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

Chapter 380 A Moral Exemplar Arrives at the Eastern Palace

Wen He held the newly opened secret letter between her fingers. As her gaze swept over the first line, her body suddenly stiffened, her eyes widened, and even her breathing paused for a beat.

The letter trembled slightly in his hand. The relaxed smile he had shown while watching the farce on the drill ground vanished from his face in an instant. His brows furrowed tightly, and even the veins on his forehead were faintly visible.

Zhang Wenxiao and Gao Yue, who were standing to the side, exchanged a glance, both secretly alarmed.

Wen He rarely showed such an expression.

And each time, it seems to be a major event.

Although the two were full of doubts, they knew that they should not ask too many questions about confidential matters, so they could only stand with their hands at their sides, not daring to even breathe loudly.

"Summon Chen Dahai to see me immediately."

Wen He quickly folded the secret letter in half and stuffed it into her sleeve, her voice carrying a barely perceptible tension.

Zhang Wenxiao didn't dare to delay, bowed and replied "Yes," then turned and walked quickly outside.

Seeing this, Gao Yue silently took out a delicate tinderbox from her bosom, lit it, and handed it to Wen He.

Wen He raised her hand and took the secret letter out of her sleeve, then held it above the flames, watching the orange-red flames slowly lick the mulberry paper, her eyes gleaming.

Only when all that remained was a handful of black ash still glowing with embers did he nod to Gao Yue.

"Thank you for making this trip, sir. Please inform His Majesty that Wen He will certainly not fail in his mission."

"You're too kind, sir. I'll return to the palace to report back immediately."

Gao Yue bowed respectfully, turned and left quietly, without asking a single question from beginning to end.

Wen He watched Gao Yue leave, then turned and walked towards his own office.

Just as he sat down at the desk, Chen Dahai arrived with Zhang Wenxiao.

"Zhang Wenxiao, go and mobilize twenty cavalrymen to place the entire area within a hundred paces of the government office under martial law."

Wen He's voice was calm yet carried an undeniable authority.

"No one, regardless of who they are, is allowed to approach without my authorization, not even members of the Hundred Cavalry Division."

Zhang Wenxiao's heart skipped a beat, and he became even more certain that this matter was of utmost importance. He immediately accepted the order: "Once the bid is won, get to it immediately!"

Only Wen He and Chen Dahai remained in the government office.

Chen Dahai stood respectfully at attention, waiting for Wen He to speak.

As the commander of the Hundred Riders' Secret Service, he knew best what mobilizing secret agents meant. Wen He's caution suggested that he might be planning something to do on the border.

"Effective immediately, all missions of the Hundred Riders' spies will be adjusted."

Wen He spoke slowly, her fingertips tapping lightly on the table.

"The resident spies in Liaodong and Japan, as well as the second team members who are lurking in the residences of various officials, will continue with their original missions. Apart from them, all other spies will be withdrawn and reassigned. You have six months. I need a detailed intelligence report."

He looked up at Chen Dahai, his eyes sharp as knives.

"On the Turkic side, we need to thoroughly investigate everything, from the Turkic nobles like Jieli down to the names, troop strength, and confidants of every tribe's chieftain, even their internal conflicts and entanglements. We also need to thoroughly investigate the defense maps of the Yinshan area, including the rotation schedule, troop deployment, grain storage locations, and cavalry reinforcement routes. We can't miss a single detail. As for the pseudo-Liang, we need to thoroughly investigate the generals under Liang Shidu, the city defenses, the secret contacts with the Turks, and even the strength of his army's grain supplies and the morale of his soldiers."

This is not a negotiation, but an order.

Chen Dahai's pupils suddenly contracted.

He involuntarily held his breath.

He knew that his young master's sudden issuance of such an order meant that the Tang Dynasty would soon launch a full-scale war against the Turks.

He hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help asking.

"Young master, I heard that His Majesty has sent an envoy to the puppet Liang to persuade Liang Shidu to surrender. During the few days you were confined, will this matter... affect the deployment of secret agents?"

He worried that if the court could truly persuade Liang Shidu to surrender, such a large-scale investigation of the false Liang would only arouse unnecessary suspicion.

"Persuading someone to surrender is merely a matter of using diplomacy before resorting to force."

Wen He shook her head, her tone conveying a sense of understanding.

“Liang Shidu occupies the strategic location of Shuofang and is backed by the Turks. He has long harbored ambitions of separatism. From the end of the Sui Dynasty to the present, he has refused to surrender several times, and this time will be no exception.”

He paused, then continued, “Even if he feigns surrender, the Tang Dynasty will still take over his territory. Shuofang is located between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks. If we go to war with the Turks, and he joins forces with Jieli to attack from both Shuofang and the Turks, our Tang Dynasty’s border defenses will be put on the defensive. His Majesty ordered us to investigate the pseudo-Liang regime in order to prepare for subsequent military operations. Only by eliminating this thorn in our side can we fully deal with the Turks.”

Historically, when Li Shimin tried to persuade Liang Shidu to surrender, Liang Shidu refused outright.

However, in the second year of the Zhenguan era, Xue Wanjun and Chai Shao captured the capital.

Liang Dushi occupied a strategic location, so if they wanted to attack the Turks, they had to take them down first.

Otherwise, he and Jieli would form a pincer movement against the Tang Dynasty.

Of course, Wen He doesn't need to worry about this at all.

Li Shimin and his people must have seen this long ago.

"Oh, right, there are two more things to add."

He looked up at Chen Dahai and tapped his fingertips lightly on the table.

"First, from today until the end of next spring, all merchants traveling between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks must be closely monitored. We must not only check the goods they carry, but also find out their dealings with Turkic nobles, especially those caravans that frequently go near the Jieli Yazhang. We cannot let any of them slip by."

He paused, then changed the subject, a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"Furthermore, among the merchants we previously bribed, if any are suspicious or disobey our orders, we don't need to report them. We can execute them secretly without any reports. Since these people dare to take the benefits and still harbor disloyalty, keeping them around will only cause trouble sooner or later. We need to prevent them from leaking information and ruining our plans."

Chen Dahai paused for a moment, then nodded solemnly.

He understood Wen He's concerns. These merchants traveled along the border year-round and were prone to betraying their principles for profit. If they were turned by the Turks, they might reveal the entire deployment of the Hundred Cavalry. Secretly eliminating the hidden danger was indeed the safest approach.

"Secondly, we need to intensify our efforts to purchase more Turkic wool."

Wen He continued.

"But there is one thing to note: this time we must not use salt, iron, or grain to exchange for them. We must use copper coins instead. Salt and iron are the foundation of people's livelihood, and grain is even more important for the army. Giving them to the Turks would be tantamount to aiding the enemy. We must exchange them with copper coins."

Before he finished speaking, he added, "Have our brothers who are lurking in the Turkic territory purchase more of their sheep's milk, dried meat, and horses. Sheep's milk and dried meat are their daily rations, and horses are the foundation of their cavalry. The more we buy, the less of their military rations and warhorses we will have. But remember, no matter what we do, we must not reveal our identities. If the people of Jieli notice anything unusual, all our previous plans will be in vain."

Chen Dahai wrote down each item.

Wen He's intention is to fundamentally weaken the Turks' fighting strength, so that when war breaks out, they will be plunged into a predicament of lack of food, cold-weather supplies, and warhorses, causing them to fall into chaos without a fight.

After memorizing all the orders, Chen Dahai folded the paper and stuffed it into his pocket, then bowed to Wen He.

"Young master, rest assured, I will arrange it immediately after the bid is placed, and there will be no mistakes whatsoever."

Looking at Wen He's cold expression, he knew that this matter concerned the war between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks, and dared not be negligent in the slightest. When he turned to leave, his steps were even more hurried than when he came.

After Chen Dahai left, only Wen He remained in the government office.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingertips tracing the map on the table, his gaze falling on the locations of Lingzhou and Shuofang, and suddenly he chuckled.

"No wonder His Majesty transferred Li Shiji to Lingzhou and Xue Wanche was recalled to Chang'an. Now that Chai Shao has been relieved of his military post because of me, it seems that Li Shiji will most likely be the commander-in-chief who attacks Liang Shidu in the future."

Li Shiji was a steady and reliable strategist, and familiar with the border terrain, making him the most suitable candidate to deal with Liang Shidu, who occupied Shuofang.

Wen He shook her head, but her heart was not much of a ripple.

Ultimately, this matter is a deployment by the imperial court and the military. Li Shimin will most likely not let him participate, since his current position is the head of the Hundred Cavalry Division, specializing in intelligence and reconnaissance, not leading troops into battle.

Thinking of the extra tasks Li Shimin had assigned her in the secret letter, Wen He couldn't help but rub her temples and mutter to herself.

"It's a pity. It seems that the name Wan Hu will not appear in history books again."

He sighed softly and put the matter out of his mind for the time being.

After taking a half-hour nap in the government office and having a simple lunch at the Hundred Cavalry Office, Wen He leisurely led her little pony towards the Ministry of Works.

As soon as they reached the outside of the Ministry of Works, they heard a familiar angry shout coming from inside. The voice was so loud that even the guards outside couldn't help but turn their heads.

"What do you mean by 'no money'? Does Dou Jing want someone to personally go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs to ask him for it?"

"These things must be completed before the end of the year! If you feel you cannot do them, then go to the Taiji Hall and resign from your posts. Don't waste time here!"

Wen He raised an eyebrow; the voice belonged to Yan Lide.

Normally, this Minister of Works is always gentle and rarely gets angry, but today he has lost his temper so badly.

He stepped into the government office, and as soon as he turned the corner of the corridor, he saw Yan Lide standing in front of his desk in the main hall of the Ministry of Works, his face ashen. The vice ministers on the left and right, as well as several doctors and assistant ministers, were all standing below with their heads down, not daring to even breathe loudly.

A middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in a scarlet official robe, was the Vice Minister of Works. He was looking mournful, and his voice was filled with grievance.

"Your Excellency, it is not that I am shirking responsibility, but half a year is simply too short a time. His Majesty has ordered us to manufacture far too many crossbows, armor, and horseshoes. Even if we recruit craftsmen now, we may not be able to meet the deadline!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Lide frowned even more, his eyes filled with impatience. He glanced at the vice minister and asked in a cold tone.

"Would you dare say the words 'too late' to His Majesty in the Taiji Hall tomorrow?"

The vice minister's face turned deathly pale instantly. He quickly bowed and saluted, his voice trembling.

"This humble official dares not! This humble official dares not!"

The surrounding officials lowered their heads even further.

They all knew that Yan Lide was usually easy to talk to, but when it came to tasks assigned by His Majesty or matters concerning their own official careers, he would become exceptionally tough, and no one dared to offend him at that time.

Looking at everyone's expressions, Yan Lide took a deep breath and spoke with unwavering resolve.

"This matter is settled. There is no such thing as 'too late.' From today onwards, everyone in the Ministry of Works must work overtime to recruit skilled craftsmen from all over the country as soon as possible, and to speed up the process so that all the equipment required by the Ministry of War can be completed within six months."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"If anyone dares to slack off, cheat, or deliberately delay, don't blame me for being ruthless. I will directly petition His Majesty to dismiss you from your posts!"

"promise!"

Everyone bowed and responded in unison, their voices perfectly synchronized, and no one dared to utter a single dissent.

Wen He stood under the corridor of the Ministry of Works, his fingertips casually tracing the intertwined branches carved on the pillars, taking in the entire argument in the main hall.

Only after Yan Lide made the final decision and the officials dispersed dejectedly did he turn his gaze away. He saw Yan Lide rubbing his temples, picking up the teacup on the table and taking a big gulp, then he smiled and waved his hand.

"Brother Lide."

Yan Lide looked up upon hearing the voice and saw that it was Wen He. The annoyance on his face instantly disappeared, replaced by a hearty smile. He even quickened his pace and hurried to greet her.

"Jiaying, what brings you to the Ministry of Works today? Is it because the Hundred Cavalry Division has some new and interesting thing that you need my help with?"

“Look at what Brother Lide said.”

Wen He smiled and stepped forward, walking inside alongside him.

"I have indeed come today with a favor to ask, but I also wish to catch up with Brother Lide."

Yan Lide was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately led Wen He toward his official residence. As they passed under the corridor, he gave special instructions to the clerk on duty.

"Keep a close watch on the gate. If any officials come to see me, tell them that I am discussing matters with the magistrate of Gaoyang County. Unless it is His Majesty's decree, I will not see them."

The clerk quickly bowed and agreed, and Yan Lide then pushed open the door with peace of mind and invited Wen He into the government office.

The office was simply furnished, with thick stacks of blueprints and documents piled on the desk, and several rolls of measuring ropes for surveying land in the corner, along with half a piece of brass waiting to be polished. The craftsmen had delivered it yesterday, saying it was to be used to make brass buckles for military equipment.

Yan Lide invited Wen He to sit down in the guest seat, then turned around and took out a celadon jar from the cabinet. When he opened the lid, a sweet honey fragrance instantly filled the air.

"This is the newly harvested locust honey from this year. It comes from a bee farm at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain. The beekeepers there specialize in locust honey, which is three times more mellow than ordinary mixed flower honey. I specially asked someone to keep two jars for me. I wouldn't be willing to take it out for ordinary guests."

As he spoke, he took two white porcelain cups, carefully scooped out two spoonfuls of honey, poured in some freshly warmed spring water, stirred it gently with a silver spoon, and pushed it in front of Wen He.

"Try it. This honey doesn't need to be boiled. Just mix it with warm water and it will be very sweet. You're young, so drinking more sweet things can also relieve the fatigue of the Hundred Cavalry."

Wen He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and the sweet honey aroma slid down her throat, easing some of the fatigue from dealing with undercover work over the past few days. She couldn't help but nod.

"It is indeed good honey."

Yan Lide laughed heartily upon hearing this, and pointed at Wen He with his finger.

"If you want some more in the future, just come to me. Once I finish this jar, I'll have the beekeeper send you some more."

The two exchanged pleasantries over honey water.

After the horseshoe incident, he felt he owed Wen He a lot of favors.

In particular, when he took Wen He to a brothel, Li Shimin caught them in the act.

He still feels somewhat guilty to this day.

"Speak of it."

Yan Lide took a sip of honey water, then changed the subject, his gaze filled with a hint of inquiry.

"You've come today, surely not just to reminisce? Jia Ying, you never come here without a reason. Just tell me, what do you need from my Ministry of Works? As long as it's within my power, I'll do it without hesitation."

Wen He put down her teacup, her expression slightly composed, and her tone became more serious.

"To be honest, Brother Lide, I have come here on His Majesty's orders to make an important artifact."

He gently rubbed his fingertips against his knee, without explicitly saying "hot air balloon".

Firstly, the matter was still under wraps, and secondly, it was feared that Yan Lide might not understand the flying device, so they only gave a vague answer.

"This artifact requires some special materials, and we will have to trouble the Ministry of Works to select some skilled craftsmen. All the processes must be kept secret and cannot be known to outsiders. Even the craftsmen involved can only know the part they are responsible for and cannot ask about the whole picture."

Upon hearing this, Yan Lide raised an eyebrow but did not inquire about the details.

Having dealt with Wen He for a long time, he knew that Wen He had many novel ideas in mind, and that anything said to be "entrusted by His Majesty" must be a major matter concerning the secrets of the court.

Thinking of the Ministry of Works' recent situation, he couldn't help but sigh and tap the documents on the table with his fingers.

“Jiaying, it’s not that I’m trying to embarrass you, but you saw it yourself. Why were those officials arguing just now? His Majesty has been urging us for a batch of field weapons recently. We need five thousand crossbows, three hundred suits of armor, and two hundred oxcarts for transporting grain that need to be reinforced. The deadline is only six months. We’re already short of craftsmen, and materials are in short supply. Most of the good iron in the warehouse was transferred to the Ministry of War last month. Now, we have to mix some copper into the armor. Even the craftsmen are complaining that ‘the armor is too soft and can’t stop swords and arrows.’”

"All the good materials have been used to make horseshoes. Out of 100,000, only 50,000 have been made so far."

"Brother Lide, don't be in a hurry."

Wen He raised her hand to interrupt him, took out a folded piece of hemp paper from her sleeve, and handed it over.

"The materials and manpower I need are all written here. Take a look. As for the materials, I need light and thin but tough silk, preferably Shu brocade from Sichuan. It should be tightly woven so that no air can get through."

"We also need some evenly sized Phoebe zhennan wood, not too thick, about the thickness of a wrist, to make a support. In addition, we need some paraffin wax and rosin to coat the seams of the silk to prevent it from breathing in."

"As for manpower, we don't need many. Ten skilled brocade weavers will sew the Shu brocade into large bags, ensuring that there isn't a single stitch that lets in any air. Five carpenters will plane the nanmu wood smooth and make it into a frame that can be spliced ​​together. We'll also find two craftsmen who know metallurgy to forge some small copper rings to connect the frame. These craftsmen don't need to know the purpose of the objects; they just need to make them according to the dimensions I give them."

Yan Lide took the paper and carefully read it by the light from the window, his brows gradually relaxing.

Although these materials are not common, the Ministry of Works still has reserves in its warehouses.

The Shu brocade was a tribute from Shu last year, originally intended for the palace as a reward. He could plead with the Imperial Treasury to get a dozen or so bolts.

There's stock of nanmu wood at the logging camps in the south; fifty logs were just delivered to Chang'an last month, so it wouldn't hurt to give a few to Wen He. Paraffin wax and rosin are also commonly used in arms manufacturing; rosin is used to coat crossbows for moisture protection, and there are several boxes of them piled up in the warehouse.

"You always know how to pick the easiest option."

Yan Lide put down the paper, smiled, and shook his head.

“I can gather the materials and manpower for you, but there’s one thing I need to make clear to you: the craftsmen are currently working on the equipment His Majesty requested, so they may have to wait a while before they arrive at your place. Please don’t rush them.”

"It's alright to go slower."

Wen He quickly said.

"This matter is important, but there's no rush. As long as it can be done before next spring, that's fine."

Upon hearing this, Yan Lide's smile faded slightly. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then sighed.

"It's good that Jiaying understands."

“Alas, recently His Majesty suddenly said that he wanted to strengthen the border defenses, and asked the Ministry of War to submit a list of weapons. Then he put the task on the Ministry of Works. As you know, there are not many craftsmen in the Tang Dynasty. During the war at the end of the Sui Dynasty, many craftsmen were either killed by the marauding soldiers or fled to the countryside to farm. Although the world is at peace now, less than half of the craftsmen have returned. Take the craftsmen who make armor, for example. Each craftsman can only make half a suit of armor at most per day. There are also those who make crossbows. They have to carve the wooden shaft, attach the arrowhead, and wind the bowstring. Twenty craftsmen working around the clock for half a month can only meet the demand of five thousand crossbows.”

He paused and continued.

"What's even more troublesome is transportation. After these machines are made, they need to be transported to the military camps in Lingzhou and Shuozhou. It's 800 li from Chang'an to Lingzhou, and it's all dirt roads. When it rains, they become muddy and impassable. An oxcart can only travel 30 li in a day. The Ministry of Works also has to allocate manpower to arrange the transportation. They have to keep an eye on the drivers to make sure they don't slack off, and they also have to guard against bandits along the way. Last month, a caravan of oxcarts transporting armor actually encountered bandits. These heartless people!"

"There were over a hundred people. Although they were all killed, who knows if there will be another one next time."

Wen He was also taken aback when she heard this.

Is the God of Longevity tired of living too long?
"Now, fifteen minor officials have been dispatched just to arrange transportation. Even the clerks in the Ministry of Works have to help with bookkeeping. They are simply overwhelmed."

As he said this, he couldn't help but give Wen He a resentful look.

"If I remember correctly, you were also a director in the Ministry of Works, weren't you?"

Upon hearing this, Wen He immediately chuckled awkwardly.

"Ahem, but there are other important matters to attend to elsewhere."

Yan Lide was not really blaming him; he was just teasing him.

However, what he said is indeed the biggest predicament the Ministry of Works is currently facing.

“Brother Lide, do you remember what we talked about before, about disassembling the equipment into standardized parts, mass-producing them in the workshop, and then assembling them on the battlefield? That’s how the Divine Arm Crossbow is made now. The crossbow body, trigger, and bowstring are separated into three parts. The craftsmen who make the crossbow body only make the crossbow body, the craftsmen who make the trigger only make the trigger, and then they are put back together. The efficiency is more than twice as high as before.”

Yan Lide's eyes lit up, and he nodded quickly.

“How could I not remember? Last time, when we made the Divine Arm Crossbow, it was according to your method. Originally, it would have taken twenty craftsmen a month to make one hundred, but in the end, we finished in twenty days, and not a single defective product came out. It's just that…”

He changed the subject and frowned again.

"The crossbow has a simple structure and is easy to disassemble and assemble. But things like armor and oxcarts are much more difficult. The iron plates of armor are of different sizes, and the holes in each iron plate must match, otherwise they cannot be strung together. If the axle and wheels of an oxcart are even slightly different in size, the wheels cannot be installed. How can they be disassembled and built like the crossbow?"

"These are not difficult things,"

Wen He leaned forward slightly, her tone firm.

“We can draw detailed blueprints first, clearly marking the dimensions and materials of each part. For example, the iron plates for the armor should be three inches long and two inches wide for large iron plates and two inches long and one inch wide for small iron plates. Two small holes should be drilled on each iron plate, and the position of the holes should be half an inch away from the edge. All of this should be clearly written.”

"Then we have the craftsmen make them according to the blueprints. After each part is made, we measure it with a ruler. If the size is even slightly off, it cannot be used. At first, the craftsmen may not be used to it and may be a little slow, but once they are familiar with the process, their efficiency will definitely improve. When it comes to transportation, we can pack the iron plates and ropes of the armor separately, and remove the axles and wheels of the oxcart and pack them in boxes. This is much less laborious than transporting the whole armor and the whole oxcart, and it is also less likely to be damaged."

Yan Lide stroked his beard thoughtfully, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

“Your idea is not bad, but... the craftsmen will probably be even more tired. These days they work from dawn to dusk every day, only taking a half-hour break at noon, and they eat in the workshop. If they are asked to make standardized parts according to the blueprints, they may not be able to keep up. Last month, an old craftsman worked all night to make armor and coughed up blood. He is still resting at home now.”

"This brings us to the treatment of craftsmen."

Wen He's tone turned serious, and she clenched her sleeves.

"Brother Lide, think about it. The craftsmen are making weapons to protect our country, but what about their pay? They only get one hundred coins a month. There are five people in their family. Just food costs three or four hundred coins. They also need to buy cloth and pay for medical care. How can that be enough?"

"They lived in dilapidated courtyards near the workshop, with leaky roofs, and couldn't even afford charcoal in the winter. If they got sick, they had to endure it on their own. The Ministry of Works didn't even have a doctor. With such treatment, who would be willing to work hard? Who would be willing to focus on honing their skills?"

Yan Lide sighed, his face full of helplessness.

“How could I not know? I mentioned it in court before, wanting to raise the monthly wages of craftsmen and build a few more clinics so that sick craftsmen could see a doctor. But those people said that the national treasury is now used to support the army and build water conservancy projects, where would we find spare money to raise the monthly wages of craftsmen? They also said that ‘craftsmen are of low social status and are already being paid quite a lot.’ There are also some censors in the court who said that ‘valuing scholars and farmers and devaluing merchants and artisans’ is an ancient law that cannot be broken. If we raise the wages of craftsmen, the people will have objections.”

"fart!"

Wen He slammed her hand on the table, making the teacup shake and spill a few drops of tea onto the table.
"What do you mean by 'craftsmen are of low social status'? Without craftsmen, who would make armor for soldiers? Who would make crossbows for the army? Who would make farming tools for the people? If craftsmen didn't make waterwheels, how would the people irrigate their fields? Those officials sitting in the court wear cloth woven by craftsmen, use tables and chairs made by craftsmen, and eat food cooked in iron pots cast by craftsmen, yet they turn around and say that craftsmen are 'lowly'—it's simply ungrateful and unfilial!"

Yan Lide was startled by Wen He's anger, but he nodded in agreement.

"What you say makes sense, but that's the prevailing atmosphere in the court these days, and it's difficult to change it."

"That still needs to be changed!"

Wen He spoke firmly, her eyes filled with stubbornness.

“Craftsmanship is the foundation of the nation. If the craftsmen are disheartened and no one is willing to learn the craft, in ten years, the Tang Dynasty will not even be able to find craftsmen to make crossbows. At that time, let alone dealing with the border tribes, we may not even be able to defeat small groups of bandits! Brother Lide, you are the Minister of Works, in charge of all the craftsmen in the country. If you don’t stand up for them, who else will stand up for them?”

He paused, softened his tone, and tapped the list of materials on the table lightly with his fingers.

“I know you’re in a difficult position. It’s true that the national treasury is tight, and it’s also true that officials are against it. But we can take it one step at a time. For example, we can start by raising the monthly wages of skilled craftsmen. Like that old craftsman who can make the Divine Arm Crossbow, we can give him an extra string of cash every month and give him a rating or something.”

"Let's set up a small clinic in the workshop and find a doctor who knows medicine to treat the craftsmen. The Ministry of Works will cover the cost of the medicine, so it won't cost much. As for their accommodation, we can first repair the existing dilapidated courtyards, patch the roofs, and paste the windows so that the craftsmen can stay warmer in winter. These things won't cost much, but they will make the craftsmen feel that the court values ​​them, and they will naturally be more motivated to work. By then, let alone finishing the military equipment in six months, we might be able to finish it in five months."

If he could, Wen He would love to bring all the artisans from the Ministry of Works to his home.

But he knew that Li Shimin would definitely disagree.

Moreover, he alone couldn't support so many craftsmen.

Yan Lide sat there, his fingers gently stroking the edge of the white porcelain cup, his eyes gradually brightening.

Wen He's words were like a key, unlocking the knot in his heart.

Yes, what the craftsmen wanted was not high-ranking positions and generous salaries, but simply a job that could support their families and earn them respect.

"Jiaying is right."

Yan Lide raised his head, his eyes filled with determination.

“I must have a good talk with His Majesty about this. Even if the national treasury is tight, we cannot let the craftsmen suffer. Even if some officials object, I will fight for them. Putting aside everything else, just to ensure that the military equipment His Majesty needs is completed on time, we must keep the craftsmen motivated.”

Seeing that he had agreed, Wen He smiled and raised her teacup to clink with Yan Lide's.

"That's right! Once the craftsmen's salaries are improved, we can not only retain the veteran craftsmen, but also attract young people to learn the craft. At that time, the Ministry of Works will have enough manpower, and when we promote standardized manufacturing, the efficiency will definitely double."

"If anyone objects, then you should ask them to hand over their salaries and ask them if they would be willing to work without them."

Wen He said loudly.

Upon hearing this, Yan Lide also burst into laughter.

The two chatted for a while longer, from the daily life of craftsmen to the details of standardized manufacturing, until the sun outside the window began to set in the west, at which point Wen He got up to say goodbye.

Yan Lide escorted him to the entrance of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Watching Wen He ride away on his little pony, a thousand thoughts surged in his heart.

After returning to his office, he did not immediately deal with the documents. Instead, he picked up the list of materials left by Wen He, and then took out the memorial on the treatment of craftsmen that he had written before. He spread out the paper and pen again and wrote a sentence.

"Craftsmen are the nation's most valuable assets and should be treated with great respect."

……

The next day, before dawn, Wen He rode her little pony to the East Palace.

Since being confined to his home due to the Cui case, he hasn't been able to teach Li Chengqian for half a month.

Although the war cannot be explicitly stated, Li Chengqian must be made aware of the tension on the border to avoid being at a loss when he takes over the government in the future.

As soon as the vermilion gates of the Eastern Palace opened, the imperial guards, seeing it was him, quickly let him through.

Wen He walked along the familiar corridor. Just as she reached the outside of Chongwen Hall, she heard an old voice coming from inside. It was not as lively as Li Chengqian's usual voice, but rather more solemn.

He paused for a moment, and when he pushed the door open, he saw that in addition to Li Chengqian, there was also an elderly man dressed in a scarlet official robe in the hall.

The old man was about seventy years old, with white hair and beard, but he was in good spirits. He was sitting upright at the table, holding a copy of the Book of Rites in his hand.

Wen He's heart skipped a beat.

He had heard Li Shimin say that he wanted to summon Yu Shinan back to Chang'an to serve as the Left Vice Minister of the Eastern Palace, specifically to teach Li Chengqian etiquette and morality. He thought that this was Yu Shinan.

"Is this the newly appointed magistrate of Gaoyang County, Wen He?"

Yu Shinan spoke first, his tone calm, his gaze falling on Wen He with a hint of scrutiny, but without a trace of disdain. Wen He stepped forward and bowed, "This humble official, Wen He, greets Lord Yu. May I ask, sir, are you Master Yu Boshi of Kuaiji?"

Although he disliked overly serious people, he respected Yu Shinan's talent and character.

This man was not only one of the four great calligraphers of the early Tang Dynasty, but also famous for his virtue. Even Emperor Taizong of Tang said, "Shi Nan is a man of extraordinary talent, possessing all five perfections."

"It's the old man."

Yu Shinan stroked his goatee, his expression still stern, but his gaze softened slightly.

"His Majesty often mentioned you to me before, saying that although you are young, you have extraordinary ideas. You can lead a hundred cavalry to investigate cases and also teach the Crown Prince. Although you are only a young student, you have acquired extraordinary knowledge of astronomy and geography by studying under a strange person."

"Although I didn't believe it before, after seeing your fight with the Cui family the other day, I'm starting to believe it a little more."

Seeing that the two had exchanged greetings, Li Chengqian, who was standing to the side, quickly came over and grinned.

"Lord Yu, Mr. Wen is amazing! Last time I asked him how to improve the waterwheel, he drew up blueprints on the spot, and now all the waterwheels in Guanzhong have been modified according to his method, making irrigation much faster!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Shinan glanced at Li Chengqian and spoke in a slightly somber tone.

"Your Highness, when speaking to others, you must observe proper etiquette, refrain from interrupting, and never lose the dignity of the Eastern Palace."

Li Chengqian stuck out his tongue, quickly stepped aside, and stood obediently.

Clearly, Yu Shinan's "strict discipline" has worn away much of his unruly nature in the past few days.

Wen He watched this scene and sighed inwardly.

The little prince is going to suffer in the future.

He had worried that Yu Shinan would be too focused on rules after coming to the East Palace, making the originally relaxed teaching atmosphere oppressive. Now it seems that his worries have come true.

Seemingly noticing the change in Wen He's expression, Yu Shinan suddenly spoke, his tone frank.

"I am old and although I have been entrusted by His Majesty to serve in the Eastern Palace, I know my place. I will only teach His Highness etiquette, morality, and character, how to conduct himself, how to treat his ministers, and how to love the people. As for the interpretation of classics, history, philosophy, and literature, and the planning of practical matters concerning people's livelihood, these will be taught by Xiao Yu, the Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince, and Wenxian Zini. I will never interfere."

These words were straightforward and relieved Wen He's concerns.

He quickly bowed.

"Yu Gong is clear."

Yu Shinan nodded slightly, but then turned his gaze to Li Chengqian, and his face instantly darkened.

“Your Highness, as I just told you, etiquette is the foundation of morality, the basis of a nation, and the great way of humanity. Although Wenxianzi is only a few years older than you, he is the Crown Prince’s personal tutor appointed by His Majesty. According to etiquette, you should greet him with the respect due to a disciple, and Wenxianzi, as a subject, should greet you with the respect due to a ruler. The two of you were impolite when you met just now, and you should greet each other again to correct the rules.”

Wen He and Li Chengqian were both taken aback. They exchanged a glance and saw unease in each other's eyes.

Li Chengqian and Wen He were used to each other's freedom.

The two never exchanged greetings in front of outsiders.

Wen He even hits him on the head every day.

The two felt somewhat awkward about suddenly having to perform the etiquette between a ruler and his subject.

"cough……"

Wen He coughed lightly, composed herself, bowed to Li Chengqian, and spoke solemnly.

"Your subject Wen He greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian quickly followed Wen He's example, folding his hands and bowing respectfully, his voice somewhat stiff.

"Student Li Chengqian greets Mr. Wen."

Seeing that the two were behaving properly, Yu Shinan smiled slightly and nodded.

"That's right. Etiquette is about respecting others, and it's also about respecting oneself. As the heir apparent, how can the Crown Prince command respect from his ministers if he doesn't observe etiquette? As a subject, how can the Prince of Wen govern the court if he doesn't observe etiquette? It may seem like a simple bow or a simple greeting, but it's actually about establishing one's mind. If one's mind is upright, one's actions will be upright, and if one's actions are upright, things will go smoothly. Whether it's governing the country or dealing with people in the future, one must follow this principle."

Wen He stood to the side, listening to Yu Shinan's endless lecture on "etiquette," and felt her eyelids grow heavy.

It wasn't that Yu Shinan was wrong, but his slow, methodical speech, with every word carefully chosen, suddenly made him feel like he was back in school.

He secretly glanced at Li Chengqian and saw that although the Crown Prince was standing straight, his eyes were somewhat unfocused, obviously tired of listening. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

It seems that I'm not the only one who feels a "headache".

Yu Shinan spoke for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before putting away the Book of Rites and addressing Li Chengqian.

"That concludes today's etiquette lesson. This afternoon, I will discuss with you the Analects' 'self-discipline and restoration of propriety,' Wenxianzi. The Crown Prince's next lessons will be entrusted to you."

After saying this, he nodded to Wen He again before slowly leaving Chongwen Hall.

After Yu Shinan left, Li Chengqian immediately slumped his shoulders, moved closer to Wen He, and complained in a low voice.

"Mr. Wen, Lord Yu is too strict! These past few days, I've been criticized for being impolite even if I just run a few steps, and I have to chew my snacks slowly according to etiquette. It's driving me crazy!"

Wen He smiled and patted his shoulder: "Lord Yu is doing this for your own good. You are the Crown Prince and will become the monarch of the Tang Dynasty in the future. Only by observing etiquette can you gain the trust of your ministers and the respect of the people. Besides, Lord Yu will teach you morality, I will teach you practical skills, and Junior Tutor Xiao will teach you classics and history. See how clear the division of labor is?"

"Oh, also, I think the East Palace is too far from my home. From now on, you can go to my house for classes instead."

I won't come here again.

I'm definitely not coming.

Yu Shinan's lectures were no different from hypnosis.

Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes and stared at Wen He: "Sir, I think you are deliberately avoiding Lord Yu, aren't you?"

"Nonsense, do you think your husband is that kind of person?"

After Wen He finished speaking, she habitually raised her hand to hit Li Chengqian on the head, but out of the corner of her eye she saw a figure standing at the door.

Yu Shinan was looking in their direction.

That scene reminded Wen He of the fear of being controlled by her homeroom teacher when she was a child.

"Cough cough."

"Oh, I suddenly feel a bit sore in my arm."

Wen He awkwardly withdrew her hand, coughed twice, and said, "Your Highness, let's begin class."

Li Chengqian stared blankly at Wen He, and seeing his embarrassed expression, he suddenly burst into laughter.

(End of this chapter)