The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

After Chen Huai'an said, "The teachings of the powerful clans are flawed; their understanding is wrong,"

The entire court erupted in chaos.

Yes, I'm not kidding, it's really outrageous!

"Chen Huai'an!" Cui Xuan roared in fury, "You're talking nonsense! Our clan has a history spanning hundreds or even thousands of years. My Cui family has collected countless classic texts and historical anecdotes, and we have numerous renowned scholars within our clan. How dare you, a mere child, question us?"

"Duke Anguo, I advise you to be careful with your words!" Cui Dunli, a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat, said with a gloomy face.

He is from the second branch of the Cui family of Boling. He moved to Guanzhong at the end of the Wei Dynasty and was just promoted to Zhongshu Sheren this year, in charge of drafting imperial edicts. He is a rising star among the younger generation of aristocratic families.

However, because he was appreciated by Li Shimin, his stance was more inclined towards imperial power than towards aristocratic families.

But Chen Huai'an's words were too harsh, completely undermining their foundation. No matter how much he favored Li Shimin, he couldn't sit still any longer.

The other members of the Shandong aristocratic families also frowned!

Another reason why powerful families are so difficult to shake is that they have long been intermarried and have a complex network of relationships. Once their interests are threatened, they will unite like never before.

In addition, Chen Huai'an has already shaken the financial foundation, and now with the emergence of papermaking technology, the door to knowledge monopoly has been opened a little.

They looked at each other, already deciding to side with Cui Xuan.

The court was in an uproar, with arguments raging on!

However, Chen Huai'an didn't seem to care at all and asked in return, "Could it be that I said something wrong?"

Confucius said: "In education, there should be no discrimination!"

"It means that everyone should receive education, regardless of social status or wealth. Today, I am making paper and books cheaper so as to realize the Master's teaching of universal education."

The Analects of Confucius, in the chapter "Zilu," records that when Confucius visited the State of Wei, he was struck by its large population. His disciples asked what to do, and Confucius replied: "Enrich them." When asked again, he answered: "Educate them."

"The way a sage governs a country is to first make the people prosperous, and then educate them. My new salt laws have filled the national treasury and ensured that the people have enough to eat. This is true prosperity!"

"My papermaking technique will ensure that all scholars in the world have access to books; this is education!"

"Everything I have done is simply following the teachings of the Holy King."

"Minister Cui, are you still going to distort His Majesty's will?"

Cui Xuan was speechless and could not utter a rebuttal.

Chen Huai'an continued, "Mencius carried forward Confucius's ideas. Mencius said that a gentleman has three joys, one of which is 'to educate the talented people of the world.'"

"Carefully establish schools and emphasize the principles of filial piety and brotherly love. Mencius repeatedly stressed to King Xuan of Qi and King Hui of Liang that running schools at all levels well is the only way to rule the world. If Your Majesty wants to become a ruler like Yao and Shun, you must extend education to every village and town. And the first step in promoting education is to make the Six Classics cheap and readily available!"

"Minister Cui, did I say something wrong?"

Cui Xuan remained silent.

Many people in the court laughed. Wei Zheng added, "Of course, if Vice Minister Cui feels that Minister Chen has not said enough, I can also tell you about the principle in Xunzi's 'Encouraging Learning' and the 'Record of Learning' in the Book of Rites: 'In establishing a country and governing the people, education comes first.'"

At this moment, Cui Xuan and other aristocratic officials had realized that Chen Huai'an's previous statement was not intended to question the Cui family's teachings, nor was it intended to damage the reputation of the aristocratic families through this matter.

He wants everyone to be speechless right now.

If Cui Xuan still dares to distort the facts and misinterpret the meaning of these classics and historical allusions, then it will truly confirm that the Cui family's teachings are flawed and their interpretations are wrong.

So Cui Xuan didn't dare to say a word.

"Does Vice Minister Cui have nothing to say?" Chen Huai'an asked with a smile.

Cui Xuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "What the Duke of Anguo said makes sense. In that case, I have no objection."

He wasn't stupid. Since he was destined not to suppress the emergence of papermaking, he would find a way to obtain it.

It would be foolish to continue arguing with Chen Huai'an.

"Alright!"

Li Shimin rose and looked around at the many ministers below: "The new papermaking technology is mature, which benefits the country and the people. It is a great thing. Duke Anguo's suggestion is a good one and has contributed to the country."

"Minister Cui's concern for the nation is well-intentioned, but his vision is limited and he lacks the patience to investigate. The sage's teachings to the people are the foundation of benevolent governance, and there has never been a reason for 'not to let them know.'"

"From now on, read more scriptures and think more about their original meaning, and don't take them out of context anymore."

These words, though spoken lightly, carried great weight. Ostensibly a suggestion, they were in fact a public rebuttal to Cui Xuan's argument, effectively slapping the face of the entire aristocratic faction.

Cui Xuan felt a lump in his throat, but could only bow and accept the order: "Your subject... will obey Your Majesty's teachings."

Li Shimin nodded slightly and then issued an imperial edict: "Issue the decree that the Ministry of Works shall take the lead in establishing government-run paper mills in Chang'an, Yizhou, and Yangzhou immediately, and fully promote the new papermaking technique."

"The Ministry of Revenue will coordinate the allocation of the necessary manpower and materials to ensure that the new paper is distributed to all prefectures as soon as possible, first supplying government offices and county schools, and then gradually promoting it to the general public."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Chen Huai'an bowed and accepted the decree with a calm expression. "In addition, I also suggest that the woodblock printing used for printing Buddhist scriptures be used to print more official legal documents such as the Tang Code Commentary, agricultural books such as the Essential Techniques for the Common People, and medical books such as the Treatise on the Causes and Symptoms of Various Diseases, and distribute them throughout the country."

"The promulgation of laws and decrees throughout the land ensures that the people know and abide by the law; agricultural and medical books are distributed to prefectures and counties to encourage farming and treat illnesses—all these are acts of benevolent governance!"

Li Shimin's expression changed slightly, and he solemnly said, "Granted!"

The powerful families had nothing to say about this.

Because Chen Huai'an didn't touch the classics of history, philosophy, and literature, but instead wanted to print books on law, agriculture, and medicine, his reasons were perfectly legitimate and they had no way to refute them!

But how many of these officials are fools?

People are gradually coming to understand.

Only now has Chen Huai'an truly revealed his purpose, in that last, seemingly casual remark.

Are the printing techniques used to print Buddhist scriptures only used to print these Vinaya and agricultural books?

This is merely a pretext that can be put into practice and that the powerful families cannot refute.

Once these printed books are available and accepted by the public, they can no longer be labeled as strange tricks or corrupting the classics. At that time, any reason can be found, such as "rectifying the source," and then the Imperial Academy can take the lead in collating and unifying the Five Classics of Confucianism.

"Let's decide on papermaking then," Li Shimin said calmly. "The most urgent task is to solve the salt problem as soon as possible."

"Everyone knows whether the refined salt from the Ministry of Works is poisonous. This is not a problem with the salt itself, but rather a deliberate attempt by someone to poison and frame the government, obstructing the court's new policy of stabilizing salt prices, with the aim of monopolizing salt profits and exploiting the people."

"What are your thoughts on this, my esteemed ministers?"

"..."