Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 447 The Application of the Two Instruments of Punishment and Reward
Zhang Dai's generous and resolute attitude left Wang Shouqing stunned and at a loss for words.

He was essentially still a spoiled brat. Although he harbored resentment towards Zhang Dai, he did not have a proper way to retaliate. At most, he would surround Zhang Dai and beat him up.

But doing so wouldn't quell his anger, and he worried about being punished. After all, his elder brother, Wang Shouzhen, was a prime example—a single misstep could have led to his downfall.

Therefore, he wanted to use the Crown Prince's power and the intimidation of his followers to force Zhang Dai to the polo field, and then beat him up during the polo match, causing him injury or even disability.

Even if someone investigates later, it will only be because Zhang Dai was less skilled, and no one else is to blame. Every year, many people are disabled or even killed because of this. Other players may pay some compensation, but it is not considered a serious crime.

But he didn't expect that Zhang Dai would completely ignore the challenge and even raise the bar so high.

"Wang Lang, this fellow is truly arrogant! He has disobeyed orders, which is an offense against the Crown Prince. He should be severely punished as a warning to others!"

Seeing Zhang Dai's arrogance, the guards of the Eastern Palace were also furious. One of the captains stepped forward and said, "As long as the Prince gives the order, we will use sticks and whips to punish this scoundrel severely!"

"Shut up! Do not make any rash moves!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Shouqing immediately shook his head, then summoned one of his trusted confidants and whispered, "Report to the Crown Prince that Zhang Dai has been captured, but he remains unruly. Please advise the Crown Prince on how to subdue him!"

This area is still on the outskirts of Shaoyang Academy, and there are many people around. If he were to order the punishment of Zhang Dai here, he would undoubtedly be taking all the responsibility upon himself. He would have to wait for the Crown Prince to give instructions before he could carry them out. Even if someone were to hold him accountable, he would have the Crown Prince to back him up.

In the front hall of Shaoyang Academy, the Crown Prince and his father-in-law Xue Tao were eagerly waiting to see Zhang Dai's terrified and disheveled state. However, after hearing the report, the situation was not as they had imagined.

"This Wang Shouqing is just a son of a military family, and he thinks he's brave and bold, but how can he be so indecisive! He severely punished Zhang Dai himself, do you think I'll hold him accountable afterwards? Dozens of elite soldiers were stopped by one man, what kind of authority does he have left!"

Upon hearing the report, the Crown Prince immediately spoke in a deep voice with a displeased expression.

Xue Tao, standing nearby, added, "Zhang Dai has always been arrogant and audacious. Seeing that the group of disciples intended to coerce him with amusement, he assumed they wouldn't dare to harm him easily. Therefore, he became fearless and even uttered wild words. However, too much talk leads to mistakes. Your Highness might as well summon him in, observe his inappropriate words and actions, and then question and punish him accordingly!"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince slowly nodded and said, "Bring Zhang Dai in!"

Before long, Zhang Dai arrived at the front hall of Shaoyang Academy under the escort of Wang Shouqing and others. Upon seeing the Crown Prince sitting at the head of the table, he bowed and said, "Your subject Zhang Dai, tutor to the Crown Prince, pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Zhang Dai, what advice do you wish to offer me? Now that you have come before me, speak quickly!"

The Crown Prince sat high on the throne, looked down at Zhang Dai, and asked in a deep voice.

"The Crown Prince has his own advisors, and my duty is to serve as his tutor. Presenting the classics of sages and worthies for his perusal is my responsibility. I dare not overstep my bounds. Moreover, His Highness the Crown Prince is always dignified and proper, and his conduct is that of a great man. Everyone says that the Crown Prince has found the right person and that the heir apparent is wise. I myself am not a perfect person, so how dare I speak out of turn or seek fame by selling my integrity?"

After entering the hall, Zhang Dai changed his previous tough attitude towards Wang Shouqing and others outside. He bowed deeply inside the hall and said respectfully.

"You...you just said you wanted to remonstrate with words and even with your life!"

When Wang Shouqing saw that Zhang Dai's behavior had changed drastically, his face immediately darkened, and he couldn't help but shout at him.

The Crown Prince also spoke loudly in the hall: "To speak nonsense and go back on one's word is not the behavior of a good minister! You claim that you dare not sell your integrity for fame, but now it is clear that you are trying to avoid disaster with pretense! Do you think that with your clever words and flattering appearance you can disrupt the laws and regulations of my Eastern Palace?"

"As I just said, I admire the wisdom of my Crown Prince. His Highness is naturally adept at using the two instruments of punishment and reward, so how could I dare to hope that I can be exempted from them! Although I do not know what crime I have committed, His Highness will make his own wise decision, so I humbly await the application of these two instruments."

When he shouldn't be stubborn, Zhang Dai never is; he simply adopts a submissive attitude, as if he's being manipulated by others.

Theoretically speaking, the entire future of the world belongs to the Crown Prince. No matter how hard he tries to argue here, he can't escape the fundamental principle that all land under heaven belongs to the Emperor. So he might as well give up on defending himself to avoid humiliating himself. Anyway, there are other places to reason with him.

"What crime have you committed? Xue Shaoqing is the eldest son of the emperor, are you aware of this? Did you publicly disobey and humiliate Xue Shaoqing in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices before?" Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Xue Shaoqing has come to me with a matter, which is why I have summoned you here. You are arrogant and rude. Apologize to Xue Shaoqing first, and then come to receive your punishment!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai rose and faced Xue Tao, who was sitting to the side of the hall. He bowed deeply to Xue Tao and said in a deep voice, "Minister Xue, I have been impolite and offensive, causing you to lose face in front of your colleagues. Now, on the orders of the Crown Prince, I apologize to you!"

Xue Tao felt a sense of satisfaction when he saw Zhang Dai bowing and apologizing to him.

But the boy's compliance was far beyond his expectations. After a moment's thought, he spoke again: "You are arrogant and disobedient, and your crimes are grave. A few words of apology are not enough to gain your forgiveness! You previously boasted that you would impeach me and strip me of my official rank. Now, before His Highness the Crown Prince, say it again: do you still want to impeach me?"

"will not."

When Zhang Dai heard Xue Tao's question, he immediately answered.

Upon hearing this, Xue Tao's eyes lit up. Although he didn't know what Zhang Dai was up to, what he was most worried about was that this kid would use his status as an imperial censor to relentlessly harass and impeach him. So he immediately said, "You said it yourself. If you have violated it, what should your punishment be?"

"Since I have made this promise, I will keep it. If I disobey it, I will bow again in this hall and respectfully accept the Crown Prince's punishment!"

Seeing that Xue Tao still had some doubts, Zhang Dai lowered his head and said again.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince was somewhat satisfied with Zhang Dai's attitude of standing at attention and accepting the beating. He glanced at Wang Shouqing, whose face was full of resentment, and then pointed at Zhang Dai, saying, "Since you have sincerely admitted your mistake, this matter will be temporarily set aside. Since you took on the role of Crown Prince, you have neglected to pay your respects. Now that you are here, you can play a game with Wang Ling and the others in front of the palace, and I can forgive your disrespect!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai cursed inwardly. He had already adopted such a humble posture, yet this guy was still determined to harm him, and instead of directly punishing him, he wanted to force him to go to the polo field to be tortured.

He knew his own limitations. Although he had many famous horses in his stable, they were only good at controlling and riding. He was far from being able to handle the high-intensity competition that required superb skills, such as polo.

So he bowed again in the hall and said to the Crown Prince in a deep voice, “As I concurrently serve in the Eastern Palace, I have neglected my duties of attending to the emperor. Therefore, Your Highness does not know me, and this is my fault. Playing with dogs and horses is not my forte, but poetry, literature, and the arts are my strengths. That is why the Emperor appointed me as a tutor rather than a stable boy. To abandon one’s strengths and use one’s weaknesses is not the way to employ people. Your Highness did not know me before, and I am now filled with trepidation as I report this. I beg Your Highness to consider this carefully!”

"Outrageous! How His Highness the Crown Prince uses people is none of your business! You have repeatedly given orders but refused to comply. You are outwardly humble but inwardly fierce! Today, you must enter the polo field no matter what!"

Hearing Zhang Dai still making excuses, Wang Shouqing immediately glared and shouted.

The Crown Prince also spoke in a deep voice in the hall: "According to what I said, if I force you to perform on stage today, it would be a great failure in the way of employing people. You were employed before by reciting the Classic of Filial Piety. Well then, either you enter the stage to entertain, or you recite the Imperial Model and the Minister's Code in the hall today. If you mispronounce even one word, you will be punished with a beating outside the hall!"

Clearly, the Crown Prince was still resentful of Zhang Dai's earlier mockery of him with the Classic of Filial Piety. Zhang Dai's earlier apology had only saved Xue Tao's face, but now the Crown Prince wanted to vent his anger on him.

"The Imperial Precepts" was compiled by Emperor Taizong as a self-admonition and a guide for his sons, serving as a standard for emperors. "The Guide for Ministers" was compiled by Empress Wu Zetian as a guide for her ministers. Both have strong political implications and were among the classic texts used in the imperial examinations. However, they are not Confucian classics, so very few people actually study them.

The Crown Prince's request was clearly intended to make things difficult for Zhang Dai. And Zhang Dai was indeed stumped; he had indeed heard of these two articles but had never read them, let alone memorized them in their entirety.

So now he either has to go to the polo field to be beaten by Wang Shouqing and others, or lie outside the palace to be caned. In short, he can't get through this easily.

Just as Zhang Dai was pondering how to respond, Pei Zhen, who had just run out, hurriedly returned to Shaoyang Courtyard. After being summoned into the hall, he raised a warrant, bowed to the Crown Prince, and said, "Your Highness, the Secretariat has issued an order summoning Zhang Dai, the Inspector General, to come to the Secretariat to report on a matter. The matter is urgent, and upon receiving the order, there is no need to delay on the way; you must come to the Secretariat immediately to receive your orders!"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's expression changed slightly. After the attendant took the warrant and presented it to him, he held it in his hand for a while, pondered for a long time, and ultimately dared not interfere with the decree of the Secretariat. He ordered the official to return the warrant to Zhang Dai, and said in a deep voice, "Since the Secretariat has summoned you, you shall go now. But remember, if summoned again tomorrow, you must arrive promptly. Any refusal will be severely punished!"

"Your subject will obey the Crown Prince's instructions!"

Zhang Dai heard these words several times in a short while. Although the tone was harsh, as long as the punishment didn't fall on him, it was all bullshit!

Besides, this is a turn-based system, and I've obediently come here to take your lecture, which is already giving you face. After I leave, don't even talk about summoning me; you'd better just wait and see what I do next!
(End of this chapter)