The people are prosperous, but the court seems a bit deserted. Every official is very busy. Since the prince got sick, even the Shuwei meetings were held relatively few. The Shuwei ministers performed their own duties. If there was no major problem, just hold meetings and communicated one-sidedly. This is all required by Han Yi, because if there were too many meetings and the prince was not there, the power would be concentrated on him alone, because he was the Shangshu Ling and the head of civil officials. At this meeting, he had to make the decision. If he was used to making the decision, everyone would follow his leader.

In order to avoid this, Han Yi first arranged all the tasks and did their own things. He was still full of confidence in this political team.

But since Li Hong fell ill, Li Zhi has also been paying attention to the movements in the court. Of course, he knew that Han Yi was avoiding excessive power. But if the problem continued like this, the Tai Chi Palace would probably face sluggishness and lack of cohesion. That would not work. If the court did not have cohesion, then it would be meaningless as the emperor in front of him. Now he can move freely, but his eyesight has not recovered and he cannot review memorials, but it is still possible to hold a meeting.

So Li Zhi held a key meeting, which also indicates that he would come out to preside over government affairs.

"Thanks to my dear friends during this period of illness."

At the beginning, Li Zhi was of course expressing gratitude. Han Yi and the others also played the old tune again, such as eating the king's fortune, sharing the worries and the matters of the king.

After the hypocrisy, Li Zhi asked: "How is the new policy implemented now?"

Han Yi said: "Report to Your Majesty, Chang'an's household registration replacement and land printing are coming to an end. Although it will take several months for Jianghuai, Jiangnan and other places, it is still relatively smooth. However, many reforms in history were very smooth at the beginning, but then many problems broke out. Therefore, I believe that this cannot be considered a success at the moment."

Li Zhi smiled and said, "You still speak so easily, and you always leave room for yourself."

Han Yi said: "Your Majesty, planning is up to people, and success is up to heaven. There is nothing to do. I dare to guarantee that I will succeed, but I am full of confidence in the new policy."

Li Zhi pointed to Han Yi and said, "But this new policy has changed many traditional policies. Is it really no problem at all?"

Wang Xuandao said: "There are many problems. For example, when those who had hidden household registrations were replaced, it was difficult to verify. We could only cooperate with the gentry, but the big problem has not been discovered yet."

Cui Jie said: "Your Majesty, the new policy of the court is very different from the past. In the past, all policies were issued together and all regions were implemented at the same time. Therefore, many small problems will accumulate and explode, which will become a big problem. The new policy of the court is gradually issued, and the time limit for the implementation of the new policy is also different. Chang'an must fully implement the new policy this year, but the new policy can be fully implemented within two years. Therefore, difficulties arise one by one, not one by one, so the court can be at ease."

"I see."

Li Zhi nodded slightly and smiled, "It seems that I did not choose the wrong person at the beginning!" When he said this, he suddenly remembered something, "I have heard that many very amazing technologies have appeared in the people recently, such as the hydraulic spinning machine of the Cao brothers in Sanmenshan, which is said to have amazed the world."

Han Yi said: "Report to Your Majesty, the hydraulic spinning machine of the Cao brothers is indeed very amazing, because it greatly increases the spinning speed and increases by thirty or forty times."

Li Zhi frowned slightly and said, "I have heard of this, but I am a little worried about it. Farming and serenity are the livelihood of the people. Will the emergence of hydraulic spinning machines have an impact on the people?"

Han Yi said: "My colleagues also considered this matter at that time, but I think it won't, but it will promote Sang's development."

Li Zhi said oh, "How do you say this?"

Han Yi said: "Because hydraulic spinning machines can consume more silk, and silk is not only needed by the people of the Tang Dynasty, but also an important commodity exported to the northwest region. When there are enough hydraulic spinning machines, more mulberry fields are needed to support them. People only need to plant mulberry and no longer spinning."

Di Renjie said: "At first we didn't believe it, but Shangshu Ling said it quickly. It is said that many merchants went to the northwest to develop mulberry fields. Because mulberry trees are drought-resistant, they can plant barren lands. There are many barren lands in the northwest, and the surrounding area is deserted and food cannot be grown. These places can be used to plant mulberry trees."

Han Yi said: "According to statistics from our Ministry of Revenue, by the second half of next year, the mulberry fields in the northwest will increase by about 5 million mulberry fields, and mulberry fields also need to be managed. This will bring people's livelihoods and will also bring considerable taxes to the court."

Li Zhi said in surprise: "Five million acres?"

The imperial court tried its best to persuade farmers and sericultures, but it did not have such good results. It was still going to the northwest to explore, not in front of the house, which was unimaginable before.

Han Yi smiled and said, "To sum up, the same thing is said, the world is bustling for profit, and the world is bustling for profit."

Li Zhi laughed when he heard this. Of course he was happy to have a tax of one million acres, but at the same time he felt a little disappointed. These ministers did everything perfectly. Without him, why did he do the meeting? Suddenly, he looked at Li Ji who was about to fall asleep on the side and said, "Sikong."

Of course, Li Ji did not fall asleep and nodded and said, "The old minister is here."

Li Zhi asked: "Are the border areas stable lately?"

Li Ji was about to say that everything was fine, but he remembered the letter from Pei Xingjian, but before he could tell Li Zhi, he was stunned.

Li Zhi asked, "Is there something happened there?"

Li Ji hurriedly said: "The surrounding areas have been very stable recently and there has been no trouble. It is just Pei Xingjian's letter asking the court how to deal with Xiao Bolu. The old minister felt that this matter was not very anxious, so he wanted to wait until His Majesty is in better health before reporting to His Majesty."

"If I had no understanding and support from Sikong and my dear friends, how could I have been able to recover from my illness with peace of mind?"

Li Zhi nodded gratefully and asked again: "What's the situation over there?"

Li Ji immediately informed Li Zhi of Pei Xingjian's letter.

When Li Zhi heard this, he couldn't help frowning, and looked angry. He glanced at Li Ji a little. Seeing that Li Ji seemed to be ready to move, he suddenly slapped the table and said, "This Tubo is really deadly. It seems that it's time to teach them a lesson."

Han Yi couldn't help but be shocked. He thought Li Zhi was very tolerant. Now that the country has just experienced a major crisis, the war is about to start again. This is not Li Zhi's style.

Li Zhi asked Li Ji again: "Sikong, if we send troops to Xiao Bolu, how likely will we win?"

Li Ji replied: "From the letter sent by Pei Xingjian, he is sure to drive the Tubo forces out of Xiao Bolu, because the main force of Tubo is still deployed in Tuyuhun, and our army has the four towns of Anxi as support there. In addition, the people in the northwest are also deeply dissatisfied with this. We have the right time, place, and people."

Li Zhi nodded and asked again: "What if Tubo refuses to give up?"

Li Ji said: "Report to Your Majesty, because the new policy has increased the reward for military merits, the morale in the army is high, and the soldiers want to obtain military merits. If Tubo dares to provoke again, we don't need to be afraid. This soldier comes to block the generals and the water comes to cover the earth." In his tone, he was full of confidence, and the generals of the Tang Dynasty really had no reason or unconfidence.

Li Zhi nodded and smiled, "I will feel relieved if I have Sikong's words."

Don't worry? What do you want to do? Ren Zhigu hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please think twice before you act. Although Tubo is abominable, the country has not yet emerged from the crisis. The finances are still in debts of tens of millions of yuan. If you start a war rashly, it will be unfavorable to the country and the country."

Li Ji snorted: "The Xiaobolu is a strategic place, how can we give up people easily? Moreover, if the court ignores this, it will also make the Western Regions countries turn to Tubo. This will increase the strength of Tubo over there and is extremely unfavorable to the Great Protectorate. This is also the reason why Pei Xingjian sent a message. Xiaobolu is determined not to allow Tubo to occupy it."

"Sikong's words are reasonable, and I think so. Xiao Bolu must be taken back." Li Zhi nodded, looked at Han Yi, and said, "Shangshu Ling, you have always been in charge of this finance. Although the recovery of Xiao Bolu does not require mobilizing a large amount of manpower and material resources, the court must also prevent Tubo from invading. Can the court now take out enough food and grass to deal with it?"

Han Yi was really unable to understand Li Zhi's thoughts at this time, because Li Zhi held a meeting for the first time this year. After pondering for a while, he said: "There is still a lot of food and grass. Ganzhou and Shanzhou have always been farming, and they can also transfer the food and grass in Yizhou, but."

"That's all!" Li Zhi interrupted him with a wave of his hand and said, "Although we are not fully prepared, I see that Tubo may not be ready for a decisive battle with my Tang Dynasty. This time I want to see how brave Lu Dongzan has to fight with my Tang Dynasty. Sikong, you immediately send a message to Pei Xingjian and ask him to send troops to retake Xiaobolu, and no inch of land can be given to Tubo. In addition, send a message to Wang Fangyi and Wang Xuance, so that they can prepare for war. At the same time, let Su Dingfang be prepared. Once Tubo dares to invade Tuyuhun, immediately lead Liangzhou and Shanzhou troops into Tuyuhun."

He was not saying that he wanted to start a full-scale war, he just wanted to regain Xiao Bolu, but once troops were sent, this might lead to a full-scale war, and he must prepare for it.

Li Ji was extremely excited and stood up and said, "Old minister obeys the order."

Zhang Wenguan, Liu Xiangdao, Cui Jieren and the others were stunned. Including Han Yi, he asked Wu Kelie and others to go there to create public opinion, and to force Lu Dongzan to negotiate. He really didn't expect that he would backfire. What puzzled him even more was that Li Zhi suddenly became so domineering this time and started a war with a disagreement.

Zhang Wenguan said excitedly: "Your Majesty!"

"I have decided, so there is no need to discuss this matter."

Li Zhi said very firmly.

Cui Jieren and the others were almost fainting. Are you possessed by Emperor Yang of Sui?

Li Zhi made such a hasty decision on such a major matter, which has never happened in Li Zhi's political career.

But Li Zhi really did not make a hasty decision. He had thought about it carefully. Although he had been ill in bed, it did not mean that he knew nothing. Whether it was for the outside or the inside, he needed to immediately regain Xiao Bolu.

Because the crisis made him look dirty and he was a little embarrassed. Although he pushed Wu Meiniang over, he was the emperor and Wu Meiniang's power was also given by him. Originally, he could use the new policy to re-establish his prestige, but at the critical moment, he fell ill again, which meant that he had nothing to do with the new policy. It was Han Yi and the others who were doing it, so Han Yi's prestige is very high now.

Now the new policy is implemented very smoothly, and there is no major event in the court. He cannot come out, and it is embarrassing to come out. The people below do everything very well. He needs to take some action so that the emperor's authority can be re-established and unite people's hearts.

He knew that Xiao Bolu was annexed by Da Bolu, who was supported by Tubo, but he had no time to worry about the other side at that time, but this matter was to be dealt with. Xiao Bolu was the key to the countries in the Western Regions. If the Tang Empire wanted to control the countries in the Western Regions, it would not be lost here.

You should know that Li Zhi's ambition has always been quite good. It was because his health was not good, which made him lack confidence and dare not speak all his words, but he has been silently doing things that the emperors can't do.

Emperor Yang of Sui and Li Shimin did not destroy Goguryeo, so he must destroy Goguryeo. Emperor Wu of Han was so arrogant that he did not fight to West Asia in the end. Now the Tang Dynasty could compete for overthrowing West Asia, because the Tang Dynasty no longer said that it would be stationed in the Pamirs. Because Han Yi's Northwest Major Plan was successful, he did not implement the system of restraint and established a prefecture and county system, which gave the Tang Dynasty actual control over the Pamirs, and it was very stable there. In other words, the Tang Dynasty now has the strength to advance westward. If the Tang army attacked West Asia, then he would surpass Emperor Wu of Han, and his civil and military achievements were incomparable.

Anyway, this matter will be dealt with sooner or later. If it is handled now, it will be in line with Li Zhi’s own political needs.
Chapter completed!