Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 266 The First Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty from a Humble Background
What followed was a surging tide of shouts.

Where is the county seat?

Where is my esteemed teacher, Gao Yangzi?

In an instant, the teahouse and the streets outside were bustling with noise.

Many people turned to look at the teahouse.

On the second floor, the scholars who were resting there suddenly spotted their target.

"This is Gaoyang County!"

A loud shout was heard.

Wen He and the others suddenly felt the ground shaking, and the waiter downstairs shouted desperately, "Don't push, we can't get in!"

Fortunately, there were Imperial Guards nearby who quickly drove the people behind them away; otherwise, an accident might have occurred.

At that moment, Wen He and his group, led by Ma Zhou, went downstairs from another location and left through a side door.

"This is specifically for the teahouse waiters; I'm sorry to have troubled the magistrate of Gaoyang."

As soon as he stepped outside, Ma Zhou immediately apologized to Wen He.

In his view, it was an insult to let important people enter through such a door.

He was worried that Wen He would blame him if she found out later, so he decided to make it clear now.

If Wen He really blames him for this, it would be better for him to leave.

"Well, what's there to feel aggrieved about? In that situation, I'd have to crawl through a dog hole if I had to. In fact, I should be thanking you." Wen He smiled and breathed a long sigh of relief.

He never imagined that people in the Tang Dynasty also had idols.

And it's so crazy.

If I hadn't left in time, I'm afraid I would have been surrounded by those crazy fans.

There might even be people who force themselves to become their apprentices.

"Sir, it seems he was the one who exposed your identity just now," Li Tai said, pursing his lips. He hadn't even finished eating when he ran out.

Once we got back home, there were no snacks left.

"Shut up." Wen He glared at him.

Li Tai instinctively covered his head, thinking Wen He was about to beat him up.

"Sir, this is not the place to talk. How about we find another teahouse?" Li Chengqian asked with a hint of pleading.

He had finally managed to get out, and he didn't want to go back to the palace so soon.

Seeing this, Wen He chuckled and ruffled his hair.

"Alright, let's go. San'er, go find Yifu and have him bring the carriage over." Wen He called out to Li Ke, who was stunned for a moment before realizing she was calling him.

Although he was forced to be called Li San at Wenhe Mansion, it seems that not many people actually called him that.

After glancing at Ma Zhou, Li Ke understood that his master didn't want them to reveal their identities to outsiders.

He nodded and ran out of the alley without saying another word.

"I was indeed wrong just now," Ma Zhou quickly apologized.

He seemed not to have expected that just the four words "Gaoyang County Boy" would cause such a sensation.

"It's alright, but I'm curious, how did you recognize me?"

Wen He's clothes today weren't particularly luxurious; they were just simple plain clothes.

He didn't even bring a guard with him. Li Yifu was even arranged to sit downstairs to avoid revealing his identity by being arrogant at first and then obsequious.

Unexpectedly, Ma Zhou recognized him at a glance.

At this point, Ma Zhou felt a little embarrassed and bowed to him, saying, "That pastry just now cost 120 coins, and you, magistrate, were dressed so plainly and were so young, yet you were able to give away such expensive pastries. Your status must be extraordinary."

"In addition, the young man kept glancing at the Sanwei Study, and the county magistrate looked noble and was about the same age, so I dared to guess, and I didn't expect to be right."

With such reasoning ability, if Di Renjie hadn't not yet been born, he would have doubted whether he had mistaken the person for someone else.

However, clever people are versatile; Ma Zhou was adept at reading people and seizing opportunities, so it's not surprising that he possessed such abilities. Otherwise, he wouldn't have become the first prime minister of the Tang Dynasty from a peasant background.

Historical records indicate that after Ma Zhou arrived in Chang'an, he served as a staff member in Chang He's household.

In the fifth year of the Zhenguan era, Li Shimin ordered all officials to submit memorials discussing the gains and losses of the government. Chang He, being a military officer, was not familiar with Confucian classics, so Ma Zhou wrote a memorial for him outlining more than twenty suggestions that would benefit the country. He then asked Chang He to submit the memorial, and every suggestion resonated with Li Shimin.

When Li Shimin saw the letter, he knew it wasn't written by Chang He. That guy was good at fighting, but if you asked him to govern the country, he wouldn't be as capable as a village head.

Therefore, Li Shimin summoned Chang He to inquire.

When Chang He realized his deception had been exposed, he didn't try to hide it and bluntly said, "I don't have that ability. It was written by my guest, Ma Zhou. Every time he discusses things with me, he always emphasizes loyalty and filial piety."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin was immediately taken aback.

How could I not know that such a prodigy existed?
Therefore, Li Shimin summoned Ma Zhou that very day, and before Ma Zhou arrived, he sent people to urge him four times in a row.

When Ma Zhou arrived, Li Shimin talked with him all night and then directly appointed him to work in the Secretariat.

He thus became the first person since the Tang Dynasty to enter the Secretariat directly from a humble background.

However, Ma Zhou was actually from a poor family. His ancestors were from the Fufeng Ma clan, which was the same family as Zhao She, the Lord of Ma Fu of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period.

To avoid trouble, Zhao She's grandson changed his surname from "Ma Fu".

However, he came from a poor family and his life was worse than that of an average farming family, but fortunately he was able to study.

In addition, Wen He had previously suspected that Ma Zhou might have tricked Chang He.

Having served as Chang He's advisor for many years, how could he not know his master's capabilities?

Yet he still wrote a memorial that shocked Li Shimin immensely.

However, there's nothing wrong with him doing this; after all, even the best wine needs advertising.

Fortunately, he encountered an emperor like Li Shimin and an honest man like Chang He; otherwise, he might have been sent to a mass grave outside Chang'an overnight.

"County magistrate, is there anything I have done wrong?" Ma Zhou thought he had said the wrong thing again.

Wen He chuckled and shook her head: "Prince Bin is being overly cautious. I'm just a ten-year-old child, am I that scary?"

"No, no, no, I am not afraid, but I admire you. Previously, the county magistrate used swift and decisive means to eliminate treacherous officials, and now he is using the same method to suppress the five surnames and seven noble families. I truly admire and look up to him."

His eyes seemed to truly shine when he spoke.

Wen He felt a little embarrassed by his gaze.

So this is what it feels like to be flattered.

But his joy was short-lived, interrupted by laughter from the side.

"Pfft!"

"This man is so good at flattery, sir, why don't you keep him in the manor as a storyteller..."

Before Li Tai could finish speaking, Wen He's slap had already landed.

"If you utter another word today, I'll have His Majesty slaughter all your pigs!"

Li Tai covered his head, feeling immediately aggrieved.

Wen He glared at him, then turned to Ma Zhou and smiled, "That kid deserves a beating. Don't take what he said to heart."

"Don't dare."

Ma Zhou was indeed a little annoyed, but he didn't expect Wen He to apologize to him.

This magistrate of Gaoyang County holds many positions and is a confidant of His Majesty, yet he has none of the airs of a powerful official.

Ma Zhou was overjoyed.

He felt he had found the right person.

However, he also knew one thing: he was penniless and had no money to offer himself up, so even if he wanted to, he couldn't afford to pay the doorman.

If he wanted to earn the respect of this man from Gaoyang County, he had to demonstrate some real talent.

"Your Excellency, please allow me to offer a suggestion."

(End of this chapter)