Chapter 33: Fanatical Fandom

"Father, Father?" Li Tai called out a few times, finally pulling Li Shimin back from his recollections.

"Ahem, where were we?" Li Shimin cleared his throat.

"We had collected twenty thousand volumes and successfully established the library!"

At this, Li Tai stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Li Shimin. "Qingque has a bold request, and I hope to seek your favor, Father."

"Oh?" Li Shimin, still stroking Wang Xizhi's *Huangting Jing*, replied, "What is this request? Let me hear it first."

"I hope that at the appropriate time, you will open this library to the scholars coming to Chang'an for the imperial examinations, so that more people across the world may see the collection within," Li Tai said solemnly.

Li Shimin fell silent, suddenly struck by these words. He asked, "Li Tai, do you realize what you are saying?"

"Qingque knows!" Li Tai nodded. "Mother has spoken to me about the attitude of the great clans toward their family learning. Even if the students at the academy manage to learn a thing or two by taking advantage of their proximity, the great clans would turn a blind eye. But to share these family teachings not just with the common people, but even with the impoverished scholars entering the civil service—I fear the great clans would resist the Li Tang imperial house. In a sense, we are digging at their foundations."

"You know this!" Li Shimin looked at Li Tai intently. "And yet you dare to make this request?"

"Because only you, Father, can decide when it is appropriate to open it to these scholars!" Li Tai looked at him steadily. "If I were the one to announce it, it would cause a rift between the Li family and the great clans, but if you speak it, it becomes a law that no one dares to defy!"

"I understand," Li Shimin frowned slightly. He fixed his gaze on Li Tai and, after a long silence, said, "But I want to know why you are putting so much effort into making this happen."

At that moment, Li Shimin stopped looking at Li Tai as just his son, but rather as a capable minister. More importantly, Li Tai knew how to show him respect. From Li Tai’s words, Li Shimin could sense his desire to open the library to the world, yet he chose not to issue the decree himself. Had he done so, Li Tai would have earned immense praise, as sharing knowledge is inherently respected. But at the same time, he would have offended the most powerful factions in the court and even disgusted Li Shimin himself.

Any impoverished scholar who visited the library would feel indebted to Li Tai. If they succeeded in the exams, even if they weren't Li Tai's protégés, they would certainly harbor goodwill toward him. This favor was too great—enough to make the great clans resent him, the Crown Prince jealous, and even Li Shimin suspicious.

By reporting this to Li Shimin and letting him decide the timing, Li Tai ensured that the person who truly held the power was the Emperor himself. This allowed it to become part of Li Shimin’s own legacy of civil and military achievements. This was precisely why Li Shimin was puzzled; from his perspective, he was taking the fruit of Li Tai's labor, and Li Tai stood to gain nothing from it. Why, then, was he so proactive?

"Because of the Agricultural Academy!" Li Tai looked at him frankly, truly without selfish motives. Was he seeking fame? Books? Or his father's favor? None of those. What he wanted was the influx of talent—a place where "no unlearned men come and go, but only the most brilliant minds."

He wanted to develop his Agricultural Academy, and what he needed most was talent, talent, and more talent! This was not a chaotic era where a single call for talent would bring the best to his doorstep. In the Zhenguan era, the top minds were all scrambling for positions in the imperial court; only a fool would come to teach at his academy.

However, since the Tang imperial examinations were still in their infancy and not yet fully refined, many talented scholars from humble backgrounds were being filtered out. These people lacked connections, wealth, and status—and they were exactly who Li Tai was targeting.

He would try to recruit them into his academy, letting them teach while they prepared for their exams, providing them a foothold in Chang'an. If they succeeded in the exams, they would naturally feel a sense of gratitude toward the Agricultural Academy. If they failed, the academy would have a steady stream of teachers. Most importantly, these humble scholars were untainted and perfect for him to cultivate.

"Building this library at the Agricultural Academy is the greatest benefit for me!" Li Tai answered with utmost sincerity. "Every scholar who comes to take the exams is among the finest youth of our Great Tang. Only by setting them as my goal can my Agricultural Academy cultivate true agricultural elites who can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them!"

Li Shimin watched as Qingque looked him in the eye without a trace of fear, and he couldn't help but laugh. Although Qingque possessed the methods of a capable official, he was ultimately still a child at heart, refusing to retreat once he decided something was right.

"You, you really want to outshine the Confucian school!" Li Shimin patted Li Tai's head. "I will say this again: you go ahead and do it, and you have me backing you!"

Li Tai felt a wave of relief, but he looked up again and said, "Father, won't you send someone to manage these books? Perhaps there are materials in there that the court is currently lacking?"

He meant what he said—Li Tai wanted his surroundings filled with Li Shimin's men. He wanted them to report every detail back to his father. After all, Li Chengqian was destined to rebel, and Li Tai could just work on the side and watch the chaos unfold. By the time he inherited the throne, those men would be his trusted confidants. Besides, spies were usually more capable than ordinary workers. To others, work was just a way to survive, but for a spy, they had to excel to avoid suspicion and stand out to gain his trust.

Li Tai knew that his father was the most reliable emperor and parent in history. He didn't need schemes; he was playing an open game. Even if it was difficult at first, it was a path to success. As for the spies, no matter who sent them, they had to be ready for the "996" work schedule—no, the "007" schedule! Through labor and "re-education," if he couldn't mold them into the people he needed, he would have failed as a socialist successor.

Li Shimin was satisfied with Li Tai's attitude; it was truly considerate. Though he didn't doubt his son's loyalty, as an emperor, his instinct was to plant as many agents as he could. Between the ones already around Li Tai, those in the academy, and now those requested for the library, Li Shimin felt a bit embarrassed. In this day and age, who else was as sensible as his own son?

"Having twenty thousand volumes is no small matter. Once the library is established, I will send someone to oversee it, and you can keep a deputy position," Li Shimin said. He decided not to be too greedy; after all, his son had prepared everything for him to add to his own legacy, and he couldn't just take all the meat and leave no soup.

"Understood! Then, Father, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave. The library has just been established, and there are many things waiting for me to handle," Li Tai said with a hint of awkwardness.

"Go, go!" Li Shimin suddenly remembered something. "Remember to come on the fifteenth of this month to collect the traced copy of the *Huangting Jing*. I want you to copy it five hundred times!"

Li Tai's legs nearly gave way. He said pitifully, "Father, I still have to visit several great clans. I don't have the time! Can't I copy a little less? Doesn't my big brother study with Master Li in the Eastern Palace? We are brothers—can't he copy a few more, as if I had done it myself?"

"Then two hundred times!" Li Shimin replied. "Have it finished by autumn!"

"Yes!" Li Tai felt like crying. If only he hadn't gifted the *Huangting Jing*!

Watching Li Tai leave, Li Shimin muttered to himself, "I thought Qingque would put some pressure on Chengqian to keep him from getting lazy. But Qingque isn't a whetstone; he's becoming a steel blade. It seems I need to give Chengqian a push."

Meanwhile, in his study, Li Chengqian was being tutored by Li Gang. Li Chengqian was distracted, which did not escape Li Gang's notice.

"If your heart is not in your studies, take a rest. Reading further will only cause frustration," Li Gang said.

"Teacher, please forgive my absent-mindedness," Li Chengqian quickly gathered his thoughts.

"I know the noise outside has reached your ears," Li Gang said sternly. "But remember, you are the Crown Prince. No matter the storm, you need only find your footing and watch the clouds pass."

"But Qingque..." Li Chengqian looked lost.

"While the Prince of Yue has shown the talent of a capable minister, he is, in the end, a subject. You, Your Highness, are the sovereign!" Li Gang said firmly.

Li Chengqian remained silent for a moment, then nodded heavily.

Soon, an imperial eunuch arrived with a decree: "His Majesty decrees: The Crown Prince Li Chengqian is intelligent and diligent. He is permitted to attend court and hear cases. He is bestowed a copy of Wang Xizhi's *Huangting Jing*, which he shall copy eight hundred times, to be inspected after the autumn harvest."

After the eunuch left, Li Gang said calmly, "Congratulations, Your Highness. Being granted the right to hear cases means you are allowed to participate in court. To receive such an honor before reaching adulthood shows that you are the Emperor's chosen successor!"

"Thank you, Teacher!" Li Chengqian was overjoyed. He didn't fully understand the implications, but he knew his father cared for him. However, his expression soured when he looked at the copy of the *Huangting Jing*. His father was wonderful in every way, except for his fanatical obsession with Wang Xizhi's calligraphy. Which bastard had gifted this work? Why eight hundred times? Five hundred was usually enough!

"Achoo!" Li Tai rubbed his nose. "At least it's only two hundred! Gifting Wang Xizhi's work is a great way to earn Father's favor, but it comes at a painful cost. Two hundred times! How long will this take?"

Of course, he knew it was a decent deal. He remembered that when Li Shimin had obtained the *Chuyue Tie*, he had made himself copy it five hundred times. When the star-struck fan is the Emperor, his sons really couldn't afford it. Li Shimin loved to share his hobbies, so his children were forced to practice calligraphy using Wang Xizhi’s authentic works from a young age. Whenever he acquired an original, he would copy it tirelessly, and his sons were expected to do the same—starting at five hundred repetitions. It was ruthless.

"Forget it, as long as the library is handled properly, I have nothing else to do for now. I'll just copy it," Li Tai sighed. "At least it's three hundred fewer than usual!"

With Li Shimin's approval, things became much easier. Many smaller clans began sending books voluntarily. Especially after Li Shimin sent Yu Chang, the son of Yu Shinan, to supervise, even government officials started donating books, whether out of political correctness or a hope that their descendants might rise through the academy.

The Agricultural Academy became a bustling place, with a constant stream of visitors offering books. Li Tai sat in the academy, diligently copying the *Huangting Jing*. By the time he finished his two hundred copies, midsummer had arrived.

Li Tai looked up at the sky and muttered, "It hasn't rained for days. It's so hot!"