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

Chapter 197 may further damage the recently restored credibility.

Without a system like the "Five Degrees of Mourning" to constrain and guide them, the number of members of the imperial clan that the court would need to support would be astronomical, and how could the national treasury bear it?

These powerless members of the royal family, with nothing to do all day, inevitably caused trouble or indulged in pleasure, becoming a huge burden on the country.

Li Yichen remained expressionless and calmly analyzed the situation.

"Through years of effort, His Majesty has initially established a framework for the management of the imperial clan and curbed the momentum of large-scale rebellions by the imperial clan."

"However, the rebellion of Prince Li You of Qi exposed the shortcomings of the system in terms of detailed implementation, short-term control and long-term planning."

“The excessive treatment of Prince Wei, Li Tai, is a clear example of lax control over the close relatives of the imperial clan. How to settle the increasing number of distant relatives of the imperial clan is an unresolved concern.”

Li Chengqian remained silent for a long time, his fingers lightly tracing patterns on the table, as if sketching some kind of blueprint.

He raised his head, his eyes showing a newfound resolve.

"Then, in your opinion, where should I begin? How can I offer suggestions to the Emperor to improve the system of managing the imperial clan?"

Li Yichen looked at the Crown Prince and knew that he had realized the seriousness of the problem and the necessity of reform.

"Your Highness, advice must be given with care in terms of timing and strategy. With the Prince of Qi in turmoil and His Majesty in a state of anger and grief, if we were to propose a comprehensive reform plan for the imperial clan at this time, it might be seen as taking advantage of the situation and kicking someone when they are down, which could easily provoke His Majesty's displeasure."

Li Chengqian nodded; he also had this concern.

"I suggest we proceed step by step."

Li Yichen stated clearly, "First of all, taking advantage of the Qi Prince's rebellion, Your Highness can advise His Majesty to emphasize the importance of strictly disciplining the officials and servants of the Prince's residence."

“Support and improve the term system for officials of the Prince’s Palace that was just established in the sixteenth year of Zhenguan. We may even propose to strengthen the assessment of the performance of officials of the Prince’s Palace to ensure that they can effectively assist and supervise the Prince.”

"This is the most direct reflection on the current chaos, and Your Majesty is likely to accept it."

"Secondly, once the turmoil surrounding this matter has subsided, Your Highness may, during your daily court sessions or when speaking privately with His Majesty, raise the issue of the 'five degrees of mourning' system and the future prospects of distant relatives of the imperial family, under the guise of discussing historical lessons,"

Li Chengqian listened carefully and silently made notes in his mind.

Li Yichen's strategy was prudent and gradual.

"The student understands." Li Chengqian breathed a long sigh of relief.

The news of Li You's rebellion in Qizhou not only shocked the imperial court but also quickly spread among the common people of Chang'an.

Despite the court's best efforts to control the news, the news that "King Qi has rebelled" quickly reached the ears of merchants and wealthy people who were closely following the situation and held "Zhenguan Yuguo Certificates".

Inside the Liangyi Hall, Li Shimin, with a gloomy face, looked at the military intelligence reports submitted from various places.

Li Ji's army has already set off as ordered, heading towards Qizhou. It's only a matter of time before they quell this rebellion, which he sees as child's play but cannot be taken lightly.

However, he found it difficult to dispel the pent-up frustration in his heart.

Goguryeo! His long-cherished and meticulously planned eastern expedition, which aimed to secure a century of peace on the northeastern border and surpass the achievements of the former Sui Dynasty, was abruptly interrupted by the stupidity and arrogance of his own son!

How could he not be angry? How could he not hate?

“Your Majesty,” the eunuch Wang De cautiously stepped forward and reported in a low voice.

"Minister of Civil Affairs Tang Jian and Grand Secretary Cen Wenben are outside requesting an audience."

"Announce it." Li Shimin rubbed his temples, his voice tinged with weariness.

Tang Jian and Cen Wenben strode into the hall, bowed, and both wore solemn expressions.

“Your Majesty,” Tang Jian spoke first, his tone filled with obvious worry.

"Your Majesty, I have just received an urgent report from the Maritime Trade Office and the Western Market Office that since the news of the Prince of Qi's rebellion spread, the trading price of 'Zhenguan Yuguo Certificates' has fluctuated significantly in the market."

"It has fallen by more than 5 percent compared to the previous few days, and trading volume has decreased sharply, with many people holding stocks and waiting to see what happens."

Li Shimin frowned sharply and looked at Tang Jian with a sharp gaze.

"A 5% drop? Why is that? What does Li You's rebellion have to do with the imperial bonds?"

"Does the Great Tang Dynasty not even manage to suppress the rebellion of a mere clown?"

His voice rose unconsciously, carrying both imperial authority and bewildered anger.

Upon seeing this, Cen Wenben quickly bowed and explained, "Your Majesty, please calm down. It's not that the common people and merchants don't trust the court, but rather... it's simply human nature to seek profit and avoid harm."

"Although the rebellion of the King of Qi may seem to be confined to a small area, the word 'rebellion' ultimately stirs people's hearts and evokes thoughts of turmoil and risk."

"Bondholders will inevitably worry about whether this unrest will affect the government's finances, whether it will delay the payment of bond interest, and even... whether it will shake the foundation of the government."

"Given these concerns, selling to cash out or holding cash and waiting is a natural market reaction."

Li Shimin remained silent for a moment. It wasn't that he was completely ignorant of economics, but in his inherent mindset, the authority of the imperial court should be able to suppress all market fluctuations.

He said in a deep voice, "It's just a case of a fool worrying about nothing! Once Li Ji quells the rebellion and captures the rebellious son, the news will be sent back and this disturbance will naturally subside."

“Your Majesty is wise,” Tang Jian replied.

"With the rebellion quelled and the people at ease, a rebound in bond prices is inevitable."

"However, this fluctuation also reminds us that the price of these bonds is closely related to the prestige of the court and the expectation of stability in the country. They rise and fall together."

His words were tactful, but they pointed out the core of the problem—this nascent bond system was extremely fragile and could not withstand too many storms.

Li Shimin waved his hand, indicating that he understood.

Tang Jian and Cen Wenben exchanged a glance and tactfully withdrew.

The palace fell silent again, but Li Shimin's heart was far from at peace.

He had a vague feeling that an invisible force was trying to influence or even constrain his decision-making through this small bond.

At almost the same time, at the residence of the Duke of Zhao.

Changsun Wuji slowly put down his teacup and listened to his trusted family members report on the fluctuations in the price of Zhenguan coupons on the market.

His face showed no surprise, but rather a thoughtful expression.

"As expected... it fluctuated." He muttered to himself.

To him, the King of Qi's rebellion was a minor ailment; what truly concerned him was the impact it would have on the newly established bond credit system of the imperial court.

These bonds were no longer just a tool for raising funds and provisions, but also became a "barometer" for measuring the prestige of the imperial court and foreshadowing the stability of the political situation.

Changsun Chong, sitting at the lower end of the table, was somewhat puzzled.

"The rebellion of the King of Qi will be quelled soon. The bond price will drop for a while, but it will naturally rise back afterward. What is there to worry about?"

Changsun Wuji glanced at his son, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes, but more so a confidence in his understanding of the current situation.

"Chong'er, you're looking at things too superficially. This fluctuation is of great significance."

"It proves that the Crown Prince... no, it proves that the foundation of this bond system lies in the word 'stability.' Any event that could trigger turmoil, whether it be border troubles or internal strife, will directly shake its foundation."

He stood up and paced slowly in the secret room.

"Your Majesty intends to launch an eastern expedition against Goguryeo. This is a war that will devastate the entire nation, and the outcome is uncertain. Even if we win, it will consume a tremendous amount of national strength. If anything goes wrong during the campaign, the bond system may collapse." "At that time, what will be lost is not only money and provisions, but also the credit that the court has painstakingly rebuilt, and the confidence of the people in the court!"

His tone gradually became heavier.

"But if... if we could temporarily halt the eastern expedition, focus on internal reforms, stabilize the situation, and allow this bond system to truly take root, gradually replenishing the national treasury and subtly enhancing national strength, wouldn't that be a more prudent and sustainable approach?"

A glint of light flashed in Changsun Wuji's eyes.

He saw another path to national strength.

A path that relies on institutions, credit, and wealth accumulation.

On this path, these civil officials who are proficient in government affairs and control resources will have a greater opportunity to use their talents.

"Therefore, the bond fluctuations caused by the Qi King's rebellion are not a bad thing, but rather an opportunity."

He stopped, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips.

"An opportunity for His Majesty and the entire court to see how precious 'stability' and 'credibility' are."

In the following days, the atmosphere in the court regarding the topic of Goguryeo subtly changed.

When Li Shimin summoned his key ministers again to discuss how to resume the eastern expedition as soon as possible after quelling Li You's rebellion, few responded, and their words were full of caution.

“Your Majesty,” Fang Xuanling stepped forward, his tone as steady as ever.

"Although the rebellion of the King of Qi is not a cause for concern, its warning is far-reaching. In Shandong, the power of aristocratic families is deeply entrenched, and the fact that the King of Qi was able to launch a sudden attack also exposes the possibility of oversights in local governance."

"In my opinion, the most urgent task is to take advantage of the opportunity of suppressing the rebellion to thoroughly rectify the administration of Shandong, appease the people, and stabilize the rear."

"If we rashly send a large army out to fight before the rear is secure, we risk being attacked from both sides."

He did not directly oppose the Eastern Expedition, but instead focused on consolidating the internal situation. His words were sincere and entirely from the perspective of national security.

Immediately afterward, Gao Shilian also spoke up, saying, "What Prime Minister Fang said is quite right. Furthermore, since last year, there has been the development of Xizhou, disaster relief in Shandong, and the issuance of bonds, which means that much of the private financial resources have already been mobilized."

"If the army launches a large-scale eastern expedition, money and food will be consumed like water, and prices will likely soar, damaging the very foundation of people's livelihoods."

"I hope Your Majesty will reconsider. It will not be too late to launch an eastern expedition once the nation is stronger and the people are more steadfast."

His reasons were more specific, directly pointing to fiscal pressure and the burden on people's livelihoods, and were equally justifiable.

Li Shimin's gaze swept over Changsun Wuji, and seeing that he stood with his eyes down, seemingly having no intention of speaking, he took the initiative to call on him.

"What do you think of the auxiliary machine?"

Changsun Wuji then slowly stepped forward, bowed deeply, and spoke with extreme deference.

"Your Majesty, what Chancellor Fang and Lord Gao said are wise and insightful words for governing the country, and I wholeheartedly agree with them."

He first affirmed his colleagues' opinions before saying, "Your Majesty's ambition to launch the eastern expedition is to resolve border troubles and enhance our national prestige. How could we, your subjects, not know this?"

"However, as Sun Tzu said, 'War is a matter of vital importance to the state; a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.' He also said, 'The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; next best is to disrupt his alliances; next best is to attack his army; and the worst is to besiege his cities.'"

He quoted extensively from classical texts, wrapping his opposition in the teachings of sages and saints.

"Now, thanks to our planning, Goguryeo is in chaos, with food supplies running low and the people in a state of panic. This is the perfect opportunity to launch a 'strategic attack' and a 'diplomatic offensive'."

"If we can temporarily halt our military advance and continue to exert pressure through means such as salt, iron, and trade, while also sowing discord and causing internal strife and exhausting our national strength, we may be able to subdue the enemy without a fight."

"In this way, we can both uphold Your Majesty's divine authority and save the blood and sweat of our Tang soldiers, thus conserving the nation's strength to support the people and strengthen our credibility. Isn't this the best policy?"

He repeatedly spoke of "for the country," "for the soldiers," and "for the people's livelihood," even packaging Li Shimin's eastern expedition as "enhancing national prestige," but the core meaning was crystal clear—

They opposed immediate military action and advocated using non-military means to wear down Goguryeo.

As Li Shimin listened to these seemingly impeccable pieces of advice, an unnamed fire burned within him.

He certainly knew these principles.

But he believed even more strongly that a decisive victory on the battlefield was the ultimate solution to all problems.

Credit? Bonds?

These are merely tools; how can they possibly restrict a monarch's ability to expand territory and establish unparalleled achievements?

He felt as if his will had been caught in an invisible net, woven from threads of "stability," "people's livelihood," "credit," and "finance," dense and resilient.

These trusted advisors who used to obey him without question now seemed to have formed a tacit understanding, using a subtle yet firm approach to hinder his eastward advance.

"I understand."

Li Shimin's voice was devoid of emotion; he forcefully suppressed his inner turmoil.

"However, the matter of Goguryeo concerns the long-term safety of the nation, and I have my own considerations. Once the war in Qizhou is over, we can discuss the eastern expedition in detail later. You may leave."

The ministers bowed and withdrew.

Li Shimin sat alone in the empty hall.

He realized that pushing forward the Eastern Expedition was probably no longer just a matter of military preparations, but rather that the increasingly strong trend of seeking stability in the court must be broken first.

In this delicate stalemate, several days later, a rapid report from Qizhou, delivered by express courier, finally reached Chang'an—

Li Ji's army advanced with unstoppable momentum, capturing Qizhou City and taking the rebel Li You and his cronies Yin Hongzhi, Zan Junmo, Liang Mengbiao, and others prisoner. The rebellion has been quelled!
When the news spread, Chang'an was filled with jubilation.

The imperial court's prestige was greatly enhanced.

Meanwhile, Tang Jian, the Minister of Civil Affairs, once again arrived at the Liangyi Hall with a report on the market situation. This time, he had a relieved smile on his face.

"Your Majesty, great news! As soon as the news of the pacification of Qizhou was confirmed, the price of 'Zhenguan Yuguo Certificates' on the market rose immediately."

"Not only have we completely recovered the territory lost in the previous days, but we've even gained a slight advantage compared to before the chaos!"

When Li Shimin looked at the data presented by Tang Jian, a genuine smile finally appeared on his face.

This proves that the imperial court still holds considerable prestige and is capable of quickly quelling any internal strife.

However, his smile gradually faded when he saw Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling, who were subsequently requesting an audience.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on quelling the rebellion and bringing peace to the nation!"

The two congratulated each other in unison.

"Rise," Li Shimin said calmly.

"The rebellion has been quelled, and the aftermath in Shandong can be handled by the relevant officials. Now that the internal troubles have been eliminated, regarding the eastern expedition against Goguryeo..."

Before he could finish speaking, Changsun Wuji interjected, "Your Majesty, although the rebellion has been quelled, its warning remains."

"The recent rise and fall in bond prices is like a rehearsal, proving that the credit of the imperial court is closely related to the stability of the country and is extremely fragile. It must be carefully protected and must not be exposed to major storms again."

Fang Xuanling also said, "Fuji's words are absolutely right. Your Majesty, now that bond prices have rebounded and public sentiment has begun to stabilize, it is an excellent time to consolidate this foundation of credit."

"If a large-scale war were to break out again at this time, it would inevitably trigger a new round of concerns about finances and stability, and could further damage the credit that has just been restored."

(End of this chapter)