Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

Li Chengqian looked at the blueprints in his hand, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

Li Tai stood to the side, craning his neck to examine the drawing in Li Chengqian's hand. It was a drawing made of pencil, with clear structural markings in all places.

It gave Li Tai a sense of a rigorous aesthetic he had never experienced before.

The person summoned from the simulated world by Li Chengqian was Liang Siyu, who was originally the Chief Engineer of the Engineering Construction Department of the Eastern Mo Kingdom and the future Dean of the School of Architecture of the Great Tang Imperial University. He had a reserved smile.

"These blueprints were studied and designed a long time ago. Based on the distribution of the open space in the south of the city and due to the river, I made some adjustments. Now, building according to these blueprints, with sufficient workers and materials... the initial construction can be completed in as little as six months..."

Just as Liang Siyu was giving his report...

The eunuch Wang De suddenly strode in from a side hall.

"Your Highness, Minister of Personnel Changsun Wuji has arrived..."

Li Chengqian was taken aback.

"So sudden? Why wasn't there any prior notice?"

Wang De also looked embarrassed and shook his head nervously.

"It seems they came secretly with some decree from His Majesty. Their carriage is currently parked outside Yangcheng Palace."

Upon hearing this, Li Tai also suddenly frowned.

As if he had thought of something, he lowered his voice and moved closer to his older brother.

"Brother, do you think it's possible that our father heard about our profitable businesses and wants to get involved?"

Li Ke was immediately startled.

"This can't be! Father is the Emperor, after all. How could he seize my elder brother's property..."

however.

Upon hearing Li Tai's words, Li Chengqian's heart skipped a beat.

The thought of his father, Comrade Li Er's, shameless abilities instantly set off alarm bells in his mind.

This was another secret mission, as if it were something they wanted to keep hidden.

The one sent was his own uncle, Changsun Wuji.

"Hiss, is this old man Bitden trying to play the emotional card with me?"

Li Chengqian gasped, completely unconcerned about the strange and admiring expressions on the faces of those around him when they heard him call him "Old Bi Deng".

Immediately, the three Li brothers exchanged glances, instantly understanding each other perfectly.

Li Tai hurriedly walked towards a side hall.

"I'll go and have someone bring Confucius and the others over right away!"

Li Ke turned and headed towards the side hall where he usually worked: "I, I'm going to prepare the Jinyiwei's account books!"

Li Chengqian took a deep breath as he looked at the blueprints in his hand.

"Wang De, send someone out of the palace quickly to inform Wang Ming to come! I don't care what he's doing, have him bring the expense ledgers of the Bingzhou Road New Policy Reform Division in various prefectures and counties during this period to Yangcheng Palace as fast as possible!"

Wang De was startled: "These, all the account books?"

"All of them! Quickly!"

Wang De hurriedly left.

At this moment, Li Chengqian's gaze suddenly turned to Qian Yingying, the female official standing to the side.

"Yingying, go and keep an eye on the Imperial Kitchen for me. Make sure the food at Yangcheng Palace is simple and plain today. Stop all those delicacies we had before!"

Qian Yingying didn't understand why it had to go to such lengths, but as Li Chengqian's personal maid, she knew better than to obey orders quietly.

"Yes, this servant will take care of it right away!"

Inside the Shougong Hall, Li Chengqian glanced around again.

"Take all these gold and silver artifacts away, and that jade screen too, quick, quick, move them all away!"

Inside the Shougong Hall, the eunuchs and palace maids immediately busied themselves.

Outside Yangcheng Palace.

Changsun Wuji frowned, occasionally stroking a tuft of his beard. He pondered in confusion, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Yangcheng Palace gate.

Logically speaking, so much time has passed since the announcement; someone should have come out to escort him into the palace by now...

"Hiss, could it be that old and frail Wang De, who got delayed on the way?"

Sitting together in the carriage were Changsun Wuji's two sons, Changsun Chong and Changsun Huan, who had come with him. At this moment, they didn't care what Changsun Wuji was thinking.

Looking at the bustling scene on the streets of Taiyuan Prefecture outside Yangcheng Palace.

I always feel that Taiyuan Prefecture is even more bustling than Chang'an these days.

It all started when I saw so many people from the surrounding villages, carrying baskets and beaming with joy, before I even entered the city.

Even after entering the city, the shops there were just as numerous as those in Chang'an, and perhaps even more complete.

Even today, construction sites can be seen everywhere in Taiyuan.

Without exception, it is clear that Taiyuan Prefecture is truly undergoing a transformation under His Highness the Crown Prince's new policies, like a young person who has shed all pretense and regained his youthful vigor.

It is developing in a completely new direction.

"Father, aren't the officials in Chang'an saying everywhere that the Crown Prince is cruel and bloodthirsty, and that the people of Bingzhou are living in misery? Why do the people here seem more energetic than those in Chang'an?"

At just eleven years old, Changsun Wuji's second son, Changsun Huan, asked a question out of curiosity.

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji scoffed.

"The people are suffering, hehe, Chong'er, Huan'er, remember this: when those powerful families claim to be the people, saying things like 'the people are suffering,' 'they are competing with the people for profit,' the people's hearts are not at peace."

"That means they couldn't take it anymore, their interests were harmed, and they...felt afraid!"

As Changsun Wuji spoke of this, he couldn't help but recall the day when His Majesty was forced to abdicate in the Taiji Hall, and instead flew into a rage, putting the five powerful clans and seven noble families in a precarious position.

A slight smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

If the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families fall, wouldn't the good days for these Guanlong nobles finally begin?

"Your Majesty is not a ruler without tolerance for others. However, the five clans and seven noble families are all scheming and despicable people. Now Your Majesty holds the military power of the country and has the allegiance of all sides. Generals and commanders all regard Your Majesty as the common ruler of the world."

"Besides using the sons of officials from various regions as leverage, what other options are there for the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families?"

"Heh! If His Majesty doesn't care, and His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't care, then this so-called threat is just like a snarling fox—it looks like a tiger, but it's not a tiger at all."

Changsun Wuji was in high spirits until he left Chang'an to inspect the progress of the new policies in Bingzhou.

At the entrance of his Changsun Mansion, he was still surrounded by officials from the five prominent families and seven noble clans, as well as other aristocratic officials.

My goal is to get him to say a few good words for me.

This situation would have been absolutely impossible in the past.

The sound of horses' hooves came from Yangcheng Palace.

Changsun Wuji was overjoyed and immediately lifted the carriage curtain, however...

When he saw the eunuch, who didn't even glance at him or let him into the palace, gallop past him on horseback, he was momentarily stunned.

After a brief moment of surprise, he couldn't help but mutter curses under his breath.

"That old bastard Wang De, no wonder His Majesty sent him away, he's really getting worse and worse!"

Another period of waiting ensued.

Behind the carriage, amidst a murmur of discussion, Changsun Wuji lifted the curtain.

Then they saw groups of officials dressed as subordinates of the Eastern Palace, whose specific responsibilities were unclear, coming from outside towards Yangcheng Palace.

“The construction of this Imperial University is crucial to the foundation of the nation. Once completed, our Great Tang will no longer have master craftsmen, and our provisions and weaponry will be able to reach new heights. Dean Liang’s plan is ultimately a bit stingy. We should ask His Highness to allocate more budget!”

"Yes, yes!"

Changsun Wuji nodded slightly.

Imperial University—although it was the first time he had heard the name, he could tell from it what the place was about. He had heard a bit about it from the conversations between His Highness and His Majesty.

"Hehe, Your Highness is truly decisive and efficient. In less than two months, you've already begun planning and constructing a university. Excellent, excellent..."

When I nod in satisfaction.

A dozen or so officials quickly arrived, the one in the lead being none other than Kong Yingda, the current Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince.

He looked furious, with a dozen or so young scholars dressed in Confucian robes behind him.

Cursing all the time.

"Damn it! Which filthy bastard who gave birth to a son without an anus dares to covet the budget of the Great Tang Dynasty's literary industry! Don't let me find out, or else!"

"If I hear the truth in the morning, I can die in the evening!"

Changsun Wuji opened his mouth, then suddenly seemed incredulous.

Is this really the Kong Yingda I know?

Furthermore, what is the meaning of the saying "If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening" when used here?

While I was pondering this.

One by one, the officials of the Eastern Palace rushed toward Yangcheng Palace as if they were going to a fair.

As they passed by Changsun Wuji's carriage, they unfortunately overheard their conversation.

"We are preparing for the year-end assessments, but we are currently short-staffed for printing the 'New Imperial Examination Outline,' so we need to apply for more budget."

"Remember this: if everyone insists on sticking to their guns, not a single penny of the Road Administration Department's budget can be ceded! Understand?"

"I've been eagerly awaiting the execution of that villain above me, and His Highness has entrusted me with this important task. Yet today, some lowly person dares to covet the budget of my canal transport office! You will not be able to stop me in time! I will make sure that scoundrel's head is blown off!"

Changsun Wuji: "..."

Wow, these officials of the Crown Prince's palace have all acquired His Highness's demeanor in just two months?

Why are they all so irritable and vulgar when their budgets are cut?

Changsun Wuji shook his head. As the saying goes, "the upper beam sets the tone," and... as the saying goes, "what the superiors do, the inferiors will follow." These people are probably like that too.

Just then, the rumbling sound of a horse-drawn carriage grinding against the ground came from behind.

Changsun Wuji peeked out and then suddenly made eye contact with the newcomer.

Finally, this time he was not ignored.

"Minister Changsun, it has been several months since we last met in Chang'an."

Despite feeling somewhat strange, seeing that someone was finally paying attention to him, Changsun Wuji got off the carriage with a smile, regardless of whether it was Wang Ming from the Taiyuan Wang clan.

"Prefect Wang, you're still as spirited as ever! What's wrong with you...?"

Looking at the bamboo slips and documents piled up behind Wang Ming, which almost filled a cart, he couldn't help but feel puzzled.

But Wang Ming's smiling face suddenly collapsed.

"Hey!"

A sigh that seemed strangely familiar, as if it were something he had experienced when he served as the chief clerk of the Tian Ce Mansion, suddenly came from Wang Ming's mouth.

"Minister Changsun, being a prefect is no easy task!"

Looking at Wang Ming, who seemed to be quite familiar with him, suddenly grabbing his arm as if he was about to burst into tears.

Changsun Wuji instantly felt as if his CPU had burned out.

No, you son of a bitch, don't touch me!

Do I know you well?

"Your Highness is very talented, and you are decisive in everything you do. Today you want to rebuild the official road, and tomorrow you want to renovate the drainage system in Taiyuan City. We haven't even finished these tasks yet, and Your Highness wants to organize the construction of an engineering college to train a large number of excellent craftsmen... All these tasks have fallen into the hands of this old governor, so let's not go into them for now."

"The imperial court didn't provide a single penny; we had to raise the money ourselves. This...sigh!"

"Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice these days. That's why I went to the palace to ask His Highness for a little more budget."

Changsun Wuji nodded politely, while subtly tugging at his arm that was being pulled by the other party.

On the one hand, he already understood that he was the one who was called a "filthy scumbag" by Confucius and said by the officials of the Eastern Palace that "he would give birth to a son without an anus" and that his "head would be blown open".

This must be the Prefect Wang Ming standing before us.

Changsun Wuji smiled politely as he listened to the other person's rambling and sobbing. Just as he was about to shout for help, Wang De finally arrived, albeit belatedly.

"Lord Changsun, His Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence."

Changsun Wuji was instantly freed. While he breathed a sigh of relief, he couldn't help but glare resentfully at Wang De, that old scoundrel who had been "exiled by His Majesty".

It's truly despicable that this fellow has been harassing me for so long!

Wang De lowered his head, and in the instant Changsun Wuji turned his head, he exchanged a glance with Wang Ming, who had rushed over to carry out the order. The two nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Immediately, Wang De felt relieved and a smile appeared on his face.

"Lord Changsun, His Highness is currently in the Shougong Hall. Please follow me."

As the group arrived at the Shougong Hall, they saw a large crowd of officials from the Eastern Palace gathered outside, discussing amongst themselves as if they were forcing the emperor to abdicate.

Almost all of them were unfamiliar faces.

Led by Wang De, Changsun Wuji pushed his way through the crowd.

Just as one foot was planted inside the hall, a voice rang out.

"Your Highness, our Canal Transport Office not only needs to repair the dikes in various places, but we also need to increase the number of boats for inspection and patrol."

Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Ke: "No money!"

"Your Highness, this cement workshop still needs expansion. Currently, there are only three or five workshops, which is far from sufficient to support the renovation of the official roads surrounding Taiyuan Prefecture..."

Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Ke: "No money!"

"Your Highness..."

Changsun Wuji squeezed through the crowd and finally saw the Crown Prince he had been longing for.

At this moment, the other party was curled up with his hands tucked into his sleeves, with the Li brothers, Li Tai and Li Ke, standing on either side of him, their movements identical.

Before the officials of the Eastern Palace could finish speaking, they all spoke up in unison, proclaiming in a loud voice.

Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Ke: "No money!"