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

Chapter 44 I heard that Magistrate Li has three treasures

"No, no, no, I'm fine with the surname Wen."

Wen He quickly refused, feeling that changing her name to Li He felt strange.

Moreover, as a person of later generations, he did not feel that it was an honor for the emperor to bestow a surname upon him.

"Besides, I can't do what you're talking about. Since I started college, I don't even want to go to school at 8 a.m. You want me to memorize some classics? I can recite a few passages from the Analects, though."

"As for military treatises, forget about them. I don't even dare to kill a chicken, let alone lead troops to the battlefield to kill people."

"I came to you because I wanted to be a parasite and help you change history. I also wanted to prevent the later period of the Tang Dynasty from being so miserable, with Chang'an being plundered by the Uyghurs, Tibetans, Tuyuhun, and Dangxiang, and the emperor being so frightened that he had to flee Chang'an."

Wen He was somewhat agitated; he felt that Li Shimin was making things too difficult for him.

They really think of him, this time traveler, as a savior.

He was also said to be knowledgeable in everything from astronomy to geography, and proficient in everything.

I'm not Zhuge Liang, why would I need to know these things?
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Wen He looked up when she saw that he hadn't spoken for a long time. She saw that Li Shimin's gaze was meaningful.

After a long while, he said slowly, "Since you are unwilling, then I will not force you."

"So easy to talk to?"

Wen He was somewhat skeptical.

Li Shimin was no saint either; he was capable of killing.

Unlike Lao Zhu, he would regret killing someone and then reflect on his actions, realizing that he couldn't kill someone so easily next time.

"Of course, this is just a small matter, but if I assign you a task, you must do it." Li Shimin said with a smile.

Wen He felt that something was wrong.

But I already refused him for a while, so I can't anger him again.

"Is there a reward?"

"Of course, I am fair in rewarding and punishing." Li Shimin nodded.

Wen He immediately agreed.

With this tree by his side, the biggest leg of the Tang Dynasty, he can walk sideways in Chang'an from now on.

Although he was just a county magistrate who helped found the country.

But behind him is the future emperor of the Tang Dynasty!
"Go find Pharmacist Li. Make the Turkic marching route as detailed as possible. There must be no mistakes. If the Turks are severely damaged, I will add another 300 mu of fertile land that I promised you before."

"The minister obeys the order."

Wen He bowed with joy.

Three hundred acres of farmland.

Oh, that's 300 mu now, so that makes 600 mu.

From now on, I can comfortably be a freeloader.

As he skipped and hopped towards the side hall, Li Shimin's smile gradually turned cunning.

"You won't learn? If I put you in charge of working for people like Keming, Xuanling, and Pharmacist Li, it would be hard for you not to learn. You're just a nobody from a later era; you're easily manipulated by me."

Li Shimin waved his hand triumphantly and walked towards the head of the Liangyi Hall.

He stopped when he was only one step away from the throne, and pondered for a moment as he looked at it.

Then he turned around, sat down, and continued handling government affairs.

……

Side hall.

As soon as Wen He entered, she saw Yan Liben talking with Changsun Wuji and others.

Li Jing did not join them; he simply drank his tea on the side.

As he entered, everyone's eyes turned to him.

"Is the amazing technique of easily making rubbings of ancient books that Liben mentioned what you were thinking?" Changsun Wuji gave Wen He a look.

He didn't know what the technology was called, and Wen He hadn't told Yan Liben either.

But he knew that this must be a technology of the future.

However, Wen He's identity could not be exposed, which is why he acknowledged that Wen He had taken over.

"I guess so. At least it didn't exist before me. By the way, this technology is called printing." Wen He himself was also quite helpless. This wasn't something he wanted to admit; he was completely forced into it.

"Printing technology, that's quite fitting, but I heard Your Highness mention movable type printing, is that right?" Fang Xuanling stroked his beard as he approached, his gaze scrutinizing him.

It seemed they wanted to see if Wen He had any secrets. Wen He smiled wryly and said, "Modular type printing is too troublesome. It seems cheap, but it is time-consuming and laborious, and it is not suitable for the present. If we can develop water power in the future and achieve literacy coverage across half of the Tang Dynasty, then it might be feasible."

Movable type printing was discovered in the Northern Song Dynasty, but it did not begin to be used formally until the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and even then, it was not widespread.

There are quite a few problems with this.

It's not just about materials, but also about manpower.

In ancient times, even those who had just passed the preliminary examinations considered themselves to be precious gems.

They wouldn't even do manual labor, let alone sell calligraphy and paintings.

"Very well, we will report this matter to His Highness later. County Magistrate Li has been waiting for you here for a long time, so do not treat him lightly!"

Changsun Wuji was really worried, so Wen He and Li Jing spent time alone together.

Who knows if this brat will say something shocking?

Just like last time, he actually told His Highness that he would take revenge on Fang Xuanling's family someday.

Is he that kind of person?
Changsun Wuji gave Wen He a warning glare.

Wen He wasn't intimidated by him and retorted impatiently, "I know, I know, His Highness has said so, so you can rest assured."

But the more he said that, the more uneasy Changsun Wuji and the others became.

Unfortunately, there are too many government affairs to handle now, and most of the people in the court are not being used.

All the prime ministers voluntarily retired and stayed at home, as they had no time to care about Wen He.

"It's good if you know."

Changsun Wuji said no more and left the side hall with Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui.

Once they left, Yan Liben, seeing that there was nothing more for him to do, also bid farewell to Wen He.

"They've all left. I wonder if Young Master Wen wishes to speak here or come to my residence?" Li Jing put down his teacup and spoke leisurely.

"Can I go to your residence?" Wen He asked, a little excited.

"Haha, my humble abode is simple, I'm afraid young man Wen will find it unpleasant. But if we're talking about the Turks, we need a map. You can either go to the Ministry of War or to my home."

He thought Wen He was looking down on his family, so he planned to go to the Ministry of War.

But Wen He quickly shook her head: "No, no, no, let's go to the county magistrate's mansion instead. I'm curious about it too."

"Curious? Curious about what?"

Li Jing was puzzled.

Wen He looked at him, pursed her lips, and hesitated for a moment, unsure whether she should ask.

Seeing his hesitation, Li Jing laughed: "Just now, Changsun Fuji was only trying to scare you, little brat. There are no taboos in front of me. Feel free to speak your mind if you have any questions."

He found Wen He interesting.

At such a young age, he speaks and acts just like an adult.

After leaving the side hall, there was no one else besides the young eunuch leading the way.

He took the opportunity to test what was so special about this little child.

It's astonishing that His Highness the King of Qin attaches such importance to this.

Wen He chuckled dryly, looking at him somewhat guiltily, and said, "You asked me to ask, so I asked."

"Yes, I asked you to ask, go ahead."

"It is said that when our Emperor started his rebellion, you went to complain to Emperor Yang of Sui. But as soon as you arrived in Chang'an, our Emperor attacked and captured you, intending to behead you. Is this true?"

Seeing Wen He's eyes full of curiosity, Li Jing tugged at his beard in astonishment.

Many people knew about this embarrassing incident back then, but now no one dares to mention it in front of him.

No wonder the young man was so secretive earlier.

"I was wrong about this back then, but it's still a refined affair, hahaha."

He himself didn't care, and he often mentioned it to his sons at home.

"As expected of a great general, he has such a magnanimous heart." Wen He gave him a thumbs up in admiration.

Although he didn't know what it meant, he was in a great mood after hearing Wen He's praise.

But before he could be happy for long, Wen He asked again, "I also heard that Lord Li's family has three treasures."

(End of this chapter)