Li Yuanying was in a good mood after receiving Li Chengqian. He instructed his servants to prepare a feast at Fengtai Tower to welcome the Crown Prince. Fengtai Tower was accustomed to hosting various banquets and was experienced in handling such occasions, remaining calm even under the pressure of a royal visit.
Upon Li Chengqian’s arrival, Li Yuanying first ordered a round of appetizers before gradually introducing a series of dishes, changing them thirteen times before presenting the Crown Prince with a comprehensive sampling of the season’s best cuisine.
Although Li Chengqian only took a few bites of each dish, he was still quite full. After the banquet, he strolled through the Wei Wang Fu (Government Office or Official Residence) with Li Yuanying, praising the rich and varied flavors of the dishes at Fengtai Tower.
Li Yuanying remarked, “The chefs at Fengtai Tower have dedicated their lives to culinary arts. Naturally, they have developed many innovative ways to prepare dishes.”
Fengtai Tower had evolved beyond a mere dining establishment. They now provided guidance to local farmers and ranchers on what vegetables, fruits, and livestock to cultivate and raise, informing them about market demand and supply. This comprehensive management ensured the efficient organization of agricultural and livestock production in the surrounding countryside.
The restaurant’s diverse menu featured new seasonal dishes every month. Apart from holding agricultural lectures to guide farmers in choosing the best seeds and breeding methods, they also occasionally conducted cooking demonstrations, teaching people how to prepare inexpensive home-style dishes. These dishes were not on Fengtai Tower’s menu, so sharing their knowledge was a selfless act, a testament to the chefs’ dedication to following Li Yuanying’s vision.
These initiatives transformed Fengtai Tower into something extraordinary. People from all walks of life attended the cooking classes, both men and women. Initially, women were hesitant to attend, but as the number of female participants increased, they began to feel more comfortable attending in groups.
Poverty cannot last forever. Many who received guidance or learned culinary skills at Fengtai Tower developed a deep affection for the restaurant. They set a personal goal of enjoying a meal at Fengtai Tower at least once in their lives. Even if they never achieved great success, they hoped that their sons or grandchildren would eventually realize this small dream.
When Li Yuanying initially purchased Fengtai Tower and pledged to provide free meals for the students of the Imperial Academy, many considered him foolish. But in the long run, these actions proved to be highly rewarding.
Fengtai Tower held a unique and respected position in the hearts of both ordinary citizens and scholars, unlike any other restaurant or eatery.
As Li Yuanying and Li Chengqian strolled through the corridors of Teng Wang Fu (Government Office or Official Residence), Li Yuanying shared his reasons for these arrangements. He quoted from the *Xunzi*: “Water can carry a boat, or it can capsize it.” He continued, “The people are not fools. They know who treats them well and who doesn’t. They won’t blindly be grateful for a few kind words. You need to understand their needs and how to improve their lives and make them happier.”
This year, a significant portion of Tengzhou’s farmland had voluntarily adopted the Zhanpo rice variety. Although the harvest was yet to be seen, it seemed likely to be abundant. Even in areas facing water scarcity, the Zhanpo rice thrived, demonstrating its drought resistance.
Without consistent guidance and organization, it would be inconceivable for farmers to risk their livelihoods by experimenting with a new rice variety, even with Li Yuanying’s guarantee of a return on their investment.
As Li Chengqian listened to Li Yuanying’s detailed description of Tengzhou’s development plan, he realized that even the smallest step was interconnected and integrated with the overall strategy.
Therefore, planning required thinking ahead, considering every possible consequence. This meticulous approach could not have been Li Yuanying’s own doing. He was always known for his out-of-the-box thinking and had never been known for his practicality.
Li Chengqian complimented, “You have a remarkable team, Yu Shu (Uncle).”
Li Yuanying beamed with pride, “Of course. Whether it’s Wei Jiu or Wu Mei, Di Renjie or Tang Xuan, they are all incredibly capable.” After their meal and conversation, Li Yuanying felt satiated and allowed Li Chengqian to rest.
The Crown Prince’s carriage stayed in Tengzhou for several days. Accompanied by Li Yuanying, he toured the city, visiting different locations and witnessing the progress made by Tang Guan, Tang Xuan, and others, who showed Li Chengqian the practical results of their work in Tengzhou.
Initially, Li Chengqian found Tengzhou more vibrant than other cities. After spending a few days with Li Yuanying and observing the changes in the pilot counties, he understood the source of this vibrancy and the countless efforts behind it. Making the entire Tang dynasty flourish was a challenging feat!
During their travels, the uncle and nephew discussed a passage from Emperor Jing of Han. In a decree, the emperor wrote, “Engraved ornaments and intricate carvings are detrimental to agricultural work. Fine silks and embroidered garments hinder women’s weaving and sewing.” He argued that pursuing luxurious embellishments would impede farmers from tending their fields and women from engaging in their domestic duties. Therefore, indulgence and extravagance should be avoided.
This statement held a certain truth. If there was a shortage of manpower and food, excessive indulgence by those in power would inflict immeasurable harm upon the people. Therefore, enjoying fine food, luxurious clothing, and rare treasures was only permissible if the people had “surplus capacity.”
To achieve this “surplus capacity,” the most fundamental requirement was an adequate population and sufficient food supply. High-yield crops, efficient agricultural tools, and the replacement of manual labor with animal power were all preparations for this goal.
Li Yuanying outlined a general development plan for Li Chengqian:
Firstly, encourage more people to marry and have children. Promote love and family through uplifting songs and lyrics, even composing popular love stories. Increase the frequency of social gatherings like the Shangyuan Festival Lantern Festival, fostering the formation of families.
Secondly, raise more cattle, sheep, mules, and horses. The ideal situation would be to have at least one cow per household, reducing the need for manual labor. The breeding efforts at Xiangcheng Palace should continue, focusing on selecting strong and docile cattle breeds.
Thirdly, continue the work already being done in Tengzhou: developing efficient new agricultural tools and searching for superior rice varieties. This was not an easy task. The world had over a hundred varieties of grains, but only “five grains” were ultimately chosen for consumption. Therefore, selecting and breeding crops was a long process. Even if a high-yield crop was discovered, it may not be suitable for consumption. Wheat, for example, was not commonly eaten in the past due to its taste and difficulty in digestion, often leading to illnesses. Fortunately, the *Qi Min Yao Shu* (Essential Techniques for the People’s Welfare) recorded several fermentation methods to make wheat easier to digest. Li Yuanying had instructed Fengtai Tower to develop numerous new recipes, hoping to encourage people to adopt wheat-based dishes. After all, some regions were more suitable for growing wheat.
Li Yuanying’s suggestions were pragmatic and actionable. Li Chengqian, with his team of experienced individuals from Tengzhou, could immediately put them into practice. After listening to Li Yuanying’s plan, Li Chengqian had a clearer understanding of his tasks upon returning to Chang’an.
With the serious matters discussed, Li Yuanying shifted his attention to pleasure. He realized that all these efforts were ultimately aimed at enjoying a better life – with companions, delicious food, and entertaining pastimes. Life would be more fulfilling and enjoyable.
Li Yuanying pulled Li Chengqian towards the coast.
Upon reaching the harbor, Li Chengqian was greeted by a dense cluster of ships at the dock. Accompanied by their guards, they ascended a vantage point for a broader view. Li Chengqian counted the ships and realized that their number was surprisingly large, exceeding his expectations.
Li Yuanying explained, “These are ships reserved by various merchants. They haven’t set sail yet. After we watch the drill and have a day of rest, the naval fleet will escort them out to sea, guiding them on their treasure-hunting expedition.”
Li Chengqian was aware of Li Yuanying’s success in finding valuable items along the maritime route, so he did not question the likelihood of finding treasures at sea. Instead, he inquired, “Will we watch the drill from here?”
Li Yuanying replied, “Let’s go a little further. There are so many merchant ships here. It would be a shame if they get damaged. Building ships is no easy feat.”
Li Chengqian was slightly surprised. Damaged?
Li Yuanying led Li Chengqian to a more secluded area of the coast offering a wider view. He signaled with a flag to begin the drill. Soon, several ships, even more imposing than the merchant vessels, appeared on the distant horizon.
The ocean was turbulent, but due to its vastness, it appeared calm from a distance. Li Chengqian, who rarely visited the coast, felt invigorated by the sea breeze, as if every pore of his skin was expanding.
As the ships drew closer, Li Chengqian noticed that trailing behind the dozen or so vessels was a creature he had never seen before. Only a sharp horn was visible above the waterline, but the surrounding waves clearly indicated its immense size!
Li Chengqian was perplexed, “What is that?” It appeared to be roughly the size of a ship!
Li Yuanying explained, “Those large creatures are called Jiao Sharks. They are ferocious and dangerous to encounter. Others are commonly known as ‘Big Fish’, they are generally docile but still massive. If angered, they can be equally dangerous. Perhaps due to limited food in coastal waters, these creatures are rarely seen in near-shore areas. When Dai Ting was in Silla, he saw the Silla people hunting these creatures and learned from them how to subdue these colossal beings. Xiao Li and the others often use them for practice when sailing, and several ships have been damaged in the process.” Li Yuanying winced at the thought, “They are such spendthrifts!”
This time, Li Yuanying instructed Li Dejian to lure one of these creatures back to show Li Chengqian. Li Dejian accepted the task and set sail, successfully attracting a fierce Jiao Shark.
To counter the massive creature, the ships maneuvered strategically, effectively containing the Jiao Shark’s formidable fighting power. A group of valiant soldiers, trained in naval combat, attacked in rotation, quickly staining the surrounding waters with blood.
Li Chengqian was captivated.
He was the one who had brought Li Yuanying to see the elephant and horse battles. The intense naval struggle naturally held his attention. This was exhilarating! Once the creature was fully visible, Li Chengqian realized it was so large that it would take many men to embrace it.
Larger than an elephant!
Did the ocean hide so many ferocious creatures?
Li Chengqian asked Li Yuanying, “Isn’t sailing very dangerous?”
Li Yuanying replied, “Yes, it is. But I was lucky last time. I didn’t encounter any serious dangers throughout the journey.”
Li Chengqian recalled the beating Li Yuanying had suffered. His initial excitement dissipated. If even Li Yuanying could not sail without risks, what chance did he, the Crown Prince, have? Simply witnessing the spectacle from the shore was satisfying enough.
As the naval battle ended, Li Dejian and his crew dragged the battered Jiao Shark ashore. Li Yuanying pulled Li Chengqian towards the creature to get a closer look.
As they approached, both Li Yuanying and Li Chengqian were astonished by the shark’s enormous teeth. Li Yuanying, never one to shy away from danger, reached out to touch it. His hand felt damp and reeking of fish. He immediately ordered water to wash his hands.
The uncle and nephew circled the Jiao Shark, marveling at its size and the wonders of the natural world. Du He instructed his servants to bring several water tanks, saying that they had captured a batch of young Jiao Sharks, still small with developing teeth. He thought they would make delightful pets for the imperial grandchildren. However, he cautioned that transportation required careful attention. These creatures were carnivores and could not be kept in fresh water. If seawater was unavailable, they could add salt obtained from evaporated seawater, but the ratio needed to be precise.
This method of raising young Jiao Sharks was developed by a group of scholars from the academy studying chemistry.
Du He glanced at Li Yuanying as he said this. These peculiar talents were the result of Li Yuanying’s investment. He wondered how Li Yuanying hadn’t already become destitute!
Li Yuanying commented, “Yes, take them back to show Xiang’er and the others.” He asked Li Chengqian if the kindergarten had opened, as he wanted to prepare various marine specimens or easily maintained live animals for them to observe the wonders of the underwater world. Curiosity about the ocean should be fostered from a young age!
Li Chengqian replied, “I had already started preparations before departing. They should be ready by the time we return.”
Li Chengqian then subtly hinted to Li Yuanying to show him these specimens. As a prince who had never been to the coast, he was also eager to witness the wonders of the sea!
**Author’s Note:**
The Little Prince: I’m not only ruining the next generation, but also the generation after that.
Update!
I watched a movie today! Pikachu! Pikachu is so cute! I also went for a walk with my mother this evening. I thought I could easily finish three thousand words, but I couldn’t! The second update is late, but it’s still here! (づ￣ 3￣)づ
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