Li Yuanying’s order to impose a month-long curfew drew considerable attention. At least the people in neighboring counties felt that Tengzhou was lively and, after visiting relatives, they didn’t want to return. This, in turn, brought a small fortune to Tengzhou’s merchants.
Everyone was busy during the first lunar month, so Li Yuanying didn’t start any construction projects. Only after the Shangyuan Festival did he have people begin work on building the academy.
He had already allocated the land, drafted the regulations, and even had Yan Lide draw the blueprints. Li Yuanying essentially just needed to periodically inspect the site and monitor the construction progress.
As the first lunar month was about to end, Li Yuanying, as expected, received a reprimanding imperial decree from the court. The gist of it was that he was being too reckless by imposing a month-long curfew. This would greatly increase the difficulty of managing security in Tengzhou!
Li Yuanying occasionally received letters from Emperor Li, but this was the first time he received a formal scolding decree. He felt that Emperor Li was being unreasonable, not even allowing him to have a curfew during the New Year! He had been writing letters to Emperor Li every other day even when there was nothing important to report, so naturally he was even more eager to write back now that there was something worth writing about. He quickly drafted a memorial, explaining that he imposed the curfew to promote marriage among the people, giving them a chance to find their life partners!
Li Yuanying even shamelessly claimed that the curfew was meant to curb all kinds of illegal and criminal activities, and he believed that the people of Tengzhou wouldn’t engage in any wrongdoing. Therefore, he wasn’t afraid of imposing a month-long curfew, let alone a daily one!
In fact, this was precisely what Li Yuanying thought. It was boring to confine everyone to their neighborhoods after sunset. He preferred that every day be as lively as New Year’s Eve, allowing everyone to earn more from their businesses! People who could afford to spend money would be free in the evenings, allowing them to spend time with their wives and children, drink some wine, and enjoy the night. Keeping people locked up in their homes all night was not a good thing!
Li Yuanying practically wished for a daily curfew in Tengzhou so that everyone could have fun without restraint.
He wrote a passionate and eloquent memorial, ending with a complaint that his elder brother didn’t value their brotherhood. Every time he wrote, he showered his brother with praise, but his brother only responded with scolding letters. This was just too bad. He wouldn’t write to his brother anymore!
After finishing the memorial in one go, Li Yuanying sent it to Emperor Li via a swift messenger. He didn’t write any more of those flattering letters that made anyone who read them feel uncomfortable. Instead, he started planning a trip to the coast.
Wu Mei and the others were all busy with their own affairs, so Li Yuanying went to find Gao Yang and asked if she wanted to go with him. To his surprise, she declined, stating that she would be the polo coach for the Women’s Academy, training a women’s polo team that would strike fear into the hearts of neighboring counties! She was diligently studying, but she wouldn’t neglect her own aspirations. Everyone was busy with the academy preparations, and she also wanted to contribute.
Of course, this was just the reason Gao Yang gave Li Yuanying. What her true motives were, Li Yuanying didn’t know.
He didn’t worry about it. With Wu Mei and the others around, Gao Yang wouldn’t create any unmanageable trouble. Seeing everyone busy, Li Yuanying decided to take Yan Lide with him.
Yan Lide had originally planned to return to the capital after finishing the academy design, as he hadn’t even been home for the New Year this year and felt a bit homesick. However, Li Yuanying wouldn’t let him go, saying, “Since you miss your family, Big Yan, I’ll have people bring them here.”
Could Yan Lide refuse?
He couldn’t, so he could only laugh wryly and stay. Upon hearing Li Yuanying’s plans to go to the coast, Yan Lide readily agreed, packed his things, and set off with Li Yuanying.
Although Emperor Li hadn’t granted Li Yuanying control of the entire Henan Road, he had given him a large swathe of land along the coast, authorizing him to act at his discretion. Li Yuanying was always good at taking advantage of any opportunity. If there wasn’t an opportunity, he would create one. And Emperor Li had even written this arrangement into the imperial decree!
Li Yuanying explained to Yan Lide his two purposes for visiting the coast. First, Dai Ting said he would return in a few days, and Li Yuanying wanted to see what treasures he had brought back and hear whether Goguryeo would be attacked in the spring. Second, since Emperor Li had granted him the coastal area, he naturally needed to make good use of it! Build a large wharf, construct shipyards, develop maritime trade, and train the navy properly!
Otherwise, what was the point of bringing Li Dejian and Du He here? He wasn’t bringing people just to sit around idly.
Li Yuanying traveled leisurely, leading Yan Lide, Li Dejian, and the others in a grand procession to the easternmost wharf. Someone had already made arrangements at the驿站 (Yi Zhan, literally “post station,” but here referring to a local government-run lodging and transportation hub), and as soon as they arrived, the officials came out to greet them. Li Yuanying ordered people to keep an eye out for any activity at sea while he sat down with Yan Lide and the others to enjoy fresh seafood.
The shrimp porridge was smooth and delicious, the seafood was rich and flavorful, and Li Yuanying ate heartily, realizing that living by the sea had many advantages, not least of which was access to fresh seafood at any time.
Just as they were halfway through their meal, someone came to report that a ship was approaching from the sea, and not just one, but an entire fleet! It looked very impressive!
Li Yuanying, suddenly feeling full, led Yan Lide and the others to the wharf. As he stood and looked out, he could indeed see a fleet approaching from the distance. The ships looked a bit dilapidated, but there were many of them, giving them a sense of grandeur!
These ships were naturally the ones that Dai Ting had brought back.
It had taken him a lot of effort to acquire so many ships and find enough crew, but he had spent over a year in Goguryeo and Silla, so he could find whatever he wanted. This was the result! These ships were loaded with goods he had obtained from Goguryeo, as well as things he had traded for with Goguryeo grain and Silla goods.
Though Goguryeo and Silla were both poor and backward, the ginseng from their mountains was quite good, and the pearls from their coast were also considered valuable.
Dai Ting had taken all the things he liked and had even stockpiled some strategic materials in Silla, specifically for Kim Seungman. Since Kim Seungman had a chance to inherit the throne, Dai Ting naturally had to help her.
From any perspective, it was better for Silla to have a ruler who was friendly to the Tang dynasty than one who wanted to break away. Now that Kim Seungman was gaining support, she would have more say after she ascended to the throne, and she could seize power more quickly.
Dai Ting also informed Kim Seungman about the internal strife in Goguryeo, encouraging her to work with trustworthy people to stir up even more chaos in Goguryeo and seize some cities in the meantime. Although the Tang dynasty would demand the return of Goguryeo, actually taking back those cities would help boost Kim Seungman’s reputation!
After learning about these arrangements, Kim Seungman gained a deeper understanding of Li Yuanying and Dai Ting. At the Imperial Academy, Li Yuanying had been known for his love of fun and games. Aside from studying, he rarely had any serious moments. It wasn’t until Dai Ting delivered the goods and outlined the specific plan of action to her that Kim Seungman truly realized that Li Yuanying was indeed a true prince and that those around him were not ordinary people!
Kim Seungman was naturally grateful for their help.
Her elder sister was not in good health and had no children, so Kim Seungman often took her under her wing and taught her. For the sake of the Silla royal family, her elder sister naturally wanted Kim Seungman to firmly grasp power and lead Silla to a brighter future. Unfortunately, the more she learned, the more she realized that even her elder sister, who sat on the throne, was restricted in every way!
Who wouldn’t want to do it if they could!
Dai Ting was indifferent to Kim Seungman’s gratitude. After accomplishing what he had set out to do, he quietly left.
Thinking back on his recent experiences, Dai Ting was not completely at peace. He still felt a sense of satisfaction from his intrigues and ambitious schemes. But when he stood on the deck and saw people waiting on the shore for the fleet to dock, his whole heart settled.
They were back in the Tang dynasty.
Even though he could manipulate events in Goguryeo and easily acquire wealth that most people could only dream of in a lifetime, that wasn’t a place where they could truly settle down. No matter how long they were gone, the Tang dynasty was still their home, and it would always welcome them back with open arms!
Dai Ting heard cheers around him, as his companions spontaneously shouted with joy.
The fleet entered the wharf, and Dai Ting was the first to disembark, respectfully bowing to Li Yuanying.
Li Yuanying happily pulled him up, urging him not to be so formal, saying, “It’s quite a coincidence. We just arrived at the 驿站 (Yi Zhan) not long ago, and you’re already back.” He looked excitedly at the fleet that Dai Ting had brought back, “You didn’t have enough people to operate all these ships, so did you bring back quite a few Goguryeo and Silla people?”
Dai Ting nodded.
He had to find people locally because there weren’t enough. He had his own standards for choosing people, ensuring that those he brought back wouldn’t cause trouble for Li Yuanying, and they could even create some trouble for Goguryeo if necessary!
Dai Ting explained succinctly, “They’re all homeless. I brought them to the Tang dynasty with their wives and children.”
Li Yuanying was pleased.
No matter what these people wanted to do, it was good that they were here. He was naturally happy to have people who were willing to pledge allegiance to the Tang dynasty.
Li Yuanying praised him, “Well done. They’re homeless, so we should naturally give them a place to settle down.” He instructed someone to handle the arrangement of the people and goods on the ships, while he pulled Dai Ting aside to eat and discuss matters in detail.
Yan Lide and the others followed and sat down, listening to the conversation between Li Yuanying and his servant.
Dai Ting glanced at Yan Lide and the others. Seeing that Li Yuanying wasn’t trying to exclude them, he didn’t hold back and told Li Yuanying about the general situation in Goguryeo.
He hadn’t really done anything, just stirred up trouble in Goguryeo, helped Silla stockpile grain, and incidentally bought up all the treasures from both sides at low prices. There were other countries around who wanted to fish in troubled waters, but he focused on stirring up chaos in Goguryeo and didn’t bother with them.
Overall, the results were quite good, basically meeting expectations. If the court still wanted to attack Goguryeo, he might be able to conquer a few cities without bloodshed and casually gain some military merit!
When Yeon Gaesomun wrote the letter of submission, he probably intended to pay lip service while secretly maintaining his power. But given Goguryeo’s current situation, he would soon have to be a true man of his word. He would act exactly as he wrote in his letter, without the slightest bit of deception.
Li Yuanying was very much in agreement, thinking that Dai Ting had done a good job: “That’s how people from our Tang dynasty should be, leading others to goodness! How can people live in this world if they can’t even keep their word!”
Yan Lide and Li Dejian, listening to this, thought that Yeon Gaesomun should hear this conversation between the master and his servant, so that he could die of anger without even needing to fight!
After all, Emperor Li’s insistence on attacking Goguryeo was largely due to Yeon Gaesomun’s regicide and usurpation of power, a truly heinous act. When Xiang Li Xuanjiang went to Goguryeo as an envoy last year to ask them to withdraw their troops from Silla, he was rejected by Yeon Gaesomun, which angered Emperor Li so much that he declared his intention to personally lead a campaign to Liaodong, arguing with Wei Zheng and the others for months.
Now, Li Yuanying had thrown Goguryeo into disarray and shamelessly claimed to be leading people to goodness. It was even more shameless than Yeon Gaesomun!
Li Yuanying didn’t think there was anything wrong with what he and Dai Ting said. Dai Ting was back, and he was happy. He immediately forgot the harsh words he had spoken to Emperor Li about the curfew and started writing a secret letter to Emperor Li again.
This time, it was truly a secret letter. He even wrote on the seal, “To be opened by His Imperial Majesty only. No one else is allowed to read it,” and had it delivered to Emperor Li with utmost urgency. After all, Dai Ting had brought back some funds, and he needed to start building the port. He had to inform Emperor Li!
So, Emperor Li had just finished reading Li Yuanying’s memorial declaring that he would “never write to his brother again,” when he received another urgent secret letter from Li Yuanying.
Li Tai and his group had already returned to Chang’an, and Ma Zhou had also mentioned Dai Ting’s shenanigans in Goguryeo to Emperor Li.
Emperor Li hadn’t said anything at the time, only agreeing with Wei Zheng and the others that they would wait and see. If Goguryeo dared to pay lip service while secretly harboring other intentions, the Tang dynasty would definitely give it a lesson!
But this scoundrel Li Yuanying had actually written a secret letter to take credit for Dai Ting’s actions, praising Dai Ting for being a reliable and steady person, upright and just, a true pillar of talent once in a century! He also said that our great Tang dynasty should do more good deeds like this, leading foreign barbarians to become men of their word.
Even barbarians should not be treated with brute force. We should show them what’s right and what’s wrong. We should educate them like we educate our children. Explain it to them clearly before beating them up. Only then will they truly understand!
Even though Emperor Li felt justified in his actions, he still fell silent after reading Li Yuanying’s letter.
So, it seems they were actually… leading people to goodness?
The author has something to say:
Little prince: Come, let’s have a little idiom class. Let’s review a few idioms. First, we need to learn how to gain something without effort. Then we need to be close to our relatives and live in harmony with our neighbors, never forgetting to lead people to goodness…
Update!
Yesterday, my 6,000-word daily update was tragically sacrificed!
This is about the fourth month of daily updates of 6,000 words. It was only a few days ago that I was able to update 3,000 words a day. I said at the end of last month that I was starting to feel overwhelmed, but I saw everyone pouring in so many nutrient liquids at the beginning of the month, so I gritted my teeth and persevered. But last night, my emotions suddenly broke down. I felt like I couldn’t continue. I even impulsively booked myself a ticket, planning to go out and wander around next week.
Daily updates of 6,000 words are just too much. I have to write and update one chapter in the morning, and I’m also worried about updating one chapter before going to bed at night. I don’t even have the energy to read some serious books in between, so I’m going to adjust my schedule and mentality. I should read more interesting books and get more information input so that I have something to write about qaq
Anyway, I will update as much as I can as soon as possible!
I really want to have the skill of stockpiling drafts_(:3∠)_
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