Duke of Zhenguan

The one who stepped forward was Cui Dunli, a scholar.

Cui Dunli, with a thin face, bowed to Li Shimin and said:

"Your Majesty, the appointment and removal of officials is a matter of great importance to the country and the people. The court has its own laws and regulations, so how can it be entrusted lightly!"

Moreover, although this object can be built higher, it can only draw water from the small river. In the event of a severe drought, when the river dries up, it becomes nothing more than a decoration! I believe this is inappropriate!

After Cui Dunli finished speaking, he straightened up and stood respectfully in front of Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, what Cui Sheren said makes sense, I second that!" An official in a red robe also stood behind Cui Dunli.

After the two started speaking, more than a dozen people immediately stood up and voiced their opposition.

"Your Majesty, I believe this is inappropriate!"

"Your Majesty, I believe this is inappropriate!"

"His Majesty……"

These people really don't give Li Shimin any face at all.

Looking at the group of officials in red robes beside him, Lin Chuan curiously glanced up at Li Shimin, only to see that Li Shimin's face was already ashen.

Seeing Li Shimin's increasingly grim expression, Changsun Wuji quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Cui Dunli, and said with a smile:

"Lord Cui, the appointment and removal of officials should indeed follow regulations, but if there are virtuous and talented individuals, what is wrong with making an exception and recommending them?"

"Minister Changsun also spoke of talented people, but this little boy is still too young. Even if he is a skilled craftsman, how can he be considered a talented person?" Cui Dunli glanced at Lin Chuan and asked indifferently.

Feeling inexplicably looked down upon, Lin Chuan subconsciously turned his head to look at Cui Dunli.

Changsun Wuji happened to see Lin Chuan turn his head and said to Lin Chuan with a smile:

"Lin Chuan, Minister Cui just said that this thing can only be fed with water from a small river. What do you think?"

"Reporting to Minister Changsun, what Minister Cui said makes sense. The higher this structure is built, the more difficult it becomes. The riverbanks are quite deep, and it is indeed difficult for a single waterwheel to draw water to a high place. However, it is not an insurmountable task!"

The boy thought that by digging a gentle slope along the riverbank, building several waterwheels from low to high, and adding a pool, they could transport water to higher ground!

Lin Chuan cupped his hands in greeting.

Changsun Wuji nodded approvingly, then turned and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Cui Dunli:

"How is it, Cui Sheren?"

"Minister Changsun, what if there are no rivers in a drought-stricken area? This thing can only add icing on the cake; it doesn't really help with the drought!"

Even if it has some effect, according to custom, we should just reward him with some money and grain! Cui Dunli shook his head again.

Changsun Wuji did not speak again, because what Cui Dunli said was indeed reasonable.

He stood up only because he didn't want Li Shimin to look bad, not because he supported Li Shimin.

The Tang Dynasty did not value artisans. The laws clearly stipulated that artisans who made outstanding contributions could be rewarded with up to twenty strings of cash.

What they didn't know was that Li Shimin's reason for giving Lin Chuan an official position, besides the waterwheel, was also to win over the Yan family.

But Li Shimin did not expect that his appointment of a seventh-rank official as a junior official in the Ministry of Works would elicit so many objections.

Lin Chuan realized at this moment that although Cui Dunli looked down on him, his opposition was entirely aimed at Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, that Cui fellow is just being unreasonable. He says Lin Chuan isn't a capable person, so he's not? I'd say he's just a good-for-nothing!"

A loud voice came from the crowd.

Then, Cheng Yaojin, dressed in armor, walked to Cui Dunli's side, bowed, and spoke to Li Shimin.

With a gloomy face, Cui Dunli cupped his hands and addressed Cheng Yaojin, saying each word carefully:

"Whether I am a good-for-nothing or not is none of General Cheng's business."

"Lord Cui, I earned my position as a Grand General on the battlefield. I have personally cut off hundreds of heads in dozens of battles, large and small. I wonder how you, Lord Cui, obtained your position as a Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat?"

"Is it for your merit in governing the local area? Or for your merit in offering advice and strategies?" Cheng Yaojin asked with a disdainful look.

"you……"

Cui Dunli looked at Cheng Yaojin, his face turning pale and then red, and he couldn't speak for a long time.

The Tang Dynasty placed great importance on military merit. Cheng Yaojin had outstanding military achievements and used them to suppress others. Apart from important officials such as Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, there were really not many civil officials who could suppress him.

"I heard that when Cui Dunli was serving as the registrar of a county in Luoyang, he was so frightened by the rebels that he wet himself when they besieged the city. In my opinion, calling Cui Dunli a good-for-nothing is too kind!" Cheng Yaojin added with a smile as he looked at Cui Dunli's appearance.

Veins bulged on Cui Dunli's face, and a moment later, he fell straight backward.

Cheng Yaojin glanced disdainfully at the fallen Cui Dunli, then looked at the dozen or so people who had just followed Cui Dunli out of the ranks and asked with ill intent:

"With me vouching for Lin Chuan, who else has objections?"

The dozen or so people who voiced their opposition looked at each other without saying a word.

Li Shimin nodded approvingly at Cheng Yaojin and then instructed Zhang Anan beside him:

"Have someone send Cui Sheren to the Imperial Medical Academy!"

After giving the instructions, he said to Changsun Wuji:

"Auxiliary Machine, you're in charge of Lin Chuan's matter!"

"Here you go!"

Changsun Wuji bowed and replied.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say!" Lin Chuan suddenly bowed and said to Li Shimin.

Li Shimin glanced at Lin Chuan with surprise, then nodded:

"explain!"

"Your Majesty, I have another way to improve the plow!" Lin Chuan said.

Li Shimin was overjoyed and hurriedly gave the order:

"Go to the Directorate of Works!"

The group then headed towards the Imperial Workshop.

On the way back, Lin Chuan found an opportunity to walk up to Cheng Yaojin, cupped his hands, and said:

"Thank you, General!"

He had been worried about offending Cheng Yaojin, but he never expected Cheng Yaojin to step in and help him out of the predicament. His gratitude was sincere.

"Haha, no need to be so polite. But if you really want to thank me, why don't you tell me how to make the noodles?" Cheng Yaojin asked with a smile.

"General, you can just send someone to the noodle shop to learn, or when I have time, I can personally come to your residence to teach the cooks there. I will definitely teach without holding back!" Lin Chuan nodded with a smile.

"Haha, it's settled then!"

Upon returning to the Imperial Workshop, without Li Shimin's instruction, Yan Lide sent someone to summon the craftsmen from the Right School Office.

Lin Chuan only remembered yesterday when he returned that the Tang Dynasty had not yet improved or popularized the curved plow. What Cui Sheren said earlier was not entirely unreasonable; the waterwheel was indeed just icing on the cake.

However, the curved-shaft plow was different. Compared to the straight-shaft plow used by the people of the Tang Dynasty, the curved-shaft plow could save at least half the effort. For most people who lacked oxen and relied entirely on manpower, the curved-shaft plow was a truly beneficial tool for the country.

The curved plow was much simpler than the waterwheel, and several craftsmen quickly made one according to Lin Chuan's description.

"Give it a try!"

Li Shimin gave the instructions.

Yan Lide quickly arranged for two craftsmen to try it out. The two craftsmen, one pulling and the other supporting, started testing it in a small garden in the corner of the workshop.

The soil in the small garden was not loose, and a craftsman, though looking somewhat strained, slowly pulled the plow forward.

After glancing at it twice, Li Shimin could no longer hide the joy on his face. He strode over to the craftsman and said:

"Step aside, I'll try it myself!"