Chapter 114: Immense Benefits

"The Guanlong aristocratic families have become increasingly brazen of late. I have received reports from governors in various regions that grain prices are skyrocketing, leaving the common people in dire straits. If things continue this way, it will be as if a natural disaster has struck, even without one! Minister Zhangsun, do you have no countermeasure for this?"

After the morning court session today, Li Shimin summoned several key ministers to the Imperial Study to discuss the matter of the aristocratic families. Zhangsun Wuji seemed at his wit's end, feeling helpless against the rampant behavior of these clans.

Fang Xuanling stepped forward and said, "From the perspective of national welfare and the people's livelihood, only peace can lead to a wealthy and prosperous nation. The Guanlong families have existed for centuries; every successive emperor has been held in check by them. To attempt to destroy them in one fell swoop is extremely difficult and could easily lead to being wounded by them in return. In my humble opinion, why not send someone to negotiate? The matter of dismantling these families can be deliberated in the long term."

"We second this proposal!" many ministers chimed in, expressing strong support for Fang Xuanling's suggestion.

"Your Majesty, you must not!" Zhangsun Wuji interjected. "As the saying goes, once an arrow is loosed, it cannot be recalled. We have already clashed with these families; if we send envoys to negotiate now, would that not be an admission of defeat? Where would the dignity of the Imperial Court lie? If we yield, the families will only grow more brazen and even harder to eradicate in the future!"

"I also find it improper," added Wei Zheng. "The families are already aware that we intend to act against them. Even if we negotiate, it will be merely superficial. They will no longer trust the court and will surely hoard strength to counter us. We cannot rule out the possibility of them concealing military forces or supporting local factions. In the long run, the danger will only be greater."

The ministers' arguments each had their merits. Li Shimin, who leaned towards confronting the families, felt a sense of powerlessness. "Minister Zhangsun, I am deeply disappointed in you!"

"I deserve to die, Your Majesty!"

"You certainly do, but I do not wish to punish you yet. I need you to devise a strategy to curb these rampant families! You were so full of confidence when this began—how could you have suffered such a defeat in just two months?"

Zhangsun Wuji was crimson with shame. As the head of the civil officials, his inability to resolve the court's greatest challenge was his ultimate humiliation. Feeling he no longer had the face to hold his position, he acted on impulse: "I have failed Your Majesty's great trust. I am truly deserving of death. I wish to resign from all my posts and return home to await judgment. Your Majesty can then appoint a worthier man who will surely be able to suppress these families."

As he spoke, he removed his official cap, appearing to be quite serious.

"What are you doing? Are you trying to threaten me?" Li Shimin demanded, angered.

"I dare not, Your Majesty!"

"Hmph!" Li Shimin ignored him and swept out of the room. For some reason, at that moment, he thought of little Li Zhi.

When he had originally entrusted the matter of the aristocratic families to Zhangsun Wuji, Li Zhi had vied for the authority to handle it. Facts had proven that Li Zhi had performed better in this regard than Zhangsun Wuji. If he were to truly hand the matter over to him, could the tide be turned?

No! Li Shimin immediately dismissed the thought. "After all, he is just a small child; how can I be at ease?"

Unconsciously, he arrived at the Lizheng Palace. Empress Zhangsun was in the hall reading, not noticing Li Shimin’s entry.

"Guanyinbi, what are you reading?" Li Shimin leaned in. Guanyinbi was the Empress’s childhood nickname; they were childhood sweethearts, and only Li Shimin addressed her as such.

Empress Zhangsun hurriedly put down the book and curtsied. "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Rise quickly! I saw you were so absorbed in your reading that I didn't want to disturb you. This book is...?" Li Shimin picked it up and glanced at it. It was titled *A Collection of Scattered Poems*, written by Li Zhi. It contained over twenty poems, all in his own hand.

"Are these poems written by Zhi’er?"

"Yes," the Empress replied. "I read through them and was astonished! Zhi’er is only four years old; how could he compose such poems with such profound insight? It is truly strange and marvelous! Even I cannot help but admire him..."

Li Shimin held the book, reading two of the poems carefully, and found himself deeply drawn in. "Could he be a manifestation of the God of Literature?" Li Shimin could find no other words to describe Li Zhi’s talent.

"Hehe, that is very likely!" Empress Zhangsun said. "When Zhi’er was only three, he already displayed an extraordinary memory. At four, he has written over twenty poems, any of which could be passed down through the ages. Who else but the God of Literature could achieve this?"

"This is a blessing for our Great Tang!" Li Shimin carefully tucked the book away. "I shall take this back to read in detail. Guanyinbi, I have a dilemma, and finding no one suitable to consult, I wish to seek your opinion."

"Please speak, Your Majesty."

Li Shimin sat in the seat of honor and took a sip of tea. "The aristocratic families have been acting with increasing insolence, showing signs of inciting unrest. Coupled with the soaring grain prices, the people are suffering. The ministers in court all advise me to negotiate, but I am unwilling to do so. My trouble lies in the fact that there is no one left who can share my burden and extinguish the arrogance of these families. Even your brother, Zhangsun Wuji, is at a loss; he even wanted to resign just now, for which I scolded him."

"Ah?" The Empress was startled by the gravity of the situation.

"I came to you because I wanted to ask your opinion. I am considering handing the task of dealing with these families to Zhi’er. What do you think?"

As he said this, Li Shimin felt it was laughable himself. To entrust a task that the entire civil and military court could not handle to a four-year-old child—was it not absurd to suggest that the entire court was inferior to Li Zhi?

Empress Zhangsun thought she had misheard. "What did you say, Your Majesty? Such a major matter—you would entrust it to Zhi’er?"

"Yes. Some time ago, he requested it of me, and I refused. Now that Zhangsun Wuji has bungled things and there is no one else to take his place, why not let him have a try?"

"This..." Empress Zhangsun had always doted on Li Zhi and considered him a prodigy, but when it came to the fate of the empire and national security, she could not agree. "I beg Your Majesty to retract this order! Zhi’er is still too young; he surely cannot handle it!"

If Li Zhi were present, he would surely have wept before the Empress. He had gone to such great lengths to seize this responsibility—even resorting to the shameless act of plagiarizing poems to showcase his talent—all to catch Li Shimin's attention. Just as he was about to succeed, he never imagined that his own mother would become a fatal stumbling block.

"Is it just because he is young that you disagree?" Li Shimin asked.

"Yes."

"Before I saw this *Collection of Scattered Poems*, I thought the same. But now, I have a new perspective. Age has never been the defining factor. In all fairness, Zhi’er's talent is in no way inferior to that of the ministers! Perhaps it even exceeds them! Why should I not let him try?"

Li Shimin was in earnest. Or perhaps, having no one else to turn to, he was pinning his last hope on Li Zhi, treating a dead horse as if it were alive. If it failed, he could always revert to negotiating with the families. If it succeeded, it would be of immense benefit to Li Zhi's future and to the nation itself.