Chapter 456: Clan Relatives
Luoyang, on the Lantern Festival, Li Yuan gave a banquet in Taiji Hall, and meritorious officials and Luoyang nobles gathered together.

There was the King of Jin who came all the way from Hedong, and the King of Chu, King of Zhao and other princes and grandchildren who accompanied him. As for the King of Qi, who was the host, he had little presence at the banquet and just frequently raised his glass to drink with others.

On the 17th, Jin Wang Li Xuanqing proposed to return north to Hedong, saying that if he didn't leave, he would miss the prosperity of Luoyang and would be reluctant to leave. After he went to the palace to bid farewell, Emperor Li Yuan personally saw him off to the palace gate, his reluctance was beyond words. Li Si saw him off all the way to Jinyong City.

"Okay, just walk a little further and we'll be almost across the river."

Li Sanlang joked with Li Si with a smile.

"Hahaha, then I'll send you here. Take care on your journey, brother."

"Okay, see you later."

"See you later."

Li San rode away with his personal guards.

Li Si stopped where he was and watched his brother leave before slowly returning to Luoyang. The guards on both sides were impressed by the deep brotherly love between the King of Qi and the King of Jin.

The King of Chu Li Zhiji and the King of Zhao Li Cheng'an, who came to see him off, were half a body length behind Li Si, one on the left and one on the right.

Li Zhiji is in his early twenties and Li Chengan is seventeen, but neither of them has done any specific work yet.

Ever since the sixth son Li Xiaozheng did a series of bad things, Li Yuan lost his power and was too embarrassed to mention these things to his older sons.

Li Er is now so busy that he naturally won't be in a hurry to promote his brothers and nephews.

After all, unlike distant relatives like Prince of Zhao Li Huaizhen, Prince of Hedong Li Cang, and Prince of Huaiyang Li Xuandao, close relatives pose a great threat to the emperor, especially very capable close relatives, who need to be guarded against even more.

So during the reigns of Cao Pi and Cao Rui, the clansmen in power in Cao Wei, such as Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen, were distant clansmen who posed no threat to the emperor, but what about Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi? One died young, while the other changed his fiefdom more frequently than he changed his clothes.

During the decades of the Former Yan Dynasty, the most common issues they had to deal with when conquering the world were the royal family. After peace was restored, Murong Ying alone killed no less than a dozen uncles and brothers.

But the situation in the Tang Dynasty is a little different. The power of Li San and Li Si was not given by Li Er.

As for his fifth brother Li Zhiji and his nephew Li Chengan, Li Er would definitely not give them the opportunity to engage in politics and command troops in the short term. Even if he wanted to use them, he would have to wait until he had secured his position. After all, the presence of his two brothers, the King of Qi and the King of Jin, was enough to make him wary.

Li Er didn't plan to give it, but Li Si had some idea about it.

On the way back, he tested the two of them and tentatively asked them if they had any ideas about doing something outside.

Li Cheng'an was very concerned about this and expressed that he wanted to contribute to the cause of the Tang Dynasty like his uncles.

Li Zhiji answered very cautiously, saying that everything would be arranged by his brothers, and that he did not have too many thoughts and remained low-key as always.

After returning to Luoyang, Li Yuanhui specifically mentioned this matter to Li Yuan. Li Yuan immediately said, "Very good, you can do it as you wish."

The reason why Li Yuanhui wanted his brothers and nephews to gain some experience was that he didn't want to spend money to support these people.

Moreover, Li Zhiji, the Prince of Chu, was the son of Concubine Wan. After Lady Dou passed away, Concubine Wan was very concerned about their food, clothing and daily life. This fifth brother was also a man who knew when to advance and when to retreat. This was very satisfactory.

As for the royal family, Li Yuanhui felt that he could not learn from the Ming Dynasty or the Song Dynasty. In history, the way Li Tang treated the royal family was actually quite good.

There were many useful people among the royal family, such as Li Yi, Li Gao, Li Shizhi, Li Mian, etc. However, not many of them rebelled, and there was no example of a royal family member becoming a powerful official and usurping the throne.

If there is, only Li Er can talk about it.

Therefore, Li Yuanhui planned to train his brothers and nephews in addition to distant relatives of the royal family. If used properly, they could be a good weight to balance the conflicts between factions.

For example, if the Jianghuai clique and the Shandong gentry are fighting for an official position, and the fight is fierce, then I put a member of the royal family in the position, and both sides may have nothing to say, and in the end they may even say that the lord is wise.

Moreover, it is also necessary to have several local officials from the royal family, which can effectively deter some powerful officials in the court. Of course, when Li Yuanhui was alive, there was no need to worry about this problem.

But in the long run, there are some things that require long-term preparation.

After discussion, the father and son decided to appoint King of Chu Li Zhiji as the prefect of Yingchuan and King of Zhao Li Cheng'an as the prefect of Chenjun.

Li Yuan actually wanted to say, why don’t you see if you can arrange a position for Lao Liu as well, but Li Si blocked his way before he could even say a word.

"Fifth brother and Cheng'an are steady, understand the overall situation, and know when to advance and retreat. They are not like Liu Lang, who is stupid and frivolous."

Since Li Yuanhui had said this, what else could Li Yuan say? He could only nod and sigh.

Li Zhiji and Li Cheng'an both had their own residences in the palace because they accompanied the emperor. Li Zhiji breathed a sigh of relief after seeing the imperial edict appointing himself.

The Queen of Chu was Wenxi Pei, the daughter of Prime Minister Pei Hongde. Seeing Li Zhiji's happy expression, she asked, "Your Majesty, as a prince, why are you so happy about this position of governor?"

In her opinion, even if the King of Chu could not compare with the King of Qi and the King of Jin, it was common sense for him to be remotely appointed as the governor of a state, or be granted an idle position of a general, as in the previous dynasty.

Li Zhiji shook his head and smiled, "The position of prefect? ​​When my second brother entered the government, he was the commander of Longxi County. At that time, my fourth brother had already married the emperor. When my fourth brother joined the army, he was just a captain. Later, he killed the generals in battle and captured the leader of the rebels. Only then was he promoted to Tiger Guard General. I have never liked military affairs since I was young. Now I have made great achievements and have been awarded the land of a county and govern tens of thousands of people. It is all because of my father and brothers' favoritism."

At this time, Princess Pei was also a little surprised, "What? Real appointment? Your Majesty really wants to go to Yingchuan to be the governor?"

She had just thought it was just an honorary position, so she thought the Emperor and the King of Qi were stingy. But after hearing the actual award, she began to think that the King of Qi was really generous.

Because the difference between reality and illusion is not a tiny bit. If you are asked to be a governor, you will really be able to manage the military and political affairs of a county.

On the other hand, King Zhao Li Cheng'an was also overjoyed after receiving this imperial edict.

Both of them went to Li Yuan to express their gratitude, and then went to Changchun Hall together to ask to see the King of Qi.

Going to Li Yuan is just a formality, and coming to Changchun Hall is to receive admonitions.

Li Yuanhui didn't waste too much time talking to them. He just reminded them of two things in a concise and to the point manner.

The translation is:

First, when you first arrive at a place, learn more from the county magistrate. Don’t rush into things you don’t understand. Everything should be based on stabilizing people’s livelihood.

Second, if you dare to imitate Lao Liu, I will skin you alive.
Upon hearing this, both of them said that Fourth Brother (Fourth Uncle) should not worry and would be careful and would never do anything wrong.

When they came out of Changchun Hall, their backs were soaked and their heads were covered in sweat.

"Fifth uncle, why is it that I usually see Fourth uncle's words and expressions are very gentle, and never seem to be as majestic as today? I was so frightened in the hall just now."

Li Cheng'an usually has a very good relationship with Li Si. When he was a child, Li Si often took him to the market and played with him, so the uncle and nephew are actually very close.

But today, Li Chengan felt that his fourth uncle had become a different person. Just a glance at him made him feel uneasy, as if his internal organs were seen through.
Li Zhiji let out a long sigh and said with a sense of relief: "You usually only see your fourth uncle, but today the two of us are meeting His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi, the General of Tiance."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan nodded, not quite understanding. He seemed to understand the difference between the two, but it was a little vague.

But Li Zhiji actually had something else to say: He is usually very friendly to us, and everyone inside and outside the court praises His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi for his kindness and generosity, but there are some things he says that you just have to listen to.

He was a man who dared to charge into a battle with dozens of men in the face of an army of thousands. He joined the army at the age of fourteen and had killed at least eighty people with his own hands. Do you really think he is a kind-hearted man with a kind face?

Li Cheng'an naturally didn't understand the hidden meaning of these words, but there was one thing he was sure of: from the moment he took over as the prefect, his fourth uncle would no longer look after his children.

If he makes a mistake, he will definitely be punished.

(End of this chapter)