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

Chapter 84 I will certainly respect my teacher and live up to his kindness in the future.
After finishing her meal at the East Palace, Wen He intended to return home, but Li Shimin stopped her there.

"You were supposed to teach the three of them this morning, but I interrupted you. You will continue this afternoon, but for now, don't talk about eunuchs or palace attendants. It would be better to teach them some academic subjects, such as mathematics or crafts."

"Eh, Your Highness, if I teach these things to the three young princes, won't I be impeached?" Wen He was a little conflicted. He didn't want those Confucian scholars to attack him.

Li Shimin asked in confusion, "Why would I impeach you?"

"Strange skills and ingenious tricks? Aren't those great Confucian scholars the ones who look down on them the most?"

After Wen He finished speaking, Li Shimin sneered, "What strange skills and ingenious crafts? Those are just things used to coax women. The craftsmanship is related to the national system and people's livelihood. Otherwise, why would I have allowed Yan Liben to enter the Prince of Qin's mansion?"

"However, before meeting you, I underestimated this matter. If it weren't for the opposition from those people, I would have liked to reopen the imperial examination. But, this matter cannot be rushed."

Li Shimin knew that artisans in the Tang Dynasty were of low social status, and any attempt to rashly change their status would inevitably be opposed by the Guanzhong region.

If all the craftsmen run away, who will do the hard labor for them in the future?

The Tang Dynasty also needed laborers, and even if Li Shimin wanted to elevate the status of craftsmen, he would not do so now.

If all craftsmen had to take the exam, then there would be no one to do the work.

"But no matter what, Gao Ming also needs to understand the art of craftsmanship, otherwise he will be deceived in the future without knowing the truth, just like Emperor Yang of Sui back then."

Li Shimin's words reassured Wen He considerably.

He has already begun to groom Li Chengqian as his successor.

"Your Highness, rest assured, he won't. The Tang Dynasty is destined to be different from before." The "before" he referred to was not only the Tang Dynasty of the past, but also the Tang Dynasty recorded in future history.

Li Shimin understood without saying a word, nodded, and smiled.

"By the way, I've always been curious about what your hometown is like. When I have some free time, you can tell me about it. I'm really curious about the TV series, time-travel novels, and movies you mentioned before."

He's been too busy these past few days, and today is the only time he has free time, but after dinner he has to go deal with government affairs.

"Very well, Your Highness, if you have the time, I will certainly tell you all about it." Wen He agreed with a smile, secretly thinking to himself, "If Li Er knew that those Koreans living in Silla in later generations had made a movie about his defeat and being shot in one eye, I wonder what he would think?"

He couldn't help but feel a little excited.

Li Shimin also noticed his sly smile and knew that this brat was definitely thinking something.

But he didn't ask any more questions, thinking there would be plenty of time in the future.

He has too many things to do today.

(PS: I made a big mistake earlier, writing Shuozhou instead of Jingzhou. I've corrected it all now, I'm really sorry.)
After Li Jing arrived in Jingzhou, news came that Li Yi had actually sold the grain to the Turks, and the grain that was originally stored for three years was now reduced to only half a year.

The shortage of warhorses has reached 30%, and bows and crossbows are not yet fully prepared.

No wonder the Turks were able to conquer Jingzhou so easily.

The national treasury is now empty, so we must transfer grain and fodder from Luoyang and send them to Jingzhou.

But the most important thing is how to deal with Li Yi.

To maintain morale, he cannot be touched yet.

After we defeat the Turks...

A cold glint flashed in Li Shimin's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

After speaking with the three children for a while, he left.

As soon as he left, the three little ones who had been standing silently with their heads down all breathed a sigh of relief.

They looked as if they had just been through a major battle.

Even though Li Shimin acted very kindly, the natural sense of oppression made the three children extremely nervous.

"He's not a tiger, what's there to be afraid of? Come and sit down, everyone."

Wen He didn't think much of it, but after taking just one step, he suddenly found his foot was numb.

“Sir, your clothes seem wet.” Li Chengqian pointed to Wen He’s sleeves. The latter looked down and realized that cold sweat was seeping from his back to his arms.

Wen He rolled her eyes at Li Chengqian: "Stop talking nonsense. It's too hot. Hurry up and sit down."

Li Er's oppressive presence was indeed too strong.

His heart was pounding because he had only put up a little resistance.

Fortunately, they managed to fool Li Er.

Even if he doesn't completely let his guard down after today, at least he won't test him like before.

"You guys learned the Nine-Nine Song before, right?" Wen He asked.

Li Chengqian and Li Ke both nodded, while Li Tai lay there, looking up at Wen He with longing eyes.

Okay, he hadn't learned it. The so-called "Nine-Nine Song" is the ancient multiplication table, but since the ancients didn't have mathematical symbols, it reads more like a poem, and it's even recited backwards.

So it's difficult to remember.

"It's okay if you haven't learned it before. I'll teach you an even simpler method today."

Neither Li Chengqian nor Li Tai took it to heart.

You should know that their teachers were either great Confucian scholars or mathematical geniuses.

You, Wen He, are just a mere ten-year-old boy...

"One times one equals one, one times two equals two..."

The sound of reading aloud could be heard from inside the Chongwen Hall.

Li Chengqian and Li Ke, who had only learned half of the "Nine-Nine Song" and didn't even know how to use counting rods, suddenly discovered that it was actually so simple.

Li Tai had never encountered this before, but after reading it aloud only three times, he was able to memorize it and even apply it.

"Why weren't you this fast when you were reciting the Three Character Classic?" Wen He asked, somewhat puzzled.

Li Tai curled his lip: "I hate those who talk about reason the most, like brothers and fathers... Ah, you hit me again, I am the Prince of Wei!"

Wen He slapped Li Tai on the buttocks, and he immediately cried out in pain.

He stared longingly at Wen He, but there was nothing he could do.

"Alright, alright, you did a good job today, here's a reward for you." Wen He said, taking out a box.

The three little ones immediately turned their gazes towards them.

He opened the box, revealing three transparent jade pendants, each shaped like a tiger cub.

"I'm poor right now. These three pieces of glass cost me a lot of money, so you must take good care of them."

Wen He handed the three jade pendants of young tigers to the three people one after another.

"Is this crystal?" Li Chengqian asked in surprise.

Li Ke carefully took it and rubbed it in his hand for a while: "It doesn't look like crystal, but more like glass."

"This looks like glass, but why is it so smooth and transparent?" Li Tai said incredulously, as if he were holding a rare treasure.

Wen He chuckled smugly, then put on a serious face and said, "This is called science. I'll teach you all about it slowly in the future."

It would be a disgrace for a time traveler not to show off their skills to these three little ones.

This thing might not be able to intimidate Li Shimin, but it will definitely make the three little ones worship him.

The power of science can sometimes be truly amazing.

However, I remember that transparent glass cups from the Tang Dynasty were unearthed in later generations. Some say they were made by Tang Dynasty workers, while others say they came from the Western Regions.

There are different opinions.

But Wenhe asked Wenzhong, and he said that there are transparent ones, but none as clear as the ones Wenhe sent.

These three pieces, given as gifts to the three little ones, certainly cost him a lot of money.

After all, it was my first time firing glass, and I failed countless times.

Thankfully, it was successful.

In the future, just wait for these three little ones to take the glass out and show it off, and people will naturally come knocking on their door.

Hehe, I'll definitely make a fortune then.

The three children put away the glass jade pendant and solemnly bowed to Wen He. Even Li Tai was exceptionally attentive.

"I am ashamed to accept your teachings, sir. I will always respect you and live up to your kindness." Li Chengqian's words left Wen He somewhat bewildered.

Li Ke and Li Tai also imitated him, copying his appearance.

They actually value it this much?

Wen He was somewhat surprised.

I should have made it look better.

Just as Wen He was helping them up one by one.

Suddenly a noise came from outside.

A eunuch's voice rang out: "Reporting to the Crown Prince, the daughter of the Duke of Ying requests an audience."

(End of this chapter)