Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 134 Striving for Success
By the time Wang Xi arrived at the academy at a leisurely pace, it was already morning.

As soon as he arrived at the academy, Li Jieman rushed over, "Brother Que, you've finally arrived! I was just about to come looking for you."

"What is it?" Wang Xi asked.

Li Jie said, "Wu Chongwen and the others came by just now."

Wang Xi frowned and asked, "What are they doing here?"

“They’ve come to deliver an invitation to the singing competition,” Li Jieman said. “They even pretended that the reason they hadn’t sent one before was because the Imperial Academy knew that you were a low-key person and therefore didn’t want to bother you, not because they were afraid that you would overshadow the Imperial Academy.”

Wang Xi asked, puzzled, "What exactly are you talking about?"

Li Jieman exclaimed, "You don't know, yesterday the orphans and the others were hiding some things. After being provoked by the other side, they said that the Imperial Academy was afraid of our academy, so they didn't dare to send an invitation to our academy."

Wang Xi said, "These bastards are always causing me trouble. Where are they now?"

Li Jieman said, "Kneel in front of the back hall door."

"So self-disciplined?"

"It wasn't an apology, but a request for the gentleman to participate in the singing competition. For this, they were willing to clean the outhouse for a month."

"The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease! Let's go and take a look."

The two arrived at the back hall and saw more than twenty people kneeling in front of the door. Keep in mind, it was the dead of winter.

It's clear how much they wanted to participate in this singing competition.

On the other hand, they used to be ridiculed often, but they were all thick-skinned like city walls. However, since they came to the Nameless Academy, their self-esteem and sense of honor have become stronger and stronger.

There was no way around it; for the past two or three months, they had been immersed in all sorts of praise.

Let them feel like they've succeeded again.

Wang Xi walked over and said, "What are you doing? The master is perfectly fine, get up quickly!"

Cui Gu'er said, "Brother Que, we know we've caused trouble this time, but we just can't stand anyone slandering our teacher and our Wuming Academy."

"Do not talk nonsense."

Wang Xi said impatiently, "You know that the teacher dislikes forcing people to do things against their will. If you pressure the teacher like this, you might anger him and he might expel you all from the academy."

Upon hearing this, Cui Gu'er and the others immediately got up.

Dou E said, "Brother Que, what should we do?"

Linghu Baodi said with a wronged expression, "You have no idea how arrogant Wu Chongwen and his gang were just now. They've already issued a challenge. If we don't go, then..."

Wang Xi said, "Didn't I just say that the master doesn't like to force people to do things against their will? If you want to participate, the master will not stop you."

Xue Jun said, "But without your help, sir, we wouldn't be able to make it even if we went."

Wang Xi said disdainfully, "You have no confidence, yet you want to show off. Should I say you have any shame, or no shame at all?"

Several people chuckled.

Wang Xi rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine, you guys go clean the outhouse first, I'll go in and talk to the master."

"Please, Brother Sparrow."

"roll!"

"Hey, let's get out of here."

The twenty people ran away immediately.

After they left, Wang Xi and Li Jieman went straight into the house.

Huangfu Sengnian and Tao Mo were sitting inside the room.

"Young master, what should we do?" Tao Mo said with a mournful face.

Wang Xi sat down. "They've already stepped on our faces, what else can we do but go?"

Li Jie asked, "Do you know poetry?"

"will not."

Wang Xi shook his head and said, "But it's a singing competition, not a poetry competition."

Huangfu Sengnian rolled his eyes slightly. "The meaning of 'singing' is to praise with poetry, and it is still about comparing with poetry."

Wang Xi said, "Then let's keep singing."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "If you're not planning to sing a song about Lin Daiyu, then I'm not going."

Wang Xi said, "Of course not, but we also have our own advantages, namely, the choreography of music and dance. Even if our poetry is not as good as theirs, we can still find a way to overwhelm them in terms of momentum."

Li Jie sat down next to Wang Xi with his big buttocks, "Brother Que, what idea have you come up with this time?"

Wang Xi said, "It's still in the planning stage, so there's no rush. The most important thing right now is the banquet. Li Linfu came to see me just now."

"So fast?"

Huangfu Sengnian was slightly surprised.

Wang Xi nodded and smiled, "It's clear this person has quite the ambition!"

Li Jieman seemed to remember something, "Yesterday I went to test my father. Li Linfu didn't tell the truth yesterday. He actually mentioned it to my father first and only came to find Lao Tao after getting my father's permission. However, if this matter succeeds, our father will be the one to deserve the most credit."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "If he doesn't even tell your father first, then this person is not worth worrying about."

Wang Xi nodded.

This was all expected.

Li Linfu's reason for holding this banquet was simply to borrow the cultural strategy that Li Qiao had proposed. Of course, this was also an attempt to curry favor with Li Qiao, since Li Qiao was now his superior.

Li Jie asked, "Will Your Majesty agree to that?"

Wang Xi said, "His Majesty loves opera so much, he will definitely agree, that's almost a certainty. The problem now is how to put on a play that will also fascinate those foreign guests."

Li Jie asked curiously, "Isn't this a performance of Dream of the Red Chamber?"

Wang Xi said, "Among those foreign guests, very few can truly appreciate Dream of the Red Chamber, so we need to come up with another play."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "But our goal is to promote the culture of our Great Tang Dynasty. If we are too accommodating to foreign guests, wouldn't we be putting the cart before the horse?"

Wang Xi said, "It's not about coming up with a story based on their cultural customs, but about coming up with a story they can understand. If they can't understand it, there won't even be anyone to applaud, which would be even more embarrassing."

Li Jie blinked his small eyes and chuckled, "If we're talking about things that everyone's interested in, it's definitely matters between men and women. Look at Pingkangfang, there are all kinds of courtesans and people from all over the world, you name it."

After listening, Wang Xi turned to look at Li Jieman and said, "Xiaoman! What you said makes a lot of sense."

Li Jie said with delight, "Really? Hehe, I was just saying that casually."

Wang Xi nodded and said, "It's feasible, it really is feasible."

Huangfu Mansion.

Huangfu Sengnian returned home and respectfully bowed to his father, saying, "Father, your son has returned."

"Ah."

Huangfu Shangde gestured to the side, "Sit down." "Yes."

Huangfu Sengnian knelt on the cushion.

It must be admitted that although Huangfu Shangde, like Wang Shouyi, lacked ambition, his family education was much better than that of the Wang family.

Huangfu Shangde said, "I discussed the matter of how to provide relief to the hidden households with Yuwen Rong today. Although he does not object, he does not want to get involved in this matter. He hopes that we will submit a memorial to His Majesty ourselves."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "In that case, Father, please submit a memorial to His Majesty and explain the advantages and disadvantages of this matter."

Huangfu Shangde said, "But this ultimately requires the state to pay for it. Why is His Majesty so eager to deal with this matter? Isn't it because of financial difficulties? If we report this matter to His Majesty and fail to handle it properly, we will face accountability."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Then Father, please do it."

Huangfu Shangde also disliked his son's tone, saying, "This matter is not as simple as you think."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Compared to Yuwen Rong, the work done by Anye Bureau is actually not difficult. If even this cannot be done well, how can it attract His Majesty's attention? If Father really has no confidence, then let me do it. I do not think this matter is difficult."

After saying that, he sighed softly.

Seeing his disappointed expression, Huangfu Shangde gritted his teeth and felt his whole body throb. "When will you get rid of your arrogant attitude, you brat?"

Huangfu Sengnian said, "It's not that I'm arrogant, but that Father underestimates himself."

These words nearly killed Huangfu Shangde. He immediately slammed his fist on the table and stood up, shouting, "You insolent brat, how dare you lecture your father! Go stand outside and do not enter without my permission!"

Huangfu Sengnian didn't say a word, got up and went to stand outside.

Huangfu Shangde glanced at his son and felt a little regretful. He had originally wanted to discuss with his son whether they could choose another method, but they started arguing before they even got to the point.

Even if Huangfu Shangde has lost all fighting spirit now, he cannot allow his son to look down on him.

Although it was already the dead of winter, everyone in the court and the country was still very busy. Even Li Longji had to practice tap dancing while traveling.

Fortunately, Li Longji was not like Li Zhi, who was afraid of both cold and heat. He had the longevity blood of the Wu family flowing through his veins. Although the wind was biting cold outside, Li Longji was still in high spirits and strode along the corridor toward the Zichen Palace. Li Qiao beside him could hardly keep up.

"Using traditional opera to entertain foreign guests."

Li Longji laughed heartily and said, "Prince Sipu, your idea is truly brilliant!"

Li Qiao was overjoyed to see that the emperor agreed, and hurriedly said, "I promised Your Majesty that I would use opera to make the people of our great Tang Dynasty yearn for our culture, and I will do my best to do so."

Li Longji nodded and said, "In recent years, there have been constant disputes in the court, and we have not been able to pay attention to the outside world. This has made some people around us restless again. This time, we should make it a grand event so that they can see the strength of our Great Tang. We will hold it after the New Year's Day court meeting."

Li Qiao was overjoyed, but also felt immense pressure.

The New Year's Day court assembly is the first day of the new year, and all the civil and military officials, as well as foreign guests from various countries, will participate. It can be said to be the grandest day of the year.

Li Longji added, "You must handle this matter well and not disappoint me."

"Your Majesty, I will certainly not disappoint you," Li Qiao hurriedly replied.

Li Longji nodded and said, "By the way, let Que'er perform."

Li Qiao was taken aback. "Queque'er? Those senior brothers have always been busy behind the scenes and don't perform on stage."

Li Longji said with great disdain: "You are really not a good uncle. Que'er's talent is far superior to others. If it weren't for Que'er taking the lead role, I wouldn't feel at ease."

As for the female lead, to be on the safe side, let Hongxiu play the role herself. These two are indispensable; as for the rest, they can decide for themselves.”

"Yes."

Li Qiao nodded.

During their conversation, the two arrived at the Zichen Palace, where they saw five people standing inside: Zhang Jiazhen, Zhang Shuo, Yuan Qianyao, Yuwen Rong, and Wang Shouyi.

After exchanging greetings, Li Longji said, "Duke of Qi."

"The minister is here."

Wang Shouyi immediately stepped forward.

Li Longji said, "I have read your memorial. I also hope to help those poor and impoverished households as much as possible, but the country is currently facing financial difficulties, and I am afraid that I am willing but unable to do so!"

Wang Shouyi immediately replied, “Your Majesty, after registering the hidden households last time, I know that most of them are resentful. In their view, it was the court that refused to grant them land, which is why they became hidden households. They are not to blame.”

Your Majesty, I also believe that the court has an inescapable responsibility in this matter and should bear its own responsibility in order to quell the resentment in the hearts of the recluses.

Moreover, I have calculated that each household will receive a subsidy of at most 400 coins for farm tools and rice seeds, and even with the exemption of agricultural taxes, each household will still have to pay more than 1,000 coins per year.

Therefore, each additional household would bring the court an additional six hundred coins in revenue, which, in the long run, is more beneficial to the national treasury.

Moreover, the imperial court's sudden allocation of so much money to help reclusive households acquire farming tools will also benefit many artisans and merchants, leading to greater commercial prosperity—a win-win situation.

Zhang Shuo immediately stood up and said, "I also agree with what Duke Qi said. The reason why Anye Bureau was successful before was that Anye Bureau put itself in the shoes of the hidden households, which is why many hidden households came to surrender themselves."

The imperial court should employ both leniency and severity in this matter. However, merely pardoning the guilty is insufficient to sway the people. If the court can offer substantial financial assistance, the people will surely be won over. Furthermore, when those stubborn and unyielding recluses are punished, no one will dare to speak out on their behalf.

After hearing these words, Li Longji seemed quite moved.

Yuwen Rong glanced at Zhang Shuo and couldn't help but admire him secretly.

The decree of leniency was issued last year, with a 100-day time limit, but the results were not good. So whether to punish or not was a point of contention in the court, and in the end the time limit was extended.

The reason is that many ministers strongly opposed it.

Some ministers genuinely cared about the people, while others hoped the matter would end in failure.

In fact, Li Longji didn't dare to actually punish him.

But if this happens again and again, who will still take the imperial edict seriously in the future?

This time, Li Longji was determined to succeed.

From this perspective, it's acceptable to give the money; you've done everything you could, and when the time comes to punish, no one will dare to say anything more.

After much deliberation, Li Longji suddenly said, "Alright, all non-essential construction work on the palace will be halted next year. We should use the money to help those hidden households."

He spoke these words casually, but the ministers were taken aback.

Yuwen Rong immediately stepped forward, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Zhang Shuo, Zhang Jiazhen, and Yuan Qianyao also stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."

Only Wang Shouyi was sweating profusely.

This is a huge mistake!

Although the current finances are tight, that is relative to the achievements in both civil administration and military affairs. If it were to conquer a country, it might cause serious damage, but it wouldn't be to the point that the money for repairing palaces would have to be used to subsidize it, because the main expenses of the Daming Palace have already been covered by the previous three emperors. Now there is no need for large-scale construction, only minor repairs.

Li Longji's meaning was very clear: since he had already raised the stakes to this point, he would raise them again, even if it meant sacrificing his palace.

This signal is quite obvious.

The happiest person was, of course, Yuwen Rong. The more resolute the emperor's attitude, the easier it was for him to carry it out.

The biggest fear in reforming and changing the system is that leaders are indecisive.

However, Li Longji was quite charismatic in the early stages.

(End of this chapter)