"Father, who is 'Erfeng'?"
Li Chengqian's question caused the atmosphere within Ganlu Hall to brighten at once.
Veteran ministers such as Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui exchanged glances, their faces unable to suppress faint smiles. Even Chu Suiliang, who harbored similar curiosity yet dared not ask directly, revealed open interest. Empress Zhangsun laughed outright, without the slightest attempt at concealment.
Li Shimin merely cast a glance at his eldest son and immediately understood that the boy was teasing him. After all, the Marquis Wu had appended the word "Your Majesty" after those two characters, and his own responses had clearly identified the subject. Who "Erfeng" referred to was perfectly obvious.
Thus the Emperor of Tang did not hesitate. He reached out and lightly struck the back of the Crown Prince's head, then said in a leisurely tone:
"The Marquis Wu knows your father's achievements and praises me for possessing the bearing of a mighty phoenix. Thus he uses this familiar appellation. What do you think?"
The Crown Prince rubbed his head and bared his teeth.
"Truly?"
With a soft snort, Li Shimin looked at his son without the slightest trace of embarrassment.
"Chengqian, do you know that in later ages, whenever men speak of well-governed times, they praise them as surpassing Han and Tang?"
"And the flourishing spirit that I and my ministers established, a thousand years hence the sons of Han will still remember."
At these words, the ministers forgot the matter of the nickname. One by one they cupped their hands and exchanged courtesies with their sovereign.
Du Ruhui spoke in a clear voice.
"When we observe the sorrow of the Two Song in later ages, we see that exclusive devotion to civil refinement cannot suffice."
"And when we look at Mongolia dividing its lands and Yuan's eventual collapse, we know that mere exultation in martial strength is likewise not the path to lasting peace."
"Thus, if later generations praise the Governance of Zhenguan, the most crucial person must be Your Majesty."
The faint trace of flattery in Du Ruhui's words caused Wei Zheng to murmur under his breath, yet he could not deny that there was truth within.
Li Shimin raised his hand modestly.
"I and my ministers advanced together and thereby avoided blindness. How could one man alone claim such praise?"
"The empire of Tang is vast. Each day brings ten thousand matters. How could one person decide all alone? I understand something of warfare, yet if I were to rule the state solely by my own judgment, perhaps seven of ten matters would miss the mark. Over years, errors would accumulate. Sudden ruin would not be impossible. Where then would there be any Zhenguan governance?"
His reasoning was orderly and precise. Not only the ministers, even Li Chengqian bowed to receive instruction.
Looking at his son, Li Shimin felt an inward release of breath.
In earlier days, whenever Chengqian faced him, it had been as though walking on thin ice. To jest deliberately in this manner would have been unimaginable.
Li Chengqian, however, knew nothing of the complex emotions stirring in his father's heart.
His attention was fixed entirely upon the luminous screen.
From his mother's earlier soft explanations, the Three Kingdoms of Liu, Sun, and Cao, the Song that pacified rebellion after Tang, and Zhu Yuanzhang who expelled Hu Yuan and restored the Central Plains had already filled him with curiosity. Now he watched as words from the Ming emperor drifted across.
---
[Server Chat Log]
Zhu Yuanzhang: "I am not troubled by jest alone. At Ming's founding, we had to restore control of Yanyun, expel the remnants of Yuan, and bring North and South to one heart. Now later generations urge us to develop maritime affairs to prepare for what is to come. It is no easy task."
Zhao Kuangyin: "Next year I shall personally lead the northern campaign. The matter of Yanyun must be settled by my own hand. I will not allow it to become a calamity for later generations."
Liu Bei: "If the Song emperor harbors such resolve, it may indeed be called magnificent. Should he succeed, then perhaps the great age of contention described by Kongming may begin from the Song of China."
---
Within Guangzheng Hall, Zhao Kuangyin pondered.
"An age of great contention?"
"It must be another term for that 'window of opportunity'," Li Yu ventured.
Zhao Kuangyin frowned slightly.
"I understand somewhat the meaning of 'window.' Yet the phrase 'age of great contention' carries too heavy a scent of slaughter."
Li Yu laughed lightly.
"Your Majesty asks me of poetry, of wine, of the best places for spring outings in Jiangnan, and I could speak for three days and nights."
"But if we discuss statecraft, perhaps I may offer a few words."
Li Yu's expression showed clear displeasure.
"Qian Wende, if you have something to say, say it plainly. Why so many preludes?"
Seeing that Zhao Kuangyin also wore an inquiring look, Qian Shu smiled and spoke directly.
"Does Your Majesty know where merchants of Wu sail when they go to sea?"
Zhao Kuangyin lifted his brow and pointed to the great map hanging at the side of the hall.
"It is all marked there."
Only then did the two realize that the map before them differed entirely from any they had previously seen. Qian Shu stepped forward swiftly, nearly leaning against it as he examined it in detail.
On the luminous screen, the map shifted swiftly. Unlike that fleeting vision, the one before them could be studied at leisure.
Beginning from Qiantang, the land he knew best, he traced the familiar maritime routes. The names marked upon the map corresponded one by one with those in his memory.
At last he sighed.
"I had forgotten that Your Majesty has received such heavenly favor."
Then, using the map as reference, Qian Shu poured forth his thoughts without pause.
"When merchants go to sea, what they value above all is profit."
"In the Former Han, coastal peoples did not understand the value of their own treasures. At that time one could exchange millet and wheat for pearls and gold and gain profit a hundredfold."
"In the prosperous Tang, the Southern Seas knew of China and understood what Chinese sought. Thus the gains were but dozens of times."
"Now in our day, countless ships sail south when conditions are favorable. Profits have fallen to a mere twentyfold."
"As I understand, in pursuit of profit some bold merchants open new routes, seeking lands untouched by royal influence, exchanging treasures for sudden gain."
"Others form associations, dominate established routes, enslave local peoples, strip their lands of produce, and return to Song with profit."
"From Han to Song it has been thus. If another hundred years pass, I believe foreign navies will come to the Southern Seas seeking profit."
"This is the age of great contention. A contention for the profit of states, a contention for the profit of China."
Though Qian Shu spoke concisely and framed the matter in terms familiar to merchants, Zhao Kuangyin knew he was correct.
Qian Shu did not know what Zhao had seen of future western ships and fleets battering at China's gates.
Combining Qian Shu's analysis with his own knowledge, Zhao Kuangyin grasped more clearly what Zhuge Liang had meant.
"The currents of the world flow vast and mighty. Those who row forward first are courageous. Those who dare achieve."
Li Yu, though reluctant, conceded.
"Qian Wende indeed understands matters of wealth."
Qian Shu replied evenly.
"Your Majesty speaks truly. The momentum of China also flows vast and mighty. Only when rivers converge into one and contend with overseas barbarians can true greatness arise."
Li Yu fell into thought. Zhao Kuangyin's lips curved faintly in satisfaction.
Zhao Guangyi rubbed his nose, only to brush the bruise upon his brow and wince. Yet his puzzlement remained.
After being struck by Qian Shu and Li Yu, why did they now seem even closer to his elder brother?
---
The luminous screen shifted once more.
[LightScreen]
[Relying upon the unreliable kurultai assembly, the once vast Mongol Empire ultimately disintegrated.
Yet until the Mongol khanates themselves had perished, the Southern Song still endured.
This was owed entirely to the famed and controversial minister of Southern Song: Jia Sidao.]