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

Chapter 187 introduces core concepts
Li Yichen nodded approvingly.

"The promotion of agricultural tools enhanced credibility not because the tools themselves were so magical, but because they successfully demonstrated the court's ability to organize, mobilize, and optimize this system of 'all trades'."

"This capability is a real manifestation of national strength."

"The essence of this system lies in the division of labor and cooperation."

"Each person is far more efficient if they focus on a small part of the work they are best at than if one person tries to do everything."

"This is what is meant by specialization. And countless specialized skills, when linked together through market transactions and government decrees, form a powerful production capacity."

Li Chengqian seemed to be thinking about something.

"Just like crafting these farm tools, miners specialize in mining, blacksmiths specialize in forging iron, carpenters specialize in woodworking... each excels in their own field, and together they create the tools?"

“Exactly.” Li Yichen nodded.

"Moreover, the more detailed the division of labor and the higher the degree of specialization, the more likely it is to spur innovation in skills."

"For example, a blacksmith who specializes in making plowshares may, over the years, discover a more durable steel formula or a more efficient forging method."

"The Ministry of Works' improvement of agricultural tools this time is also based on this principle. It brings together the wisdom of some craftsmen and optimizes the original tools in a special way."

Li Chengqian grew increasingly alarmed as he listened.

He realized that his past understanding of "governance" was too limited to traditional aspects such as checks and balances of power, official administration and people's livelihood, and military and diplomatic affairs.

What Li Yichen revealed today is a completely new dimension concerning how a nation "produces" and how it "creates".

This deepened his understanding of concepts such as productive forces, relations of production, and means of production.

This dimension, though seemingly insignificant, is like the foundation of a building or the source of a river, fundamentally determining the rise and fall, strength and weakness of a nation.

"What you said today, sir, is truly... a wake-up call!"

Li Chengqian let out a long breath, his face filled with excitement and solemnity upon learning the profound truth.

"Students used to only know how to govern ministers, manage the people, and command the army, but they didn't realize that these 'professions of a hundred trades' and 'division of labor and cooperation' are so crucial!"

"Maintaining credit and strengthening national power are both inseparable from this approach!"

He stood up and paced slowly in the hall, his limping figure exuding an unprecedented clarity and determination.

"The students understand! Upholding credibility cannot stop at mere verbal promises or short-term achievements; it requires a greater focus on solidifying the foundation of this 'work of a hundred trades'!"

"We must encourage craftsmen to hone their skills, ensure the smooth flow of materials, and optimize the efficiency of cooperation between different regions!"

He looked at Li Yichen with intense gaze.

"Sir, I hope you will not hesitate to offer your guidance on matters concerning the Ministry of Works and the optimization of these various crafts in the future!"

"The students will certainly learn humbly and do their utmost to promote this!"

Li Yichen bowed slightly.

"Your Highness is fortunate to have such a heart. However, this path is profound and cannot be accomplished in a day. It requires perseverance, careful observation, and gradual improvement."

The first regular court session at the end of the first month of the seventeenth year of Zhenguan.

The atmosphere in the Liangyi Hall was solemn and dignified.

One of the important topics of today's court meeting is the posthumous honors bestowed upon the late Duke of Zheng, Wei Zheng, a special minister.

The death of Wei Zheng, the Chamberlain, was a great loss to the Zhenguan court.

At this moment, all the officials in the hall, regardless of whether they had previously shared the same political views, wore expressions of grief and remembrance.

First, Wang Gui, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward and presented a detailed report on the proposed funeral arrangements for Wei Zheng, which would follow the rites for a Duke and request additional honors to show His Majesty's remembrance of his past contributions.

Next, Cen Wenben, the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, presented the proposed posthumous title "Wenzhen" and explained its meaning.

"To govern the world with wisdom is called 'wen' (文), and to be pure and upright is called 'zhen' (贞). Throughout his life, Duke Wei assisted His Majesty and spoke frankly and offered the most scathing advice. He deserves this posthumous title."

Li Shimin sat upright on the imperial couch, his face calm, but there was a hint of complexity in his eyes that was hard to detect.

He spoke slowly, his voice carrying both imperial majesty and a touch of sincere emotion.

"With the passing of Wei Zheng, I have lost a mirror. The posthumous title 'Wenzhen' is very fitting for his conduct. The funeral shall be conducted in accordance with the proposal of the Ministry of Rites, and shall be as solemn as possible. Furthermore, his portrait shall be displayed in the Lingyan Pavilion to commemorate his achievements and set an example for future generations."

"Your Majesty is wise!" the ministers responded in unison.

Wei Zheng was posthumously honored with the title "Wenzhen" and his portrait was displayed in the Lingyan Pavilion, which was an extremely high honor and reflected his high reputation in the court and among the people.

The matter was thus settled.

Just as the somewhat somber atmosphere eased slightly, Tang Jian, the Minister of Civil Affairs, stepped forward, bowed, and spoke in a loud voice, holding a tablet.

"Your Majesty, I have this memorial."

"Speak," Li Shimin nodded.

Tang Jian had a clear smile on his face, and his voice rose a few decibels.

"Your Majesty, good news has recently come from the market. The 'Zhenguan Yuguo Currency' issued last year has been praised by all the people, who say that Your Majesty is wise and the court is benevolent."

"The Zhenguan coupons are now extremely rare, with prices steadily rising and buyers coming in droves!"

"This is all because His Majesty's divine might is boundless and the court's reputation is outstanding, which is why the people are so devoted to him and merchants are so eager to follow him!"

His words were full of praise and flattery, attributing the appreciation of the Zhenguan Coupons entirely to Li Shimin's prestige and the court's credit.

As expected, after hearing this, Li Shimin tried his best to maintain a calm expression, but the smug look in his eyes and brows was hard to completely hide.

He stroked his beard lightly, his tone quite modest, yet beneath that modesty lay an almost overflowing sense of pride.

"I am very pleased with what you have said, Tang Qing. However, a ruler should take self-discipline as the foundation and establish himself in the world with integrity."

"The people's trust in the court is a blessing for the court and also my responsibility. I will work even harder to live up to the trust placed in me by the people."

He said he should be cautious, but his words clearly revealed absolute confidence in his own prestige.

Many ministers in the hall, who were good at reading people's expressions, such as Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling, all lowered their heads and remained silent, knowing in their hearts that His Majesty was in a state of mind at this moment.

Tang Jian was overjoyed to see the emperor's expression and seized the opportunity to forge the ironwork.

"Your Majesty, since the Zhenguan voucher is so popular, it shows that our Great Tang is prosperous and its prestige is enough to cover the whole world."

"Although the national treasury is somewhat strained due to previous border defense and disaster relief efforts, we must also prepare for the Goguryeo situation in advance."

"I dare to suggest that we take advantage of this opportunity to issue new bonds, the amount of which... could be set at two million strings of cash, with a term of five years."

"By spreading the burden over a five-year period, the national treasury will be full and repayment will be no problem. Moreover, with the new agricultural tools being implemented throughout the country, grain production will increase in a few years, taxes will surely rise, and repayment will be a piece of cake!"

These words sparked a low murmur of discussion within the hall.

Two million strings of cash, an amount far exceeding the previous five hundred thousand strings of cash.

Gao Shilian stepped forward and echoed his sentiments.

"Minister Tang is absolutely right! Your Majesty's prestige is at its peak, and the people's hearts are with you. Five years is a long time, enough to manage the situation."

"The benefits of new agricultural tools will be significant within three to five years, and the growth of national treasury revenue is expected. Issuing new bonds now is the perfect opportunity!"

Even the usually composed Fang Xuanling, after a moment of contemplation, slowly spoke.

"If repayment can be guaranteed, issuing new bonds to meet national needs is also a viable option. Your Majesty's prestige is sufficient to undertake this task."

They all saw the recent strength of the Zhenguan Coupons and firmly believed that the agricultural growth brought about by the new agricultural tools would be a guarantee for the future.

More importantly, they all sensed the emperor's almost undisguised confidence that his prestige allowed him to control everything. In this atmosphere, raising objections seemed somewhat tactless.

Changsun Wuji's mind raced.

Two million strings of cash...that's quite a lot.

However, His Majesty's prestige is at its peak, and the people's hearts are with him. The previous 500,000 strings of cash bonds were easily collected.

Although the amount has doubled this time, it will be repaid over five years. Given the court's annual revenue and the expected increase in future farmland production, repayment will not be difficult.

More importantly, this move can demonstrate to the world that His Majesty and the court are trustworthy and their word is law, thus stabilizing the foundation of the state.

Both for public and private reasons, this matter should be facilitated.

He nodded slightly, indicating that it was feasible, but his deeper intention was to use this to further solidify the public's and the government's identification with the court.

This is beneficial and harmless to the smooth transition of power in the future.

Fang Xuanling stroked his beard and pondered, his thoughts becoming increasingly thorough.

The report presented by Tang Jian and Gao Shilian was not without merit.

The national treasury has spent a great deal in recent years, and it is indeed necessary to prepare provisions and military supplies in advance for the Goguryeo campaign.

The new bonds have a five-year term, which extends the cycle and can alleviate the current pressure.

Looking back at the previous bond crisis, although it was caused by rumors of war, the promotion of agricultural tools quickly restored confidence, which shows the stability of the court's foundation and the support of the people.

As long as the subsequent war does not drag on indefinitely and agricultural administration remains effective, the court's credibility is sufficient to guarantee two million strings of cash.

After weighing the pros and cons, he concluded that the risks were manageable and slowly nodded in agreement.

Li Ji, standing in the ranks of military officers, had a brightening look in his eyes.

He was thinking more about the military possibilities.

Two million strings of cash! If we can raise the money smoothly, it will be used for much more than just Goguryeo. Although the Western Turks have recently submitted on the surface, their intentions are hard to fathom, and their trade routes in the Western Regions are often disturbed.

The Xueyantuo in the north were also stirring.

With this money and supplies, the military preparedness of the border troops on the western and northern fronts can be strengthened simultaneously.

They even planned to advance westward after the spring to intimidate the various Hu tribes, or to launch a northern expedition to warn the Xueyantuo, so that they would not dare to act rashly and to consolidate the peace of the northern border.

At that time, the might of the Tang army will subdue all directions, truly displaying the grandeur of a celestial empire!

In his view, since the imperial court has such a reputation and can easily amass wealth, it should be used to expand its territory and demonstrate its power beyond its borders, so as not to fail the glorious Zhenguan era.

As Li Shimin listened to the almost unanimous support from his ministers, his sense of control and satisfaction grew even stronger.

He felt that this was the result of his reign of Zhenguan, and this was a manifestation of his prestige as the Heavenly Khan!
Two million strings of cash for a five-year term may sound like a lot, but with his prestige and the strength of the Tang Dynasty, what is there to fear?
His gaze swept over the assembled officials, finally settling on Crown Prince Li Chengqian, who had remained silent ever since the arrangements for Wei Zheng's death were made.

He harbored a slight desire to test his son, and perhaps also wanted to show him the brilliance of his decision and the height of his prestige.

"Your Highness, what are your thoughts on issuing new bonds?"

All eyes immediately turned to Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath.

He could not stand by and watch his father and these high-ranking officials, in their blind confidence, put the court's hard-won credibility back in danger.

He had to speak, even if it would spoil his father's mood and draw criticism.

He limped forward, took a step, bowed, and spoke in a clear and steady voice.

"Your Majesty's wisdom is boundless, and you understand the will of the people. Your Majesty's divine authority is indeed a blessing to the nation and the foundation upon which the Zhenguan Coupons were able to be sold."

He first respectfully acknowledged Li Shimin's prestige, then subtly changed the subject.

"Your subject has been pondering this repeatedly recently and deeply appreciates the meaning of Your Majesty's often-quoted teaching: 'By learning from the past, one can understand the rise and fall of dynasties.'"

"The way of credit is like water carrying a boat; it can support the nation, but it also needs to flow steadily over time to remain strong."

"The previous 500,000 strings of Zhenguan notes caused turmoil in the market due to news of the war with Goguryeo, with prices fluctuating and people feeling uneasy."

"This is not because the court is untrustworthy, but rather a natural reaction of the people who have doubts about the court's ability to repay under certain circumstances."

"Thanks to the Emperor's wisdom and decisive implementation of new agricultural tools, this practical and beneficial policy has allowed the people of the world to witness that the court not only has the power to conquer, but also the virtue of nurturing life, the ability to innovate, and the efficiency of organization and coordination."

"Seeing is believing. With the people at ease, their confidence was restored, and the market price of Zhenguan bonds was able to stabilize and rise."

He cleverly attributed the stability of the Zhenguan Coupons to Li Shimin's "wise decision" and pragmatic policies.

This both preserved the emperor's dignity and highlighted the key point—the restoration of confidence stemmed from the demonstration of actual ability, not from empty prestige.

Li Shimin listened and gestured for the Crown Prince to continue.

He wanted to see what new tricks his son could come up with.

Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and others also restrained their optimism about issuing new bonds and showed signs of listening attentively.

They had noticed the Crown Prince's recent changes, but this was the first time he had so systematically expounded on the principles of the state in court.

"However, this restoration of confidence has not come easily."

Li Chengqian changed the subject, raising his voice slightly.

"Its foundation did not come from nothing. I have been thinking about this repeatedly recently, and I have gained some insights into the promotion of agricultural tools, which may explain the key to it."

He took a deep breath, as if he were about to utter something earth-shattering.

"In my opinion, the strength of the court's credibility lies, in part, in the prosperity of the nation's various industries and the smooth and efficient nature of its division of labor and cooperation network!"

"The occupations of all trades?"

Li Shimin frowned slightly. This term was not unfamiliar, but no one had ever directly associated it with "court credibility".

Most of the officials in the hall also looked puzzled.

"That's right." Li Chengqian met the inquiring gazes of his father and the assembled officials.

He began to elaborate on what he had learned from Li Yichen and digested on his own.

"Please allow me to take the new curved plow being promoted this time as an example and give a brief analysis."

His voice was steady, yet it carried a power that seemed to unravel complexities.

"This farming tool may seem ordinary, but its development from nothing to something, and its distribution to farmers, involves a far wider range of issues than one might imagine."

"Their iron plowshares require the finest iron. Where does the iron come from? It comes from miners who need to mine ore deep in the mountains. Mining requires tools, vehicles for transportation, and the miners themselves need food, clothing, shelter, and transportation."

"This involves the craftsmen who make tools, the laborers who provide transportation, the farmers who grow food for them, the weavers who weave cloth, and the bricklayers who build houses."

Li Chengqian's voice was not loud, but it was as if a vast and intricate painting was being unfolded before everyone.

“Ore needs to be smelted before it can be transported out. This requires the construction of blast furnaces, which in turn requires skilled craftsmen who know how to build them.”

"Charcoal is needed as fuel, which requires charcoal workers to cut down trees and burn charcoal."

"Experienced furnace operators are needed to control the heat. Pig iron produced by smelting is brittle and needs to be further refined by blacksmiths through repeated hammering or frying into steel."

"Forging requires an anvil, a blower, and quenching... Each step requires a specialist."

He began by introducing the core concepts.

(End of this chapter)