If I traveled back to the Tang Dynasty, all I really wanted to be was a carefree prince.

The winter of the fourth year of the Zhenguan era arrived more slowly and was more intense than in previous years.

The news of the establishment of the Chongwen Academy seemed to have grown wings, starting from Chongrenfang in the capital, sweeping across Guannei Road, spreading over Hedong Road, reaching Henan Road, and finally reaching the ears of every scholar in the Tang Dynasty. In the lecture hall of the Imperial Academy, Kong Yingda stroked his beard and sighed, saying that in his more than forty years of teaching, he had never seen His Majesty so devoted to education. Every word he spoke was like a tiny seed, quietly falling into the hearts of the students.

But for a seed to sprout, it still needs sweet rain, fertile soil, and warm sunshine. Chongwen Academy was that seed of hope sown, the national treasury's silver was the nourishing sweet rain, the state and county schools that were established throughout the country were the fertile soil for taking root, and the warm sunshine that broke through the clouds was the bright blue sky that even aristocratic families could no longer obscure.

While the unveiling ceremony of the Chongwen Hall was making headlines in Chang'an, Li Ke was not idle.

He squatted alone in the courtyard of Chengyunfang, with fifty-seven veterans, discharged from various armies, kneeling in front of him. These men were all handpicked by Cheng Yaojin from the army, each a tough guy who had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood—some had lost fingers, some were lame, some were blind in one eye. Cheng Yaojin's casual remark, "wounded," was the final chapter of their lives, preventing them from ever riding on the battlefield again.

When the plaque of Chengyunfang was hung up, outsiders all thought that it was just a charitable courtyard where the imperial court would settle retired and wounded soldiers. After several investigations by the spies of the Xunqi family, they saw that this dilapidated courtyard outside the western suburbs of the city only had a few crooked brick houses and a group of seemingly useless old soldiers, so they all left and did not take this place seriously at all.

Unbeknownst to anyone, this group of seemingly down-on-their-luck veterans were secretly weaving an invisible net, a vast and inescapable trap capable of uprooting the centuries-old foundations of powerful clans.

Li Ke sent Li Chunfeng to retrieve an abacus and various account books from the Imperial Observatory. He also invited Meng Changqing, a retired official from the Ministry of Works, to break down the method of refining mineral salt into detailed practical steps. These veterans learned with a hundred times more diligence than ordinary students: Yang Laoliu, who had managed logistics in the army for seventeen years, had every detail of the accounts memorized perfectly; Zhao Danian, whose right hand was crippled, practiced the abacus with his left hand, developing thick calluses on his fingertips, yet still recited the account formulas day and night without stopping. Meng Changqing stood by the stove, repeatedly demonstrating the entire process of dissolving, settling, filtering, and boiling crystallizing with an iron pot, a ladle of water, and a pinch of mineral salt, over and over again, until everyone had mastered the technique perfectly.

The day the first batch of refined salt came out of the pot, the courtyard was deathly silent. These veterans, who had eaten grayish-brown, bitter and astringent coarse salt for most of their lives, picked up a pinch of snow-white, fine refined salt with their fingertips, put it on their tongues, and remained silent for a long time, but their eyes were already red and hot tears were welling up in their eyes.

Three months had passed in the blink of an eye, and the account books that Li Chunfeng had brought were worn and frayed from being turned over so many times. Yang Laoliu could calculate the approximate monthly income and expenditure of a salt mine with his eyes closed, down to the last penny; Zhao Danian could manipulate the abacus with his left hand at a speed faster than a normal person's right hand. Meng Changqing looked at everyone and finally nodded, saying frankly that their skills had been mastered.

Li Ke gazed at the group before him and spoke in a deep voice: "On this trip to the various salt mines, you are not only the officials dispatched by the court, but also my spies planted in the lifeline of the salt industry. The accounts must be transparent, the people's hearts must be firmly rooted, and your own people must take root firmly in the local areas. The powerful families have operated the salt mines for generations, their roots deeply entrenched; you must sever those roots inch by inch!"

At the same time, the imperial court's process of seizing salt mines was far more rapid than the training of salt transport workshops.

When Li Shimin issued the decree to reclaim the salt mines in the imperial study, the entire court fell silent instantly. This emperor was always decisive in his actions; as soon as the decree was issued, the Hundred Cavalry Command was immediately dispatched to thoroughly investigate the actual ownership of salt mines throughout the country.

The Hedong Salt Lake, being the largest salt producer in the land, was the easiest to confiscate. The two salt lakes, whose production was unparalleled in the Tang Dynasty, were already under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue, making it difficult for powerful families to intervene. A single imperial edict from the court allowed them to be easily taken back. The annual output of the Hedong Salt Lake was enough to supply half the population of the Tang Dynasty for six months. This revenue, going into the national treasury, was far more beneficial than a victory on the battlefield.

The situation in Huainan Salt Fields was not so smooth. The local salt fields had been controlled by powerful families for generations. The foremen in the mines were their own confidants, the accountants were their clan's trusted men, and even the miners were their private servants. Their power was deeply entrenched.

Fang Xuanling repeatedly discussed the matter with officials from the Ministry of Revenue in the Hall of State Affairs, ultimately deciding on a strategy of "courtesy first, then force." The imperial court first dispatched envoys to negotiate, offering substantial sums to purchase the salt fields. Those who agreed to negotiate and submit would receive generous compensation, allowing them to decide for themselves. Several pragmatic and powerful families accepted the money, signed contracts, and obediently handed over their salt fields. However, a few stubborn families remained unmoved by either persuasion or coercion, relying on their connections in the court and their local power to secretly obstruct the process and attempt to defy the imperial court. Faced with such resistance, the soldiers of the Zhechong Prefecture marched directly into the mining area. With sharp blades at their feet, they had no choice but to comply.

When the news reached Chang'an, the heads of powerful clans angrily smashed teacups in their warm chambers, furious. Some rushed to the palace that very night to seek an audience with the Emperor, only to be turned away at the gates; others sought refuge with Changsun Wuji, only to be politely seen off and politely refused. Now that His Majesty has even pacified the Eastern Turks and dared to decisively take action against the powerful clans of Guanzhong, who would dare to provoke such a tiger and seek their own death?

The salt wells in Jiangnan are the most complicated and troublesome. The area is mountainous and remote, with salt wells scattered in the valleys. Each household owns its own well. When the imperial court sends people to collect them, they are either asked for exorbitant prices or refused entry.

Wei Zheng personally traveled to Jiangnan, meeting with each salt well owner individually to explain the court's determination to purchase salt, the agreed-upon purchase price, and to ensure their future livelihoods. Some heeded the advice and submitted, while others remained hesitant and unwilling to budge. Wei Zheng remained calm and knew that this matter could not be forced. He immediately ordered the confiscation of the large, high-yielding salt wells first, while temporarily setting aside the smaller ones. The large salt wells, with their high output and low cost, would have an absolute advantage once their refined salt entered the market. The small salt wells, producing coarse salt at high costs, were simply unable to compete. In time, those who had been observing would naturally come to submit.

Within a few short months, the powerful clans finally realized their mistake, but it was too late to reverse the tide. Seven or eight out of ten large salt mines within the Tang Dynasty's borders fell under the control of the imperial court. The Wang clan of Taiyuan, the Cui clan of Boling, the Lu clan of Fanyang, the Zheng clan of Xingyang, the Cui clan of Qinghe... these top clans, which had existed for hundreds of years since the Wei and Jin dynasties, ultimately fell into a deathly silence in the imperial court.

The responsibility for setting the tea tax fell on Fang Xuanling's shoulders.

The tea tax may seem insignificant, but it is a matter of national importance. The imperial court established the Chongwen Academy to support teachers, recruit students, build libraries, and later set up schools in prefectures, counties, and villages. All of these required financial support. If the tea tax could be collected smoothly, the national treasury would be immediately replenished with a large sum of money.

Tea merchants are also essential to people's livelihood. If taxes are too heavy, they will force tea merchants to abandon their businesses and run away, which will be a loss. If taxes are too light, the court will not have any profit. The balance must be carefully considered and cannot be compromised.

Fang Xuanling and the officials of the Ministry of Revenue debated this issue endlessly, discussing it countless times. Some advocated for heavy taxes, stating that the tea trade was extremely profitable and the court should impose heavy taxes on it; others, however, insisted on light taxes, arguing that the tea industry chain was long and involved many people, and that heavy taxes would cause resistance from tea farmers and merchants, and even affect the Hu people trading on the borders, easily leading to chaos. After several rounds of debate, Fang Xuanling finally settled on a final strategy: light taxes with a broad scope of collection. Instead of imposing heavy taxes on a single link, he proposed levying small taxes on each link—from tea farmers' planting, tea merchants' transportation, porters' transport, to shops' sales—accumulating small amounts over time, which, in the long run, was far better than killing the goose that lays the golden eggs or draining the pond to catch all the fish.

After reading the document, Wei Zheng remained silent for a long time before praising it in a deep voice: "Prime Minister Fang's actions were perfectly measured and appropriate."

The discussion about tea tax reached Chongrenfang, immediately stirring up undercurrents within the mansions of the five prominent families and seven noble clans in Chang'an. Some openly opposed it, clamoring that the court's tea tax was a way of profiting at the expense of the people and violated the teachings of the sages. Kong Yingda immediately refuted this in the Hall of State Affairs, citing classical texts: "The sages also said, 'It is not scarcity that is to be feared, but inequality.' The tea trade is quite profitable; what is wrong with the court levying a reasonable tax? Should the court allow merchants to reap exorbitant profits while the people complain bitterly, and turn a blind eye?"

Fang Xuanling privately discussed this matter with Li Ke, and couldn't help but sigh softly: "They are not against taxation at all; they are clearly afraid that the court will fill the national treasury. With silver, the court can vigorously develop education, and education can attract talented people from all over the country. In the future, the court will no longer rely on the sons of aristocratic families to appoint officials. What they really fear is losing the foundation for monopolizing talent and controlling the government."

After the first batch of veterans from Chengyunfang completed their training, Li Ke successively dispatched them to salt mines throughout the Tang Dynasty.

Fifty-seven men, like fifty-seven unbreakable nails, were driven firmly into the lifeline of the Tang Dynasty's salt industry. Some went to the Hedong Salt Lake to take over the accounts, check the inventory, and reorganize the miners, replacing the foremen who colluded with powerful families one by one; others rushed to the Huainan Salt Fields, facing all kinds of obstruction from the stubborn local forces without fear—because behind them was the mighty Tang Dynasty, the wise and enlightened Emperor, and Prince Li Ke of Shu.

Zhao Danian was the first to accept the order and set off. Before he left, Li Ke handed him a carefully prepared abacus made of nanmu wood and said earnestly, "When you get to the salt mine, the accounts will be your life. This abacus was taken from General Cheng's mansion. It is made of solid wood and makes a clear, crisp sound when you turn it. Keep it safe and guard every single account."

Zhao Danian trembled as he took the abacus, glanced down at his crippled right arm, and suddenly knelt down, kowtowing deeply to Li Ke. Those around him hurriedly helped him up, but he said in a deep voice, "My life was given to me by Your Highness! On this journey, I will certainly guard the salt ponds for Your Highness, and protect the lifeline of the Tang Dynasty's salt industry, even at the cost of my life!"

Within a few months, the salt industry of the Tang Dynasty completely changed hands, transforming from the private property of powerful families into a stable purse for the imperial court. From mining and refining salt to transportation and sales, the imperial court firmly controlled every link, allowing no powerful families to interfere in the slightest.

The powerful clans were thus cut off from their most lucrative source of income, suffering a severe blow. The heads of the high-ranking families in Chongren Ward remained secluded, smashing cups and goblets, filled with resentment yet utterly helpless. When the news reached the Hall of State Affairs, Fang Xuanling, who was revising the tea tax regulations, paused slightly, his pen still in hand. Without raising his head, he spoke calmly: "Cutting off someone's source of income is like killing their parents. How could they not hate? But what good is hatred? Without the support of silver, how can they contend for power in the court? The principles of this world have always been this simple."

On the other hand, Fang Xuanling's tea tax regulations were finally finalized.

He sent a thick stack of neatly prepared documents to the palace, and within a few days, he received the Emperor's approval. That day, Crown Prince Li Chengqian was studying in the Imperial Study when he happened to hear Fang Xuanling meticulously report on the key aspects of the tea tax implementation, clearly explaining its advantages and disadvantages.

After listening, Li Chengqian remained silent for a long time before finally asking, "Father, if the tea tax is fully implemented, won't it cause unrest on the border?"

Li Shimin did not answer. Wei Zheng stepped forward and replied in a deep voice, "Your Highness, rest assured, the tea tax only applies to the trade between tea merchants in the Central Plains and will not increase prices in the trade between the Hu people. The price of tea on the border will remain unchanged. The court profits from the circulation of goods by merchants, not from the goods of the Hu people. Whether the border is stable or not does not depend on the amount of taxation, but on whether the court has sufficient silver to support the army and strengthen the defenses."

The Chongwen Hall rose from the ground in Chongrenfang. On the day of its unveiling, Yu Shinan personally attended the event and exclaimed "Good!" three times, unable to hide his joy.

Kong Yingda is drafting a nationwide school management charter, starting in Guanzhong and gradually expanding to Hedong, proceeding step by step and steadily, not seeking quick success but aiming for a solid foundation. The Luoyang Chongwen Hall branch has also begun the site selection process.

Inside the transport workshop, the selection of the second batch of trainees has quietly begun.

Li Ke stood alone in the courtyard of Chengyunfang, gazing up at the deep night sky. The faces of the fifty-seven veterans flashed through his mind. On the day they set off on their expedition, Cheng Yaojin had stood at the gate, offering them wine one by one as they departed. Years had passed, and their return was uncertain. The large cauldrons boiling salt by the salt ponds continued day and night, the roaring fires illuminating half the night sky. The refined salt bubbling within, snow-white and translucent, resembled the first snow of the fourth year of the Zhenguan era, slowly blanketing the streets of Chang'an. The distant flickering lights of the salt mines resembled red-hot blades, or the warmth emanating from the hearths of ordinary people on a cold winter's day.

A cold wind blew in through the cracks in the window, and the twilight, half bright and half dark, blurred the figures of everyone in the courtyard into the same heavy outline, like the first snow covering the city, calm yet powerful.