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

Chapter 151: Future Pillars with Practical Skills!
At 3:45 AM, a fast horse came galloping from the west. The messenger on horseback fell off the saddle and rushed inside to report.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has decreed that the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Fang Xiang, shall greet you at Wuli Pavilion!"

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, showing no surprise, and simply said, "Let's depart."

The carriages were simple, and the banners were folded up. If it weren't for the fact that the regulations still existed, it would be almost no different from the official residence of an ordinary official.

"Your Highness, Chancellor Fang has arrived at Wuli Pavilion."

Dou Jing rode his horse closer to the carriage and reported in a low voice.

Li Chengqian slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm and undisturbed.

"I understand." His voice was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Wuliting, the ancient road covered in yellow dust.

Fang Xuanling, dressed in a purple robe, stood outside the pavilion with his hands behind his back, gazing intently at the official road to the east.

Two trusted subordinates of the Minister of Personnel followed closely behind him, and the atmosphere was somber.

"Prime Minister Fang, the Crown Prince's trip has been far too quiet."

One of the subordinates couldn't help but whisper.

"No one in the counties and prefectures along the way realized in advance that the Crown Prince's carriage had returned, this..."

Fang Xuanling raised his hand, stopping him from speaking.

The subordinate official felt a chill run down his spine and dared not speak further.

In the distance, the prince's entourage finally came into view at the edge of the horizon.

Instead of the expected waving banners and throngs of attendants, there was only a silent, streamlined, yet disciplined army, silently approaching.

Fang Xuanling narrowed his eyes slightly, his mind racing.

The Crown Prince must have traveled light and simply, without disturbing the prefectures and counties along the way.

Local officials only saw this group traveling westward under the Crown Prince's banner and assumed it was a group dispatched by the Crown Prince on other official business. They never imagined that the Crown Prince himself was among them!

This explains why the Hundred Cavalry Commandery did not discover the Crown Prince's return date in advance.

What a brilliant tactic of "openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass"!
While I was pondering, the carriage had already arrived in front of the pavilion.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Li Chengqian bent down to get out of the carriage. The barely perceptible pause when his right foot landed did not escape Fang Xuanling's eyes.

"Your subject Fang Xuanling, by order of His Majesty, respectfully welcomes His Highness the Crown Prince back to the capital."

Fang Xuanling stepped forward a few paces, bowed deeply, and performed the proper etiquette flawlessly.

"The Prime Minister has worked hard."

Li Chengqian offered a helping hand, his voice gentle yet carrying a hint of aloofness.

"Under the scorching sun, I'm sorry to have troubled you, sir, to wait so long."

"Your Highness is too kind. This is my duty."

Fang Xuanling straightened up, took the imperial edict with yellow silk from his subordinate, and read it aloud.

"The imperial edict reads: The Crown Prince, having received the imperial decree to pacify Shandong and provide disaster relief to the people, has demonstrated my benevolence and merit, and his efforts are commendable. Now that the disaster has subsided and the people are at peace, and the Crown Prince has returned in triumph, I am greatly pleased. I hereby dispatch Fang Xuanling, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, to welcome him five li outside the city as a sign of commendation. This is hereby decreed."

"Your subject accepts the decree and thanks Your Majesty for your great favor."

Li Chengqian respectfully received the imperial edict and handed it to the eunuch behind him, his movements fluid and his expression calm.

After the ceremony, the two went to Wuliting to rest.

The stone table and benches are simple yet clean.

"Your Highness's journey was swift, which truly took the court and the public by surprise."

Fang Xuanling personally poured Li Chengqian a cup of tea, speaking casually as his gaze swept over the crown prince's face.

"The situation in Shandong has been initially stabilized, but there are still many things to be done. Your Highness and I all believe that Your Highness should remain in charge for at least another month to ensure that there is no further trouble."

Li Chengqian picked up the teacup but did not drink it immediately.

"In Shandong's disaster relief efforts, the most important thing is to smooth things over and establish procedures. Once the procedures are in place and the right people are chosen, it doesn't matter whether I'm here or not. Forcing me to stay would only show that I'm clinging to power and could easily cause trouble."

His tone was calm, yet every word struck Fang Xuanling's heart like a hammer blow.

"When I left the capital, I traveled light and with few attendants. This time, upon my return, I did not inform the local officials along the way of the details of my imperial procession. They assumed that the Crown Prince's headquarters had other official duties to attend to and did not investigate further, which saved me a lot of trouble in welcoming and sending off the prince, and also avoided... some unnecessary attention."

Fang Xuanling was shocked. The Crown Prince's words were almost an indication that he knew that there were people in the court who did not want him to stay in Shandong for long, and might even be monitoring his whereabouts!

He remained expressionless and nodded, saying, "Your Highness's thoughtfulness and compassion for the local people are admirable."

"However... the aftermath of the Shandong disaster relief, such as exchanging salt for grain and redeeming bonds, involves a wide range of issues. Can Your Highness leave your post? If someone outwardly complies but inwardly opposes, wouldn't all the previous efforts be in vain?"

Li Chengqian smiled slightly, a smile that carried a hint of confidence.

"Prime Minister Fang is overthinking it. The Crown Prince's headquarters are still in Shandong, and all matters will be handled by the officials under the Eastern Palace according to the established plan. Every rule and regulation is clear."

"The salt-for-grain exchange continues, and grain merchants from all directions, hearing that grain prices in Shandong are stable and profitable, are now flocking to transport grain in."

"I did not set a price limit, but they, driven by profit, transported grain even more diligently, and the grain shortage in Shandong has been resolved."

He paused briefly, then continued, his tone becoming increasingly calm and composed.

"As for the bonds, they have been redeemed on schedule, and the credit has been established. The livelihoods of the poor are supported by ongoing work relief programs, including the repair of water conservancy facilities and the maintenance of roads."

"The money and grain spent came partly from the proceeds of the bonds and partly from the salt permits. The government granaries were not empty, the people had food, and the merchants made a profit, so everyone got what they deserved. This situation has been established, and even if some villains try to interfere, they will find it difficult to shake the overall trend."

"Unless... someone dares to defy public opinion and openly break the court's promise."

These words were clear, logical, and well-organized. They not only answered Fang Xuanling's questions but also subtly revealed a strong sense of control over the overall situation and confidence in the rules he had established.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling was deeply shocked and his heart was filled with turmoil.

He originally thought that the Crown Prince was only barely stabilizing the situation in Shandong with his sharp edge and some clever schemes. Now it seems that the Crown Prince has unknowingly set up a system that can operate on its own and even resist a certain degree of interference!

This is something no ordinary crown prince could accomplish!

He took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and stroked his beard, praising, "Your Highness is wise. This law not only protects the people's livelihood and promotes circulation, but also does not shake the foundation of the country. This old minister...is in awe."

His tone shifted subtly again, sounding more like concern than inquiry.

"However... normally, if Your Highness had stayed for another month or so, the disaster relief efforts would have been more effective, and Your Highness's reputation would have been even greater. Is Your Highness's hasty return due to... other important matters in the capital?"

This was the core purpose of his welcome today—to test the Crown Prince's true motives for returning early, and whether it was related to the failed "coup" in court today.
Li Chengqian's eyes flickered slightly, and he said calmly, "The newly appointed officials are all the best of the best. I believe they can live up to the Emperor's expectations and finish well."

"As for the capital..." He turned his gaze back, calm and composed.

"But what urgent matter in the court requires my immediate attention?"

Fang Xuanling's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm.

"Your Highness is overthinking it. Although there are many matters in the court, they are all governed by rules. However, the development of Xizhou is a complex and multifaceted matter that requires Your Highness's personal supervision. His Majesty and we all hope that Your Highness will return to the capital as soon as possible to take charge of the overall situation."

He made no mention of the near-complete coup attempt in the court today, nor of the many officials' criticisms of the Crown Prince's "long-term confinement in the outer regions."

The Crown Prince's early return has thwarted all our plans; any further words now would only create embarrassment.

Li Chengqian looked at Fang Xuanling's slightly stiff smile and sneered inwardly.

The old fox, as expected, refused to reveal a single detail.

But he had already achieved his goal today—he made the imperial prime minister clearly realize that he, Li Chengqian, was no longer the ignorant man he once was, no longer the crown prince who could be speculated about or even influenced at will.

"I see."

Li Chengqian nodded and did not press further. "The matter of Xizhou certainly needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Since both Father Emperor and Chancellor Fang have placed high hopes on it, I will do my utmost."

He stood up and dusted off non-existent dust from his sleeves.

"It's getting late, we should go into the city. Don't keep Father waiting."

Fang Xuanling quickly got up to see him off.

"Your Highness, please."

Watching the Crown Prince remount his carriage.

He felt that the brief conversation was more mentally taxing than dealing with a whole day of government affairs.

The Crown Prince has changed; he has become more profound, more sharp, and even more... unpredictable.

Imperial City, Liangyi Hall.

As night fell, the palace lanterns shone brightly.

A grand palace banquet is about to begin. Inside the hall, wine cups are clinked, laughter and chatter fill the air, and the atmosphere is one of peace and prosperity.

Li Shimin sat high on his throne, his face calm, but his gaze swept across the entire room like a hawk, finally landing on the empty chief seat on his left.

"Your Majesty," the eunuch Wang De whispered, "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived outside the palace."

Li Shimin composed himself and nodded slightly.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!" The eunuch's loud announcement pierced through the noise in the hall.

In an instant, all sounds seemed to be silenced by an invisible hand, and everyone's gaze—curious, scrutinizing, fearful, and envious—turned toward the palace gate.

Li Chengqian entered steadily, his crimson robe and travel hat accentuating his tall and straight figure. Although his steps were slightly sluggish due to his foot ailment, his calm and composed demeanor instantly captivated many people present.

He walked straight ahead without looking to the side, and bowed in accordance with etiquette, his voice clear and steady.

"My son, I will meet my father."

"Rise." Li Shimin's voice was gentle, with a hint of scrutiny that was barely perceptible.

"My son, you must be tired from your trip to Shandong. Please take your seat."

"Thank you, Father Emperor." Li Chengqian bowed again, stood up, and calmly walked to the first empty seat on the left.

Changsun Wuji smiled warmly, raised his cup to Fang Xuanling, as if they were having a casual chat.

"Xuanling, what do you think of the Crown Prince's demeanor?"

Fang Xuanling raised his cup in greeting, his gaze lowered.

Still waters run deep; a sharp edge is concealed within a blunt one.

“Yes,” Changsun Wuji took a sip of wine, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"Promoting education, recommending students from underprivileged backgrounds, and quietly returning home..."

He quickly weighed the interests of his family against the direction of the court. A subtle yet profound rift seemed to have appeared between the Guanlong Group and the Crown Prince.

Fang Xuanling remained silent, but in his heart he recalled the words of the Crown Prince of Wuliting.

The Crown Prince's use of economic means and his grasp of public sentiment far surpass the understanding of ordinary heirs.

Perhaps... this isn't a bad thing for the Tang Dynasty?
But he immediately suppressed the thought; the mind of an emperor is most vulnerable to being guessed.

Li Ji sat upright like a bell, his gaze calmly sweeping over the Crown Prince.

As a military representative, he values ​​practical capabilities more.

The Crown Prince's actions in Shandong, such as providing work relief, exchanging salt for grain, and not suppressing grain prices to attract merchants, were seen by him as quite methodical and in line with the military principle of "adapting to circumstances."

He nodded slightly, his opinion of the crown prince, who had previously had a poor reputation, subtly changing.

Meanwhile, Li Tai, the Prince of Wei, who was not far from Li Chengqian, was burning with jealousy and almost crushed the jade cup in his hand.

Why?

Why does this cripple always manage to escape danger?

His trip to Shandong did not ruin his reputation; on the contrary, it earned him a reputation for virtue!

Look at his composed demeanor, who is he trying to impress!

Lee Tae-hyuk tried his best to maintain a smile on his pale face.

King Li Ke of Wu sat upright with a handsome face, silently drinking his wine and coldly observing this grand feast of "filial piety and parental love".

He observed the changes in the Crown Prince, but felt little unease; instead, a sense of vigilance arose within him.

This older brother seems to be more difficult to deal with than I imagined.

The power struggle within Chang'an City has become increasingly complex and intricate.

After several rounds of drinks, melodious music filled the air, and dancers with colorful sleeves fluttered, attempting to dispel the invisible tension.

Li Shimin put down his wine cup, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over his composed eldest son, and asked in a relaxed tone.

"Gao Ming, besides Dou Jing, Wang Cong, and others, were there any other capable people assisting you on your trip to Shandong? Looking at the list you presented, there are quite a few unfamiliar names; I don't seem to... have a deep impression of them?"

The hall was silent except for the occasional crackling sound of the palace lanterns burning.

All eyes were on Li Chengqian, waiting for his answer to his father's seemingly casual but actually pointed question.

The "unfamiliar names" on that list are the key to this change in Shandong, and what has touched a nerve with many people.

Li Chengqian calmly put down his silver chopsticks, rose from his seat, walked to the center of the emperor's presence, bowed respectfully, and moved with unhurried speed.

“Reporting to Father Emperor,” he said in a clear voice, which echoed in the silent hall.

"The list I am presenting consists of twenty-seven people. Apart from Dou Jing, Wang Cong and other accompanying officials, the rest are all people who have made outstanding contributions and achieved remarkable results in various matters such as local governance, comforting refugees, and procuring and transporting supplies during this trip to Shandong for disaster relief."

He paused briefly, his gaze calmly sweeping over the ministers below the throne before turning back to face Li Shimin.

The Book of Documents, in the section on Shun, states: "After three years, performance is assessed; after three assessments, those who are obscure are promoted and those who are virtuous are demoted." Kong Anguo's commentary explains: "After three years, there is an assessment of achievements; after nine years, there is a distinction between ability and obscurity, and those who are obscure are demoted and those who are virtuous are promoted."

Li Chengqian quoted extensively from classical texts, speaking in the style of sacred pronouncements, pointing to the ancient assessment system as the source of power in personnel appointments and removals.

"In my opinion, the key to evaluating performance lies in timeliness and tangible results. Shandong has suffered a major disaster and is in dire need of rebuilding. This is the time to employ people and also the time to test their abilities."

"If we adhere to conventional selection processes, reporting at each level and reviewing repeatedly, we risk missing a good opportunity to stabilize the people and restore order, and we may also discourage those who are willing to work hard."

His tone grew increasingly serious, carrying an undeniable authority.

"Those listed on the list, during times of locust plagues, braved dangers to personally go to the fields, organize the people to kill the locusts, and protect the crops in their areas."

"Or, when grain prices soar, they will not fear powerful figures, but will uphold justice, stabilize the market, and leave unscrupulous merchants nowhere to hide."

"Or, during the resettlement of refugees, they worked day and night to establish regulations, distribute grain and seeds, and supervise the construction of houses, so that the old and young could be cared for and the strong could be employed."

“These are all things that I have personally witnessed and heard. His achievements can be attested to by the thousands of people in Shandong. His actions are in accordance with the laws of the court and also embody the benevolence of the sage!”

“Furthermore,” he changed the subject, pointing to a deeper consideration.

"As Han Feizi said in 'Manifest Learning,' the prime minister of an enlightened ruler must rise from the local government, and the fierce general must emerge from the ranks of soldiers."

"This trip to Shandong is an excellent opportunity for them to gain experience. Your son recommends these people not only to reward them for their contributions, but also to select talent for the country and to promote future pillars of the nation who truly understand local conditions and have practical abilities!"

Li Chengqian's quotation is presented in a progressive manner, from specific achievements to long-term talent strategy, with rigorous logic and a powerful momentum.

(End of this chapter)