Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 164 Five Days After Liu Jianjun Left (3K)

Liu Jianjun left, riding his whirlwind charge, leading Li Xian's Jinghong, and in the blink of an eye disappeared into the still deserted streets of Chang'an in early spring, leaving only a wisp of dust.

Li Xian stood there, gazing in the direction Liu Jianjun had left, a strange emptiness in his heart.

Since Liu Jianjun appeared, he seemed to have gotten used to having this person at the forefront to offer advice and jokes. Now that this person had suddenly left, and was heading to a dangerous place thousands of miles away, it was as if a heavy pressure had suddenly gripped him.

But he didn't have much time to be sentimental.

He knew how lazy Liu Jianjun was, but even someone like Liu Jianjun would travel thousands of miles for this matter, which was enough to show how important the current situation was.

Liu Jianjun was very clever; he had many ways of judging whether a situation was critical, which Li Xian couldn't fathom.

But Li Xian has his own set of judgment criteria.

If Liu Jianjun is nervous, then it means that things are really tense.

……

On the same day Liu Jianjun left, Li Xian went to the Dayi Valley construction site, attempting to supervise the work as Liu Jianjun had done in the past.

But when he arrived at Dayi Valley, he found himself somewhat superfluous.

The entire construction site resembled a self-operating precision machine, with shouts, chiseling sounds, tamping sounds, and water flowing sounds all intertwined, creating a bustling yet orderly scene.

The foremen of the craftsmen in each area had clearly received detailed instructions from Liu Jianjun, each in charge of their own area, and commanding with composure; while the laborers, for the sake of real food and wages, were also full of energy and did not need much prompting.

Li Xian, dressed in a brocade robe, stood at the edge of a bustling scene, appearing somewhat out of place and out of place.

He recalled the scene of Liu Jianjun directing operations here.

Liu Jianjun was very familiar with the entire Dayi Valley project. He could offer his suggestions on everything, from the irrigation canals and dams to the foundations of the nearby site intended for the factory.

He could tell at a glance that a section of the canal wall was not solid enough, he could grab a handful of soil and know whether the moisture was suitable for ramming, and he could even roll up his sleeves and work with the craftsmen to figure out how to move huge stones with levers.

The laborers looked at him with eyes full of trust, even with a touch of affection.

Because he could always make everyone laugh with just a few words, the fatigue from work seemed to be reduced quite a bit.

At this moment, Li Xian stood here, feeling utterly lost and helpless.

Somewhat dejected, he walked to a higher earthen slope and stared blankly at the crowds of people working hard below.

Just then, two porters carrying loads passed by him. One of them saw him and said in a somewhat reproachful tone, "Which beach are you from? What are you doing here..."

He stopped mid-sentence, his expression shifting to one of surprise and delight, exclaiming, "You are... His Highness Prince Pei?!"

The next moment, he abruptly put down his load, excitedly tugged at his companion's sleeve, his voice trembling: "Look! It's...it's His Highness Prince Pei! His Highness has come to see us in person!"

The sound was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, quickly creating ripples.

The nearby laborers and craftsmen stopped what they were doing and looked toward Li Xian, following the sound.

When they actually saw the young prince, dressed in magnificent robes and exuding an air of elegance, standing alone on the slope watching them with concern, their faces no longer showed simple exhaustion and numbness, but instead a mixture of surprise, curiosity, and indescribable excitement.

"It is His Highness Prince Pei!"

"His Highness has really come!"

"Where is it? Let me see!"

"Your Highness still remembers our wretched place..."

It's unclear who started it, but people began to bow and pay their respects in the direction of the earthen slope, and some even knelt down in excitement.

Seeing this, the foremen quickly trotted over and respectfully asked, "Your Highness, is there anything you need?"

Li Xian was caught off guard by the sudden attention and enthusiasm.

He had simply felt lost and stood there for a moment, but he never expected it to cause such a big reaction.

Li Xian looked down at the growing crowd, at the light shining in their eyes, at the faces below that were filled with excitement and devotion because of his arrival, at the exhilaration of being "seen" on their faces...

Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration and understood something.

He may not know how to specifically guide the digging of canals and the construction of dams, and he may not be able to quickly become one with the craftsmen and laborers like Liu Jianjun.

However, his very existence is a power.

He suddenly understood a sentence that Liu Jianjun once said: "Sometimes, those in positions of power don't need to do anything; just standing there is a kind of power."

He may not understand the specific technical details and cannot do everything himself.

But his identity, his very existence, is the greatest recognition and inspiration for these laborers!
Liu Jianjun was responsible for technology and efficiency, while Li Xian could provide prestige and popular support!
Having grasped this point, the gloom in Li Xian's heart vanished instantly. He took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and a gentle yet solemn smile appeared on his face. He took a step forward, waved to the crowd below, and said loudly:
"Thank you all for your hard work! The rapid progress of the project is all thanks to your dedication! The Prince of Pei's Mansion will never forget your contributions! Once the project is completed, I will reward you handsomely!"

His voice wasn't particularly loud, but at that moment it reached everyone's ears clearly.

He didn't use any fancy words; he simply made the most sincere promise in the most solemn tone.

The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted in a huge, heartfelt cheer!
"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"The Prince of Pei's Mansion is truly benevolent!"

……

After clarifying his role in the Dayi Valley project, Li Xian realized that supervising the construction was actually quite simple. All he had to do each day was stand there, at a high vantage point, and the people would exert themselves with almost worshipful devotion. He recalled Liu Jianjun's comments on Li Xiaoyi's leadership in suppressing the Yangzhou rebellion.

“Li Xiaoyi doesn’t need to know how to fight. As long as he stands there as a member of the Li Tang clan and leaves all the troop deployment to Wei Yuanzhong, this battle will not be lost. This is the will of the people.”

And all I need to do is stand here.

This went on for five days. During that time, Wu Youji did come to see Li Xian, firstly to tell him that Xue Da's job had been arranged, and secondly to ask Liu Jianjun to go out and have some fun.

Li Xian looked at the thoroughly spoiled young master in front of him with some amusement, and finally could only use the excuse that Liu Jianjun had gone back to Bazhou to visit relatives to send him away.

Li Xian had given careful consideration to Wu Youji, or rather, to the three directions mentioned by Liu Jianjun.

Was Wu Youji guilty?

He didn't actually commit any real wrongdoing.

This was a typical playboy. Although he indulged in drinking, gambling, and whoring, he never bullied or monopolized the market. Even when he met Liu Jianjun and robbed those prostitutes, he paid in full.

Li Xian felt that such a person did not need to be punished.

Li Xian even felt that he had helped him a lot.

Although all this help was Liu Jianjun's exploitation of him, objectively speaking, he did provide convenience for himself and Liu Jianjun.

As for the Empress Dowager...

Li Xian was very hesitant.

Regardless, she was still his mother.

Whenever he thought of this, Li Xian could only excuse himself by saying that he had not yet been able to overthrow his mother.

Because he knew that he himself didn't have the answer either.

……

From then on, Xue Da followed Wu Youji and joined the Imperial Guard.

Because of Xue Daliu Jianjun's status as his cousin, Wu Youji took good care of him.

The Imperial Guard was divided into the "Six Armies of the Imperial Guard" and the "Sixteen Guards". The former was located in the north of the Imperial City, so it was also called the "Six Northern Guards", while the latter was located in the south of the Imperial City, so it was also called the "Sixteen Southern Guards".

The sixteen guards each had their own directly subordinate Left and Right General's Offices, which were composed of three levels: regiment, squad, and fire brigade. The head of a regiment was called a captain, and his deputy was called a brigade commander; the head of a squad was called a squad leader, and his deputy was called a deputy squad leader; the head of a fire brigade was called a fire chief, and his deputy was called a squad leader.

Xue Da, upon joining the company, became a fire chief.

When Wu Youji introduced the Imperial Guards to Liu Jianjun, he was actually exaggerating. Although Wu Youji commanded the Imperial Guards of Chang'an, he did not have the authority to put Xue Da into the Northern Army, because the Northern Army was "royal private property" and was under the direct leadership of the emperor.

Of course, now it is under the control of the Empress Dowager.

As for why Wu Youji was making such a boast, Li Xian could easily figure it out.

It's nothing more than men bragging after drinking.

……

Xue Da left, Liu Jianjun left, and Liu Nayan had to teach his children. In the Prince of Pei’s mansion, only Wang Bo was left who was truly capable.

Li Xian thought that Liu Rengui hadn't come to the Dayi Valley construction site for so many days, so he decided to visit him at his residence.

If Liu Rengui were truly ill or had any problems, I could promptly send Liu Jianjun my regards.

So Li Xian prepared plenty of gifts and took Wang Bo out.

The carriage drove out of the Prince of Pei's residence, its wheels rolling over the streets of Chang'an in early spring.

Inside the carriage, Li Xian leaned against the wall, his brows furrowed, still pondering the unsolvable questions about his mother, Wu Youji, and his own situation. Wang Bo sat opposite him.

Liu Jianjun is right. Wang Bo is the kind of person who asks few questions and does many things. After getting into the carriage, he didn't say a word and maintained a respectful silence.

Li Xian actually wished he could be as witty as Liu Jianjun.

It's the fifth day since Liu Jianjun left, and I miss him.

The carriage moved smoothly through several streets and soon stopped in front of Liu Rengui's residence. The servants at the gate clearly recognized the Prince of Pei's carriage and had already come forward to greet him respectfully.

Then, they directly led Li Xian and his companion into the Liu residence.

It's the same study as last time.

With a worried heart, Li Xian stepped into the study, his mind already filled with the image of Liu Rengui lying in bed, weak and frail.

Upon entering, they were astonished to find Liu Rengui sitting at his desk, bent over, writing something.

Upon seeing Li Xian enter, he immediately greeted him with a smile: "Your Highness, this old minister has been very busy lately and has failed to greet you properly!"

Liu Rengui was in good spirits.

……

(End of this chapter)