Chapter 152: Destruction

After a brief moment, Li Tai replied, "Replying to Your Majesty, the downfall of the Sui Dynasty was primarily caused by the tyrannical rule of Emperor Yang of Sui, which plunged the common people into endless misery. Afterward, our dynasty raised troops in Taiyuan and overthrew the Sui!"

"Is that all?"

Li Shimin remained thoroughly dissatisfied. Just think about how comprehensive Li Zhi's answers to such questions had been, covering so many perspectives. And yet Li Tai... did he really expect to coast through with just a few perfunctory words? If, after studying for so long, he had only learned this single sentence, it was far too childish.

"Ugh..." Li Tai was dumbfounded. He felt he hadn't said anything wrong. The Sui Dynasty was indeed destroyed by their dynasty, and Emperor Yang of Sui was indeed tyrannical. "Father Emperor, did this son say something incorrect?" Li Tai asked.

"Hardly incorrect..."

"Then, Father Emperor?"

Li Shimin said, "Although it is not wrong, your perspective is far too simplistic. I allow you to answer once more!"

Even when given a second chance, Li Tai did not change much. He stubbornly clung to the tyranny of Emperor Yang of Sui and the rise of the Tang Dynasty. True, these two factors directly led to the destruction of the Sui. However, what Li Shimin wanted to hear was much more than that. One ought to explain the specific causes of the Sui Dynasty's collapse, how Emperor Yang exercised his tyranny, and why it led to the downfall of the empire. All these details needed to be elaborated one by one. After all, Li Tai was only six years old, and unlike Li Zhi, who possessed otherworldly insight, naturally he could not answer.

At this point, Li Shimin grew quite irritated. He looked at Li Zhi and said, "Learn from your brother Zhi! See how he understands and answers such questions!"

"Zhi, you tell him!"

"Ah?" Li Zhi was bewildered. "Father Emperor, shouldn't you be testing him? Why are you testing me instead?"

"Can't you set an example for him? Or could it be that you don't know either?"

As a man wielding a cheat code, how could Li Zhi possibly not know? Since Li Shimin insisted on asking, he no longer needed to spare Li Tai's feelings.

"Replying to Father Emperor, the Sui Dynasty perished because of Emperor Yang. First, Emperor Yang's governance was fundamentally flawed. Second, the rise of our Great Tang accelerated the demise of the Sui..."

Under Li Tai's murderous glare, Li Zhi spoke fluently and with great composure: "Let us speak of Emperor Yang first. He was far too eager for personal achievements and military glory. Digging the Grand Canal, campaigning against Goguryeo—which of these did not cost a fortune? Whenever funds ran short, he reached out to fleece the common people. When laborers were needed, he forcefully conscripted citizens from all corners of the land. How could the people not harbor resentment under such conditions? It is said that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it—how true those words are! The Sui perished because of its excessive oppression of the common people. Of course, the reasons for its demise do not end there; there is also the issue of the aristocratic families. Ever since Emperor Yang ascended the throne, his relations with the aristocracy deteriorated day by day. Emperor Yang wanted to control the aristocratic clans, yet the clans refused to be treated like slaves and still sought to control the market economy. Naturally, a fierce struggle between Emperor Yang and the aristocracy was inevitable. To thoroughly resolve the massive headache posed by the Guanzhong aristocracy, Emperor Yang spared no expense in digging the Grand Canal, hoping to win the support of the Jiangnan aristocracy. Only in this way could the state maintain relative stability. It is simply a pity... he suppressed the common people far too harshly. With the people deprived of food and clothing, they were left with no choice but to take desperate risks and resist the imperial court!"

"...As for the rise of our dynasty, Father Emperor commands armies like Han Xin and governs the state like Xiao He. Under your leadership, you emerge victorious in every battle and sweep across all before you. How could the Sui Dynasty not fall under such circumstances?"

When Li Zhi finished speaking, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun exchanged glances. Both of them wore expressions of utter astonishment. Li Lizhi, on the other hand, looked extremely smug. "Well, Li Tai, are you convinced?"

"Ugh!" Li Tai was indeed thoroughly convinced. He had never imagined that such a simple question could be unraveled into so many complex layers. No wonder everyone whispered that Li Zhi was a genius.

"Well spoken! Truly well spoken!" Li Shimin exclaimed. "Zhi, how did you know that Emperor Yang dug the Grand Canal because of the aristocratic families? Was it not for the sake of personal glory?"

"Of course not! At least, not entirely!"

Before traveling through time, Li Zhi had carefully studied this period of history. To claim that Emperor Yang dug the vast Grand Canal purely for personal glory was far too forced. No emperor in his right mind would act with such recklessness. Emperor Yang must have had grievances and constraints he could not avoid. What constraints? Li Zhi had pondered this question for a long time before he finally figured it out. Only when the aristocracy pressed the imperial court too hard did Emperor Yang find himself forced to seek the help of the Jiangnan aristocracy. At that time, the journey from the capital to Jiangnan was long and arduous, making the transportation of goods difficult. The Jiangnan aristocrats were unwilling to ship their merchandise to the capital, nor did they wish to entangle themselves with the imperial court. Only once the Grand Canal was dug and waterways became convenient would they be willing to assist the court. Only this logic could have solidified Emperor Yang's determination to dig the canal.

Li Shimin had never heard such a perspective before! He only knew that at the very end, when the Sui Dynasty was collapsing, the aristocracy withdrew their support from the Sui and instead backed the Taiyuan Li family—that is, Li Shimin's faction. Especially after the founding of the Great Tang, the Guanzhong aristocracy provided vigorous support. The Tang army had never lacked money, grain, or horses; everything was supplied by the aristocratic clans.

After pondering for a moment, Li Shimin smiled with immense satisfaction. "Zhi is growing increasingly knowledgeable. In days to come, he will surely become a pillar of the nation!"

Having said this, he glanced at the Crown Prince, Li Chengqian. If Li Chengqian possessed even half of this erudition, it would be simply perfect. After all, he was the one destined to be emperor. To be so thoroughly overshadowed by his younger brother—it was hard to tell whether that would prove to be a blessing or a curse in the future.

At that very moment, Li Shimin fleetingly entertained the thought of changing the succession, but as quickly as the notion flashed through his mind, he dismissed it.

"Hahaha... Very well, very well, let us dine!"

"Today, for the sake of Zhi, Father Emperor will spare you from testing your lessons. You must work harder in the future!" Li Shimin said to Li Tai.

"Yes, this son will remember your instructions!"

Li Tai's gaze fell upon Li Zhi, wishing it could turn into a sharp blade to pierce Li Zhi to death. Today was his birthday—it should have been his time to shine. Yet... the spotlight had been entirely stolen by Li Zhi. He swore to himself that whenever an opportunity arose in the future, he would make Li Zhi pay dearly!

As the birthday banquet concluded, Li Zhi hurriedly left, returning to the merchant association outside the palace. It so happened that Li Ji was in the midst of negotiations with several merchants, and Li Zhi stepped closer to listen.

They were arguing over market shares in Hebei. Li Ji intended to establish a branch of the merchant association in every single city throughout Hebei, from where the immortal wine could be distributed in the future. To the merchants, this ought to have been a favorable arrangement. However, the merchants feared that Li Ji would usurp their business, and thus they were unwilling to agree.

The logic was simple. The wine these merchants purchased was not meant for retail; instead, they would wholesale it directly to other shops. In other words, they were middlemen. Those shops found Hebei too far from Chang'an, so even if the prices were higher, they were willing to buy from these merchants, generating massive profits in the process. Now that Li Ji wanted to establish the association directly in Hebei, extending it to every town and city, who would ever buy from the merchants again? Everyone would bypass them to deal directly with the merchant association, where wholesale prices were cheaper and profits greater.