My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 28 Where would there be poor people?

Li Xuanba escorted his second brother to the door.

Li Shimin turned around and looked behind him again, then looked at his little brother with a smile.

"The third child."

"Your teacher is good; you should study hard under his guidance."

"I know! I will study hard and learn how to use the hammer from him!"

"Stop thinking about that broken hammer! Learn something useful!!"

Li Shimin was furious when he thought of this. He already knew Liu Xuan's identity. This was a world-renowned Confucian scholar, one of the top scholars in the world. You want to follow such a person to learn how to use a hammer?

What is the eldest brother thinking?

I insist on waiting!

Li Shimin suddenly remembered something. Although this Liu Gong's knowledge of the classics was top-notch in the country, his reputation was really bad. Even though Li Shimin was certain today that the man was not as morally corrupt as rumored, it was undeniable that people outside had opinions about him.

If the eldest brother were to invite this person in with great fanfare, he would certainly face criticism.

Could it be that the eldest brother deliberately summoned this person under the guise of using the hammer, so that he could teach the third brother a lesson?

That's why the third son's knowledge of the classics improved so rapidly.
If it were about teaching martial arts, this Master Liu naturally wouldn't want to publicize it, especially since he used a hammer; he probably wouldn't dare tell outsiders. So, the eldest brother came up with a way to avoid the other party's bad reputation, allowing him to stay by the third brother's side under another guise and teach him diligently.
"Brilliant! Brilliant indeed!"

Li Shimin suddenly looked at his younger brother in front of him.

No wonder this kid kept saying "use the hammer, use the hammer," he must have already figured out what his older brother was thinking, which is why he's been cooperating so well!
Brilliant!
Thinking about it this way, Li Shimin felt a sense of frustration again.

I always pride myself on being smart, but this time, something that the third brother could easily see through took me so long to figure out. I really don't have any talent!
No, I still need to learn and practice more so I can surpass my younger brothers as soon as possible!
Li Xuanba stared blankly at his second brother, not knowing what had happened. He watched as his brother's expression shifted from sudden realization to relief, then to distress, before finally returning to his confident demeanor.

"Study hard! Learn to use a hammer!"

Li Shimin patted his younger brother on the shoulder and strode away.

He still has many things to do.

After seeing his second brother off, Li Xuanba turned back. He was used to his second brother's behavior; his second brother had always been like this since childhood.

Liu Xuan watched Li Xuanba walk in, his expression quite complicated.

Just now, Li Shimin only used two sentences to leave this old scholar speechless for a long time!
He changed his previous opinion of Li Shimin; this guy was not just going to be present, he was definitely going to achieve great things!

He had never seen such a remarkable child.

However, Liu Xuan then looked at Li Xuanba, who gave him a simple smile.

"Master, did the deal go through?"

Li Shimin was a good man, but his own disciple was more comfortable to be around. Perhaps it was a preconceived notion, or perhaps something else.

"What your second brother is doing is very dangerous. Why do you want to help him?"

“I’ve helped some people before, which made me very happy, so I want to help more people and do more things.”

"Even if Second Brother gathers enough men, he might not be able to defeat the thieves, but he might be able to protect some innocent people."

"I also need my second brother to help me with something important."

"event?"

Liu Xuan was somewhat surprised, but he didn't ask any further questions.

"Alright, we can't delay the teaching any longer. Go and call Liu Chounu in. Starting today, we'll be training him using the brand-new method I've devised for you!"

There are more and more things in the courtyard.

This time, Liu Xuan did not sit indifferently in the superior position. He stood with his hands behind his back next to Li Xuanba, watching him train. Liu Chounu had now completely become Liu Xuan's assistant, responsible for sparring with Li Xuanba.

His attitude became increasingly serious, and the methods he devised became more and more effective.

Li Xuanba, wielding a golden mace, repeatedly struck Liu Chounu in front of him. Liu Chounu was quite old, but his past experience remained. Even with just a small shield, he could easily outmaneuver Li Xuanba, making it impossible for him to touch him or launch any effective attacks.

After practicing like this for a long time, Liu Xuan finally called them to stop.

Even after mastering martial arts skills, one cannot rest; there is still knowledge to be learned.

Liu Xuan sat in the superior position and, without even needing a book, spoke eloquently about what Li Xuanba had learned. Liu Chounu could offer no help in this regard and could only stand outside the door, giving the highest respect to these people who could speak about things he couldn't understand.

After the instruction time was over, Liu Xuan left in a hurry.

He still needed to gather his disciples and tell them the good news. Li Xuanba, however, didn't leave the study. He took out new paper, picked up a pen, and began to write carefully.

He didn't know the situation outside the city, but just by looking at the parts inside the city, he could basically imagine how bad the situation outside the city must be.

He was writing down all the solutions he could think of.

He had no way to intervene in the corvée labor itself. He could only hope that one day the sage would change his mind and reduce the scale and frequency of corvée labor.

All I can do right now is try to minimize the impact.

The biggest problem for the people in the city is the lack of able-bodied men. The spring planting has been severely damaged, and people are already starving. If the spring planting is damaged again this year, the situation in the future is unimaginable. It is unknown how many people will starve to death.

There were many able-bodied men outside the city, but they could not show their faces because they had lost their identities while fleeing and were hiding everywhere, unable to see the light of day.

What should I do?
The prefectural government office.

The gate was wide open, and the clerks, with stern faces, went in and out, their expressions quite serious, and they did not speak to each other.

Old Man Liu's carriage stopped at the gate, and Li Xuanba quickly walked out, gave Old Man Liu a few instructions, and then rushed into the county government office.

The prefectural government office was extremely large and had a network of thoroughfares, but like the area outside the city, it was quiet and deserted. You could hear very little and only see some figures hurrying along with their heads down.

In a house slightly to the right, a middle-aged scholar was reviewing documents with his head down, occasionally uttering a few curses.

His face was flushed, veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes were fierce.

The minor officials sitting in front of him were trembling, their heads almost buried in the ground.

Suddenly, someone pushed the door open.

"Your Highness, someone requests an audience."

"not see!!"

The man looked up and angrily shouted, "You bastards! I'm not seeing anyone! Get them all out of here!!"

The clerk trembled slightly, then slowly said, "It's the prefect's third son."

The anger on the man's face immediately dissipated. He cleared his throat and said, "You guys go out first. Go and invite Third Master in. If the prefect is not here, or if he has encountered some difficulties, let him in."

The man's surname was Wang, and he served as a clerk in the prefecture, which was essentially his assistant to the prefect. He had to do whatever the prefect told him to do.
When Li Xuanba was brought in, Wang Zanwu had already put on a smiling face and looked at him with a grin.

"Oh my, Sanlangjun is here! It's been several days since I last saw you. You've grown quite a bit taller!"

"Someone, bring some fruit!"

"Your Highness!"

Li Xuanba hurriedly bowed and greeted Wang Zanwu, who then asked him to sit down and inquired about his purpose.

"Could it be that someone has neglected Third Master?"

"Is something bothering you?"

When Li Xuanba suddenly came to Wang Zanwu's door alone, there were only a few things he could think of: either he had been bullied in the city, or he needed to pull strings for someone. Either way, it was difficult, but he had to do it anyway.

Wang Zanwu has been in a very bad mood lately.

These frequent forced labor services affected not only ordinary people, but also officials. After all, they were the ones who sent people to perform forced labor and were in charge of spring planting. They had to both conscript men and protect this year's spring planting.
If not enough people are caught, they'll be punished; if the spring planting is ruined, they'll also be punished. Wang Zanwu just wanted to curse.

"Your Highness, I have come to see you because some time ago, my personal attendant and I went out and saw that the people in the city were starving and unable to make a living. I also heard that there were many bandits outside the city and that farms had been destroyed. I want to contact the wealthy families in the city to provide relief to the people. Since you are in charge of the city, I have come to ask for your opinion."

When Li Xuanba first started speaking, Wang Zanwu was nodding, but after the other party had only said half of it, Wang Zanwu was stunned.

Traveling with a servant, seeing the people starving? Shouldn't it be that you see a beautiful young woman, falls in love at first sight, and cries to marry you, but her husband disagrees, requiring you to step in and teach him a lesson?
How come your perspective is different from others?

Upon hearing Li Xuanba's words, Wang Zanwu felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.

Can't you spoiled brats do something serious?

Go out and rob women, bully commoners, run sprees, and engage in extortionate and domineering activities. If all else fails, you can ride a horse through the streets and act like a tyrant.

Why did they have to do something so important?!

Relief?? Damn it, if the sage doesn't speak up, who would dare to provide relief? The sage issued an edict this year saying that the world under his rule is at peace and the people are living extremely well, comparable to the time of Yao and Shun. And you still dare to drag me into providing relief?

If the sage does not speak, where in the world would there be poor people?

(End of this chapter)