Chapter 5: Thank You, Big Brother

Li Shimin glanced at Li Chengqian, then fixed his gaze upon the paper.

As time passed, Li Shimin's expression grew increasingly grave; only after reading the final character did he slowly look up:

"Qingque, do you know what a public proclamation is used for?"

"It is a document issued by the government to announce matters to the world, mostly used for military victory reports and wanted criminals!"

"Since you know, you should also understand that if you want to use public proclamations to have all the people under heaven read books, the officials in the imperial court will never agree."

"Father, we can first propose implementing the School System to allow the children of humble families to enroll.

Of two evils, choose the lesser; in this way, they will certainly agree to use public proclamations to disseminate books."

At this point, Li Tai's eyes turned red instantly, and his tone became aggrieved:

"Father, for this past month, your son has neither eaten nor slept, all for the sake of this matter.

Just after finishing it, before I could even get a good rest, I was beaten up by Big Brother, boohoo..."

Li Shimin was deeply conflicted; he understood Li Tai's intention to use this to elevate his own reputation, but this would also offend those aristocratic clans.

He also wanted to use this to test the bottom line of the aristocratic clans and see what they were thinking.

Glancing at Li Chengqian, who was sitting to the side leisurely drinking tea, Li Shimin spoke softly:

"Gaoming, what do you think?"

"Your son does not know what Qingque is seeking."

Li Chengqian's mouth curled up slightly: "If the court officials do not agree, Father, why not let Qingque go see the officials with that face of his?

Qingque has suffered such a great grievance; as a father, giving him some reward is only human nature, and no one can say anything against it.

If they still do not agree even then, that would be sowing discord between the father and son of the imperial family."

Having said this, Li Chengqian turned his gaze toward Li Tai:

"Qingque, no matter how many complaints the officials have against you, they will feel refreshed because you were beaten, and thus they will not be too opposed.

Was Big Brother beating you for your own good? Don't you want to thank Big Brother?"

Li Tai was stunned for a moment, and following Li Chengqian's words, he pondered secretly:

'That's right! They have already vented their anger, why would they oppose it? Could they really kill me just for a public proclamation?

The children of humble families can't even afford to eat, let alone have money to buy paper and brushes to copy books; how could they not think of that?

I have gained the reputation, and Father also knows my ability; taking a beating is not entirely unacceptable.

Looking at it this way, I really should thank Big Brother!'

Thinking of this, Li Tai stood up and bowed to Li Chengqian with a solemn face:

"Many thanks, Big Brother!"

Li Chengqian grinned: "No need to thank me! We are own brothers born of the same mother; this is what Big Brother ought to do."

As he finished speaking, Li Chengqian looked at Li Shimin: "Father, shouldn't you also thank your son? Shouldn't the punishment for the Fifth Brother be reconsidered?"

Li Shimin's expression was exceptionally ugly; he now wished he could hang Li Chengqian up and beat him.

But he could not do that; this proposal for the Imperial Examination System was clearly passed to Li Tai by Li Chengqian through Su Xu.

With this system, he would have no need to use the Feudal System to seize local power from the aristocratic clans.

As long as future monarchs execute the Imperial Examination System step by step, they could win over a group of humble scholars to contend against the aristocratic clans.

In this way, the Prince of Qi would not have to die, and there would be no military mutiny in Liangzhou.

"By doing this, what benefit do you get?"

Hearing this, Li Chengqian wore an expression as if he had seen a ghost:

"Father, are you truly ignorant or just pretending to be? The Crown Princess comes from the Wugong Su Clan and has friendships with all the major aristocratic clans.

If she were to say a few words, they would instantly spread to all the aristocratic clans under heaven.

If she really said something, do you think Qingque would still have a chance?"

Li Shimin lowered his head and looked at the Imperial Examination System proposal; in an instant, he understood Li Chengqian's meaning: as long as he dared to depose the Crown Prince, he would spread this Imperial Examination System throughout the world, ensuring Li Tai would never again receive the support of the aristocratic clans.

Without the support of the aristocratic clans, and since the Guanlong Aristocratic Group was a military clique that had never supported Li Tai, with neither the civil nor military sides supporting him, forcing him onto the throne would be a path to self-destruction.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin gave a bitter smile:

"Do you still think I have long wanted to replace the Crown Prince?"

"Is that not the case?"

Li Chengqian slowly stood up: "The fact that Hegan Chengji was not dealt with immediately already explains Father's thoughts.

Only when Qingque ascends to the position of Crown Prince will your son execute his original plan; this is for self-preservation."

"You admit it?"

"Admit what?"

Li Chengqian's mouth hung with a mocking arc: "Qingque, you are too naive!

Do you think that just because Father wants to depose the Crown Prince, he can, or that he can make whoever he wants the Crown Prince?

Don't look at how Uncle, Fang Xuanling, and the others have been investigating; they cannot find any evidence.

Even if there were evidence, Big Brother would only need one sentence to dispel the thoughts of Father and Uncle."

Without waiting for Li Tai to reply, Li Chengqian slowly walked toward the outside of the hall:

"Father, at this stage, your initial thoughts are no longer important!"

From today's conversation, Li Chengqian could already be certain that this was no longer just a struggle for the Crown Prince position; it was a struggle for power between the central and local governments, and even more so, a struggle between the civil and military factions.

For Li Chengqian, his war had only just begun, and his opponents were never Li Tai or Li Zhi, but the Guanlong Aristocratic Group and the aristocratic clans.

'The inner treasury burned to ashes of brocade, the heavenly streets trampled with the bones of dukes and ministers; if I had not transmigrated into Li Chengqian, I would certainly have to learn from Huang Chao and perform a physical transcendence.'

Just as Li Chengqian left, Li Shimin let out a long sigh:

"Qingque, was this proposal given to you by Su Xu?"

"Father, how did you know?"

"Do you know why your eldest brother wanted to beat you?"

"What else could it be for?"

Li Tai looked determined: "He must think that Hegan Chengji being captured was pushed by me from behind."

"Then why did you thank him just now?"

"I only just realized it, and besides, this beating really has its benefits, so thanking him is only right."

Li Shimin was somewhat amused and annoyed: "The main reason your eldest brother beat you was for the military power of the Yin Family.

Yesterday afternoon, the Crown Princess went to the Nanchang Mansion, and this morning Chengyang went to see Yin Fei."

"What?"

Li Tai exclaimed: "Father, do you mean to say that this imperial examination proposal was created by the Crown Prince?

Why? Why would he give such a great opportunity to me?

Something is wrong! Something is wrong!"

Li Tai shook his head repeatedly, thinking of the conversation the two just had, his expression growing increasingly ugly as he began to speak without thinking:

"Shameless! Shameless! Utterly shameless! How could he do this! I am his enemy!

How could he use an enemy to protect himself? This is too much! This is too much!"

"As long as you give up this proposal, your eldest brother's plan will not be realized; how will you choose?"

"Do I even have a choice?"

Li Tai hung his head, no longer having the joy he had just moments ago:

"Giving it up would mean I only care about private interests and disregard the big picture; not only would Father look down on me for doing so, but I would look down on myself."

"You could also choose to shelve it!"

"Why must Father deceive me?"

Li Tai was on the verge of tears: "If the Crown Prince can persuade my uncle to give this proposal to me, it would not be difficult for him to persuade my uncle to make this proposal public.

The *Geography Records* was completed with my uncle's help; who in the world doesn't know that my uncle stands on my side?

He even used the fifth brother's name to beat me in full view of everyone; he has long wanted the Liangzhou troops."

"So, you insist on using a public proclamation to let all the people in the world be able to copy the book?"

"Yes!"

Li Tai gritted his teeth and agreed: "No matter what, I must accept the gift the Crown Prince has sent."

"Tomorrow, you will attend the morning court with me."

"Thank you, Father!"

Li Shimin shook his head secretly; he always felt that this gift would still be utilized by Li Chengqian in the future.

'Gaoming has changed quite a bit; this scheme does not seem like something he could come up with.'