Chapter 13: The Reward

Chapter 13: The Reward

"What does it mean to say that everything will be fine as long as no major disaster occurs..." Li Tai murmured to himself. "In plain terms, does it mean that no matter what happens, I’ll have your backing, or that if something does happen, I won’t be there?"

This was Emperor Taizong himself, his own father—surely it wouldn’t be the latter...

When Li Tai first arrived, he was calm and confident, but as he left, a sense of unease settled over him.

Before he had even stepped out of the Eastern Palace, two jade-like hands reached out from behind to cover his eyes. A youthful voice, tinged with mischief, called out:

"Guess who I am!"

"Changle, don’t be naughty!" Li Tai patted the hands covering his eyes, his tone indulgent.

"Hmph!" Li Lizhi pouted, on the verge of tears. "Brother Qingque hasn’t visited me since he moved to the Prince of Yue’s residence! Brother Chengqian too—he’s always holed up in his room reading books. What’s so interesting about them?"

"Alright, alright, it’s my fault!" Li Tai said. "I’ve been a bit busy lately dealing with the locust disaster."

"Really..." Li Lizhi’s big, innocent eyes looked at Li Tai skeptically, as if doubting his words.

"Yes, yes, definitely!" Li Tai nodded. "I remember your birthday is just after the autumn equinox. I’ve been preparing a gift for you all year, and I promise to surprise you then."

Upon hearing this, Li Lizhi’s face lit up with a mischievous smile. She bounced back a few steps and said,

"Promise me, if you lie, I’ll have no choice but to cry to Father."

"Alright, alright! If your brother Qingque deceives you, Father will never forgive me!" Li Tai raised his hands in surrender.

"Then I’m off to ask Brother Chengqian for a gift. See you next time, Brother Qingque."

Li Lizhi turned decisively, her tears vanishing instantly. Marching off with an air of triumph toward Li Chengqian’s palace, she clearly had the next unlucky victim in mind.

Li Tai shook his head but smiled fondly as he watched her leave.

He understood that in a few years, when she was around thirteen or fourteen, she would almost certainly be married into the Zhangsun family.

Unless the Zhangs rebelled, no one could stop this arrangement.

Zhangsun Wuji represented not only the aristocracy of Longxi but also the meritorious nobility. This dual status naturally compelled Emperor Taizong to use the least costly method—marriage alliances—to appease both factions.

Besides Zhangsun Chong, who liked to hang out with Li Chengqian, Li Tai, the expected brother-in-law, was practically faultless.

Seeing Lizhi reminded Li Tai to pay a visit to his mother since he was already at the Eastern Palace.

Though he was a prince with the freedom to return to the palace at will, he generally only came back on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month to see Empress Zhangsun.

At other times, his life was the usual sorrowful routine of work and study.

Meeting Empress Zhangsun was a welcome reprieve from the clutches of Yan Qinli, a moment to breathe easy.

"Today is rare—what brings you here?" Empress Zhangsun, caring for the less-than-month-old Li Zhi, looked at Li Tai with surprise and curiosity.

"Autumn equinox is near, and with autumn, the weather cools, so the locust disaster should subside. At least, this year’s disaster is more or less over. Father summoned me to the Eastern Palace to report on affairs, and after that, I came to see Mother," Li Tai replied softly.

"Your father is something else, making an eight-year-old work hard. What sort of business is that?" Empress Zhangsun scolded.

"Mother, please don’t be angry. Qingque is willing," Li Tai said, glancing toward little Li Zhi, even reaching out to touch the infant’s slowly unfolding face—only to be lightly scolded by Empress Zhangsun.

"Don’t be naughty. Zhi Nu is still too young and can’t bear any bad air," she said, watching over the baby with care.

"Now that Zhi Nu’s here, Mother won’t need Qingque anymore!" Li Tai pouted, clearly unhappy.

"That’s asking for a beating! You’ve barely been living at the mansion a year and have already turned so unruly," Empress Zhangsun said sternly. "You must be properly disciplined!"

"No, no, Mother, please rest well. Qingque isn’t worth your anger. I’m leaving now, really!" Li Tai hurried to say.

"Come back!" Empress Zhangsun called softly.

Li Tai obediently returned and stood quietly to await her instructions.

She turned and took a jade box from the cabinet, handing it to him.

Li Tai took the box, feeling its considerable weight, and looked at her in puzzlement.

Empress Zhangsun explained, "I heard from the Emperor that you might be short on funds lately. This is a small savings I’ve set aside for you. Keep it for now, and as long as you work properly, let me know if you need more."

"Thank you, Mother," Li Tai nodded, accepting the box without hesitation.

Watching him leave, Empress Zhangsun breathed a small sigh of relief. Since Li Tai was a prince, he couldn’t stay in the palace long-term. Moreover, his behavior at the elementary school had angered Kong Yingda, who feared he might corrupt the atmosphere. Coupled with political reasons, this led to his early establishment of a princely household outside.

Compared to Li Chengqian, Empress Zhangsun cared more deeply for Li Tai.

Thinking of this, she gently shook the still-sleeping little Li Zhi and murmured,

"Zhi Nu, you might be like Qingque one day. When you grow up a bit, you’ll have to leave the palace too."

At this moment, little Li Zhi was still sound asleep, mouth slightly open, bubble at the lips.

Li Tai returned to the Prince of Yue’s mansion with the jade box.

Opening it, he found it filled with gold ingots—enough to buy two thousand mu of land at current Chang’an prices, a considerable fortune for a family.

But Li Tai tucked the money into a secret compartment, showing no intention to use it just yet.

For some reason, he was brimming with confidence that he could accomplish this task; the difficulties ahead seemed trivial.

Of course, Emperor Taizong’s reward included allowing Li Tai to establish an agricultural academy and even providing material support.

Others involved in combating the locust disaster were rewarded as well, with the rewards gradually distributed over time.

For example, Qin Zhong was promoted directly to the position of Dianmu Commander, a seventh-rank official.

Don’t underestimate a seventh-rank official—usually, county magistrates held this rank. For common folk, it was a lifelong goal.

Some reached this level easily, but for those without connections, it required exceptional ability.

Ma Zhou became a sixth-rank clerk at the Prince of Yue’s residence, overseeing the management of the judicial, household, and granary departments—a meteoric rise from a commoner to sixth-rank. Emperor Taizong intended for him to accompany Li Tai.

Yan Qinli caught the wave, becoming a sixth-rank literary official at the Prince’s mansion. While tutoring, he also oversaw proofreading and served as a literary attendant.

Lu Anshou remained a Sima but was rewarded with three hundred bolts of silk, which delighted him.

The highest reward went to Yu Zhi Ning. Though he didn’t contribute labor, his refined prose benefited the Prince’s education, earning him a promotion from fourth-rank Chief Secretary of the Prince’s mansion to fourth-rank Secretary of the Central Secretariat.

No new Chief Secretary for the Prince arrived yet, which was probably a relief for Li Tai.

Truthfully, Ma Zhou was stunned when he received his imperial edict but ultimately expressed his gratitude.

Seventh rank was a significant milestone among officialdom, as appointments required imperial approval. Except for special cases, these appointments were carefully considered.

Especially for seventh-rank officials in a prince’s household, the Emperor personally reviewed their appointments.

Ma Zhou understood that his future path was likely bound to the Prince of Yue; even if he climbed higher through hard work, he might never shed the label of the Prince’s loyal retainer.

He took a deep breath, harboring no resentment, quickly accepting this reality. Since this was his path, he would see it through to the end.

For Ma Zhou, the important thing was to have a platform to showcase his talents. For now, only the Prince of Yue could offer that platform—and no one could guarantee it wouldn’t grow bigger.

Naturally, Ma Zhou moved into the Prince’s mansion and began assuming his duties.

After putting away the jade box, Li Tai immediately summoned Ma Zhou, feeling motivated and eager to make a great effort.

But when Ma Zhou arrived, his eyes sparkled with even more intensity than Li Tai’s.

Li Tai said, “My father has transferred the duck farm and coal mine to the Prince of Yue’s name and allowed me to use their profits to build the agricultural academy. He also granted an additional thousand mu of fertile land for our use. This time, we can truly make a difference!”

“Wonderful!” Ma Zhou replied enthusiastically. “With finances secured, what exactly is your plan for the academy? Please, tell me in detail.”

“Good! I’ve chosen a site near Gaoling,” Li Tai explained. “It’s where the Jing and Wei Rivers meet, convenient for transportation. It’s not far from the Zhengbai Canal area, even navigable by canal boat.”

“Not in Chang’an itself… An agricultural academy near the fields—that’s sensible!” Ma Zhou nodded.

Li Tai continued, “Although the locust disaster has been curbed, this winter will be the toughest. Many poor families might not survive to see spring.”

“Therefore, we must recruit some of the people to work, pay them in grain, and find ways to give them a livelihood!”

“How will we find so many workers? And what about the grain?” Ma Zhou asked, somewhat astonished.

“The grain will be borrowed from the Ministry of Agriculture. If that’s not enough, I have a thousand mu of land granted by Father that I can mortgage to the Ministry,” Li Tai said calmly, waving his hand.

“They’d have to be crazy to refuse!” Ma Zhou twitched at the corner of his mouth but didn’t oppose the plan.

After all, with Li Tai’s influence, borrowing grain from the Ministry of Agriculture should be feasible.

“Then, before winter arrives, we’ll have them clear the land as much as possible and plant winter wheat!”

“Um… Are we preparing to run a farm? I thought this was about opening an academy,” Ma Zhou said, puzzled.

“I’ve never run an agricultural academy before,” Li Tai said seriously. “My goal is to spread agricultural knowledge. Those who perform best in land reclamation will become the agricultural teachers we need!”

“I haven’t been drinking today!” Ma Zhou muttered. “Why do I feel like I’m hallucinating?”

“There’s no other way. I don’t have teachers or textbooks yet, so we have to make do!” Li Tai said.

Ma Zhou urged, “Prince of Yue, don’t act rashly. Are you really planning to establish an academy? Sounds more like building a city!”

“It is a city!” Li Tai stretched out his hand as if painting a picture of his future school, excitedly saying,

“Our agricultural academy will have countless buildings and endless golden fields.

All students will be young and spirited, carrying the mission to ensure no one in the world starves, dreaming of changing the world.

They will personally cultivate their own fields and spread agricultural knowledge to farmers.

Otherwise, do you think I want to teach a bunch of bookworms who only memorize farming texts?”

“Is there really a world where no one will starve?” Hearing Li Tai’s vision, Ma Zhou couldn’t help but feel a touch of longing.

“There will be. Even if it doesn’t exist now, it surely will in the future!” Li Tai said. “We must take the first step now!”

“Prince of Yue, with such ideals, I am honored to be part of this and offer my efforts,” Ma Zhou said with heartfelt admiration.

“You are my first kindred spirit,” Li Tai told him.

On this chill autumn night, their conversation grew ever more animated.

Soon, a preliminary plan was drafted. They talked until late, and Ma Zhou reluctantly left with the manuscript.

Li Tai yawned and returned to his room. Bai He had already warmed the bed and, upon seeing him, rose to sleep in the nearby cot.

“Bai He, are the white mulberry fibers collected enough to make a garment?” Li Tai asked.

“Enough, enough. I kept enough for one garment; the rest you sent to the duck farm to make bedding,” Bai He replied.

“Changle’s birthday is coming. Make a garment from the white mulberry fibers. I leave the handiwork to you,” Li Tai said.

“Well…” Bai He hesitated. “You finally collected a batch, won’t you keep some for yourself?”

“Maybe next year,” Li Tai said. “Now, get some rest. It’s late.”

“Okay,” Bai He nodded without further comment.

Li Tai slipped into the warm, fragrant bed Bai He prepared and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Tomorrow held countless tasks waiting for him. If winter came first, it would be too late for everything!

(End of chapter)