1125. Quietly returned to Beijing

Sure enough, only two days later, the good news came, the bandit army won a complete victory in one fell swoop, destroyed the thief's nest Pingsha Island, killed more than 200 enemies, captured more than 500 prisoners, and seized gold, silver, treasure, money and food.

Li Pojun immediately played and praised Chen Hong and the others.

The salt administration in Hai'an and Shanyang was successfully implemented, and other salt-producing areas in Jianghuai were also implemented in accordance with the experience and methods of these two pilot areas, and Gao Jifu was ordered to go to Hedong.

Li Pojun has been in Yangzhou for more than two months, eliminated more than 30 corrupt officials headed by Zhang Song, cut off nearly 10,000 people from the Cao Gang, a gang that endangers Cao Yun, and exterminated more than 1,000 people such as offshore sea bandits.

At this time, Li Pojun faced Li Shimin's recall, and there was no reason to resign, so he said goodbye to his eldest grandson Wuji, and Li Pojun stepped on the ship back to Beijing.

And Chang'an, Li Shimin is also pondering one thing, that is, the ceremony of sacrificing prisoners, Li Jing has completely purged the Eastern Turks, and the Dingxiang Governor's Mansion, Yunzhong Governor's Mansion, and Shunzhou Governor's Mansion on the grassland have been on the right track, for more than 300,000 Turkic households, Li Shimin also listened to the advice of Wen Yanbo, the new Zhongshu Ling, "all their tribes, follow their local customs, and realize their empty land", and scattered the Turkic people's large sums of money between the areas from Youzhou in the east to Lingzhou in the west, and the entire Eastern Turkic war lasted half a year from November last year to May this year, finally approaching the end.

Li Jing's army returned, and the next thing was the time to reward and promote the country's prestige.

As early as two months ago, when he was captured and returned to Chang'an, Li Shimin ordered all the countries of Zhuyi to send envoys to watch the ceremony, and today, envoys from Silla, Goguryeo, Tubo, Gaochang, Baekje, Wa, Cochin and other countries have all arrived in Chang'an.

Hold a world-class ceremony of sacrificing prisoners, when the military appearance is majestic, the flag covers the sun, showing the prestige of the Tang Dynasty, recorded in the annals of history, that belongs to his Zhenguan Emperor Li Shimin's merits, thinking of this, Li Shimin was excited.

"Jingzhong, is the prince back?" Li Shimin threw down the pen in his hand, twisted his waist and got up and asked.

Wang Jingzhong smiled bitterly when he heard this, and stepped forward to hand over a cup of hot tea, "Everyone, this is the fourth time you have asked today." His Royal Highness the Crown Prince left yesterday, and it should take two days before he can return to Beijing."

Li Shimin also shook his head and smiled when he heard this, "This prisoner dedication hall is a grand event, and it is a pity if he does not participate."

"The ceremony of sacrificing prisoners is five days later, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince can catch up, everyone hasn't eaten yet, let's eat something first." Wang Jingzhong smiled with wrinkles on his face.

Li Shimin was in a good mood and gladly responded.

Two days later, the sun set, the water surface was also rendered a faint golden yellow by the afterglow of the setting sun, the boats on the river came and went, there was a tall official ship particularly conspicuous, and the passing merchant ships avoided one after another.

Li Pojun came to the bow of the ship, and vaguely saw the tall silhouette of Chang'an City hidden in the afterglow in the distance, and he was also grateful in his heart, after going for nearly two months, he finally came back, and it was time for some people to pay the price.

Li Pojun came back and did not have any grand pomp and circumstance, only Li Zheng and Li Zhen were looking forward to it on the dock.

"Jingyang, look, it's coming." Li Zheng patted Li Zhen and pointed to the official ship near the dock and shouted excitedly.

Li Zhen also looked fixedly, and said with a smile: "Your Highness has also seen us."

As soon as the boat anchored, Li Pojun stepped off the boat and looked at the excited two and smiled: "What? It's only been two months since you haven't seen me, do you miss me like that? ”

Everyone returned to the city and went straight to the East Palace, although the news of Li Pojun's return to Beijing was not deliberately spread, but in Chang'an City, there were many people who were interested in learning the news for the first time.

In the East Palace, Cheng'en Palace, Xiao Qiu'er was busy greeting Li Pojun to bathe and change clothes, and went to prepare a table of Li Pojun's favorite meals.

"Is there anything that hasn't happened during this time?" Li Pojun took a sip of the West Wind Fierce and asked with a pout.

Li Zhen and the others also sat relaxed, and when they heard Li Pojun's inquiry, Li Zhen smiled and said: "There is nothing important in the army, everything is normal."

Li Zheng also continued: "Don't worry, Lang Jun, I'm normal here." The group is operating well, with stable monthly income and expenditure."

"That's good, Jingyang, you go back and tell Gongda to repair the text. Three days later, a ceremony will be held to present prisoners, and at that time it will be in the military parade, and the focus will be on the army. Li Pojun remembered the military parade he was going to participate in this time, and ordered emphatically.

Li Zhen nodded when he heard this, "Your Highness, rest assured, as early as a month ago, the imperial court notified that in addition to the participation of the entire army of the Shence Army in the military parade, the other twelve guards each selected 10,000 elites to participate, and the location was outside the Vermilion Bird Gate." This is a prosperous era, and the envoys of the four kingdoms have already arrived in Chang'an."

"10,000 people from each of the 12 guards, plus the 8,000 Divine Troops from my East Palace, wouldn't there be more than 120,000 people participating in this parade?" Li Pojun was also a little surprised.

He knows that this military parade is more important, at that time, Lili, Tuli and other Turkic princes and generals will participate, this is a ceremony to boast of martial arts, highlighting the prestige of the country, but did not expect to dispatch 120,000 people at a time, you must know that at this time there are more than 600 military governments in the country under the 12 guards, the national strength has reached more than 600,000 people, this is a regular army, 600,000 trained professional soldiers, not temporary soldiers, this time 120,000 people into Beijing, the capital strength doubled at once.

In peacetime, the defense of the capital is that the twelve guards take turns to transfer people and horses from the military government from all over the country to Beijing every two months, and the number of troops in Chang'an is about 40,000 or 50,000, which is why the original Li was able to reach the city of Chang'an, the world's troops are too scattered, after this, Li Shimin adjusted the military government, and the number of military offices in the entire Guannai Province and Gyeonggi Province reached more than 200, and the number of regular troops defending Gyeonggi reached 120,000.

"Yes, the imperial court attaches great importance to this military parade, the 120,000 troops have now gathered, scattered in the two large camps outside the city, we have all been to see it a few days ago, it is really worthy of the elite, although it is not as neat as the momentum of our Shence Army, but they are all veterans, that murderous spirit is really powerful, listening to people's jokes, even the birds are scared to change their routes, and there is not even a bird in Chang'an recently." Li Zhen also smiled with interest.

"Yes, Lang Jun, you didn't see it in the carriage when you entered the city, but now Chang'an City has even the streets are new, even every floor tile on Zhuque Street has been wiped down, and you can't find a broken and old floor tile, the people of Chang'an spontaneously took out their own ribbons for the New Year and tied them to the roadside trees, and the houses have been renovated, and the whole Chang'an City is like a paradise, but it is beautiful." Li Zheng also waved his hand excitedly and said, he always looked like a teenager in front of Li Pojun, after all, they grew up together.