strictlysupreme Chapter 2764 Requesting Rewards for Li You
Chapter 2764 Requesting Rewards for Li You
Even tigers don't eat their cubs, but Li Shimin was far more ruthless than a tiger. Historically, Li Shimin only favored the legitimate children born to Empress Zhangsun.
The other children weren't as pampered.
This fully demonstrates how deep Li Shimin's feelings were for Empress Zhangsun.
Even Princess Yuzhang, who was not Empress Zhangsun's biological daughter but was raised by her, was deeply loved by Li Shimin.
Princess Yuzhang's mother was merely a lower-ranking concubine who died in childbirth. She was then raised by Empress Zhangsun, who treated her as her own daughter.
She was made Princess Yuzhang before she was five years old, while Li Mengjiang was made a princess at the age of eighteen. That's the difference.
But all of this was shattered by Li Shen. Despite being a son born out of wedlock, Li Shen overpowered all the legitimate children and became the most favored among his twenty-odd children.
This also changed Li Shimin's mindset.
“Your Majesty, this old minister agrees with what the Crown Prince said. The Lingnan region is mountainous and rugged, making it very difficult to explore the terrain. The Fifth Prince’s actions are enough to show his filial piety to Your Majesty.”
Changsun Wuji bowed. He would agree with whatever the Crown Prince said and follow Li Chengqian's lead.
Li You? He didn't care if he was a prince or not, or even if he lived or died; it was none of his business. But since the Crown Prince was taking care of his younger brother, he would go along with him.
In any case, Li You had no way of getting involved with him.
Moreover, judging from His Majesty's expression, it seems he is reminiscing about this son; His Majesty is getting old.
As expected, Li Shimin's expression changed slightly after hearing Changsun Wuji's words. He glanced at the map of Lingnan Road.
The names of mountains and rivers were marked on it. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke:
"Since the fifth prince has rendered meritorious service, I cannot fail to reward him. The three ministries shall draft an edict to appoint Li You as the Marquis of Lingnan County, and instruct him to lead the people of Lingnan to serve the court."
"Just a county marquis title?"
As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, a discordant voice rang out. Without a second thought, no one dared to question His Majesty.
In this world, besides Wei Zheng, there was only Prince Ji. But Wei Zheng was already dead.
"You insolent fool! A county marquis isn't enough? That's a third-rank official. Do you want a princeship or something?"
Li Shimin was so angry that he glared and his beard bristled. The sadness he had just felt vanished. This guy always said things that made him angry at the wrong time.
Li Shen, however, held his head high:
"Father, Fifth Brother was already a county magistrate, and now he's only been promoted one rank for such a great achievement. Isn't that too stingy?"
"Say it again? It's just a map, not some kind of territorial expansion. Do you think titles in my Great Tang are so easy to obtain?"
Li Shimin was almost furious. After the founding of the dynasty, it was extremely difficult to obtain a title in the Tang Dynasty, which was also to protect the interests of other nobles.
If it weren't for his own son, this achievement would only amount to a promotion in official rank, not a promotion in noble title.
“Father, Wu Ke’s contributions over there are not limited to this. The double-cropping rice we have now was promoted to the south after Fifth Brother tried planting it in Lingnan.”
Our millet and wheat were also promoted after being cultivated and tested in large quantities in Lingnan Road.
Nowadays, millet can yield more than three shi per mu. If the weather is favorable, fertile land can yield up to four shi, which is a full doubling.
Does Father not consider this an achievement?
Li Shen looked at Li Shimin and glanced at the others. In the past, each mu of millet could produce about two shi (a unit of dry measure).
Through years of continuous hybridization and planting by the Agricultural Research Institute of Prince Ji's Mansion, a yield of three shi per mu has been achieved, which is a huge breakthrough.
To facilitate hybridization at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Li Shen had to transport rice seeds from all over the country to Lingnan every year. Since he didn't know if the rice seeds were the same, he could only use this brute-force method.
They even sent some millet and rice seeds from abroad, as well as wild millet and rice seeds.
Because of a lack of understanding, the costs incurred were extremely high, truly amounting to money flowing like water.
"Are you telling the truth?" Li Shimin frowned. He had been detached from state affairs for many years, so there were some things he really didn't know.
"Father, everything I said is true. If it weren't for Fifth Brother keeping an eye on the Academy of Agricultural Sciences for me in Lingnan, how could things have gone so smoothly?"
Li Shen nodded affirmatively.
"Your Majesty, this old minister can testify that the overall grain output has increased by 30% to 40%, and the millet output has nearly doubled."
At this moment, Tang Jian stepped forward to confirm for Li Shen that he did not know whether it was Li You's achievement, but the increase in grain production was real.
Li Shimin glanced at Tang Jian, suspecting that Tang Jian was only testifying to curry favor with the God of Wealth.
However, the Ministry of Civil Affairs is responsible for national treasury revenue, so Tang Jian shouldn't dare to deceive him in this regard.
"Hmm?" Li Shimin suddenly frowned.
"Minister Tang, how do you know that grain production has increased among the people? If I remember correctly, I have not revised the tax system, have I?"
"Each adult male should pay two shi of rent annually. Even if the people's grain production increases, the imperial court should still collect two shi."
Li Shimin suddenly realized that the Tang Dynasty's taxes were calculated based on the number of adult males, not on the yield per mu or the area of land.
In other words, even if the people have more grain, the imperial court still collects two shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain; otherwise, it wouldn't be said that the people's lives have been getting better and better in recent years.
Because of increased grain production, while taxes remained the same, the people had a lot of grain to sell to the imperial court.
"Your Majesty, this old minister has sent people to investigate. In the past, when grain production did not increase, many people were unable to pay their taxes."
The cause could be a natural disaster or other reasons.
But now that production has increased, although the tax revenue is still the same, the amount of grain collected is much greater than before.
"That's why this old minister knows about this matter," Tang Jian replied calmly.
He knew that His Majesty suspected them of increasing taxes.
Li Shimin's expression softened considerably after hearing this.
"Well, that's good. The people have only just begun to enjoy a better life. We can discuss taxes later. Send an imperial edict that no prefecture or county may increase taxes on their own."
Otherwise, if I find out, I will punish them severely without exception.
"Yes, Your Majesty, we obey." The three provinces quickly bowed.
They knew that the Tang Dynasty was now thriving, and anyone who dared to disrupt it would surely incur the wrath of His Majesty.
“Father, look how much Fifth Brother has done, and we will need him to continue experimenting with growing grain over there in the future.”
"Could we restore his title of Prince?" Li Shen asked, seizing the opportunity to ingratiate himself.
"Heh, a prince? You really dare to ask such a question. Tell me, did you promise the fifth prince something?"
Li Shen's words made Li Shimin laugh in anger. This scoundrel really dared to speak so boldly, even mentioning the title of Prince.
Li You is a criminal, and in the future, he would be lucky to get the title of a county prince, let alone a princely title.
The title of Prince will probably only be conferred upon Li You after his death.
"Well...you can't just give him the rank of county marquis, that's too low," Li Shen muttered.
(It has been verified that the Tang Dynasty did not levy a tax of one-fortyth of the population, but rather collected taxes based on the number of adult males.)