Chapter 8: Ma Zhou's Warning

Chapter 8: Ma Zhou’s Reminder

Li Tai observed the hesitation on Ma Zhou’s face and understood his concerns. After all, this was the Sui-Tang era, where noble families still thrived, and the spirit of venerating princes remained strong. Even wealthy merchants could be honored guests of Li Yuan. So it was only natural if Ma Zhou declined him.

Li Tai spoke, “If Prince Bin prefers freedom, then I shall appoint you as a guest official, granting you a sixth-rank official’s stipend and position. What do you think of that?”

Ma Zhou, hearing this, felt a touch moved. Li Tai earnestly continued, “Just now, you keenly perceived the needs of the people and helped me bridge the distrust between us and the common folk. This alone proves your extraordinary talent — you are truly a prodigy of our time. What you lack is not talent, but an opportunity to rise. The Prince of Yue’s Mansion wishes to lend you a chance through this locust control project, allowing you to demonstrate your abilities and earn your place in the world.”

Ma Zhou was further stirred. Facing Li Tai, he said, “Your Highness, there is no need for such courtesy!”

Li Tai replied solemnly, “Since you are truly talented, missing out on you would be a loss for the Tang dynasty — and that loss would be mine as well.”

Ma Zhou said no more. He gazed at the eight-year-old Li Tai in awe. Is this what a royal scion looks like? So young, yet already possessing such skill in winning hearts and a grand vision that embraces the world? Frankly, if a child from an ordinary household showed such maturity, Ma Zhou would have called him a prodigy. But since he was a son of the heavenly family, enjoying the finest education and complex connections, perhaps such precocity was to be expected.

“Thank you for your kindness, Prince Yue, for giving Prince Bin a place to rest,” Ma Zhou said, bowing.

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing!” Li Tai said casually. “Let me first bid farewell to Director Dou, then I’ll properly welcome you.”

Without further ado, Li Tai hurried back to the Locust God Temple. By then, Kong Yingda and Li Gang had already left, leaving only Dou Jing sitting alone, dazed.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yuankai was busy, moving about tirelessly, recording the names and populations of every village.

Li Tai bade Dou Jing farewell, instructing Zhao Yuankai to arrange lodging for the recruits at the duck farm, then went to greet Ma Zhou. To Li Tai, Ma Zhou was a matter of utmost importance.

To be honest, Li Tai was not the type to collect famous people merely for his retinue. If Ma Zhou wished to assist him in the succession struggle, Li Tai would be delighted. But if Ma Zhou preferred to demonstrate his talent directly at court, Li Tai would not mind serving as his stepping stone.

After all, if Ma Zhou was recommended by him, no matter what Ma Zhou’s future choices were, most who harbored ambitions for the throne would regard Ma Zhou as part of Li Tai’s faction. Over time, that would become true.

In those days, the relationship between the recommender and the recommended often carried a certain dependence. Regardless of others’ opinions, with Li Chengqian’s temperament, if he truly opposed Li Tai, he would scarcely tolerate a capable official like Ma Zhou.

Shortly after Li Tai and Ma Zhou returned, Yu Zhi Ning was already waiting at the gate. If Bai He was in charge of the inner affairs of the Prince of Yue’s Mansion, Yu Zhi Ning was the official steward. Seeing Li Tai just alight from the carriage, he hurried to greet him.

“Prince Yue, someone just reported from the duck farm. The duck eggs have successfully hatched. You should go and see!” Yu Zhi Ning said.

“Oh?” Li Tai’s face brightened with surprise.

“Prince Yue, this is important. May I accompany you to see?” Ma Zhou asked, who had come with Li Tai.

“And this is…” Yu Zhi Ning looked at the young man with some curiosity.

“This is Ma Zhou, Prince Bin of Ma. He will be a permanent guest official at our mansion. Chief Steward, please arrange a room for Prince Bin!” Li Tai introduced Ma Zhou generously.

Yu Zhi Ning nodded upon hearing this and looked Ma Zhou over with curiosity, wondering what talents this young man possessed to have earned Li Tai’s favor.

As Chief Steward, Yu Zhi Ning understood that while the Prince of Yue appeared approachable, in reality, he held himself in high esteem. Yu Zhi Ning himself had not quite won Li Tai’s favor.

“Well then, let’s head to the duck farm. I had planned to treat you well, but it seems all I can offer is roast duck!” Li Tai said with a hint of regret to Ma Zhou.

“In these times, to have roast duck is a blessing enough. What is there to regret?” Ma Zhou replied calmly.

Li Tai helped Ma Zhou into the ox cart, and they headed toward the duck farm. By the time they arrived, the sun had already set. But Li Tai did not mind; this was not his first time staying outside the mansion. Such matters were trivial.

The first person Li Tai sought was Qin Zhong, the project leader overseeing the artificial incubation effort and a technical officer from the Animal Husbandry Department. In Li Tai and Zhao Yuankai’s absence, he was the authority here.

Qin Zhong greeted Li Tai warmly. “Reporting to Your Highness: the first batch of ducklings has hatched successfully. Out of 500 eggs, 163 were dead, but 131 have hatched. The remaining eggs should hatch within the next two days.”

“Excellent!” Li Tai nodded. “Work hard these days to adjust the heat pits, minimize the number of dead eggs, and increase hatch rates.”

“As you command!” Qin Zhong responded emphatically.

Li Tai and Ma Zhou went to see the ducklings, now sleeping on the straw, their yellow-orange feathers soft in the fading light.

“The artificial incubation project is complete. I have at last taken the most important step!” Li Tai said with joy.

“But Prince Yue, you have also become a target!” Ma Zhou’s expression shifted as he warned seriously.

“Hm?” Li Tai frowned, unsure of Ma Zhou’s meaning.

“Prince Yue, is this achievement important to you?” Ma Zhou asked in return.

“I do not seek mere merit; I want to prove my ability!” Li Tai answered.

Li Tai did not quite grasp Ma Zhou’s point but spoke honestly—he needed to demonstrate his capability, not just accrue honors. Already a first-rank prince, even if he earned more merits, would Emperor Taizong bestow a higher title?

“If that is so, Prince Yue, prepare yourself!” Ma Zhou said gravely.

“Prepare for what?” Li Tai asked, puzzled.

“To have your fruit plucked by others!” Ma Zhou replied.

“The hardest hurdle in the path of using ducks to control locusts—the artificial incubation technique—has been overcome. What remains is mere manual labor. In other words, anyone can do it. So why should it be you?”

“I am Prince Yue, my father is the Emperor. Who dares pluck my fruit?!” Li Tai was incredulous at Ma Zhou’s words.

Ma Zhou said seriously, “You are Prince Yue, but only Prince Yue. Others may fear the Crown Prince, but with you, they bear no burden even if they offend you. Many might even welcome it, for only the Crown Prince will inherit the Tang throne.”

Li Tai was stunned by Ma Zhou’s perspective and took a deep breath. He had never considered it from this angle. Indeed, he was Prince Yue. That allowed him to boldly slay the Locust God’s head, but he was still merely Prince Yue.

In the eyes of the ministers, the more capable he was, the more they would suppress him. Because the Crown Prince was the true heir to Tang, by suppressing Li Tai, they gained the Crown Prince’s favor—indeed, the future emperor’s. For most ambitious officials, Li Tai became the perfect scapegoat.

“Reasons?” Li Tai frowned, struggling to accept Ma Zhou’s words.

Ma Zhou continued, “Dou Jing invited the Locust Demon to punish others, but now his position as Director of Agriculture is untenable. With Zhao Shaoqing’s current conduct, do you think he can hold the post?

“Thus, whether willingly or not, without a new Director of Agriculture, morale is scattered, and locust control cannot proceed.

“Locust control is urgent, and the path using ducks is clear. The Ministry of Imperial Stables could fully take over this task.

“Moreover, the artisans involved in artificial incubation mostly come from the Animal Husbandry Department, which also belongs to the Stables Ministry, so it suits them well.

“I recall Your Highness’s ambition lies in agriculture, presumably to work under the Directorate of Agriculture for locust control. If another department takes charge, will you be in control, or not? Will you act, or not? Most importantly, will others allow you to participate or not?

“All these are beyond your control, Prince Yue.”

Li Tai listened, frowning. He had never considered these issues. After all, in his previous life, he was merely an ordinary university student — adept at grand strategies, but not at flawless execution that avoided exploitation or schemes.

Ma Zhou’s presence reminded him of possibilities he had never imagined.

“Please, teach me!” Li Tai said, contemplating the matter. He realized Ma Zhou’s assessment might very well come true.

The greatest cause, strictly speaking, came from Li Shimin himself.

Li Shimin certainly did not want to become a powerful figure whose influence could not be restrained, like his own father before him. He wished to pass authority peacefully to Li Chengqian.

Because he could not achieve this himself, his parents hoped their son would succeed where they failed.

And Li Chengqian was not yet in his rebellious years; presently, he was quite obedient.

For this reason, even if only to uphold Li Chengqian’s position, it was easy for many in court to suppress Li Tai—a scenario Li Shimin would welcome.

“So we must protect Dou Jing!” Ma Zhou said earnestly.

“As long as Dou Jing stands, the Directorate of Agriculture remains stable. No matter what others do, they will be checked by powerful figures.

“What you need is not the merit of locust control, but to demonstrate your agricultural governance talent.

“Dou Jing’s failure in the locust god ritual means he most needs merit to uphold his position.

“Though it may seem you two clash over locust control, in fact you rely on each other; if one falls, the other suffers.”

“I understand!” Li Tai was shaken. “I must return to the capital at once.”

“At this hour, the city is likely under curfew!” Ma Zhou was taken aback. “Will they let us enter the gates?”

“I have a token granted by my father, allowing me passage during curfew,” Li Tai said seriously.

“If anyone aims to pluck the fruit, tomorrow’s court assembly will be the best chance to strike at Dou Jing.

“Judging by Dou Jing’s demeanor, he is ready to lose everything. I must reach before tomorrow’s assembly!”

“Since Your Highness has decided, I wish you swift success!” Ma Zhou offered his blessing.

“I’ll treat you to roast duck next time!” Li Tai said to Ma Zhou.

“I’ll hold you to that!” Ma Zhou replied.

Soon, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Lu Anshou drove the ox cart back to Chang’an. The wheels rolled steadily as Dou Jing, clad in official robes, sat quietly in the courtyard, gazing at the crescent moon.

“I wonder if I’ll ever see a full moon in Chang’an again,” Dou Jing sighed.

What was once a ritual to invoke the Locust God had become an invitation to the Locust Demon. With the recurrence of the plague, the court needed a scapegoat.

Everyone knew the locust disaster had nothing to do with the ritual, yet Dou Jing bore the blame.

“I only hope the Prince of Yue’s method of using ducks to fight locusts proves effective.

“If it works, he truly will be a wise ruler,” Dou Jing sighed, looking at his official robes. Perhaps tomorrow, he wouldn’t be able to wear them anymore.

The next day, the court assembly proceeded as scheduled. After Li Shimin handled several matters, a censor stepped forward.

“Director Dou Jing of Agriculture is immoral. During the ritual, he summoned the Locust Demon, bringing locust disaster upon the people. I request the sage’s judgment!”

The officials murmured, and Dou Jing knelt before Li Shimin, prepared to accept punishment.

But Li Tai stepped forward first, saying, “Director Dou’s act of summoning the Locust Demon was to quell the people’s fears and resolve the locust crisis. If the people do not believe the Locust Demon is slain, how can the swarms be defeated?

“If governing locusts is a crime, then punish me first — my crime is unforgivable!”

“Prince Yue!” Dou Jing looked surprised at Li Tai.

He had come to the assembly in a daze, not expecting Li Tai, who normally would not attend, to appear—and more so, to defend him.

With Li Tai’s intervention, those officials who intended to strike while Dou Jing was down hesitated and said no more.

They well understood that since Li Tai accepted Dou Jing’s blame, Dou Jing’s position would remain secure for the time being. As the main locust control leader, offending him was pointless.

In the end, censors could freely criticize anyone as part of their duty. But if one department wanted to undermine another, there had to be sufficient interest and a chance of success.

No sane person would bite like a mad dog; this was not a partisan struggle, but the relatively clear politics of the Zhenguan era. None in court were easy marks.

Piling on was easy enough, but leading the charge? Impossible.

Thus, Dou Jing’s punishment quietly dissolved, and he continued his work.

(End of chapter)