Chapter 87

"I don't believe it! Bring the mugwort, start cutting from the outermost tree, and set fire to the forest when the sun is poisonous."

"I don't believe that a small mountain forest can stop the people's belief in farming."

After speaking, Li Chengqian looked at Su Liangsi, his tone unquestionable:

"Remember! When you encounter a disaster, go to cut down the mountain forest to build roads. When you are free from farming, go to burn the miasma forest to build roads."

"I want to make Jiaozhi completely the granary of the Central Plains and make all the barbarians go to farm."

"The people hiding on the mountains should find ways to make them go down the mountain to farm, and those living by the sea should also be made to go to farm after fishing."

"Yes! I will not fail Your Highness's expectations."

Li Chengqian nodded with satisfaction, and then his eyes turned to Sun Simiao:

"Medicine King, there is one more thing to ask of you. I will let all the physicians in Chang'an assist you in this matter."

"The Eastern Palace will also spare no effort to help you with what you need."

Sun Simiao's expression froze: "Please speak, Your Highness!"

"Compile a medical book, a medical book that can benefit all the people in the world."

Li Chengqian's expression was solemn: "When encountering coughs, indigestion, and chickenpox, the people will know what to do as soon as they see the medical book."

"What medicine to use, how to decoct the medicine, and what the herbs look like."

"Your Highness, individual bodies are different, and the use of medicine needs to be cautious. This matter is very likely to kill others."

Li Chengqian explained in a deep voice: "Serious illnesses do not need to be recorded, just compile some common minor illnesses and common symptoms of young children."

"I will train a physician in every village to specialize in treating these minor illnesses. These physicians will be uniformly trained in each prefecture and county, and those who pass the assessment will return to their hometowns to serve as physicians."

"The Medicine King only needs to compile usable medical books, and there will be special personnel responsible for teaching the physicians."

Sun Simiao was moved. He was dedicated to compiling medical books, and the purpose of compiling medical books was just to save more people.

But he also understood that once this matter was not done well, the people who died would not be one or two.

Li Chengqian saw Sun Simiao's concerns and persuaded him again:

"Everything has risks. You cannot stop doing it because there are risks."

"Shang Yang's reform was very likely to lead to the destruction of the Qin State, but Duke Xiao of Qin still did it."

"The rulers of the Qin State improved the Qin law generation after generation, and finally unified the world."

"We must always make a start, let the later generations slowly improve it, and finally benefit all the people in the world."

Sun Simiao was silent for a moment, and his expression became firm:

"This poor Taoist is willing to do his best to compile medical books to benefit all the people in the world."

With Sun Simiao's words, Li Chengqian felt relieved. With the Great Tang version of the "Barefoot Doctor Manual," his plan could go a step further.

There is also the calendar, which requires Li Chunfeng to take action, but this cannot be completed in a short time, and it also requires the cooperation of another book.

After Sun Simiao left the Fu Ren Guan, Li Chengqian said lightly:

"Brother Su, the population of the Great Tang is small now, but with the long peace, the population will rise rapidly."

"In order to cope with the population rise, grain production is the top priority, and Jiaozhi is the top priority."

"Rebellions occur frequently in that place. Although there has been no major chaos, it will always affect the people's production."

"There is no need to implement the rent, labor, and tax system there. Two taxes a year. The summer tax is used to hire people to build roads, and the autumn tax is used to build city walls and educate."

"Don't you need to send it to Chang'an?"

"No!"

Li Chengqian's expression did not change: "I am in the court, so you don't need to worry."

"You just need to govern Jiaozhi with peace of mind. First, govern the people's production to make them eat and wear warmly, and then make the local customs move closer to the Great Tang. If there are any obstacles during the period, kill them if you should."

"This subject understands! Combine kindness with severity to make the people of Jiaozhi Commandery return!"

"That's right. Before you go, go to Wang Qi to get a copy of the bamboo paper production formula and the woodblock printing production drawings."

Just as he mentioned Wang Qi, Wang Qi's figure appeared in Li Chengqian's eyes.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, Libationer Kong requests an audience!"

???

Li Chengqian had a head full of question marks: "Why did this old guy come? He is not an official of the Eastern Palace; what is he doing looking for me?"

Although he said so, Li Chengqian still hurried to the Lizheng Hall to meet Kong Yingda.

"Libationer Kong, I haven't seen you for many years, and I missed you so much. Every time I think of the scene where you taught me, I regret it."

Kong Yingda didn't believe Li Chengqian's ghost talk at all. After bowing according to the rules, he slowly stated the reason for coming:

"May I ask Your Highness the Crown Prince, can the imperial court print a batch of 'Five Classics Correct Meaning' and issue them to the schools in various prefectures and counties?"

"Small matter! After the disaster is over, I will order people to print them."

After speaking, the corners of Li Chengqian's mouth raised slightly: "Libationer Kong, don't tell me you came here just to tell me this."

"I heard that the Crown Princess is engraving steles and writing biographies for good deeds at Hongfu Temple. I want to ask the Crown Princess to withdraw the order."

"Reason!"

"Doing good without seeking fame, doing evil without seeking punishment. If you engrave steles and write biographies, there will definitely be people who do good for the sake of fame in the future."

Li Chengqian nodded in agreement: "I understand what you mean. You are afraid that someone will do good for the sake of fame."

"If one day their reputation cannot satisfy them, this person will develop resentment, and some people will even do evil for the sake of doing good."

"Not valuing the virtuous, making the people not fight—is that what you mean?"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is wise! The atmosphere of doing good can only move slowly from top to bottom; it cannot be achieved overnight."

"Hehe!"

Li Chengqian chuckled: "When you were advising me, why didn't you think of this sentence?"

"I still think about whether you are so upright and selfless, whether it is for Father to see, or whether it is this kind of character itself."

"You go back! This matter will not stop!"

Kong Yingda seemed to know that he would be rejected, and his expression did not change at all:

"Is Your Highness the Crown Prince worried about the Crown Princess's reputation? If so, this subject has a way to ensure that the Crown Princess's reputation will not be affected."

"No!"

Li Chengqian shook his head slightly: "It concerns the long-term plan of the Great Tang; it cannot be withdrawn just because you want to."

"Your idea is based on human nature, and my view is based on survival."

"After the Oath of the Luo River, human nature is no longer ancient. Instead of maintaining that precarious human nature, it is better to let the people live first."

"When the granary is full, people know etiquette. This is not wrong. Only when they are full can they educate the people."

"Influence from above, as long as the Emperor, civil and military officials, and aristocratic clans can act with benevolence and righteousness, the people will naturally know how to be loyal to the monarch and love the country."

"Is it possible?"

Li Chengqian sneered: "Are the lessons of Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, and Zhang Jiao not enough?"

"During the Han Dynasty, the 'White Tiger Comprehensive Discussion' was used to govern the country. The monarch is superior to the minister, the father is superior to the son, and the husband is superior to the wife, which is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people."

"However, what is the use? The people of the world should still rebel."

"That was bewitched by Zhang Jiao."

"If they can live, who dares to risk their lives to rebel? The Yellow Turban Army is all over the Great Han."

"You have studied Confucian classics since you were young and want to restore human nature to the time of the Three Dynasties. This is understandable and cannot be said to be wrong."

"Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, Mohism, and other schools of thought are all pursuing the governance of the Three Dynasties. Who has achieved it?"

At this point, Li Chengqian sighed:

"Libationer Kong, Confucius going against the trend is worthy of respect, and Laozi following the trend is the Great Dao."

"Since you are a Libationer, don't participate in the court situation. It is the right way to teach more virtuous people for the Great Tang."

"It is precisely because human nature is not ancient that we need to rectify the heart. Once human nature is scattered, it will not come back."

"At that time, the court will be filled with selfish people. Is this what Your Highness the Crown Prince wants to see?"

"How dare you!"