Datang: Rebirth of Li Chengqian, the beginning of the treason interrogation

Chapter 55: Visiting the Duke of Wei's Mansion to Build Momentum
"Go wash up as well, and we'll go to the Duke of Wei's Mansion together later."

After leaving Chongwenguan, Li Chengqian went straight to the bathroom and took a comfortable hot bath.

After nearly three months of recuperation, Li Chengqian's body, which had been tortured by the original owner, has gradually recovered. It can even be said that it has completely returned to normal.

After putting on gorgeous clothes, Li Chengqian and Pei Xingjian left the Eastern Palace together and drove into the bustling streets of Chang'an in a carriage.

Along the way, Li Chengqian observed everything around him curiously.

Suddenly, there was a noise coming from the front.

"Don't speak ill of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince cares about the country and the people, how could he be as bad as you say?" a young student asked angrily.

"Student, please don't be angry. I just heard it from others. I heard that the current prince is regulating the country and killed several ministers of remonstration, dyeing the Taiji Hall red with blood. He also refused to listen to the advice and insisted on doing things his own way. If you don't believe it, you can ask somewhere else." Another person responded.

The conversation between the two attracted more people's attention, and people gathered around.

Among them, some students were very emotional and looked like they would start a fight if they disagreed with something.

Seeing this scene, Li Chengqian couldn't help but frown.

"Commander Wang Xiao, what's going on?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, I don't know where the news of Your Highness' tyranny came from during this period. I have ordered the Bad People to conduct a thorough investigation and even arrest the perpetrators, but from time to time there are still rumors slandering Your Highness the Crown Prince." Wang Xiao replied.

"No need to arrest him, otherwise it will only make things worse!" Li Chengqian shook his head. Someone wanted to use public opinion against him.

"Oh, Commander Wang, you should recruit the children of the bad guys or some orphans into the Eastern Palace, and let the students of Chongwenguan teach them how to read and write. All expenses will be paid by the Eastern Palace."

Now the problem of textbooks has been solved, but there are not many students studying. If we open a school, we must have teachers, so we still need to prepare for all these things in advance.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Wang Xiao hurriedly thanked him. This was an opportunity for many people to change their destiny. Bad people all had poor backgrounds and their children rarely had the opportunity to go to school.

From the perspective of people who came after Li Chengqian, the prosperous Tang Dynasty still had a lot of work to do.

After crossing several streets, we arrived at the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion, which is also located in the East Quarter.

In front of the Duke of Wei’s mansion, there were two black warriors standing at the door, they were called Kunlun slaves.

Behind the two black men, there was another person standing, he was Li Chengqian’s sworn brother - Li Dejian.

He has been waiting here for a long time.

"coming!"

Seeing several carriages approaching, Li Dejian immediately ran forward.

"Dejian, there's no need to be so formal. Just be more casual. I wonder if the Duke is in the mansion."

Li Chengqian also got off the carriage and entered the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion under the guidance of Li Dejian.

"As soon as my father heard that Your Highness was coming, he started waiting in the lobby early in the morning. If I hadn't stopped him, he would have gone to the gate to wait for Your Highness." Li Dejian replied immediately.

"I want to visit the Duke, but that is not allowed!"

Li Chengqian shook his head repeatedly. Li Jing had been walking on thin ice all his life and was extremely cautious.

It is now the 17th year of Zhenguan, and Li Jing will not live for many more years, just a little earlier than Li Shimin. Li Chengqian brought Pei Xingjian here just to let him learn the art of war.

Pei Xingjian originally came from Li Jing's military school, but in fact, he was Li Jing's disciple, and Pei Xingjian was taught by Su Dingfang.

Su Dingfang's military achievements also came from Li Jing. Now Su Dingfang Su Lie is not in Chang'an. He was sent to guard the border and was not valued by Li Shimin.

"Old Duke, I am sorry to bother you today!"

In the lobby, an old man stood there in high spirits. This was Li Jing, the god of war of the Tang Dynasty.

"It is an honor for an old man like me to have Your Highness here!" Li Jing laughed and walked forward.

"Your Highness, please take a seat. If Your Highness had not come today, I would have come to thank Your Highness someday. Thank you for asking for orders for us soldiers and building the Martial Temple, so that countless heroic souls who died on the battlefield can return home."

Li Jing's eyes were red. He had fought in battles all his life and had seen too many soldiers fall. The court did not show much sympathy to those ordinary soldiers who died. Most of them died in vain as they were recruited from civilians. Their lives were worthless.

"All the soldiers died fighting for their country. This is what the country should do for them. I also want to open a school so that the children of those soldiers who died on the battlefield can also read and write. This can be regarded as a little comfort to their heroic spirits."

Li Chengqian said again.

"I have also heard about the school, but it touches on the interests of some people, so it may not be easy to develop. If it really works, then the Tang Dynasty will surely achieve greater glory."

Li Jing nodded, feeling deeply gratified that this was for the welfare of the soldiers.

"Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty was able to exclude the gentry and create the imperial examination system. What I am doing now is just to improve the imperial examination system, which is much easier than that."

Li Chengqian seemed very confident. "However, this may still require the help of a few dukes!"

"What help?" Li Jing asked.

"It means to spread the news of the opening of the school to the army, so that all the soldiers will know about it, as well as the matter of the Martial Temple."

"This is not a difficult task. If the soldiers of each army knew about these two great things, their morale would definitely be boosted."

If it was something else, Li Jing might not be able to do it, but in this case, with his prestige in the army, it was easy for him to just pass on a message.

"Thank you, Duke!" It's not impossible for Li Chengqian to publicize through formal channels, but the news will definitely be blocked by some important military officials.

"Duke, this person is from the Pei family, Pei Xingjian."

Li Chengqian recommended.

"Pei Xingjian greets the Duke of Weiguo!" Pei Xingjian immediately saluted.

"A talented person from the Pei family, that's great. Follow the prince and you will have a bright future." Li Jing also nodded, but he didn't know what Li Chengqian meant by bringing a member of the Pei family to see him.

"Duke, Pei Xingjian has a high talent for military tactics, so I want him to stay with you for a while."

Li Chengqian intended to train Pei Xingjian to become the Duke of Wenxi who was feared by the countries in the Western Regions in history.

Although Pei Xingjian is a member of the gentry, it does not affect Li Chengqian's respect for him. On the contrary, it allows Pei Xingjian to restrict the Pei family, make the Pei family stand on his side, and disintegrate the gentry, but it does not mean to kill them all.

It is undeniable that the people of the gentry are still very excellent, and they are still needed in many places. Everything Li Chengqian is doing now is just to distribute some of the resources occupied by the gentry to ease social conflicts, not to completely eliminate the gentry, let alone to eradicate the gentry families.

Being a king is about balance.

(End of this chapter)