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

Chapter 157 Planning Ahead to Avoid Risks?
On his day off, as dawn broke, Li Yichen changed out of his official robes and into an ordinary blue shirt before leaving the Eastern Palace.

The area in front of the Li residence in Yankangfang is much more lively than it was a few months ago.

When encountering acquaintances in the neighborhood, their faces showed genuine smiles, and they greeted each other with a cupped hand from afar.

Li Yichen remained calm, nodding in return for each greeting, and without stopping, pushed open his still simple wooden door.

Father Li Quan was already waiting in the main hall.

He wasn't wearing his official robes today, only a dark-colored straight robe that was neither new nor old, but the melancholy between his brows seemed to have dissipated somewhat, and his back was straighter than usual.

Upon seeing his son return, he put down the book in his hand and glanced at Li Yichen.

"came back."

Li Quan's voice remained calm.

"Yes, Father." Li Yichen bowed.

The father and son moved to the study.

The windows were bright and the table was clean. Xuan paper was laid out on the table, and the ink was still wet, indicating that Li Quan had just been writing.

The air was filled with a faint scent of ink and the aroma of old books.

"Is everything going smoothly at the Crown Prince's Palace lately?"

Li Quan carefully considered each word and phrase, asking questions with great caution.

Now that everyone in the court and the public knows that the Crown Prince's position is secure and the Eastern Palace has a new look, he, as an eighth-rank Imperial Academy Doctor, is not as well-informed as before and is more cautious.

Li Yichen knelt below his father, lowered his eyes, and replied, "Father, Your Highness is diligent in government affairs, and all matters in the Eastern Palace are handled according to regulations. There are no special matters. My daily duties are simply to handle documents and follow the rules."

His answer was standard and unambiguous, as if the recent turmoil and changes in the Eastern Palace had nothing to do with him, a mere advisor.

Li Quan carefully examined his son.

The Li Yichen before me still looked young, but his eyes were calm and his demeanor composed. He was no longer the cautious and timid man he had been in the Eastern Palace a few years ago, and the fearful and depressed man he still couldn't hide after returning home.

This change is not ostentatious, but rather a quiet conviction within one's heart.

A slight stirring in Li Quan's heart brought forth a sense of indescribable relief.

In any case, it is always a good thing that the son has been able to gain a foothold in the treacherous Eastern Palace, and even make some progress.

“Hmm,” Li Quan stroked his beard.

"That's good. Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger, especially the crown prince. You are still young and your official position is not high, but you are in an important position, so you must be careful with your words and actions."

"The family seems to be making some progress now, but in reality, it is walking on thin ice. We must not make any mistakes and give others a handle to use against us."

He paused, lowering his voice slightly.

“The other day, the master’s family sent someone to deliver some new silk. They were quite polite and asked about your recent situation in the Eastern Palace.”

The condolences from the main branch of the Li family in Longxi are a clear signal that this long-marginalized branch has once again come into the main family's view.

This is certainly a good thing, but it also means more attention and even constraints.

"I understand," Li Yichen replied, his tone still steady.

"I must be conscientious in my duties, be careful in my words and deeds, and dare not fail the expectations of my family, nor dare I cause trouble."

Looking at his son's calm face, Li Quan knew that any further instructions were unnecessary, so he waved his hand.

"Go ahead, it's your day off, you don't have to stay cooped up at home all the time. Chang'an is a big city, you can go and have a look around."

Li Yichen bowed again and left the study.

Back in his simply furnished room, Li Yichen tidied up a bit.

Since his transmigration, he has been constantly struggling with the pressure of life and death and the scheming of power, without the opportunity or the mindset to truly examine this ancient city.

Today, he decided to go out for a walk.

After leaving Yankangfang, head north along the road on the west side of the imperial city, where the crowds gradually thicken.

Zhuque Avenue was wide and smooth, with deep ruts. Ox carts, horse carts, and donkey carts came and went in an endless stream, their wheels making a rumbling sound as they rolled over the stone slabs.

Officials, scholars, merchants, and common people dressed in various robes moved about among them, with foreign merchants having high noses and deep-set eyes, and monks in black robes and straw sandals, creating a flowing picture.

He was just walking.

The sunlight felt warm on my skin.

The air was filled with the mixed smells of dust, livestock, spices, and unidentified foods.

He turned towards the East Market.

The area in front of the East Market was congested with vehicles and people.

The city government officer guarding the gate leaned lazily against the door frame, watching the crowds coming and going.

Within the city, streets crisscross and shops stand side by side.

The silk shops displayed colorful silk fabrics that shimmered in the sunlight.

In the gold and silver shops, craftsmen hammered away by the windows, the clanging sounds never ceasing.

Various dried herbs were drying in front of the pharmacy, emitting a bitter and refreshing fragrance.

The tavern's banners fluttered in the breeze, and the waiters stood at the entrance, loudly soliciting customers.

Stalls lined the street, selling fruits and vegetables, meat, ceramics, ironware, writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones.

The shouts of vendors, the haggling of customers, the neighing of livestock, and the rolling of wheels mingled together.

Li Yichen walked through it all, his gaze calmly sweeping over everything.

He saw a jewelry store opened by a foreign merchant, which displayed ivory, rhinoceros horn, pearls, and gemstones in a dazzling array.

He saw scholars in the bookstore flipping through scrolls and talking in hushed tones.

His clothes were ordinary and his behavior was unremarkable, so he did not attract any attention.

As he walked, he deliberately paid attention to the transaction process.

He soon discovered a remarkable phenomenon.

In front of a sizable silk shop, a man who looks like a steward is making a transaction with the shop owner.

Instead of taking out heavy copper coins or silk, he pulled out a pale yellow mulberry bark paper voucher from his pocket and handed it to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper took the paper coupon, carefully examined the red seal, number, and denomination on it, nodded, and then directed his assistant to load several bolts of fine silk onto the other party's carriage.

"A coupon worth ten strings of cash will be valued at twelve strings of cash. Since you are a regular customer, we will use this price."

The shop owner smiled and carefully put the bonds away.

The steward laughed and said, "Of course, of course. It's much more convenient to carry this coupon than to haul several cartloads of money. And the price is more reliable."

Li Yichen saw similar scenes in front of rice shops, salt shops, and even a Hu shop that sold Persian carpets in the following days.

Bonds, issued by the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace to raise funds for the development of Xizhou and the aftermath of disaster relief in Shandong, had become a common, even "hard currency," means of payment in the Eastern Market. He walked up to a vendor selling steamed buns and ordered one.

The stall owner was a middle-aged man, quick and efficient.

Li Yichen handed over a few loose Kaiyuan Tongbao coins.

Li Yichen took the steamed bun and walked to a less crowded area to eat it slowly.

Their gaze remained fixed on the everyday transactions in the marketplace.

He remembered that he did indeed have a bond with a face value of ten strings of cash in his pocket, which was part of his salary issued by the Crown Prince.

Based on the exchange rate I just heard at the silk shop, this voucher is worth twelve strings of cash on the market.

A 20% premium reflects the market's high recognition of the bond's creditworthiness in the current environment, and also reflects the strong demand for a convenient medium of exchange.

The sheer size of this demand is evident in the market's thirst for bonds.

Its portability and strong reputation led to its rapid replacement of some of the monetary functions of copper coins and silk.

However, Li Yichen felt no joy.

He knew perfectly well that the court was already tempted after witnessing how the Crown Prince had successfully raised a huge amount of money and grain through bonds.

The imperial court intended to emulate the Crown Prince by issuing "official bonds" to replenish the depleted treasury after the campaign against Xueyantuo, as well as to cover expenses such as water conservancy projects and government building construction in various regions.

If the imperial court issues bonds, given its authority, it is inevitable that they will be accepted and even sought after by the market in the early stages.

But the question is, will the imperial court follow the most basic economic principles?
The essence of bonds is credit, which is a promise to repay principal and interest in the future.

The amount issued must be commensurate with the court's future solvency, or in other words, with the physical assets that can anchor its credit.

If the imperial court only sees the convenience of raising money through bonds and ignores the fundamental issue of repayment, and issues them indiscriminately without restraint, their enormous scale could instantly destroy the fragile credit system that has been carefully built up by the Crown Prince's bonds.

At that time, bonds will depreciate, credit will collapse, bondholders' wealth will shrink, market transactions will be chaotic, and a "financial tsunami" will be triggered that will affect the entire Tang Dynasty.

Its destructive power is likely no less than that of a natural disaster or war.

After finishing the last bite of the steamed bun, Li Yichen wiped his hands with the cloth he carried with him.

The bustling city remained as vibrant as ever, with crowds thronging the streets and transactions swirling around, presenting a scene of peace and prosperity.

If the court adopts this policy, it will certainly seek the "experience" of the Crown Prince, and he, the Crown Prince's advisor who proposed the bond policy, will inevitably be involved.

Is it to offer frank advice and explain the advantages and disadvantages?
Or should we go with the flow, seek a balance, and even strive for greater benefits for the Crown Prince?

Or perhaps... planning ahead to mitigate risks?
He left the East Market and walked on his way back to Yankangfang.

The following day, in the side hall of the Liangyi Hall.

The interior of the hall was not as solemn and dignified as the main hall where court assemblies were held, but it was more somber.

Li Shimin, dressed in casual clothes, sat behind his desk, holding a memorial in his hand. It was the proposal submitted by Li Chengqian yesterday regarding the trial implementation of "paying for labor services instead of paying wages" and "hiring laborers for construction".

Li Chengqian sat on the brocade stool below, his posture upright. His right foot was slightly turned to the side due to a foot ailment, but his face no longer showed the fear or stubbornness that he often had when facing his father. Instead, it was filled with a calm focus.

Li Shimin slowly put down the memorial, his gaze falling on his eldest son, without speaking immediately.

The experience of his trip to Shandong seemed to have truly worn away some of his impetuousness and extremism, leaving him with something more solid.

At this moment, Li Shimin no longer viewed him merely as a father, but rather as a monarch considering his ministers.

“Brilliant,” Li Shimin said, his voice steady and revealing no emotion.

"I have read your proposal. The ideas of 'converting corvée labor into silver' and 'transforming slaves into laborers' are quite novel. Tell me in detail how you intend to try it out, and how you will weigh the advantages and disadvantages?"

Li Chengqian bowed slightly and calmly replied, "Yes, Father."

He did not rush to explain the specific operations, but first clarified the root cause.

"Your subject believes that the root cause of the Sui Dynasty's 'abundant blessings' lay in the excessive and rigid levy of corvée labor, which disregarded the people's strength and the local conditions. Although our dynasty has implemented light corvée labor and taxes, there are still aspects of the corvée system itself that need to be considered."

Li Shimin nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

"Therefore, the 'payment in lieu of labor' proposed by your son does not mean the immediate abolition of labor service, but rather opening a convenient door for specific areas and specific projects."

Li Chengqian, with his clear and logical approach, began to get to the heart of the matter.

"Your subject suggests that we first try it out in the two capitals, as well as in the grain transport, weaving, and the Ministry of Works that require specific craftsmen."

“There are three reasons,” he said, counting on his fingers in a calm tone.

Li Chengqian clearly and logically explained his three reasons.

Li Shimin unconsciously tapped the imperial desk with his fingers and asked, "How should the standard for payment be set? If the standard is too high, the people will not be able to bear it. If it is too low, the court will not have enough funds to recruit workers and will instead incur a deficit."

“Your Majesty’s concerns are very valid.” Li Chengqian had clearly already planned ahead.

"Standards cannot be generalized. Your subject believes that the severity of the service, the distance of the journey, and the length of the service should be considered, and the usual price for hiring local craftsmen should be taken into account. The three provinces and local authorities should jointly determine the standards to ensure fairness. Initially, the prices can be slightly lower than the market price to show the court's consideration and to prevent the people from abandoning their service for other work, which would shake the foundation of the government. The specific amount needs to be calculated in detail before it can be determined."

"Furthermore," Li Shimin continued, his gaze sharp.

“If this precedent is set, all the laborers in the country will want to pay for it. How can the labor force required for the imperial projects be guaranteed? Especially in the border areas where the weather is harsh and water conservancy projects are difficult, I'm afraid no one will be willing to go. Even if there is money, it will be difficult to recruit workers.”

Li Chengqian did not shy away from this difficult problem.

“This is indeed the key point. Therefore, I emphasize that this policy should be limited to certain areas and certain projects. For ordinary farmers, especially for arduous tasks such as those in border areas and water conservancy projects, the main method of conscription should still be used.”

"However, it is possible to appropriately improve the treatment of laborers and their working conditions in such labor service, so that they are willing to participate in the service. At the same time, if the trial measures are effective and the national treasury has a surplus due to the improved efficiency, it may be possible to gradually increase the financial and food investment in arduous labor service to make up for it, and to proceed slowly."

Li Shimin listened quietly, and only Li Chengqian's clear and steady voice could be heard in the hall.

He noticed that the Crown Prince cited many examples he had observed during the disaster relief efforts in Shandong, and his calculations on the income and expenditure of money and grain, as well as the allocation of manpower, were quite meticulous, no longer just empty talk.

This growth certainly exceeded his expectations.

After Li Chengqian finished speaking, Li Shimin remained silent for a moment.

He picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip of the slightly cooled tea.

“Brilliant,” Li Shimin said, setting down his teacup with a deep gaze.

“What you say makes some sense. You have considered the people’s sentiments, weighed the pros and cons, and thought things through quite thoroughly. If this method is implemented, it may alleviate the people’s suffering and improve work efficiency, which seems to be beneficial to both the country and the people.”

Li Chengqian felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that after the initial "seemingly" statement, there would surely be a turning point.

As expected, Li Shimin changed the subject, and his tone became serious.

"However, a single change can have far-reaching consequences. The labor service system is related to taxation, the people's hearts, and the court's control over the surrounding areas. It is also closely linked to the equal-field system and the military system. Making rash changes would be quite risky."

He stood up, paced a couple of steps in front of the imperial desk, the hem of his black robe fluttering slightly.

Li Shimin stopped and turned to look at Li Chengqian, his eyes sharp as a hawk's.

"This is not just a matter concerning the Crown Prince's family, but a matter of national policy. Although I find your words to be somewhat novel, whether they are feasible and how to implement them requires collective wisdom and careful decision-making."

He returned to his desk, sat down, and made a decision.

"I will convene the court's senior officials to discuss your memorial. You will then explain what you have said to me today to the other officials and hear their opinions."

(End of this chapter)