In December of the first year of Zhide, Li Yi, the great-grandson of the king of Lining, was the emperor, and the name of the year was changed to the great cause, and the first emperor Li Yu and the former prince were buried in Xingping County, and the name was Daizong.

There was no queen in the palace, Li Qing asked Li Yu's concubine Lan Yu's eldest grandson Lan Yu to temporarily take the position of the queen mother, and took charge of the harem. He continued to serve as the right minister of the Tang Dynasty and the prime minister of military affairs.

At the beginning of the second year of the Great Cause, the imperial court reformed the monopoly law, and all other monopoly goods such as iron, tea, and wine were abolished except for salt. The Salt and Iron Supervision was renamed the Tax Supervision Bureau, which was responsible for the collection of taxes other than the land tax, and established the Municipal Shipping Administration, which was fully responsible for the national commerce.

At the same time, the business register was reformed, abolishing the previous practice of using merchants to compile household registrations, and instead using commercial banks to create individual household registers, and ordering all merchants with a capital of more than 50 yuan to set up a commercial bank. Register with the Municipal Shipping Department.

In this way, the identity of the Tang Dynasty merchants is no different from that of civilians. The commercial tax was reduced from ten taxes to thirty taxes in Tianbao's ten years. And promised to remain unchanged for ten years to encourage businessmen to invest.

The Cold Food Festival (i.e., Qingming Festival) in the second year of Daye quietly came in a warm spring rain. Peach blossoms and apricot blossoms bloom at the same time. According to the custom of the Cold Food Festival, every household is not allowed to light a fire and eat the meals prepared the day before, but despite this, today still makes the people of Datang excited, because from this day on, the whole country will have a seven-day holiday.

As a result, more people have chosen to travel far away, braving the slightest spring rain. Horse-drawn carriages in Chang'an City are lined up. The steady stream drove out of the city.

Morning. Li Qingdi's whole family mobilized. Packing up the cages and preparing the tent food, a dozen wagons have been set up, and hundreds of cavalry have been put in order. Just wait for an order. He escorted Xiangguo and his family members to Zhongnan Mountain.

This is what Li Qing promised on the night of Shangyuan. That night the lights will be grand. The citizens of Chang'an all went out to enjoy the lights and the flow of people. However, Li Qing discussed the construction of official roads and the expansion of Cao Yun with the new Ministry of Industry Shangshu in the court room to fill in the two Huai Cao Yun envoys. The three of them discussed until midnight, and they forgot about the joy of accompanying their families. In order to alleviate his family's dissatisfaction, he generously agreed, and on the day of the Winter Food Festival, he led his family to Zhongnan Mountain for two days. By the way, let his wife, who has been bedridden, go out for a walk.

Everything is in order. The curtain was also carried into the carriage by the maid. Even Luo Lan, who had just come to Beijing from Dawan, didn't care about the fatigue of the journey. Happily boarded the carriage.

All the people were ready, but the master Li Qing was gone, not in the study, not in the reception room, and even in the back garden, but still did not see his shadow.

Finally, it was learned from a family member guarding the side gate that Sangkook was picked up by a carriage early in the morning. The whereabouts are unknown, and he left a word before leaving. Said he would be back soon.

It's not just the sky that is cloudy at the moment. Everyone's faces were gloomy, but after all, they had been looking forward to what was going on for months. You can't give it up so easily! The crowd restrained their anger in their hearts! did not disperse. Most of them sat in the carriage and waited patiently for his promise that he would soon be back.

Li Qing was picked up by Miao Jinqing, the household servant. Today is the opening day of the main store in Diyinfang, Dongshi, and Li Qing received a temporary notice. went with Miao Jinqing.

The silver square is also the former cabinet factory. In order to distinguish it from private cabinets, the government-run cabinets were renamed Silver Workshops. Since the beginning of the year, it has begun to be built in all states across the country, in principle, each county needs a silver fang, the scale can be different, the temporary function is to save copper coins and gold and silver for the people, but almost all the local officials know that once the system of substituting sodium money for the field tax is completed in the Hanzhong area, the silver square will be the place where the people pay the land tax, and the land tax will no longer be handed over to the local government.

This would be a major fiscal change that would eventually change the way taxes were paid in kind in the past. Taxes were paid in currency, and instead of being collected by the local government, they were collected by silver shops all over the country. But the most important of these is the seizure of local tax collection power. Instead, the local budget is made instead. It is reported to the Ministry of Household for examination and approval, and the imperial court arranges expenditures according to the financial situation of the year, so that the local government is firmly in the hands of the imperial court in terms of financial power.

However, the introduction of any system is very cautious, first pilot, then slowly spread to the whole country, and constantly revised in practice.

The carriage drove into the East City and stopped in front of a huge complex of buildings, the head office of the Silver Fang covers an area of about 10 hectares, which was rebuilt from the former East City Standing Bureau, which is mainly managed by the account books and documents, and does not accept gold, silver and copper coins. All money and goods are sent to Zuozang for storage. The head office of the silver workshop is subordinate to the household department and is under the jurisdiction of Kanabe Langzhong.

Although the main store of Yinfang is open today, the front of the store is deserted. There are no ordinary shops that are open with gongs and drums, singing and dancing, only a few horse-drawn carriages are parked at the gates, and there are many soldiers patrolling, and entry and exit need to be strictly checked. The security is very tight.

There were several officials standing on the doorstep. was looking forward to it, seeing the carriage of the household servant coming, they hurriedly stepped forward to greet them, Miao Jinqing got out of the carriage and smiled at several officials: "The Cold Food Festival is still bothering everyone, hard work!" ”

Yang Yan hurriedly stepped forward and said: "The right minister hopes that the head office will start operating before the Cold Food Festival, but the preparations are complicated, and it is still a day late, and I have to ask Lord Shilang to say a lot of kind words in front of the right minister, don't blame me for waiting!" ”

"Why do you want to ask Miao Shilang to intercede, you can tell the prime minister directly, isn't it okay?" As he spoke, Li Qing came out of the carriage with a smile, and several officials were surprised and delighted. Hurriedly stepped forward and bowed together. "Subordinates, see the right phase!"

"No need to be polite!" Li Qing waved his hand to them, and said to Yang Yan: "I said that I hope it will be completed before the Cold Food Festival, but I don't want to delay your rest." Since it can't be done. Just put it after the Cold Food Festival, and besides, I'm just talking about it, and there is no deadline for the following, do you understand the meaning? ”

Yang Yan thought about it for a while, but still shook his head. said that he didn't understand what Li Qingdi meant, and at this time, Miao Jinqing next to him said: "Xiangguodi means that everyone has their own responsibilities, although he is the prime minister, he only thinks about big things, and will not interfere with small things such as the opening time of Yinfang." It's just that he pays a little attention. Therefore, there is no deadline for paperwork. Since there is no official instrument. You can arrange the official operation time according to the preparation situation, and report to the household department for the record. You don't have to open on the Cold Food Festival. Delay everyone's rest. ”

Yang Yan suddenly realized. Hurriedly apologized to Li Qing and said, "It's the subordinates who didn't think about it and delayed Xiangguo's rest!" ”

Li Qing smiled bitterly and shook his head. Although he has been very careful about his words and deeds, he has tried not to interfere in the independent governance of the ministries. And institutionalize all affairs, and make official documents for everything. It shall be issued and judged by the competent authority. But from today's trivial incident, it can be seen that figuring out the boss's intentions is still the unspoken rule of officialdom. There is still a long way to go in institutionalizing our own construction.

Thinking of this, he had to sigh secretly. Said helplessly: "Since it has been opened."

Let's keep it simple! Let everyone go back to rest early. ”

Took two steps. He turned back to Miao Jinqing and said: "This matter is my responsibility, and I have to bother to make up a document at the price to clarify the opening time of the silver shop." ”

Miao Jinqing nodded and said, "My subordinates know." I'll do it after the Winter Food Festival. ”

After attending the opening ceremony, more than an hour has passed. Li Qing hurried back to the mansion and entered the gate. but they saw carriages full of courtyards. Horse?? His family members all stared at him with gloomy faces and cold faces.

He touched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly: "There is a little thing that delays everyone." Let's go! Let's go! ”

"Sir! Come over here. The curtain of the car was halfway open, and his wife Zhao curtain was waving to him.

Li Qing hurriedly stepped forward, only to see that she was the only one in the carriage. couldn't help but look at both sides, and said in surprise: "What about Tingyue and Huan'er?" How not to follow you. ”

"Daddy. We're here! The voice came from a carriage behind, and Li Qing looked back, only to see his daughter Li Tingyue and his son Li Huan sitting in Xiaoyu's carriage, waving their arms at him.

Curtain smiled gently and said to Li Qing: "Li Lang." I've got a lot of room in my carriage, so come and sit with me!" ”

"Madame has a life. Obey! ”

Li Qing got into the carriage and waved his hand. The gate of the mansion was wide open, and more than a dozen carriages drove out of the gate of the mansion, and under the protection of five hundred guards, they drove towards the direction of Mingde Gate.

The spring rain outside the city was fine, from time to time wafting in through the cracks in the car window, and there was a fragrance of mud and grass mixed in the air, Li Qing lay comfortably on the soft couch, staring out the window at the warblers flying and the grass growing, the fields were busy, and there was a thriving scene everywhere, since he took office at the end of last year, he had never been able to relax as much as today.

"Li Lang!"

The curtain screamed softly, and after a while, Li Qing heard that she had no follow-up, and couldn't help but turn his head to look at her, only to see a little worry in her eyes.

Li Qing smiled. Reaching out and caressing the back of her hand, she said, "What are you worried about?" ”

Lian'er raised her head and said worriedly: "I'm worried about Yi'er and Huan'er, if they grow up to know the truth, will they ......?"

"Nope! They will not have a chance to be in conflict. ”

Li Qing smiled lightly and said, "When Huan'er grows up to fifteen years old, I will let him go to Shiguo and let him become an adult there, and he will inherit my lichen inlay in the future." Lead the Tang Iron Cavalry to the west to build a new empire, and Yi'er, I will personally educate him and train him to become an adult. ”

"Li Lang!"

The curtain suddenly heard the deep meaning of his words. couldn't help but be surprised: "Do you still want to go back to Shiguo?" ”

Li Qing smiled slightly, simply hugged her in his arms, gently opened the car curtain, and let the warm drizzle fall on their bodies and faces, and the smoke and rain outside the window were hazy and picturesque.

Li Qing hugged his wife tightly in his arms, pointed to the beautiful scenery outside the window and said, "Wait until I build the Tang Dynasty into a powerful empire." I will go to the Western Regions to establish a kingdom of our own, and one day, its territory will be as wide as the sky! ”

Li Qing looked up at the boundless sky, her chest was suddenly full of pride, and she looked at her husband who was smiling and proud of the world, and suddenly remembered the years when they were greedy and greedy in Yilong, and ran a small business, and a sour and sweet taste poured into her heart, and before she knew it, her eyes were already crazy............-

Afterword and testimonials in the whole book

Eighteen years of great cause. According to the statistics of the Datang Household Department, the number of registered households in the country has reached 20 million, with a population of more than 100 million. With an annual income of 80 million, Jiangnan and Lingnan are all rich lands, and the country is rich and the people are strong. In April, the Byzantine Empire sent an envoy to the Tang Dynasty. Invite the Tang Dynasty to fight the black-clothed food, Li Qing, the first assistant of the cabinet in his fifties, resigned from the position of first assistant to the emperor Li Yi, and wanted to personally recruit the big food, and then, the thirteen cabinet ministers unanimously recommended Yang Yan, the head of the cabinet, as the first assistant of the cabinet. Succeeded Li Qing and reported to Li Yi for approval.

In May, Li Qing arrived in the Western Regions and personally led 200,000 Dawan troops on an expedition to Dashi, a year later. The black-clothed Abbasids were forced to abandon Damascus and flee west under the attack of Byzantium and the Tang Dynasty.

However, Li Qing did not return to Chang'an, but stayed in Dawan, and Li Yi then made Li Qing the governor of Persia, the governor of affairs west of the Green Mountains. and sent his family to the Western Regions.

In the 22nd year of the Great Cause, Li Qing established the Dawan Kingdom in the former capital of Kangguo, Samajian, with a territory of about 2,500 miles from east to west. It has a population of 12 million and is attached to the Tang Dynasty. The following year, Li Qing sent his fifth son Li Cheng to Chang'an as a hostage, and the Tang Dynasty finally recognized Li Qing's legitimacy, using the Dawan Kingdom as a barrier to the Western Regions to prevent the Byzantine Empire from expanding eastward, and crowned Li Qing as the king of Han.

Forty years of great cause. Li Qing died of illness on his way to the west of the Byzantine lands. He was seventy-five years old.

…………………………………………………………

(End of the book)