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

Chapter 64 That was both a test and an opportunity!
Li Yichen shook his head slightly.

"Arrogant? Your Highness, you have fallen into the trap of either/or thinking again. Your demeanor is neither haughty nor aloof. It lies in how you set the rules for interaction and how you allocate your scarce resource, 'mental energy'."

"This in itself is a game, a game of 'power'."

He paused briefly to allow the crown prince to digest this core concept.

"Let me explain further for Your Highness. Your relationship with important ministers like Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling can be considered a special kind of 'long-term interaction.' In this interaction, what is Your Highness's best course of action?"

Li Chengqian thought hard and tentatively answered.

"Show sincerity? Treat them with courtesy?"

"Wrong!" Li Yichen categorically denied.

"Your best course of action is to maintain the Crown Prince's unfathomable nature and his ability to make independent decisions."

"Profound and unfathomable? Unfettered and self-righteous?" Li Chengqian was completely dumbfounded.

"Exactly."

Li Yichen began to analyze the situation in depth, making Li Chengqian more aware of the current situation.

"Your Highness, please consider what would happen if you prematurely and too clearly revealed to a high-ranking official, even your uncle, all your reliance on him, all your secrets, and even showed an eagerness to gain his support?"

He didn't wait for Li Chengqian's reply and gave his answer directly.

"Your importance in each other's relationship will plummet! Because the other person has seen through you and knows that you need him far more than he needs you. He knows that no matter what conditions he proposes, you will most likely accept them in order to gain his support. So why should he give his true and expensive loyalty?"

Li Chengqian gasped, his face turning pale.

He had never thought about it from this perspective.

“On the contrary,” Li Yichen changed the subject.

"When you listen, you don't express your opinion prematurely; when you consult, you firmly grasp the final decision. You make them clearly realize that you are the future 'ruler,' the one who will ultimately decide the rise and fall of their family for centuries. Your likes and dislikes, your trust, are the most valuable resources they need to strive for. Tell me, which of these two attitudes is more likely to make these shrewd and calculating ministers wary, and even more likely to actively gravitate towards you?"

Li Chengqian felt his palms sweating, and he instinctively clenched them.

"So... I can't let them think that I can't live without them?"

“It’s not just a feeling, it’s a fundamental inability to have this kind of dependence!” Li Yichen emphasized.

“Your Highness, this is ‘prestige’! You must cultivate this kind of ‘prestige’. Supporting you is in their best long-term interest. Wavering or even turning away will incur enormous costs that the future monarch cannot foresee.”

Li Chengqian breathed rapidly, feeling as if he were being forcibly crammed into a completely new way of thinking, cold and hard, yet seemingly pointing directly at the core of power.

"Then... then what exactly should we do? When they arrive tomorrow, am I supposed to keep a straight face and not say a word?"

"Not so." Li Yichen seemed to have anticipated his question and calmly replied, "Your Highness needs to master the methods of 'receiving with composure' and 'controlling the issue.' Tomorrow they will come to discuss matters concerning Xizhou. Your Highness can do three things."

"First, maintain a humble demeanor, but control the pace. They can begin by presenting their views, with Your Highness listening attentively as a sign of respect. However, throughout the discussion, the initiative—when to delve deeper, when to change the subject, and when to conclude—must be in your hands. Don't let them lead you by the nose and get bogged down in endless arguments about details. That in itself is a display of authority." "Second, focus on concrete matters, not personal relationships. With Changsun Wuji, discuss how the migrants from Xizhou can combine with the manpower and resources of the Guanzhong aristocratic families to benefit the border regions; with Fang Xuanling, inquire how Xizhou's policies can be coordinated with the overall strategy of the Central Secretariat to avoid frequent policy changes. Only discuss 'matters,' not 'loyalty.' Let them demonstrate their value through handling concrete matters, rather than gaining your special trust through expressions of loyalty."

“Thirdly, and most importantly,” Li Yichen said, his eyes burning.

"At the end of all the discussions, regardless of their opinions, Your Highness must make your own 'weighing' and 'judgment'! Even if this judgment is only a reply in three days, or 'the opinions of the ministers are all reasonable, but Your Highness believes that we should first focus on water conservancy and resettlement, and discuss the number of people to be relocated later.' You must give a clear decision made by yourself!"

Li Chengqian nervously swallowed.

"What if... what if my judgment differs from theirs? Especially from my uncle..."

“That is both a test and an opportunity!” Li Yichen said in a low voice.

"Your Highness, you must get them used to it, used to you making the final decisions. A minor disagreement, as long as your reasons are based on a consideration of national affairs—such as the cost-benefit analysis you just discussed—rather than personal likes or dislikes, and your attitude is firm yet calm, will not provoke a violent backlash. On the contrary, this will greatly strengthen your authoritative image as the Crown Prince. They will realize that this Crown Prince is decisive and not easily manipulated. This perception is more effective than a thousand humble words from you!"

Li Chengqian fell silent; he needed time to process this highly impactful strategy.

This completely overturned his previous understanding of how to befriend powerful officials.

He was raised under the education of Confucian classics.

He took a deep breath, and it was as if his eyes began to clear.

"When my uncles and the others arrive tomorrow, I will know what to do. Be neither humble nor arrogant, control the discussion, and make the final decision."

Li Yichen straightened up and saw that the confusion and fear in Li Chengqian's eyes were gradually replaced by a calm determination, which calmed him down a little.

He knew that the Crown Prince had overcome another important mental hurdle.

“I am extremely pleased that Your Highness has this idea,” Li Yichen said. “However, tomorrow’s meeting is only the beginning. The game with important ministers is a long process. In addition, there is another matter that Your Highness needs to address immediately.”

"What is it?"

"Using the power of hearing the government that you have just acquired, formally submit a memorial to His Majesty, requesting the establishment of the position of 'Xizhou Development and Promotion Commissioner' or a similar title."

Li Yichen laid out a clear plan.

"This position oversees all development matters in Xizhou, including resettlement of people, land reclamation, trade, and water conservancy. It carries considerable power. Your Highness may list the required qualities for this position in your memorial, such as 'knowledge of agriculture and water conservancy,' 'understanding of border affairs,' 'integrity and competence,' and 'fearlessness of powerful figures.' However, you must never nominate any specific candidate in your memorial or in public!"

Li Chengqian's eyes lit up: "Yichen, you want to...?"

"We want to use this opportunity to conduct a silent 'talent selection' and 'positional screening'."

A slight smile appeared on Li Yichen's lips.

"The importance of this position is self-evident, and all factions will inevitably want to place their own people in it. Your Highness has set out the criteria but has not specified the candidates, thus shifting the focus of the conflict to the court. We can then wait and see how things unfold."

"Observe what?" Li Chengqian asked, puzzled.

(End of this chapter)