The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 165 How much time does this king have left to 'extend'?
On one side are powerful ministers who follow established practices, and on the other side are young officials with shallow foundations but who possess evidence of "on-site investigation" and have the crown prince standing behind them.

The air seemed to freeze.

All eyes were quietly drawn to the emperor on his throne, awaiting his judgment.

Li Shimin could feel the pressure from those gazes.

He was equally shocked by the actual power of the Crown Prince's "methodology".

A few low-ranking officials, relying on information gathered through on-site visits, were able to put a minister in such a sorry state in the imperial court!

He spoke slowly, his voice breaking the deathly silence in the hall, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority:

"The price of grain purchased under the imperial treasury is related to the people's suffering and must be carefully considered. Although the Ministry of Revenue's proposed price has precedents to follow, times have changed and circumstances have changed, so it should also be taken into account."

His gaze swept over Tang Jian and the other young officials.

"This matter will be put on hold for now. The Ministry of Revenue, together with the Prefect of the Capital, will re-examine the grain prices and the people's conditions in the counties surrounding the capital, and will report back within ten days."

While not supporting either side, the fact that the Ministry of Civil Affairs was asked to re-examine the matter is itself a statement of principle.

Tang Jian's face turned pale, and he bowed, saying, "Your subject... obeys the decree."

He knew that although His Majesty had not openly supported those minor officials, he had lost face today.

Although the emperor did not directly adopt the opinions of those young officials, the fact that they were forced to re-examine the matter was an unprecedented victory!
The group exchanged glances, seeing the excitement and anticipation in each other's eyes, and bowed in unison.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

The bell tolled to signal the end of the court session.

With mixed feelings, the officials silently withdrew from the Taiji Hall.

Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Gao Shilian, and the others walked at the back, their faces not looking too good.

Now, the Crown Prince has introduced a new variable—the concrete, undeniable facts from the grassroots.

This made these veteran officials, who were used to operating at the top and making decisions based on experience and authority, feel uncomfortable and even somewhat passive.

Li Shimin sat alone in the Liangyi Hall, rubbing his temples with his fingers.

Today's court dispute may seem to have subsided, but he knows that this is only the beginning.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian was not only encouraging artisans in the Ministry of Works, but he was also trying to transform the thinking and behavior patterns of the entire bureaucratic system in a completely new way!
This approach, because it is based on "realities," has a strong vitality and persuasive power, and it is especially attractive to middle and lower-level officials who are eager to make achievements but lack upward mobility.

"Go deep into the grassroots...to understand the people's conditions..." Li Shimin murmured these two words again, his eyes filled with complex and unreadable emotions.

He had to admit that the Crown Prince's move was ruthless and precise.

However, once this force is fully formed and out of control, where will it lead the Tang Dynasty's court?
He felt an unprecedented pressure, not only from the growing Crown Prince, but also from this new set of rules that he was somewhat unfamiliar with, yet vaguely felt contained enormous power.

Prince Wei's Mansion, study.

The windows were tightly shut, shutting out the light and noise from the outside world, leaving only the flickering candlelight inside, illuminating Li Tai's ever-changing face.

Du Chuke sat at the lower end, his expression equally solemn.

"Your Highness, the situation is very different now than it was a month ago."

Du Chuke's voice was low and deep, carrying a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

"The practice of 'going deep into the grassroots' is prevalent in the Eastern Palace. Those officials who were previously unsuccessful in their families and relied on family connections to obtain idle positions now seem to have found a ladder to heaven. They all claim to be 'understanding the people's sentiments' and 'knowing the practical matters,' and their voices are becoming louder and louder in and out of the court."

Li Tai slammed his hand on the table in frustration, making the teacups rattle softly.

"I know! Last time I wanted to unite with various families to discuss a strategy to deal with the Crown Prince, but those old foxes hesitated and said that the position of Crown Prince was not yet determined and it was not advisable to place bets too early, lest it arouse the Emperor's suspicion!"

"Hmph, now look what's happened! That cripple has not only stabilized the Eastern Palace, but he's also created this so-called 'Crown Prince Party'! These people are now Li Chengqian's henchmen, and in the future, they will be the foundation for his rule on the throne!"

He became increasingly angry as he spoke, his chest heaving violently.

"Don't those aristocratic families understand? That cripple wants to reward artisans and encourage officials to go to the grassroots level—this is aimed at the aristocratic families! Today he can break down the barriers between the gentry and commoners for the sake of artisans, but tomorrow he can undermine the very foundation upon which the aristocratic families depend for survival—the power to select officials and the benefits of land!"

"How many of those officials serving in the Eastern Palace are direct descendants of the family?"

"They are mostly collateral relatives and illegitimate sons! They have risen to power now by taking advantage of the Crown Prince's influence. Once they have enough power, the first thing they will do is to overthrow the existing power structure within their own families!"

Du Chuke nodded deeply, a wise glint in his eyes.

"Your Highness's words hit the nail on the head. The Crown Prince's move, though seemingly a reform of the Ministry of Works, is in fact a radical solution."

"He bypassed the conventional promotion channels controlled by aristocratic families and took a different approach to cultivate a new force loyal to him personally."

"Given this shift in power, given time, it will be extremely difficult for powerful families to continue to influence the court as they do now. Those in charge of these families must be feeling extremely uneasy and acutely aware of the pain."

A fierce glint flashed in Li Tai's eyes.

"That's right! I refuse to believe that they can sit still at this point! Sir, go and contact them again—no, this time I will personally write letters to invite several key figures to a secret meeting! Make sure they see clearly that this is no longer a time for power struggles, but a life-or-death moment concerning the rise and fall of their families over the past century!"

Du Chuke bowed.

"Your subordinate understands. Times have changed, the winds have blown, and I'm sure they'll be able to make up their minds this time."

As Li Tai had predicted, things went exactly as he had expected.

When the key figures of prominent Shandong families such as Cui, Lu, Zheng, and Wang, as well as prominent Guanzhong families such as Wei and Du, were secretly gathered together again, the atmosphere was completely different from the last time.

There was no longer much probing or excuses; instead, there was a sense of suppressed anxiety and shared hatred of the enemy.

“The Crown Prince’s recent actions are truly alarming.” An elder surnamed Cui stroked his beard, his brows furrowed.

"Encouraging craftsmanship is already beyond the reach of even the most virtuous and lawless. Now, to further condone subordinates' unwarranted criticism of state affairs and attacks on ministers, what will become of the established order if this continues?"

“It’s not just about discipline!” another official surnamed Lu interjected, his tone agitated.

"He's digging up our very foundation! If those peasants and artisans who do lowly jobs can get rewards and official positions just by relying on some strange skills and tricks, where will our family's tradition of poetry and scholarship and our generations of good reputation be placed?"

"And those who were originally insignificant in their families, now that they have curried favor with the Crown Prince, dare to interfere in the clan's decisions. If this continues, the family will be in turmoil, and how will the family's reputation be maintained?"

Worry and anger filled the confined room.

Looking at the scene of public outrage, Li Tai sneered inwardly, knowing that the time was ripe.

He spoke at the opportune moment, his voice heavy with sorrow yet firm.

“My elders, I am not exaggerating. If the Crown Prince is allowed to ascend the throne smoothly, given his current ambitions, the ‘Crown Prince Party’ he has been promoting will surely fill the court.”

"At that time, the families of all the nobles will likely be in a very different state than they are today. The only way forward now is to unite and let the Emperor and the people of the world see clearly whether this Crown Prince is truly as wise as he appears to be!"

After the secret meeting, an undercurrent began to quietly stir in the streets of Chang'an.

Rumors about Crown Prince Li Chengqian's past scandals have resurfaced. Even more disturbingly, the old case of Yu Zhicheng, an official under the Crown Prince, being assassinated and seriously injured, nearly losing his life, has been brought up again.

Although the rumors did not explicitly name the Crown Prince, their veiled implications pointed directly at the Eastern Palace, suggesting that the Crown Prince was ruthless in eliminating his rivals.

These rumors, when pieced together, paint a picture of a two-faced, cruel, and treacherous prince.

This stands in sharp contrast to his recent display of composure, competence, and compassion for his subordinates in court.

Inside the Xiande Hall, Li Chengqian listened to his trusted eunuch report on the rumors circulating outside, his face grim.

He waved his hand to dismiss those around him, and limped alone in the hall, his mind racing as he reviewed his recent actions.

Opening the Eastern Palace, accepting advice, dealing with censors, issuing bonds, producing salt, predicting earthquakes, controlling the Ministry of Works, encouraging artisans, and guiding officials to work at the grassroots level...

Every step was fraught with peril, but it did significantly improve the situation of the Crown Prince and even won him many hearts.

Why did such a fierce counterattack occur at this particular time?
His gaze finally settled on the Ministry of Works.

"Yes... It was my favoritism towards the artisans and my challenge to the existing order that made them truly feel threatened."

Li Chengqian muttered to himself, a flash of understanding appearing in his eyes.

"They can tolerate my foolishness, they can tolerate my accumulating wealth, and they can even tolerate my somewhat virtuous reputation, but they absolutely cannot tolerate me shaking the very foundation upon which they depend for survival—the hierarchical order and rules for the distribution of benefits that they have established and maintain."

Li Chengqian used the method of reviewing the situation to figure out the key points, which made him feel much more relaxed.

This shows that he was on the right path.

He adopted Li Yichen's suggestion and ignored the rumors circulating in the streets, as if he knew nothing about them.

He continued to attend government meetings and handle political affairs on time every day, focusing his main energy on the reform of the Ministry of Works, and continued to encourage officials to "go down to the grassroots."

The entire Eastern Palace remained as stable as Mount Tai.

Those powerful families who secretly fueled the rumors soon discovered that their carefully crafted propaganda offensive was like punching cotton; it failed to create the expected waves or shake the Crown Prince in the slightest.

The Crown Prince's reputation was not damaged; on the contrary, his "calm and composed" and "practical" performance earned him the secret praise of some neutral officials.

What frustrated them even more was that, with the Crown Prince's silence, the supernatural rumors circulating among the people about "the greyhound accurately predicting the earthquake" and "the raccoon dog composing a poem to express its aspirations," as well as the Crown Prince's recent series of measures that benefited the country and its people, began to be mentioned and discussed by more and more people.

A narrative that "the Crown Prince is blessed by Heaven and is courageous in taking on responsibilities" quietly overshadowed the deliberately smearing rumors.

This confrontation was smoothly resolved by the Crown Prince.

However, although Li Tai's first joint attack with the aristocratic alliance did not achieve complete success, it made both sides realize that they were now irreconcilable enemies with no room for maneuver.

Inside the study of the Prince of Wei's residence, Li Tai's face grew increasingly gloomy.

He clutched a newly delivered secret report in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Du Chuke stood at his sides, the room deathly silent.

"He managed to resolve it again..."

Li Tai's voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

"Those rumors vanished without a trace, like a mud ox sinking into the sea. He remained firmly seated in the Eastern Palace, and his prestige even grew stronger."

He crumpled the secret report into a ball and threw it hard on the ground.

Du Chuke silently picked up the crumpled paper, unfolded it, glanced at it briefly, and understood.

He sighed.

“Your Highness, this matter cannot be rushed. The Crown Prince’s recent actions have been very effective in addressing current problems, and there are also ‘miraculous’ events to support them, which have won the trust of many people. Relying solely on rumors may not be enough to shake the foundation.”

"Fundamental? What is fundamental?"

Li Tai suddenly turned around, his eyes bloodshot, the anxiety and frustration of the past few days almost consuming him.

"I previously thought that by uniting with the powerful families and taking a two-pronged approach—in the court and among the common people—I could find fault with him and make my father despise him. But what was the result?"

"The things he did at the Ministry of Works, like 'encouraging craftsmen' and 'going deep into the grassroots,' not only didn't draw the Emperor's reprimand, but instead made those disgruntled minor officials flock to him!"

"Nowadays, even minor officials dare to defy high-ranking officials in the court, relying on information gathered from on-site investigations!"

"What do you call this? This is called the erosion of life by accumulated slander! He is slowly eroding the old rules and also eroding my opportunities!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, his chest heaving violently, and his voice rising several decibels.

"Those powerful families keep saying they feel threatened and are willing to join forces."

"But what did they do? Spread rumors? Such superficial methods can't possibly do anything to him."

"They are ultimately too cautious, afraid of getting burned, and dare not truly break ties with the Crown Prince! Expecting them to succeed is nothing short of wishful thinking!"

Seeing that he was almost out of control, Du Chuke quickly stepped forward and whispered to comfort him.

"Your Highness, please calm down. The power of aristocratic families lies in their deep-rooted influence and resources, and in their influence within the court."

"Although they are not going all out at this moment, the alliance has been formed and this momentum cannot be broken."

"In my opinion, we still need to rely on them for now. The next step may be to concentrate our efforts on impeaching the Crown Prince for forming a faction! The Crown Prince's faction is growing stronger every day. How can His Majesty, a great ruler, be without any reservations? This is the best strategy to win hearts and minds."

"Forming a faction?" Li Tai scoffed, his laughter filled with self-mockery and despair.

"Sir, can't you see? The Emperor fears the powerful families far more than he fears the so-called Crown Prince's faction!"

"Those lowly officials who rose through the ranks by relying on the Crown Prince are nothing but rootless duckweed in the eyes of the Emperor, who can destroy them with a flick of his hand."

He was panting heavily, his eyes darting around, a crazy idea growing wildly in his mind.

All previous methods, whether it was befriending court officials, compiling the "Kuodi Zhi" to gain literary fame, or uniting with powerful families to create public opinion, all seemed pale and powerless in the face of Li Chengqian's continuous ingenious moves and his seemingly divinely favored luck.

Du Chuke saw that familiar stubbornness and ruthlessness reappear in his eyes, and he secretly felt something was wrong, trying to make a last-ditch effort to salvage the situation.

“Your Highness, even though His Majesty is wary of the aristocratic families, it is a fact that the Crown Prince’s faction is powerful.”

"As long as we plan properly and have solid evidence, we may be able to arouse His Majesty's vigilance."

"Cooperating with powerful families, even if we cannot achieve our goal in one fell swoop, can still exert continuous pressure and find their weaknesses. I hope Your Highness will temporarily quell your anger and consider this carefully..."

"Take it a long time? Heh... haha..."

Li Tai chuckled softly, the laughter rising in pitch, tinged with a hint of malice.

"How much longer can I 'take it easy'? That cripple's position is becoming increasingly secure, and his prestige is soaring!"

(End of this chapter)