Chapter 26: Li Gang's Blunt Words

  Today is the third watch, this is the first watch, the second watch will be around six o'clock!

  Chang Sun-chung had not yet entered the door when he saw several horse-drawn carriages stopped at the village entrance. Li Cheng-qian and Li Ke, who were just laughing and joking on the way, immediately became like cats that had lost their tongues, quietly following behind Chang Sun-chung, walking forward with elegant steps.

  Chang Sun Chong took one look at Li Chengqian and Li Ke's honest faces and guessed that this time it must be Li Er.

  "Is your dad here?" Chang Sun asked in a low voice.

  Li Chengqian nodded and whispered to the side, "The one standing at the door is one of Father's most trusted guards, Huo Qiang, who is Huo Gang's younger brother. Father will always bring him along."

  Chang Sun rushed in and bumped into Xiaomantou who was rushing out.

  "Master, you're back! The madam and the old master have brought some guests with them, they're all waiting for you in the living room!" Xiaomantou exclaimed as soon as she saw Long Sunhong's figure, pulling on his sleeve. Seeing that Long Sunhong's clothes were dirty and had a fishy smell, she frowned repeatedly. If the madam saw how dirty Master was, she would definitely think that Xiaomantou wasn't taking good care of him and would punish her.

  Chang Sun Chong handed the fish basket to Da Zhu and said: "Da Zhu, take it away and clean it thoroughly. I'll go and do it myself later."

  "Xiao Mantou, why don't you hurry up and take Young Master to see Madame and Old Master? Doesn't everyone know they're waiting?" Mei Li walked out with small steps, saw Chang Sun rushing past the big pillar, and a hint of shyness appeared on her face.

  "Meili sister, young master's clothes are dirty, I'll take him to change." Xiaomantou hastened to please, determined not to let the lady see the young master's disheveled appearance.

  Chang Sun waved his hand and said, "No need, it's not good to keep seniors waiting." He just brought Li Chengqian, Li Ke, Sanlang, and Silang to wash their hands and went to the reception hall.

  Four majestic guards stood at the gate, their eyes fixed straight ahead, protecting the safety of those inside.

  Li Er and Empress Changsun had just arrived at the Zhuangzi, when they were led to the courtyard where Li Gang was. They wanted to take a sneak peek at whether the two children were studying hard, but unexpectedly, only Li Gang and an old craftsman were playing chess together, with no sign of the two sons anywhere. Suddenly, they became angry.

  Li Er considered himself a respectable and virtuous person, so he naturally couldn't lose his temper with Li Gang, a great Confucian scholar. He turned to his personal bodyguard Zhou Dahai and said sternly, "Get those two lazy rascals out here for me."

  Zhou and had been following Li Er for over a decade, so he naturally knew that the two little rascals in Li Er's mouth at this moment were Crown Prince Li Chengqian and Wu Wang Li Ke.

  "Yes!"

  Li Gang heard Li Er's voice and hastily came out to welcome the imperial carriage, stroking his beard and blocking the way, saying: "Your Majesty must not do this, it was I who let the Crown Prince and Wu Wang go out to play."

  "Li Ai Qing, tell the truth, are those two rascals threatening you, not letting you speak the truth to me?" Although Li Er had sent his son here, hoping that he would be as sensible as Zhangsun Chong, but he never expected the opposite effect.

  Li Gang's face sank, his thin and gaunt figure stood up straight, with the proud air of a scholar, and he said with a scowl: "Is it that in Your Majesty's eyes, I am someone who can be easily intimidated and forced to submit?"

  Li's face showed embarrassment, and he hesitantly said: "Lord Li, where are Chengqian and Ke'er actually?"

  Although Li Er is an emperor, apart from putting on airs in the imperial court, once he steps down, he will completely put aside his airs and be humble to virtuous scholars and officials, not being particular about minor details. This is also why there are so many virtuous scholars and officials under him.

  As long as you are loyal, as long as you have talent, and as long as what you say makes sense, you can refute the emperor's words. Just like before when Cheng Yaojin wanted to see the poem written by Zhangsun Long in Li Er's hand, he ran onto Li Er's dragon chair without regard for etiquette, but Li Er didn't mind Cheng Yaojin's rudeness; when Cheng Yaojin spat on the carved dragon pillar, Li Er knew about it and just laughed and scolded him with a sentence "This rascal!"

  Li Gang walked up to the desk, respectfully presented it to the Emperor and said: "This 'Spring and Autumn Annals', both princes have already memorized it. If you don't believe me, Your Majesty can test them. Although Old Chen advocates for diligent study, he also agrees with what Crown Prince Longsun said - that one should balance work and rest. As long as they complete today's learning tasks, the rest of their time is up to them to manage. The Crown Prince and Wu Wang finished today's task in just one hour, I have no reason to keep them tied down here. Your Majesty, isn't that right?"

  Li was taken aback, but Empress Changsun and the others outside couldn't wait any longer. She quickly walked in, paid her respects to Li Gang, and said: "Mr. Li, has my son really finished studying this 'Spring and Autumn Annals'?"

  Li Gang was very impressed with Empress Changsun's elegant and refined demeanor, as well as her kindness, filial piety, and frugality. He hastily returned the gift and said: "Your Majesty, I spoke the truth in every word. This young master Changsun is truly talented, not only did he humbly follow an old farmer to learn about farming, but also said things that moved even me."

  Chang Sun Wuji thought Li Gang was speaking in reverse and hastily stepped forward to ask: "Lord Li, is my son talking nonsense again?"

  Mr. Li waved his hand and shook his head, sighing: "I, an old minister, did not expect that a child under the age of fourteen would have such high insight."

  Dong's wife worried about her son, and without regard for etiquette, walked forward to pay respects to Li Gang, hoping that he would show mercy, saying: "You also say that he is still a young child, what he said shouldn't be taken seriously!"

  Li Gang stretched out his hand to support him, smiling and saying: "The eldest grandson of the Grand Duke saw it very clearly. Last year, we set up a suspicious army plan with Congli and Tulie Khan, making him retreat. We were still proud of our clever plan before the Wei River Alliance was formed, but the eldest grandson said that there was nothing to boast about, it was the shame of the Wei River!"

  Chang Sun Wuji heard this and immediately cursed loudly: "This rascal, all day long he just knows how to talk nonsense, Your Majesty must not take it to heart."

  "Children's words are innocent, children's words are innocent!" Duan's wife echoed dryly, and for a moment couldn't think of suitable words to comfort her.

  Empress Zhangsun stepped forward and said softly, "Children don't understand things, don't be angry."

  At first, Xie Li and Tu Li led their troops to the outside of Chang'an City, forty miles away. Li Shimin and his ministers were forced to set up a suspicious army plan, taking heavy officials, light cavalry, and Xie Li and Tu Li for negotiations, persuading them to withdraw their troops. For Li Er, who was superior in military power, this was a shame, unable to directly attack the enemy, but had to use good words to persuade them, and give them silk beforehand.

  "Assistant, Chong'er didn't say anything wrong, that's indeed the shame of Wei River." Li Er's face was gloomy, he wasn't angry at Sun Chong, but rather at himself for being useless, allowing Jie Li and Tu Li, those two scoundrels, to force him into submission. Li Er vowed that as long as he lived, he would definitely pacify the Eastern and Western Turks, making all four seas submit.

  Li Gang nodded and continued, "Changsun Taizong, you said it well. Knowing shame leads to courage. This temporary humiliation will give us a chance to rest and recover, preparing for our future counterattack against the Turks."

  Chang Sun Wu Jin, Duan's family heard this and slightly put their minds at ease, at least they wouldn't be punished.

  Li Er could see from Li Gang's complacent expression that this was not all he had to say, and asked: "Li Ai Qing, you'd better tell everything at once, don't keep me in suspense."

  "Haha, I'm deeply moved. At first, these young masters came together and were quite unruly, difficult to manage. But the eldest grandson didn't try to persuade them directly, instead he used the shame of defeat as a teaching tool, speaking words that shocked and inspired them. The literary ones diligently studied literature, while the martial ones practiced martial arts every day. In recent days, they even set up sand tables to practice tactics, and even came up with some unusual methods for training soldiers.

  Li Gang had previously received an imperial decree ordering him to come and instruct these young nobles, which he found to be a headache. But he never expected that with the help of the eldest grandson, it would be so easy. Every morning, he strolled through the fields, admiring the lush green rice paddies cultivated by the eldest grandson, breathing in the fresh air.

  The students listened attentively, no longer requiring him to get angry and jump up and down like before. Seeing these young nobles wasn't as unlearned and untalented as he had imagined, he saw hope for the future of the Tang Dynasty."