Chapter 283: Comparing the Dynasty to a Person

National Teacher, have you found him?

Having just met Yuan Tiangang, Du Gou could not wait to ask.

He had finally managed to stay until the appointed time, waiting for Chen Yan to answer his question about the Dynastic Cycle Law, but Chen Yan had disappeared early that morning.

Not found at home, not found at the county office.

In such a big county town, where could he go to look for him?

"Don't worry, Master Du!" Yuan Tiangang calmly took out a bagua compass, saying, "Although I can't figure out Mr. Chen, as long as he's not too far from me, I can still find him."

"Come with me!"

Du Gou was delighted, "Indeed, it's still the National Teacher."

Thus, Yuan Tiangang led Du Gou on a winding path, taking several wrong turns, and finally they spotted Chen Yan's figure beside the Wei He dock.

As Du Gou hurried over, he suddenly felt that the several backs beside Chen Yan looked familiar.

His steps slowed, and his expression grew doubtful.

"Damn, it's Commander Li again!"

"His Majesty is also over there, let's go." Yuan Tiangang said calmly and stepped forward.

At that moment, thanks to Li Junxian's reminder, Chen Yan and his companions also noticed Du Gou and Yuan Tiangang.

Li Shimin exclaimed, "Eh? Is that the National Teacher and Du Gou?"

"National Teacher is here, why isn't the Grand Historian present?"

"Uh..." Chen Yan said somewhat embarrassedly, "Your Majesty, I caught the Grand Historian on a minor matter; he promised to help me find something, and he should have left by now."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's gaze flickered, but he did not ask further.

"Your subject, Yuan Tiangang, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"Your subject, Du Gou, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"No need for formalities!" Li Shimin slightly raised his hand, "You two came to see Zi An, right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, that's correct."

Just as Li Shimin was about to continue speaking, Du Gou eagerly tugged at Chen Yan's sleeve, "Brother Chen, the appointed time has arrived; can you answer me now?"

"Of course, no problem..." Chen Yan studied Du Gou for a moment, "Brother Du, your condition seems a bit off."

Li Chengqian interjected, "This isn't just being off; looking at Brother Du's complexion, it's clear he hasn't rested in a long time."

"Are the affairs of Weinan County really that busy?"

"Do you need me to send some manpower over?"

"No... that would be great." Du Gou had wanted to refuse, but then thought, free manpower shouldn't be turned down.

Yuan Tiangang laughed, "Your Highness the Crown Prince has misunderstood; Master Du isn't lacking rest because of busy county office work, but because he's obsessed, poring over historical texts."

"It's also because Mr. Chen's question has stumped him."

Upon hearing that, Li Chengqian suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Impulsively, he blurted, "Didn't he ask you a question, then let you think on your own, and only come to him for guidance when you couldn't find the answer?"

"How do you know?" Du Gou said, clearly surprised.

Li Chengqian was at a loss for words.

"How would I know?"

"What do you say?"

"You, you!" Li Shimin pointed at Chen Yan helplessly.

"Since there's a question, let's find a place to talk it over slowly; what's the point of standing?"

"By the way, tell me again what exactly Zi An asked you."

Saying this, Li Shimin led the way to a tavern not far from the dock.

Everyone followed suit.

Along the way, Yuan Tiangang recounted in full the previous conversation between Chen Yan and Du Gou, as well as the final question.

Upon learning that Chen Yan intended to collect commercial taxes, they lowered their heads and dared not speak further.

On the contrary, Li Shimin seemed not at all surprised.

"Originally, when Zi An asked me for the authority to devise tax laws for Weinan County, I guessed he might want to collect commercial taxes; now it seems I was right."

"Your Majesty is wise; I cannot flatter you enough."

Chen Yan promptly offered a piece of flattery.

However, Li Shimin turned and glared at him; this flattery—who gives it, how well it's given—he actually feels nothing about it.

Because he has heard too much flattery.

But when Chen Yan flatters him, he feels odd.

"..."

At a familiar spot on the second floor, everyone took their seats, while Wushe and Li Junxian stood silently behind Li Shimin.

After the tea was served, Du Gou hurriedly asked, "Brother Chen, can we speak now?"

Chen Yan felt a bit embarrassed, "Your Majesty, may I speak?"

"What can't you say?" Li Shimin waved his hand indifferently, "Haven't you already done and said enough offensive things?"

"Just this much?"

"... Your Majesty, I haven't even opened my mouth yet; how do you know I'm about to say something offensive?"

"Cut the nonsense; I'm also quite interested in the Dynastic Cycle Law. Tell me, what are the causes of each dynasty's downfall?"

"All right." Chen Yan increasingly felt like an unfeeling answering machine.

But seeing everyone's eager eyes for knowledge, he ultimately decided that being an unfeeling answering machine wasn't so bad.

It's quite a feeling.

"First, before answering my question, let's talk about what the dynastic cycle law is." Chen Yan spoke slowly and gently, making people unconsciously drawn in.

"You can understand a dynasty as a person, from infancy, youth, prime, middle age, to finally old age, until death."

"A baby's birth represents the founding of a dynasty; after experiencing prosperity, then due to problems such as Land Annexation, bureaucratic corruption, fiscal crisis, and intensified popular contradictions, it moves toward decline, ultimately triggering large-scale peasant rebellions leading to its destruction in a cycle."

"Every dynasty cannot escape this cycle, just as there is no elixir of immortality under heaven; a person's life will ultimately head toward death."

"This is the dynastic cycle law!"

"The dynastic cycle law?" Li Shimin's eyes darkened. "Can the Tang Dynasty also not escape this cycle?"

Yuan Tiangang: "Previously, you told Master Du that levying commercial taxes helps break the dynastic cycle law; if the Tang Dynasty stops suppressing merchants and collects commercial taxes in a reasonable way, could it break the cycle?"

Having come to this point, Du Gou felt he couldn't get a word in.

This topic is too heavy, and moreover, it's in front of Li Shimin.

He felt a little afraid.

"Isn't that wrong?" Li Chengqian frowned. "Since the dynastic cycle law is a cycle that requires many stages before destruction, the Qin, Northern Qi, and Sui dynasties seemed to have perished without going through so many stages."

"Does this mean they are not within this cycle?"

"No!" Chen Yan shook his head. "They are certainly within this cycle."

"Your understanding is very one-sided; I said earlier that you can understand a dynasty as a person's lifetime."

"People can get sick; if untreated, they die, or the person themselves courts death, wanting to give a tiger a sliding tackle, trying to see what hanging feels like, they too will die prematurely."

"One doesn't have to wait until lifespan is exhausted to die!"

"........."