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

Chapter 186 Your Highness is wise; this is exactly what you intended.

Pyongyang, the General's Mansion.

Although Quan Gaisuwen has not officially proclaimed himself king, the scale of his residence far exceeds that of his subjects.

Quan Gaisuwen was tall and strong with a fierce appearance.

After hearing his subordinates' report about the large-scale grain-for-salt trade within the territory, he was not furious at all; instead, he burst into loud laughter.

"Hahahaha! Excellent! Excellent Tang Kingdom! To come up with such a method!"

Yeon Gaesomun stood up, walked to the huge hanging map, and pointed to the territory of Goguryeo.

"They think they can empty the granaries of Goguryeo with these flashy but useless blocks of salt? Foolish!"

His advisor, a civil official named Park, spoke cautiously.

"General, this matter must be guarded against. If too much grain is lost from the people's reserves, it may affect the livelihood of the people next year, and even the collection of military grain."

Quan Gaisu waved his hand dismissively.

"Mr. Park, you are overthinking it! Tang's actions only show that they are afraid of our Goguryeo and dare not easily launch a military campaign, so they can only resort to such petty tricks!"

"What they took away were just some surplus grains scattered among the people! How much could that be?"

He walked to the window, looking at the heavily guarded outside, full of confidence.

"Pass on my order! All trade within the territory involving the exchange of grain for salt may continue."

"However, all the grain exchanged must not be smuggled out of Goguryeo territory without authorization! Anyone who disobeys this order will be treated as a traitor and executed without exception!"

He turned around, a sinister smile on his face.

"The Tang Kingdom sent us fine salt, and we accepted it without hesitation! Do they want to exchange it for grain?"

"Yes! But this grain must remain in Goguryeo! When war comes, I will issue an order to requisition all of this grain and use it as military rations!"

"At that time, the Tang Kingdom will have lost both its wife and its army! Hahahaha! This is heaven's help!"

In Quan Gaisuwen's view, this move by the Tang Dynasty was simply a foolish act of aiding the enemy.

He traded some "luxury" salt, which he didn't really need, for real grain.

Moreover, he used administrative orders to lock up these grains within the country, making them available for requisition at any time.

This deal is such a great bargain!

He seemed to already see the scene of the Tang army being defeated due to lack of food and supplies.

The Eastern Palace, Xiande Hall.

Li Yichen remained calm and composed as he entered the hall, bowed, and knelt on the mat.

"Sir!" Before Li Yichen was fully seated, Li Chengqian spoke up impatiently, his voice slightly raised with excitement.

"Dou Jing has already informed me of the market situation! The Zhenguan bonds have indeed stabilized as you predicted, and the trend looks promising!"

"To think that the promotion of agricultural tools alone could turn the tide... to think that the enhancement of the court's credibility was too... too easy?"

He used the word "easily" to express his disbelief.

In his previous understanding, strengthening national power and enhancing prestige required years of accumulation, either through major military victories or outstanding political achievements.

Nowadays, it seems that a single decree or a successful technology promotion can significantly enhance this intangible asset called "credit" in a short period of time.

Looking at the Crown Prince's undisguised excitement and confusion, Li Yichen showed no smugness, but simply nodded slightly, his tone calm and composed.

"Your Highness, the establishment and collapse of trust can sometimes happen in the blink of an eye. It may seem easy, but it has its own inherent laws."

"The promotion of agricultural tools may seem to be about the benefits of a single tool or item, but behind it, it conveys several key messages to the world."

He paused, then proceeded to analyze the situation meticulously.

"Firstly, the court did not only focus on conquest and depletion, but also paid attention to recuperation and rest, and showed consideration for the people's strength. This was a signal of 'benevolent governance,' which could appease the people and stabilize social expectations."

"Secondly, the imperial court possesses the ability to be pragmatic and innovative, rather than sticking to old ways. The remarkable effects of the new agricultural tools prove that the imperial court's institutions are efficient and capable."

"This is a sign of capability, giving people confidence that the court can get things done."

"Thirdly, the promotion was swift. The imperial edict was issued and implemented in various regions with great speed. The Crown Prince dispatched craftsmen to provide guidance, demonstrating the smooth flow of the court's orders and its strong execution capabilities. This was a signal of efficiency and determination."

"When the people are at peace, the nation is stable; when capabilities are demonstrated, the future is promising; and when efficiency is high, promises are credible," Li Yichen concluded.

"The combination of these three factors, working together to influence people's hearts, naturally strengthened the credibility of the imperial court."

"People are willing to believe that a court that can both create beneficial instruments and promote them efficiently has an unquestionable ability and willingness to repay its debts."

Therefore, it was inevitable that the Zhenguan notes would stabilize and appreciate in value.

Li Chengqian nodded repeatedly, as if he had been enlightened.

Only after Li Yichen's analysis did he understand that behind what seemed "easy" was the result of a concentrated release of positive signals from multiple levels of the imperial court.

"Your words have enlightened me greatly!" Li Chengqian exclaimed.

“In the past, students only knew that credit was important, but they did not know that there were so many steps involved in establishing it.”

"This experience has made the students deeply realize that maintaining and enhancing the credibility of the imperial court can indeed make things twice as effective with half the effort!"

There was a gleam in his eyes.

Li Yichen, however, poured cold water on the situation at the right moment, his tone turning serious.

"It is good that Your Highness has this idea. However, trust is easy to establish, but also easy to break."

"Although this incident has subsided, it is all thanks to the actions of the imperial court, which were all positive and proactive. If the imperial court makes a mistake or takes inappropriate measures in the future, the credibility it has built up may collapse in an instant."

"For example, if the war against Goguryeo goes poorly and the costs far exceed expectations, or if large-scale quality problems occur in the later stages of the promotion of agricultural tools, public resentment will boil over."

"Or...the imperial court may issue bonds excessively again, exceeding its capacity..."

He didn't say anything more, but his meaning was clear.

Li Chengqian's excitement subsided slightly, and he nodded solemnly.

"What you are reminding me of is true. Credit is like water; it can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. I will certainly keep this in mind and be extremely cautious."

Seeing that the Crown Prince had calmed down, Li Yichen knew it was time to introduce a deeper concept.

Credit is not a castle in the air; it requires a solid foundation.

This agricultural tool promotion event is a perfect entry point.

"Your Highness, the maintenance of trust has a deeper foundation in addition to visible factors such as government orders and military might."

Li Yichen changed the subject.

"The success of this agricultural tool promotion, and its ability to enhance credibility, actually relies on a more fundamental force."

"Oh? What kind of power?"

Li Chengqian's curiosity was piqued once again.

Li Yichen did not answer directly.

"Does Your Highness know how many people and how many trades are involved in the process of designing, improving, and finally manufacturing this seemingly ordinary farm tool and distributing it to farmers?"

Li Chengqian was taken aback by the question.

As the crown prince, he was concerned with the issuance of government orders and the final results, and he knew very little about the specific manufacturing process in between.

He pondered for a moment, then tried to answer: "Isn't it just that the craftsmen of the Ministry of Works' Crafts Bureau make them according to the blueprints, and then the government distributes them?"

Li Yichen slowly shook his head.

"Your Highness, it's far more complex than that. Let me take this improved curved plow as an example and analyze it for you."

He sat up straight, his gaze calm, and began to explain, in a way that was completely new to Li Chengqian, yet incredibly real. "First, there's this plowshare," Li Yichen said, gesturing with his hand.

"Only the finest iron is needed to make it tough, sharp, durable, and resistant to dulling. Where does this iron come from? It requires miners to mine iron ore deep in the mountains."

“Mining requires tools, vehicles and ropes to transport ore. Miners need food, clothing and shelter, so farmers grow grain for them, weavers weave cloth for them, and craftsmen build houses and vehicles for them.”

Li Chengqian nodded subconsciously; he vaguely knew these things.

“Ore needs to be smelted after it is mined.”

Li Yichen continued.

"A blast furnace needs to be built, and charcoal workers need to cut down trees and burn them to make charcoal for fuel. The construction of the blast furnace also requires bricklayers who know how to lay bricks."

"Controlling the heat requires experienced furnace operators. The resulting pig iron is brittle and hard."

"It needs to be further forged or smelted into steel, which requires a specialized blacksmith to wield a hammer and repeatedly forge it on the anvil."

"Forging requires a site, a blower, and quenching water."

Li Chengqian frowned slightly. He began to realize that behind a piece of ironware was far more than just a blacksmith.

"The steel is ready; it can be used to make plowshares."

Li Yichen spoke at a steady pace, as if stating a perfectly ordinary fact.

"However, making a plowshare requires a mold of a specific shape, or a skilled blacksmith to hammer out the shape based on experience."

"The making of this mold involves artisans who know how to carve, as well as the materials used to make the mold, which may be specific clay or other heat-resistant materials."

"Let's talk about the wooden parts such as the plowshare and the plow tip."

Li Yichen shifted the topic to timber.

"Tough and non-deformable wood should be selected, such as jujube wood and oak."

"This requires woodcutters to go into the mountains to identify and cut down suitable trees. Cutting down trees requires axes and hatchets, and transportation requires vehicles or water rafts."

"When the timber is transported to the workshop, the carpenter needs to carefully cut, plan, chisel, and mortise the pieces according to the drawings. The carpenter needs tools: saws, planes, chisels, and ink lines..."

"These tools need to be made by specialized blacksmiths and toolmakers."

Li Chengqian was listening intently, as if he could see an invisible chain leading from the deep mountain mines to the roaring furnaces and then to the workshops filled with flying sawdust.

"The combination of wood and iron requires iron nails and hoops. This brings us back to the blacksmith's process."

"The forging of iron nails is also a craft. Even the ropes used to fasten iron parts, if made of leather, require a butcher to slaughter the livestock and a tanner to process the leather..."

"This is only the manufacture of the farm tools themselves."

Li Yichen paused briefly to allow the Crown Prince to process the information before continuing.

"Where did the designs come from? They needed to be designed and drawn. How were the edicts for their promotion conveyed? They needed to be delivered by messengers on horseback, traveling through prefectures and counties."

“Local governments organize craftsmen to build these projects, which require the management of officials and the allocation of funds for materials and labor by the granary officials.”

"The Crown Prince's Palace dispatched craftsmen to provide guidance. These craftsmen themselves had been learning their craft for many years, their skills passed down from their teachers, and their livelihoods came from their salaries or from the common people..."

“Even,” Li Yichen said, his gaze deep.

“The craftsman who makes agricultural tools does not farm himself; the food he eats, the cloth he wears, and the house he lives in are all provided by others.”

"Behind this lies the labor of countless farmers, weavers, and artisans, woven into a network."

Li Chengqian was completely stunned.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his throat was dry.

He never imagined that a seemingly ordinary farm tool would be connected to such a complex and sophisticated network!

Miners, charcoal miners, blacksmiths, bricklayers, woodcutters, carpenters, tool makers, couriers, clerks, designers, instructors...

And then there are the countless unseen people who provide these people with food, clothing, shelter, and transportation!

This far exceeded his simple understanding of "crafted by artisans from the Ministry of Works".

“Sir…this…” Li Chengqian’s voice trembled slightly.

"A single farm tool... how could it involve so many people? How could it require the cooperation of so many complete strangers?"

“Exactly.” Li Yichen nodded firmly, his tone solemn.

“Your Highness, this is not an isolated case. The vast majority of man-made objects in the world, from the smallest needle and thread to the largest palaces and ships, are all the result of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of strangers relying on some kind of invisible order and cooperation.”

"Each performs their own duties and gives full play to their abilities, and ultimately we work together to accomplish the task."

"No one can create a complete, decent object from scratch entirely on their own."

He introduced the core concept.

"This system in which countless people collaborate based on the division of labor to ultimately produce what is needed can be called 'the professions of a hundred trades'."

"This is the source of national wealth, the foundation of national strength, and also... one of the solid foundations upon which credit exists."

"The occupations of all trades...the foundation of national strength..." Li Chengqian murmured, repeating these unfamiliar words.

But a storm raged within me.

His previous understanding of "enriching the country and strengthening the military" often referred to "enriching the country" as having full granaries and a wealthy treasury.

"Strong troops" refers to an elite army with excellent equipment.

However, they have never considered the essence of national power from the perspective of "production collaboration".

Seeing his shocked expression, Li Yichen knew that the initial conceptual impact had been achieved, and it was necessary to further explain its operating principles and importance.

“Your Highness, please consider,” Li Yichen prompted.

"Without a complete and effective system of all trades, is it possible to create a sufficient number of new agricultural tools in a short period of time and promote them throughout the world?"

Li Chengqian immediately shook his head: "Absolutely impossible."

He now fully understands that this requires the coordinated operation of the entire national apparatus and countless industries in the private sector.

"If miners don't mine iron ore, there will be no iron to use. If charcoal workers don't burn charcoal, the furnace fires won't burn brightly. If couriers don't deliver imperial edicts, government orders won't be carried out. If craftsmen's skills are lacking, agricultural tools will be crude..."

"If any link in the chain breaks, the task will be difficult to complete, or the effect will be greatly reduced."

Li Yichen said slowly.

"The fact that this promotion of agricultural tools has been so effective demonstrates that the current system of various crafts in our Great Tang Dynasty is functioning well."

"When people see that the court can effectively mobilize this system to produce goods that benefit the country and its people, they naturally have confidence in its ability to manage the country and create wealth."

"This confidence is an important component of credit."

He paused, then emphasized: "On the contrary, if a country's industries are in decline, its artisans are lost, and its cooperation is poor, it will be difficult to produce even a decent farm tool on a large scale and with high quality."

"How will people view its court? And how can its credibility be guaranteed?"

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and felt a sudden sense of clarity before him!
He finally understood why Li Yichen said that trust had a deep foundation.

This system of cooperation among various trades is one of the foundations!

A dynasty that can efficiently organize production and continuously create new wealth carries more weight in its promises, and its bonds are more trustworthy!

"So, credit is not something ethereal; it is built upon... upon the seemingly ordinary labor and cooperation of countless people?"

Li Chengqian attempted to summarize his insights.

"Your Highness is wise; that is exactly what I meant."

(End of this chapter)