Chapter 40: Dissolving the Hongwen Hall

The people present stared blankly at this scene. They discovered that anyone who had been beaten by the Crown Prince had to thank him.

Li Tai subconsciously touched his forehead:

'Big Brother hasn't hit me recently. Will there be twists and turns today?'

Just thinking of this, Li Tai wanted to slap himself. Holy shit, why am I so cheap?

Just at this time, the always stubborn Yu Zhining stood up with a firm face and looked at Li Shimin:

"Your Majesty, there are rumors in Chang'an City now, all saying that the Crown Prince is compiling books. Please issue an imperial edict to determine the main compiler to calm the rumors."

"It should indeed be issued. The book compilation was first proposed by the Crown Prince, so let the Hongwen Hall preside over it."

"No!"

Kong Yingda stopped him loudly: "The book compilation takes a long time, but the Crown Prince is eager for quick success and instant benefits. In order not to mislead future generations, your subject thinks someone else should be changed."

"Libationer Kong, if you can't speak, don't speak. When did I ever seek quick success and instant benefits?"

Facing Li Chengqian's questioning, Kong Yingda didn't fear at all:

"The Crown Prince wants to let the entire Guozijian participate in compiling books and thinks about compiling books within a year. Isn't this seeking quick success and instant benefits?"

"How long does it take to copy all the books together? If I don't find Guozijian students, should I find imperial court officials?"

"Does the Crown Prince know that the books in the palace may be different from the books among the people? A difference of one word is a world of difference.

If you encounter two identical books but the content inside is different, which one should be chosen?"

"Isn't it fine to copy the different parts as well?"

Li Chengqian didn't care at all: "Copying books didn't ask you to annotate, making all books need annotations and sentence breaking."

"This will mislead future generations. It's better not to compile this book, so as not to cause loss of life again."

"Bang!"

Li Shimin stared coldly at Li Chengqian: "Crown Prince, I didn't expect you to take book compilation so lightly. It really disappoints me too much.

You don't need to compile this book anymore. I will find someone else to compile it. From today on, you will stay in the Eastern Palace to reflect.

Since those people in the Hongwen Hall cannot let you compile literature, keeping them is useless. Dissolve the Hongwen Hall from today on, and all scholars will be merged into the Literature Pavilion."

"Father is serious?"

"Do you think I don't know?"

Anger appeared on Li Shimin's face: "Li Xiang beat Li Xin yesterday, harming his brother. Is this the good son you taught?

And yesterday at the Guozijian, what did you say? Even petty thieves can compile books. What do you treat the imperial court as? What do you treat the Hongwen Hall as?"

"Heh!"

Li Chengqian sneered: "Why speak so grandiosely? Even children fighting can be talked about. If I don't despise you, I'd be sorry for the guidance I received."

"Big Brother, how can you talk back to Father!"

Li Tai felt refreshed in his heart, but his face put on a look of heartbreak:

"If it weren't for your own eagerness for quick success and instant benefits, how could Father let you dissolve the Hongwen Hall?"

"Shut up!"

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes at him: "I don't know you? You're dreaming if you want to compile books."

After saying that, Li Chengqian turned his gaze to Li Shimin:

"Zhinu has also grown up. Why doesn't Father hand over the book compilation to Zhinu?

Bingzhou is bitter and cold, and the folk customs have always been fierce. There are many fierce generals but not many literary officials.

As the Bingzhou Governor, Zhinu has the responsibility and obligation to let Bingzhou produce more literary people.

Moreover, the Taiyuan Wang clan is also in Bingzhou, and Wenzhongzi Wang Tong's family has many books that can be borrowed and copied."

Seeing this, Li Zhi also echoed: "Father, your son also wants to contribute to the country. Please give your son a chance."

Following Li Zhi's opening, officials like Zhangsun Wuji also began to support him.

Seeing this scene, Li Tai's face darkened visibly. With Zhangsun Wuji's support, those people of Li Tai in the court were no match at all.

Although they weren't matches, Li Tai still signaled Xiao Yu and others to voice their opposition.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Jin has never participated in the court situation, nor has he ever compiled books. Such a big matter still needs an older imperial prince."

"Your subject seconds this! Bingzhou is bitter and cold, and the book compilation costs a huge amount. Please make a clear judgment, Your Majesty."

Unexpectedly, Kong Yingda also voiced his opposition:

"Your Majesty, the book compilation is a matter of great importance. It's better to gather the officials of the imperial court to discuss it again."

Listening to the remonstrance of the officials, Li Shimin glanced at Li Chengqian and began to ponder in his heart:

'What is Gaoming thinking? No matter how I look at it, he wants to hand over the book compilation to Qingque. Why does he want to recommend Zhinu again?

Could it be that I thought wrong, and these things are all coincidences?'

Seeing that Li Shimin couldn't make up his mind for a long time, Fang Xuanling spoke softly:

"Your Majesty, it's better to think about it for a few more days. There are many urgent matters today, so please handle other urgent matters first."

"That's fine! Everyone go back first. I'll make a decision after considering it for a few days."

"Your subjects take their leave."

Li Chengqian also slowly got up and left. When passing by Li Tai, he deliberately looked at him with a look of contempt:

"Qingque, want to compile books? Wait for the next life! With Big Brother here, you definitely won't be able to compile them in this life."

Fire erupted in Li Tai's eyes, and his teeth gritted with a clatter:

"Don't look down on people! I will definitely compile this book, and even Buddha can't stop me."

"Heh!"

Li Chengqian didn't hide his disdain: "Big Brother will wait and see."

After speaking, he left straight away without waiting for Li Tai to react.

Li Chengqian felt very tired. Acting is very tiring, more tiring than at any other time.

Li Tai isn't stupid, and the people behind him aren't stupid either. Once a flaw is exposed, the plan will have problems.

Fortunately, his plan didn't go wrong. Li Zhi, as he inferred, wouldn't let go of this opportunity.

Most importantly, Li Shimin was still struggling, which allowed Li Chengqian's plan to be implemented smoothly. If Li Shimin didn't care about the wishes of the court officials and made a decision decisively, his plan wouldn't have been so smooth.

"Phew..."

After letting out a long breath, Li Chengqian began to think about Li Shimin's intention to dissolve the Hongwen Hall. This belonged to an unexpected situation.

The Hongwen Hall was used to recruit talents, just like Li Tai's Literature Pavilion. Dissolving the Hongwen Hall at this time would only send out one signal, which was that Li Shimin was going to depose the Crown Prince.

'Could it be for the regency? Wanting to make the court officials think I'm just a tool man, forced to do so to maintain the stability of the court?'

'Only this can explain it. Erfeng really isn't just a name; he can seize every opportunity.'

Li Chengqian guessed Li Shimin's thoughts, but Li Shimin couldn't guess Li Chengqian, which made Li Shimin feel a trace of frustration.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one else was there, Li Shimin spoke indifferently:

"Xuanling, what do you think Gaoming is thinking? Were those things that happened yesterday coincidences!"

Fang Xuanling looked amazed: "Grass snakes and gray lines, hidden veins for a thousand miles. The Crown Prince's plan started from the day the Prince of Qi entered the capital.

Today's matter was definitely done by the Crown Prince."

"What do you mean?"

Fang Xuanling explained softly: "In recent years, the Crown Prince hasn't been to the Guozijian, and Imperial Grandson Xiang has never beaten anyone.

Most importantly, when Yu Zhining and others were dismissed from their positions in the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince casually proposed book compilation.

Now, because of book compilation, the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Jin are pitted against each other."

"Who do you think he wants to hand over the book compilation to? And what is his purpose?"

"Don't know!"

Fang Xuanling gave a self-deprecating smile: "Your subject doesn't understand. Chu Suiliang leaving Chang'an was something your subject only reacted to after the fact. If Fang Jun hadn't reminded your subject, I fear I wouldn't have reacted until now."

"Perhaps I know some."

Li Shimin looked at the map on the wall and muttered to himself:

"He is really bold and also very cautious. Grass snakes and gray lines, hidden veins for a thousand miles. I really want to know all his plans."

Fang Xuanling stood still as if he hadn't heard it.

After a long while, the corners of Li Shimin's mouth rose slightly:

"Enough! Let him be. I'll know in the end." ===== CHAPTER 41 =====