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

Chapter 327 Wen County Prince Takes the Crown Prince to a Brothel?
The imperial guards were startled by the stern question and hurriedly bowed in salute.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Rencheng is currently outside Xuanwu Gate, determined to ride his horse into the palace."

"Riding into the palace?"

The four words were spoken with resounding force, and the hall fell into a deathly silence instantly.

The twelve generals and court officials looked at each other, even their breathing became lighter.

Even these people never had the privilege of riding horses into the palace.

The last time the sound of horses' hooves echoed within the palaces of Chang'an was at Xuanwu Gate on that day in the ninth year of the Wude era.

Li Shimin pressed his finger heavily on the gilded dragon pattern on the imperial desk, his brows furrowing into a knot: "What is Li Daozong up to now?"

His voice was clearly filled with anger. They were discussing Turkic military affairs, and this Prince Rencheng was making a scene at the palace gate, trying to break palace rules. It was simply outrageous.

"This Li Daozong..."

Hou Junji was about to chime in with a few words of criticism when Li Jing raised his hand to interrupt him.

"His Majesty."

Li Jing stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting.

“Although Prince Rencheng may occasionally act impulsively, he is by no means someone who doesn’t know his limits. This old minister believes that there must be a reason for his stubbornness today. We might as well grant his request and see what important matter he has to discuss.”

Li Jing had always admired Li Daozong. In recent years, as a member of the imperial family, Li Daozong had always taken the lead in battle and was by no means a spoiled brat who only knew how to fool around.

Li Shimin remained silent for a moment, tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, and finally relented: "Fine, for the sake of the pharmacist, I grant your request."

Meanwhile, at Xuanwu Gate.

Zhang Shigui, hunched over, circled Li Daozong's warhorse three times, his gaze lingering on the iron plate on the hoof. He stroked his white beard and slowly shook his head: "Isn't this just a horseshoe?"

Li Daozong was shocked upon hearing this and almost fell off his horse: "You recognize him?"

He was convinced that this was a novel creation by Wen He, so how could anyone recognize it?
Zhang Shigui straightened up, patted the front legs of his warhorse, and a hint of reminiscence appeared on his deeply lined face: "This thing existed at the end of the Han Dynasty, and it was specially made to protect the hooves of horses. It's just a pity..."

He pointed to the edge of the horseshoe.

"Back then, iron was too brittle. It would crack after a few runs on the stone ground. It was not only laborious and time-consuming, but also very slippery. It was okay in the summer, but in the winter when it was frozen, the horses' hooves would slip as soon as they touched the ice, which would cause problems."

He was more than 20 years older than Li Daozong. His ancestor Zhang He was the General of Chariots and Cavalry of the Northern Qi Dynasty, and his father Zhang Guo was the Grand Commander of the Sui Dynasty. He had a deep family background and his knowledge was naturally beyond that of ordinary military generals: "The Sui Dynasty also tried to rebuild it, but unfortunately it was too costly and not practical, so it was eventually abandoned."

"Have you seen it?" Li Daozong asked.

Zhang Shigui stroked his beard and shook his head: "I saw it once when I was a kid, but this thing has never been made again since."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Daozong's face turned green in an instant.

He then remembered that Wen He only said that these were newly made horseshoes, but did not mention that no one had ever tried them before.

If I make such a big show of riding into the palace, only to end up showing His Majesty an old, outdated object, I'm afraid I'll be in for a beating.

"Wait, no, no."

Just as he was feeling disheartened, Zhang Shigui suddenly squatted down, lifted the horse's forelegs, and his cloudy eyes suddenly lit up: "This is different from the previous horseshoe! Look at this iron... it's actually made of fine iron?"

He ran his fingertips along the edge of the horseshoe and then twirled the nails on it.

"The shape has also been changed to fit the curve of a horse's hoof, and even the nails have been hammered into the shape of lotus seeds to prevent them from loosening..."

He looked up at Li Daozong and asked, "Have you tried this item?"

"I...I've tried it."

Li Daozong steadied himself, recalling the image of Wen He riding his horse on the gravel road, and his confidence returned.

"Running through the rubble is more stable than on flat ground, and in winter when it's icy... it probably wouldn't be slippery."

Inside the Liangyi Hall, the atmosphere of the meeting became subtle due to the commotion outside the Xuanwu Gate.

Li Shimin lightly tapped the imperial desk with his fingertips, his gaze fixed on the direction of the palace gate. Li Jing, Changsun Wuji, and the others held their breath and waited.

Suddenly, the clear sound of horses' hooves came from outside the palace, approaching from afar. The hooves made a crisp "clattering" sound on the ground, and the sound was more solid than the ordinary sound of horses' hooves, with a strange rhythm.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Li Daozong gallop into the hall. He suddenly pulled on the reins in front of the steps, and as the warhorse reared up, the iron plates on its four hooves flashed a cold light in the morning light.

"Your subject, Li Daozong, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

Li Daozong dismounted, holding a crescent-shaped iron object in his hand, and said loudly.

"Your Majesty has ordered me to enter the palace to present a special item: horseshoes newly manufactured by the Ministry of Works. They may be able to alleviate the problem of horse losses for our Tang Dynasty's cavalry!"

Li Shimin's gaze fell on the object in his hand, and he frowned slightly: "This shape... looks like a horseshoe as described in ancient books."

Li Jing strode forward, took the iron object, and examined it closely. His fingertips traced the smooth curves of the edges and the evenly distributed nail holes, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Your Majesty is right. This object does indeed resemble a horseshoe from the late Han Dynasty, but..."

He flipped the iron over and pointed to the curve of the inner side that fit the horse's hoof.

"The curvature is polished with extreme precision, and the iron material is definitely not ordinary scrap iron, but rather looks like it was forged from refined iron."

Hou Junji sneered from the side: "It's just an old thing remade. The Sui Dynasty tried this thing. The iron is brittle and easy to crack. It's even more slippery when the ground is frozen in winter. Quite a few cavalrymen broke their legs. In the end, they still abandoned it."

Li Daozong's face darkened: "Duke of Liang, you are mistaken. These horseshoes are very different from those of the Sui Dynasty. They have been tested at the Ministry of Works before. They can run fast on gravel roads and do not slip on steep slopes!"

"Oh?"

Li Shimin became interested and looked at Li Jing.

"Does the pharmacist find this credible?"

Li Jing passed the ironware around to the generals beside him and said in a deep voice, "The old horseshoes have three drawbacks. First, the iron material is of poor quality and easily breaks. Second, the shape is not suitable and easily becomes loose. Third, they are easy to slip on when they freeze in winter."

"If this new item can solve these three problems, it will indeed be a boon to the military. But talk is cheap, so let's try it out on the spot."

"good!"

Li Shimin nodded and immediately gave the order.

"Someone, pour some water on the open ground outside the hall and let it freeze! Then bring some gravel to pave a rough path!"

The palace servants dared not neglect their duties, and soon poured several buckets of cold water under the steps.

In the bitter cold of winter, water stains instantly freeze into ice, gleaming with a cool, clear light.

Cheng Zhijie then had half a cartload of sharp-edged gravel brought over to pave a rugged path beside the ice rink, which looked like it would hurt one's feet.

Li Daozong led his warhorse over and patted its neck: "Your Majesty, everyone, please take a look!"

He mounted his horse and began to trot slowly on flat ground. All that could be seen was the horseshoes striking the gold bricks with a soft "clanging" sound. The warhorse moved steadily, showing no signs of discomfort.

"Let's go to the ice rink!"

Cheng Zhijie couldn't help but shout, his gruff voice full of anticipation.

Li Daozong spurred his horse, and the warhorse neighed loudly, its four hooves flying as it charged onto the ice rink.

Everyone watched with bated breath. The moment the horseshoe touched the ice, it did not slip like a normal horse's hoof. Instead, it firmly "gripped" the ice, making each step steady and solid.

Li Daozong rode his horse in a circle on the ice rink, gradually increasing his speed. The iron plate seemed to have teeth, carving fine marks on the ice surface, yet it remained steady.

"it is good!"

Li Jing clapped his hands in admiration.

"Its anti-slip performance alone far surpasses that of the old horseshoes!"

Li Daozong did not stop; he turned his horse around and charged toward the pile of rubble.

Hou Junji watched coldly, a disdainful look on his lips.

The gravel was sharp and jagged, and even a horse would stumble when it stepped on it. No matter how sturdy this piece of iron was, could it possibly crush the gravel?
But the moment the warhorse charged into the pile of rubble, it moved as if it were flat ground.

The sharp stones were crushed by the horseshoes with a "crunching" sound, and some stones were crushed directly, sending up tiny stone chips. Yet the iron plate did not have a single crack, not even a chip at the edge.

Li Shimin had already risen and walked down the steps, his eyes fixed on the horseshoe.

Having fought for many years, he had seen too many warhorses ruined by worn-out hooves. Now, seeing that this piece of iron could allow warhorses to move freely between ice and gravel, his breathing became rapid.

When Li Daozong stopped his horse, he quickly stepped forward and personally lifted the horse's front hooves to examine them closely.

The iron foot was firmly nailed to the horse's hoof, fitting perfectly with the horn. Where it stepped over gravel, it left only a few shallow marks, showing no sign of loosening.

"This iron..."

Li Shimin rubbed his fingertips against the iron palm, feeling its heavy texture.

"Is it really refined iron?"

"Exactly!" Li Daozong dismounted, his voice filled with barely concealed excitement.

"This is refined iron produced by Wen He after improving the blast furnace. Its hardness far exceeds that of ordinary scrap iron. He said that these iron horseshoes can be replaced regularly, so the cost is much lower than raising a new horse!"

"I remember the Ministry of Works mentioned before that Wen He had drawn up the blueprints for these horseshoes, but they hadn't been made yet." Li Shimin suddenly remembered, and his smile deepened.

This boy from the future is bringing more and more surprises.

With these horseshoes, the Tang cavalry would have an extra advantage when facing the Turks the following year.

"Is Wen Jiaying currently working at the Ministry of Works?" Li Shimin asked.

"exist."

Li Daozong nodded.

"Today, Wen Jiaying and the Crown Prince both went to the Ministry of Works. The horseshoes were just tested there. I thought this matter was related to the military, so I immediately went to the palace to report it. Fortunately, His Majesty gave me permission, so I dared to ride in."

Li Daozong felt somewhat embarrassed, knowing that he had been abrupt today.

Fortunately, His Majesty did not blame him.

Upon hearing Wen He's name, Changsun Wuji's expression subtly shifted.

But he soon regained his composure.

At this moment, Li Jing took the spare horseshoe from Li Shimin's hand, examined it repeatedly, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, if this is true, it should be promoted immediately. Our Tang Dynasty's warhorse reserves are already tight, and the losses after the Battle of Huizhou are even greater. If we have these horseshoes, the lifespan of warhorses can be extended by at least half, which is nothing short of a timely help for the border troops."

"The pharmacist is right!" Li Shimin handed the horseshoe to the eunuch beside him and said loudly.

"By imperial decree, the Ministry of Works shall immediately begin mass production of horseshoes, prioritizing their supply to the border armies of Hebei, Hedong, and Longyou. The Ministry of Civil Affairs shall allocate the necessary iron ore, ensuring supply even if other construction projects are suspended!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Changsun Wuji bowed and replied, but could only smile bitterly to himself.

Li Jing stroked his beard and sighed, "When Wei Qing and Huo Qubing were fighting the Xiongnu, their biggest worry was the lack of warhorses. This led to Emperor Wu of Han wasting the country's resources. If we had this item back then, how could such a tragedy have occurred? It is truly rare for someone as young as Wen to have such ingenuity."

Li Jing's words struck a chord with Li Shimin.

Hou Junji's face flushed red and then turned pale. He had been mocking him just moments before, but now he was speechless. Cheng Zhijie patted him on the shoulder and laughed, "Old Hou, you're convinced now? This little kid is much more shrewd than you or I!"

Hou Junji chuckled twice, but didn't say anything.

Li Shimin glanced at Hou Junji secretly, and seeing his embarrassed expression, he looked away and smiled, saying, "It's getting late. You may all have dinner in the palace tonight. Gao Yue, go to the Ministry of Works and invite Wen He. He has made a contribution, and I will personally celebrate his achievement today."

Gao Yue received the imperial decree and rushed to the Ministry of Works without stopping, only to find a few craftsmen tidying up their tools when she arrived at the workshop.

When asked about Wen He, the craftsmen said that Wen He had gone to Zhuque Street with Minister Yan and that he was going to have a small gathering at Qingfeng Tower. It seemed that he had also brought a young man with him on the way.

Gao Yue's heart skipped a beat. Without daring to delay, she turned around and headed back to the Lizheng Hall.

At this moment, a banquet had been set up inside the Rijō Hall, and the amber wine in the gilded wine pot gleamed with a warm light.

Li Shimin was discussing the horse farms in Longyou with Li Jing when he saw Gao Yue return alone. He called out, "Why are you back alone? Where is Wen He?"

Gao Yue knelt down with a thud, her voice trembling: "Your Majesty, Wen County Magistrate and Minister Yan went to Qingfeng Tower, saying... saying they were celebrating the casting of horseshoes, and some people also said... that His Highness the Crown Prince seemed to have gone along as well."

"Bang!"

Li Shimin slammed the jade cup in his hand onto the table, splashing wine all over it.

Li Jing dropped his ivory chopsticks. Cheng Zhijie's eyes widened, and he shouted in a rough voice, "Qingfeng Tower? Isn't that a brothel? That little boy Wen He is only ten years old, and he's already thinking about breaking his vows. I wonder if his little body can handle the prostitutes there..."

Before Cheng Zhijie could finish speaking, he was glared at fiercely by Qin Qiong, who immediately shut him up and sat down.

Duan Zhixuan quickly stood up: "Your Majesty, please calm down. There may be a misunderstanding. Wen He has always been cautious..."

"Misunderstand?"

Li Shimin suddenly stood up, the hem of his dragon robe sweeping across the table, the cups and plates clattering together with a jarring sound.

"Bringing the Crown Prince to a brothel, and you call that a misunderstanding? If the censors find out, I'm afraid I'll see memorials impeaching the Crown Prince on my desk tomorrow!"

Li Shimin wasn't angry that Wen He went to a brothel. If it were just Wen He alone, he would have laughed like Cheng Zhijie.

But Li Chengqian can't go!
The hall fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the crackling of sparks from the charcoal brazier.

Li Shimin took a deep breath, pointed outside the hall, and said sternly, "Huang Chun! Take a hundred cavalrymen to Qingfeng Tower and 'invite' Wen He and Yan Lide back to me! If the Crown Prince is really there..."

His tone turned serious.

"Bring them back with you!"

Meanwhile, inside Qingfeng Tower, the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments were in full swing.

The warm fragrance, mingled with the aroma of wine, wafted over the carved railings. Downstairs, dancers twirled and flicked their sleeves, their flowing sleeves billowing like clouds skimming the water, drawing cheers from the entire hall.

Wen He was watching the commotion, thinking to herself, 'It's a pity my body is still too small. Yan Lide must be afraid that I'm too hot-blooded for my age, so he didn't send anyone to keep me company.'

However, he guessed that he might have been frightened by Li Chengqian.

When they arrived earlier, they discovered that Li Chengqian was secretly following the carriage. Wen He was so frightened that she immediately asked Li Yifu, who was accompanying them, to send him back to the mansion.

That kid's too cunning; he even followed me secretly.

With his small frame, if he went to a brothel, he'd be devoured whole.

Moreover, if Li Er (Emperor Taizong of Tang) knew that he had brought Li Chengqian to this place, he could join forces with Empress Zhangsun to tear him apart alive.

"Jiaying."

Yan Lide took a sip of wine, a smile spreading across his aged face, and raised his glass to Wen He.

"If it weren't for you today, who knows how long this horseshoe would have been delayed. I'd like to offer you a toast. For the sake of our Tang soldiers, with this item, there will be fewer warhorses lost in the future. How can we not have a strong border army?"

Wen He quickly raised the warm soup in return, saying, "Minister Yan, you flatter me."

"You're doing this again!" Yan Lide glared at him, feigning displeasure, his beard even bristling.

"I spared you face when the Prince of Rencheng and the Crown Prince were here, but now that there are no outsiders, if you call me 'Minister' again, I'll have to punish you with wine!"

Wen He chuckled and quickly corrected himself, "Yes, yes, Brother Yan, I misspoke."

"This is right!"

Yan Lide smiled so hard his eyes narrowed into slits.

"I'm in a good mood today, so I've sent someone to call Liben and a few of my sons to keep you company. You're young and shouldn't get drunk, but you should at least enjoy yourself. This will also allow your uncle to properly teach those good-for-nothings a lesson in the future."

Well, Yan Lide's sons must all be older than him.

The thought of them calling her uncle made Wen He feel embarrassed for them.

Just then, Yan Lide suddenly put down his wine glass and his expression became serious: "However, there is one more thing I would like to ask you for a favor."

Wen He asked in confusion, "Brother Yan, why be so polite? Just tell me."

"Actually, it's not a big deal."

Yan Lide rubbed his hands together, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"It's that half-finished poem you recited while riding the horse earlier... Could you write it down for me? I've been thinking about it a lot, and if you don't finish it, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep well at night."

Wen He was taken aback.

He was riding his horse at the time, and in a moment of carefree joy, he casually recited Xin Qiji's poem "Po Zhen Zi".

Surprisingly, Yan Lide actually liked it.

No wonder he immediately wrote a calligraphy copybook.

"This..." He hesitated, feeling a little guilty since it was a "borrowed" poem.

Seeing this, Yan Lide raised an eyebrow and offered a tempting offer: "I know that Jiaying has a fondness for calligraphy and painting. In a few days, I will find two authentic copies of Wang Xizhi's works and send them to you. How about that?"

Wen He, who had been hesitating, immediately straightened his back: "What's there to say! Since Brother Yan likes it, I'll complete it right away!"

A copy of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy—this is a treasure that can be passed down as a family heirloom!

It's valuable even now, let alone a thousand years from now.

"Excellent! Excellent!" Yan Lide was so delighted that he immediately ordered someone to lay out paper and grind ink.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out downstairs.

A group of scholars in brocade robes and jade belts escorted a man in a blue robe as he entered; it was Shangguan Yi.

"Young Master Shangguan has finally arrived! Today, we have composed several new tunes for Qingfeng Tower, which perfectly match your poetic style!"

The madam from the building, accompanied by her many beautiful women, went to greet them.

These people, with their outstanding literary talents, would be fortunate if they could leave behind a poem.

That would be enough to increase the girl's value several times over.
Shangguan Yi smiled and nodded. Although he held no official position, he possessed the noble demeanor of a scholar.

Beside him was a young man dressed in a moon-white long gown, Kong Yanzhou, a member of the Kong family in Qufu.

Kong Yanzhou, holding a wine cup, laughed and said, "Brother You Shao, since you are in such a refined mood today, and the dancers downstairs have waists as slender as willows, why not compose a poem for this scene? It would be a treat for our ears."

Immediately, applause erupted from the surrounding crowd, and even the musicians stopped playing, waiting to record the masterpiece.

After all, although Shangguan Yi had not entered officialdom, he had already established himself in the literary circles of Chang'an with his literary talent. Having one of his poems would make Qingfeng Tower even more splendid.

Shangguan Yi cleared his throat, his fingers twirling a folding fan, just as he was about to compose a poem, when he heard a servant's clear shout from the second floor:
"Upstairs in the private room, Gao Yangxianzi composed the lyrics for 'Po Zhen Zi'!"

The shout was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly drowning out the noise downstairs.

Shangguan Yi's smile froze abruptly, and the fingers gripping the folding fan tightened unconsciously, her knuckles turning white.

At the last Qujiang Pool Poetry Gathering, he was overwhelmed by two poems and couldn't lift his head. Is he going to suffer the same embarrassment again today?

Kong Yanzhou was also taken aback. He looked towards the private room on the second floor in the direction of the voice, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.

The servant boy, holding a plain letter, hurried down from the second floor, followed by a musician carrying a pipa, clearly intending to sing on the spot.

Shangguan Yi hesitated for a moment, then suddenly said to Kong Yanzhou beside him, "Brother Yanzhou, I suddenly feel unwell and must take my leave now."

"Huh? You Shao, you're leaving already?"

Kong Yanzhou looked at him with a puzzled expression. He saw Shangguan Yi walking hurriedly, almost as if he were fleeing, towards the door. His brisk and swift movements did not seem to indicate that he was unwell.

As he was wondering what was going on, a clear and melodious song of a musician suddenly came from behind him, accompanied by the rapid notes of the pipa, like the first beating of war drums:
"Looking at the sword while drunk, I dreamed of blowing the corner of the company."

The commotion inside Qingfeng Tower instantly subsided, even the soft clinking of wine cups ceased.

"Eight hundred miles of roasted meat are distributed among the troops, fifty strings of music resound beyond the border, and the autumn review of troops is held on the battlefield."

The chanting suddenly rose in pitch, as if the sounds of clashing swords and galloping horses were rushing out from the words.

Those nobles and dignitaries in the building, who had once donned armor and fought on the battlefield, suddenly straightened their backs, their eyes gleaming with a fervent light.

That was the aroma of roasted meat in the military camp, the booming sound of war drums and reed pipes, and the solemn atmosphere of troops being mustered on the drill ground in the autumn frost—all of it was vivid in my mind.

The Tang Dynasty has not yet completely ended its wars, and these powerful figures have not yet fallen into a life of debauchery.

"My horse gallops swiftly like the wind, my bowstring twangs like thunder, I accomplish the affairs of the king and the world, winning fame both before and after my death. Alas, my hair has turned white!"

As the last note faded, the pipa music abruptly stopped, leaving a lingering, melodious sound.

"it is good!"

"good!"

A wave of cheers erupted from the hall. Several military officers, their hands trembling slightly as they gripped their wine glasses, couldn't help but tear up as they thought of the gray hairs at their temples.

Yan Lide sighed deeply in the private room, repeatedly pondering the words "poor thing, his hair has turned white," before turning to look at Wen He beside him.

The young man was looking downstairs, his profile clearly illuminated by the candlelight, but his eyes seemed to hold a vicissitude deeper than the years themselves.

“Jiaying,” he couldn’t help but ask, “how can you have such sentiments at your age?”

Just as Wen He was about to reply, a loud crash suddenly came from downstairs.

"boom!"

The main gate of Qingfeng Tower was kicked open, and a group of soldiers clad in bright armor filed in, the clanging of their armor plates startling the candlelight.

The burly man, whose heroic spirit had just been stirred by the poem "Po Zhen Zi", slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Which bastard dares to cause trouble and ruin your father's poetic spirit!"

The leader gave him a cold glance and said in a deep voice, "One hundred riders!"

"Pfft!"

The moment those two words were uttered, the burly man, who had been furious just moments before, was struck dumb as if by lightning. His legs buckled and he knelt straight down on the ground.

(End of this chapter)