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

Chapter 17 The Prince Project
Li Yichen remained calm as he looked at Li Chengqian and said in a steady tone, "Your Highness, the Prince of Wei is compiling the 'Kuodi Zhi' and recruiting many scholars. His reputation is growing daily. It seems like he is gaining an advantage, but in reality, he has committed a grave mistake."

Li Chengqian frowned, still doubtful: "But Father has clearly commended him many times, and he has also received much praise in the court. How could it be a taboo?"

Li Yichen knew about this historical trajectory.

As an advisor, Chu Suiliang was upright and valued etiquette and discipline above all else. He would never sit idly by and watch a prince overstep the bounds and claim a title.

He would write a memorial to dissuade them.

However, he did not mention the name directly, but only analyzed it from a game theory perspective.

"Your Highness, consider this from the perspective of a game of strategy. The Prince of Wei's actions are essentially a 'game of prestige.' He has invested heavily in writing books, seeking the title of 'wise prince' in hopes of shaking the position of heir apparent. However, he has overlooked two points: First, although His Majesty may be pleased for a moment, he will never allow any prince—even the favored Prince of Wei—to excessively gather popularity and form a second center outside the Eastern Palace. This is a great taboo for emperors and the beginning of shaking the foundation of the nation. Second, there are many in the court who value etiquette and uphold orthodoxy. Seeing the Prince of Wei's ostentatious display, some will surely see it as overstepping his bounds and step forward to remonstrate."

Li Chengqian remained skeptical: "Would anyone really object?"

Li Yichen said with certainty, "Indeed. Your Highness should not be swayed by appearances. From the perspective of the benefits of this game, if the Prince of Wei had remained law-abiding, he could have maintained his favor for a long time; now, by actively raising the expectations of the masses and seeking fame, he is actually putting himself in a precarious position."

"If he has no intention of vying for the throne, this move is foolish; if he does have such intentions, then this step is a complete blunder—because it exposes his intentions too early, triggering His Majesty's vigilance and the court officials' backlash, which in turn forces more people to stand on His Highness's side in order to uphold the law."

He continued his calm analysis: "Your Highness, imagine if you were the Prince of Wei. The best strategy at this time would be to quietly accumulate strength, rather than flaunt it. By doing the opposite, he may seem to be gaining an advantage, but in reality, he is disrupting the balance of power, angering the upright officials, and arousing His Majesty's suspicion. From Your Highness's perspective, the more the Prince of Wei acts this way, the more you should firmly guard the Eastern Palace, not act impulsively, and not fall into the trap of competing with him for prestige. What you should do is observe from the sidelines and let him find his own predicament."

After listening, Li Chengqian pondered for a long time, and the doubt in his eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a clear look: "In that case, the more flamboyant he is, the more he destroys his own defenses?"

Li Yichen nodded: "Exactly. Your Highness need not be hasty. A game must be viewed from a long-term perspective, considering the overall gains and losses. King Wei has already fallen into a 'prisoner's dilemma'—the more he wants to win, the more he needs to invest, and the more he invests, the more he will attract suspicion, and ultimately the benefits will be counterproductive."

Li Chengqian finally felt relieved and said with heartfelt admiration, "Yes... it was my impetuousness that prevented me from seeing this aspect. I have not yet fully mastered the essentials of the game, but fortunately Yichen has enlightened me."

He remarked with emotion, "Game theory is truly ingenious and useful!"

Taking the opportunity, Li Yichen advised, "Your Highness should consider the political situation from a strategic perspective in the future. Everything can be placed within the context of the game to analyze its advantages and disadvantages and judge its future direction. Only in this way can one avoid being misled by appearances and not be trapped by emotions."

Li Chengqian solemnly replied, "I have remembered it. I will study it diligently and live up to your teachings."

Then, Li Chengqian unfolded the summary of the meeting agenda, looked at the item "Exile of executed criminals to Xizhou", frowned slightly, and looked up at Li Yichen.

"Yichen, what do you think of this proposal? My father wishes to follow the example of the previous dynasty and use criminals to serve as border guards, thus saving manpower and stabilizing the western frontier. I should naturally second his proposal..."

"Seconded?" Li Yichen interrupted him, his voice low but each word sharp and piercing.

“Your Highness, if you only know how to second others, how are you any different from a yes-man in the palace? What His Majesty needs is a crown prince who can understand His Majesty's will and complement it, not a timid and subservient shadow!”

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp and fixed on Li Chengqian.

"Behind this proposal lies a much larger 'national project' game! And Your Highness, as the Crown Prince, how can your vision be limited to whether you agree or disagree? What you should be thinking about is how to turn this matter into a 'Crown Prince Project' exclusively for you!" "Crown Prince Project?" Li Chengqian was completely stunned; he had never heard of this term before.

“That’s right!” Li Yichen said decisively.

"These are a series of measures led or deeply involved by the Crown Prince's palace, which can demonstrate the Crown Prince's governing ability, cultivate his loyal followers, and ultimately consolidate the foundation of the country. Relocating people and developing the frontiers are long-term plans, involving far more than just settling criminals."

He spoke quickly and logically, as if he were unfolding a grand strategic map.

“Your Highness, consider this: if we simply follow the old practice and send the condemned prisoners to Xizhou to fend for themselves, the result will be nothing more than a group of resentful laborers in the border region. If not managed properly, they may cause unrest, and the effect on the border will be minimal! This is a poor strategy, wasting money and grain with little effect, and may even sow the seeds of disaster.”

"Then what is the best strategy?" Li Chengqian was involuntarily drawn in and asked urgently.

"The best course of action is to view this migration as a 'systematic settlement'!"

Li Yichen threw out a word that Li Chengqian was completely unfamiliar with, and immediately explained it before Li Chengqian could ask a question.

"This is not merely exile, but an organized, planned, and supported frontier expansion and development! Your Highness, in tomorrow's court session, you should not merely second the motion, but rather, based on this, propose a complete 'Western Region Development Strategy,' transforming this campaign from a simple punishment into a national strengthening project led by the state and supervised by the Crown Prince!"

Li Chengqian's breathing quickened: "Specifically... what should be done?"

Li Yichen's eyes flashed with a cold and precise light, as if everything had been calculated in advance.

"First, the population structure. In addition to death row inmates, we should encourage the recruitment of good families, landless farmers, and even poor young men seeking opportunities to volunteer! The court should issue a public announcement: those who wish to go to Xizhou will be allocated land according to their population, with their permanent land holdings doubled, and their taxes halved for ten years! They will also be provided with oxen, seeds, and initial rations! Your Highness, what you are giving is not punishment, but hope and a way out! This will not only strengthen the border but also alleviate the land and population conflict in Guanzhong. The poor and poor people of the world will surely be grateful to the Crown Prince!"

"Secondly, talent selection. What Xizhou lacks is not labor, but governance talent! The Imperial Academy and the Hongwen Academy can select young clerks and scholars who are knowledgeable in administration and have lofty aspirations to volunteer for the post of 'Education Commissioner' or 'Auxiliary Official in Land Reclamation' in Xizhou for a three-year term. Those who perform well in the evaluation upon completion of the term will not only be given priority for promotion upon returning to the capital, but their achievements on the frontier will also be directly recorded in their performance evaluation files! Your Highness, this is to pre-select and cultivate a group of pragmatic officials who are well-versed in the frontier, understand the people's conditions, and are grateful for your patronage for your future! This is one of the core aspects of the 'Crown Prince Project'!"

Li Chengqian was stunned, his fingers trembling slightly: "Cultivating...my bureaucrats?"

"Otherwise what?" Li Yichen retorted, his tone almost cold.

"Does Your Highness expect that when you inherit the throne, the entire court will be filled with old ministers left behind by His Majesty, or scholars recruited by the Prince of Wei?"

"Without anyone available, even if you sit on the throne, you'll be nothing more than a puppet! We must start now, using this kind of national policy, to quietly lay the groundwork and sow the seeds!"

He continued pushing forward without stopping.

"Third, military and economic development should proceed in parallel. Relocating people to populate the border is of paramount importance for security. I request Your Majesty to establish a Zhechong Prefecture in Xizhou, with soldiers selected from relocated families and local recruits, integrating military service with farming. At the same time, I request the establishment of a 'Xizhou Trade Supervisor,' headed by a reliable person recommended by the Crown Prince, to be in charge of trade with the Western Regions. Tax revenue should directly subsidize the military farms and the military government."

(End of this chapter)