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

Chapter 163 Establishing the Rules!

The next day.

Li Chengqian, accompanied by a group of officials from the Eastern Palace, headed towards the Ministry of Works located within the Imperial City.

The group was quite large, including Li Yichen, the Crown Prince's Left Assistant, the Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and several other officials.

They followed silently behind the crown prince, their expressions varied; some looked thoughtful, while others wore expressions of confusion and caution.

The Crown Prince's sudden request to take charge of the Ministry of Works and his urgent arrival left many of them puzzled as to his true intentions.

Minister of Works Duan Lun had already been informed and led a group of officials, including the Vice Minister of Works, the directors of various departments, and the principal officials, to stand solemnly in front of the main gate of the Ministry of Works to welcome them.

"Your subject respectfully welcomes His Highness the Crown Prince."

Duan Lun led the way, and everyone bowed in unison.

Duan Lun's expression was calm, but a hint of scrutiny was hidden deep in his eyes.

Having served as the Minister of Works for many years, he knew that although the Ministry of Works was not as prestigious as the Ministry of Personnel or the Ministry of Revenue, its affairs were extremely complicated and trivial, involving a complex web of vested interests.

Li Chengqian stopped and glanced at the Ministry of Works officials in front of him.

Most of them wore worn-out official robes, and seemed to carry the mixed smell of wood, metal and dust, quite different from the civil officials who spoke eloquently in the court and were dressed in fine clothes.

"Gentlemen, there is no need for such formalities."

Li Chengqian's voice was steady, carrying a calmness that seemed somewhat incongruous with his age.

"By order of my father, I shall take charge of the Ministry of Works from this day forward. From now on, I will need your all to assist me wholeheartedly and work together to serve the court."

He paused, then continued, "The Ministry of Works is responsible for the national economy and the people's livelihood, and I am well aware of its importance. I am here not to seize power, nor to interfere in your daily affairs."

"I only hope that the craftsmanship of my Great Tang can reach new heights, and that the granaries and weapons of my Great Tang can be even more abundant and sharper. This is a great matter that benefits the country and the people, and I hope that you all can work together with me."

These words were not long and the tone was relatively mild, but the meaning behind them stirred something in the hearts of the Ministry of Works officials present.

It seems the Crown Prince wasn't just there for show?

Duan Lun bowed and replied, "Your Highness's instructions have been carefully recorded by us. The entire Ministry of Works will certainly perform our duties diligently and live up to the great trust placed in us by Your Majesty and Your Highness."

Li Chengqian nodded, cut to the chase without further pleasantries.

"Minister Duan, please lead the way. I wish to visit the various government offices and subordinate workshops."

Upon hearing this, Duan Lun and several officials from the Ministry of Works were taken aback.

The Crown Prince, being new to the area, did not go to the main hall to listen to their detailed reports on the situation of each department, but instead went directly to those noisy and dirty workshops.

Duan Lun hesitated for a moment, then advised, "Your Highness, the workshops are noisy, dusty, and hot, and the craftsmen are crude. It may be inappropriate for Your Highness, a person of noble birth, to personally visit such places."

"It would be better if we first presented Your Highness with all the affairs, lists, and maps of the Ministry of Works. After Your Highness is familiar with them, it will not be too late to conduct an inspection."

Li Chengqian waved his hand, his tone resolute.

"Since I am in charge of the Ministry of Works, how could I not know its fundamentals? I certainly need to look at the blueprints and books, but how the craftsmen work, how the materials are handled, and how the machinery is made—these things cannot be clearly seen just by looking at the books. I must see them with my own eyes. Lead the way."

Seeing the Crown Prince's resolute attitude, Duan Lun dared not persuade him any further and could only reply, "Yes, Your Highness, I obey. Please follow me, Your Highness."

So the group left the ministry office and headed towards the workshop area of ​​the Ministry of Works.

Li Chengqian walked ahead, his steps slightly unsteady due to his foot ailment, but his pace was steady.

Li Yichen silently followed in the procession of officials from the Eastern Palace, calmly observing everything around him.

Their first stop was the woodworking workshop.

Before even entering, one could hear the sounds of sawing, planing, and chiseling wood coming from inside, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of wood and dust.

Stepping into the workshop, one sees dozens of craftsmen busy at work. Some are measuring timber, some are sawing with sweat pouring down their faces, and some are carefully planing the planks.

Upon seeing the Minister leading a group of important figures dressed in vermilion and blue official robes into the room, the craftsmen immediately panicked. Their work slowed down, and they stood with their hands at their sides, not daring to raise their heads.

Duan Lun was about to reprimand them and tell them to keep working when he saw Li Chengqian take a few steps forward and stop in front of an old craftsman.

The old craftsman was still holding a carving knife in his hand, his knuckles thick and covered with calluses and tiny wounds.

"Old man, what are you doing?" Li Chengqian asked, his voice low and as calm as possible.

The old craftsman was clearly not expected that the crown prince would speak to him directly. He trembled, lowered his head even further, and dared not utter a word.

Li Chengqian patiently asked again, "I ask you, what object are you making in your hands?"

The old craftsman stammered, "Replying to Your Excellency, it is...it is a dressing case made for the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau, carved with...carved with flowers and birds."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the carving knife in his hand and the piece of wood that was beginning to take shape.

"These patterns are intricate; it must take a lot of time and effort. How many can you finish in a day?"

Seeing that this "distinguished person" seemed to have no ill intentions, the old craftsman became a little bolder and replied, "In reply to your question, if one concentrates, one can probably carve about this piece in a day."

He gestured with his hand to indicate the size, roughly the size of a palm.

Li Chengqian was silent for a moment, then said, "You've worked hard."

Then he turned to a young craftsman assembling a wooden frame and asked him about its purpose and load-bearing capacity.

He asked several craftsmen in succession, and the questions were quite specific, covering the selection of materials, the wear and tear of tools, the production time, the difficulties encountered, and so on.

His attitude remained calm throughout, without the slightest impatience, and without the unconscious disdain that ordinary noble officials showed towards craftsmen.

Li Yichen watched quietly from the side, his mind racing.

Li Chengqian's move is clearly putting into practice what he said yesterday: "rely on and support the forces that truly create wealth."

He was trying to break down that invisible barrier and communicate directly with the direct creators of these productive forces.

The effect was obvious. After the initial panic, the craftsmen discovered that this noble person was actually concerned about their work, and their eyes gradually showed more surprise and a hint of barely perceptible excitement.

At the same time, Li Yichen was also carefully observing the top woodworking workshops of this era.

He saw that the tools used by the craftsmen—axes, saws, chisels, planes, rulers, compasses, and squares—were almost identical in basic form to the traditional woodworking tools he knew.

Their mortise and tenon joinery skills are so refined that they can build sturdy frames without the need for nails.

This made him admire the wisdom of the ancients.

However, he also saw room for improvement in efficiency.

The layout of the workbench could be more rational to reduce unnecessary movement of the craftsmen;
The grip area of ​​some tools could be slightly modified according to ergonomics to reduce wrist damage from long-term labor.

The connections between different processes seem somewhat arbitrary, which may result in waste due to waiting and repetitive handling.

But he could only keep these thoughts to himself for the time being, and needed to find a suitable time to bring them up. After leaving the woodworking workshop, Duan Lun led everyone to the blacksmith's workshop.

Before you even get close, you can feel a wave of heat hitting you, and the clanging of metal against metal is constant.

Inside the blacksmith's workshop, the scene was even more intense and rugged.

Several tall furnaces were burning with raging flames, and the bellows were whistling loudly.

The burly craftsmen, shirtless and glistening with sweat on their bronze skin, wielded heavy hammers, repeatedly hammering red-hot iron blocks on anvils, each strike sending up dazzling sparks.

Li Chengqian remained oblivious to the environment and the high temperature. He approached a craftsman who was forging a hoe and carefully observed his movements.

The craftsman was so engrossed in his work that he didn't immediately notice someone standing behind him.

It wasn't until he dipped the partially shaped hoe into the water, making a "sizzle" sound and sending up a cloud of white mist, that he suddenly turned around and saw a large group of officials, which startled him.

“Don’t panic.” Li Chengqian gestured for him to continue, then asked, “How long would it take to forge such a hoe? How much material would it require?”

The blacksmith, panting heavily, wiped his face with the towel hanging around his neck and replied, "Sir, from burning the raw material to shaping it, then quenching and polishing, it takes about half a day. The material used... is about two pounds of pig iron."

Li Chengqian frowned slightly as he looked at the hoe that had just been quenched and was still emitting blue smoke.

Playing one game every half day is indeed not very efficient.

He then inquired about the source of iron, fuel consumption, and tool wear and tear.

The blacksmith answered each question in detail, his words simple yet his data specific.

Li Yichen's gaze was drawn to the furnaces and blower equipment.

He noticed that the blower used a leather bag, which was pushed back and forth by manpower, making it inefficient and physically demanding.

He recalled historical records that seemed to have utilized water power for blowing wind, and perhaps he could provide guidance in this area.

At the same time, he also observed that the blacksmiths' forging methods seemed to lack standardized molds and relied more on the craftsmen's personal experience and feel, which could lead to inconsistent quality and inefficiency in the finished products.

Next, they toured the workshops under the Imperial Household Department, which were responsible for making palace utensils, and saw even more refined crafts such as gold and silver work, lacquerware, and brocade weaving.

The prince also inquired in detail about the production process and the time it took.

After walking around the circle, nearly two hours had passed.

Li Chengqian's forehead was beaded with sweat, and he was clearly struggling to stand on his right foot, but the light in his eyes grew even sharper.

He ordered Duan Lun to summon the main officials and all the workshop foremen to the open space in front of the Ministry of Works.

Hundreds of people gathered in front of the hall, while the craftsmen stood on the periphery, watching the crown prince, who was surrounded by officials, with unease.

Officials from the Ministry of Works and those in the Eastern Palace were also puzzled, wondering what the Crown Prince intended to do.

Li Chengqian looked around at everyone, took a deep breath, and spoke loudly, his voice clearly resounding throughout the entire hall:
"I toured the various workshops today and was deeply moved by what I saw and heard. The craftsmen of our Great Tang Dynasty possess superb skills and extraordinary ingenuity; this is a blessing for the nation!"

The opening affirmation caused many of the bowed craftsmen to instinctively raise their eyes, their faces showing disbelief.

They were used to being driven and looked down upon; when had they ever heard such a noble person praise them in public?

“However,” Li Chengqian changed the subject.

"I have also observed that the creation of many artifacts takes a considerable amount of time and manpower. For example, a hoe takes more than half a day to make. A waterwheel takes more than ten days. A delicate vessel can even take several months to complete!"

"If this continues, how can we meet the ever-growing needs of our Great Tang? How can we ensure that our granaries are fuller and our weapons are more sophisticated?"

His voice gradually rose.

"Therefore, I am here today to establish rules for everyone in the Ministry of Works, whether officials or craftsmen!"

Everyone held their breath.

"From this day forward, anyone under the Ministry of Works, regardless of rank or position, who can improve existing tools and equipment to increase production efficiency, or create new agricultural implements or water conservancy equipment to benefit farming, or solve existing technological problems to save materials and manpower, will be richly rewarded according to the magnitude of their contribution, once proven!"

Upon hearing this, the room fell into a deathly silence, followed by a chorus of suppressed gasps and whispers.

The officials looked at each other, their faces filled with astonishment and confusion.

What is the prince doing?
Encourage artisans to improve tools?

Should we also reward them handsomely according to their merits?
This... is completely different from the usual practice!

Craftsmen are considered to be in a lowly profession, and their skills are merely a means of making a living. Why would the Crown Prince need to encourage and reward them in such a grand manner?
Meanwhile, the surrounding group of artisans was like a calm lake surface tossed with a boulder, instantly rippled with emotion.

Many people stared wide-eyed, almost doubting that they had misheard.

A hefty reward?

Because they improved the tools?

This is simply unheard of!

An indescribable surge of heat began to coursing through his chest. It was the excitement of being recognized and valued, the long-suppressed urge to unleash all his knowledge and ingenuity, which began to sprout uncontrollably.

Li Chengqian took in everyone's reactions and continued in a more emphasizing tone: "Perhaps some people have doubts, even if they have ideas, they have no way to report them, or they may be accused of having their credit stolen by superiors or colleagues. I hereby promise that I will never allow such a thing to happen!"

He turned to Duan Lun and the other officials of the Ministry of Works, his tone serious.

"Minister Duan, I will immediately dispatch officials and guards from the Eastern Palace to be stationed at the Ministry of Works and all major workshops. They will be responsible for only one thing—handling all suggestions regarding tool improvement and technological innovation!"

"No matter who makes the suggestion, whether it's an official, a master craftsman, or the most ordinary apprentice, you can report it directly to them!"

"All suggestions must be recorded in detail and reported directly to me! No one may obstruct, withhold, or steal their credit! Anyone who dares to disobey will be severely punished once verified!"

Duan Lun and the others were startled and quickly bowed, replying, "Your subject obeys!"

Li Chengqian then looked at the craftsmen whose eyes were growing brighter and brighter.

"I know that some improvements cannot be made by one person alone. I encourage you all to learn from each other and work together to study them! If needed, you can apply to the stationed officials for the allocation of materials and manpower!"

"If multiple people cooperate successfully, the reward will be distributed according to the size of their contribution, and everyone will receive a share, ensuring that no one goes unrewarded!"

His final gaze swept across the room, and he said, word by word, "Remember my words! In the Ministry of Works, here with me, those who can get things done, innovate, and improve efficiency are the heroes!"

"I don't care about his background or status; I only care about what he has done and what merits he has made! I hope you will all strive to do your best and not let me down!"

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent once again.

The bewildered expressions on the faces of the Ministry of Works officials and the Crown Prince's subordinates deepened. They were completely unable to understand the Crown Prince's actions and found them utterly incomprehensible.

Among the artisans, someone clenched their fist first, and then, flames ignited in the eyes of more and more people.

It was the excitement of seeing an unprecedented opportunity, the urge to immediately return to the workshop and put into practice the improvement plan that I had been pondering for many years but had never dared to try!
(End of this chapter)