very good idea, as it could both shut Li Zhi up and put some pressure on Li Jue.
"Cough cough!"
"Since you want to get things done, then I'll appoint you as acting governor of Wannian County!"
Li Zhi was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately kowtowed repeatedly to Li Shimin.
"Your son thanks Your Majesty!"
"Please rest assured, Father, I will certainly live up to your expectations!"
Just as Li Zhi was bowing in gratitude with a face full of joy, Li Tai nudged Li Jue.
"What are you still sitting there like an idiot for? They're coming for you!"
Li Jue nodded upon hearing this, thinking to himself that he wasn't stupid and knew exactly what Li Zhi was thinking.
Perhaps my ninth uncle has oversimplified the governance of the county?
“Grandpa, since you’ve appointed my Ninth Uncle and me to each govern a county, does that mean I’m useless as the Governor of Yongzhou and the Prefect of Jingzhao?”
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin glared and huffed.
"How can you say it's useless? Doesn't it mean you get an extra salary?"
Upon hearing this, Li Jue rolled his eyes, thinking to himself that he didn't care about the small amount of salary Li Jue owed him!
To demonstrate fairness and impartiality, Li Shimin specifically ordered people to inspect the treasuries of Chang'an and Wannian counties, and to distribute the silver, grain, and supplies stored in the two county treasuries equally before entrusting them to Li Jue and Li Zhi to manage respectively.
As for how to judge it, Li Shimin has not yet decided.
However, this is not difficult; it can be done in accordance with the Ministry of Personnel's official assessment method.
The next day, Li Jue and Li Zhi took up their respective posts.
Compared to Li Zhi's constant curiosity, Li Jue appeared much calmer and more composed.
After all, his former subordinate Su Dingfang was the magistrate of Chang'an County, and another subordinate Li Yifu was the magistrate of Wannian County.
When he was working on the planning of Chang'an, he frequently visited the two county offices. It could be said that everyone from the clerks and constables at all levels knew him.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I won't introduce myself; I'm sure you all know me!"
The officials of Chang'an County burst into laughter upon hearing this.
"Greetings to the eldest grandson!"
Upon hearing this, Li Jue waved his hand and said.
"No need!"
"From this day forward, there will be no eldest grandson here, only Magistrate Li Jue!"
"Let's join hands and work together to make Chang'an County the most prosperous county in the Tang Dynasty!"
"promise!"
Although Li Jue became the magistrate of Chang'an County, Su Dingfang was not dismissed. In the Ministry of Personnel's records, he was still listed as the magistrate of Chang'an County.
After all, Li Jue's position as county magistrate was only temporary, and it was uncertain how long he would serve. The Ministry of Personnel was too lazy to issue him a new official document and seal.
Li Jue didn't care; it was just a nominal position.
"Old Su, do what you did before, and don't come asking me questions unless it's absolutely necessary!"
Upon hearing this, Su Dingfang cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Li Jue.
"promise!"
"This humble official will heed the teachings of the eldest grandson and proceed strictly according to the eldest grandson's previous plan!"
Li Jue and Su Dingfang finalized their future development plan and then left. In contrast, in Wannian County, Li Zhi was giving a serious lecture to a group of officials.
"snort!"
"Don't think that just because I don't leave the palace often, I don't know about the shady dealings of your subordinates!"
"I'm telling you, from now on, if anyone doesn't do their job properly, just wait and see how I deal with them!"
"I hereby declare that all previous decrees of Wannian County are null and void, and from now on all decrees shall be implemented in accordance with my decrees!"
Standing behind Li Zhi, Li Yifu secretly wondered if he should ask the eldest grandson of the emperor to move up his seat for him.
Just thinking about how he had worked so hard for half a year to manage the irrigation canals, open ditches, and underground channels in Wannian County, and how he hadn't even enjoyed a few good days before Li Zhi came and reaped the benefits, made him curse inwardly.
Why doesn't this guy stay in the East Palace? Why does he have to come here and cause trouble?
"Li Yifu!"
"Your humble servant is here!"
"Now that I'm in charge of the administration of Wannian County, you, the county magistrate, are basically out of work. How about I find you something else to do?"
"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness!"
Li Zhi snorted coldly upon hearing this.
"I've noticed that the open ditch outside the Wannian County government office is a bit clogged. Go and clear it!"
Upon hearing Li Zhi's words, not only was Li Yifu stunned, but even the county magistrate of Wannian County and others were dumbfounded.
Isn't the Crown Prince's use of public office to settle personal scores a bit too obvious?
Isn't he afraid that His Majesty will be angry if he does this?
After a slight pause, Li Yifu smiled and readily accepted the order. He happily picked up a shovel and went to the Tongming Ditch outside the county government office.
This wasn't the first time he'd done something like this. When he first organized the people to manage open ditches and underground canals, he personally led the work quite a bit.
Li Yifu was a man who could easily blend in with the masses. Whenever he appeared on the street, people from Wannian County would come up to him and greet him.
"Your Excellency, haven't all the open ditches in Wannian County been cleaned up? Why are you carrying a shovel and working again?"
Li Yifu smiled slightly upon hearing this.
"The Crown Prince felt that the open ditch outside the county government office was unclean, so he specifically ordered me to clean it up!"
"The Crown Prince?"
"Your Excellency, have you offended the Crown Prince?"
Li Yifu smiled but remained silent upon hearing this, waiting for Da Congming to speak for him. Sure enough, a well-informed commoner spoke up shortly afterward.
"You don't know, do you? It turns out that Lord Li was originally a scholar in the Crown Prince's palace, but later, because he was appreciated by the eldest grandson, he became one of the eldest grandson's men!"
"Now that the eldest grandson is vying with the crown prince for the position of heir apparent, it would be a miracle if the crown prince even looked at Lord Li!"
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