vrcanaries Chapter 45 The Kaiyuan Era
Chapter 45 The Kaiyuan Era
汉朝
Liu Che was multitasking, reviewing memorials while simultaneously listening to the live broadcast.
He muttered, "I want to see what the Tang Dynasty, which future generations will never forget, is really like!"
……
Lin Ke's voice continued on the small screen.
Lin Ke: "When discussing Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, no one fails to lament that he plunged the Tang Dynasty into crisis."
"It's a pity he lived to be over seventy. If he had died twenty years earlier, he might have been considered one of the greatest emperors of all time."
Emperor Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty: ...
First Emperor Qin Shi Huang: I can't believe I've lived this long!
Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty: So I did something stupid when I was old!
……
The famous Song Dynasty scholar Sima Guang once said: "Among the famous prime ministers of the Tang Dynasty, there were Fang Xuanling and Du Fu first, and then Yao Zhen and Song Zhiwen."
"The Yao mentioned here refers to Yao Chong, a famous prime minister of the Tang Dynasty."
When Yao Chong heard that he was to become prime minister, he said to Li Longji, "Unless you promise me ten things, I will not accept the position."
"This is the historically famous 'Ten Essential Points'."
"These ten things include, for example, implementing benevolent governance, avoiding rampant expansion, preventing eunuchs from interfering in politics, and ensuring that relatives of the empress dowager do not seize power."
"At that time, Li Longji had lofty ambitions and a tolerant nature."
"So he agreed immediately and was very cooperative."
"He took the lead in frugality, melting down some of the exquisite gold and jade artifacts in the palace and handing them over to the state; he forbade empresses and concubines from wearing jade ornaments; and he dismissed three thousand palace maids who were no longer needed, etc."
"It's hard to imagine that this is the same Li Longji who later went to great lengths to eat lychees."
"On another note, another prime minister, Song Jing, suggested restoring the system of remonstrating officials, requiring remonstrating officials to be present when the emperor and officials discussed important matters."
"As soon as this proposal was made, officials of all ranks, from civil and military to scholars, came to advise Li Longji against it."
"For example, Li Longji wanted to place his father's memorial tablet before his uncle's, but the officials who advised against it said no."
"This reminds me of how Zhu Houcong of the Ming Dynasty did the same thing, but since there was no longer a position available, he moved our fat emperor Zhu Gaochi out of power."
The fat Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi: !!! What the hell did I do to deserve this?!
"In short, Li Longji was always advised by his officials in whatever he did, and he listened to their advice. As a result, the Tang Dynasty quickly became well-governed and gradually grew stronger."
"Zhang Yue, Li Longji's third prime minister, primarily assisted Li Longji in the Fengshan ceremony."
"Everyone knows about the Fengshan ceremony. Emperor Zheng (Liu Shimin) went, Emperor Zhuge Liang (Liu Yong) went, Emperor Liu Xiu (Li Zhi) went, and next in line is Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji)."
"However, if those emperors knew that a later Song emperor had fabricated auspicious omens to bribe court officials to perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, I wonder what they would think!"
Mount Tai: That damned Zhao Heng! He ruined my reputation!
First Emperor: It's neither here nor there, it's disgusting!
Big Han Liu Zhuzhu: Who the hell is this descendant?!
Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty: !!!
……
"At this time, the Tang Dynasty was gradually moving towards prosperity."
"In politics, Li Longji not only improved the efficiency of the bureaucracy by reforming officialdom, but also appointed virtuous officials and revised the laws."
"Economically, Li Longji increased government revenue, reduced the burden on the people, and vigorously developed agriculture by cracking down on powerful clans and implementing a system of fiefdoms."
"Militarily, Li Longji further reformed the military system, vigorously developed border regions, and expanded the territory of the Tang Dynasty."
"Culturally, he also promoted socio-economic development by improving ethnic relations."
"Therefore, during the Kaiyuan era, thanks to the efforts of Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji) and his ministers, the Tang Dynasty reached an unprecedented peak of national strength."
"During the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, the population reached 8000 million. Furthermore, commerce was highly developed and transportation was convenient."
"Persian and Arab merchants flocked to the Tang Dynasty, and in major cities like Chang'an and Luoyang, one could see merchants of all skin colors and speaking different languages."
"I imagine that Li Longji, standing atop Mount Tai, gazing upon his magnificent land, must have felt immense pride and satisfaction."
Big Han Liu Zhuzhu: This is really well done!
Judy, the Great General Who Conquered the North: It's a pity that he declined not long after!
……
During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty
Li Longji was furious when he saw Zhu Di's comments. He thought they were utter nonsense.
How could the mere An Lushan Rebellion possibly bring down the Tang Dynasty!
The Tang Dynasty is still prosperous, and I would never allow it to fall into such a state.
I simply have a few more favorite things. Those ministers have been advising me for half my life, but I don't want to listen to them anymore, so what!
I am the emperor! I have my own reasons for how I act!
I need not listen to the nonsense of future generations.
……
Lin Ke: "We have no way of knowing exactly when Li Longji began to slack off. Perhaps he felt that he had already accomplished the Fengshan ceremony, and that occasional indulgence was acceptable."
"During this period, Li Longji was particularly fond of music and hunting. He frequently held banquets in the palace or went hunting, and one of his common greetings to his attendants was: 'Is Chancellor Han Xiu unaware that I'm out playing?'"
"Han Xiu was also an official who offered advice, so his question shows that he no longer wanted to work hard and wanted to slack off."
"The Tang Dynasty was different from other dynasties; prime ministers were generally replaced every two or three years, until the emergence of Li Linfu, who was known for his eloquent speech, broke this rule."
"Before submitting his memorials, Li Linfu would bribe the eunuchs around Li Longji to find out his preferences. For example, when Li Longji wanted to depose the crown prince, all the ministers disagreed to the death, but Li Linfu said that this was His Majesty's family matter, and how could his ministers interfere?"
"Anyway, Li Linfu said whatever pleased Li Longji. He even told the officials who offered advice, 'The horses in the ceremonial guard receive third-grade fodder without neighing. Our Emperor is so wise, what are you still advising us about?'"
"When the remonstrating officials fell silent, Li Longji was pleased and entrusted all matters, large and small, to Li Linfu."
"Gradually, Li Linfu gained immense power, arbitrarily buying and selling official positions, causing the number of officials in the Tang Dynasty to multiply to one hundred times that of the time of the Second Emperor."
Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty (furious): I...damn it...I%...
"As a result, on average, twenty-seven households had to support one official, forcing people to sell their children to pay the debt."
"On the other hand, Li Longji indulged in eating, drinking, and merrymaking to the fullest, creating the great Tang Dynasty musical masterpiece, 'The Song of Rainbow Feathers.'"
"Not only that, he also lavishly built palaces, and the number of palace women reached 40,000. However, Li Longji still felt unhappy, as if something was missing."
"So Gao Lishi, his capable assistant, thought of Yang Yuhuan, Li Longji's beautiful daughter-in-law."
"Let's put aside the love-hate entanglement between Yang Yuhuan, Li Chang, and Li Longji for now."
"Because of Li Longji's exclusive favor towards Yang Yuhuan, the entire Yang family rose to prominence, with many lacking talent yet holding high positions."
"Especially her brother, Yang Guozhong, frequently suppressed dissidents in the court; any high-ranking official who did not belong to the Yang family was dismissed or targeted."
"The once glorious Tang Dynasty has clearly begun its decline."