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

Chapter 189 It's him again?
Li Shimin chewed on those two words in a low voice.

His gaze fell on the empty imperial steps, as if he could still see the spot where the crown prince had just stood.

He was well aware of the changes in the Crown Prince over the past year.

From the initial arguments aimed at judging people's intentions, to the balance of power and consideration, to the bond and salt policies, and now to this groundbreaking theory of "the occupations of all trades"...

This set of unheard-of yet core knowledge could not possibly be comprehended by the Crown Prince out of thin air.

The figure hidden in the shadows of the Eastern Palace reappeared clearly in his mind.

An indescribable sense of resentment welled up in my heart.

With such great talent, why was Chengqian chosen?
Why don't you come and assist me?

Am I the intolerant and foolish ruler who cannot accept advice?
If this person had been by my side and had clearly explained these principles long ago, how could I have appeared in such an embarrassing situation today in front of all the civil and military officials, showing such a lack of understanding compared to the Crown Prince?
Li Shimin boasted of his great talent and ambition, readily accepting advice and ushering in the prosperous reign of Zhenguan. His achievements in both civil administration and military affairs are worthy of being recorded in history.

Now, however, he has been outdone by his own son on a matter of national importance concerning the very foundation of the country.

And all of this was because of a "master" who refused to serve him!
He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slightly from the pressure.

The cool air inside the hall, when inhaled, slightly suppressed the heat and stuffiness.

His gaze slowly swept over the empty seats occupied by the officials in the hall—

Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Tang Jian, Gao Shilian...

Weren't these high-ranking officials, who usually pride themselves on being shrewd, capable, and experienced in governing the country, just the same as they were?

They were equally shaken by the Crown Prince's words, and their expressions of realization and astonishment were equally evident.

Before the Crown Prince put forward the theory of "the occupations of all crafts", weren't they just like themselves, blindly optimistic that they could rely on the prestige of the court to issue huge debts again?

Thinking of this, the intense shame and anger in Li Shimin's heart strangely faded a little, and he even felt a little bit of unspeakable comfort.

Fortunately... fortunately, I wasn't the only one who lost face this time.

These usually arrogant and self-important ministers were also caught off guard by the Crown Prince's novel and sharp theory.
Looking back on their speechless, bewildered expressions, Li Shimin felt a subtle sense of balance.

At least, this proves that Li Shimin was not the only one who was ignorant.

Rather, there are huge blind spots in the understanding of the operation of the state and the foundation of trust among the top levels of the court.

The crown prince's rise to prominence served more as a wake-up call to all those in power who were still clinging to traditional ways of governing.

He slowly leaned back on the throne, as if all his weight was pressing down on it.

A month has quietly passed.

The Liangyi Hall was filled with the gentle fragrance of sandalwood incense.

Li Shimin had just finished reviewing a memorial concerning grain reserves in Hebei Province when he rubbed his slightly throbbing temples.

A series of hurried but deliberately light footsteps came from outside the hall. Wang De lowered his head and stepped inside, holding an urgent secret report in his hands, his expression showing a hint of undisguised surprise.

"Your Majesty, Minister Duan of the Ministry of Works has an urgent report to submit."

Li Shimin raised his eyes and said calmly, "Speak."

Wang De took a deep breath, his words clear yet unable to conceal his excitement.

"Zhao Xiaoman, son of Zhao Tiezhu, the Assistant Director of the Imperial Workshops, demonstrated a newly made horse harness at the workshops outside the palace this afternoon..."

"According to the on-site observers, this item... has amazing effects, and may... may greatly enhance the combat power and training efficiency of cavalry."

"Horse tack?"

Li Shimin's brow twitched slightly, and he put down the vermilion brush in his hand.

What could cause the Imperial Household Department to lose its composure in such a way was no ordinary reform.

"What kind of horse tack? And how amazing are its effects?"

"Your Majesty, it is an iron piece nailed to the bottom of a horse's hoof, called a 'horseshoe.' It is said to effectively protect the horse's hoof, reduce wear and tear, and is especially beneficial for rugged stone roads and long-distance raids."

Wang De spoke faster, clearly deeply shocked himself.

"What?" Li Shimin suddenly stood up from his throne.

He had practiced martial arts since childhood and spent half his life in the military, so he knew all too well what this meant!

Protecting a horse's hooves means extending its service life.

This means there are more routes to choose from, and it means less logistical pressure!

In the past, there were hoof covers made of leather or fabric, such as "horse saddles" or "horse hoof covers," used for long marches or harsh terrain, but they were not permanently fixed and their effectiveness was far inferior.

"Is the information accurate?"

Li Shimin's voice carried a hint of urgency that he himself was unaware of.

"Absolutely true! Zhao Xiaoman demonstrated it on the spot, and several experienced riders were amazed after trying it out!"

"Minister Duan has ordered the site to be sealed off and has instructed Zhao Xiaoman and his son, along with all their belongings, to immediately proceed to the Beiyuan Royal Horse Ranch to await His Majesty's inspection!"

"Prepare the horses! Let's go to Beiyuan!"

Without hesitation, Li Shimin strode out, his previous fatigue vanished, and his eyes gleamed with a sharp light.

He had to see it with his own eyes and try it himself!

At almost the same time, in the Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace.

As Li Chengqian was listening to Dou Jing's report on the affairs of Xizhou, a chief guard from the Eastern Palace quickly entered and whispered a few words in his ear.

Li Chengqian's hand gripping the teacup tightened suddenly, his knuckles turning white.

"Is this true? Horseshoes...?"

He suddenly looked up, his eyes gleaming with disbelief.

Although he was not good at riding and archery due to a foot ailment, as the crown prince, how could he not know about military affairs?

The description of the effects by the head guard made him instantly understand the enormous energy contained in such a small thing.

"Prepare the carriage! Head to Beiyuan Horse Ranch!"

His voice trembled slightly, a mixture of excitement and a complex, indescribable emotion.

Zhao Xiaoman...

He is the son of the craftsman whom the master taught!
He can also be considered his junior brother.

The gentleman can even enlighten such ingenious ideas?
Beiyuan Horse Ranch.

Li Shimin, dressed in a smart riding and archery uniform, stood in the center of the field, his eyes fixed intently on the imperial horse "Feibai" before him, which was adorned with horseshoes.

The curved iron plates nailed to the horseshoes gleamed with a cold, hard luster in the firelight.

"Your Majesty, this thing..." The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud, who was in charge of the horse farm, wanted to explain its usage.

Li Shimin waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.

He personally inspected the securing of the horseshoes.

Then, he grabbed the saddle, skillfully stepped into the stirrup with his left foot, and pushed off with all his might—stablely flipping himself onto the horse!

With his feet firmly planted in the stirrups, he gently squeezed the horse's belly.

"Feibai" slowly started moving.

Li Shimin first made the horse walk slowly, feeling the "clatter" of the horseshoes hitting the ground.

Then, he urged the horse to trot and speed up!
A gravel area was deliberately laid out along the edge of the venue.

Normally, warhorses would hesitate and become unsteady on their feet when they stepped into this place due to the stinging sensation.

However, at this moment, "Feibai" ran on it, only the sound of its hooves became louder and more frequent, but its speed did not decrease at all, and its body was unusually stable!
Li Shimin felt reassured, gave the reins a sharp jerk, and shouted, "Giddy up!" "Feibai" galloped across the wide racecourse like an arrow released from a bow.

Li Shimin lowered his body, feeling the wind whistling past his ears.

He tried to simulate the actions of chopping and drawing a bow—thanks to the stable running posture provided by the horseshoes, the horse seemed to be easier to control!

In the past, when warhorses were running at high speeds on rough terrain, riders had to be distracted to control the horses. Now, the horses are more stable, and riders can focus more on tactical maneuvers!
He rode his horse around the field several times, even deliberately charging towards some small embankments and ditches, which the horse crossed with ease and steadiness.

The sense of security he felt when his horse's hooves were protected during long-distance runs, and the feeling of maintaining speed and stability even on rough roads, made him feel as if he had returned to his youth when he dominated the battlefield.

"Hahaha! Okay! Okay! Okay!"

Hearty laughter echoed through the racecourse.

The gloom in Li Shimin's heart and the frustration brought on by the affairs of the court in the past few days completely vanished in this lightning-fast dash.

He reined in his horse, stroked Fei Bai's sweat-dampened neck, his eyes filled with ecstasy and admiration.

Just then, Li Chengqian's palanquin arrived at the edge of the horse farm.

He was helped down from the carriage and just happened to see Li Shimin galloping away on horseback, full of vigor and high spirits.

His father was agile on horseback, controlling the horse with ease, and his hearty laughter could be heard from afar.

Li Chengqian stood still, motionless.

A complex mix of emotions welled up inside him—awe at the military revolution brought about by such amazing horse tack, and admiration for his father's majestic figure.

But deeper still lies a pricking, bittersweet feeling and an intensely strong longing.

He wanted to be like that too! He wanted to ride wildly on horseback without restraint, to feel the power of the wind, to be like... a healthy and powerful crown prince, or even an emperor!
He took a deep breath of the cold air, forcefully suppressing his turbulent emotions.

There was a flash of determination in his eyes.

We must continue to adhere to the methods the teacher taught for exercising the body and relieving pain from old ailments!
One day, he too will be able to ride a horse like that!
Li Shimin dismounted with satisfaction, his face flushed with the rosy glow of exercise and excitement.

He patted "Feibai" and gave instructions to the officials of the Imperial Stud.

"Take good care of this horse! This artifact must be kept under strict guard from this moment on, and all related craftsmen must be temporarily prohibited from contacting the outside world!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

Li Shimin glanced around and saw Li Chengqian standing not far away. Without saying anything, he turned around and boarded the imperial carriage.

"Return to the palace! Summon Zhao Tiezhu and his son Zhao Xiaoman to the Liangyi Hall for an audience!"

Inside the Liangyi Hall, the warmth of the charcoal fire dispelled the chill of the night.

Zhao Tiezhu and his son Zhao Xiaoman knelt in the hall, their bodies trembling slightly with tension.

Sweat beaded on Zhao Tiezhu's forehead, and Zhao Xiaoman dared not even raise his head, feeling as if the gaze from the throne was tangible, making it hard for him to breathe.

"Rise," Li Shimin said calmly, with a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The father and son stood up cautiously, their heads still bowed.

“Zhao Xiaoman,” Li Shimin’s gaze fell on the thin but bright-eyed child.

"I've heard that you've created a remarkable piece of horse tack: horseshoes. Tell me, how did you come up with the idea to make such a thing?"

Zhao Xiaoman took a deep breath, trying hard to recall her teacher's daily teachings, organizing her thoughts, her voice still carrying the immaturity of a young boy, but she tried her best to keep it clear.

"Your Majesty... When I was learning to read and write under the guidance of my teacher, he said that everything in the world has its own principle. If you know the principle, you can make use of it to benefit people."

“My mentor once used the example of people needing to wear shoes to protect their feet and walk safely to explain the principle of ‘prevention is better than cure’.”

He paused.

"I...I later observed the horses in the palace and saw that although their hooves were hard, they would wear down and crack over time when running on gravel and hard ground, and even...even get sick and be abandoned."

"Then I thought, if a person has no shoes and walks barefoot on thorns, it will surely be painful and difficult."

"Then...can horses also wear iron shoes on their 'feet' for protection?"

"So...so I tried to draw up a design and asked my father and the uncles in the Imperial Workshop to help me make it..."

"Good! What a great 'person wearing shoes' analogy!"

Li Shimin clapped his hands in admiration, his eyes filled with even greater appreciation.

This explanation is reasonable and based on observations of life, as well as refined through reflection; it is by no means a mere figment of imagination.

Zhao Xiaoman is indeed a talented craftsman!

"Zhao Tiezhu, you've done a great job raising your son."

Li Shimin looked at Zhao Tiezhu, who was standing to the side, his face flushed with excitement.

Zhao Tiezhu knelt down again with a thud, his voice choked with sobs.

"Your Majesty flatters me! I... dare not take credit! It is all thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince's grace in promoting me, and my son... I am also grateful to Master Li for his kindness and careful guidance, which has enabled me to achieve what I have today!"

Li Shimin nodded; he did indeed remember the father and son.

When the Crown Prince defied public opinion and promoted an ordinary blacksmith to the position of Director of Works, it caused some controversy in the court.

In retrospect, the Crown Prince did have a good eye for talent.

"Yes, the Crown Prince certainly has the ability to recognize talent."

Li Shimin said something casually, then changed the subject and looked sharply at Zhao Xiaoman again.

"Zhao Xiaoman, I ask you, who exactly was the teacher who taught you to read and write and imparted these principles to you?"

Zhao Xiaoman raised her head, her face filled with pure respect, and answered clearly.

"Your Majesty, it is Li Yichen, the Master of Ceremonies of the Eastern Palace."

"Li Yichen..."

Li Shimin repeated the name in a low voice, his brows furrowing slightly.

He felt the name sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.

After a moment, he remembered!

Some time ago, the Crown Prince reorganized the Eastern Palace documents to improve efficiency, adopting a "classification and filing" method, which, according to reports, was proposed and implemented by this person.

At the time, he thought this method was excellent, and he even specially summoned Li Yichen to promote it in the Liangyi Hall.

He also commended his father, Li Quan, by promoting him to the rank of Imperial Censor.

It's him again?
A minor master of ceremonies in the Eastern Palace first proposed an ingenious method for managing documents, and now he has indirectly provided insights into a magical horse harness that could change the landscape of cavalry.
Li Shimin leaned back on his throne, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest, his gaze deep, remaining silent for a long time.

The hall was completely silent, with only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire.

Zhao Tiezhu and Zhao Xiaoman held their breath, not daring to disturb them.

After a long while, Li Shimin finally spoke, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

"I understand. You two may leave. Zhao Xiaoman has rendered meritorious service by presenting the artifact; he shall be rewarded with one hundred bolts of silk and ten catties of gold."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"

Zhao Tiezhu, holding his son's hand, excitedly kowtowed to express his gratitude, and then carefully withdrew from the Liangyi Hall.

In the empty hall, only Li Shimin remained.

“Li Yichen…” he murmured the name again.

(End of this chapter)