The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 261

"I originally intended to educate people and run a small private school. I did not ask for your help in bringing all the children from my clan. My Xu family is just a small place, and I cannot spare so many people to teach at the moment. Please rest assured that I will find a way to rebuild the school."

At this moment, Emperor Taizong of Tang was reviewing memorials in the Golden Palace.

"I've heard that Grand Tutor Xu has been extremely busy these past two days."

Changsun Wuji was laughing like a flower below.

“That’s right. These days, officials have been busy sending their children to the Grand Tutor’s mansion so that Grand Tutor Xu can personally teach them. But yesterday, all of them took their children back. Grand Tutor Xu’s Hongwen Academy is too small to accommodate so many children.”

Li Shimin raised his head and said, "I do have a private residence near Zhuque Bridge in Chang'an. Eunuch Kou, go and convey my decree that this room be given to Grand Tutor Xu so that he can use it to teach his students."

Finally, a few days of rain fell, and I was about to go to a wonton shop near Zhuque Bridge to have some snacks to appease my hunger. Before I could even take a bite of a wonton, I was suddenly pulled into a nearby alley.

The man was wearing a black straw hat, and was followed by two assassins.

Xu Tian immediately covered his collar and said, "Rob me for money or for my virtue?"

The two imperial guards behind Li Er looked on helplessly as the man in front of him took off his bamboo hat.

"My dear minister, do not be afraid, it is I."

Xu Tian was speechless: "Why would the emperor need to assassinate someone for no reason?"

"Why is the Emperor here?"

"It's not like I'm usually kept from leaving the palace by those ministers; I sneaked out today," he said, giving a signal. Two imperial guards behind him immediately went to buy a bowl of wontons and packed it up. Clearly, the emperor was in a hurry and didn't forget to pack up some local snacks.

"I hope you can also teach the Grand Tutors in the Imperial Palace. Those old fogies just make the Crown Prince memorize books all the time, and they only know how to memorize dead books. I heard that you used the right method in the Hongwen Academy, and those children can memorize a whole book of the Three Character Classic in a day."

Xu Tian chuckled to himself, "Your Majesty flatters me. It's just that those children have good memories, and I'm good at guiding them."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Xu Tian regretted them. Wasn't this just using it as a weapon? Don't think he didn't know what Li Er was thinking.

Those who can serve in the palace are all great Confucian scholars. These people are arrogant and haughty. If you teach them, they will be bombarded with spittle. If another one comes along to debate with the Confucian scholars, Xu Tian would like to live a few more years.

Li Er had clearly anticipated that Xu Tianli would go back on his word, so he immediately said, "Minister Xu, as a teacher, you should cultivate pillars of the nation, so that the country may prosper, and you may be able to govern the country with your literary skills and defend it with your military prowess."

Xu Tian, ​​a great teacher, was deeply moved and then slowly nodded.

Seeing that this was helpful, Li Er continued, "My dear minister, your reputation is growing, and you're having more and more students teach. You can't possibly teach everyone yourself; you'd be exhausted!"

Just like me, you must learn to recognize and appoint capable people, so that you can cultivate more talented individuals!

Xu Tian's eyes lit up. There were more and more students. Apart from Dongfang Tingyun, who was the teacher, it was unrealistic for the two of them to lead four or five thousand students.

Li Shimin smiled and said, “The scholars in my palace are all talented people, not as pedantic and pedantic as you think. Otherwise, why would I have them teach the Crown Prince? With just a little guidance from you, these people will be your best help.”

Li Er's words immediately convinced the latter, and Xu Tian immediately knelt down and said: "Your subject obeys the decree."

The following afternoon, a large group of uninvited guests barged into Hongwen Academy.

After Dongfang Tingyun bowed to these old scholars,

The old scholar said, "Master Dongfang, where is Grand Tutor Xu?"

Dongfang Tingyun couldn't say anything, so he just made up an excuse.