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

Chapter 65: He's Actually a Craftsman Obsessed
"Xiao Lang-jun?"

When Wen He found Yan Liben, he was organizing people to move.

More than a dozen carriages were parked at the side gate of the Qin Prince's Mansion, with large and small boxes neatly packed on them.

There were even Xuanjia Guards watching over them.

If it weren't for the two Xuanjia Guards following behind Wen He, he wouldn't even have been able to get close to this place.

Yan Liben was somewhat surprised to see him arrive.

"Yan Kuzhi is busy, then I'll come over later."

Wen He looked away, refusing to look at the things on the carriage.

With such tight security, it's definitely not something an ordinary person could spy on; he'd better leave first.

Yan Liben stopped him, shaking his head with a look of delight: "It's not too busy, just some crossbows that need to be sent back to the armory."

Good heavens, Wen He really wanted to plug her ears. You just told me something so confidential like that?
He smiled helplessly; what could he do after hearing it all?

Needless to say, Li Shimin must have prepared these crossbows long ago.

It's unclear whether he manufactured it privately or took it directly from the armory.

But regardless of which one it is, it all demonstrates Li Shimin's terrifying strength.

"What advice do you have for me, young master?"

Yan Liben had previously studied Wen He's stills and was amazed by them.

Although there were already vessels for drawing water, they were incomparable to those designed by Wen He.

"It's nothing major, just that there's a novel item that I'd like Yan Kuzhi to find someone to help me make."

Wen He took the blueprint out of her bosom and handed it to Yan Liben.

The latter's eyes lit up when he heard that he had something new.

He quickly snatched it from Wen He and examined it closely. The more he looked, the deeper his brows furrowed.

"Is this a plow for tilling the land?"

"Yes, this plow is called a curved-shaft plow. Unlike the current straight-shaft plow, which requires two oxen for power, this one only needs one ox. It's also easier to turn, and the plowshare can be inserted deeper..."

This is a powerful weapon; he wouldn't have brought it out if it weren't for Li Lizhi.

Given his current age, Li Shimin is unlikely to elevate his rank further, unless he intends to discard him later after he has served his purpose.

So, did Li Er have any other choice besides marrying off his daughter?
However, this matter still needs to wait for Empress Zhangsun to relay what he said to Li Shimin.

He then took out the curved plow.

"A curved plow or a straight plow?" Yan Liben took a deep breath and nodded silently: "Not bad, the name Xiao Lang is quite fitting."

“Very well, I’ll have the craftsmen make it for you right away. We’ll test it out, and if it works, we can roll it out before the summer planting season.”

His face beamed with a smile, and he couldn't help but marvel.

"If the curved plow is really as you say, then this is a great thing that benefits the country and the people. You have made a great contribution, young man."

He couldn't help but feel a little envious as he spoke, and immediately put away the blueprints and prepared to leave.

The Xuanjia guards standing to the side were dumbfounded.

His Highness entrusted you with overseeing the transport of these crossbows, so why did you run away?
If anything is missing during the accounting process, we will all be held accountable.

Someone immediately stopped him.

"Yan Kuzhi, important business is more important."

"What business is this? This is the real business!" Yan Liben roared, pointing to the blueprints hidden in his robes, about to push aside the person blocking his way.

Wen He quickly stepped forward and advised, "There's no rush. We can find craftsmen after the warehouse manager finishes his work."

Crossbows were deadly weapons in the Tang Dynasty.

If even one of the crossbows here goes missing, everyone here, including Wen He, will be investigated.

After calming down, Yan Liben seemed to realize this as well.

He nodded, feigning composure: "Alright, let's check the crossbows first."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this and cast grateful glances at Wen He.

Wen He couldn't help but chuckle. Who would have thought that the person who nurtured a student like Di Renjie would be a craftsman fanatic?

More than half an hour later.

After Yan Liben finished counting all the crossbows, he grabbed Wen He's hand and headed towards the treasury before Wen He could react.

"Thank goodness you arrived early, young master, otherwise all those craftsmen would have had to be returned to the Ministry of Works."

Upon arriving outside the treasury, Wen He indeed saw a group of people dressed in gray short-sleeved shirts packing things up.

"How long have they been at the Prince of Qin's residence?" Wen He asked curiously.

According to Yan Liben, these craftsmen originally belonged to the Ministry of Works and were temporarily borrowed to the Prince of Qin's residence.

Doesn't that mean that Li Shimin started preparing a long time ago?

Yan Liben smiled but did not answer. He went up and said a few words to a middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man was suddenly taken aback. He looked at Wen He, bowed to him from a distance, and then turned to greet the craftsmen.

"Most of them came to the Prince of Qin's residence two years ago. Many of them had followed His Highness from Jinyang. Now that the Ministry of Works is short of people, they have been assigned to be in charge."

Yan Liben's explanation was also a way of indirectly answering Wen He's question.

The heads of a department are mostly officials of the ninth rank or above.

Don't underestimate the ninth rank; for these craftsmen, it's a meteoric rise to the top.

The artisans in the government-run workshops were all of low social status. Even the artisans from the common people were still commoners. Now that they had obtained official positions, it would be a great honor for their ancestors.

As for these mere craftsmen, to receive such a reward, what have they accomplished in the past two years? Just think of those crossbows that were just transported out, and it goes without saying.

"This humble man, Amao, greets the two distinguished guests."

The man who had just spoken to Yan Liben bowed and approached Wen He.

"Didn't His Highness bestow upon you the surname Lin? From now on, you will be freed from your lowly status," Yan Liben said calmly, his hands behind his back.

"Yes, yes, yes, I am Lin Amao." He smiled sheepishly, as if he had received some great reward.

"Reporting to the steward, I have already given the order. Tieshi, Amu, and a few others are to stay in the manor. They are the best carpenters among them."

Yan Liben had just spoken to him, instructing him to find some skilled carpenters.

Upon hearing this, Yan Liben thought about it carefully, as if recalling the people he mentioned, and nodded after a while.

"Well, then let's keep them."

"Yes."

"Lin Amao, you will be a chief clerk in the Ministry of Works in the future, and you will also be an official. Do not refer to yourself as a petty person. When you face me in the future, you can call me your subordinate."

"Yes, yes, yes, I understand."

"Ah."

Yan Liben nodded in satisfaction and waved for him to step back.

This scene left Wen He speechless for a moment, unsure of how to react.

Class.

For these craftsmen, entering the Ministry of Works was like a meteoric rise to the top, but in Yan Liben's eyes, they were still nothing more than weeds.

"Wen Xiaolang?"

Yan Liben turned around and saw Wen He staring blankly, then called out to him.

Coming to her senses, Wen He looked at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I was about to ask you what happened. Now that the people have been found, let's begin. Let's get it done as soon as possible and present it to His Highness."

Yan Liben couldn't wait any longer.

It wasn't that he wanted to curry favor with Li Shimin.

Instead, he wanted to see what was so special about this curved plow.

If it can truly be better than the current plow, then Yan Liben will be able to leave his mark on history.

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(End of this chapter)