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

Chapter 66 Is he waiting for the right price to go up?

"Young people are ultimately impatient. Hopefully, this setback will help him understand that matters of the court are not just the Crown Prince's concern; they require proper procedures and balancing of all parties. Let's see how he handles tomorrow's meeting. If he can learn to negotiate with important officials through this experience, it might not be a bad thing. It's much better than his past behavior of shutting himself away or associating with those sycophants."

His worries were mixed with a faint glimmer of hope.

The next day, at the Eastern Palace, in the Xiande Hall.

The palace is spacious and solemn.

Because the Crown Prince is in charge of government affairs, this place has been properly arranged according to regulations.

Li Chengqian sat in the main seat, with a curtain symbolizing his status as the crown prince hanging behind him.

There are multiple tables and chairs on the left and right sides below.

Just as the hour of Si (9-11 AM) arrived, the important officials began to arrive one after another.

Changsun Wuji, dressed in a purple court robe, walked with a steady gait and wore his usual enigmatic, calm smile as he entered the hall first.

He greeted Li Chengqian with respect, yet maintained the dignity of an uncle.

Next was Fang Xuanling, with a calm expression, gentle eyes, and the dignified demeanor of a prime minister.

Following them were Tang Jian, Chu Suiliang, and a host of officials including the ministers and vice ministers of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Justice.

The people took their seats in order, exchanging quiet greetings. The atmosphere in the hall seemed harmonious, but it actually contained a subtle tension and scrutiny.

Li Chengqian wore a solemn imperial robe today, trying his best to maintain a calm and composed demeanor.

He smiled as he accepted the worship of the crowd and gestured for them to sit down.

"I am grateful that you gentlemen have taken time out of your busy schedules to come and discuss the important matters concerning Xizhou."

When Li Chengqian spoke, he tried to keep his voice steady.

"My father has ordered me to discuss with you all the selection of the envoy for the development of Xizhou. I am young and inexperienced and lack the ability to handle such practical matters. Today, I still need to rely on your insightful opinions."

The opening remarks were quite humble and in accordance with etiquette.

Changsun Wuji smiled slightly and, as the uncle, was the first to respond.

"Your Highness is too modest. His Majesty has entrusted you with this important task, which is a testament to his trust in you. The affairs of Xizhou are related to the stability of the border, the national economy, and the people's livelihood. We, your subjects, will do our utmost to advise Your Highness."

The words were perfectly polite, acknowledging the crown prince's dominant position while highlighting the importance of the matter.

Fang Xuanling nodded in agreement.

"What the Duke of Zhao said is quite right. I wonder what preliminary plans Your Highness has for the position of the Commissioner of Promotion and Demotion? We can discuss it accordingly."

The conversation naturally veered towards the main topic.

All eyes were on Li Chengqian.

Following the strategy discussed with Li Yichen yesterday, Li Chengqian did not rush to offer any specific ideas, but instead threw the question back at him.

"I drafted this memorial yesterday, but I felt deeply that the affairs of Xizhou were numerous and complex, and that a specialist was needed to coordinate them. As for how to implement them and who is suitable for the task, that is precisely what I wish to hear the opinions of you ministers today. You are all pillars of the nation and have rich experience, so please speak freely."

He acted very humbly, adopting a listening and learning posture.

This response elicited a subtle surprise in the eyes of both Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling.

They originally thought that Li Chengqian would be eager to propose his own candidates, or at least provide a preliminary framework.

A brief silence fell over the hall.

The officials exchanged glances. At that moment, Chu Suiliang cleared his throat and broke the silence.

As an advisor, it was his duty to speak first, and it was reasonable for him to do so.

"Your Highness, I believe that the responsibility of the Commissioner for the Development and Promotion of Xizhou is immense, far exceeding that of ordinary positions. The most important quality in selecting such a person is practical ability. As Your Highness stated in your memorial, one must be 'well-versed in agriculture and water conservancy' to supervise the settlement of farmland, construct irrigation canals, and ensure the resettlement of the relocated people; one must be 'clear-headed about the border situation' and familiar with the customs and topography of the various tribes in the Western Regions to properly handle ethnic affairs and stabilize the border defenses; and one must be 'honest and capable' and 'fearless of powerful figures.' Xizhou is located on the border, and without integrity, corruption is likely to occur; without courage, it will be difficult to deal with local powerful figures and the numerous obstacles that may arise."

Chu Suiliang spoke with righteous indignation, taking a completely official stance, and concretized and deepened the demands in Li Chengqian's memorial.

He made no mention of any specific candidates, but set an extremely high, generally accepted standard for the position.

This seemingly supportive of the Crown Prince's petition actually sets up a very high barrier to entry.

Everyone in the hall knew perfectly well that people who met all these conditions were rare in the court.

Chu Suiliang's move not only demonstrated his stance but also put the Crown Prince in a difficult position—Your Highness, you have set such high standards, so does your chosen candidate meet them?
Many officials nodded secretly, feeling that Chu Suiliang's words were mature and prudent.

Li Chengqian listened without changing his expression, only nodding slightly.

"What Minister Chu says is quite right. This position is of great importance, and only a talented person like him can be competent for it. Do any of you have anything to add?"

He didn't follow up with Chu Suiliang's words to discuss specific candidates, nor did he express any objection to the high standards. He simply expressed his approval and then threw the question back to everyone.

This surprised even Fang Xuanling. The Crown Prince seemed unusually calm today.

Tang Jian stroked his chin. As the Minister of Civil Affairs, in charge of household registration and finance, he was naturally extremely concerned about this matter.

He continued, “Doctor Chu is absolutely right. In addition, I believe that this person should also be proficient in calculation and management. The development of Xizhou involves a great deal of work, including the allocation of money and grain, the distribution of materials, and the management of household registration. If he is not good at calculation and management, he may not be able to handle the job.”

"Minister Tang's considerations are thorough." Li Chengqian nodded again, still neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Are there any other insights?

The Vice Minister of War said, "I would like to add that this person should ideally have military experience, or at least be familiar with military affairs. Xizhou is an important border town. Although the governor is in charge of civil administration, he will inevitably have to deal with the Protectorate and the General Administration, which involves coordination between the military and civilians, the supply of provisions and wages, and even the handling of sudden border situations. If he is completely ignorant of military affairs, he may not be able to handle things properly."

“Good.” Li Chengqian affirmed simply again.

Next, officials from the Ministry of Personnel discussed the criteria for performance evaluation and selection, while officials from the Ministry of Works emphasized the ability to construct engineering projects... As everyone chimed in, the standards for appointing the Commissioner for the Development and Promotion of Xizhou were gradually raised to the level of an almost all-around talent.

Throughout this process, Changsun Wuji maintained a smile, occasionally nodding, but rarely speaking, simply observing Li Chengqian quietly.

Fang Xuanling would occasionally add a sentence or two to guide the discussion and prevent it from straying too far from the main point.

Li Chengqian's performance remained consistent throughout.

Listen, nod, affirm, and then encourage others to continue speaking.

He seemed more like a meeting moderator than a proposer with his own agenda.

This unusual silence aroused suspicion among the high-ranking officials in the hall.

Changsun Wuji's sneer grew stronger.

What kind of trick is the Crown Prince playing?
Why make such a big fuss and offer such an important position, yet have no idea who to choose?
This is impossible!
Is he waiting for a higher price to sell?

Or are they waiting for someone to step forward and recommend them?

Fang Xuanling was also pondering to himself.

The Crown Prince is unusually calm today, his calmness is somewhat abnormal.

This stands in stark contrast to his eagerness to submit his memorial yesterday.

(End of this chapter)