The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 370

The eunuch glanced at the Empress and the Emperor, then said, "Your Majesty is wise and all-encompassing. This servant will go to Bailu Academy to deliver the decree immediately."

Li Shimin glanced at the eunuch.

"You're quite impatient."

The eunuch immediately revealed a kind smile.

Soon, Li Shimin drafted the imperial edict and handed it to Eunuch Kou, who then went directly to Bailu Academy to proclaim the edict.

Upon witnessing this scene, Wang Congshan, the dean of Bailu Academy, was moved to tears. He immediately wrote down the names of more than ten of the academy's most outstanding teachers, and these teachers then traveled by carriage all the way to the border.

After traveling for about half a month, the group of teachers arrived at the academy at the border. When they saw the Zhuangyuan Tower that had risen from the ground, they couldn't help but marvel. One of the female teachers was even more surprised to see that there was a vegetable garden and a frozen lake next to the Zhuangyuan Tower.

"It's unbelievable that Master Xu actually cultivated a greenhouse here."

The other teachers nodded in agreement, but soon they discovered a problem: the top scholar building was completed, but no students enrolled.

Duan Lun, the Minister of Works, immediately stepped forward with his jade tablet in the Golden Palace and said, "I want to submit a memorial."

Li Shimin already knew what he was going to say, and for a moment he was somewhat disinterested.

He was still not behaving himself after impeaching Prince Rui the other day, and now he's back to his old ways. Even Duke Lu, Cheng Yaojin, is getting a little too lazy to look at him.

Duan Lun, however, persevered.

"The school has been completed, but no students have enrolled. This is truly a failure of Prince Rui's management."

Li Shimin smiled gently: "My dear minister, everything is difficult at the beginning. You have never taught at the border. Serving in Chang'an, you cannot imagine the difficulties of educating people at the border."

I've heard that Prince Rui put a great deal of effort into building the Hongwen Academy, as the harsh northern climate isn't as ideal as you might imagine.

This statement clearly indicates that Li Shimin is protecting Prince Rui, and it is blatantly protecting him. Considering Li Shimin's mastery of imperial tactics since he killed his father and brothers to seize the throne, how could he so blatantly protect someone like this?

For a moment, Duan Lun, the Minister of Works, was at a loss for words. Looking at Li Shimin, he was speechless for a moment, and then retreated back to the ranks of the court officials.

Eunuch Kou glanced at Duan Lun, then said, "Court adjourned."

After returning home, Duan Lun immediately smashed several antiques.

The Minister's wife looked at him and said, "What's wrong, sir? Why are you so angry today?"

"I have served as an official for decades and have never received such protection from the Emperor. Why should the Emperor repeatedly protect a mere Xu? I am, after all, the Minister of Works in the court, and the Emperor's actions have truly chilled my heart."

Even Changsun Wuji is no longer given important positions; the Emperor's attention is entirely focused on that Prince Rui far away on the frontier—it's truly infuriating.

During this time, Xu Tian waited in his room for students to come to his room. He only wanted a small tuition fee, but no one came for three days in a row.

Even Jin Yang, who was standing to the side, was getting a little bored. He walked over, knocked on the door, and said, "Master Xu, why don't you go and see why these students haven't come to school? It's been several days since school started."

Xu Tian agreed, then straightened his clothes and came out. He boarded the carriage driven by the steward and Qin Xiantao and headed directly to the grassland tribe.