Chapter 164: Unfilial Son

Hongnong.

Cheng Chuliang came to see Li Zhi.

Looking quite spirited, he reported to Li Zhi as soon as they met, "The aristocratic families have collapsed. We have already sent people to collect debts. Just as Your Highness instructed, for those who refused to pay, we directly seized their grain at market price to cover the debt."

Cheng Chuliang had been in charge of clearing the accounts of the aristocratic families in certain areas of Guanzhong.

In essence, he was a debt collector.

This time, the aristocratic families lacked their former arrogance.

In this era, there was no such notion that the debtor was a king; rather, the debtor was treated like a grandson.

Moreover, Li Zhi had troops and manpower at his command.

After this ordeal, the aristocratic families had suffered a severe blow.

"Make it clear to the men we send out to collect debts: we must conquer people with virtue. Collect the IOUs exactly as they are written."

"Do not beat or scold the debtors. As for seizing grain, unless they attempt to flee or default on their debts, we can still give them some leeway."

Li Zhi had already won.

Therefore, he was not in a hurry to beat a dog that had fallen into the water.

He preferred to let the fallen dog stay in the water a little longer.

Perhaps some families were still harboring illusions of finding other ways to sell their grain, or hoping market grain prices might rise again.

However, the market was now entirely under Li Zhi's control.

If market prices rose, Li Zhi would release grain in large quantities to suppress the prices.

Similarly, if grain prices dropped too low, Li Zhi would buy some back to stabilize the market.

By now, Li Zhi had gained total control over the markets for grain and other vital supplies.

Two months ago, market prices might still have stirred up some ripples.

Now, however, they were utterly helpless.

Unless they still had assets exceeding two hundred million coins in their hands, they could never hope to wage a war of attrition against Li Zhi.

Yet, obviously...

They had no such thing.

"Also, Your Highness, His Majesty has summoned you back to Chang'an. It seems he has an important task to entrust to you."

Cheng Chuliang brought another piece of news to Li Zhi.

Li Shimin was calling Li Zhi back once more.

It had been less than two months since Li Zhi returned from Chang'an after attending the birthday banquet.

It seemed Li Shimin was coming to rely on him more and more heavily.

Li Zhi suddenly thought of someone and asked, "How is the Prince of Wei doing these days?"

"Your Highness is asking about the Fourth Imperial Prince? Didn't he sneak back to Chang'an a few days ago?"

Had Cheng Chuliang not mentioned it, Li Zhi would have remained unaware.

Li Tai had discovered that he fell short in every aspect while in Hongnong, and unwilling to stay there and watch Li Zhi's stellar performance, he had fled back to Chang'an city on his own.

He was truly beyond reason.

That brat had clearly been arranged by Li Shimin to learn from his younger brother.

Furious, Li Zhi said, "He ran off without even a word, and you lot—why didn't you report it immediately?"

Cheng Chuliang lowered his head, looking as if he were admitting his fault.

Zhao Tang, standing nearby, chimed in, "Your Highness has been very busy lately, so we didn't want to trouble you with such a trivial matter. Besides, His Highness the Fourth Imperial Prince had a dedicated escort protecting him on his way back, so nothing would go wrong."

Cheng Chuliang smiled and added, "Besides, when he left, he seemed quite resentful that Your Highness didn't assign him the task of escorting the fifty million coins. That was supposed to be a major merit."

A sneer appeared on Li Zhi's face.

Entrusting the escort of the fifty million coins to Zhangsun Wuji was, in truth, extending a personal favor to him.

The previous punishment inflicted upon Zhangsun Wuji was merely Li Shimin's way of suppressing the Zhangsun family.

This was the imperial art of governance.

Since Li Shimin trusted Zhangsun Wuji so deeply, how could he suppress the Zhangsun family indefinitely?

Even if Li Shimin truly harbored such intentions, Empress Zhangsun would have intervened to mediate.

Li Zhi was simply providing Li Shimin with a graceful exit, giving him a reason to reinstate Zhangsun Wuji and thereby covertly harmonizing the relationship between sovereign and subject.

Hand it over to Li Tai?

What benefit would that bring?

Even if it were given to Li Tai, Li Shimin would never reward him with an important assignment the way he rewarded Zhangsun Wuji.

Because Li Shimin knew full well that the credit for this affair belonged solely to Li Zhi, having nothing to do with anyone else.

Using this as an excuse to restore Zhangsun Wuji to his former office was merely a pretext.

"Just in time, I am returning to Chang'an, and I shall thoroughly question him: why didn't he stay to learn more from me? Does he think he can learn nothing from me?"

Li Zhi ordered his retinue to pack their belongings.

This time, as he returned to Chang'an city, he would take his people with him.

Moreover, his return would be accompanied by a grand and formidable procession.

He needed to guard against the aristocratic families becoming desperate and resorting to cornered-beast tactics, as they might well attempt an ambush along the road—even though they knew the probability of successfully harming him was very low.

Inside the imperial palace.

Li Shimin met with Li Tai, who had just returned from Hongnong.

Upon returning to Chang'an, Li Tai had entered the palace to see Empress Zhangsun, attempting to persuade his mother to help him.

Little did he know that Li Shimin had learned of this in advance and summoned him to the Taiji Palace to reprimand him severely.

"Without your younger brother's consent, who gave you permission to return?"

Li Shimin ended up utterly furious.

Having such a capable and accomplished son made him find Li Tai increasingly disagreeable.

If your abilities are lacking, you can learn with an open mind; instead, you ran away halfway through—how is this any different from being a deserter on the battlefield?

Li Tai lowered his head, not daring to utter a single word.

At this moment, Empress Zhangsun stepped out and respectfully bowed to Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, do not blame Tai'er. He is still young and can be gradually taught over time." Empress Zhangsun still sought to maintain a fair balance; as a mother, she valued every one of her sons.

Frowning, Li Shimin said, "Guanyinbi, I know you have always treated them equally, but just think about how many wrong things this wicked son has done!"

Li Tai was filled with resentment. In his heart, he angrily thought: Everything I did was right; it is only because I did not do as well as my younger brother that everything I did has been deemed wrong.

A eunuch walked in and reported, "Your Majesty, news has come from Hongnong that His Highness the Prince of Jin has already led his men and set out for Chang'an."

Li Shimin nodded.

With a hint of anxiety, Empress Zhangsun said, "Your Majesty, didn't you say earlier that because Zhi'er has offended many aristocratic families, they might plot against him?"

Though she claimed to treat them all equally, Empress Zhangsun now favored Li Zhi all the more.

She was terrified that something might happen to Li Zhi along the road.

Li Shimin replied, "I will have the Crown Prince lead troops to escort him. However, I believe Zhi'er will bring plenty of guards of his own on his return to Chang'an. You are worrying needlessly, Guanyinbi."

Empress Zhangsun nodded and asked no further.

Turning to Li Tai with a reproachful tone, Li Shimin ordered, "You are confined to your residence for ten days, forbidden to step outside. You must complete your assigned studies every day, and if you fail to finish them, don't even bother eating! You are driving me to death with anger!"

Li Tai once again felt a deep sense of grievance and frustration.

Yet he did not regret sneaking back to Chang'an.

Knowing he was about to be placed under house arrest, he hurriedly sneaked off to see Li Chengqian.

He needed to warn his elder brother to be on guard against Li Zhi.

Before he even reached the Eastern Palace, however, he was intercepted by guards.

"Your Highness the Prince of Wei, you may not go anywhere. The Eastern Palace is strictly off-limits to you. Please return to your own residence, where guards will attend to your daily needs."

The guards' tone was stiff and unyielding.

Li Tai came close to striking them.

Yet he managed to restrain himself.

He wondered what Li Zhi would do if he encountered such a situation.

With no other choice, he was virtually escorted back to his quarters.

Once he stepped inside, the doors were shut behind him.

It felt precisely like a cage.

"If I simply wait for that younger brother of mine to make a mistake, I might as well set some traps for him myself. Relying on myself alone is not enough; I must rely on both the Crown Prince and my strategists. I refuse to believe he can maintain such good fortune forever!"