Chapter 37: Threatening the Daoist

"Bang, bang, bang!"

"Smack, smack, smack..."

"Ah, ah, ah... Big Brother, stop!"

Half a quarter of an hour later, Li Chengqian let out a long breath:

"That feels better! Don't talk nonsense in front of Big Brother in the future!"

Li You looked aggrieved: "Where was I talking nonsense? These were all my heartfelt words. How could Big Brother treat me like this?"

"Big Brother apologizes to you. We've arrived at the Eastern Palace. If you're bored, go to Qingfeng Pavilion. There are fishing rods there; go fish yourself."

"Really?"

Li You's eyes lit up: "Thank you, Big Brother! Have Wang Qi send a pot of wine over."

"Fine!"

Li Chengqian glanced at Li You, feeling some doubt in his heart. This guy is recorded in history books as a playboy with no brains.

The rebellion also proved that this kid had no brains, but this guy could understand Zhuangzi, and he knew how to cooperate with him. How does he look like he has no brains?

'Too lazy and let people take advantage of him? So he learns Daoism, and if he dares to bully me, he tries every possible way to take revenge?'

'A bit difficult to handle! He's not afraid of anything, just afraid of wanting to lie flat. I don't know how to persuade him at all. I can only pin my hopes on Yin Fei!'

At this moment, Li Chengqian was a bit annoyed with Li Yuan for governing the country with the Dao for no reason, making all the imperial princes and grandsons read Daoist classics.

Thinking of Li Yuan, Li Chengqian thought of the Rent-Tax-Labor System and the policy of suppressing Buddhism.

In the late Sui and early Tang dynasties, these two systems promoted the population growth of Great Tang and were also beneficial to ordinary people.

However, as time passed, the drawbacks of the Equal-Field System and the Rent-Tax-Labor System gradually emerged.

Coupled with the outbreak of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Buddhism rose again, and many people became monks again, which was really unfavorable for the rule of Great Tang.

And this was the reason why Li Chengqian wanted to pull Buddhism down. Now he was just doing preparatory work.

He needed to make all preparations before someone returned to Great Tang, and then deliver a fatal blow to Buddhism to make Buddhism reform.

Returning to the Eastern Palace, not long after sitting down, Yuwen Ding ran in hurriedly:

"Your Highness, I have already gone to gather people. Should we execute according to the original plan?"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Li Chengqian's eyes: "Yes! Kill Liu Hu. If he doesn't die, the matter won't blow up this big.

Remember, leave immediately after the person dies. If you are caught, I won't be able to protect you either."

"Yes!"

"How is the recruitment going? Are there any scholars?"

Yuwen Ding's expression became serious: "Thirty people have already been recruited, and they are currently arranged for training in Guiyi Ward.

I also met two scholars. I originally wanted to find time to recruit them, but one is from the Shanyin Ding clan, and one has the surname Yang. I checked, and it seems to be related to the Hongnong Yang clan."

"What do you mean by 'seems'?"

Li Chengqian frowned slightly: "Don't say these ambiguous words in the future. Recruit the one surnamed Yang first.

Don't recruit the Shanyin Ding clan for the time being; talk about it after this matter passes."

"Yes!"

After speaking, Yuwen Ding bowed and turned to leave.

Li Chengqian looked at the sky and found that there wasn't much time left for his appointment with Li Chunfeng, so he got up and went behind the screen.

Among the densely packed characters on it, he found the words 'woodblock movable type printing' and 'bamboo paper', and then crossed them out with a stroke.

'Master Wang Zhen, Great Scholar Song Yingxing, I am copying your homework this time; you must not blame me.

Woodblock movable type printing also has to be given to Qingque. I hope Li Chunfeng can cooperate.'

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian squatted halfway, found a roll of paper and a square wood carving from the book basket under the screen.

Then he sat quietly in his seat with the paper and wood carving, waiting for Li Chunfeng to come.

A quarter of an hour later, Li Chunfeng arrived as agreed:

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

"Sit down in front of me!"

Li Chengqian spoke indifferently: "Have you encountered any trouble recently with compiling books and writing the new calendar?"

"No difficulties encountered for the time being!"

"I think you have trouble, and big trouble at that! Not only can the Taichang Temple not solve it, but even the Taiji Palace cannot solve it."

Li Chunfeng was dumbfounded and couldn't understand what Li Chengqian meant at all, but he was also a clever person. After his brain turned, he followed Li Chengqian's words and continued:

"Your Highness is right. The Book of Jin is too difficult to compile, and your subject cannot know the detailed situation of many deeds."

"You should ask for help. I heard that there are many great talents in the Literature Pavilion; perhaps you can beg the Prince of Wei for help!"

Suspicion appeared in Li Chunfeng's eyes: "What does Your Highness want your subject to do?"

Li Chengqian didn't answer but pushed the paper and the carved wooden block in front of him.

Without hesitation, Li Chunfeng opened the paper and took a look, and then light burst forth from his eyes. Regardless of the occasion, he spread the paper flat on the ground and lay on the ground to study it carefully.

Before long, Li Chunfeng seemed to have thought of something, turned around, picked up the wooden block, and started comparing it with the pattern on the paper.

"What a 'rotating type setting'. With this, the efficiency of typesetting will increase greatly."

Li Chengqian was drinking tea calmly on the side. He didn't plan to hand over woodblock movable type printing now; he only took it out to show Li Chunfeng, and by the way, to prepare for Sun Simiao's arrival.

He wasn't worried at all that Li Chunfeng wouldn't take the bait. If the new calendar wants to spread, it not only needs the support of the imperial court but also needs to be recognized by the people.

And if you want the people to recognize it, you need scholars, government officials, Buddhism and Daoism, and aristocratic families to take the lead.

It is impossible to spread to the whole Great Tang in a short time without a large number of books.

However, at this time, books were in the hands of aristocratic families. For the sake of their own status, they would definitely strike hard at woodblock movable type printing, which was also why Li Chengqian didn't want to hand it over for the time being.

"Your Highness, the production of this bamboo paper is so cumbersome. Is its texture as described in the book—moist, ink-retaining, tough, and flat?"

Just as Li Chengqian was thinking, Li Chunfeng's voice sounded in his ear:

"If the effect is like this, and the cost is cheap, the number of scholars in the world will increase greatly, and the literary governance of Great Tang will surpass all previous dynasties."

"Try it and you'll know!"

Li Chengqian's mouth rose slightly: "I'll give you the woodblock movable type printing. As for the bamboo paper, you try to make a little bit first.

If it works, I'll have to trouble you to let the Prince of Wei come to grab it. This request isn't too much, right!"

Li Chunfeng thought of what Li Chengqian had just said, and had some guesses in his heart:

"Your Highness, you want me to invite the great talents of the Literature Pavilion to help, and then let him see the bamboo paper inadvertently?"

"Haha! I knew Taichang Li was a clever person. How about it? Isn't it very simple?"

Li Chunfeng gave a wry smile: "Your subject doesn't want to participate in this war. Why does Your Highness have to pull me in?

Besides, just find someone to send it over. With the Prince of Wei's temperament, he definitely won't refuse."

"Sigh..."

Li Chengqian let out a long sigh: "Qingque has a deep misunderstanding of me. He always thinks I am a sinister villain and will definitely not accept the bamboo paper.

For Qingque's sake, I, as the older brother, can only help him in the dark. You must understand my difficulties.

He wants to compile books on various classics and crafts. With this bamboo paper, I think it can help him."

"Isn't this what Your Highness asked the Literature Pavilion to do?"

"That was before!"

Li Chengqian put on a look of being wronged:

"Qingque wants it too. I, as the older brother, have to wrong myself to let Qingque fulfill his wish.

He also has this experience, so it's good to let him compile it!"

"Your subject hasn't heard that the Prince of Wei is rushing to compile books!"

"That's because he hasn't had the chance!"

Li Chengqian revealed a sinister smile: "I have already given him the chance. To prevent others from destroying it, you must send this paper up.

After finishing this matter, you can spread the teachings of Huang Guanzi and Daozhang Zhiyuan in Great Tang.

Taichang Li, you wouldn't want the 'Classic of Stars by Gan and Shi' written by your father Huang Guanzi to be lost just like that, would you!" ===== CHAPTER 38 =====