The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 236: Die for the Prince

When everyone saw that it was the general, they stopped what they were doing and saluted.

Hou Junji patted the shoulder of a former deputy general and said, "Have you all received the money and salary given by the court?"

"Reply to the General, we have them all."

"Okay, okay." Hou Junji nodded with a relieved look.

Let them continue to repair the ditches here, Hou Junji let out a long sigh.

Li Xiaogong said: "The Crown Prince always keeps his word. The Crown Prince's promise is worth more than a thousand pieces of gold, and he has never broken his word."

Hou Junji said in a heavy voice: "I heard that Lu Dongzan is a villain! How dare he fool His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Li Xiaogong joked, "What? Are you going to kill him?"

"Okay, if he dares to come to Chang'an, I will chop him into pieces."

After a month of confinement at home for reflection, Hou Junji's complexion has improved a lot. After a month of recuperation, his energy and spirit have returned to normal.

When they heard that Your Majesty was going to punish Hou Junji, many generals in the court pleaded for mercy, including Li Xiaogong himself.

Your Majesty still punished him and took away his military power.

Fortunately, we have the help of the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.

Li Xiaogong had originally come to counsel him, but now he was worried. Hou Junji was now thinking... Hou Junji was going to kill anyone who had a grudge against the prince.

Of course, there is another person who wants to die for the prince.

It’s just that Ashina She’er was a Turk, and he always said that his life was saved by the prince.

Li Xiaogong talked to him for a few words and then went to Li Weigong's mansion.

Now Li Jing has returned to his closed-door state and does not refuse visitors.

Noticing the newcomer, Li Jing looked at the chessboard in front of him and asked, "Why are you here?"

"Mr. Li Wei is no longer interested in military tactics, but in chess."

Li Weigong said: "I have been practicing my chess skills recently, and I must defeat the prince someday."

Li Xiaogong sat down at one side, picked up the tea bowl and found that the tea was cold. He was a little annoyed and had to put the bowl down, saying: "Hou Junji's military power has been withdrawn."

Li Jing nodded and said, "I heard about it. With so many people pleading for him, it's hard not to know."

Li Xiaogong hesitated and asked, "Do you think Hou Junji will have any complaints against Your Majesty?"

Li Jing thought for a while and said with a smile, "Your Highness the Crown Prince does a great job. Not only is there nothing wrong with it, but it is also very impressive."

"Well, you do make sense."

Li Jing packed up the chessboard and said, "Play chess!"

Li Xiaogong twitched his lips, shrank his neck and said, "The wind is getting colder and colder. I'll stew some radishes at home and then go back."

Li Jing snorted coldly: "If you are afraid of losing, just say so."

Hearing this, Li Xiaogong stopped walking, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Duke Li Wei, you are going too far."

Li Jing said to his youngest son Li Dejiang, "See the guest off."

"Wait!" Li Xiaogong walked back quickly, took a big step and sat down, saying, "Let's play chess."

Meeting a worthy opponent in chess is one of the greatest pleasures in life. It is very unpleasant to be constantly bullied by someone. It is not that Li Xiaogong does not know how to play this kind of chess.

But playing chess with Li Jing is really boring, as you can’t kill many chess pieces no matter how many times you play.

It would be better to play chess with the Crown Prince of the East Palace. At least we can kill each other to our heart's content.

After the court issued the policy of supporting education, in the winter after the holiday, just as Taoist Li said, it really snowed that day.

Li Chengqian and his father stood in the Sanqing Hall, looking at the Taoist Patriarch.

Li Shimin asked: "How many people in those thirty-six counties oppose the policy of supporting education?"

Li Chengqian saluted the Taoist master, then put his hands behind his back and faced the wind and snow outside the hall, saying, "They don't object to the policy of supporting education."

"Oh?"

Li Shimin smiled in surprise.

Li Chengqian said: "But they are against the selection of teachers."

After sitting down by the stove, a eunuch placed walnuts and dates next to the stove, and also placed two cakes on it.

The eunuch also brought a kettle, and used the boiling water in the kettle to brew tea.

Some dried meat, dried fruits and cakes were placed on the table nearby.

The incense in front of the Taoist master was still burning, and Li Chengqian also sat down next to the stove.

"Tell me about it."

"Father, did you foresee that I would be in trouble?"

Li Shimin smelled the aroma of tea, and the hot steam wafted from the tea. He said, "I thought some people would oppose this matter. It seems that you are a wise crown prince. They will not openly oppose the prince's decree."

"In the past, only people from noble families could teach in prefectures, counties and districts, and each prefecture and county would choose local masters to teach."

"Isn't that good? You can save yourself some trouble."

Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "This is not good. Teachers must be sent from Chang'an, and Jingzhao Prefecture must arrange personnel. If we really follow their way and let each county choose its own personnel, isn't this going back to the old way?"

"My son's teaching strategy will be meaningless, and they will go back to looking at one's background, family history, and whose descendants one is from to judge the so-called high moral character and prestige."

Li Shimin chewed a date and said, "It seems that you are determined to do it your own way."

"My son's insistence on his own will cannot be achieved without the support of the emperor."

Li Shimin suddenly smiled.

Li Chengqian picked up the tea bowl, offered the tea to his father and drank it all in one gulp.

Li Shimin shook his head and said, "It is not me who supports you, nor is it enough for me to support you. Your teacher is Fang Xuanling, your uncle is Fu Ji, and Duke Zheng admires you very much. They are the ones who support you the most..."

He paused for a moment and continued, "Cheng Qian, I usually accept advice and criticism, but even when I faced Jie Li, I did not back down. You are my eldest son, and you have never backed down in the face of hardship. A son of the Li family should be like this."

Li Chengqian said: "Just as the emperor said, if I give in a little, those who oppose our family will become more aggressive."

The tea was still a little hot. Li Shimin looked at the heavy snow outside the palace and said, "This country cannot be taken down with just a few words."

Li Chengqian sat upright on the chair, stroking his forehead and said, "I have considered it. Even if the teachers who teach in the villages are not on good terms with the county officials, and even if they are treated harshly, they must continue to run the schools. Let's see how long these people want to go against our Li family."

Li Shimin smiled and said, "Come to think of it, no one would resign at this time."

In the wind and snow, Li Lizhi came holding Xiao Sizi's hand. The two sisters walked into the hall and came to the stove shivering.

Little Sizi was wearing a hat. She stepped forward and said, "Father, this hat can protect your hair and ears."

Li Shimin took the hat, looked at the two wings on both sides of the hat, and nodded, "This is good craftsmanship."

Little Sizi ran to his sister again and said, "This was sewed by my sister herself."

Li Lizhi took off the cloth bag hanging on her shoulder, took out a hat and said, "I also sewed one for you, the emperor."

Li Shimin laughed out loud as he let Xiao Sizi put on the hat.

No matter how much trouble there is outside, this home is still peaceful. Li Chengqian drinks tea, listens to his father's laughter, and looks at the snow scene without saying a word.

Li Lizhi said, "My mother asked me to invite my father and my brother to the East Palace for dinner." Li Shimin stood up holding the little Sizi and said, "It's time to eat."

This year's heavy snow did not have strong winds, but the snow was quite heavy.

There have been examinations in Chongwen Hall these days. In the cold winter, many people are standing in the snow outside Chongwen Hall.

This place has become a unique landscape in Chang'an City.

A group of people who had finished the exam walked out of Chongwen Hall. As Di Zhixun read out their names loudly one by one, several more students entered Chongwen Hall to take the exam.

The weather was so cold that they could hardly hold a pen. They just sat down and rubbed their hands vigorously to warm their palms. Before they had time to shake off the snow on their bodies, they began to answer the questions.

The examination paper of Chongwenguan was very simple, basically consisting of a few questions on Mingjing, and then some questions about teaching ambitions and teaching purposes.

This must be written, as it determines which county these people will be sent to teach.

"Add more paper!" some students said loudly.

Di Renjie handed over the paper for the students to write on.

Talking about ambitions and the purpose of teaching is bound to be lengthy, so many students want to add more paper.

The court has accumulated a lot of money and has enough to start supporting education. This requires a lot of capital and the results will not be seen in a short time.

Teaching is not like growing crops, where you can get a harvest in March or May.

Teaching requires perseverance. It takes at least several decades for an average child to learn from a young age before he or she can become a successful person.

Therefore, this strategy seems unrealistic to more realistic people.

Maybe if the prince makes the arrangement this year, the decree will be cancelled next year.

Zhang Xuanbi has been in Chang'an for half a year. He has not taken up a position in the court, but has been living in Chang'an recently.

Today he came to meet the child of an old friend. Wen Ting was a little surprised to see Zhang Xuanbi. He had only heard from his father that Zhang Xuanbi was a disciple of a famous Confucian scholar of the time.

Growing up, the two families didn't interact much.

Wen Ting said: "Hello, sir."

Zhang Xuanbi looked at him and murmured, "Child, your..."

"My father has been buried."

"Alas..." Zhang Xuanbi sighed, "What a pity, what a pity."

Wen Ting looked very calm. He asked, "Sir, are you here to take up a position in the court?"

"Your Majesty has this in mind, but I am used to traveling and do not like to serve in the court."

Wen Ting looked at the students queuing outside Chongwenguan and stopped talking.

Zhang Xuanbi also looked at the scenery and said, "Your Majesty is a man of great talent and vision, and the Crown Prince is wise. Guanzhong is getting better and better. I have met Master Cui Ren. I have different ideas from him on some things. Master Cui Ren is too stubborn in his views on people and things."

Seeing that another group of students had left, Wen Ting handed the list to Di Zhixun.

Then, names began to be called out one by one in front of the Chongwenguan gate.

Seeing that Wen Ting did not listen to him, Zhang Xuanbi walked into the snow, muttering, "Poor child, poor child."

Wen Ting closed his eyes and sorted out his feelings, then continued to sort out the test papers that had just been submitted and stacked them all up. These were to be handed over to Yu Shilang of the Secretariat for review.

After Zhang Xuanbi walked away, Xu Jingzong came over and said, "I didn't expect Brother Wen to know him."

Wen Ting shook his head and said, "He knows my father, so they are old friends."

Originally, Wen Ting had already put his mind at ease and was absorbed in the affairs of Jingzhao Prefecture, which made him no longer so sad.

The death of Wen Yanbo was a huge blow to him.

Xu Jingzong noticed his expression and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince will not forget the Eastern Expedition. What we are doing now is for the country. Instead of thinking about it every day, it is better to do what needs to be done first. Your Highness the Crown Prince does not like people who complain about themselves, but appreciates people who are down-to-earth. This is also what Your Highness has often said to Jingzhao Prefecture over the years."

Wen Ting lowered his gaze and busily arranged the test papers. "I'm sorry to have troubled Xu Shaoyin. I believe in the prince."

Xu Jingzong nodded.

Today's exam came to an end only at nightfall.

It took longer than expected, and only half the number of people completed it.

After a group of students finished their exams before nightfall, they began to talk about it when they saw that Jingzhao Prefecture no longer called for registration.

Di Zhixun came out hurriedly and said, "Thank you for waiting for so long. Please come back tomorrow morning."

Yan Qinli hurriedly delivered today's two hundred test papers into the imperial city and sent them directly to the Secretariat.

In the Secretariat now, only Yu Zhining and Chu Suiliang are still busy.

When Yan Qinli arrived, Xu Xiaode, the Minister of Works, also came back. He submitted the accounts of today's renovation of Chang'an market to the Secretariat.

Everyone was sitting in the Secretariat and talking. When no one was around, their words could be heard echoing in the empty Secretariat.

A eunuch came with a food box and said, "His Royal Highness knows that you are still busy, so he will give you these meals."

Yu Zhining bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

After hearing what was said, the eunuch left in a hurry.

As the night went on, it became increasingly cold, and the eunuch did not want to stay here for long.

Yu Zhining, Chu Suiliang, Xu Xiaode and Yan Qinli sat around the stove and opened the food boxes to find some baked buns.

Just enough for one person to have three.

Yu Zhining put the baked buns next to the stove.

Chu Suiliang was eating and said, "It's not cold, it's still hot."

Yu Zhining said: "It will taste better if the skin is burnt a little."

Chu Suiliang hesitated and said, "The prince will be twenty years old next year."

Seeing that none of them spoke, even Xu Xiaode was eating buns in silence.

Chu Suiliang simply stopped talking and just ate his buns, looking at the people in front of him.

The city of Chang'an seemed quiet in the wind and snow. The morning light came late in winter and the heavy snow was still falling. When the sky was only slightly bright, the sound of arrows breaking through the air and the various sounds of arrows hitting the target could be heard from the East Palace.

Li Lizhi pulled the bowstring, standing in the snow, aiming at the target in the distance, her sight focused between the arrow and the target, the sharp arrow at the front end swaying slightly left and right.

Because the weather was so cold, my hands could still feel the bone-chilling cold even though I was wearing coarse gloves.

She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, looked sharp, and shot an arrow.

The arrow broke through the snow and landed directly on the target.

Li Li asked, "How many rings?"

Li Zhi then quickly walked towards the target to check it out, and replied, "Three rings."

Dongyang took the bow, skillfully put the arrow on the string, and shot an arrow, which hit the target accurately.

Li Zhi replied: "It is also three rings."

Li Shen was sleepy and yawned as he sat in the cold wind, waiting for breakfast to be ready. He and his brothers and sisters were going to go skiing and hunting with his father.

(End of this chapter)