Don't be a prince

After saying this, Li Shimin noticed that the eyes of the people in front of him changed.How should I put it, this look looks like he is looking at stinky shit.

A thin, black businessman spat and said, "Brother, what you said is really heartless. Not to mention that the bank was jointly established by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and several big families, and its reputation is guaranteed. Even the imperial court has enough money." Reputation. Seeing that your age has also passed through the end of the Sui Dynasty, have you forgotten how chaotic the world was at that time? Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, have you seen any large-scale wars? Even if Tuyuhun invaded today, it is not an inch I can’t enter, but I was blocked and sent back? Living in the Taiping period, we must cherish blessings and accumulate blessings. Even if the court pays back the money, at least I will not have any complaints. We are all from the Tang Dynasty, and the people of Jianghuai are suffering. Give me relief And it should."

The fat businessman nodded and said, "Brother, you still don't know what's going on with the bank. I heard that the bank will eventually return to the management of the imperial court. In this case, as long as the bank wants to, it just doesn't say hello and embezzles me. I don’t know about the deposits I’m waiting for. Now that the bank has clearly exposed the embarrassment, it shows that the court is open enough and has no intention of making deposits. The court respects us so much, how can we complain? When I was studying business with my father and brother, I knew a truth, business is profitable, although this line of business humiliates the ancestors, but also like a human being. If everyone is like a brother, what is too much in this world. "

After speaking, several people saw the team moving forward, and after looking at the emperor with contempt, they continued to move forward.

Surprisingly, even though those people had already left, the emperor still bowed his hands and saluted them off.

After straightening up, Li Shimin whispered to the left and right with emotion: "I am a villain in vain. It seems that I am still very popular in the Tang Dynasty. During the Taiping period, the people have not forgotten the disaster. What a blessing!"

After sighing, Li Shimin left the bank entrance in a happy mood.

The issuance of the national debt went very smoothly, and in just ten days, the Ministry of Household Affairs received a full 230 million guan and 450 two copper coins.This money, - has been the annual revenue of the national treasury for more than half a year last year.Not to mention disaster relief, it is enough to continue to fight Tuyuhun.

While the household officials were congratulating, Li Chengqian did not go to the court. Instead, he turned all the stores selling coal into charitable halls to raise money for free disaster relief.

The merchants in Datang did not have money and nowhere to spend it, but because their reputation was too bad. All merchants like to spend money to buy reputation.So given the opportunity, they are willing to do good things.Now the prince has organized a philanthropic hall, which just gives them a chance to make a good name for themselves.Li Chengqian, who is well aware of the thoughts of merchants, specifically told them to record how much money was invested by which merchant when organizing the philanthropy. No matter where the money was used, those who received the relief would know who the owner of the money was.

Doing good deeds should be praised and famous.

The money from the national debt and the money from donations did not actually leave Chang'an. It was just an official document, which would be cashed in Kuaiji Wuzhong and handed over directly to local officials for disaster relief.Simplified the process of disaster relief, do not know how much money will be saved.

"It was an unwritten rule in the officialdom at the end of the Sui Dynasty to keep three points for the money. Compared with the current officialdom at that time, the officialdom was changing day by day. From my point of view, the collapse of the society at the end of the Sui Dynasty was not entirely caused by Emperor Yang. Wrong, a gradually decaying officialdom is like a slowly rotting tree trunk, and it will die sooner or later." Drinking wine, Li Jing commented while sitting on the steps of the Engineering College.

Seeing that Li Jing's cup was empty, Li Chengqian filled it up for him: "Why do you remember that you came to see the hot air balloon at the Engineering College? Although we didn't hide the news, the courtiers thought it was nonsense. Even the emperor sent a letter He reprimanded us for our whimsical thinking, and should not waste money and food to do such a thing when the country is in crisis."

Speaking of this matter, Li Chengqian felt helpless for a while. The news of the hot air balloon was indeed revealed, but unlike his imagination, it did not cause much repercussions.In the eyes of these unimaginative people, the prince and the king of Wei are just fooling around.However, the shape of the hot air balloon has been changed several times now, and it has become a perfect shape. At least it is very stable when it is filled with hot air and tried to fly at low altitude.As long as the fire source and safety issues are resolved, it will definitely be able to fly.

After drinking a glass of wine, Li Jing said with a smile: "Others may be puzzled, but I won't. If it's just Wei Wang who studies it alone, I may doubt it, but His Highness is here, so no matter how bizarre things are, I won't be surprised." .”

Li Chengqian also poured himself a glass of wine and said, "It's not easy to be praised so much by you. However, I always feel that you came here to discuss other matters with me. Let me talk about it. I'm not in Chang'an now. It's not the prince, it's just your apprentice, who can say anything."

Li Jing rarely goes out now, not even going to court.Since he was awarded the title of Shangshu Pushe and Tejin, his official career has come to an end.As a military commander with outstanding military exploits, what he is most afraid of now is getting involved with something.Inaction is his current way of life.

"This old man wants to invite Ying to fight against Tuyuhun, does Your Highness want to go with him?"

"What?"

Hearing these words, Li Chengqian stood up straight away, looked at Li Jing in surprise and asked, "Are you going to fight Tuyuhun? Are you taking me with you?"

Looking to the west, Li Jing said firmly: "This old man believes that Tuyuhun will not just let it go, and with the emergence of national debts, the treasury that has leaked has been filled, and we have the conditions to go to war. Now the old man is sixty-three, If you don’t fight this time, I’m afraid you won’t have another chance in the future!”

Looking at Li Jing's firm eyes, Li Chengqian said without hesitation: "If you want to fight, I will go with you. It just so happens that my stay in Chang'an is extremely boring. If the hot air balloon is researched, it needs actual experiments to know. How does it work."

Chapter 312 Exploding Oil Tank

Li Chengqian also knows that Li Jing is not going downhill now, but has been downhill for a long time.

His whole life of fighting has left him with countless unmentionable diseases, which cannot be cured by his later life in the rich and noble village.His physical fitness has declined sharply, and he was still walking like flying before, but in the past two years, he can occasionally be seen limping when he goes to court.

I have been fighting on the battlefield all my life, and now it is about to end, so I have to go to the battlefield again.Tuyuhun happened to be an opportunity.

Li Chengqian knew very well that if Li Jing took the initiative to invite him to the battlefield, the emperor would definitely agree.I thought he knew very well that this would be Li Jing's last battle.Starting from Li Jing, Qiu Xinggong, Yu Chigong and others will gradually withdraw from the battlefield as candidates. This is an inevitable process.

Li Tai never participated in these topics, and carefully directed the craftsmen to scatter the hot air from the hot air balloon, and then ran over after taking the hot air balloon back.

"Brother Huang, everything is ready now, only the east wind is needed. As long as the fire raccoon and the flamethrower are formed, our hot air balloon can fly. Hmph, those bastards in the court are short-sighted, I must take the hot air balloon myself Show them."

Li Chengqian patted Li Tai helplessly and said: "Come on, you, hot air balloons are too dangerous. Anyone can get on them, but you can't. In my opinion, this thing may fall a dozen times before it will be released." It has become relatively safe, and if the fire raccoon and flamethrower still fail when the army is dispatched, then you just stay calm and don’t allow you to mess around.”

On this point, Li Chengqian is not prepared to accommodate.If Li Tai got on the hot air balloon and fell, he would definitely be in bad luck.

Li Jing is also very interested in hot air balloons. After hearing that Huanbu is a must for hot air balloons, he mobilized his own caravan to help find them.

Facts have proved that many people are powerful, and the Huanbu in the Western Regions was not found, but the asbestos mine was first found in Yumen Pass.

According to the local garrison, it can be inferred that the asbestos reserves there are definitely not low.Overjoyed, Li Chengqian immediately sent craftsmen from the Engineering College to Yumen Pass to check the situation, and it was best to come back with finished textiles.Asbestos has very good textile properties, so it makes no sense that it could be produced as early as the Han Dynasty, but it could not be produced in the Tang Dynasty.

The artisans sent out in July brought back the finished products in September.

Looking at the finished asbestos, Li Chengqian was so excited that he almost jumped up.

After doing experiments, asbestos is indeed a good heat insulation material. As long as the asbestos cloth is laid near the flame port of the hot air balloon, there is no need to worry that the flame will ignite the silk sphere.Now, the only problem left is the flamethrower.

Fortunately, the craftsmen of the engineering college are not vegetarian, and they don't have machine tools. They made the thread by hand, covered it with a thin layer of cowhide, and the pressurized jar was formed.Although such a tank is incomparable to a real pressure tank at all, when experimenting with water, it is found that the pressure is still very high.

After getting what they wanted, the hot air balloon finally started its first flight experiment.

Li Tai, who wanted to fight for the right to heaven, was scolded by Li Chengqian, and now he can only stay away.

Because it is an experimental nature, there is no one in the bamboo basket under the hot air balloon, only two unlucky pigs are tied up and placed in it.Li Chengqian was ready to waste this formed hot air balloon.

Everything was ready, except for Li Jing, there were no outsiders in the field.

"Intensify the fire, tighten the leash rope, and put on protective clothing for everyone near the hot air balloon."

Following Li Tai's instructions, the craftsmen began to prepare for the experiment in an orderly manner.

Although the flame from the flamethrower seems unstable, it is already the limit to be able to do this at this stage.

Hot air is poured into the hot air balloon continuously. With the fire source, the hot air balloon will not fall after flying for a while. The flames sprayed up from time to time make it have enough hot air for suspension.

The rope under the bamboo basket firmly binds the hot air balloon to the ground. Although there are many sandbags and two fat pigs inside the bamboo basket, it still floats. Already flying.

"The bamboo baskets are woven by the best carpenters in the engineering college. It's not a problem to bear a few hundred catties. All the ropes on the hot air balloon are the toughest cowhide ropes. Brother Huang, I don't know what danger there is. It doesn't matter if you go up alone. Bar."

Li Tai, who was robbed of the right to ride by the pig, looked depressed. In his opinion, the hot air balloon made by all the craftsmen of the engineering college is rigorous enough, and it is not a problem for the first time to be a person.

"Fart, no matter how strict the environment is, there will be negligence. Look clearly, how big is the oil tank in the bamboo basket, and the power of this thing is not weaker than a grenade when it explodes. Besides, the parachute has not been made yet. After people go to the sky, How to get down in an accident is still a big problem.”

Looking at the huge monster floating in front of him, Li Chengqian wished he could get farther away.To put it bluntly, this thing is the product of quick success and quick profit. Before a thorough experiment is made to confirm that it is relatively safe, it is a kind of destruction of life for a person to be a passenger.

Protective clothing made of asbestos is ugly and itchy if you accidentally touch it, but there is no better fireproof material in this day and age.

After putting on the protective clothing and making sure that everything is in order, Li Chengqian said to the craftsman who was pulling the rope: "Put the rope, let's see how high the hot air balloon can fly with the weight of two fat pigs."

Following Li Chengqian's order, the craftsmen who were pulling the ropes loosened their hands, and the hot air balloon began to rise slowly and firmly, flying over the roof in a few breaths.

"Look, Brother Emperor, there is no problem with the hot air balloon taking off, you still..."

boom!

Before Li Tai finished speaking, there was a roar from above, and the rain of fire immediately splashed all over the engineering college.

The oil can exploded!

He knew that there would be such a result, so Li Chengqian made preparations early.He personally led the team members to carry the bamboo baskets filled with sand, and together with the craftsmen, put out the fire with sand.

There were still very few flames that fell to the ground, so it didn't take long for the fire to be extinguished.

Li Tai ran out of the yard, looking at the broken hot air balloon hanging on the treetop, feeling so sad that he couldn't help it.

Obviously, you have already dealt with all aspects very seriously, why did you still fall short at the last minute?

Yan Liben was equally sad. This hot air balloon was the brainchild of the Engineering College during this period of time, but it just disappeared.

"The oil tank is still not safe enough. If the flight test is suspended until the problem with the oil tank is resolved, what we really lose is only the hot air balloon. If we don't have it, we can just build another one. There is no need to worry too much."

After comforting Li Tai and Yan Liben, Li Chengqian sent someone to find those two unlucky pigs. These two poor guys must have been cooked by now.

Fortunately, there were no people in this experiment, otherwise the fate would not be much better than that of pigs.

It didn't take long for the two charred pigs to be carried into the yard.Taking these two pigs as a negative teaching material, Li Chengqian once again emphasized the importance of "safety".

People in the Tang Dynasty, especially those at the bottom, generally don't take their own lives seriously, and there are many reckless people.It’s okay if you don’t explain the danger. After explaining the danger, there is absolutely no shortage of passengers in the hot air balloon.Everyone is keen on this opportunity to become famous, even if it means using their own lives as a bargaining chip.

The first test flight of the hot air balloon ended in such a hasty way. The improvement of the oil tank could not be completed in a short while, so Li Chengqian chose to return to the East Palace for the time being.

After the disaster in the Jianghuai River, the eight years of disaster in Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty will be completely over.For the rest, just as Li Jing predicted, Tuyuhun would not let it go. After being beaten up, he still didn't want to repent, and instead made a comeback, which completely annoyed Datang.

Li Jing invited him to go to Tuyuhun together, although it was unexpected, but he could roughly guess what he was thinking.

The current emperor Li Shimin himself was born as a commander. Because of this, the military life of the Zhenguan Dynasty, at least up to now, has been very easy.And the generals who are going abroad can also get a lot of autonomy.This generation is because the emperor understands that what will happen to the next generation is unknown.Therefore, Li Jing very much hopes that the next generation of emperors will also know about the marching, so as to have a good influence on the military.

It's fine if you don't live in the East Palace. After returning to the East Palace, you have to greet the emperor and empress.

Speaking of which, Li Chengqian did not resist paying his grandson greetings. After all, she was a mother, so greetings were still necessary.However, it is uncomfortable to greet the emperor.The more we get along, the more Li Chengqian understands how black-bellied this eternal emperor in history is.

Let’s say he is wise, indeed he is very wise. After successive battles against Jian Guo, he has swept the surrounding countries. Not all dynasties can compare with such a record.However, it is such a wise person who often commits foolishness, just like a normal person.What made Li Chengqian unable to complain the most was that the emperor was still wary of the East Palace. Perhaps, a creature like the emperor had never completely trusted anyone other than himself.

Early in the morning, after morning exercises and breakfast, Li Chengqian took Su Yuan into the palace to pay his respects.

First go to Liangyi Hall to pay respects to the eldest grandson, leave her behind after chatting for a while, and then go to Ganlu Hall. At this time, the emperor has probably finished his early court and is sorting out today's memorial.

After seeing the emperor at the right time, Li Chengqian saluted and said, "I send my respects to the emperor."

Li Shimin behind the desk glanced up, then lowered his head again and continued writing.

If they didn't speak, they could only bow and wait.Li Chengqian was very thankful that he didn't bend his waist very deeply when he saluted.

Perhaps because of a difficult problem, Li Shimin took a long time to deal with a stick of incense before he stopped writing a memorial. Seeing that the prince was still saluting, he said: "This is punishment for you to always escape from the East Palace when you have nothing to do. Ah, you are old and young. How come you don’t know that the crown prince is not in the Eastern Palace, and running around is the best impeachment target for the officials? You can go to the Ministry of Education and have a look. The memorial to impeach you every day will occupy A small half of the memorial."

Standing up straight, rubbing his sore waist, Li Chengqian curled his lips and said, "Those officials are counting on this to show their sense of existence. Only Wei Zheng and the others dare to impeach you. The queen mother was also the target of impeachment, but since you got angry From now on, no one will dare to touch Nilin. In comparison, Erchen, the prince, is not too big or small, and he is just right to hold. If they don’t impeach Erchen, who will be impeached? If you make some mistakes in normal times, just support them work."

"Hahahaha, I didn't expect you to say that, it's interesting. I heard that you and Qingque are studying Feitian? There is no shortage of people in the imperial court about impeachment. Tell me, are you kidding or for real? Are you sure?"

Li Chengqian found a chair and sat down and said: "Just today, the aircraft made by Erchen and Yi Qingque was able to fly two pigs into the air as high as a four-story building, but it exploded only because the oil tank was not safe. Wait." Once the tank problem is solved, it will be available to us as an aircraft."

"I've also heard about the movement of the Engineering College today. Although I haven't seen it, I can still imagine a large Kongming lantern. Although this thing can be regarded as flying with people, it is compared with real flying. It’s still a lot worse. Tell me, what’s the use of this thing?”

"Father, don't underestimate the hot air balloon. After it is fully developed, it can do a lot of things. First of all, it is used for military purposes. With it, our scouts don't have to work so hard. , as long as the hot air balloon flies high enough, you can have a clear overview of the battle situation. Furthermore, there are many poor mountains and rivers, where horse carts cannot pass, and supplies can only be distributed to individuals. With hot air balloons, the terrain is not restricted , you can carry whatever you want. In addition, hot air balloons are still a powerful offensive weapon, because our people sitting on hot air balloons can attack the people below, but the people below have nothing to do, because even if you are a bully Even crossbows can’t reach the flying height of hot air balloons.”

Listening to Li Chengqian's explanation, Li Shimin's expression became more and more serious. Indeed, hot air balloons do have many uses, especially for the army, they can be said to be unparalleled weapons.

"You are so anxious to develop hot air balloons, I am afraid that it will be used in the battlefield in the future. Li Jing wrote me a private letter, saying that he wanted me to allow the prince to lead troops to the expedition. Li Jing asked to go to war. I thought of it, but I didn't." Thinking that he would want to take you with him. I have guessed Li Jing's plan to some extent, but whether to go or not, the choice is still yours, how about it, do you want to lead troops out once?"

Li Chengqian nodded without hesitation, not to mention that staying in Chang'an is depressing, even if he wants to go to the battlefield again in the future, it will be an extravagant hope for him.To the emperor and prince, the ministers are like old ladies who never give them the chance to do dangerous things.

This time there is Li Jing leading the army, and he can still go out. Next time, there will be absolutely no chance.

Chapter 313 A Lifetime

Swordsmanship, archery, boxing skills, if you have learned these, if you can't use them, wouldn't it be a waste of learning?

Although Li Chengqian felt that the saying "a gentleman should not stand under a dangerous wall" was a classic, it did not prevent him from yearning for the battlefield.What a manly man, what can he do if he doesn't go to the battlefield once in his life!

However, there is still something wrong with what the emperor's father said.Li Chengqian keenly captured the sentence "You want soldiers to fight".

Arching his hands, Li Chengqian said helplessly: "Although I have learned the art of war with Duke Wei and have been on the battlefield, it is difficult for me to lead the troops myself. Tuyuhun is not Gaochang. If you really want to count, he can only It is weaker than the Eastern Turks, and it is a powerful country. In the face of such a country, Wei Gong is the right chief. But if you arrange a deputy chief or a junior chief for your minister, your minister will not mind."

Li Shimin laughed loudly: "It's okay, I know how to be modest, but ah, do you think it's so easy to be a manager? Although he doesn't have the power to attack independently, it is not easy to successfully complete the tasks assigned by the superior. You must know that among the generals of the Zhenguan Dynasty, there were only a few who could serve as the general manager, and the rest were not even qualified. Do you think you are qualified to be the general manager?"

Li Chengqian smiled awkwardly.

"Since Li Jing wants to take you to the battle by name, I have no reason to stop it. It is good for you to see more of the battlefield. With personal protection, although you can't go to the battlefield in person, it's still better to stop by on the battlefield. No problem. After the hot air balloon is researched, remember to send me one."

After speaking, the emperor picked up the memorial and continued to deal with government affairs.

Longyou Dilong turned over, the Jianghuai flood, plus the incidents of the Liao clan in the southwest, the accumulation of events in the eight years of Zhenguan has accumulated much more than before.Not only are the three provinces and six ministries not free, even the emperor sleeps from three to five. Li Chengqian is very fortunate to have ended the supervision of the country before the disaster happened.

Now that the emperor started to deal with government affairs, Li Chengqian stood up and said goodbye. It would be the most troublesome to discuss government affairs.

Speaking of it, even Li Shimin is a wise bumpkin.Although the successive battles at the end of the Sui Dynasty broadened his horizons, and many things he did in the early days of his administration were in the interests of the people, but as time passed, the accumulated horizons were exhausted.For example, the arrangement of rescuing fertile land after a flood is very mindless.Only those who have lived through the flood know what it will be like.The fertile land has been "buried alive" by the silt, so there is no need to salvage it. It is more cost-effective than rescuing the land on the silt, and it is even more valuable, because the silt itself is very suitable for farming.

When returning to Liangyi Hall, the eldest grandson was chatting with Su Yuan, Zheng Huan, it would be better not to bother the son.Therefore, Li Chengqian entered the Xiyu Pavilion in Changle.

The marriage contract between Changle and Tang Shanshi has just been finalized, and now she is losing her temper.Seeing the emperor's brother coming in, he also ignored him.

"Okay, didn't you just make a marriage contract without your consent? Marriage matters, parents' orders, there is no room for us to speak. Didn't I know your crown prince and sister-in-law at all?"

Changle, who is 12 years old this year, looks more and more lovely, completely worthy of her "beautiful" name. From Li Chengqian's point of view, Tang Shanshi, a nerd, was able to marry Changle because of his ancestors' good deeds.

"Although you and the emperor's sister-in-law haven't seen each other, didn't you often see each other before marriage? You still wrote letters for fun? Of course you don't care. The emperor's wife is so beautiful and has such a good temper. I don't know What kind of person is Tang Shanshi, I don't know what he looks like. If he has a pockmarked face, why should I choose him as a son-in-law?"

"Marry, why choose a son-in-law? Although the princess-in-law Shang is similar to marrying into a family, but look at those who have turned the relationship into a marriage. How can there be a harmonious and beautiful one? From the perspective of the emperor, if you marry in the past, you shouldn't put it aside." According to the princess's profile, you can't live in the princess mansion, but you should move to the Tang family to live, and you should honor your in-laws as you should, and only in this way can you live comfortably."

"Ah? Then, am I not the same as an ordinary common people's girl?"

"What you want is generalization. Do you think Princess Shang is a good thing? Which of those sons-in-laws don't want to be a son-in-law? Although Princess Shang is an honor, don't you think that people who don't get the princess are not so envious? It’s the rules, but how you do it is very important.”

"Oh...."

After finally explaining clearly to Changle what to do after marriage, Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief.

I didn't know it before, but now I know it in ancient times. The relationship between the princess and the son-in-law is really like a married couple.They are all young talents, whoever has a bent back, so the general Princess Shang is either a handsome official with no family background, or the second son of a big family, such as Fang Yiai, such as Du He. Even Tang Shanzhi was Tang Jian's fifth son.

The sons other than the eldest son had no way of inheriting the title, so they had to find their own way out.Princess Shang, the second son is the most suitable, and the eldest son, Princess Shang, is not shameful enough.The reason why the emperor wants to give Changle to Changsun Chong is because Changsun Chong is the eldest son, and using other princesses does not respect the eldest grandson's family enough.

I don't know if Changle listened to it, but Li Chengqian felt that it was probably hanging, and he could guess it from her listless appearance.