sjar Chapter 1065 Arrival in Chengdu
Chapter 1065 Arrival in Chengdu
As Li Che rode on his horse, his gaze swept over the scene before him, and the romantic feelings he had felt because of Li Bai gradually settled in his heart.
With such treacherous terrain, large-scale troop movements and food supplies would be extremely difficult, making Shu a blessed land that is easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Conversely, it would be extremely difficult for the imperial court to effectively govern the Shu region and eradicate the roots of separatism.
We must open up roads and break down information barriers so that the economic lifeline and talent supply of Sichuan can be closely integrated into the Daqing system.
Shu brocade, well salt, medicinal herbs, tea... these profits should no longer be completely monopolized by local powerful families.
And those mountain tribes, while they may be a potential threat, are also forces that can be won over.
However, in Li Che's view, whatever the cost, it was all worthwhile.
Once Daqing truly possesses the Shu region, it will be like having a treasure trove, bringing it one step closer to prosperity.
Seeing Li Che deep in thought, Luo Yueniang assumed he was shaken by the perilous Shu Road and said softly, "Your Majesty, although this section is dangerous, it is still one of the better-maintained sections of the ancient road. Further ahead, especially near Jianmen Pass, the plank roads are even more treacherous."
"However, Your Majesty, rest assured, I am familiar with the route and have already dispatched local guides ahead to scout and mark the way, ensuring Your Majesty's safety."
Li Che snapped out of his thoughts and smiled at her: "It's alright. Every danger has its own scenery, and every difficulty has its own reason."
"My purpose in entering Sichuan this time is to personally experience the flavor of the Sichuan Road and to see how the people of Daqing have survived for generations in this treacherous land."
Luo Yueniang cupped her hands in greeting: "Yes, sir."
This was the first time she had ever seen an emperor like this, who, instead of going to prosperous places, insisted on going to remote mountain valleys, without complaining about the road conditions at all.
Perhaps that's why he was able to conquer the country.
. . . . . .
Several days later, after a difficult journey, the southern inspection team finally passed through the last mountain pass, and the view suddenly opened up before them.
The fertile plains stretch out under the thin autumn sun, with neat fields and crisscrossing ditches, and wisps of smoke rising from distant chimneys, indicating a growing population.
After traveling for most of the day, the majestic city walls and layered buildings of Rongcheng Prefecture stood clearly at the edge of the field of vision.
As the capital of Sichuan, Chengdu remained the core of Sichuan even after the Qing army peacefully took over.
The city's defenses have been taken over by the Qing army, and the soldiers at the city gates are gleaming with armor and their flags stand solemnly.
The Shu region is now under military control, and the Qing Army is the maintainer of order.
In name, the political power in Shu was held by the Prince of Jin, who was appointed by the emperor as the governor of Shu Province.
At this moment, outside the north gate of Chengdu, banners flutter and ceremonial guards are on display.
Prince Jin, dressed in his princely robes, stood at the head of the welcoming procession, gazing at the royal entourage slowly appearing at the end of the official road, his heart filled with emotion.
Six months ago, when he received the decree to take office as the governor of Sichuan Province, his feelings were complicated.
He was grateful that Li Che did not suspect him because of the past struggle for the throne, but instead entrusted him with an important task.
When he left the capital to take up his post, he secretly resolved to make a name for himself in Sichuan, to repay the court and the emperor's trust, and to prove his worth.
He was mentally prepared to spend the next seven or eight years managing affairs in Sichuan and not be able to return to the capital.
Unexpectedly, just six months later, the Emperor himself visited Sichuan.
The reunion came too quickly, catching him off guard and increasing the pressure on him.
While he was pondering, the emperor's carriage arrived nearby.
The Prince of Jin immediately composed himself, stepped forward a few paces, and led the civil and military officials from Shu behind him in a loud shout:
"Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome your presence! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The sound caused many people inside and outside the imperial carriage to frown slightly.
When Li Che arrived at the prefecture to greet him, the shouts of worship were uniform and conveyed a sense of sincere reverence.
At this moment, the shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" outside the Rongcheng government gate sounded rather sparse.
Many officials' bows were not deep enough, and their eyes, though lowered, did not show any respect.
It seems the local officials in Chengdu are still not satisfied...
At the very front of the group, Yue Yun frowned slightly, quietly tightening his grip on his spear, waiting for Li Che's command to unleash his fury.
Li Che, however, was slightly taken aback, but then he understood.
This is the difference between peaceful submission and overwhelming force.
The Shu army, led by Luo Yueniang, surrendered and witnessed the power of the Qing army.
However, most officials in Shu, especially those from aristocratic families, did not personally experience the flames of war.
Their understanding of the court and the emperor came more from rumors and word of mouth, lacking a deep sense of awe.
Luo Yueniang could control the army, but she could not change the inertia of the officialdom that had been formed over a century in an instant.
As the saying goes, "the emperor is far away and the sky is high," so Prince Jin's life has probably been difficult these past six months.
Inside the imperial carriage, Li Che neither spoke immediately nor lifted the curtain.
Outside the carriage, Prince Jin maintained his bowing posture, but his heart skipped a beat, and he secretly groaned.
He was well aware of what his men were thinking.
However, the deep-seated problems in Shu are difficult to reverse in the short term, and I'm afraid His Majesty will be angry.
Just then, the curtains of the imperial carriage were lifted by a slender hand.
Li Che did not wait for Qiu Bai to put down the footstool. He simply lifted the corner of his robe and nimbly jumped down from the carriage shaft.
His dark cloak billowed in an arc behind him, the movement swift and decisive.
His gaze first fell on the Prince of Jin at the front, a gentle smile appeared on his face, and he personally helped the Prince of Jin up: "Third brother, please get up quickly. The mountains are high and the roads are long. You have worked hard guarding the Shu region."
The Prince of Jin rose to his feet and said hastily, “Your Majesty’s personal visit to Shu is a blessing for us and for the people of Shu.”
He raised his head slightly, quickly glanced at the emperor's expression, and saw that his smile was warm, which reassured him somewhat.
But when he caught a glimpse of the officials behind him, still bowing their heads, he tensed up again.
Li Che patted his arm, then called out, "Tenth Brother, you come too."
In the carriage behind, Li Tan had already gotten out and was waiting. Upon hearing the voice, he immediately stepped forward and greeted the Prince of Jin: "Third Brother."
"Tenth brother." The Prince of Jin also smiled.
He and Li Tan were not familiar with each other. Back when he was still the Third Prince, Li Tan was just a little kid.
The age gap was too large to cultivate any affection, and there was little blood ties or kinship within the royal family.
But after all, there weren't many of Emperor Qing's bloodlines left alive. Although they weren't familiar with each other before, they felt a sense of closeness when they met again.
The three exchanged brief pleasantries, and the scene appeared to be one of harmonious brotherhood.
Behind them, a large group of officials from Sichuan remained bowing in greeting.
The emperor and the two princes chatted and laughed, completely forgetting their presence.
The autumn wind swept across the open space of the city gate, blowing on the backs of the officials who maintained their awkward postures. Time seemed to stretch out, and every breath became unbearable.
Their backs began to ache, their legs began to stiffen, and some of them had beads of sweat on their foreheads, but no one dared to move, let alone utter a word to warn them.
The emperor didn't even need to utter a reprimand to show his attitude: you are not respectful enough, so you are not allowed to rise.
The officials in Shu first gave Li Che a hard time, but they didn't expect that Li Che was the type to take revenge immediately and retaliated on the spot.
The Prince of Jin naturally sensed that something was amiss, and smiled bitterly to himself, knowing that it was time for him to step forward.
He couldn't let the situation remain deadlocked, allowing the emperor and the officials of Shu to fall into a clear antagonism from the very beginning, even though this antagonism was something the officials themselves had brought upon themselves.
He bowed again to Li Che, his voice even softer: "Your Majesty, the officials of Shu have long lived on the frontier, and their manners may be somewhat lacking, but they are still quite diligent in their duties."
"I was nervous and made some mistakes in welcoming Your Majesty today. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
Li Che seemed to have just noticed those people who were still bowing, his gaze sweeping over them indifferently, and the warm smile on his face faded slightly.
He didn't speak immediately, but remained silent for a moment.
"Since the Prince of Jin has pleaded on your behalf," Li Che finally spoke, "then you may rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"
This time, the voices were noticeably more synchronized and louder.
The officials straightened up, many of them secretly stretching their stiff backs and legs, their expressions complex.
The emperor's act of airing the emperor out was enough to make them realize that this young emperor was not someone who could be taken lightly or fooled.
"Let's enter the city," Li Che said to the Prince of Jin, no longer looking at the officials.
"Yes, Your Majesty, please." Prince Jin stepped aside to lead the way.
He knew this was just the beginning.
The waters of Shu were already murky, and with Li Che, this true dragon, entering the fray, the situation is likely to become even more chaotic.
Li Che did not ride in the imperial carriage again, but instead rode into the city side by side with Prince Jin and Li Tan.
Within the Rongcheng Prefecture, part of the former Shu King's palace has been converted into a temporary palace.
Li Che paid little attention to the scenery along the way.
Only after stepping into the main hall and dismissing all other people, leaving only the Prince of Jin and a few close confidants, did the gentle facade on his face completely fall away.
"Third Brother." He walked straight to the head seat and sat down, taking the hot tea that Qiu Bai offered. "You saw what happened at the city gate. Tell me, what is the state of Shu now?"
Upon hearing this, a bitter expression crossed the Prince of Jin's face:
"Your Majesty, the situation in Shu appears calm on the surface, but in reality, there are undercurrents and constant frictions. I can only do my best to maintain it."
Li Che nodded, signaling him to continue.
The Prince of Jin paused for a moment, then began to analyze the situation point by point: "Firstly, the army's morale is not entirely aligned. General Luo has surrendered out of a sense of righteousness, but the old troops of the Shu army still have mixed feelings."
"Minor skirmishes frequently occurred between them and the Qing army stationed there. They fought over water sources, camps, and verbal disputes. Although these did not escalate into major chaos, resentment gradually grew."
Upon hearing this, Luo Yueniang, who was standing to the side, also showed an angry expression.
These idiots have no idea what they're doing.
Leaving aside the fact that the Qing army was powerful and far beyond the Shu army's ability to defeat,
Take the current welfare of the Qing Army as an example. His Majesty treats the army extremely well. There are only benefits and no drawbacks for the Shu Army to integrate into the Qing Army system.
These idiots are courting death; they're really tired of living!
"Secondly, it is not easy to implement government orders. I was ordered to implement new policies, such as surveying land, rectifying officialdom, and promoting new learning... Each and every one of these measures infringes on the interests of local powerful families."
“They have been entrenched in the local area for generations, with deep roots and many eyes and ears in government at all levels. They either outwardly comply but inwardly defy, or shirk responsibility and delay, and some even incite uninformed people to resist the new policies.”
"My title as provincial governor is probably less effective outside of Rongcheng Prefecture than a single word from the head of a certain family."