Chapter Sixteen: Dragged Away
Outside the Ganlu Hall, the guards dragged away the errant young eunuch.
Li Zhi stepped forward and said, “Father, I am willing to copy the Records of the Grand Historian a thousand times and complete it within five days! I only beg Father to spare them from death. After all, I was the one who forced them to leave the palace—I do not wish to be the indirect cause of two lives lost!”
“Please, Father, grant this request!”
“What did you say?”
“You wish to copy the Records of the Grand Historian a thousand times in five days?” Li Shimin seemed as if he had just heard the most ludicrous jest.
The Records of the Grand Historian comprised one hundred and thirty chapters, over half a million characters! It chronicled thousands of years of history. To truly comprehend it would require many years.
His punishment for Li Zhi to copy it five hundred times was meant as a deterrent, a burden to keep him too busy to engage in mischief.
But he had not expected this.
Li Zhi was so bold! He had immediately offered to write it a thousand times, and without the slightest shame claimed he could finish in five days!
How could that be possible?
“Wait…” Li Shimin called toward the door. The guards, who were about to execute the young eunuchs, stopped.
Li Shimin said, “Zhi’er, do you know the crime of deceiving the emperor? If you cannot copy the Records of the Grand Historian a thousand times in five days, your father will punish you severely!”
“I understand… Please, Father, grant me this chance!”
Li Zhi was brimming with confidence, as if he truly had a solution.
Empress Zhangsun was aghast, “Your Majesty, children speak in jest—Zhi’er is merely joking with you!”
“Is that so?” Li Shimin was unconvinced, but he was curious as to why Li Zhi would make such a request.
Besides, Li Zhi was clever—perhaps he truly had a method.
“Mother, I am not jesting!” Li Zhi thumped his chest. “Just because others cannot do something does not mean I cannot! Did Father not say I am a genius? Then a genius must be able to accomplish what others cannot!”
“Very well!” Li Shimin, almost despite himself, agreed to Li Zhi’s request.
He wanted to see just what Li Zhi had in mind!
“Take the two young eunuchs to the Ministry of Justice prison and postpone their execution!”
“As you command!”
The young eunuchs were taken away.
The tension in the room did not subside; the atmosphere remained taut.
Empress Zhangsun wore a troubled expression. “Copying the Records of the Grand Historian a thousand times in five days—how is that possible?”
Even a single transcription would be considered fast!
She could not fathom why Li Zhi would volunteer for such a task.
“Rest assured, Mother—I can do it!”
“You can? I’d sooner believe in miracles!” Empress Zhangsun did not believe a word and moved to Li Shimin’s side, whispering, “Your Majesty, you know Zhi’er is always mischievous—you mustn’t take him seriously!”
Li Shimin had his own considerations.
He wanted to use this opportunity to teach Li Zhi not to make promises lightly—having given his word, he must fulfill it. One must not promise for the sake of immediate gain.
“Empress, I know what I am doing. Say no more.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Meeting Li Shimin’s stern gaze, Empress Zhangsun had no choice but to hold her tongue.
At that moment, Luo Tong, who stood behind Li Zhi, caught Li Shimin’s eye.
“Zhi’er, who is this?”
“He is Luo Tong—he came specifically to escort me back to the palace!”
Luo Tong?
Li Shimin found the name familiar—where had he heard it before?
But it would not come to him.
It was not surprising; the empire had so many dukes, marquises, and countless young talents. Luo Tong’s father, Luo Cheng, had died young and never appeared at court—how could Li Shimin recall the son of an old comrade?
Luo Tong knelt in excitement. “Luo Tong of the State of Yue, pays homage to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!”
“Oh… you are Luo Cheng’s son?”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“No wonder you seemed familiar. Rise, dear nephew!” Li Shimin reached out and helped Luo Tong up, his mind recalling the brotherhood he had once shared with Luo Cheng.
Without Luo Cheng’s courage and sacrifice, the Tang Empire would not have been so easily secured.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
“Are you serving in office now?”
“Your Majesty, not yet. But General Cheng recently sought me out to guard His Highness the Prince of Jin.”
Li Shimin nodded. “Since General Cheng chose you, you must be outstanding. I appoint you as Chief Guard of the Hall of Propriety. From now on, you shall be responsible for the Prince of Jin’s safety!”
“I accept Your Majesty’s command!”
Luo Tong was both delighted and astonished.
Li Shimin had truly rewarded him—with an official post at that. He was only twelve, not even of age to enter service, yet Li Shimin had promoted him exceptionally. Certainly, General Cheng’s recommendation played a part, but it was also due to his father’s past merits.
“It’s late. You should all return. Zhi’er, do not forget your promise to your father: to copy the Records of the Grand Historian a thousand times in five days!”
“Rest assured, Father—I will not forget!”
Li Zhi remained full of confidence.
Li Zhi had just returned to the Hall of Propriety when Empress Zhangsun summoned him to the parlor. “Zhi’er, do you know how many chapters and characters are in the Records of the Grand Historian?”
“I’m not sure of the exact figures—perhaps over a hundred chapters?”
“One hundred and thirty chapters, five hundred and twenty thousand characters! Never mind you alone—even a thousand people could not finish copying it in five days!”
Li Zhi merely smiled and shook his head.
If he dared make such a promise to Li Shimin, how could he not have a plan?
A few hundred thousand characters—for others, it would be impossible.
But for him, it was as easy as reaching into his pocket.
“Mother, could I borrow a few people from you? I need them to help me with something. But don’t worry—I won’t have them copy the Records of the Grand Historian for me. There are other tasks I need them for.”
“Other tasks?”
“Please, Mother, don’t ask—trust me this once, won’t you?” Li Zhi shook her arm playfully. “I promise I won’t do anything bad, and I won’t leave the estate!”
Since it was all within the estate, and merely having people keep him company, Empress Zhangsun did not mind. “Do as you wish—just don’t leave the residence…”
“Thank you, Mother!”
With his mother’s support, Li Zhi could do as he pleased in the Hall of Propriety.
That very night, he led the guards to clean out the rear courtyard, designating it as the site for copying the Records of the Grand Historian.
“Do we have any clean wooden boards in the estate?”
“Your Highness, a few days ago some were left in the rear garden after renovating the grounds,” a guard replied.
“Fetch them quickly!”
“At once!”
Li Zhi and the guards labored into the night, and he instructed Luo Tong to guard the rear courtyard and allow no one inside.
“Prince of Jin, what are you doing? Are these planks really so important?” Luo Tong was utterly bewildered. Guarding a pile of wood seemed pointless to him.
He could not imagine what use the boards would serve.
“You’ll understand in a few days… This is cutting-edge technology!” Li Zhi replied mysteriously, keeping his secret.
With half a million characters to copy, even if Li Zhi had a thousand hands, it could not be done. Only by inventing movable type printing could he possibly accomplish such a feat in such a short time.