The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 114 "At First Sight"

Li Chengqian said: "That's why you wrote such a special article on the imperial examination paper."

Facing the prince's question, Pei Xingjian looked a little more terrified. He quickly said, "Your Highness, I have no intention of taking shortcuts. I just hope that this article can be seen by more people instead of being buried in the Hongwen Academy. Even if I fail the imperial examination because of this, I am willing to do so."

"Don't be nervous. Your essay must be well written. Otherwise, the chancellor would not have let you pass the exam."

"I lost my composure." Pei Xingjian said with his head lowered.

Li Chengqian sat on a stone, still holding a bowl and eating, and asked again: "I know your background. You are a descendant of the Hedong Pei family. Since the Northern and Southern Dynasties, your Hedong Pei family has produced many remarkable figures. If you just wanted to pass the imperial examination, you didn't have to take the risk and write that article."

Pei Xingjian said: "Your Highness, I just don't want such a good article to be buried."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Then which link do you think is the most important in the production relationship?"

Pei Xingjian said: "Of course it is all the farmers."

Li Chengqian finished the millet rice in his bowl and the remaining stewed meat with pickled mustard greens. He put the bowl and chopsticks in the food box and handed it to Ning'er who was standing beside him.

Seeing that the prince did not reply, Pei Xingjian asked, "Your Highness, did I say something wrong?"

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and said, "You are right, but in the production process, who is the owner of the production?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Xingjian fell silent. He had always felt that the article was insightful, especially its discussion of production relations.

But now hearing the Crown Prince's question, Pei Xingjian felt that he could not answer it. It was because he had not thought about it carefully and had not considered the deeper meaning of the article.

Li Chengqian felt the damp warm wind blowing on his body, causing ripples in the wheat fields in the distance, and continued, "I remember that both your father and son, Pei Xingjian, were generals in the army. Your father, Pei Renji, was a guard of Emperor Wen of Sui. He resisted Tuyuhun and fought against Mohe. During the chaotic times, your father was even able to suppress Wagang for a while."

"And your brother Pei Xingyan followed Zhang Xutuo in his early years and was known as a man of ten thousand enemies among the heroes of the green forest. Why don't you follow the family tradition and come to Chang'an to take the imperial examination and become a clerk?"

After saying this, Pei Xingjian stood there in a daze without saying anything.

"This is all your family affairs. I just asked casually. Don't mind it. Everyone has their own secrets. I was just curious for a moment. I'm sorry to make you laugh."

As soon as he finished speaking, an elderly servant came running over in a panic. He ran to Pei Xingjian, bowed and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince! The young master has something to hide."

Pei Xingjian said, "Your Highness, this is a servant from my household."

The servant fell to the ground and saluted, saying, "Your Highness, General Pei and General Pei have both died in battle. The general has only one son, the young master. If he joins the army again, I'm afraid that this lineage will...will..."

Pei Xingjian said in a deep voice: "You leave."

The old servant looked up at his young master and said, "Young master, you must not join the army."

Seeing the old servant in tears, Li Chengqian pulled him up and said, "Old man, I have no intention of letting Shouyue join the army."

"Seriously?"

Li Chengqian patted him on the shoulder and helped brush off the dust on the old man's body.

The old man took two steps back in fear and said, "Your Highness, this is absolutely not possible."

"Keep your promise, can you spare me a moment to talk?"

"Here."

Li Chengqian led Pei Xingjian to the other end of the vegetable field. "This place is a little far from them. They can't hear us if we whisper."

Pei Xingjian said: "Your Highness, I actually want to join the army, to follow my father's military achievements, to establish our family in the Tang Dynasty, and to fight in all directions. This is also my father's last wish."

Li Chengqian nodded.

"But I cannot let him down. My father and brother passed away early, and it was he who took care of me until I was sixteen years old. As long as he is still alive, I will not join the army."

Li Chengqian sighed, "I shouldn't have asked about your family affairs. I'm sorry for making things difficult for you."

"I dare not say it is difficult. In fact, many people have asked about this matter. When I walked from Hedong to Chang'an, I met old friends of my father along the way. They would ask about it."

"You are about the same age as me, I can understand how you feel."

Xu Jingzong watched from afar as the Crown Prince and Lieutenant Pei stood together. Lieutenant Pei stood respectfully beside the Crown Prince, and every time the Crown Prince spoke a word, Lieutenant Pei would answer.

Everyone was waiting here, and no one knew what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had said to him.

Half an hour later, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and County Magistrate Pei came back with smiles on their faces.

Li Chengqian said, "Old Xu, this Pei County Magistrate has quite a few strategies in mind. I will feel relieved if I leave the governance of Weinan County to him."

Xu Jingzong bowed and said, "That's great."

"Weinan is not like Jingyang. Jingyang can develop workshops because their arable land is not as rich as Weinan. So I still insist on adapting to local conditions and vigorously developing agriculture in Weinan County."

"Your Highness, the people of Weinan County all want to grow grapes."

From a cost perspective, one acre of grapes in Jingyang County can be sold for fifty strings of cash, which is much more cost-effective than growing a season of grain.

Guo Luotuo said: "Weinan is not suitable for growing grapes, Weibei is more suitable."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Keep your promise. I have always insisted on adapting to local conditions and trusting professionals to do professional things. Guo Siqing is right. The soil and water in Weibei are more suitable for growing grapes."

"You don't have to worry. Once Guanzhong grapes become more popular, the price will drop."

Guo Luotuo added: "Growing grapes requires a lot of fertilizer and water. It is definitely not as easy as growing green onions."

Li Chengqian nodded pertinently to the professional opinion of the new Minister of Agriculture.

The team for building Guanzhong was basically formed, led by Li Daozon, with Xu Jingzong as his right-hand man, Du He as the money bag, and Pei Xingjian in charge of Weinan affairs.

The entire Guanzhong can be divided into Weinan, Qizhou, Yizhou and Huayuan, and further divided into nine counties along the Jingji Road of Chang'an. This is roughly the layout of Guanzhong.

In this 800-li Qinchuan Plain, Weinan has always been the main agricultural producer.

Therefore, if Jingyang vigorously develops the workshop industry and pig farming industry, Weinan will focus on agriculture.

Along the way, Li Chengqian talked about future events with Guo Luotuo, Pei Xingjian, Xu Jingzong and Li Daozon.

Given Pei Xingjian's talents, he is more than qualified to govern Weinan County.

Li Chengqian even thought at one point that Pei Xingjian had barely passed the imperial examination and had probably submitted a poor paper on purpose.

If he had taken the exam seriously and passed, he would have been admitted into three provinces and six ministries by now.

There are always a few gifted people who are obviously excellent but want to be different.

Perhaps, this was also caused by the current environment, that is, in the early Tang Dynasty. Like the children of many large clans, becoming an official was not their only option.

If one could inherit the classics from a famous teacher, it would have a better future than becoming an official. Therefore, officials had to be polite to these famous scholars and wealthy families.

Li Chengqian did not get on the carriage, but asked Li Daozon and Xu Jingzong to lead the way to Weibei.

"Your Highness, do you really want to sweep across the Western Regions?"

Li Daozon suddenly asked.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "That's all a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstand?"

"Of course it's a misunderstanding. When did I say I was going to sweep across the Western Regions? Why did your uncle say that?" "Your Highness just asked about Pei Shouyue's family affairs. I thought of the current rumors and learned from the court that Your Highness sent people to build the Hexi Corridor." Li Daozon lowered his voice and asked again, "Your Highness sent people to build the Hexi Corridor, wasn't it to sweep across the Western Regions?"

Li Chengqian smiled distressedly, not knowing how to answer. Let them spread the rumor however they want, because this rumor scared the Prince of Gaochang so much that he bought 10,000 bars of soap from Jingyang.

It's all misunderstanding...

There are already enough rumors about the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.

Sometimes, when we are used to rumors, we are too lazy to explain.

"Uncle, war costs money, and the court is too poor right now."

"So, Your Highness prepared for a rainy day and made Jingyang earn so much money?"

"Hiss..." Li Chengqian took a breath of cold air. It turned out that the more he explained, the more confused he became, and the worse it got.

The sun has gradually broken through the clouds, and the land of Guanzhong has finally welcomed the clear weather.

When Ning'er was following behind with nothing to do, she drew out her sword and skillfully danced with it with one hand.

It's obvious that he is a martial artist, and he looks like he has been practicing for many years.

If you think about it carefully, Ning'er was arranged in the Eastern Palace by the Queen Mother. Could it be easy for her to gain the Queen Mother's favor?

Guo Luotuo pointed to a piece of land with his hand and said with a smile, "Your Highness, this piece of land is very suitable for growing grapes, and it will not affect the original cultivated land."

Li Chengqian looked up and said, "How many acres can be planted?"

Guo Luotuo measured it with his fingers and replied, "We can grow 50 acres."

Li Chengqian nodded with his hands in his pockets, "Let's arrange it next year."

Guo Luotuo was very happy that he could put his talents to good use and gain the trust of the current prince. These days might be the happiest time in his life.

In the evening, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince returned to Chang'an in a carriage, escorted by Hejian Prince Li Daozon.

Xu Jingzong glanced at Guo Luotuo, who was still grinning at the carriage, and frowned, "What is so amazing about Pei Shouyue that His Highness values ​​him so much?"

After saying that, seeing Guo Luotuo still grinning, Xu Jingzong scratched his head and asked, "Brother Guo?"

Guo Luotuo came to his senses and said, "Oh, it's getting late. We should go back to Chang'an."

Xu Jingzong led two horses to the side.

He rode back to Chang'an City with Guo Luotuo.

Guo Luotuo had to go home early, unlike others who wanted to have fun at least before the curfew in Chang'an City.

Xu Jingzong was curious about what article Pei Shouyue had read.

I am even more curious about what Pei Shouyue wrote on the imperial examination paper.

Xu Jingzong was full of doubts, as his official rank meant that he was not allowed to read the examination papers.

There is no way of knowing, but Pei Shouyue also said that he had seen an article in Hongwenguan and did not want the article to be buried.

After thinking about all this, Xu Jingzong quickly walked towards the Hongwenguan.

Pei Xingjian did work as a compiler in the Hongwenguan for a period of time.

Now Shangguan Yi is the head of Hongwenguan and is in charge of all the files here.

Seeing that it was Xu Jingzong who came, Shangguan Yi held up a pen and said unhappily, "Xu Shaoyin, I still have to write a book on grape cultivation, so I can't go drinking with you right now."

After saying that, Shangguan Yi saw him sitting down on the side again, and asked in annoyance, "Xu Shaoyin, is there something else?"

Xu Jingzong whispered, "Did Pei Shouyue work as an editor at the Hongwen Academy?"

Shangguan Yi replied: "Aren't you serving as a county lieutenant in Weinan now?"

"I saw that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Pei Shouyue were having a very pleasant conversation."

Shangguan Yi simply put down the pen in his hand, sat cross-legged, and asked in confusion: "Could it be that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Pei Shouyue hit it off at first sight?"

Xu Jingzong shook his head again and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince has always been aloof and not good at making friends. He won't get along with anyone easily upon meeting them."

Shangguan Yi was silent for a moment, took a sip of tea, and looked even more annoyed.

"I heard the conversation between His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Pei Shouyue, and it seems to be related to an article, and this article is in Hongwenguan."

Shangguan Yi hesitated and asked, "Xu Shaoyin, are you so sure that the article is in the Hongwenguan?"

Seeing that he had set his sights on a bookshelf, Shangguan Yi lamented, "The Hongwenguan has tens of thousands of volumes and more than a hundred thousand articles. Does Xu Shaoyin want to look for them one by one?"

Xu Jingzong stared with bloodshot eyes, stood up and said, "Look for it, just in case I find it."

Shangguan Yi said helplessly: "Xu Shaoyin, please do as you please."

At night, the dark clouds finally left the night sky of Chang'an City, and the stars and the moon could finally be seen.

It was almost curfew time. Shangguan Yi had been writing all day and no one was around in the Hongwenguan. When he looked up, he saw Xu Jingzong sleeping next to an oil lamp with a book in his hands.

Shangguan Yi sighed and patted the table.

Xu Jingzong woke up slowly, his eyes were confused, and asked, "Where did I find it?"

"Don't look for it anymore. Why don't you ask County Magistrate Pei yourself?"

"Alas..." Xu Jingzong stamped his feet in annoyance and said, "Well, let's go and get drunk together."

……

At this age, other children may still be playing to satisfy their vanity and curiosity.

At this age, the prince has begun to worry about the construction of Guanzhong.

The sixteen-year-old prince looked at the map of Guanzhong with a serious expression. With the light of the candlestick, one could see that His Royal Highness the Prince had divided Guanzhong into several parts.

Ning Er said, "Your Highness, it's getting late."

Li Chengqian's eyes were still on the map, and he said, "I have always thought that Jingyang's successful model may not be suitable for all counties in Guanzhong."

"Your Highness has always said to adapt to local conditions."

Li Chengqian suddenly smiled and said, "Do you think I will sweep across the Western Regions?"

Ning Er smiled and said, "Your Highness, this is hearsay from outsiders."

Li Chengqian stood up and relaxed his limbs and back. "I haven't done morning exercises for a long time. I have to exercise well tomorrow morning."

Ning'er brought over the basin for His Highness to wash, and then prepared the towel.

Li Chengqian brushed his teeth, looked at the night sky, and said, "Those heartless little guys must have had too much fun in Taiye Lake and didn't even think of coming to the East Palace to see me."

(End of this chapter)