The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 418 The Respect Given by the Emperor
The man was wearing a patched cloth and saluted, saying, "I am Li Fengjie, a student of Chongwenguan."

After hearing the other party's introduction, Du Gou understood the man's purpose and led him to the residence of Duke Lai.

Li Fengjie looked around and said, "I heard that the Du Mansion was a very luxurious place before, but after you came back, Master Du He moved out, and you restored this place to its original state."

He talked as he walked, as if he was visiting the place.

Du Gou said: "I know you, you are the son of General Li Daliang."

Li Fengjie sat down and said, "I am also a person who left home, but I am different from Du He."

"How is it different?"

Li Fengjie looked to be about 30 years old. He sat down on the stone steps and said, "I left home on my own initiative, but my home is still here. I can go back anytime. In the first year of Qianqing, I passed the imperial examination. I have been teaching for two years, and this year I will serve as an official in the court."

"Serving in the military?"

Li Fengjie shook his head and said, "I don't want to live the same life as my father. I want to teach for the rest of my life. I can do it for the rest of my life."

Du Gou gave him a look of admiration.

Li Fengjie added: "But if I want to go home, I can go back anytime. My father and my family will come to the door to greet me, so even if I leave home, I can live well."

Du Gou asked, "You came to see me because of Du He?"

Li Fengjie shook his head and said, "I am not Du He's lobbyist. We are both nobles in Chang'an, but I have never interacted with Du He. Even if I stood in front of Du He, he would not know who I am."

"So you are a lobbyist for Chongwenguan?"

"Yes, I am a volunteer teacher at Chongwen Hall, and naturally I am also a lobbyist." Li Fengjie smiled and asked again: "I heard that the two brothers of the Laiguo family had a big fight last night, and even overturned the table?"

Du Gou closed his eyes, endured the sarcasm in the other party's words, and said, "I'm sorry to make you laugh."

Li Fengjie said, "In fact, I hope to become a friend of Master Du He. He is a very capable person. He started his business at the age of fifteen and became the richest man in Guanzhong in just over ten years. How could such a person be so successful if he didn't have any means?"

"Moreover, Master Du He has a wide network of contacts. Looking around Chang'an, many nobles have contacts with him, such as the Guanzhong gentry. With just one word from him, Du He can buy out all the workshops in a county. Just one word is enough."

Du Gou frowned and said nothing more.

"Also, everyone in Guanzhong knows that Master Du He is a generous man. In the past, Master Du He helped promote the development of Guanzhong. Even Jingzhao Prefecture had to give Du He some face."

"Why on earth are you here?"

Hearing the anger in the other party's words, Li Fengjie smiled and said, "I heard that it was Master Du Gou who didn't listen to Du He's advice and you were unwilling to hand over the scroll to Chongwenguan."

Du Gou said coldly, "The Du family of Jingzhao Prefecture is not my family. Even if I am willing, the other families may not agree."

Li Fengjie seemed to have expected the other party to say that. He stood up and said, "Now, there are so many students coming out of the teaching center, and those students and the gentry have long been resentful of each other. Something will happen sooner or later. Besides, the teachers sent by Chongwen Academy to teach are also students of Chongwen Academy. What do you think?"

"so what?"

"Jingyang County can print hundreds of volumes of books a year. In time, Jingyang County will produce more books, and the government's governance strategy will gradually begin to lean towards Chongwenguan. Even if you don't give us books, Chongwenguan will still have enough books to host teaching."

Li Fengjie took two steps back and forth and said, "Even if you gentry united to oppose Chongwenguan, you can't stop the establishment of teaching. The gentry is no longer such a big threat to the court. The family traditions that you have always upheld will disappear sooner or later."

"I have been teaching for many years, and I often tell students that the books of the future will be brand new, with many new stories and new concepts. As for you nobles wanting to control the books and command the students? Even if you use all your connections... it's ridiculous. Your Majesty doesn't care at all."

Li Fengjie patted Du Gou on the shoulder. They were strangers, but he treated them like a good friend and advised calmly, "Responding to the imperial decree as soon as possible will benefit both you and the Jingzhao Du family. You can oppose it, but the imperial court and Chongwen Academy will remember it, and in the end you will be ruthlessly abandoned by students all over the world."

"You nobles are never afraid of the court or the emperor, but you are afraid of being abandoned by the students of the world, right?"

Du Gou held his forehead and swallowed hard, looking a little painful.

Li Fengjie said with emotion: "I know you have your difficulties, but even if it is difficult, you have to carry on. I can assure you that as long as you donate the books to Chongwenguan, the Jingzhao Du family will definitely be remembered by students in the future even if it dies."

"I am here to save you, not to harm you. That's all I have to say. Please respect yourself."

After saying this, Li Fengjie quickly left the mansion.

That night, Li Fengjie's words lingered in Du Gou's mind for a long time. Until that night, Du Gou had a nightmare. The nightmare was so horrible that Du Gou woke up in a cold sweat.

After another day of imperial examinations, a man from the Hongnong Yang family came to meet Du Gou and told him about his experience. There were nearly a hundred students who clamored in front of each family member of the Hongnong Yang family, asking them to donate books to educate the world.

These students were so excited just because the court issued a decree.

This was like the end of the gentry. Those students in cloth clothes were like wild beasts, and the gentry were like birds in cages, unable to withstand a roar from the other side.

The Li Tang Dynasty is different now, and the general trend is also different now. In the face of the current situation, the words of the gentry have become insignificant since I don’t know when.

The imperial examination and remote teaching were like two huge mountains that almost suffocated the medieval gentry who had prospered for thousands of years.

The imperial examination, originally planned to last five days, lasted only seven days.

On that day, Jingzhao Du handed over more than a hundred boxes of books to Chongwenguan.

Du Gou asked His Majesty to go to Xiangzhou, Hebei to take up a post, and His Majesty agreed to his request.

And from then on, the affairs of the Jingzhao Du family were handed over to Du Zhenglun for handling.

Anyway, Du Zhenglun is not in Chang'an and is still investigating a case in Jiangnan. Du He can only take over the affairs of the Jingzhao Du family temporarily and hand them over after Du Zhenglun returns.

Du Gou left Chang'an. In fact, some people advised him not to hand over the books to Chongwenguan. As long as the Guanzhong gentry handed them over, future branch students would use the same behavior to force the gentry from all over the world.

But there are still some people who can't figure it out. They don't understand why the world has changed.

A new era is coming, an era where the imperial examination system and remote teaching will flourish.

The emperor gave the gentry dignity and face.

But if they do not hand over the books, the scholars of the world will abandon the gentry and even despise them.

Du Gou was sitting in the carriage leaving Chang'an, but his younger brother Du He did not come to see him off, but he received a letter.

In the letter, Du He rejected Du Gou's request. He would not temporarily take over the affairs of the Jingzhao Du family and let Du Zhenglun handle them.

Seeing this letter, Du Gou smiled bitterly.

Du He decided that he would no longer have any connection with the Du family, and the Du family disbanded...

In the imperial palace, beside the Taiye Lake, Li Chengqian met Du He again the day after the imperial examination.

Facing His Majesty's gaze, Du He kept his head down and dared not look.

Li Chengqian drank his tea and asked, "Have you really made peace with Du Gou?"

Du He said: "Although I feel guilty towards my father, I don't want to be at their mercy forever."

"You and I are friends, and I understand you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. You are so considerate."

"You have endured for so many years, and it is enough. You have not let down the Prime Minister Du of the past. At least you will be the most glorious child of the Du family in the future." Hearing this, Du He bowed and lowered his posture even more.

Li Chengqian said, "Please sit down. You have been conspiring with me for so many years. There is no need to be so polite."

"Here."

Du He nodded and sat down.

Seeing his respectful and cautious appearance, Li Chengqian hesitated and said, "I am not interested in your family affairs. It is better for you to separate from the Du family and not disturb each other from now on. It's just that I am curious..."

Du He raised his head slightly, then quickly lowered it.

Li Chengqian frowned and looked at him, saying: "When did you and Li Zhi..."

Du He quickly stood up and saluted, saying, "I dare not."

"Go ahead, it's okay."

"Yes." Du He talked about what happened that year.

That was in the 13th year of Zhenguan. At that time, Du He was still worried about building a workshop. Princess Changle happened to be traveling around the counties at that time and gave advice on the construction of the workshop.

Du He is the richest man in Guanzhong, and Princess Changle masters the most powerful childbirth method.

After these two people joined forces, Du He's industry entered a period of rapid growth.

And through their interactions, the two developed feelings for each other.

But Du He kept this feeling hidden in his heart until he witnessed the great victory of the Eastern Expedition, and then he expressed his feelings to Princess Changle.

Starting from the age of seventeen or eighteen, Du He was nearly thirty years old and Li Lizhi was twenty-seven years old. The two of them planned the industry together, and Li Lizhi could also verify her production science from it.

In this way, the two people who joined forces back then have now become close friends.

It was during the process of industrial transformation in Guanzhong that Jingzhao Prefecture encountered major problems, and even Li Lizhi was angry at one point.

It was at that time that Du He spent a huge amount of money to buy many bankrupt new workshops, and worked with Li Lizhi to turn them from loss-making to profitable.

Or was it that Du He's perseverance and integrity touched Li Lizhi?

If you count carefully, their relationship started in the 13th year of Zhenguan, and it has been ten years now.

After listening to Du He's words, Li Chengqian looked around and didn't see anyone eavesdropping. Li Zhi didn't have the emotions of a little girl, and if someone were to eavesdrop, it would not be the style of this sister.

In other words, Li Zhi is actually a very free and easy girl.

Li Chengqian stood up, looked at the Taiye Lake and said, "In fact, among my sisters, you have the highest taste for beauty."

"Your Majesty, I am guilty of this crime."

Li Chengqian suddenly smiled and said, "If the Queen Mother agrees to your marriage, I will not stop you, but you have to remember, her ideal..."

"Even if I have to spend all my wealth, I will help Her Royal Highness achieve her dream."

"Oh, she doesn't even care about your wealth."

"I made a mistake..."

Li Chengqian put down the tea bowl in his hand and said, "Go away. I am annoyed when I see you now."

Du He hurriedly said, "I'll take my leave."

At night, Li Chengqian was still looking at the essays for this year's imperial examination. Cen Wenben selected three better ones and submitted them. One was by Di Renjie, another was by Guo Daiju, and the other was by Liu Qixian.

In comparison, these three are probably the top three Jinshi candidates in this year's imperial examination. As for Pei Yan and Lu Zhaolin, two highly renowned talents, they are not among the Jinshi candidates.

This is also because the current imperial examinations are more focused on practicality, and there have never been very high requirements for Mingjing.

"Brother Royal?"

Hearing the voice, Li Chengqian looked up and saw his mother coming with Li Lizhi.

"Du He has been your good friend since childhood. What kind of person is he?"

Li Chengqian saw that his mother had some white hair on her temples. He felt sad but didn't say anything. Instead, he put the file aside and said, "Lizhi, what do you think?"

Li Lizhi stood aside and said, "Du He is a very simple person, he doesn't have many thoughts. For a man like him to become the richest man in Guanzhong, it's probably God's fault."

Li Chenggan cleared his throat and asked, "What about on weekdays?"

Li Lizhi replied: "He is very rich, but he never squanders money and is very simple, just like my brother, down-to-earth and very humble."

"Why do they all sound good to my mother?"

Li Lizhi held her mother's wrist and said, "He has a pure heart and is a good candidate for a husband."

Li Chengqian noticed the smile on his mother's face. His father was not there at the moment. Perhaps his father had already found out everything about Du He, including who his friends were, his family business, and how rich he was.

As long as the Queen Mother nods, the marriage can be settled.

In the third year of Qianqing, at the end of May, the results of the imperial examinations in Chang'an City were finally announced. As expected, there were three successful candidates this year: Di Renjie, Guo Daiju, and Liu Qixian.

People crowded in front of the Suzaku Gate and looked at the names on the list.

A guard from the palace quickly ran to the opposite street: "Your Highness has seen it clearly."

Li Zhi nodded, "Tell me who they are."

"Yes." The guard reported: "Pei Yan, Cen Changqian, Jing Hui, Wang Jiusi, Lu Zhaolin..."

"Wait." Li Shen looked at Zhang Jianzhi who was squatting in the corner and whispered, "Is he there?"

The guard replied, "I forgot, let me check again."

After that, he squeezed into the crowd again, and came out again to reply: "Your Highness, there is one last person."

Li Zhi vaguely heard sobbing sounds, and when he looked for the source of the sound, he saw Zhang Jianzhi squatting there crying with his face covered.

Li Shen also walked forward, patted him on the back and said, "Brother Jianzhi, you finally passed the imperial examination."

Zhang Jianzhi cried bitterly and his body was still shaking.

Li Zhi said: "There are more than 10,000 candidates in this imperial examination, and you are the last one to pass among the top 500. It's really not easy."

Li Shen nodded, "It's not easy."

(End of this chapter)