The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 248 Lost Wax Casting
Li Chengqian finished the millet rice in his bowl and said, "General Zhang Shigui, who was stationed in the Western Regions, came to look for me."

Empress Changsun took her son's bowl, filled it with her own hands, and asked, "Why did he see you?"

"He brought Liang Jianfang to see me, saying that he wanted to serve the Eastern Palace."

Empress Changsun asked calmly, "How did you respond?"

"I didn't say anything."

Li Lizhi was flipping through a book leisurely. She was reading the scroll of Taoist Li Chunfeng, which was brought by Xiao Sizi from the Imperial Observatory.

After getting it, Li Lizhi would take it and look at it when she had nothing to do.

"Cheng Qian, you are already twenty years old, and your power is growing. Whether you accept this general or not, there will be more people like him who want to serve the Eastern Palace in the future."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "I understand what you mean, mother."

"You are a sober child and will not be swayed by these things. Your mother and father are very pleased."

Seeing her son still looking suspicious, Empress Changsun continued, "Don't think too much. Your father wouldn't use such a thing to test you, but most of today's generals came from humble beginnings, so it's inevitable that they would think of their old friendships."

"My son, I will remember it."

There were a few more muffled thunders in the sky, and it looked like it was going to rain again. Li Lizhi whispered, "My younger brothers and sisters only know how to follow Father out to play. I don't know if they will get wet in the rain or catch a cold outside."

After the thunder, a few drops of rain fell.

Concubine Yang came hurriedly with Prince Wu Li Ke.

Then, seeing that it was about to rain, Empress Changsun took Concubine Yang and her sister to the other garden to take shelter from the rain.

Li Chengqian was sitting in the water pavilion when the eunuch beside him handed him the memorial.

The Queen did not like the Crown Prince or His Majesty to handle government affairs during their rest time, so she would only hand it over after she left.

The rain in this season is very cold, and a few drops drift into the water pavilion.

Li Ke walked into the waterside pavilion, looking at the raindrops falling on the surface of Taiye Lake, and whispered, "The army is leaving for the Western Regions."

Li Chengqian looked up from the memorial and glanced at him, saying, "Why? Do you want to go to the Western Regions again?"

"We are sending troops this time to build the Western Region Protectorate. It is not the time to conquer Tianshan yet."

The eunuch respectfully poured tea for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wu.

Li Chengqian took the tea and took a sip.

Li Ke continued, "I heard that my brother had people build a dam on the river?"

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "It has been under construction for a month."

Seeing that Li Ke looked a little confused, Li Chengqian said, "My uncle gave me the inspiration that to be a wise ruler, one must always control floods. This is what all emperors have done."

After saying this, he put down the memorial in his hand, reached out to take the tea bowl beside him, and drank tea while looking at the rain.

Li Ke didn't say anything, so Li Chengqian used a moment of peace to think about what was in the memorial.

This is the news that Ying Gong's son Li Zhen sent from the Hexi Corridor. To be precise, this should be a letter. There is also a formal report, which is most likely being sent to my father.

Murong Shun wanted to abdicate. He did not want to continue to be the Khan of Tuyuhun. This edict was sent to Tuyuhun in the winter of last year.

He was sent to Chang'an only now. In fact, Murong Shun had long been unworthy of the title of Khan and he did not have any power in his hands.

The imperial edict was sent to the territory of Tuyuhun, causing quite a stir.

Since the current Tuyuhun Khan has abdicated and given all his territories to the Tang Dynasty.

Those who were unwilling to serve the Tang Dynasty left one after another. Some went to the Western Regions, some set up their own factions, and the vast majority of them went to serve Tubo.

In the work of recruiting soldiers and horses, Lu Dongzan was not inferior. Tubo absorbed 30% of the Tuyuhun people, roughly 50,000 herdsmen.

And 60% of them were willing to continue staying in the Tuyuhun territory and enjoy the protection of the Tang people.

There was no need to retain those who left. Whether they set up their own business, became horse bandits, or joined the Tibetans, it was their own choice.

The land must be taken, but people cannot be retained and some will definitely be lost.

Li Zhen wrote very clearly in the memorial that now in terms of territory, Tubo and Tang Dynasty are almost bordering each other, with the nearest Songzhou and Tubo being separated only by a few tributaries of the Buha River.

Li Chengqian held the tea bowl and swallowed the tea.

Now the emperor brother said nothing. Seeing his solemn and somewhat annoyed expression, Li Ke bowed and said, "Royal brother, I am not jealous of the King of Wei."

Li Chengqian finally put down the tea bowl in his hand and whispered, "I didn't think much about it, I just remembered something."

Li Ke added: "There are rumors in the East Palace that treating the symptoms without addressing the root cause is the same as not treating it at all. I have been to Luoyang and Shanzhou to deal with floods, and I know the hidden dangers of the river."

"If the construction of the silt dam is given to you, it will be justified."

Li Ke nodded.

Li Chengqian reached out to catch some of the rain dripping from the waterside pavilion and said, "But Qingque has more professional knowledge in geography. Isn't it better for professionals to do professional things?"

Looking at Li Ke's expression again, he has not been able to find a job since he came back from flood control in Shanzhou this year.

Li Chengqian patted his shoulder. The great victory in the Western Regions had obviously boosted his morale. He took his hand away from his shoulder and said, "Let me tell you something."

Still standing there, watching the rain splashing into the Taiye Lake, Li Chengqian whispered, "When you went to Luoyang to control the flood, your father actually deployed a team of soldiers in Mount Xiao. That team was enough to surround the entire Luoyang. Your father has made plans for the worst."

Li Ke was stunned and looked at his brother in surprise and suspicion.

"Do you still remember the incident in Luoyang when the bodies of a family were thrown into the river?"

"I will never forget this in my life."

"That's right. Sometimes you need to think more about it instead of just thinking you've done it."

Li Ke remained silent.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and continued, "If you still don't understand, there is something I want you to do."

"I wonder what instructions my brother has for you?"

Li Chengqian put the memorial into a food box beside him and prepared to take it back to the East Palace. Facing his brother, he said, "The teaching is not going smoothly. The teachers from Chongwen Hall encountered difficulties from some county officials when they went to various counties. It is true that I did not arrange the communication well before the teaching started."

"Go and persuade the county magistrates to arrange a place for the master to live and teach. Record all your experiences and what you have seen and encountered. If you can resolve them, that's fine. If you can't, send them to Chang'an and let the people at Chongwenguan handle it."

Li Ke was puzzled and asked, "Why would they make things difficult for the teachers who are teaching there?"

"Yes, why? They agree with the volunteer teaching, but they don't agree with the selection system for volunteer teaching." Li Chengqian smiled and said, "The difficulties our family encountered are very interesting. You can recall these things from time to time and think about them more."

The water in the kettle on the clay stove boiled. The eunuch lifted the kettle and poured the hot water into the prince's tea bowl.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wu had not yet touched the tea bowl, but the tea had already gone cold. He poured out the cold tea and made a new bowl of hot tea.

Then he stood back outside the pavilion, waiting for the prince's instructions.

If you don't get any instructions, just wait and stand outside the pavilion.

Li Chengqian picked up his ceramic cup, removed the wooden cork, picked up the kettle and poured the boiled water into the ceramic cup, and then put the wooden cork back in. Although the insulation conditions were not good, he could drink a sip of hot water anytime and anywhere by carrying it with him.

"If you think this matter is insignificant, I have something else for you."

"Ke will do this."

"Okay." Li Chengqian reminded him again: "This may be a small matter for you, but no one is doing it now. There needs to be communication between the court and the countryside. This communication is not sent to Jingzhao Prefecture through the counties, but bypasses Jingzhao Prefecture and is sent directly to our ears."

"It will become a common job in Chongwenguan in the future. You can go and try it first, and bring Liu Rengui and Quan Wanji with you."

"Ke will go right away."

After saying that, he was about to walk into the rain.

This younger brother always does what he says he will do and never asks why.

Li Chengqian waved the round fan in his hand and said, "I often tell my brothers and sisters to go out and take a walk, to see the most ordinary villagers in each county, to see their situations, their difficulties, or what they yearn for."

I don’t know if Li Ke heard these words or not. He walked hurriedly into the rain.

Li Chengqian looked at Ning'er who was standing under the eaves of the villa.

Receiving the look from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, she picked up the bamboo umbrella and walked quickly over, holding an umbrella herself and passing it to His Royal Highness.

Li Chengqian tied the water cup around his waist and walked into the rain holding an umbrella.

The rain was still heavy, but when I suddenly walked into the rain, I felt that the surroundings became much quieter.

The rain stopped towards evening.

Li Chengqian opened Li Zhen's memorial and continued reading.

In the past two years, the King of Gaochang and Yugushe almost cut off trade on the Silk Road.

Now that the Tang army has conquered Gaochang and cleared the southeastern border of the Western Regions, the suspended trade activities have resumed, and the prosperity of the Hexi Corridor has become even greater than before.

Li Lizhi and Dongyang also returned to the Eastern Palace. They helped their brother the emperor to look through the reports from various counties.

Li Chengqian looked at the accounts and said with emotion: "Sure enough, the money obtained from looting is more than the city taxes collected. It's obvious that we can rob."

Li Lizhi said, "Royal brother, you must not say that. Robbery can only enrich you temporarily. Jingzhao Prefecture has fattened Gaochang to gain such a harvest. But for the long term, it is more important to manage trade."

Li Chengqian agreed: "Li Zhi is right, sustainable is the most stable."

She added: "This year's city tax in the Hexi Corridor is three times that of previous years. The city tax in the past two months alone is 30,000 strings of cash."

Ning Er handed over a stack of memorials and said, "Your Highness, these are from Luoyang."

This was a memorial sent by Ma Zhou and Li Yifu, announcing that Du He's large paper and soap workshops in Luoyang had been completed, and he had recruited two thousand people to work there.

"Royal brother, royal brother!" A shout came from outside the East Palace.

Li Chengqian looked up and saw that it was Xiao Sizi running towards him. She walked into the hall and said happily, "The Supervisor of the Imperial Household has made what my brother wants, and she is waiting outside the East Palace."

Seven-year-old Mingda ran into the palace and threw himself into the arms of his imperial sister.

Li Lizhi poked her sister's forehead with her finger and said, "Don't run around like this in the future. What if you fall?"

She shook her head and said, "Sister is walking steadily, she won't fall."

"You were unsteady on your feet when you were a kid."

She was laughing and playing coquettishly in her sister's arms again.

What else could she do? Li Lizhi could only dote on her sister, stroking her long black hair and scolding her a few more times.

After a while, she went to Sister Dongyang's arms again and begged Sister Dongyang to teach her how to write and read.

Li Chengqian walked out of the East Palace.

Three blacksmiths stood in front of the East Palace gate, presenting some parts in their hands.

Li Chengqian said, "Grandpa, bring the small wooden box next to your wine jar."

Li Yuan, who was taking a nap, stroked his beard and said, "Where can I get your small box?"

A sensible eunuch went to check and found that the Crown Prince's small wooden box had indeed been brought out.

Li Yuan asked curiously, "When did you release it?"

"I'm afraid my younger brothers and sisters will take it away." Li Chengqian smiled awkwardly and said, "They won't drink Grandpa's wine. It's safest to put it next to the wine jar."

Li Yuan felt somewhat unhappy about being used by his grandson. The wine he had stored away was becoming less and less, and it was very precious.

The area within three steps of the wine jar was a forbidden area, and it turned out to be the place where the grandson hid things.

Guessing what treasure his grandson had hidden, the old man went over to take a look.

Li Chengqian opened the wooden box and took out a carving knife and a roller.

The craftsmen of the Shaofujian made bronze ware. Li Yuan watched his grandson put the parts together one by one, and then fastened the two sides of the ruler with a few iron needles.

A golden copper vernier caliper is made.

Due to some technical limitations, the iron needle used for fixing passes through the copper clamp, like a stick with long thorns.

Li Chengqian slid the caliper, trying its smoothness, pulling it open and resetting it again and again.

Watch the tip of the mark return steadily to the zero mark every time.

Repeat more than ten times to ensure that it can be pushed to the zero scale each time, without deviation, and accurately return to zero every time.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Great, we have a vernier caliper now."

"Congratulations to His Majesty the Crown Prince."

The three craftsmen saluted.

Li Yuan asked curiously: "What is this?"

"Vernier caliper, a manufacturing tool."

Li Yuan took the ruler from his grandson and looked at it carefully.

Li Chengqian said: "I don't understand the art of craftsmanship, I wonder how you guys grasp it?"

"Your Highness." The leading old craftsman bowed first, then reported: "There is a lost wax casting method in the ancient bronze casting method, which is used to shape bronze. Bronze is easier to polish. The old craftsman has superb skills. After shaping, he polishes it carefully. If it is an ordinary person, if he polishes it a little less or a little more, it will be scrapped."

Li Yuan was still observing the vernier caliper, trying to understand its purpose, and even used it to clamp his fingers and wrists to test the size.

The older my grandfather got, the more curious he became. After clamping his wrist, he counted the marks on the ruler and was surprised to see that the sizes were different from what he understood.

After listening to the old craftsman's story, Li Chengqian said, "It turns out there is another way."

"Your Highness, there are many extraordinary people in this world who have mastered various casting methods. We consulted many old craftsmen and were reminded of the lost wax method used in ancient times. To be honest, even with the lost wax casting, we still ruined hundreds of bronze wares. This is the only successful one."

Added it, added it!
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(End of this chapter)