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

Chapter 388 If I don't do it, someone else will.

The morning light shines through the carved window lattices of the Liangyi Hall, falling on the golden brick floor and casting dappled shadows.

Wen He stood in the hall, her face as black as the bottom of a pot, her eyes full of morning grumpiness.

He was rushed from his residence to the palace by Gao Yue before he was even fully awake this morning, and he didn't even get a sip of hot porridge.

Just as he finished bowing to Li Shimin on the dragon throne, he heard the other party speak in a somewhat ingratiating tone.

"Jiaying, I am quite curious about the cannons you mentioned to Yan Qing and the others yesterday."

Li Shimin tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne, his smile carrying a hint of probing.

"How about I give you a year to build a few? Is that possible? Of course, this isn't an order from me to force you; it's just that I think if this thing is completed, it will greatly benefit our Tang Dynasty's campaign against the Turks."

He paused, then changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat persuasive.

"The main issue is that some officials in the court are not approving of my decision to appoint you as the Earl of a Founding County. They say you are too young and lack the qualifications. I have been suppressing these criticisms for you. If you can build cannons, then no one will have anything to say."

As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, Wen He's face darkened completely.

He stared at the emperor on the dragon throne, his tone tinged with disbelief.

"So you want me to build a cannon by this time next year?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin smiled and shook his head, his tone as relaxed as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"Not just one, but preferably a dozen or so. If we can build more, we'll have a better chance of defeating the Turkic cavalry in the future."

"Does Your Majesty know how difficult it is to manufacture cannons?"

Wen He looked at him and couldn't help but chuckle softly, but the smile was full of helplessness.

“I just told Minister Yan and the others yesterday that now is not the right time to build cannons! These cannons are very heavy. A single bronze cannon weighs at least several hundred pounds and requires several horses to pull it, making it too inconvenient for field battles. Moreover, the gunpowder ratio, the wall thickness of the cannon barrel, and the size of the projectile all require a lot of experiments to determine. If we are not careful, the barrel will explode. In that case, not only will we not be able to build cannons, but we will also waste the craftsmen and materials!”

He got angrier and angrier as he spoke, his morning grumpiness mixed with his resentment at being forced into this situation, and his tone became a bit harsher.

"We have lightweight iron cannons, but with the current iron smelting level of the Tang Dynasty, we can't even make qualified iron plates, let alone cannon barrels! It would be good enough if we could make bronze cannons, but making bronze cannons requires a lot of copper ore for experimentation. Does Your Majesty have that much copper?"

Li Shimin, seeing his angry and resentful appearance, was not angry.

After all, we need their help, so we should still show them the proper respect and courtesy.

He slowly took a sip of tea before smiling and speaking.

"Do you still remember the Yin family's copper mine?" Wen He's heart skipped a beat.

To atone for their sins, the Yin family handed over three copper mines under their name.

Li Er specially gave him the position of Director of the Ministry of Works for those three copper mines.

Li Shimin suddenly brought this up, could it be...?

"Could it be that the copper ore was sent to Chang'an?"

Wen He's eyes lit up instantly, but then she seemed to remember something and quickly asked again.

"Your Majesty, you promised me that 15% of the output from these three copper mines would be given to me to mint coins every year! You personally agreed to that, so you can't go back on your word!"

Li Shimin's smile froze for a moment, and his eyes darted away.

"I haven't forgotten you, you money-grubber. Would I ever cheat you out of your money? But... I just want to borrow some copper ore from you to make cannons first."

"I only got 15%!"

Wen He suddenly raised her voice, her tone full of disbelief, and stared straight at Li Shimin.

"His Majesty took 85% of the output from the three copper mines, and that's not enough to make cannons? And now he wants to borrow from me?"

Standing to the side, Gao Yue was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat. She quickly lowered her head and didn't dare to breathe.

This scoundrel from Gaoyang County is getting more and more audacious. He actually dares to speak to His Majesty like that and even addresses His Majesty as "you." If it were anyone else, they would have been charged with disrespect long ago!

"Some of the copper ore has already been sent to the Imperial Household Department to mint coins."

Li Shimin coughed somewhat awkwardly, attempting to explain.

"Isn't this all your fault? You didn't say you could build this damn cannon earlier. If you had, I wouldn't have allocated the copper ore elsewhere. Now I don't even know if what's left is enough."

After he finished speaking, he looked up and met Wen He's dissatisfied gaze.

Those eyes clearly said, "You're making excuses," which made Li Shimin feel a little guilty, and he couldn't help but put on a stern face.

"You brat, what are you looking at me like that for? Do you think I would lie to you?"

"Your Majesty, so you mean the Yin family's copper ore was already delivered to Chang'an a long time ago, and you've been keeping it from me all this time, is that right?"

Wen He didn't buy his act at all, directly exposing his excuse, and cursed Li Shimin in her heart.

That old man, he actually tried to hide my copper ore from me!
Upon hearing this, Gao Yue's legs went weak with fright. She quickly stepped forward and bowed to explain.

“Gaoyang County Magistrate, the Sage didn’t mean that! The Sage thought you were still young and didn’t know how to handle so much copper ore. He was afraid you would be cheated, so he temporarily kept it for you. He had no intention of hiding anything from you!”

Wen He sneered inwardly.

This sounds so familiar, like those parents putting away their children's New Year's money.

The reasons given, such as "I'll save it for you and give it to you when you grow up," are exactly the same!
They even said they'd keep it for me, but I bet they've been wanting to swallow that 15% all along!

If it weren't for the fact that we needed copper ore for the cannons today, that old fox might have kept it a secret for who knows how long!
"No need for that. Just give the copper mine to me directly. There's no need for the Imperial Household Department to go through the trouble of minting coins."

Wen He stubbornly refused to back down, her face showing an unyielding expression.

Seeing his profit-driven appearance, Li Shimin was furious and slammed his fist on the table.

"You brat, all you ever talk about is money! When have I ever skimped on your food or clothing? The mansion you live in now was specially bought for you by me, and yet you won't even give me a penny!"

"Then take it back!"

Wen He snorted and decided to give up entirely.

"Didn't Your Majesty just say that some people in the court oppose my becoming a founding county earl? Then you don't need to bestow this title upon me. Take away my title of founding county earl, as well as my official positions in the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War! I'll be free of official duties and can travel the world with Xiao Rou instead of being tied down by errands every day in Chang'an!"

Before she could finish speaking, Wen He saw Li Shimin suddenly grab the white marble brush washer from the table, his eyes filled with anger.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you mustn't! This is made of white marble...!"

Gao Yue was so frightened that her soul almost left her body. She rushed forward to try to stop him, but Li Shimin was too fast. The brush washer flew out with a "whoosh" and crashed heavily at Wen He's feet.

With a crisp "crash," the white marble brush washer shattered into pieces, shards splashing onto Wen He's clothes but not harming him in the slightest.

He had already nimbly dodged to the side when he sensed the danger.

Gao Yue looked at the broken jade scattered on the ground, her face turned pale with heartache, and she wished she could slap herself.

I only dared to replace this treasured brush washer with the one that His Majesty hadn't lost his temper for more than half a year. I never expected that it would be shattered into pieces today, just after it was set up yesterday!
"You brat! How dare you talk back to me!"

Li Shimin slammed his fist on the table, his chest heaving violently, his wide eyes like those of an angry Vajra in a temple, his tone filled with fury.

Wen He wasn't afraid at all. Instead, she straightened her neck, met his gaze head-on, and shouted loudly.

"Does Your Majesty know the meaning of 'golden words'? You promised me 15% of the copper mine, but now you want to hide it from me and even try to borrow my copper. Isn't this breaking your promise? How can you set an example for His Highness the Crown Prince if you act like this? I am arguing today not for my own copper, but for Your Majesty's holy name!"

He paused, then raised his voice: "Confucius said, 'He who first made funerary figurines will have no descendants.' Today, Your Majesty forcibly took my copper in order to make cannons. Will His Highness the Crown Prince follow suit in the future, disregarding the royal family's reputation and forcibly plundering his subjects' possessions for a little benefit?"

"If the ministers were to offer advice, His Highness the Crown Prince could simply say, 'My father did the same thing back then.' In that case, where would His Majesty's wisdom be? Where would the Crown Prince's morality be? Where would the dignity of the Tang Dynasty's laws be?"

These words were powerful and resounding, like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing Li Shimin's anger.

He was still angry, but when he heard "for the example of the Crown Prince," "for the holy name," and "for the dignity of the law," he froze on the spot, and his hand holding the table slowly loosened.

Gao Yue was also dumbfounded, standing aside with her mouth agape, thinking to herself.

The scoundrel from Gaoyang County is incredibly audacious, daring to lecture His Majesty like this...

What he said seemed to make a lot of sense?

Li Shimin was stunned for a long while before he slowly came back to his senses. Looking at the stubborn young man with exceptionally bright eyes in front of him, he suddenly recalled the scene when they first met at the Prince of Qin's residence.

Back then, Wen He, though frivolous, was always cautious and timid. Where would he have found the courage to teach him a lesson to his face like he does now?
"You little rascal, you've certainly improved quite a bit."

Li Shimin shook his head helplessly, the anger in his voice gradually dissipating, replaced by a more complex tone.

"His temper has also grown, and he is much stronger than when he first met me, when he was hypocritically weak."

"I'm telling the truth."

Wen He pursed her lips, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Labeling and moral blackmail are indeed effective.

Seeing his expression, Li Shimin was both angry and amused, but eventually softened his tone.

"Fine, fine, I won't argue with you. Consider it a loan from you, okay?"

Wen He didn't speak immediately, but blinked, her eyes filled with a scrutinizing look.

borrow?
Simply making empty promises won't do.

Seeing this, Li Shimin sighed helplessly, knowing that bleeding was the only option.

"I'll give you interest, is that alright?"

"How much?" Wen He's eyes lit up instantly, her previous stubbornness and seriousness vanishing completely.

"30% profit."

Li Shimin gritted his teeth. He knew this kid was shrewd and calculating. If he gave too little, the kid would definitely haggle. So he decided to be generous.

Wen He immediately started calculating in his mind: 15% of the copper mine, based on the annual output of three copper mines, would yield at least several hundred thousand catties of copper a year. 30% profit would be nearly 100,000 catties of copper, which is no small amount of money!

A smile immediately spread across his face, and he nodded hurriedly: "Okay! But let's make it clear beforehand, if I can't build the cannons within a year, you can't renege on your promise. You can't shortchange me a single penny of the copper and interest you owe me!"

"My word is law, would I renege on a debt owed to a mere child like you?"

Li Shimin glared at him irritably, but secretly found it amusing.

This kid, one second he's righteously talking about "holy names" and "role models," the next second he's back to being a money-grubber.

It's truly both laughable and frustrating.

"Then this humble subject thanks Your Majesty!"

Wen He immediately bowed respectfully, his smile almost overflowing. The unpleasantness he had felt earlier because of the copper mine seemed to have never existed, and all that remained in his eyes was the joy brought by the "30% profit".

Li Shimin looked at his money-grubbing appearance and was both angry and amused. He tapped him with his fingertip and ultimately said nothing more, only adding a few words.

"There's one more thing. Remember to attend the court meeting tomorrow."

Wen He's smile froze instantly, her heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously frowned: "Court meeting? Your Majesty, is someone going to impeach me again? I haven't done anything outrageous lately, I just built a hot air balloon and even demonstrated it in the palace, surely that can't have offended anyone?"

He became increasingly nervous as he spoke, yet he was also secretly pondering something.

Surely no one is that blind?

"Impeachment? What are you thinking, you fool!"

Li Shimin glared at him irritably, his tone full of helplessness.

"Tomorrow is the palace examination. Your three disciples, Wu Sheng, Meng Zhou, and that Zhao Lei, also need to come tomorrow. How could you not know?"

"The Imperial Examination?"

Wen He was completely stunned, her mouth slightly agape, her face filled with astonishment. "The imperial examinations have been over for several months now, why hasn't the palace examination happened yet?"

He has been so focused on the hot air balloon project that he has long forgotten about the aftermath of the imperial examinations.

Previously, when he saw that Meng Zhou and the other three had not been assigned official positions for a long time after the spring examination, he secretly wondered if it was because the three of them were nervous and performed poorly in the palace examination, and that the Ministry of Personnel was holding back from assigning them jobs.

After all, the three of them achieved good results in the imperial examinations thanks to the "sea of questions" strategy he taught them. If they were to actually face Li Shimin's questions, they would probably be at a loss.

But to his utter surprise, the palace examination never even started!
"It's not because of you!"

Li Shimin tapped his fingers on the table, his tone tinged with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

"When you first brought up the matter of the palace examination, you only said that it would test 'practical learning', but you didn't explain what it would specifically test or how it would be tested. So I asked Xuanling and Ma Zhou to discuss the details. As a result, they sometimes thought that testing agriculture and sericulture was more appropriate, and other times they said that testing political affairs was more important. This back and forth has delayed us until now."

He paused, then added, "The details were finally finalized half a month ago, and tomorrow was chosen as the auspicious time. All the officials in the court already knew about it, but you, you idiot, are still in the dark."

"Forehead……"

Wen He opened her mouth, but was speechless for a moment.

He stared at Li Shimin, his mind racing.

Li Shimin, seeing his sudden realization, suddenly laughed in exasperation.

"You brat, have you forgotten about the palace examination you mentioned back then?"

"How could this be! My memory is terrible..."

Wen He instinctively tried to refute, but halfway through her sentence, seeing Li Shimin's ambiguous smile, she ultimately shut her mouth without much confidence.

Okay, I really did forget.

"You, you, it's all thanks to me having Xuanling and the others put in so much effort that these candidates' futures weren't ruined. Shouldn't you thank me properly?"

Li Shimin teased deliberately, his eyes full of mischief.

"Your Majesty, the imperial examination is a matter for the court; how can it be considered 'making amends' for me?"

Wen He quickly waved his hand, thinking to himself that he couldn't take the blame.

"Besides, I'm just the deputy chief examiner; the chief examiner is Ma Zhou!"

"You're good at shirking responsibility."

Li Shimin snorted, not bothering to argue with him, and waved his hand.

"Alright, alright, get out of here. Be at the Taiji Hall before dawn tomorrow, don't be late."

"Hey, good!"

Wen He quickly agreed, afraid that Li Shimin would think of some extra task, and turned to leave, her steps light as if afraid of being stopped.

"That brat!"

Watching his retreating figure, which was practically "escaping," Li Shimin sat back on the dragon throne, looking annoyed, and let out a long sigh.

But in an instant, the helplessness on his face was replaced by solemnity, and he said in a deep voice to Gao Yue, who was standing beside him, "Issue my decree to order the Imperial Household Department to immediately stop the minting of this year's new coins."

Gao Yuegang was secretly laughing at Wen He's panic when he heard this, and he was stunned. He quickly stepped forward, bowed and asked.

"Your Majesty, are we not going to mint new coins this year?"

"Wait a minute."

Li Shimin leaned back on the dragon throne, gazing out of the hall, his tone resolute and unwavering.

"If that brat can successfully manufacture the cannons within a year, all the output from the Yin family's three copper mines will be used to manufacture the cannons. The matter of the new currency can be discussed later."

Gao Yue's heart was shaken.

The minting of new coins symbolized the new dynasty's atmosphere and the people's peace of mind.

Little did he know that, in Li Shimin's eyes, the military advantage brought by artillery had long surpassed its symbolic significance.

Ever since Wen He casually mentioned that "there will be a hot weapon in the future that can destroy the world," Li Shimin has been thinking about it constantly.

Even today, the craftsmanship of the Tang Dynasty might not be able to produce such exquisite artifacts.

But the cannons that Wen He called "truth" could make the Tang Dynasty's iron cavalry look down on all nations.

He was willing to take the gamble, even if it meant temporarily halting the minting of new coins.

……

When Wen He stepped out of the palace gates, the afternoon sun was blazing, making it hard for him to open his eyes. But the heaviness in his heart was even greater than the sun, and he felt like he had a splitting headache.

He was secretly annoyed.

I should have known better than to blurt out the word about artillery to Yan Lide and Dou Jing yesterday!
Now, things are even worse. Before the improvements to the hot air balloons have been sorted out, another task has been added: "making cannons every year."

His small twelve-year-old body was so caught up in these things that he didn't even have time to catch his breath. I'm really worried that it will affect his development in the future.

Wen He's mind never stopped moving from the palace to the city gate.

The early arrival of artillery created a complex web of pros and cons in his mind.

The advantage was that it would reduce the bloodshed of Tang soldiers and allow for a faster pacification of the Turks and deterrence of foreign tribes.

However, the downsides are also obvious. If this thing is used in war, its destructive power will far exceed that of cold weapons, and it may even cause further changes in the power balance of the court.

It will also strengthen the power of some people.

The more he thought about it, the more conflicted he felt, as if his left and right hemispheres were fighting each other, and even his steps slowed down.

But when she reached the palace gate and saw Qi San waiting there, Wen He's heart still tipped slightly.

In any case, if it can reduce the number of Tang soldiers who die and reduce the suffering of the people of the Central Plains from foreign invasions, then it is worth doing.

As for those alien races...

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. What do their lives have to do with me?

Outside the imperial city, Qi San waited respectfully.

Wen He looked at the carriage and muttered something under her breath.

"I'll go ask in a couple of days if they have any foals, or if riding is still the best option."

"Young master, this carriage is very comfortable. My driving skills have improved recently."

Qi San panicked a little.

He entered the Wenhe household, supposedly as a coachman, but in reality, he wasn't used much.

Fortunately, my little lad's pony has grown taller recently.

This morning, the young master couldn't climb up, so he had to take a carriage.

"It's more convenient to ride a horse."

Just like sports cars and SUVs, of course you want them all.

Upon hearing this, Qi San dared not offer any further advice and obediently nodded.

"Then I'll find a man with good legs for you, young master."

"Thank you for your hard work." Wen He nodded.

"I dare not say it's hard work, it's just what a lowly person should do."

Although he had been by Wen He's side for quite some time, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable every time he faced his young master's polite demeanor.

Look at those other powerful and wealthy people, they beat and scold their subordinates.

Especially those who were enslaved were not even considered human in the eyes of the powerful and wealthy.

As Wen He boarded the carriage, Qi San happened to see, out of the corner of his eye, a powerful figure mounting a horse by stepping on the back of a servant.

The servant had to kneel steadily; if his master were to fall, he would likely receive a severe beating.

Qi San didn't know.

This scene also caught Wen He's eye.

"Actually, this is the real reason why I don't want to build cannons."

Wen He lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the bright, sunny sky.

If in the past, a single bamboo pole could overturn the world.

The advent of firearms would completely undermine the saying, "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?"

If anyone were to resist, who knows how many people would die.

"But if I don't do it, others will. Those Westerners will invent firearms in the future. If those Westerners use cannons to occupy the coastline of our motherland and invade the capital in the future."

"If those invaders, with their advanced weapons, were to carry out another massacre on this land, what would be the point of my coming to the Tang Dynasty?"

"I will die with my eyes wide open in disbelief!"

Wen He lowered the carriage curtain.

He knew he wasn't the one who came from the rising sun.

He couldn't change the hierarchy of the Tang Dynasty, but he knew there would be successors.

All he can do now is ensure that this civilization, which is about to last for five thousand years or even longer, will never again see those shameful historical events.

Even if the Tang Dynasty was destined to perish, it had to perish at the hands of its own people.

Let the truth bury those barbarians and foreigners.

Wen He closed her eyes, forcing herself not to think about too many things.

He has had a better memory than most people since childhood, and it is difficult for him to forget things unless he is too busy to care.

Therefore, he is prone to indecisiveness in some matters.

At this time of day, he would always close his eyes and try not to think about these things.

"Xu."

Just as he was immersing himself in emptying his mind.

All that could be heard outside was the sound of Qi San parking his car.

"Young master, it seems someone wants to pay you a visit."

"Ok?"

Wen He frowned, but before he could ask, he heard a young man's voice from outside.