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

Chapter 172: Just ask a casual question.

In the days that followed, a fierce but silent battle of wits suddenly erupted in the officialdom of Chang'an.

First, several censors jointly submitted a memorial impeaching a member of the Cui family of Boling who was serving as a secretary in the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

He accepted huge bribes during an inspection of local grain depots last year to cover up the deficit. There is ample evidence and witness testimony to support his claim.

Immediately afterwards, another official from the Cui clan of Qinghe was impeached for serving as governor.

They allowed their nephews and nieces to seize hundreds of acres of farmland, driving tenants to their deaths, causing immense suffering to the local people and resulting in numerous lawsuits.

Almost simultaneously, reports concerning the illegal activities of officials from families such as the Lu family of Fanyang, the Zheng family of Xingyang, and the Wang family of Taiyuan were continuously submitted to the Liangyi Hall in meticulously worded memorials with relatively complete chains of evidence.

Corruption, dereliction of duty, forming cliques, illegal activities... the charges are numerous and most are not unfounded.

These memorials precisely targeted the most vulnerable part of the aristocratic alliance.

They originally thought they could rest easy with their intricate network of relationships, but they never expected the Crown Prince's counterattack to be so swift and ruthless!
For a time, people within the aristocratic families were filled with unease.

Those impeached are eager to protect themselves and are actively seeking ways to quell the situation.

Those who were not directly affected were also filled with anxiety, fearing that the next arrow would be aimed at them.

They attempted to use their influence in the court to retaliate, either by impeaching officials of the Eastern Palace or by defending those impeached as part of the same faction, but the emperor's attitude remained ambiguous.

Most of the memorials concerning the Crown Prince's palace were either ignored or forwarded to the Crown Prince's palace, while impeachments against aristocratic families often caught the emperor's attention.

With one side gaining and the other losing, the powerful families began to lose their footing.

Within a month, more than ten officials from prominent families and of varying ranks had been dismissed from their posts due to conclusive evidence of their crimes.

Perhaps due to excessive pressure, he was forced to submit his resignation and temporarily left the center of power.

Although these losses have not yet crippled the powerful aristocratic families, their deterrent effect is unprecedented.

They finally realized that the lame prince, whom they had once somewhat underestimated, now possessed a force that should not be underestimated.

Furthermore, he dares to use this power to launch a merciless and equal counterattack!

The battle between the Crown Prince and the aristocratic families, though fought without gunpowder, was a fierce and bloody struggle that lasted for nearly a month before finally coming to a temporary end in a strange stalemate.

That afternoon, an attendant from the Liangyi Palace came to deliver an imperial edict: His Majesty summoned His Highness the Crown Prince for an audience.

When Li Chengqian received the imperial edict, he was in the Xiande Hall reviewing the recent gains and losses with Dou Jing and Du Zhenglun.

Upon hearing that his father had summoned him, he remained expressionless, but simply put down the vermilion brush in his hand.

"Since Father has summoned me, I will return immediately. You two should further elaborate on what we just discussed."

He straightened his clothes and calmly followed the eunuch out of Xiande Hall.

Stepping into the Liangyi Hall, the hall remained as solemn and dignified as ever.

Li Shimin did not sit at his desk reviewing memorials as usual, but instead stood with his hands behind his back by the window, seemingly intently observing them.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Li Chengqian bowed respectfully, his voice steady.

Li Shimin slowly turned around.

"Get up." After a long while, Li Shimin finally spoke calmly.

"Thank you, Father Emperor." Li Chengqian straightened up, still bowing his head slightly.

Li Shimin strolled back to his desk and sat down.

He looked up at Li Chengqian, his tone unreadable: "Brilliant. Your recent moves are quite significant."

Li Chengqian's heart tightened slightly.

He did not shy away; instead, he raised his head to meet Li Shimin's scrutinizing gaze, his voice calm.

"Your Majesty, I was merely acting in accordance with the law and impeaching those who violated it. I wanted to let those who harbored侥幸心理 (a sense of侥幸, or a belief that they could get away with it) know what the proper duty of a subject to his ruler is."

His words contained no trace of pride or cowardice, only a calm statement of facts, even carrying a hint of sternness.

Li Shimin stared at him for a moment, a complex expression that was extremely difficult to detect flashing deep in his eyes.

There is scrutiny, there is exploration, and perhaps even a hint of... barely perceptible approval.

He did not directly comment on Li Chengqian's words, but instead changed the subject, his tone remaining calm.

"It is only right to let them know the distinction between ruler and subject. However, Gaoming, do you know that the world, especially the prefectures, counties and rural areas, cannot be maintained by the laws of the court and these few officials alone?"

Li Chengqian's expression hardened, realizing that his father was about to test him on something deeper.

He hesitated for a moment, then cautiously replied, "Your Majesty is wise. I am also aware that once the imperial decrees leave the prefectures and reach the county offices, they encounter many obstacles."

“The local officials and clerks were mostly controlled by powerful local families. Tax collection, corvée labor, household registration, and even civil litigation were all handled by these local tyrants and powerful clans.”

“Even if an official appointed by the imperial court has extraordinary talent, he will find it difficult to achieve anything without the cooperation of the local authorities. This is not a problem that has arisen overnight, but rather a problem that has accumulated over hundreds of years.”

His words pointed out the real dilemma of "imperial power not extending to the county level." Although he did not directly use this later generalized term, his meaning was already clear.

The imperial court's rule at the grassroots level was extended and realized through these local powers.

Li Shimin nodded slightly, seemingly unsurprised that his son could understand this.

He took over the conversation, his tone becoming more subdued.

"Indeed. These powerful clans have been deeply entrenched for centuries, and their influence has long penetrated into the countryside."

"They control the land, influence public opinion, and even, to some extent, control the recommendation of local talents."

"I am not unaware of its drawbacks. If we are too hasty in dealing with powerful families, it may cause unrest and shake the foundation of the country."

"However, if this is allowed to continue, the imperial power will be forever hampered, government orders will be difficult to implement, and the country will cease to exist."

"Therefore, this matter... should be handled like cooking a small fish, avoiding high heat and sudden cooling, but rather simmering over a low flame, so that it loses its essence without being noticed."

Li Shimin's tone was calm, but the determination in his words was exceptionally firm.

"What I want is not to exterminate the powerful families of Cui, Lu, Zheng, and Wang. Doing so would not help and would only create a greater power vacuum and instability."

"What I want is to gradually strip them of the power that does not belong to them, weaken their influence in the local areas, and completely restrict it to its proper scope."

"Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that the people of this world only know the imperial court and abide by the law, and no longer have to act according to the whims of certain families. This is a long-term plan that cannot be accomplished in one generation."

Li Chengqian listened intently, his heart filled with turbulent emotions.

He nodded slightly.

He recalled Li Yichen's mention of "long-term game" and "systematic solution," which were remarkably similar to what his father had said today.

He took a deep breath and followed Li Shimin's train of thought, saying, "Father, you have profound wisdom and foresight. Your son has learned a great deal."

"Therefore, to fundamentally eliminate the ills of aristocratic families, the key lies in two points: first, in the selection of officials, we must break down barriers based on social class, so that talented individuals from humble backgrounds also have a path to advancement; second, in the power of education, we must ensure that the teachings of sages and the laws of the court reach the common people, enlightening them and preventing them from blindly following the words of local elders and clan heads." He paused, and seeing Li Shimin's encouraging gaze, continued, "Therefore, I believe that the imperial examination system should be further improved, expanded in scale, and its examination discipline strengthened to ensure fairness."

"At the same time, the establishment of official schools should not be limited to prefectures and counties. If it can be gradually extended to county schools, and even encouraged to establish elementary schools in rural areas, with the court providing some funding or policy support, it will surely gradually change the atmosphere of the literati in time."

"We must weaken the monopoly of aristocratic families on the transmission of knowledge. Only when there are more scholars in the country can the court have a continuous stream of talented people who are not limited by social status, and only then can government orders truly be effectively implemented."

Li Shimin turned around, looked at his son who was speaking eloquently, and a hint of genuine surprise flashed in his eyes.

He didn't expect that Li Chengqian could not only understand what he said, but also put forward specific directions, and hit the nail on the head.

The imperial examination system and education were indeed the most upright and effective means of eradicating the foundations of powerful families.

It seems that this son has indeed made a lot of progress in the past six months.

"I am very pleased that you thought of this."

Li Shimin nodded slightly, his tone softening almost imperceptibly.

"The imperial examination and education are indeed fundamental. However, this matter cannot be rushed; it requires financial resources, qualified teachers, and time for gradual and subtle influence. Since you have this ambition, when you take charge of the Ministry of Works or even participate in court affairs in the future, you should take this as your goal and work towards it step by step."

"My son, please remember your father's teachings."

Li Chengqian bowed in response.

The atmosphere inside the hall seemed less somber than it had been at the beginning, thanks to this in-depth conversation about national policy.

However, just when Li Chengqian thought the audience was about to end, Li Shimin suddenly strolled back behind his desk.

He casually picked up a report about medicinal herbs sent as tribute from various regions, his gaze not falling on Li Chengqian, as if he were just asking a casual question.

"I have recently been perusing ancient texts and have found that many ancient people have mentioned the art of alchemy and health preservation. Gaoming, there are many knowledgeable people in your Eastern Palace, is there anyone... who has any knowledge of this art?"

Li Chengqian's heart skipped a beat.

Pill?

Why did Father Emperor suddenly ask this?

He immediately recalled the emperors in history books who pursued immortality and harmed their bodies by consuming elixirs.

Almost without thinking, he advised with a hint of urgency, "Father! The art of alchemy is mostly the nonsense of alchemists. The metals and stones are extremely harsh; how can the human body withstand them?"

"History is a clear mirror. Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han were both misled by this doctrine in their later years. What was the result? Your Majesty, I implore you, Your Majesty, not to believe such falsehoods. You must prioritize your health and the affairs of the state!"

He spoke with great sincerity.

Li Shimin paused slightly in the hand holding the memorial, raised his eyes, and looked at the undisguised worry and opposition on his son's face.

He didn't look offended at all; instead, he twitched the corners of his mouth and gave a slightly embarrassed smile.

He waved his hand and said in a relaxed tone, "I was just asking casually, why are you so agitated? I know the risks involved, why would I easily believe the words of those sorcerers?"

"I just happened to be flipping through some old books recently and found some bizarre and fantastical descriptions, which aroused my curiosity."

He put down the report, leaned back slightly, and his gaze returned to its peaceful state, even carrying a hint of casualness, as if he were chatting.

"Since you say that no one in the Eastern Palace is knowledgeable in this field, then so be it. Perhaps... I am overthinking it."

"However, when you get back, you might as well ask your knowledgeable subordinates and companions in your spare time if they have heard of any... well, some safer, less radical methods of health preservation and longevity?"

"No need to make it complicated, just... ask casually. I'm not in a hurry."

Li Shimin's words sounded casual, as if it were just a casual chat on a whim.

But Li Chengqian caught a glimpse of indescribable inquiry in the depths of his father’s seemingly casual gaze.

A figure instantly entered Li Chengqian's mind—Li Yichen!

The gentleman is extremely learned, almost omniscient. He can predict the secrets of heaven and authorize economic matters. So, what about his knowledge of alchemy and health preservation...?

Will you also have some understanding of this?

Father's words were loaded with meaning!

This thought instantly sent a cold sweat down Li Chengqian's back.

He dared not think too deeply about it and could only suppress the turmoil in his heart.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand. I will keep an eye on it when I return."

Li Shimin seemed to nod in satisfaction, his face returning to its usual unfathomable, calm expression.

"Well, that's good then. That's all for today, you may leave. You'll still need to take care of the Ministry of Works and the affairs of Xizhou."

"Your subject takes his leave." Li Chengqian bowed again and then slowly withdrew from the Liangyi Hall.

Only after stepping out of the palace and into the sunlight did Li Chengqian feel the invisible pressure enveloping him ease slightly.

He glanced back at the deep and solemn gate of the Liangyi Hall, his heart heavy with sorrow.

His conversation with his father about the struggle among aristocratic families made him feel his father's approval and deeper expectations, which was a consideration of the political vision and methods of the successor.

However, that seemingly casual question about elixirs and health preservation at the end was like an invisible thorn, silently piercing his heart.

The Emperor's attention to the teacher seemed to far exceed his expectations.

This attention is not merely driven by political apprehension or curiosity; it seems to also be mixed with… more complex and unspoken personal demands.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his chaotic thoughts.

He knew he needed to see Li Yichen immediately.

It was not only to recount the dialogue with his father today and to solicit his views on the policies of aristocratic families, but also to... tell him exactly what his father's seemingly casual but actually profound question meant.

The profound meaning and potential impact behind the Emperor's question must be judged and addressed by the student himself.

Meanwhile, inside the Liangyi Hall, Li Shimin remained seated behind his desk, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop, his gaze fixed intently on the direction of the hall's entrance, lost in thought.

Wang De quietly stepped forward and replaced his cup with a freshly brewed tea.

“Wang De,” Li Shimin suddenly spoke, his voice low.

"What are your orders, Your Majesty?" Wang De bowed immediately.

"You say," Li Shimin's gaze remained fixed on him, as if he were talking to himself.

"In this world, are there truly people who... do not understand ghosts and gods, do not refine elixirs, yet can see through the secrets of heaven, are well-versed in the ways of governance, and even... understand the true principles of nourishing life and prolonging life?"

Wang De's heart skipped a beat, and he lowered his head even further, saying cautiously, "Such a person is beyond my knowledge; I have never heard of him before. Perhaps... he only exists in ancient books and legends."

Li Shimin remained silent for a moment, picked up the cup of warm tea, took a small sip, and said nothing more.

(End of this chapter)