Chapter 14: Wei Zheng: He Stole My Lines!

The distance between the Juxian Pavilion and the Xiande Hall is neither far nor near. With their teacher having already departed, the students could hardly be expected to wait idly in the classroom.

Thus, led by the brothers Li Chengqian and Li Tai, they left the moment the old scholar, Kong, had stepped out.

Meanwhile, unaware of these developments, Li Shimin was still in the side chamber of the Xiande Hall, discussing affairs of state.

Seated on a soft couch, Li Shimin had just finished reading a memorial. He handed it to the Secretariat Director, Fang Xuanling, and sighed, "Take a look. From the first to the ninth year of the Wude era, years of continuous warfare have left the national treasury empty. And now, we must send vast amounts of wealth to the Turks every year. How are we to survive in the days to come?"

After reading the memorial, Fang Xuanling said pensively, "Your Majesty, by rights, the national strength of the Great Tang should not be in such a state after all these years of the Retired Emperor's reign. Could there be irregularities in the auditing?"

"Even if there were, it wouldn't account for such a discrepancy!" Li Shimin waved his hand in frustration.

"This..."

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui exchanged a glance. The latter understood immediately and bowed to Li Shimin, saying, "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, a tiny error at the start leads to a thousand-mile deviation. In my opinion, it would be best to have our own people conduct a thorough audit of the treasury."

Hearing this, Li Shimin thought for a moment and nodded. "That makes sense. Tell me your thoughts."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Du Ruhui bowed again. "As far as I am aware, although the subordinates from the former Prince of Qin’s Mansion and the Tiance Mansion have entered the imperial court and begun to manage state affairs since your enthronement, positions like the Secretariat Director—the Left and Right Deputy Directors—are still held by the Retired Emperor's old officials. We cannot yet claim to have total control over the government."

"True!" Li Shimin’s eyes lit up. "These old officials are increasingly unable to keep up with our new policies!"

"However," he added, his expression darkening, "these officials were all appointed by the Retired Emperor himself. That was one of the conditions for his abdication..."

"It has been over half a year. It is time for us to make a new move!" Zhangsun Wuji narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Over six months ago, we dealt with the Prince of Xi and the Prince of Hailing. Their people are now our people. It is time to deal with the Retired Emperor's old guard as well..."

Li Shimin looked deeply at Zhangsun Wuji but remained silent, turning his gaze instead to Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui. Seeing them both silent, he pointed at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "You! Minister of Personnel!"

"All the officials of the court are under your jurisdiction!" He stood up slowly and walked as he spoke, "We must find a way to take action, to maneuver, and cast out those old officials of the Retired Emperor, so we may truly grasp the reins of government!"

"So... what is Your Majesty’s intention?" Fang Xuanling asked tentatively.

Li Shimin paused and said with a wry smile, "You are my subjects; you should be the ones finding a way for me. Why are you asking me instead?"

"Uh..." Fang Xuanling’s face flushed with embarrassment.

At this moment, Zhangsun Wuji spoke up, "Your Majesty, I have something to say, though I do not know if it is appropriate."

"Ha!" Li Shimin laughed. "There are no outsiders here. What could be inappropriate? Or are you, Zhangsun Wuji, going to stand on ceremony with me?"

"I would not dare!" Zhangsun Wuji bowed quickly. "I only mean that since time immemorial, politics and law have been inseparable. If we are to maneuver, we might as well start by amending the laws..."

"Oh?" Li Shimin raised an eyebrow. "Tell me more!"

"Your Majesty, although the Wude Code is more lenient and concise than the Sui Code, your policy since ascending the throne has been to let the people rest. Therefore, I believe we could make it even more lenient..."

"Brilliant!" Li Shimin’s eyes brightened, and he clapped his hands. "Brilliant!"

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui looked at each other in surprise. They knew how much Li Shimin valued Zhangsun Wuji, but they had never seen him so sharp. In their view, Zhangsun Wuji had always been a man of moderation—neither greedy for merit nor arrogant. While he had his schemes, he was not typically seen as a master strategist. Yet, he had grasped Li Shimin’s intent instantly, which was truly impressive.

"Good. Wuji’s advice hits the mark." Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Zhangsun Wuji and smiled, "How about this: you shall join the Secretariat Director and the Minister of the Supreme Court to revise the laws!"

"Ah?" Zhangsun Wuji was stunned. *I only offered an opinion, I didn't say I wanted to be involved! And Chengqian didn't say I should participate either!* "Your Majesty, the revision of laws is the duty of the Secretariat Director. I have many other things to attend to, so..."

"Hmph!" Li Shimin cut him off with a cold snort. His face stern, he said, "I regard you as my closest confidants and pillars of the state. In my eyes, only you are capable of handling great affairs. Therefore, when it comes to my great affairs, official rank does not matter!"

"This..." Zhangsun Wuji was speechless. He glanced instinctively at Fang Xuanling, who shook his head slightly, signaling him not to press the issue. Emperor Li Er was not a man to be argued with; only Wei Zheng dared to offer such remonstrances.

However, they could never have imagined that this revision of the laws by Emperor Li Er would open a Pandora’s Box.

If one were to ask what Li Er’s greatest stain in history was, many would point to the Xuanwu Gate Incident. In truth, for the common people, that was a stain, but for later political figures, it was nothing—which emperor had not killed a few relatives? Hadn't the great Go master of the Han Dynasty also founded the Rule of Wen and Jing and been praised by later generations?

Therefore, Li Er’s true stain was the alteration of history. And the content of that alteration was not the Xuanwu Gate Incident, but his father, Li Yuan. In the *Old Book of Tang*, he painted Li Yuan as an incompetent monarch, implying that the Tang Empire was built solely through his own efforts. While history would not hide Li Shimin’s achievements—for the Tang was indeed his conquest—Li Yuan was by no means an incompetent ruler. At the very least, from the uprising in Taiyuan to the founding of the state in Guanzhong, it was Li Yuan’s decades of political resources that were consumed. Once in Guanzhong, it was undeniably Li Er who conquered the realm. Thus, the Tang Empire was, in truth, the result of the mutual achievements of Li Yuan and his son. Li Er’s rewriting of history was indeed his political stain.

"Listen to me, all of you. The law is the clothing of the common people. If it is too tight, it won't do; if it is too loose, it won't do either. That is why I want you to discuss and revise it together." Li Shimin looked around at the three men. "It must be broad, it must be simple, easy for the people to understand, and easy for officials to execute. Once it is set, do not change it lightly. Do you understand?"

"We understand." The three replied in unison.

At that moment, a voice sounded from outside the hall: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Wei Zheng requests an audience!"

Li Shimin paused, then waved his hand. "Summon him in!"

"As you command!"

Soon, Wei Zheng, dressed in a green robe, walked in. "I, Wei Zheng, pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

"Rise!" Li Shimin smiled and waved. "Wei Zheng, what brings you here?"

"Your Majesty," Wei Zheng said, "I have been following your orders to advise on state affairs. In today's court session, Your Majesty made some deletions and changes to the decrees from the Retired Emperor's reign. After returning, I pondered this repeatedly and feel that the decree to 'cease tributes from all directions' should not be changed too quickly. Otherwise, it will make the provinces believe that Your Majesty changes decrees from morning to evening, which will affect the implementation of the new policies."

"How have I changed my decrees from morning to evening?" Li Shimin said, feeling somewhat displeased. "Ordering all regions to tribute rare treasures—if I recall correctly, that was ordered just before the Retired Emperor's birthday in the eighth year of Wude, was it not?"

Wei Zheng bowed. "Your Majesty remembers correctly. But I would like to ask, what year is it now?"

"Insolent!" Zhangsun Wuji shouted angrily. "Wei Zheng, do you think His Majesty does not know the year? It is the ninth year of Wude!"

"Then may I ask the Minister of Personnel, how vast is the territory of our Great Tang?" Wei Zheng asked calmly.

"This..." Zhangsun Wuji froze, preparing to retort.

Just then, Li Shimin waved his hand to stop him. "Enough, Wuji. I understand what Wei Zheng means."

"With the current territory of our Great Tang, it takes one day for a decree to reach the nearest location, and several months for the farthest. Back and forth, it is indeed not wise to revise too quickly..."

"However," his tone shifted, "for the regions nearby, we must inform them not to send rare treasures anymore!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" the four said in unison.

Li Shimin chuckled softly.

At this point, Du Ruhui said, "Your Majesty, the Remonstrance Official just mentioned the year. Since we are approaching the new year, should we not discuss the new era name?"

"Hmm, Keming is right!" Li Shimin nodded with a smile. "When the Retired Emperor ascended the throne, he chose 'Wude' as the era name. Clearly, 'Wude' is no longer appropriate for an era of peace." He looked around at the four men. "Do you have any thoughts on a new era name?"

The four men exchanged glances and fell into deep thought.

After a moment, Fang Xuanling spoke first, "Your Majesty, what do you think of 'Tianyou' (God's Protection)?"

"That doesn't seem quite right!" Before Li Shimin could respond, Du Ruhui took over. "It seems to push the responsibility onto Heaven. The key is that it does not demonstrate Your Majesty’s resolve to govern the world!"

"The Heaven I refer to is the vast Heaven, the chaotic firmament. Is it chaotic? Where there is, there is not; where there is not, there is!" Fang Xuanling explained with a smile, "But all things depend on it for protection!"

"Hmm..." Li Shimin nodded, but remained non-committal.

Fang Xuanling continued, "The Son of Heaven is a gift from Heaven. Our Tang Empire must also be protected by such a Heaven! Why would that not be fitting?"

He turned to look at Li Shimin.

Li Shimin said pensively, "Tianyou, protection... hmm, it could be used. But it still does not express my inner thoughts!"

Fang Xuanling fell silent, lost in thought again.

Li Shimin glanced at him and smiled, "Keming is right. The era name is a way to express new policies. If chosen well, the people will know the intent of our court..." He looked toward Wei Zheng in the corner. "Wei Zheng! You speak..."

"Your Majesty! I have something to say!"

"Hmm?" Li Shimin paused, looking at Zhangsun Wuji in surprise. *Are these two competing?*

Although he wanted to hear Wei Zheng’s opinion, Zhangsun Wuji had been so proactive that it would be rude to refuse him. He nodded with a smile, "Very well, let us hear it!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhangsun Wuji bowed happily and continued, "King Wen performed the divination, and Confucius wrote the *Commentary on the I Ching*. The *Commentary* says, 'The Way of Heaven is *Zhenguan*.' The character *Zhen* means upright and centered, and *Guan* means to display. Thus, the two characters *Zhenguan* signify the display of uprightness. Confucius also said, 'To govern is to be upright.' His meaning is that leading by example is the foundation of politics. Your Majesty, I believe *Zhenguan*, signifying the display of uprightness, is the foundation for governing the world!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wei Zheng’s pupils contracted, and he turned to look at Li Shimin.

He saw Li Shimin’s face full of pleasant surprise: "Zhenguan—the display of uprightness. Good, well said!"

*That’s not it, Your Majesty! Those were my words!* Wei Zheng felt utterly depressed. *Is this fellow Zhangsun Wuji a worm in my stomach? How does he say exactly what I was thinking?!*

"Hehe..." Seeing Wei Zheng’s face turn black as a pot, Zhangsun Wuji smiled smugly. *That’s for showing off in front of me! If I didn't have a good nephew, you’d have stolen the spotlight! This is an era name! How could I let an outsider decide it!*

Thinking this, Zhangsun Wuji struck while the iron was hot: "Therefore, my suggestion is, could we use *Zhenguan* as the new era name?"

"Hmm..." Li Shimin nodded and looked around at his ministers. "What do you all think?"

"Your Majesty is sagacious!"

"Hahaha!" Li Shimin laughed aloud, clearly satisfied with Zhangsun Wuji’s performance. He couldn't help but praise, "Wuji, I never imagined you had such great talent!"

"I have simply been by Your Majesty’s side for many years and have been influenced by your wisdom!" Zhangsun Wuji bowed modestly, thinking, *My good nephew, you truly do not deceive me!*

*Next, should His Majesty consider the position of Right Deputy Director?* At the thought of that coveted position, Zhangsun Wuji was filled with anticipation.

However, at that moment, a voice came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty! I must submit this to Your Majesty!"

"Hmm?" Li Shimin frowned. "Who is making noise outside?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is Kong Yingda, Doctor of the National Academy and instructor at Juxian Pavilion!"

A palace attendant hurried in to report. Li Shimin was slightly taken aback and looked at the four ministers, who were all staring at each other, seemingly unaware of what had happened.

"Summon him!" Li Shimin commanded in a deep voice.

Soon, Kong Yingda walked into the hall, his face full of grief and indignation. "I pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

"What is the meaning of this, Doctor Kong? You are well-versed in the Confucian classics; why do you ignore court etiquette?"

"Your Majesty, it is not that I ignore etiquette, but the Princes are too difficult to teach! I request to resign from my position as instructor at Juxian Pavilion!"

"What are you talking about?" Li Shimin frowned, clearly angry.

But Kong Yingda did not care; he recounted everything that had happened in the classroom, word for word. The Emperor and his five ministers were all left stunned.

*Good heavens! Not establishing a crown prince will lead to the fall of the nation? How dare they say such things!*

Li Shimin stood up abruptly from his seat, shouting in a rage: "Where is my sword?!"