Tang Dynasty: Starting at Xuanwu Gate, this prince is better off not being one.

Everyone stared in astonishment at the boulder that Li Yu had lifted three feet high.

What surprised them was not that Li Yu could lift a boulder weighing a thousand pounds, but that the long-lost Mo family mechanical arts had actually appeared in the hands of this twelve-year-old prince, and that the effect was even more exaggerated than in the legends.

In contrast to the surprise of others, Kong Yingda, who had previously jumped out to obstruct the operation, appeared worried.

He didn't doubt Li Yu's words, not even in the first place. Through his time with Li Yu, he had come to know the boy's character very well.

Although he was sometimes presumptuous in front of the emperor, he never overstepped the bounds on matters of principle. Therefore, he never believed from the beginning that Li Yu would dare to speak so arrogantly to the emperor in front of all the civil and military officials.

That is why he chose to step forward and obstruct it.

He wasn't afraid that Li Yu's new school would steal the limelight from the Imperial Academy and embarrass him, the head of the Imperial Academy.

As a shrewd person who had lived for decades and whose hair had turned completely white, he could tell at a glance what Li Yu was talking about—something even more ingenious than the mechanical arts of the Mohists.

He wasn't afraid of these mechanical arts; as long as it benefited the Tang Dynasty, he would welcome it with open arms. However, he simply couldn't inherit the Mohist philosophy. As a successor of Confucianism, he was inherently averse to the Mohist theories of universal love and non-aggression.

He would absolutely not allow Li Yu's ideas to contradict Confucian classics. Judging from Li Yu's previous impassioned words, his new ideas would inevitably clash with Confucianism. That's why he was so worried about this matter.

The influence of Li Yu's new doctrines on military affairs is undeniable; the smoke bomb is a prime example. As a great Confucian scholar, he believed this was only the tip of the iceberg, and that as time went on, more and more of Li Yu's knowledge would be revealed.

Given Li Yu's status as a member of the imperial family, the military influence of his inventions, and the support of Emperor Taizong (Li Er), would Confucianism still be the dominant ideology in the world today?

.........

Li Er didn't care about any of that. He had always been a daring and reckless man, and his entire life was a series of adventures. From the numerous battles he fought where he won with fewer troops, to the fratricide and coup at Xuanwu Gate, all of this proved to be true.

As long as the Tang Dynasty's national strength could rise and his imperial power could be consolidated, he didn't care what ideology was in power. As long as it didn't threaten his imperial power, the mere fact that Li Yu claimed he could make the Tang Dynasty's national strength flourish was enough for him to take the risk.

After all, Confucianism advocates governing the country through filial piety, yet he himself did little to demonstrate filial piety...

.........

"Little Fish, you're really something!" Li Chengqian, who had been hesitant to help, jumped out and exclaimed in admiration after looking at the stone that had fallen back to the ground.

Li Yu said nothing to Li Chengqian's exclamation, only giving him a look that said, "This is nothing," before asking Li Er, "Your Majesty, I have successfully lifted the boulder three feet high by my own strength. I wonder if your previous words still stand?"

In the Tang Dynasty, there were not many people who dared to question the emperor like this, but Li Yu was one of them.

But Li Er showed no anger. Instead, he smiled and said, "My words will naturally stand. Tomorrow I will order the Secretariat to draft an imperial edict, and you will be in charge of teaching it for the time being. As for who to teach, you can decide that yourself."

Hearing Li Er's words, Li Yu was overjoyed. As for his last sentence, "The people are to be chosen by oneself," Li Yu regarded it as nonsense. He didn't believe that Li Er would be so at ease; given his personality, he would definitely fill the school with people he had chosen.

However, this didn't matter to him. It was already good enough that he had the right to choose his own people. As for who Li Er wanted to put into the school, he could do as he pleased.

Thinking of this, Li Yu prostrated himself on the ground and uttered words of gratitude...

.........

People always like to stand out, but when they do, they are often forced by circumstances to become someone who prefers mediocrity.

Li Yu was very conspicuous, so he tried hard to make himself mediocre. Therefore, when the eunuch delivering the imperial edict arrived at the Ministry of Works, Li Yu welcomed him in with great enthusiasm.

"Your Highness, His Majesty said that you should handle the matter of the school yourself. There is no suitable place in the palace at the moment, so you will need to find one yourself."

"what?"

Li Yu exclaimed in surprise, "Where am I supposed to find this place?"

"His Majesty said you can look for him anywhere, as long as he's not in the Eastern Palace, he won't interfere."

"..."

This is bad. Li Yu originally wanted to find a place closer to the Ministry of Works so that he could just show his face at the Ministry of Works while teaching each day and consider it as having done his job.

But now that Li Er has asked him to find a place, the difficulty has increased significantly.

After all, the Ministry of Works is located within the capital city. Even if I am a prince, I cannot just choose where to use it!

Should he ask Li Yuan for help? Li Yu thought about it and realized it wasn't appropriate. After all, although the old man still lived in Taiji Palace, moving out was just a matter of Li Er's word.

That makes things difficult...

Just as Li Yu was frowning in worry, two familiar figures barged in without being announced to anyone.

"What are you doing here? Look how frightened those petty officials are..."

"hey-hey!"

Li Tai smiled mysteriously: "Father said I should also learn that physics thing from you, Little Fish. Is your physics as difficult as the classics?"

Li Yu didn't answer Li Tai's question; instead, he was startled.

He looked at Li Chengqian: "No, His Majesty sent you too?"

Li Chengqian waved his hand and chuckled, "My father didn't send me. I just came to deliver Qingque and happened to come see if there's anything I can do to help you."

Upon hearing this, Li Yu breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't that he didn't want to teach Li Chengqian these things; it was that he simply didn't dare to.

Li Chengqian is now the crown prince, and as long as he doesn't act foolishly like some historical figures, he still has a very high chance of becoming emperor in the future.

To instill his own ideas in the future emperor? Li Yu says he hasn't lived enough yet...

"Are you having trouble finding the place?" Seeing Li Yu remain silent, Li Chengqian was certain that this was what he was thinking about.

"What? You have a nice place?"

"No," Li Chengqian replied with utmost sincerity.

Upon hearing Li Chengqian's reply, Li Yu was first taken aback, then flew into a rage and cursed, "You bastard, what are you even called without me?"

"Hehe!" Li Chengqian chuckled sheepishly, then offered his suggestion: "You could find somewhere to make do for now, and move over when you find a suitable place, right?"

Li Yu suddenly felt that what Li Chengqian said seemed to make some sense, but he still frowned: "The key is, I don't even have a place to make do right now..."

"That's easy!" Li Chengqian puffed out his chest. "I know a dilapidated temple in Dunyi Ward. With some simple repairs, it can still be used."

.........