Dual monarchy can basically be said to be the ultimate form of monarchy.
The system of the Manchu Qing Dynasty was actually a regression of the monarchy, so it was not a good choice. During the period of rising national power, it may be conducive to continued external expansion. However, once it enters the period of decline, this system will have a negative impact on politics, economy, culture, technology, and even business. pose huge constraints in all aspects.
Therefore, Lu Tianshi would never choose imperial power to dominate.
Then dual monarchy becomes the only option.
It is impossible to directly introduce a republic in the Tang Dynasty.
But Master Lu Tianshi would not tell Li Longji this directly.
At that moment Master Lu Tian asked: "What do you mean by the compromise method?"
Li Longji thought for a while and said: "Detailed government affairs are handled by the prime minister of the political hall, but when it comes to major affairs, they are still under the dictatorship of the emperor... It is better to discuss the matter with the prime minister."
"A major matter?" Lu Tianshi said suddenly, "What is considered a major matter?"
"For example, the Anshi Rebellion, even if it is a major matter." Li Longji, "Such matters should be handled by the saints after consultation with the prime ministers of the Zhengshitang. The emperor cannot be left aside and only handled by the prime ministers."
"Haha." Lu Tianshi sneered twice, and then said, "I remember telling you that if this Tianshi did not have a lower realm, An Lushan's rebels would invade Chang'an, and you would flee to Shu, and then your son would Li Heng will succeed to the throne in Lingwu. In the Tang Dynasty at that time, your son Li Heng had the final say on all matters, big and small, but did he handle the major government affairs well?"
"This..." Li Longji said with a guilty conscience, "Didn't he also put an end to the Anshi Rebellion?"
Lu Tianshi said coldly: "Yes, he put down the Anshi Rebellion, but hundreds of thousands of the elite border troops of the Tang Dynasty were killed and injured. From then on, the Tang Dynasty ushered in the separatist rule of vassal towns, and because his physical ability was not enough to bear the responsibility of national affairs, he could only Relying heavily on Li Fuguo led to the eunuchs disrupting the government, so that four emperors of the Tang Dynasty later died at the hands of the eunuchs."
After a pause, Master Lu Tianshi asked again: "So do you think your descendants can shoulder the heavy responsibility?"
Li Longji was speechless. He didn't know what his future descendants would be like, but among his more than 20 sons and more than 70 grandchildren, there seems to be only one who can shoulder the heavy responsibility - Jianning County Wang Litan?
It's a pity that Li Tan, the king of Jianning County, is only the concubine of Prince Li Heng, so he can't directly inherit the throne.
Moreover, Li Longji also saw that if Master Lu Tianshi did not agree, it would be useless to give the throne to Li Tan.
He, Li Longji, had been a saint of the Tang Dynasty for more than 40 years, but he was inevitably reduced to a puppet in the hands of Lu Tianshi. Li Tan was just a young man in his twenties and had never been a saint for a day. How could he regain the imperial power from Lu Tianshi? ? Therefore, it is still necessary to persuade Lu Tianshi as much as possible to fight for more power for his descendants.
At that moment Li Longji said: "Celestial Master, if the state affairs are completely handed over to the prime minister of the Zhengshitang, then all the power will be vested in the prime minister of the Zhengshitang. The saint will have no majesty in front of the prime minister, officials and even the common people. This is for I'm afraid it's not a good thing for the Tang Dynasty, and spreading it will damage the national character."
Lu Tianshi thought thoughtfully: "This makes sense. If all the power is vested in the prime minister of the political hall, it would be better to meet a low-key and humble right minister. If there is a strong and domineering right minister, it is not impossible to insult the emperor at every turn. Even plotting to usurp the throne is entirely possible, so we must be on guard against this."
"That's the truth." Li Longji hurriedly struck while the iron was hot as soon as he saw an opportunity, and then said, "If the saints of the Tang Dynasty are not decent, then the Tang Dynasty is not decent. If they meet an ambitious right minister, they will immediately change the dynasty. Heavenly Master, you also have feelings for the Tang Dynasty, and you probably don’t want to see the Kingdom of Tang Dynasty cut off."
"You are right, I have feelings for the Tang Dynasty." Lu Tianshi pondered for a moment and said, "Then just like this, only the administrative power will be given to the prime minister of the Zhengshitang, but the military power will be vested in the saint. In this way, the prime minister of the Zhengshitang will not Without military power, it would be difficult to rebel, but with the sage of the Tang Dynasty holding military power, no one would dare to offend him."
Li Longji was overjoyed when he heard this. This was actually the result he really wanted.
Since he inherited the throne, Li Longji has been diligent in government work for a long time, but he is actually forced to do so. He actually hates dealing with daily government affairs, because these government affairs are too trivial and boring. Many times, he has to deal with daily government affairs. I am so busy that I have almost no time to participate in various entertainment activities.
But in fact, Li Longji likes entertainment very much, especially playing polo.
Especially when he got older, he completely handed over government affairs to Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong, while he himself was busy participating in various entertainment activities, or taking Yang Taizhen to Lishan hot springs to enjoy life.
But Li Longji always had military power and the power to launch wars in his hands.
Neither Li Linfu nor Yang Guozhong had military power in their hands, nor could they mobilize any of the ten military governors, let alone launch a small-scale war on the border of the Tang Dynasty!
To put it bluntly, Li Longji hoped to completely get rid of the labor of filing documents, but he also had military power and the right to launch a war to destroy the country.
Lu Tianshi seemed to see through this, and then continued: "However, in order to prevent future emperors from resorting to militarism, it is necessary to restrict the Tang emperor's power to launch wars."
"Uh?" Li Longji asked, "I don't know how to limit it?"
Lu Tianshi: "In principle, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty is the marshal of the world's soldiers and horses. Any soldier in the Tang Dynasty, whether it is a government soldier, a town soldier, or a recruit, is the emperor's soldier. Only the emperor has the power to mobilize the army of the Tang Dynasty. In addition to the emperor, even the generals of the Sixteenth Guards or the local governors must have the emperor's authorization before they can mobilize the army. Mobilizing the army without the emperor's imperial edict or authorization is regarded as rebellion."
"That's it?" Li Longji was stunned. Isn't this the same as now?
Nowadays, the saints of the Tang Dynasty are the marshals of the world's military forces. The military governors of the ten major vassal towns are also gifted with talismans before they can mobilize their troops and launch wars against enemy countries. For example, the military governors such as Ge Shuhan, Feng Changqing, and Li Siye are all gifted with talismans. The talisman under it can mobilize all the armies in their respective jurisdictions, and also has the power to launch wars against enemy countries.
And whether it is considered an enemy country or not is determined by the Jiedushi.
Lu Tianshi continued: "Speaking of which, let me talk about the feudal system. Li Longji, you have given too much power to the governors of the ten major feudal towns. In addition to military power and the power to launch war, you actually gave them the power to appoint and remove officials and local governments. Formed political power, didn't this mean that they built each vassal town into an independent kingdom? Over time, each vassal town also formed a de facto independence. When the Tang Dynasty was strong, there were no problems. Once the country's power declined, the trend of separate vassal towns would form overnight. .”
"Celestial Master, I have no choice but to do this." Li Longji smiled bitterly, "You also know that the imperial court has no money at all. It only provides the salary of 30,000 officials in Chang'an and it is already stretched. How can there be extra money and food to support the ten major vassal towns? Five hundred thousand troops? So we can only give the Jiedushi the administrative power and the power to appoint and remove officials in order to raise food and wages."
"This problem will no longer exist in the future. At present, Guannai Road, Duji Road, Henan Road, Hedong Road, Huainan Road and Jiangnan Road have all implemented comprehensive land reforms. All the cultivated land released by Qingzhang, except for the occupation fields of the soldiers, Everyone must pay taxes according to regulations, and the Tang court no longer has to worry about not having enough money to pay taxes."
Li Longji hurriedly said: "In this case, the administrative power and the power to appoint and dismiss officials of the major military governors can be taken back, and only the military power and the power to launch wars will be given to them."
"That's how it should be." Lu Tianshi said, "From now on, the officials of each military prefecture and county in the twelve provinces of the Tang Dynasty will be appointed by the Ministry of Personnel. The Jiedushi can only recruit staff and guards, and the government affairs of each military prefecture and county will be appointed by the Ministry of Personnel. Officials assigned by the ministries have full authority to handle the matter, and Jieduzhi is not allowed to interfere in local government affairs for any reason, and the money and grain needed by the feudal town are also uniformly allocated by the Ministry of Household Affairs."
By pinching the money bag of the governor of the feudal town, you pinch the testicles of each feudal town, and you will no longer be afraid of their rebellion.
In the same way, although the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty had the power to launch wars, wars required money and food support. Without the money and food support from the Ministry of Household Affairs or local military prefectures and counties, the war would be unsustainable, so there is no need to worry about the Tang Dynasty in later generations. The question of whether the emperor would resort to militarism was because if the prime minister of the Political Hall felt that the war was unnecessary, he could cut off the supply of money and food at any time. Without the continuous supply of money and food, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty could only stare and nothing could be done.
