The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 150 The Crown Prince is back?
In the Duke of Zhao's residence, Changsun Wuji stroked his beard and paced slowly in his study. The usual gentle smile on his face was gone, replaced by a solemn expression.

"Promoting education...recommending students from poor families...haha, what a clever tactic, truly a clever tactic."

He whispered to himself.

"In this way, the hearts and minds of those small and medium-sized families in Shandong who were originally wavering or suppressed by the top aristocratic families will probably be won over by the Crown Prince. This is a move to undermine their foundation..."

He had to admit that the Crown Prince's move was far more ruthless and efficient than His Majesty's strategy of slowly infiltrating through the imperial examinations over the years.

Your Majesty must also consider the balance and the feelings of the former officials.

The Crown Prince, on the other hand, seemed to have no scruples, or rather, he had fewer scruples and a clearer goal.

At the residence of Liang Guogong Fang Xuanling, the prime minister, known for his composure, remained silent for a long time as he looked at the secret letter delivered by his advisor.

He came from the Fang clan of Qinghe, which was considered a noble family, but not among the top.

He could better understand the mindset of children from middle-class families.

The Crown Prince's actions undoubtedly ignited a fire in their hearts.

Once this fire is started, it will spread like wildfire.

He realized that the political landscape of the court was likely about to change.

Officials closely associated with Shandong aristocratic families, such as Imperial Censor Cui Renshi and Censor Zheng Rentai, were both shocked and furious.

It was bad enough that the Crown Prince was cracking down on their collateral relatives in Shandong, but now he was even trying to shake the very foundation of their aristocratic families—their cultural monopoly and their advantage in officialdom!
This is practically tearing them down from the roots!

Panic and anger spread rapidly within the circles of powerful families.

They had to react and stop the prince from continuing this "outrageous" behavior!
Chang Chao.

Inside the Taiji Hall, the atmosphere was heavier than ever before. Civil and military officials stood in two rows, completely silent, even their breathing was deliberately slowed down.

An invisible pressure permeated the air.

Li Shimin, seated on the dragon throne, could clearly sense this undercurrent.

His expression was calm as his gaze swept over the assembled officials of His Majesty, lingering particularly on the faces of Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and several representatives of aristocratic families.

"If you have the foundation to start a memorial, if you don't have the foundation to retreat from the court."

The eunuch's high-pitched voice broke the silence.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Imperial Censor Cui Renshi stepped out of the ranks, holding his official tablet, and bowed, saying, "Your subject, Cui Renshi, has a memorial to present!"

"Speak," Li Shimin said calmly.

“Your Majesty,” Cui Renshi said in a loud voice, seemingly respectful, but his words were carefully crafted.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has been ordered to provide relief to Shandong. His efforts have been fruitful and his contributions are great. Now that the disaster has been brought under control and the people's hearts are gradually at ease, this is both a blessing from His Majesty and a testament to the Crown Prince's virtue."

"However, I have heard that Your Highness, in Shandong, besides providing disaster relief, has also been involved in local government affairs, dismissing officials and recommending new ones..."

"I dare not question the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince has been away for a long time, overseeing affairs in a region. Even if it is done out of public interest, it may still attract criticism. Moreover, the appointment and removal of local personnel are governed by the laws of the court and the selection by the Ministry of Personnel. Although His Highness the Crown Prince has the power to assist, is his involvement too deep... a little overstepping his bounds?"

"I dare to suggest that now that the situation in Shandong has been stabilized, should His Highness the Crown Prince return to the capital as soon as possible? Firstly, this would allow His Highness to rest, and secondly, it would allow local affairs to return to the proper course of the court, so as to avoid... to avoid unclear responsibilities and the spread of rumors."

His words did not directly criticize the Crown Prince; in fact, he even acknowledged the Crown Prince's contributions at the beginning.

But the core message is very clear: the Crown Prince has too much power outside, his influence is too great, and he has interfered with normal personnel appointments. He should come back; if he doesn't, problems will arise.

The text is full of hints about "thinking of the crown prince" and "thinking of the court's laws," but in reality, it is sharp and incisive.

No sooner had Cui Renshi finished speaking than another official, Zheng Rentai, stepped forward to echo his words.

“Your Majesty, what Imperial Censor Cui said is quite right. His Highness the Crown Prince is the heir to the throne and should cultivate virtue and learn in the Eastern Palace to become familiar with the overall situation of the court.”

"Your Highness has demonstrated extraordinary abilities in disaster relief in Shandong, but specific local affairs are ultimately not the usual duties of a crown prince."

"Now that the disaster has been quelled, if Your Highness remains in the area for too long, it may leave local officials at a loss, and it may also... waste Your Highness's energy on trivial matters. I also believe that Your Highness should be invited to return to the capital."

Following this, several more censors and officials stepped forward, their words sometimes tactful and sometimes earnest, but their core demand was the same: the Crown Prince should return, and his "autocratic power" in Shandong should be taken back.

Their reasons sound plausible.

To uphold the laws of the court, prevent the crown prince from being overworked, and bring government affairs back on track.

There wasn't a single sentence that directly attacked the Crown Prince's character or abilities.

However, the combined pressure of public opinion acted like an invisible net, attempting to pull the Crown Prince back from Shandong, the "territory" he had just built up, and to characterize his "interference in local personnel matters" as an "overstepping of authority."

Li Shimin listened expressionlessly, but inwardly he sneered.

How could he not understand what these people were thinking?
Gao Ming threatened their fundamental interests in Shandong, so they dared not directly attack the Crown Prince's achievements in disaster relief. Instead, they focused on "power and responsibility" and "laws" to make a fuss.

At this moment, Changsun Wuji, who had been silent all along, finally stepped forward.

As his uncle and the chief contributor, his words carried immense weight.

“Your Majesty,” Changsun Wuji said in a calm tone, appearing more mature and composed.

"His Highness the Crown Prince's trip to Shandong was remarkably successful, as His Majesty and we ministers have all witnessed. However, what Imperial Censor Cui and Supervising Secretary Zheng said is not without merit."

"It is certainly not a long-term solution for the Crown Prince to remain away from the capital. Moreover, I have heard that many crucial aspects of the development of Xizhou still require His Highness to return to the capital to oversee the overall situation."

"The follow-up to the bond issuance, the border immigration policy, and the management of the border trade all require Your Highness's overall planning and decision-making. Compared to the trivial matters of the Shandong disaster relief follow-up, the matter of Xizhou is of utmost urgency, as it concerns the stability of the western border of our Great Tang for a hundred years."

"I believe that it is appropriate to issue an edict to summon His Highness the Crown Prince back to the capital, so that he may complete his mission."

Fang Xuanling also bowed slightly and said, "What Fuji said is very true. His Highness the Crown Prince has already established his authority in Shandong and the people's hearts are with him. Now is the perfect time for him to return to the capital. The court also needs His Highness to return and take charge of the major plans for Xizhou."

The successive statements from high-ranking officials have led to a near-unanimous shift in public opinion at court.

All the words were cloaked in the guise of "for the good of the Crown Prince" and "for the good of the court," but when they came together, the pressure they created surged like a tidal wave toward Li Shimin on the throne.

Li Shimin felt a sense of pressure.

It's not that he can't forcefully suppress these voices.

However, if he insists on keeping the crown prince in Shandong, given that it is such a "politically correct" suggestion jointly put forward by many important ministers, it would seem abnormal and confirm the outside world's speculation that "the crown prince has too much power" and "the emperor is difficult to control".

He weighed the options in his mind.

Gao Ming really should come back; the affairs of Xizhou also need him.

However, being "forced" to recall in this way made the emperor very unhappy.

More importantly, he keenly realized that this was not just a simple matter of recalling the Crown Prince; it was a test and suppression of the Eastern Palace's power.

The atmosphere in the hall was almost frozen, and everyone was waiting for the emperor's final decision.

Suddenly, a series of hurried and clear footsteps came from outside the hall. A Honglu Temple official dressed in dusty clothes, holding an urgent document, entered the hall without being announced. He knelt down before His Majesty with a thud, his voice trembling with disbelief, and reported loudly.

"Your Majesty! Urgent message! His Highness the Crown Prince's imperial carriage...is less than twenty li from Chang'an! He is awaiting Your Majesty's decree at the post station!"

"What? The Crown Prince is back?"

"This...how is this possible?"

In an instant, the entire Taiji Hall was as if a huge rock had been thrown in, stirring up a thousand waves!

The ministers who had just been so assertive in demanding the recall of the crown prince were now all dumbfounded, their faces filled with astonishment and disbelief.

The expressions on the faces of Cui Renshi, Zheng Rentai, and others froze instantly, as if they had been slapped hard across the face, feeling a burning pain.

They were still impeaching the Crown Prince for not returning to the capital for a long time, and were still demanding an imperial edict to recall him, but... the Crown Prince was already almost at his doorstep!
Changsun Wuji's pupils contracted slightly, and the fingers twirling his beard paused in mid-air.

A look of extreme surprise flashed across Fang Xuanling's eyes, which then turned into deep contemplation.

Li Shimin, sitting upright on the dragon throne, leaned forward almost imperceptibly, and a look of shock was clearly revealed in his deep eyes!
Gao Ming... is back?

Just as the entire court, including the emperor himself, was discussing how to "gracefully" recall him...
When did he set off?

Why didn't the Hundred Riders Division receive any prior notice?
How could he have traveled all this way so quietly?

He realized that he had underestimated his son once again.

This decisiveness, this ability to act, this... silently and effortlessly transformed the court's schemes into an invisible means!

Above the court, there was deathly silence.

All that remained were the hurried breathing of the Honglu Temple official and countless shocked, confused, and fearful gazes, all intertwined in the empty hall.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian returned in a way that no one had anticipated.

Twenty li east of Chang'an City.

The Crown Prince's carriage arrived at the official post station at the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

According to the rites, when the crown prince returns to the capital after a trip, he must stop his carriage twenty li away from the capital and send an envoy to report to the emperor, who will then issue an edict to determine the welcoming ceremony.

Li Chengqian sat upright in the main hall of the post station, dressed in a black casual robe, his expression calm.

Dou Jing and Wang Cong stood on either side, their expressions revealing the weariness of their journey and the tension they felt at that moment.

Outside the post station, banners fluttered slightly, and the imperial guards stood at attention.

All the ceremonial guards were set up according to protocol, yet it was so quiet that only the sound of the wind and the neighing of horses could be heard.

This tranquility stands in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the unparalleled capital city just twenty miles away.

“Your Highness,” Dou Jing stepped forward and whispered, “an envoy has already been dispatched to the capital to report, as per regulations. Should we urge them to expedite the process…”

Li Chengqian raised his hand, stopping him from speaking.

"No need."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable composure.

"The proper etiquette must not be disregarded. The imperial court has its own regulations, and we will simply wait here."

He looked out the window, where the outline of Chang'an was faintly visible in the summer mist.

This waiting is not merely a matter of etiquette.

It was also his first silent confrontation with the countless eyes and countless thoughts within Chang'an City.

His early return disrupted many plans. This pause twenty miles away is not only in accordance with ancestral rules, but also to give the court, the emperor, and those who are secretly watching time to react and weigh their options.

He knew that his trip to Shandong had done much more than just quell a locust plague.

Inside the Tai Chi Hall.

The regular court session has ended, but the core officials have all been retained.

The atmosphere was even more stagnant than during the morning court assembly.

Li Shimin had changed out of his court robes and was now wearing an ochre-yellow everyday robe, sitting on the imperial couch.

His fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the couch unconsciously, his gaze sweeping over Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, Gao Shilian and others standing solemnly below.

"The Crown Prince's imperial carriage has arrived at Lushui Post Station," Li Shimin said, his voice calm and unreadable.

"According to regulations, we shall wait. What ceremonies do you, my lords, suggest for welcoming the Crown Prince back to the capital?"

He didn't ask whether or not the prince should be welcomed back; it was only natural for the crown prince to return to the capital.

He asked about "the regulations and procedures," and the nuances in that question reflected the prevailing sentiment in the court.

There was a moment of silence in the hall.

Changsun Wuji spoke first, stroking his beard, his tone thoughtful.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince's disaster relief efforts in Shandong have been a great service to the nation, bringing peace to the people and enhancing the local reputation. What is even more commendable is that His Highness has promoted education after the disaster, encouraging the talented and promising, demonstrating foresight and a commitment to nurturing talent for the country. I believe that he should be welcomed with exceptional honors to reflect Your Majesty's commendation and to show the court's emphasis on his future succession. Perhaps a prime minister could be dispatched, along with the heads of relevant government offices, to greet him ten miles outside the city."

His words defined the nature of the Crown Prince's trip to Shandong and elevated it to a very high level.

The suggested ceremony was also quite solemn.

Sending the prime minister to greet them was already an extremely high honor.

Gao Shilian nodded slightly and added, "Fuji is quite right. His Highness the Crown Prince has not only quelled the natural disaster but also won over the hearts of the people of Shandong. His merit is immeasurable. The ceremony should not be taken lightly, lest it chill the hearts of His Highness and the people of the world." He glanced at the crowd, intending to emphasize the "hearts and minds" benefit brought about by the Crown Prince's actions.

Fang Xuanling remained silent, sensing the gaze directed at him from the throne and the subtle atmosphere within the hall.

He understood the deeper meaning behind His Majesty's question.

What Your Majesty needs at this moment is a plan that can highlight the Crown Prince's achievements without excessively provoking the nerves of all parties, while also demonstrating the court's control.

He slowly stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince’s achievements in Shandong certainly deserve recognition. The rites and regulations mentioned by you gentlemen are also the foundation of the country and should not be lightly abandoned.”

"However, His Highness's trip is no ordinary imperial tour or visit to relatives. He is an imperial envoy of His Majesty, overseeing disaster relief efforts in a region and returning with a successful mission."

He paused, and seeing Li Shimin's focused gaze, continued, "However, sending the prime minister ten miles outside the city would be slightly overstepping the bounds."

"In my humble opinion, a compromise may be reached. I shall go out of the city on behalf of Your Majesty to Wuli Pavilion to greet His Highness the Crown Prince. As the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, I am in charge of all government affairs. His Highness the Crown Prince's trip to Shandong is also related to the local administration and people's livelihood. It is perfectly justified for me to go out and greet him."

"The distance of five li demonstrates the court's importance without violating the general principles of etiquette. Once Your Highness enters the city, His Majesty can hold a banquet in the Liangyi Hall to personally comfort you. In this way, both kindness and authority are combined, and the proper etiquette is fulfilled."

Fang Xuanling's proposal can be described as a wise and prudent strategy for governing the country.

He was of sufficient stature to represent the court in welcoming the prince for five li, which both gave face to the crown prince and did not exceed the high standard of the prime minister welcoming him for ten li.

Choosing Wuliting as the welcoming location was a good choice, as it was a convenient and meaningful location.

More importantly, he volunteered to take on this task, which not only represented the court but could also be seen as a direct extension of His Majesty's will to some extent.

(End of this chapter)