Chapter 4

Chapter 4

After bidding farewell to Dou Jing, Li Tai spoke to Zhao Yuankai on the way back to the Ministry of Agriculture Temple. “Minister Zhao, Dou Jing mentioned that you are well-acquainted with the affairs of the Ministry. I happen to have some matters I hope you can assist with. I wonder if it would trouble you?”

“Your Highness is too kind. Whatever the matter, please do not hesitate to command!” Zhao Yuankai responded respectfully.

Li Tai said, “Minister Dou believes that only the heavens can save us from the locust plague.

But since ancient times, our land has known that the heavens are not infallible. When the sky was torn, Nüwa mended it; when floods raged, Yu the Great controlled the waters; when crops failed, Shennong taught us farming.

The way of Heaven is vigorous; a gentleman constantly strives for self-improvement. If people do not save themselves, how can Heaven intervene? If man does not help himself, how can Heaven assist?”

Listening to Li Tai’s words, Zhao Yuankai felt a slight stirring within. Yet, he was still but a child of eight. To expect him to prostrate himself immediately, overwhelmed by royal authority, was simply wishful thinking.

Li Tai spoke only to awaken Zhao Yuankai’s enthusiasm. Having no funds to offer, he could only provide spiritual encouragement.

After some reflection, Li Tai continued, “To combat the locusts, we must seek their natural enemies. When the locusts arrive, they should find no return path. We cannot merely pray to the locust deity, leaving it to fate!”

“The natural enemies of locusts?” Zhao Yuankai inquired.

Li Tai replied, “Before they become flying swarms, any bird that feeds on grasshoppers can be their foe. Ducks are relatively easy to raise; at least, we can try to raise them through the season, until July or August.

Therefore, I hope you can find farmland outside the city, arrange for people to raise chickens and ducks— the more, the better. They will surely prove invaluable.”

“I shall handle this matter properly,” Zhao Yuankai answered solemnly.

Seeing Zhao Yuankai’s eagerness, Li Tai felt some unease. He was no turtle to wield turtle-like authority, yet Zhao Yuankai was drawn so closely to him.

Li Tai said, “Please, sir, draft a set of regulations and come to my residence tomorrow to discuss the details thoroughly. Only with careful planning can we ensure success!”

“Your Highness is most considerate!” Zhao Yuankai clasped his fists and bowed respectfully.

After speaking with Zhao Yuankai, Li Tai took his leave and returned to his mansion, having lost all interest in returning to the Ministry of Agriculture Temple.

He understood that, not being appointed there, there was no point in poring over documents. It was better to focus on the locust problem and achieve results.

Li Tai knew that unless Dou Jing witnessed firsthand that praying at the Locust God Temple was futile, he would never support Li Tai’s plan.

Thus, the campaign against the locusts would take time; he must find the right opportunity to collaborate with Dou Jing.

To accomplish anything, one cannot merely scoff at others; one must unite every available force—different paths converging toward the same goal, seeking common ground while preserving differences.

Back at the Prince of Yue’s mansion, after announcing his arrival, Bai He promptly greeted and followed Li Tai.

Li Tai returned to his study, awaiting Zhao Yuankai to come and discuss the locust countermeasures.

Though he could articulate lofty principles, he was unclear on practical matters like how many people to hire, how many ducks to buy, where to pasture them, and the costs involved. He needed Zhao Yuankai to gather the data for a proper consultation.

After inquiring about Zhao Yuankai, Li Tai settled down to diligently copy the Classic of Rites. Though only about five thousand characters, writing them with a brush left his hand weary.

Li Tai instructed Bai He to prepare to leave after tidying up. Then he opened a black drawer, its interior coated in ink-blackness.

He glanced at a strand of hair laid diagonally beside his books, now pressed beneath a diary.

“Mother has finally thought to read the diary. It’s been so long since she left; if she doesn’t come for it, I won’t know how to continue writing!” Li Tai smiled and took out the diary to record today’s events.

At six years old, after mastering the Thousand Character Classic, he began keeping a diary to maintain communication with his parents.

At first, he wrote simple notes about the weather, but gradually he added details like, “Father praised me today, which made me very happy,” or “Mother’s skill in making new clothes for Qingque is admirable,” including specific examples and feelings, always choosing words to please his parents.

After writing, he pressed the pages with a paperweight to dry.

During this time, palace attendants would come to tidy the study, and even Empress Changsun occasionally checked his work.

Even if the Empress did not pry, he would have the diary bound monthly as an excuse to organize it, strengthening its preservation.

Parents who can read will inevitably glance through their child’s diary once they know it exists, hoping to understand their child better. For the child, it is perhaps the only way to have their voice heard.

Sometimes, he recorded small incidents with siblings.

For instance, when his elder brother snatched his sweet jade dew dumplings, his younger sister, seeing this, offered her own portion, but he refused, believing accepting would be no different from his brother’s mischief.

The next day, his brother Li Chengqian was punished for failing to recite the Spring and Autumn Annals.

During that period, whenever Li Chengqian misbehaved, he suffered greatly.

Originally, Li Tai thought that after establishing his own household, keeping a diary would be unnecessary and planned to gradually stop after a year.

But now, he realized that maintaining a stable channel to communicate with his parents remained important.

After all, who would harbor ill intentions when writing a diary? It was merely a way to speak one’s heart.

At that moment, Li Tai carefully recorded his differing views from Dou Jing and his plan to tame birds to fight the locusts before placing the diary back into the wooden compartment.

He looked at the hair again and, rather than hiding it away, flicked it aside.

“Since mother has accessed the diary, there’s no need for such vigilance. Too many checks would only expose it.

My original intent was to share the diary with Father and Mother; now that channel is restored.

Within the Prince of Yue’s mansion, only Bai He can enter my study alone, so she must be the one handling the diary.”

In truth, in any noble household, the study was a sacred place, accessible only to trusted confidants.

Bai He, appointed by Empress Changsun as his chief maid, managed the inner quarters of the mansion in the lady’s absence.

Thus, only Bai He could enter his study unobtrusively.

Bai He’s loyalty lay with Empress Changsun or Emperor Taizong, not with an eight-year-old boy, which Li Tai accepted naturally.

After all, no reasonable adult would pledge loyalty to a child; their care was based on the child’s parents.

Hence, Li Tai felt no bitterness about the many parental eyes watching him; rather, he felt some relief.

Only the purely selfish demand absolute loyalty, tolerating no flaw.

But reality required seeking common ground while preserving differences; blending in was the way of most.

Every person has their own stance and will; leaders need comrades sharing ideals, not mindless servants.

The next day arrived, and as usual, Li Tai rose under Bai He’s care and trained with Lu Anshou.

Just after finishing, Zhao Yuankai came early to seek an audience, overly eager.

Li Tai had inquired about Zhao Yuankai and learned some rumors.

Recently, Zhao Yuankai had been publicly criticized by Dou Jing at the Ministry of Agriculture Temple, causing officials there to avoid him, fearing association.

Still, Zhao Yuankai held a position and ability; he could command people when needed.

Yet, Dou Jing enjoyed Emperor Taizong’s trust and the support of the Ministry’s officials. After public reprimand, Zhao Yuankai found it hard to hold his head high.

Now, Zhao Yuankai was determined to prove himself.

Since Dou Jing would not get involved in the locust campaign, Zhao Yuankai welcomed Li Tai’s unexpected intervention and sought to gain favor.

Moreover, Zhao Yuankai, somewhat of a flatterer and a Legalist by training, was skeptical of celestial omens and found Li Tai’s plan more credible.

For such a person, sufficient motivation could easily turn him into a capable official.

“Greetings, Prince of Yue!” Zhao Yuankai bowed respectfully.

“No need for formalities, Minister Zhao. Have you eaten breakfast? Join me if you like,” Li Tai offered while eating.

“Thank you, Your Highness. I’ve already eaten at the mansion,” Zhao Yuankai declined.

“Wait for me, then. Once I finish, we’ll go to the study to discuss matters,” Li Tai said hastily, finishing his meal.

He wiped his mouth with a sweat cloth and set it on the table for the servants to clear.

Preparing to leave, Li Tai turned to Bai He, “Come with me and record the discussion with Minister Zhao. Having a record will make future work easier.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Bai He replied respectfully.

Soon, Li Tai and Minister Zhao arrived at the study, where Zhao began, “As per the Prince’s request to establish a duck flock against the locust plague, I went to the Ministry of Imperial Stables yesterday to check their stock. They have just over ten thousand ducks.”

“Just over ten thousand? So few?” Li Tai was taken aback. These were ducks from Chang’an; was that number reasonable?

“The court’s main business is raising horses and cattle. Chickens and ducks mostly supply the palace for occasional meals. Moreover...” Zhao carefully added, “Raising too many chickens and ducks risks epidemic outbreaks, which could wipe out large numbers. Some wealthy households may keep a few for home use.”

“How many ducks can we requisition and manage?” Li Tai asked seriously.

“At most five thousand. We cannot deplete the Ministry’s entire stock,” Zhao replied, evidently prepared.

“Then we shall borrow these five thousand,” Li Tai took a deep breath. “You must find skilled duck farmers to raise them in batches of five hundred or a thousand. That way, if problems arise, not all are lost.”

Zhao calmly said, “Rest assured, Your Highness, I will handle this.

Due to the locust plague, much farmland outside the city lies fallow, so finding places to raise ducks will not be difficult.

I have also borrowed twenty men from the Ministry of Imperial Stables, and the Ministry of Agriculture will provide some personnel. Managing five thousand ducks temporarily is feasible.”

“That’s still insufficient!” Li Tai shook his head. “Five thousand ducks cannot withstand the swarm in May.

We must at least hold off the July and August waves to secure the winter wheat planting.

To curb the locust plague across Guanzhong, we need at least two hundred thousand ducks!”

“Two hundred thousand...” Zhao paused, murmuring, “Your Highness, did I hear an extra two?”

Even Bai He, who had been recording the meeting, put down her pen in astonishment; such a number was almost impossible to record!

During the prosperous Sui and Tang eras, due to demand for chicken meat, people began selecting breeds and balancing male and female poultry for hatching, allowing large-scale farming.

Techniques like “cow dung incubation,” “fire roasting,” and “water boiling” for artificial incubation emerged only in the Song Dynasty.

Now, in the early Zhenguan period, amid disaster, no one considered artificial incubation.

Therefore, Li Tai’s goal shocked both Zhao and Bai He.

“To achieve this, we need talent, land, and funds,” Li said earnestly.

“Please elaborate, Your Highness,” Zhao responded seriously.

Li explained, “First, we need artificial incubation skills and people skilled in this.

Whether we succeed depends on mastering this technique.

Afterward, we require many skilled farmers to raise the ducks and prevent epidemics once the number reaches two hundred thousand.

We must avoid a situation where duck plague arrives before the locust plague is quelled.

Regarding land, ducks need water and spacious areas; cramped conditions breed disease.

Outside the city, hungry peasants may harm the ducks, so we must protect them.

Also, as the flock grows, their food becomes a burden.

Two hundred thousand ducks cannot survive solely by foraging; we must subsidize their feed.

To accomplish all this, money is essential—large sums of it!”

“Can we not request funds from the court?” Zhao asked, puzzled.

Li Tai looked at him in shock. “Do you think the court will allocate funds for an unproven project?”

Zhao considered this and reluctantly gave up. He realized that, at least initially, they must finance this themselves; relying on court funding was unrealistic.

(End of Chapter)