Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

The chapter describes a lengthy court session where Crown Prince Zhang Ting is escorted back to the palace while Zhang Xuan heads to the Heavenly Pavilion. There, he meets Grand Inspector Yu Shi Nan and Chief of Military Affairs Shi Fang Xuan Ling, whom he plans to promote to Prime Minister. They discuss the successful grand court session, particularly the debates on the salt law, which have engaged officials at all levels. Zhang Xuan is focused on institutionalizing power distribution among the officials to prevent concentration of authority. Yu Shi Nan presents a report on issues with charitable granaries in Xuzhou and Qingzhou, revealing chaotic accounts and difficulties in verifying grain receipts, especially as some farmers attempt to redeem grain using receipts from the previous Sui Dynasty. Zhang Xuan firmly decides to suspend the granaries if they cannot be managed properly and emphasizes that the new dynasty will not honor the previous dynasty's accounts. After Yu Shi Nan leaves, Zhang Xuan expresses frustration over corruption among officials and vows to investigate the granaries thoroughly. Chief Shi Fang Xuan Ling then enters and reports on a brutal purge of the Guanlong aristocracy by Li Yuan, indicating significant political upheaval. Zhang Xuan reflects on the implications of these actions for the stability and strength of the Tang Dynasty.

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