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

Chapter 167 Could it all be an illusion? (Seeking monthly votes!!!)
Wang De stood respectfully at the lower end of the table, and reported in detail all the information he had gathered about Li Yichen.

“Your Majesty, Li Yichen is a distant descendant of the Guzang branch of the Li family of Longxi. His ancestors held the highest official position of Prefect of Cangzhou, but the family has long since declined.”

"His father, Li Quan, is currently a Doctor of the Imperial Academy, a low-ranking official of the eighth grade. He has a decent reputation, but no real power. Li Yichen himself was selected as a companion to the Crown Prince three years ago, based on his family background and his talent. He was eighteen years old at the time."

"Since entering the Eastern Palace, he has acted discreetly and cautiously. His recorded words and deeds are nothing extraordinary, and can even be described as... mediocre."

Li Shimin listened quietly, his fingers slowly tracing the smooth wooden surface of the imperial desk.

Wang De continued, his voice calm and even.

"First, the Crown Prince's temperament suddenly changed. When he confronted Zhang Xuansu in the Liangyi Hall, it was found that Li Yichen was the last person to have an audience with the Crown Prince that day."

"Afterwards, when His Highness the Crown Prince was providing disaster relief in Shandong, it was Li Yichen who first discovered that the local magistrate, Chongzhong, was obstructing things. He sneaked into the home of a local farmer, Wang Laowu, late at night to investigate the case and break the deadlock."

“In addition,” Wang De paused briefly before adding the most crucial point.

"The new method of classifying and processing documents recently implemented by the Crown Prince's Palace has been remarkably efficient, and the Crown Prince and the officials of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices have all praised it. This method was first proposed by Li Yichen, who also drafted the detailed rules."

Li Shimin's gaze sharpened.

A young companion with a clean family background and an ordinary past has been frequently seen in the dramatic changes that have taken place in the Crown Prince's life over the past six months.

In particular, the methods of document processing, though seemingly trivial, directly address the deep-seated problems in government operations, and can only be mastered by those who are well-versed in practical matters and have a meticulous mind.

This is completely different from the "mediocre" Li Yichen from before.

"What is his character like?" Li Shimin asked.

"Your Majesty, according to observations from various sources, although Li Yichen is young, he is calm and composed and does not indulge in empty talk."

"Even after receiving the important position of Crown Prince, he did not flaunt it. He remained devoted to his duties as a tutor and maintained a low profile with his colleagues, never forming any factions."

"The method of handling this document was also under the guise of assisting the Crown Prince and improving the efficiency of the Eastern Palace, and was not used to seize power or deliberately show off one's own merits."

Li Shimin nodded slightly.

He doesn't take credit for others' work, doesn't seek power, and remains calm and pragmatic, which is consistent with the abilities he has demonstrated.

Perhaps this child was hiding his true abilities in the past?
Or did he suddenly have a breakthrough recently?
There are indeed people in this world who become wise late in life.

As for whether there are other hidden reasons behind it, or whether it is related to that "expert"...

Li Shimin's gaze was deep; the clues were currently numerous and difficult to determine.

But this young man's talent is already enough to make him useful.

"Issue my decree," Li Shimin said after a moment's thought, "Summon Li Yichen, the Master of Ceremonies of the Eastern Palace, to come to the Liangyi Hall for an audience immediately."

The eunuch accepted the order and hurried away.

When the imperial decree reached the Eastern Palace, Li Yichen was in the document room of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, checking the document circulation records after the implementation of the new law with several clerks.

Upon hearing the emperor's summons, he paused slightly in his movements, then calmly put down the dossier and bowed to Dou Jing and Du Zhenglun, who were looking somewhat surprised.

"Lord Dou, Lord Du, His Majesty summons you. Yichen must go immediately."

Dou Jing and Du Zhenglun exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and a hint of barely perceptible envy in each other's eyes.

The emperor directly summoned a seventh-rank official, the Master of Ceremonies of the Eastern Palace, which was an extremely rare honor.

"Yichen, hurry up and don't keep His Majesty waiting."

Du Zhenglun nodded.

Li Yichen said no more, straightened his clothes, and followed the imperial eunuch out of the document room.

He quickly went through the possible questions and answers in his mind, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed his surging emotions.

Upon entering the Liangyi Hall, a solemn and dignified atmosphere immediately greets you.

Li Shimin did not sit on the dragon throne, but stood with his hands behind his back in front of the palace window, gazing into the distance.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on his dark casual clothes, highlighting his upright posture and imposing presence.

"Your subject, Li Yichen, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Li Yichen stepped forward and bowed respectfully, his voice clearly audible in the spacious hall.

After a moment of silence, Li Shimin spoke calmly.

"Flat body."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Yichen still bowed his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the ground a few steps away from the emperor.

This is the respect and deference that a subject should have.

"I've heard that the Crown Prince's Palace has recently been piloting a new method for document processing, which has significantly improved efficiency. Did you come up with this method?"

Li Shimin got straight to the point, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Your Majesty, this law was indeed drafted by me. However, its smooth implementation is entirely due to His Highness the Crown Prince's decision and the vigorous efforts of Lord Dou and Lord Du of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and all my colleagues. I dare not take credit for it."

Li Yichen's answer was watertight, attributing the credit to his superiors and colleagues.

Li Shimin remained noncommittal, walked to the imperial desk, and casually picked up several memorials that had already been preliminarily classified and labeled with different colors.

"Categorizing by color, prioritizing according to urgency, and handling them collectively... that's quite an ingenious approach. Tell me, what's the essence of this method? And how can we ensure its effectiveness and prevent it from becoming a mere formality?"

After a moment's thought, Li Yichen began to explain clearly and logically.

"Your Majesty is wise. The essence of this law lies in 'establishing rules beforehand, following the traces during the process, and making it traceable afterward.'"

"First, the classification criteria need to be clear and unified, based not on the source, but on the nature of the content and the degree of urgency, so that miscellaneous documents can be properly organized."

"Secondly, labels and markings must be intuitive and eye-catching, so that people can understand them at a glance and prioritize the handling of important matters."

"Thirdly, it is necessary to supplement this with circulation records to clarify the entire process of documents from receipt, classification, review, execution to archiving, with clear responsibilities and interlocking links, so as to avoid the problems of backlog, shirking responsibility and omissions."

He paused, and seeing that Li Shimin did not interrupt, he continued, "As for ensuring effectiveness, the key lies in execution and supervision."

"A designated person must be responsible for initial classification and labeling to ensure accuracy. Rules and regulations must be established to stipulate time limits for processing various documents. Circulation records must be checked regularly, and those who delay or are held accountable should be investigated."

"Only by establishing established rules and persisting in them can we eliminate old problems and improve efficiency."

As Li Shimin listened, he casually flipped through the memorials that had been categorized and organized on the table.

He noticed that documents with red and yellow labels concerning border town military affairs, major disasters, and official impeachments were placed in the most prominent position, while white and brown documents concerning daily reports and ceremonial procedures were placed aside.

The steps that used to require him to spend a lot of time going through the documents from the beginning and judging the urgency on his own have indeed been greatly simplified.

"What do you think if this method were implemented in the Liangyi Hall?"

Li Shimin suddenly asked, his eyes gleaming.

Li Yichen was shocked.

He cautiously replied, "The Liangyi Hall is the central hub for His Majesty to handle all the important affairs of the realm. The complexity and importance of the documents there far surpass those of the Eastern Palace."

"If this method is adopted, the classification standards need to be more refined and rigorous. The scribes and interpreters responsible for the classification need to be strictly selected and trained to ensure that they can accurately grasp the importance of documents."

"Furthermore, Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state. This method may help Your Majesty to sort out your thoughts more quickly, but the final decision still requires Your Majesty's sole judgment."

The answer affirmed the universality of the method, fully considered the special characteristics of the Liangyi Hall, and left the final decision to the emperor, which can be described as comprehensive.

A barely perceptible hint of satisfaction flashed in Li Shimin's eyes.

This young man not only has ideas, but also knows how to conduct himself appropriately and when to advance or retreat.

"Alright." Li Shimin nodded.

"Since you have proposed this plan, you will stay in the Liangyi Hall for the time being to assist Wang De in organizing the documents that have accumulated here into a set of regulations as soon as possible, according to your method."

"You may appoint personnel on duty in the Secretariat and the Chancellery as appropriate."

"Your Majesty, take the order."

Li Yichen bowed and replied without the slightest hesitation.

For the next two days, Li Yichen stayed in the side hall of the Liangyi Hall.

He did not make a big fuss, but first carefully observed the original circulation pattern of documents in the Liangyi Hall, and had detailed communication with several on-duty secretaries and interpreters to understand the characteristics and processing conventions of various documents. Based on this, and combining his experience in the Eastern Palace, he formulated a set of classification rules and labeling systems more suitable for the emperor's office work.

He personally demonstrated and instructed clerks and eunuchs on how to quickly and accurately classify and paste documents, and how to establish and fill out document circulation registers.

Throughout the process, he was humble and patient in his explanations. When faced with differing opinions, he listened attentively and followed the best advice. He did not act arrogantly because he was entrusted with an imperial mission.

His pragmatic and efficient work style quickly won the cooperation of the staff.

After listening to the relevant reports, Li Shimin saw that Li Yichen was acting in an orderly manner and managing things effectively. In just two days, the imperial desk, which was originally somewhat messy and piled up like a mountain, had become orderly.

The memorials and petitions were categorized and arranged according to their urgency, with simple summary labels and preliminary processing suggestions attached next to them.

He tried to process government affairs according to the new classification and found that documents that used to take the whole afternoon to review could now be mostly processed before lunch, improving efficiency by more than double.

The feeling of being in control and at ease brought Li Shimin, who had been accustomed to toiling away in mountains of paperwork for many years, a long-lost sense of ease.

This change is real and cannot be faked.

On the evening of the third day, after reviewing the last memorial, Li Shimin looked at the still early sky outside the window and sighed with emotion.

He glanced at Wang De, who was standing to his side, and asked, "Is Li Yichen still in the side hall today?"

"Your Majesty, Master of Ceremonies Li is still checking today's document circulation records, saying that he must ensure there are no errors before proceeding."

Wang De replied respectfully.

Li Shimin pondered for a moment.

This young man is talented and capable, and his temperament is also quite calm.

His contribution in offering advice was significant.

Directly promote him?
He was, after all, an official under the Crown Prince, how could he be promoted so suddenly?
He has only recently been promoted.

Moreover, it could also bolster the Crown Prince's power.

Rewarding someone with gold and silk? That seems too inadequate.

"I remember that his father, Li Quan, is still at the Imperial Academy?"

Wang De immediately understood.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Dr. Li has served at the Imperial Academy for nearly ten years. He is diligent, conscientious, and has solid scholarship, and is highly respected by the students."

"Hmm." Li Shimin nodded.

"The position of Doctor of the Imperial Academy is prestigious, but ultimately it's a leisurely one. It seems there are vacancies in the Censorate recently?"

Wang De bowed.

"In response to everyone, there are indeed vacancies in the number of Censor-in-Chief positions."

"Draft an imperial edict," Li Shimin said without hesitation, his voice steady.

"Li Quan, a Doctor of the Imperial Academy, is honest and simple, upright in his studies and conduct, and skilled in teaching. He is promoted to Supervising Censor, a senior eighth-rank official, and shall take up his post immediately."

"As you command," Wang De replied.

He understood that His Majesty was openly promoting his father while secretly rewarding his son.

There is no one more admirable than this in the Emperor's heart.

The imperial decree caused a sensation at the Li residence.

He was suddenly promoted to the position of Censor, who had the power to speak out and investigate. Although his rank was only slightly improved, his power and reputation were incomparable to what they had been before.

When Li Yichen learned of his father's promotion, he was reporting to the Eastern Palace the completion of the document sorting work of the Liangyi Hall.

His face showed just the right amount of surprise and gratitude, and he solemnly bowed towards the direction of the palace to express his thanks.

Just as Li Quan took office as the Censor and began to learn how to impeach those involved in rumors, a piece of news reached the palace.

Zhang Xuanling, a high-ranking Taoist priest from Donglin Temple in Lushan, known as "Xuanzhenren," was summoned to Chang'an.

Li Shimin's attitude towards Buddhist and Taoist figures has always been one of both utilizing and guarding against them.

Taoism advocates tranquility and non-action, allowing the people to rest and recuperate, which aligns with the principles of governing a country.

Its claims of alchemy and immortality also held a natural appeal for emperors who sought immortal achievements.

However, the lesson of Emperor Yang of the previous dynasty's reliance on alchemists and squandering of national funds was still fresh in Li Shimin's mind, which kept him somewhat clear-headed about this matter.

The reason for summoning Master Xuan this time is that I have heard that he is skilled in health preservation and has great attainments in the Dao of Alchemy, and I want to inquire about him personally.

On this day, the Mysterious Immortal received an audience in the side hall of the Two Elements Hall.

The Taoist priest was about sixty years old, with a thin face and clear eyes. He wore a blue Taoist robe, held a whisk in his hand, and walked with a leisurely gait, indeed possessing a somewhat otherworldly and ethereal air.

"This humble Taoist priest, Zhang Xuanling, pays his respects to His Majesty the Emperor."

Master Xuan bowed, his voice calm and neither humble nor arrogant.

"You've come from afar, thank you for your hard work."

Li Shimin sat upright on the couch, raising his hand in a gesture of support.

"Give me a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Master Xuan sat down calmly.

The air inside the hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and for a moment no one spoke.

Li Shimin sized up the renowned Taoist priest, and Xuanzhen Zhenren calmly accepted the emperor's scrutiny.

"I have heard that the True Man is well-versed in Taoist arts, and has particular expertise in the art of alchemy."

Li Shimin slowly spoke, breaking the silence.

"I wonder what insights the Master has regarding this path?"

Master Xuan bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty has inquired, how could I not speak frankly? The Daoist alchemy has a long history, but its essence is nothing more than the four words 'cultivating both nature and life'."

"External alchemy involves refining minerals and herbs to prolong life and even achieve immortality; this is an ancient method."

"However, metals and minerals are extremely potent. If the heat is not properly controlled or the formula is incorrect, they will not only fail to prolong life but will also harm one's life. Throughout history, countless people have died while seeking medicine."

"Therefore, I believe that the essence of cultivating the Tao should be the internal alchemy, which involves refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, refining spirit into emptiness, purifying the mind and reducing desires, guiding and absorbing qi, so that the yin and yang in the body are in harmony and the meridians are unobstructed, which can naturally cure diseases, strengthen the body, and prolong life."

"External alchemy and food are merely supplementary and should be used with extreme caution."

These words did not boast about the miraculous effects of the elixir; instead, they directly pointed out its risks and emphasized the importance of cultivating one's inner strength, which was unexpected by Li Shimin.

He nodded slightly.

"In your opinion, can these external elixirs truly grant immortality?"

Master Xuan shook his head and said frankly, "Your Majesty, I have cultivated for decades and have never seen anyone who has achieved immortality by consuming the elixir of immortality."

"Even Peng Zu, who lived to be eight hundred, eventually returned to the earth. Heaven and earth have their limits, let alone the human body?"

"The Tao Te Ching says: 'The reason why Heaven and Earth can endure and last long is that they do not live for themselves, therefore they can live long.' Your Majesty is the ruler of the world, bearing the weight of the four seas on your shoulders. If you can enable the people to live in peace and prosperity, and bring peace to the world, this would be the greatest merit, better than taking a thousand elixirs."

"To care for all people is the best form of self-cultivation. If one abandons this fundamental principle and pursues only medicinal herbs and minerals, it is not the right path and also goes against the natural order of cherishing life."

Li Shimin's eyes flickered.

This Taoist priest is quite interesting.

Unlike those alchemists who only boast about the miraculous effects of elixirs and swindle wealth from people.

His speech exuded a transcendent air.

"However, I have also heard that ancient emperors also sought immortality and medicine. Could it be that all of this was vain?"

(End of this chapter)