sjar Chapter 968 The New Governor of Sichuan Province
Chapter 968 The New Governor of Sichuan Province
Li Che always kept his word, and although it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, he quickly changed into casual clothes.
He rode to the Prince of Jin's residence with only a small team of imperial guards and Ying Bu, who was on duty that day, along with Li Lin.
Upon arriving at the gate of the Prince of Jin's residence, the soldiers guarding the entrance instinctively tried to stop and question anyone approaching.
But when he saw Li Che, who was surrounded in the middle, his expression immediately changed and he knelt down on one knee.
Li Che immediately raised his hand to stop them from making a sound, and asked in a low voice, "Don't make a sound. Is the Prince of Jin in the mansion?"
Prince Jin is currently under house arrest, so he is naturally staying at his residence.
He asked this question to inquire what the Prince of Jin was doing at that moment, so as not to intrude and stumble upon an awkward scene.
The leading soldier lowered his voice and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Jin is in the kitchen, it seems he is... cooking."
"Cooking?" Li Che and Li Lin exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.
This third brother, confined to his home, actually has the leisure to study the art of cooking?
This piqued Li Che's curiosity.
He ordered everyone to wait outside and not to make a sound.
He quietly entered the Prince of Jin's residence with only Li Lin and Ying Bu.
The mansion was quite quiet. After walking a short distance through the front yard, we heard the sound of spatulas clattering from the direction of the kitchen.
"The key to making this hot pot chicken is to first cook the chicken until it's done, let it cool, and then shred it into pieces by hand."
"When the oil is about 70% hot, add the chicken to the pan and stir-fry with the sauce until fragrant. Immediately turn the heat to low and simmer slowly to let the flavors meld. This way, the chicken won't become tough and will have a tender and smooth texture..."
Upon recognizing the Prince of Jin's voice, Li Che was truly at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
This third brother has actually become a cook, and the recipes sound quite convincing.
He no longer concealed his presence and said with a smile, "Third Brother, you seem to be in high spirits. While Fourth Brother and I are busy in the court, you are at home, diligently researching gourmet food. You are so leisurely, I am truly envious."
The words had barely left his mouth when the sounds from the kitchen abruptly ceased.
Immediately afterwards, the Prince of Jin, wearing a plain apron, hurriedly came out, his hands still stained with a little oil.
Upon seeing Li Che and Li Lin arrive in person, he was first startled, then hurriedly prepared to bow: "Your subject greets Your Majesty..."
Li Che stepped forward, reached out and supported his arm, preventing him from bowing down: "Third Brother, there are no outsiders here, we are all family, no need for formalities."
The Prince of Jin rose to his feet, his expression returning to calm, though a hint of doubt lingered in his eyes: "What brings Your Majesty here today?"
Li Che always said what he meant and never beat around the bush, so he said directly, "First, I came to see Third Brother and see if you've been doing well during your confinement."
"Secondly, there are indeed some things I'd like to discuss with you."
The Prince of Jin remained expressionless, nodded, and then said, "Then... Your Majesty, why don't you wait for me for a while?"
"This hot pot chicken will be ready soon, and my brother and I will eat and chat."
Upon hearing this, Li Che became interested and nodded with a smile: "No rush, no rush, I will try my third brother's cooking today."
Li Che and Li Lin were invited by the Prince of Jin to wait in the main hall. Then the Prince of Jin really left the two of them behind and hurriedly went to cook.
The two didn't mind and chatted for a while, when suddenly they smelled a fragrant aroma coming from the doorway.
"Hmm? It smells so good!" Li Lin took a deep sniff, a look of surprise on his face. "Third brother, this dish smells so good?"
Li Che was also surprised. The aroma alone was enough to whet one's appetite, and it didn't seem like something a novice could make.
Before long, the Prince of Jin walked in carrying a plate of hot dishes, followed by several servants.
Three dishes and a soup, steaming hot and with an enticing color.
Besides the most fragrant hot pot chicken, there was also a Kung Pao shrimp, a stir-fried tofu, and a bowl of vegetable soup.
Looking at the dishes that looked so appetizing, Li Che couldn't help but praise, "I thought that Third Brother was just cooking for fun when he had nothing else to do, but I didn't expect him to have really developed a real skill."
This time, the Prince of Jin did not feign modesty. While serving the dishes, he said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, I have devoted myself to this matter these past few days and have gained some insights."
"I am not boasting, but with my skills now, I should have no problem finding a restaurant to be the head chef."
"Hahaha!" Li Che laughed heartily, "Then I shall have a good taste of it today!"
The three sat down and began to eat.
This dish looks delicious, and the taste is even better than expected.
Hot pot chicken is spicy and fragrant, with tender chicken meat; Kung Pao shrimp balls are sweet and sour, with tender shrimp meat; stir-fried tofu is rich and delicious, and goes perfectly with rice.
Li Lin nodded repeatedly as he ate, exclaiming, "Delicious! Truly delicious!"
Li Che smiled and nodded, "They say governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. If you can cook with such skill, it seems you haven't neglected the art of governing a country either."
Prince Jin knew that Li Che's words had a hidden meaning, so he put down his chopsticks and asked, "Your Majesty has come in person, surely you have already decided how to deal with me?"
He was mentally prepared to accept either long-term imprisonment or being stripped of his title and demoted to a commoner.
Compared to his brothers who died in the struggle for the throne, he was already incredibly lucky to be able to live out the rest of his life in peace.
Li Che chewed the chicken nugget in his mouth, swallowed it, and looked at him calmly:
"Third Brother, I wish to send you to Shu. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, the Prince of Jin paused slightly in his chopsticks, a look of surprise flashing across his face before he regained his composure.
He thought for a moment, then smiled wryly and said, "Your Majesty intends to exile me to Shu? Very well, it's a remote and peaceful place with high mountains and long roads."
"Third brother, you've misunderstood. It's not exile."
Li Che picked up another piece of hot pot chicken with his chopsticks. The chicken was tender and juicy, and the sour and spicy flavor was very appetizing. He liked it very much.
After finishing his meal, he said slowly, "I intend to establish a province in Shu. I need a capable minister to serve as governor, to oversee civil administration and pacify the local area."
"After thinking it over, Third Brother, you are the most suitable candidate."
"Governor?" Prince Jin frowned slightly. He was familiar with this official position; it belonged to an administrative unit after the reform.
As the name suggests, a provincial governor is the head of a province, undoubtedly a powerful regional official.
He was filled with doubt and unease. He was guilty of 'killing his brother,' and although there were reasons for it, he had still broken a taboo.
Li Che not only did not punish him, but also wanted to entrust him with an important task, which was beyond his expectations.
Li Lin watched from the side, fully aware of the situation.
The sixth brother has always been unconventional in his approach to hiring, judging people solely by their abilities and disregarding personal relationships.
The reason for choosing Prince Jin was not only to show goodwill to the imperial clan, but also because Prince Jin was indeed suitable for the position.
He interjected, "Third Brother, His Majesty truly wants to use you. Now that Shu has been newly pacified, everything is in need of rebuilding. Although the Qiang and Man tribes have suffered heavy losses, the hidden dangers have not been eliminated, and the old troops of Shu also need to be properly resettled."
“These are things that only a capable minister can do. Your outstanding achievements in Jin have been seen by His Majesty, and he thought of you first.”
Li Che took over the conversation, his tone sincere: "Third Brother, I know you have lofty ambitions and are not one to settle for mediocrity."
"I've confined you for six months, firstly to give the world an explanation, and secondly to allow you to calmly reflect on your mistakes. Now that your wrongdoings have been punished, it's time for you to come out and do something practical for the court and the people of this world."
"Sichuan is a land of plenty with great potential, but its people have suffered from years of division and war."
"I need someone to go there to implement the court's new policies, to build roads, encourage agriculture, promote education, and appease displaced people... to make Sichuan a solid southwestern cornerstone for my Daqing."
Upon hearing Li Che's candid words, the Prince of Jin remained silent for a moment. Instead of immediately expressing his gratitude, he asked, "What specific strategies does Your Majesty have for Shu? I need to know how to proceed."
Seeing that he was interested, Li Che knew that the matter was mostly settled, so he explained in detail: "The most important thing is to pacify the people, abolish the old exorbitant taxes in Shu, implement a unified tax system of the court, and reduce the burden on the common people."
"Secondly, the Ministry of Works has begun to explore the Shu Road and plan to build an official road connecting Guanzhong and Shu. You must fully cooperate, as this is a century-long plan to open up the lifeline of Shu."
"Furthermore, the imperial court will establish libraries in various parts of Sichuan to select poor students from Sichuan to study and take the imperial examinations."
"Finally, regarding the Qiang and Man tribes, we should use both suppression and appeasement. Those that have already submitted should be placed under the control of local chieftains, but we need to gradually implement the policy of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials, bringing them under the direct jurisdiction of the imperial court. As for those who are stubborn and unyielding, we should mobilize the army to resolutely annihilate them without any mercy."
Li Che paused, then looked at the Prince of Jin: "These matters are all extremely difficult, and they will affect the interests of local powerful families, former officials, and even tribal chiefs. The resistance will inevitably be considerable."
"Third Brother, do you dare to take on this important task?"
The Prince of Jin took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slightly.
Clearly, Shu was a completely new stage, far more complex than his methodical governance in Jin.
Although the death of the King of Qin left him somewhat disheartened, the ambition inherent in the Li royal family remained deep within him.
After a moment's thought, he stood up, straightened his robes, and bowed solemnly to Li Che: "I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's trust and high regard!"
"Your Majesty, I am willing to go to Shu. I will do my utmost to implement new policies, pacify the people, and safeguard this southwestern gateway for Your Majesty!"
"Good!" Li Che clapped his hands and laughed, personally getting up to help him up. "With Third Brother's words, I can rest assured!"
"Get up and continue eating. It would be a shame if the food got cold, given your third brother's culinary skills."
The three brothers, the emperor and his minister, looked at each other and smiled, instantly making the atmosphere at the banquet more relaxed and lively.
Li Lin joked, "Third brother, when you go to Sichuan, don't forget your cooking skills. When we come to visit you, you'll have to cook for us yourself!"
The Prince of Jin smiled, the gloom between his brows vanishing: "Fourth brother, rest assured, I dare not say anything else, but my culinary skills will certainly be perfected."
Li Che looked at his two elder brothers with a sense of satisfaction.
Power is certainly tempting, but he did not want to be a lonely figure, which is why he never aimed to consolidate imperial power.
Emperors are political beings; the more powerful an emperor is, the further he is from humanity.
At least for now, Li Che doesn't want to leave the human species.
He raised his wine glass and said sincerely, "I wish my third brother a smooth journey to Sichuan and a swift success!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"