Tang Dynasty: The Holy Prince, the Dragon that Reigns Over the World

One day, Li Chengqian was drawing in a house in the Prince's Mansion. He heard Li Shimin outside the door saying loudly, "Dalang, your father and your uncle are here to drink tea with you. Where is the boy?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian went out, led the two into the house and asked them to sit down, and ordered someone to serve tea. Then Li Chengqian said, "Father, uncle, you are just in time. I have something I want to discuss with you."

"Oh? What's the matter?" Li Shimin asked.

"Uncle, how much does a book cost on the street now?" Li Chengqian asked.

"Even the cheap one costs 50 cents. What's the matter? Dalang wants to buy books?" Changsun Wuji wondered.

"Why is it so expensive?" Li Chengqian asked.

"Books need people to copy them. Paper is expensive, and labor is also expensive," said Changsun Wuji.

"If I have a way to reduce the time of publishing a book and eliminate the need for manual transcription, I can reduce costs. Can I make a lot of money?" Li Chengqian asked with a smile.

"Oh? What method?" Li Shimin asked curiously.

Li Chengqian then explained the movable type printing technique to Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wuji. The movable type printing technique was known to all people in the later generations, so there was no need to purchase it from the system, Li Chengqian could reproduce it himself.

"Da Lang, do you have a finished product?" Chang Sun Wuji said excitedly after hearing this. Li Chengqian took out a previously printed book and handed it to Chang Sun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji and Li Shimin opened the book and saw that the spacing between words was neat, the handwriting was clear, and the size was consistent.

"Da Lang, what is the cost?" Li Shimin looked up and asked.

"It's hard to say. This is movable type printing, and each word is engraved with copper. But the more you print, the lower the cost per copy, and the higher the efficiency. If you print 5 copies, the cost per copy is about cents." Li Chengqian said after thinking about it.

"Hiss, so cheap." Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji gasped at the same time.

"Da Lang, what are you planning to do with this?" Li Shimin asked calmly.

"I plan to open a trading bureau to sell books and other things," said Li Chengqian.

"Why? It can't be because you are short of money." Changsun Wuji said.

"It is certain that I am short of money. However, what I want more is to enable the poor children in the world to afford to go to school and cultivate more talents for my Tang Dynasty. Nowadays, all knowledge is in the aristocratic families. If ordinary people want to enter the officialdom, they must rely on the aristocratic families.

The aristocratic families were like maggots on the heels, sucking the blood and sweat of the people, only considering their own interests, not caring about the lives of the people. Even the change of imperial power was nothing more than a transaction for the aristocratic families to satisfy their own interests in their eyes.

The common people worked hard but had nothing, but the aristocratic families sat back and enjoyed the fruits of their labor, bullying the common people and manipulating the court. How could there be any justice in this world?

"Aristocratic families are harmful to our Tang Dynasty. If more children from poor families enter the court, the influence of aristocratic families on the court can be reduced, and eventually the aristocratic families can no longer influence the court, and justice will be restored to the world." Li Chengqian said calmly.

"Da Lang, your idea is right. But do you know how difficult it is?" Li Shimin asked with a sigh.

"I know, but someone has to do it. Even though it is extremely difficult, I will go." Li Chengqian looked up and said.

"Good job on having such ambition. Dalang, what do you need us to do?" Li Shimin asked.

"Hehe, this trade bureau, my son wants to open it in the name of the royal family, and my uncle will be in charge. The prince uncles and dukes who are willing to participate can invest money. My father will take 2%, my uncle will take 1%, the national treasury will take 1%, and the prince uncles and dukes will get 1% according to the proportion of their investment. I will take 5%." Li Chengqian smiled and rubbed his hands.

"You bastard, you are dragging the Tang Dynasty's treasury, royal relatives and nobles into this. Well, but in this way, no one dares to attack the Commerce Bureau. Even the noble families have to think twice. But, aren't you afraid that the noble families will report you for competing with the people for profits?" Li Shimin nodded.

"What are you afraid of? If he reports me, I will file a complaint and say that the Li Tang royal family is based on the concept of educating the world. We sell books at low prices so that children from poor families can read books. This is a move to benefit the people. How can we compete with the people for profit? Even if the aristocratic families are domineering, they should also pay attention to their image.

Besides, this matter concerns the treasury of the Tang Dynasty. If anyone dares to object, my great-uncle, the Minister of Finance of the Tang Dynasty, Mr. Xiao Yu, will scold him to death. "Li Chengqian said with a smile.

"You! But why do I only take 2% and you take 5%? No, I take 3%, your uncle takes 2%, and the national treasury takes 2%. Each prince and duke will get 1% according to the proportion of their investment. You take 2%. That's it, otherwise I won't do it." Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian who was anxious to speak and hurriedly stopped him from laughing.

"Da Lang, don't be depressed. Your uncle will give you 10%, and your uncle will only take 10%. " Seeing Li Chengqian's unhappy look, Changsun Wuji smiled.

"Hey, Zhangsun Dalang, don't spoil Gao Ming. Why does a kid like him need so much money?" Li Shimin said dissatisfiedly.

"I spoil my nephew, what does it have to do with you?" Changsun Wuji counterattacked. Watching the two quarreling, Li Chengqian sat aside helplessly.

That night, Zhang Sun Wuji sent someone to deliver a letter, which said that Zhang Sun Wuji had discussed with the dukes and princes in Beijing, and many people were willing to participate. There was also a list of names attached.

On the second day, during the morning court session, Li Shimin raised the issue of the Royal Trade Bureau, which immediately caused a strong reaction. Many ministers collectively opposed it, while Dukes and princes such as Changsun Wuji spoke out to refute it. The two sides argued fiercely. Li Chengqian watched coldly.

At this time, Li Shimin told the distribution plan. Old Master Xiao Yu immediately became angry and said, "If anyone objects again, I will hit my head and die in front of your door." Immediately, there was complete silence.

The Tang Dynasty Royal Commerce Bureau was formally established. Distribution stores were set up in all counties and prefectures across the country. Products sold included books, farm tools and other commodities, especially the improved curved plow, which had a lighter structure, was more flexible to use and had higher farming efficiency.

The goods sold by the Tang Dynasty Royal Trade Bureau were cheap, durable, and of good quality. Once they were put on sale, they instantly triggered a buying craze among the people. When the first month's 200 million guan of profit entered the treasury, Mr. Xiao Yu smiled with wrinkles all over his face. Li Chengqian also smiled with wrinkles all over his face.

On this morning, Li Chengqian was bored and reading a book when Ling'er's voice suddenly rang out.

"Brother Qian, the system has issued a side mission: the host is unwilling to study, and the host can use any means to make the teacher stop teaching the host. Mission success: reward: 10 system coins. No penalty for mission failure."

"That's all possible. You even know that I don't want to study. What a sharp system." Li Chengqian said in surprise.

Li Chengqian was indeed short of system coins. He spent 50 system coins to buy materials, build equipment, and store equipment for the expansion of the army. The Jinyiwei manual cost 10 system coins. The blueprint of the improved curved plow cost 10 system coins. A book of the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique cost 30 system coins. If he hadn't recharged 30 strings of money to exchange for 3 system coins, the original 97 system coins would not have been enough. But the most important thing is that Li Chengqian really doesn't like reading ancient Chinese, it's too difficult to understand.

"But what should we do? We can't just kill the master." Li Chengqian frowned.

"Brother Qian, why bother? Just make the teacher feel inferior to him and think that he has no ability to teach you." Ling'er said.

"Oh, that makes sense, fellow sages. I'm going to borrow your classics again. Don't blame me. Well, let me think about whose one to take. By the way, system, find me Hong Yingming's "Cai Gen Tan", I want to buy it." Li Chengqian said.

"Okay, Brother Qian. Hong Yingming's "Cai Gen Tan" is priced at 5 system coins. Brother Qian, would you like to recharge and purchase it?" Ling'er said.

"Buy it. It will appear in my handwriting." Li Chengqian said.

"Purchase successful. It has appeared on your desk." Ling'er said.

A stack of papers appeared in front of Li Chengqian, on which was written the "Cai Gen Tan" in Li Chengqian's handwriting. Li Chengqian took a look at it and put it away with satisfaction.

In the afternoon, Kong Yingda came to the "primary school" of the Secretariat (the place where the princes received primary education in the early Tang Dynasty). Li Chengqian, Li Tai, Li Ke and others saw Kong Yingda coming and hurriedly saluted. Kong Yingda finished teaching the day's course. He asked, "Your Highnesses, is there anything you don't understand about what you learned today?"

"Sir, I have recently read the books of sages. I feel that their words are profound and difficult to understand, and only great wisdom can comprehend them thoroughly. I am also moved that people's hearts are no longer the same as they used to be. Therefore, I wrote an article, intending to explain the teachings of the sages in simple words and educate the world. I hope you can correct me." Li Chengqian walked over and handed "Cai Gen Tan" to Kong Yingda with both hands.

Kong Yingda took it in a hurry. There were three big characters "Cai Gen Tan" written on it. He turned to the next page and saw the preface "Tan is named after the roots of vegetables, which he gained from his hard training and cultivation, and also from his cultivation and irrigation. You can imagine the ups and downs, the dangers and obstacles he experienced. God has tired my body, I relax my mind to make up for it; God has brought me misfortunes, I improve my Tao to overcome them. His self-warning and self-reliance are also worth thinking about."

Kong Yingda turned the page again, "If you want to be a person of fine gold and beautiful jade, you must be forged in the fierce fire; if you want to achieve great deeds, you must walk on thin ice. If you have a wrong thought, all your actions will be wrong. You should prevent it like a floating bag crossing the sea, and don't allow a needle hole to leak; only when you are perfect in all virtues can you live a life without shame. You should cultivate it like a towering precious tree, which needs the support of many trees...."

The more Kong Yingda read, the more frightened he became. When he read "It is better to relieve the resentment of one person than to win the favor of thousands of people; it is better to avoid the shame of one thing than to seek the honor of thousands of things," Kong Yingda lost his composure completely and stood up and ran to the palace without saying hello.

At this time, Li Shimin was discussing state affairs with his ministers in Yanying Hall when he saw Kong Yingda running in hurriedly.

"Mr. Kong, why are you so flustered?" Li Shimin frowned in dissatisfaction.

"I congratulate Your Majesty. The prince has become a saint." Kong Yingda bowed and saluted.

"Becoming a saint? Dalang?" Li Shimin wondered.

"This was written by the Crown Prince. Please read it, Your Majesty." The palace maid took over "Cai Gen Tan" and Li Shimin signaled the palace maid to recite it.

A palace maid recited a poem called "Cai Gen Tan" and everyone in the room was shocked. When the palace maid read the last sentence, "It is common to see teeth fall out while the tongue survives, and strength will never defeat weakness; a door may decay but the hinges may not be eaten by moths, and how can bigotry be compared to harmony?" everyone in the hall was shocked and silent. After a long while, Wei Zheng smiled bitterly and said,

"I cannot match your open-mindedness and understanding of the ways of the world. Congratulations, Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has become a saint."

"Xuancheng (Wei Zheng's pen name), stop flattering me. Is this something a 9-year-old could write? You rebellious son, you actually took advantage of others' words to buy the emperor's name. Someone bring this rebellious son to me." Li Shimin said angrily. After a while, Li Chengqian arrived.

"Rebellious son, tell me the truth, who said this? Why did you pretend to be someone else?" Li Shimin said angrily

"Father, this is what I did." Li Chengqian replied calmly.

"You rebellious son, how dare you lie. How can you, a 9-year-old boy, have such opinions?" Li Shimin shouted angrily.

"It was indeed written by the child. All the ministers in the palace are well-read and great scholars in the world. If you don't believe me, you can ask them if they have seen this article." Li Chengqian said calmly. It was written by someone hundreds of years later, it would be strange if they had seen it.

After careful consideration, all the ministers in the hall slowly shook their heads. Li Shimin was shocked when he saw this, "Could it really be Dalang who did it?"

"I have heard that saints are born with knowledge. Seeing it today, I believe the rumors are true. I congratulate Your Majesty on the birth of the Holy Prince." Fang Xuanling congratulated loudly. All the ministers followed suit.

"Your Majesty, I resign from the position of the Prince's tutor. Your Majesty's knowledge is far superior to mine, and I am ashamed to continue teaching the Prince. Please find another good teacher." Kong Yingda bowed and saluted. Li Shimin nodded in agreement. He was very relieved and happy.

"Da Lang, you are so knowledgeable. Why didn't I know this before?" Li Shimin said with a smile, stroking his beard.

"I was inspired recently." Li Chengqian said with a smile. Li Shimin deliberately spread "Cai Gen Tan" because he wanted to see if it was written by Li Chengqian. He also wanted to show off. His son was a saint, so how could he not show off?

Once "Cai Gen Tan" was circulated, it caused a sensation in the Tang Dynasty, and people were discussing who the author was. Li Shimin saw that no one had seen it, and he was sure that it was written by Li Chengqian. He immediately ordered people to announce that it was written by the prince. Everyone in the world was shocked and admired. They all said, "The prince has become a saint by his words. With your majesty and the holy prince in our dynasty, the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty is just around the corner."