The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

"Sir, does the kind of plow you're describing really exist?"

Although Li Chengqian was young and could not fully understand the importance of this plow, he was well aware that if what Chen Huai'an said was true, it would definitely bring about tremendous changes to the Tang Dynasty.

"Of course." Chen Huai'an's expression remained unchanged. "The plow I'm talking about is called a curved plow. It sounds simple, and it looks simple, but it still takes some effort to make."

"So right now I can't produce the actual product. Once our wine makes money, I will use a small portion of the profits to recruit a large number of craftsmen to make it and use it to benefit the people."

"You can have doubts now, that's okay. You just need to know that I'm not lying to you, and that a curved plow can be made."

"The reason I'm telling you this is to make you clearly understand the importance of work."

"Sir, you even know this?" Cheng Chumo exclaimed in amazement. "Is there anything you can't do?"

Chen Huai'an smiled faintly and said, "Don't think too highly of me. There are too many things in the world that I don't know, so many that I can't even count them all."

"But I know quite a few things."

Cheng Chumo's mind raced: "Then do you have any way to get my husband to call me 'Dad'?"

"I've been calling him 'Dad' for over ten years, and I'm tired of it. I want to hear him call me 'Dad' once."

Chen Huai'an: "..."

Li Shimin: "..."

Hearing this, Empress Changsun's face darkened: "Second Brother, Chumo really needs to be disciplined. If Zhijie hears this, who knows how angry he'll get."

Li Shimin nodded.

Tang Heshang said disdainfully, "Cheng Xiaohei, that's all you've got. Your teacher is so capable, and all you want is for him to help you find a way to get your father to call you 'father'?"

"ridiculous."

Ignoring Cheng Chumo's gaze, Tang Heshang excitedly said, "If you ask me, we should ask the master to help us find a way to get my father to pass on the title to us ahead of time. That way, wouldn't we be able to do whatever we want in the future?"

Chen Huai'an covered his face, utterly speechless.

Li Chengqian felt ashamed; how could he have known such a bunch of monsters and demons?

Thinking it over, he quickly changed the subject: "Sir, since we've already discussed the three scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, what about the last one, merchants?"

"You said that scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants should have the same social status, but... it seems that no one agrees with that."

Outside, Li Shimin, who had just made up his mind to turn back and have Cheng Yaojin and the others teach these little brats a lesson, turned serious upon hearing this.

Chen Huai'an pondered for a moment and said, "Merchants, you know..."

"People generally dislike merchants for their profit-seeking and baseness, but consider this: different regions have different products, and goods from the north and south are separated by thousands of miles. Without merchants traveling around and exchanging goods, fresh fruits and treasures from Lingnan would have difficulty entering the Central Plains, and furs and ironware from the north would have been difficult to obtain from Jiangnan."

"If merchants didn't transport goods, how would rice from the south, horses from the north, and spices from the western regions reach your hands?"

Li Chengqian was slightly taken aback.

"Scholars are indeed important. Governing the country, maintaining peace, and educating the people cannot be separated from scholars. But if scholars do not farm, food will not grow on its own; if scholars do not work, tools will not be made on their own; if scholars do not engage in commerce, goods will not flow throughout the world on their own."

"A country is like a person!"

"Scholars are the mind, responsible for thinking and decision-making; farmers are the stomach, responsible for filling their bellies; artisans are the hands and feet, responsible for labor and construction; merchants are the bloodline, responsible for transporting nutrients."

"Tell me, can the mind look down on blood ties? Can siblings despise the taste buds?"

At this point, Chen Huai'an paused, looking into Li Chengqian's eyes: "Each of the four has its own function, and none can be missing!"

"Forcibly distinguishing between the noble and the lowly, or between the superior and the inferior, will only make this country walk with a limp, unable to walk steadily, and unable to go far."

Cheng Chumo, who was listening intently, couldn't help but interject, "Then why does everyone look down on businessmen these days? Even my father said that all businessmen are unscrupulous."

Chen Huai'an smiled and said, "That's because some people do business without following the rules, selling inferior goods as superior ones, hoarding goods for profit, and oppressing the people."

"This isn't the fault of the 'merchant' profession; it's the fault of people. Just like there are corrupt officials, can you say that the 'scholar' profession should be looked down upon?"

Cheng Chumo scratched his head and remained silent.

Li Chengqian blinked: "So, you mean, sir, we were all wrong?"

"Do you think your ideas are right?" Chen Huai'an retorted.

Li Chengqian remained silent.

The topic was too sensitive for him to answer.

Outside, Li Shimin was deep in thought.

Merchants...are they really that important?

Looking at the expressions on Li Chengqian's and the others' faces, Chen Huai'an sighed, "No matter what profession you're in, there's never a distinction between high and low, noble and base; it all depends on how you do it."

"If you cultivate the land well and ensure that the people have enough to eat, that is a great contribution. If you are a good craftsman and make sturdy and useful tools, that is a great contribution. If you do good business, ensure the flow of goods and stable prices, and make things convenient for the people, that is a great contribution."

"Every profession can produce outstanding individuals, and every profession can benefit the country and its people."

"Conversely, even if you are a scholar or a high-ranking official, if all you know is corruption, bribery, and exploiting the people, then you are more despicable than anyone else!"

"I know that the education you received from childhood has made your views on scholars, farmers, artisans and merchants deeply ingrained, especially for merchants."

"But aren't you all businessmen now?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian and the others were stunned. After thinking for a moment, their faces flushed slightly.

Yes.

They looked down on merchants, but now, aren't they merchants themselves?

If we continue to look down on merchants, aren't we looking down on ourselves?

"Sir, were we really wrong?" Li Chengqian stammered for a long time before asking the question again.

Chen Huai'an stared at him calmly for a moment, then slowly said, "Whether I'm right or wrong, you might find it hard to believe."

"I have a question for you now."

"Now you have taken out ten gold coins, and the rest of you have taken out one hundred strings of cash. Follow my instructions to do business."

"Do you think this is good or bad?"

"Is it right or wrong?"

Cheng Chumo said awkwardly, "It probably isn't a good idea... But with your wine, sir, we'll definitely make a lot of money, which is great for us."

"It's just that its reputation isn't very good."

Li Zhen and Tang Heshang echoed each other's sentiments.

"And you, Chengqian?" Chen Huai'an continued to press.

Li Chengqian pondered for a long time, and finally said in a somewhat uncertain tone, "It should be good... If I make money, I will definitely give it all to Father for the operation of the court and for disaster relief..."

"At least, what Chu Mo said earlier is correct; it's definitely good for us."

"Wrong!" Chen Huai'an retorted mercilessly, "Completely wrong!"

"I'm telling you, you're right, you're not wrong, not only are you not wrong, but this is a fantastic thing!"

"..."