Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 343 If we eat less, they can eat more.

"Da Dui Lu, the Tang people suddenly released the news of 'Japanese silver mountains,' could this be a conspiracy they've set up?"

Right in front of that man sat a Goguryeo man dressed in coarse cloth and short clothes.

He asked with a hint of unease in his voice.

The young man who had spoken earlier slowly put down his wine cup.

Although he wore the ordinary blue cloth robe of a merchant, his eyes and brows revealed a sharp and intimidating aura. He was none other than Lu Yuan Gaesomun, the Goguryeo Grand Coordinator who had infiltrated Chang'an in disguise.

He paused for a moment, his fingertips tracing the rim of his cup, his gaze sweeping over the several Goguryeo confidants who were holding their breath and waiting in the room, before he spoke: "The account of Zheng Yuanzhu and his son is exactly the same as the information we obtained from other channels."

"Does that mean that Zheng Yuanzhu and his son are genuinely allied with us? Does Japan really have that much silver?"

The envoy on the other side instantly became excited, leaning forward with a greedy glint in his eyes.

If Goguryeo could control Japan's silver mines, its financial resources would increase significantly, giving it more confidence to confront the Tang Dynasty.

Compared to his subordinates' excitement, Yeon Gaesomun appeared unusually calm, even curling his lips into a cold sneer: "The people of Tang are just like the people of Sui back then, arrogant and conceited. They have always looked down on Goguryeo, and now they are busy dealing with the Western Turks. Why would they go to such lengths to send a duke as a spy?"

In his view, if the Tang court really wanted to deal with Goguryeo, it would only use force directly, rather than this "roundabout method".

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone suddenly becoming serious, his eyes sharply fixed on the envoy: "Remember, when you return, tell your subordinates to treat Zheng Yuanzhu and his son with utmost respect, without the slightest neglect. Zheng Yuanzhu comes from one of the five noble families and seven prominent clans of Tang. If we can use him to win over the powerful aristocratic families and create internal strife within Tang, then the Tang kingdom will sooner or later become our possession!"

"Yes! Your subordinate will remember your teachings!" The envoy quickly bowed and agreed, but secretly he was grumbling to himself.

Ultimately, wasn't it because you were worried that Zheng Yuanzhu was a spy that you risked your life to sneak into Chang'an to investigate?

He spoke with certainty, but secretly he was more cunning than anyone else.

"correct."

The messenger remembered something else and quickly asked.

"The envoys sent by King Gao Jianwu are still being held at the post station. What should we do with them?"

Yeon Gaesomun picked up his wine cup, tilted his head back and drank the remaining wine in the cup. His tone was calm but carried an undeniable determination: "Let them go back."

These words stunned the envoy.

When he came, Da told Lu Mingming that he wanted to kill Gao Jianwu's envoy, frame the Tang Kingdom, and exacerbate the conflict between the two countries. Why has he suddenly changed his mind now?

Yeon Gaesomun seemed to see through his doubts, but he didn't explain, instead pondering to himself.

He had three purposes for coming to Chang'an.

First, investigate the background of Zheng Yuanzhu and his son; second, eliminate Gao Jianwu's envoy to frame the Tang Dynasty; and third, unite with Silla and Baekje to jointly resist the Tang Dynasty.

But now it seems that the latter two objectives need to be changed.

Japan's silver mountains.

He had to take over that island nation before the Tang Dynasty set sail.

Because he knows it very well.

At present, Goguryeo simply does not have the strength to confront the Tang Dynasty head-on, and can only protect itself first.

"Go and convey Ben's orders to Lu."

Yeon Gaesomun slammed his wine cup heavily on the table, causing the candlelight to flicker.

"Contact the envoys of Silla and Baekje stationed in Chang'an and tell them that I am hosting a banquet at Qingfeng Tower and invite them to come tomorrow to discuss 'mutually beneficial matters'."

A glint of ambition flashed in his eyes: Although the Tang Dynasty was powerful, there were places it couldn't cover.

If Goguryeo could first annex Japan, Silla, and Baekje, and integrate the power of the peninsula and islands, it would only take ten years for him to train an army powerful enough to sweep across the world.

At that time, he will personally lead his iron cavalry to the bustling city of Chang'an, and let the Tang emperor taste the bitterness of bowing down and submitting!
Countless times I've dreamt of this in the dead of night.

He's been having a dream.

That was when Li Shimin bowed his head and submitted to him, and he questioned the Tang emperor about whether he wanted to surrender.

Perhaps that day will come soon.

"wishful thinking!"

Inside the Lizheng Hall, Changsun Wuji glared at Wen He, his beard bristling.

Look at him, sleeves rolled up, ready to take action.

Wen He was prepared. He quickly hid behind Dou Jing, the Minister of Revenue, and poked half his head out. He said with a hint of teasing, "Vice Minister Changsun, you are now the Vice Minister of Personnel, in charge of the assessment and appointment of officials. The distribution of grain seeds is the responsibility of the Ministry of Revenue. You shouldn't meddle in this."

"I also serve concurrently as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue!"

Changsun Wuji snorted.

His successor has not yet taken office, so he is indeed still holding the position concurrently.

Wen He looked up at Dou Jing, who nodded helplessly.

"Even if you concurrently hold the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, you still have to be reasonable, right?"

Wen He stepped out from behind Dou Jing, her tone becoming serious.

"These rice seeds are already in limited quantity. They are high-yield rice varieties that His Majesty obtained with great difficulty from Prince Huan. If we don't set aside special experimental fields to test and record the growth cycle and yield changes, are we going to let the Ministry of Revenue distribute them to various places at will? Who will be responsible if the crops fail?"

Wen He questioned.

Upon hearing this, Dou Jing nodded and said, "What the county magistrate said makes sense."

"Hmph! The distribution of grain seeds is the responsibility of the Ministry of Civil Affairs!" Changsun Wuji retorted sharply, his finger slamming heavily on the table.

“These grain seeds belong to the imperial court and are intended to relieve the people and ensure stable spring planting. They are not your private property for ‘experimentation’, Wen He. People in various places are waiting for the grain seeds to be planted. How can they have time for you to slowly experiment?”

Upon hearing this, Dou Jing nodded and said, "Vice Minister Changsun is right."

Seeing Dou Jing's "both sides are reasonable" attitude, Wen He was both amused and exasperated. She could only turn to Changsun Wuji again and ask in a questioning tone, "I want to try planting rice to cultivate a higher-yielding variety so that more people can have enough to eat in the future, not for my own benefit!"

"But if these grain seeds are handed over to the Ministry of Revenue, I'm afraid they'll be divided up by certain people under the guise of 'distribution' and sent to the fields of noble families and aristocrats. Ordinary people won't even be able to see them then, so how can we talk about stable spring planting? And how can we cultivate new varieties?"

Dou Jing hummed in agreement, nodded, and said, "The county magistrate is right."

"What do you mean?"

Changsun Wuji was so angry that his face turned red, and he pointed at Wen He's nose and shouted angrily.

"Who are these 'certain people' you're referring to? Do you think everyone in the Ministry of Civil Affairs is a corrupt official who can't distinguish between public and private interests? There are countless officials in the Tang Dynasty who are loyal to the country; you, Wen He, are not the only one who cares about the people!"

Dou Jing continued to nod: "What Vice Minister Changsun said is very true."

On the throne, Li Shimin held a celadon teacup and calmly took a sip of tea.

The tense argument that had just taken place inside the hall seemed to have no effect on his mood. Instead, he leisurely praised, "This tea is quite good today. It's sweet and mellow, with a touch of springtime freshness."

Huang Chun, who was standing by, quickly bowed and replied with a smile in his voice: "Your Majesty, this is freshly picked spring tea that was just sent by the magistrate of Gaoyang County yesterday. He said it was the first tender buds picked from the tea garden at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain, and he specially sent it to the palace for Your Majesty to taste."

"Well, it's really good."

Li Shimin took another sip, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face.

"It's refreshing and leaves a lingering fragrance in your mouth after swallowing, making it even more flavorful than the tribute tea I've had before."

Upon hearing this, Wen He and Changsun Wuji, who had been facing off in the hall, immediately fell silent.

The two stood on opposite sides, one on the left and the other on the right. Although they were no longer arguing, their eyes still held a hint of resentment when they looked at each other.

Changsun Wuji stared wide-eyed, while Wen He raised an eyebrow slightly.

Li Shimin put down his teacup, glanced at the two men, and asked in a calm but authoritative tone, "Are you finished arguing?"

Changsun Wuji quickly stepped forward, bowed, and apologized: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was in a moment of panic and argued in the hall, which was improper."

Although he felt he was in the right, he dared not be presumptuous in front of Li Shimin.

Wen He also bowed, his tone more casual: "I was also wrong. I shouldn't have argued with Vice Minister Changsun and disturbed Your Majesty's peace."

Li Shimin did not pursue the matter further. Instead, he instructed the eunuch Gao Yue beside him, "Pour a cup of this spring tea for Fuji as well. He was making a ruckus just now, so let him moisten his throat. Also, give Jiaying a bowl of honey water. He is young and cannot drink strong tea."

Gao Yue quickly agreed, took the tea tray and stepped forward. She first poured tea for Changsun Wuji, and then handed a bowl of amber-colored honey water to Wen He.

Standing between the two, Dou Jing watched this scene and subconsciously swallowed, muttering to herself.

His Majesty is clearly blaming him for "playing it safe" during the argument.

However, although he was the Minister of Civil Affairs, a high-ranking official of the third rank, he was the emperor's trusted brother-in-law on one side and a young talent favored by the emperor on the other. He dared not offend either of them.

He could only try to please everyone, but unexpectedly ended up being blamed.

Just as Dou Jing was feeling uneasy, Li Shimin suddenly spoke, his gaze falling on him: "Dou Qing has been standing for quite some time, so let's serve Dou Qing a cup of tea as well. This spring tea is rare, so let's have a taste together."

Dou Jing breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed to express her gratitude: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

When I took the teacup from the eunuch, my hand was still a little shaky.

His Majesty ultimately respected his dignity and did not truly blame him.

Looking at the different expressions on the faces of the three people in the hall, Li Shimin smiled faintly, almost imperceptibly.

Last time, Wen He and Changsun Wuji teamed up and tricked him.

This time, he specifically summoned the two of them to discuss the distribution of the King of the Rings' grain, and as expected, the two of them soon started arguing.

Once the atmosphere in the hall had eased slightly, Li Shimin put down his teacup and said in a calm but undeniably decisive tone, "The grain seeds that Prince Huan sent this time will be divided equally between the Ministry of Revenue and Wen He."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji was about to speak in rebuttal.

The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of agriculture and sericulture. Grain seeds should be distributed uniformly by the Ministry of Revenue. How can it be reasonable to allocate them to a county for private use?

Before he could finish speaking, Li Shimin looked up at him and slowly asked, "Fuji, if I remember correctly, last time quite a few people in the Ministry of Revenue embezzled a lot of soap and glass. This time, we're giving half of the grain seeds to Wenhe as compensation for his previous losses, so please don't hold it against him anymore."

In one sentence, Changsun Wuji was left speechless.

He wanted to say that the matter was long gone.

Moreover, all those corrupt officials were arrested by the Hundred Cavalry.

But looking at Li Shimin's expression, he instantly understood that His Majesty's words set the tone.

Left with no other choice, Changsun Wuji could only bow and accept the decree: "Your subject obeys the decree."

However, he knew in his heart that this was a compromise with His Majesty, not a show of weakness to that young brat Wen He.

After explaining the distribution, Changsun Wuji turned to Wen He, his expression solemn, his tone carrying a hint of reminder: "You once said before His Majesty that this Huanwang grain can be harvested twice a year, and its yield is several times that of ordinary rice. You should understand that this grain is related to the spring harvest of the Tang Dynasty and the livelihood of millions of people. It cannot be taken lightly." Wen He looked up at him, a kind smile on his face, but his tone carried a hint of sarcasm: "Thank you for reminding me, Vice Minister Changsun. I naturally understand the importance of these grains. I just don't know if the people in the Ministry of Revenue also understand. After all, not everyone can keep the words 'for the people' in mind, nor can everyone resist the temptation to embezzle grains."

"You don't need to worry about this!"

Changsun Wuji's sore spot was hit, his face darkened slightly, and he replied sharply.

"The Ministry of Civil Affairs has its own regulations and will definitely distribute the grain seeds to where they are needed, without the slightest mistake!"

"I hope so."

Wen He responded calmly, but her gaze met Changsun Wuji's directly. Both of them had resentment in their eyes. Although they did not exchange words, there was a tense atmosphere, as if they were about to start arguing again at any moment.

'Old Yin Bi'

Wen He cursed inwardly.

At the same time, Changsun Wuji also muttered a curse in his heart.

'young child'

Only Dou Jing, standing to the side, slowly sipped her tea, savoring the mellow taste of the tea, and silently praised it in her heart as "good tea."

As for the dispute between the two people in front of him, he had no intention of getting involved in it at all.

On one side is Changsun Wuji, who is concurrently the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and on the other side is Wen He, the son of Gaoyang County, whom His Majesty values. Neither of them can be offended by him. It would be better for him to be an "outsider," quietly enjoy his tea, and wait for His Majesty's final decision.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the gates of the Gaoyang County government building creaked open.

Twenty Xuanjia Guards, clad in gleaming armor and wielding long halberds, stood in formation before the gate. Their armor gleamed coldly in the morning mist, exuding an imposing aura.

Wen He, dressed in a blue official robe, was followed by Li Chengqian, Zhou Fu, and several servants unloading grain seeds. The group marched towards the Ministry of Revenue.

Zhou Fu followed behind, looking at the scene, still feeling uneasy.

Everything was fine yesterday, so why were the Xuanjia Guards suddenly mobilized today?
Could it be that someone has provoked the young master again and is now seeking revenge?
Li Chengqian was also puzzled.

He was summoned out of the East Palace by his own master early this morning.

Now they're making such a big fuss.

Could it be that one of those blind fools has offended the master again?
He didn't realize it until they were almost at the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

So, the master sent him to deal with his uncle?!
As soon as the clerk on duty opened the gate in front of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he saw a group of Xuanjia Guards walking in menacingly, and he was so frightened that he quickly retreated to the side.

Before long, Wen He led his people to the door. Just as they were about to go in, they saw Changsun Wuji, dressed in a scarlet official robe, walking out from inside. He was obviously waiting for him.

When Changsun Wuji saw the twenty Xuanjia Guards behind Wen He, and Li Chengqian following beside him, his pupils shrank slightly, and he almost lost his usual composure.

This brat, he's only here to collect some grain seeds, why did he bring so many people?

They even invited His Highness the Crown Prince; it's clear they're deliberately keeping an eye on me!

Fortunately, Changsun Wuji had a good mental fortitude and quickly composed himself. He stepped forward and bowed to Li Chengqian, saying, "Your subject Changsun Wuji greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian waved his hand casually, "Uncle, there's no need for formalities. I came with my teacher, who said we're here today to collect the grain seeds. I just wanted to see what the grain seeds sent by the Prince of Huan look like."

He was in a difficult position too.

On one side was his uncle, and on the other side was his teacher.

Whom should we help and who shouldn't we help?

Wen He stood aside with an "innocent" smile on her face and cupped her hands to Changsun Wuji, saying, "Good morning, Vice Minister Changsun. I came to collect the grain seeds today, and I was afraid that we would be short-handed and late, so I brought more people to help with the unloading. I hope you will not take offense."

Changsun Wuji was furious at his smug, self-righteous attitude, but he couldn't retaliate.

With His Highness the Crown Prince present and the Xuanjia Guards by his side, if he were to actually stop him, it would only make him appear petty and might even earn him a reputation for "making things difficult for his colleagues."

He took a deep breath, suppressing his displeasure, and said calmly, "Don't be offended, sir. You are very magnanimous."

"Heh." Wen He immediately let out a cold laugh.

"But isn't it rather improper for Wenxianzi to so rashly bring the Crown Prince out of the Eastern Palace?" Changsun Wuji frowned.

Wen He smiled dismissively and said, "This humble official is taking the Crown Prince to observe the people's conditions."

Changsun Wuji narrowed his eyes slightly and said nothing more.

He gave an order to his subordinate behind him, instructing him to lead Wen He and his entourage to the backyard.

After Wen He and Li Chengqian left, Changsun Wuji watched the retreating figures of the Xuanjia Guards, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The relationship between the Crown Prince and Wen Jiaying is growing increasingly intimate.

In the backyard granary, Wen He looked at the grain seeds piled on the ground.

The grains are plump and golden in color, and are indeed much better than the rice varieties commonly found in the Tang Dynasty.

He had his men carefully count the number of items, and only after confirming that everything was correct did he allow the Xuanjia Guards and servants to carefully load them onto the carriage.

Inside the granary, Li Chengqian squatted beside a pile of grain, pinching a golden grain between his fingers and examining it closely in the sunlight. He asked curiously, "Sir, can this grain sent by the Prince of Huan really yield two harvests a year, just as you said?"

Wen He was rubbing a handful of grain seeds in her palm, feeling the fullness of the grains. Hearing this, she looked up and smiled: "You'll only know if you try."

He sounded relaxed, but he was actually thinking a lot about it.

The Huan Kingdom dared to deceive the Tang Dynasty with cooked grain seeds before. Although the grain seeds sent this time look good, if there are any tricks involved and nothing can be grown, then the person who proposed promoting it will be in big trouble.

"Where does the gentleman intend to plant this batch of grain?"

Li Chengqian asked again, his eyes full of anticipation, clearly wanting to witness it together.

“I have a farm over in Gejiazhuang, so I grow things there.”

Wen He answered casually, his fingertips still repeatedly checking the grain seeds.

"Sir, you are truly benevolent!"

Li Chengqian suddenly stood up, his tone full of admiration.

“The people of Gejiazhuang used to bully you, and they even colluded with the people of Yuanji Prefecture to try to harm you. But now, not only do you not hold a grudge, you have planted such precious grain nearby. What is this if not benevolence and righteousness?”

Upon hearing this, Wen He couldn't help but scoff, put down the grain seeds in her hand, and raised an eyebrow at him: "How am I being benevolent? You only look at the surface of things, kid."

Li Chengqian was taken aback, then scratched his head: "Otherwise, why did you choose to be near Gejiazhuang, sir?"

"The farm is the farm, and Gejiazhuang is Gejiazhuang. There's a water ditch in between, so they're not exactly adjacent."

Wen He leaned against the grain pile, explaining slowly, a sly glint in his eyes.

"Besides, when my farm has a bumper harvest, the yield will be several times higher than theirs. Those who bullied me will only be able to watch my good harvest with envy. Wouldn't that be more satisfying than taking direct revenge on them?"

He paused, then said with a hint of amusement, "Sometimes, revenge doesn't necessarily require taking action yourself."

"You make your life better and better, making your former enemies watch helplessly as you rise step by step, while they can only stay in the same place, or even become more and more destitute. This disparity makes them want to get up and slap themselves every night before they fall asleep. It's more satisfying than beating them up."

"So why bother retaliating and lowering yourself in the process?"

Li Chengqian seemed to understand but not quite, his brows furrowing slightly. He then asked, "But you also said before that you wouldn't charge the tenant farmers in your household rent interest. Shouldn't that be considered benevolent?"

Upon hearing this, Wen He put away her joking expression and became more serious: "I only have one mouth. There are only a few dozen people in the manor, including servants and craftsmen. They can't eat that much. If we eat less, they can eat more. If they can eat their fill, they will live a peaceful life and won't cause trouble."

The people of this era are still simple and honest.

Don't say things like "a small favor is appreciated, a large favor is resented."

The lives of these farmers are now a matter of a single word from Wen He.

In the Tang Dynasty, those who were registered as slaves were no longer considered people.

If Wen He were to get into trouble, they would become someone else's servants. At that point, they might not even be able to survive, let alone have enough to eat.

Therefore, the people who least want Wen He to get into trouble right now are probably the hundreds of tenant farmers under his command.

Seeing his furrowed brows and blank stare, Wen He didn't expect him to understand these things now.

These matters concerning human nature, calculation, and weighing pros and cons can only be understood through personal experience; they cannot be rushed.

He dusted off his hands and called out towards the warehouse, "Qi San, bring some men in to move the grain seeds. Be careful not to spill them!"

Qi San, who was guarding outside the door, quickly responded and led a dozen servants and Xuanjia guards in. They carefully packed the grain pile into the sacks that had been prepared beforehand, and then carried them onto the carriage.

Li Chengqian also came to his senses and stepped forward to lend a hand, helping to stabilize the sack.

But no one around him dared to let him do it, and they all avoided him, which caused Li Chengqian a lot of trouble.

Looking at him like this, Wen He couldn't help but feel a little gratified.

He didn't know what kind of person he could ultimately make Li Chengqian into.

But at least he will be different from the historical Li Chengqian.

When the last bag of grain seeds was loaded onto the truck, Wen Hesuo and Li Chengqian walked out of the Ministry of Civil Affairs' backyard and discovered that Changsun Wuji was no longer there.

However, Dou Jing, the Minister of Civil Affairs, personally stood at the door waiting, holding a document for the handover of grain seeds.

"Wenxianzi, this is a list of the quantities of grain. Please check it and sign it if there are no problems."

Dou Jing handed over the documents and a writing brush, her tone gentle.

"His Majesty specifically instructed that extra care should be taken during the transportation of grain seeds, and that the Ministry of Revenue should be notified immediately if any losses occur."

Wen He took the document, glanced at it, and handed it back to Dou Jing: "I'm sorry to trouble Minister Dou to make this trip in person."

"No trouble, no trouble."

Dou Jing took the document, carefully put it away, and then instructed, "The roads are difficult to travel during the spring plowing season, and there may still be frozen ground outside the city. Tell the driver to drive slowly and safety first."

Wen He replied, "I understand," and then turned around and got into the lead carriage with Li Chengqian.

The Xuanjia Guards lined up on both sides of the carriage, with servants driving the grain carts behind them. The group headed out of Chang'an City in a grand procession.

They walked for more than an hour.

We've finally arrived near Gejiazhuang.

They had barely arrived when a group of people suddenly appeared in the distance.

The Xuanjia guards surrounding them immediately became alert.

Qi San, who was driving the carriage, immediately stopped the carriage and gripped the short knife beside him.

(End of this chapter)