Chapter Fifty-Eight: Lessons on the Street

After reaching a decision, Li Kong led Li Chengqian in a new direction toward the Eastern Market, not far away.

“Since you’ve asked me today, I’ll explain things properly to you. But ultimately, what you comprehend depends on yourself, for these are things I cannot teach you.”

Li Chengqian regarded Li Kong with confusion. He had never heard anyone say there was something that couldn’t be taught.

Li Kong ignored Li Chengqian’s puzzled look and instead gazed at the surrounding merchants. “Do you know what it means to be an emperor?”

Li Chengqian nodded. “An emperor is the Son of Heaven, the child of the heavens, the most powerful person in the world.”

“Who taught you that?” Li Kong was taken aback. He had planned to impress the boy, but it seemed the child was utterly naïve. And who, for heaven’s sake, had said those words? He felt a surge of irritation—wasn’t someone due for a scolding?

“Master Yu Shinan said so. Why? Is it not true?” Li Chengqian was bewildered. Thinking back, the emperor was indeed the most powerful person; how else could he hold sway over life and death?

Li Kong drew a deep breath, suppressing his indignation. Yet he made a note of Yu Shinan—wasn’t this the behavior that bred a foolish ruler? What was his purpose?

But then he remembered that Yu Shinan was a member of the great families of Jiangnan and an ally of Xiao Yu. Clearly, the ambitions of the Jiangnan gentry had not yet faded.

“Remember this: it’s true that the emperor wields the greatest power, but he is not the Son of Heaven. He is simply the patriarch of the Great Tang, the father of the nation, and all people are his subjects. He must take responsibility for them. As Mencius once said, ‘The people are most important, the state comes next, the ruler is least.’ This means that the people are the most vital, the realm and state come after, and the emperor stands last in this order.

Moreover, though the emperor possesses authority, you must remember: this authority is given by the people. Only with their obedience does he remain emperor. But if he drives his people to despair, he ceases to be emperor—look at the fate of the previous Sui Emperor.

Your father is the emperor now, but have you ever seen him live in luxury? Have you ever seen him carefree? Have you ever witnessed a moment when he was not pondering the fate of the realm and the welfare of the people?

The emperor’s life is exhausting because he must answer to all under heaven. Otherwise, as the Confucians say, ‘Under heaven, all land belongs to the king; at the borders, all are his subjects.’ If all the wealth in the world belongs to the royal family, why then does your father live in poverty?”

Furthermore, do you truly believe that all lands under heaven are royal, and all people at the borders are subjects? Let’s leave that question aside for now. But have you ever seen your father truly exercise sole authority in the court?”

Li Kong’s barrage of questions left Li Chengqian utterly bewildered. But on reflection, it seemed true. Still, if the emperor did not hold absolute power, why did so many yearn for the throne?

From Li Kong’s words, being emperor was not only no enviable post, but perhaps the most arduous job in the world.

Li Chengqian felt his worldview teetering on the brink.

But Li Kong allowed him little time to digest this, pointing to the bustling crowd. “Among these people are merchants, scholars, farmers, and craftsmen. Each only needs to perform their own tasks to be content. But not the emperor. To be a competent ruler, he must have knowledge of all these things. Even if not an expert, he must not be ignorant, else he cannot assign duties wisely and may be deceived by subordinates, leading to foolish decisions.

Of course, a tyrant cares for none of this. But Chengqian, you are the Crown Prince, the heir apparent. You must learn all these things, unless you wish to become a tyrant yourself and hand over the hard-won empire of your grandfather and father, plunging the people back into chaos.”

“I… I don’t want to be a tyrant!” Li Chengqian, driven to tears by Li Kong’s words, glared at him. He was, after all, just a boy of ten or so. However mature he tried to be, he still wept when faced with such circumstances.

Li Kong sighed, patting Li Chengqian’s shoulder. “Nor do I wish you to be a tyrant. So you must learn. But how? Do you know how farmers till the land? How craftsmen work? How merchants trade? What scholars do every day? You know nothing of these things, nor do books provide such knowledge.

Once, I told Lizi, ‘To believe every word in books is worse than having no books at all.’ Now, I’ll teach you another saying: ‘Reading ten thousand books is no match for walking ten thousand miles.’ Only through practice can true knowledge be gained. Only by acting can you discover your own faults and weaknesses. Now, tell me: between the teachings of Yu Zhengning and Yu Shinan, whose words will you heed?”

“Yu Zhengning’s. In the future, I want to go out often and see how the people live!” Li Chengqian clenched his small fists, his eyes shining with resolve.

Li Kong nodded and continued, “But mere observation is not enough. As the saying goes, ‘All worldly knowledge is learning; understanding human nature is true literature.’ So you must not only look, but listen, and act. Listen quietly, act diligently. The Great Tang is still fragile, and your father is striving to make it strong. Your task is to elevate the Tang dynasty to its greatest heights.”

At this point, Li Kong abruptly stopped, realizing this was not his previous life. If these words reached Li Shimin’s ears, might he be accused of inciting Li Chengqian to rebel?

Thinking of those executed in history, Li Kong could not help but shudder.

But Li Chengqian was untroubled, murmuring, “All worldly knowledge is learning; understanding human nature is true literature? I am grateful for your teaching, but I am young yet, and will need your guidance in the days to come, elder brother.”

Li Chengqian had grasped the lesson, but Li Kong was at a loss. He needed a way to smooth over his earlier words. Suddenly, his eyes brightened as he pointed to a lame young man struggling ahead, carrying an elderly woman on his back. “What do you think seeing those two?”

“Filial piety.”

Li Kong nodded. “People say there is no familial affection in the royal family, that the throne is so alluring no palace is ever peaceful—scheming and strife abound. But your father is a good father and a good son. Perhaps not always a good brother, but sometimes circumstances leave no choice.

Yet I hope you remember: filial piety is but one form of affection. Brotherhood and harmony are not mere empty words. I hope you will be a humble and courteous Crown Prince, respectful and loving to the old and young alike. You’re doing well now: filial to the Emperor and Empress, loving to your brothers and sisters. Hold onto that feeling in your heart, and let it endure forever.”

“I will!” Li Chengqian nodded emphatically.

Li Kong finally relaxed. He knew that for Li Shimin, the Xuanwu Gate Incident was a forbidden topic—none could touch it without risking their lives.

Precisely because of this, Li Shimin cherished his sons all the more, hoping to prevent such a tragedy from ever recurring. Now, with Li Kong using this lesson to guide Li Chengqian, Li Shimin should not be angered.

But the words had been spoken. How Li Shimin would respond, Li Kong could only hope and gamble that he would not be the unluckiest of all travelers through time.

No matter what, Li Kong resolved henceforth to speak less of such matters, and avoid them altogether if possible, lest one day his words cost him his head.