Chapter Ninety-One: Turning the Tide at the Last Moment, Part One

It was all but over; the Sixth Prince was on the verge of collapse. Such was the price of thrusting himself forward. Damn it, and in the end he would still have to clean up after the boy. Li Xian, who had stood by with a cold eye the entire time, saw that Li Xian had gone pale with rage under the siege of the court ministers and knew at once that the other was nearing his breaking point. Alarm bells rang in his heart. If Li Xian were truly to erupt here, on this very court floor, then all of Li Xian’s painstaking arrangements over the past year would be reduced to nothing. Thus, though inwardly impatient and irritated beyond measure, Li Xian had no choice but to step forward. Even so, a hot thread of anger continued to burn and flare within him.

According to his original plan, Li Xian’s memorial ought ideally to have been presented near the end of the court debate. By then the ministers would already have been worn down, and it would be difficult for them to think rigorously about so weighty a matter. Even if objections arose, they would not be too fierce. It might not pass in a single stroke, but before the next morning audience, the memorial concerning the transport of grain would surely become the focus of all attention. Moreover, the Crown Prince’s faction might not oppose it with full force; more likely, they would try their utmost to seize control of the matter themselves. That would have given Li Xian room to maneuver and create the conditions for a hidden advance. But now, from the outset, Li Xian had charged forward and slapped the Crown Prince’s face, leaving little room for compromise between the two sides. With tensions sharp and conflict plain, Li Xian, whose experience in factional struggle was obviously lacking, could not possibly hold himself in check. Thus everything he should have said and should not have said came pouring out in a single torrent, leaving the present situation extremely passive. If Li Xian did not step in now, then with Li Xian’s ability alone, there was almost no chance of turning things around. And that was plainly not a result Li Xian was willing to see.

“Father Emperor, after hearing the remarks of all the ministers, I have had the feeling of a sudden opening before my eyes, and I too have some shallow thoughts of my own. I wonder whether it would be fitting for me to speak.”

Li Xian moved out of line at an unhurried pace, composed and steady. Even after stepping forward, he did not rush to speak, but merely stood silently at Li Xian’s side. Yet that single act of standing there was enough: Li Xian, who had already been on the verge of exploding, visibly loosened, and in an instant calmed himself. The ministers had attacked him for a while, and seeing that he gave no response, they gradually found it dull. Little by little they too quieted down. When the hall had once again settled into stillness, Li Xian finally bowed to Gaozong, who sat high upon the dragon bed, and spoke in an even tone.

“Oh? You, Xian’er, have also looked into the matter of the transport of grain? Good then, let us hear it. Even if you are wrong, it matters not; I shall not blame you.”

Gaozong was weak, but he was not stupid. Over the past year he had seen Li Xian’s conduct with his own eyes, and naturally he held him in especially high regard. At this moment, seeing that Li Xian showed no trace of nervousness before the court, and instead gave off an air of maturity and steadiness, he could not help but marvel inwardly. Smiling, he gave a gentle reply.

“I thank Father Emperor for his boundless grace.” Li Xian performed his salute with meticulous care. “Father Emperor, I believe the Sixth Brother’s words are reasonable, and the ministers’ words are not without merit. It is simply that the two sides follow different paths.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Gaozong had assumed that, since Li Xian had stepped forward, he would firmly support Li Xian. He had not expected Li Xian to speak in such a conciliatory manner, and so he was momentarily stunned. Looking at Li Xian with some suspicion, he frowned and pressed for an explanation.

“Father Emperor, please illuminate the matter. In my view, there are broad and narrow paths, and they are by no means to be compared as if they were the same. The transport of grain concerns the safety of the realm. If grain transport is not smooth, the harm is immense. In years of abundance, the danger may not be obvious, but what then in years of famine? Surely the world cannot exist by feeding upon the Son of Heaven alone? Therefore, I believe the Sixth Brother seeks the grand path. Compared with those who care only for private gain, his virtue shines all the more clearly. This is merely my own view, and I beg Father Emperor to judge it rightly.”

Li Xian was no novice in the rough game of politics like Li Xian. From the very start he had aimed at the matter of principle, speaking with few words yet with considerable breadth of vision. Though he did not use a single filthy word, he had nevertheless delivered a stinging slap to the faces of the ministers who had earlier jumped up to besiege Li Xian. Even men of the world like Yan Liben could not help but feel ashamed.

“Feed upon the Son of Heaven? Heh, Xian’er’s words are not altogether wrong. It is only that the state coffers are not full, and I am unwilling to disturb the people. What then is to be done?”

Gaozong really was a Son of Heaven who fed upon the realm. In previous years he had often gone to the Eastern Capital. Though there had been the Empress’s prompting in this, was it not also because grain in Guanzhong was scarce, leaving him no choice but to feed in Luoyang? Hearing Li Xian’s words now, his old face reddened a little. He shook his head with a bitter smile and simply set a difficult question before him.

Ha! Old man, you really do have a gift for this. You want the horse to run and yet not eat grass—where on earth is such a bargain to be found? Li Xian was nearly angered into laughter by the emperor’s words, and he cursed Gaozong inwardly. But there was no help for it. Since Gaozong had already posed the question, he could not refuse to answer. Not only must he answer, he had to answer brilliantly. Fortunately, Li Xian had come prepared, and was in no way flustered. After a brief pause, he spoke with solemn deliberation.

“In answer to Father Emperor, I think the matter may perhaps be handled in two steps. First, although the lands of Guanzhong are no longer sufficient for simple allotment farming, they still hold considerable potential waiting to be drawn out. If properly cultivated, doubling the yield would not be strange at all...”

“Oh? Have you some good remedy, Xian’er?”

As a ruler who depended upon grain for survival, Gaozong naturally understood the importance of food to Guanzhong. Hearing that Li Xian actually had a way to double the grain yield there, he immediately grew animated, so much so that he could not even wait for Li Xian to finish before interrupting him.

“In answer to Father Emperor, I dare not deceive you with empty words. The secret behind the doubled yield is quite simple: it lies in the matter of crop rotation. If crop rotation can be dispensed with, the yield will naturally rise.”

Li Xian did not immediately spill the method just because Gaozong was impatient. Instead, he deliberately held back a little.

“Your Highness, I fear you may not understand agriculture. Crop rotation is necessary in order to replenish the vitality of the soil. If one forces cultivation without it, not only will yields fail to rise, but one may even face the danger of harvesting nothing at all. This is truly not something that can be done recklessly.”

Most of the court ministers knew little of farming, but Yan Liben was an expert. Hearing Li Xian speak with such confidence, he could not help but cut in with open disdain, so much so that he was nearly pointing at Li Xian’s nose and calling him a child ignorant of the world.

“Hm, Minister Yan speaks well. Though I have not farmed myself, I do understand the principle of crop rotation. Could it be that Xian’er has some other marvelous plan?”

Gaozong actually knew nothing of agriculture, but since Yan Liben had spoken with such certainty, he naturally took it as fact and assumed Li Xian was simply talking nonsense. The strong interest he had felt a moment ago immediately evaporated. Still, with the attitude of hearing him out for the moment, he asked casually.

“Father Emperor, please consider this. Four years ago, Father Emperor graciously bestowed upon me two estates of roughly equal size, one west of the city and one east of the city, and their soil and acreage were largely the same. By rights, the output of the two estates should have been nearly identical. Yet in truth, Father Emperor, do you know how much the produce of the eastern estate, Binger Manor, differs from that of the western estate?”

Li Xian ignored Yan Liben’s mockery, only smiling as he looked at Gaozong and continued to keep him in suspense.

“This... I do not know. Xian’er should tell me.”

Gaozong had bestowed gifts upon so many princes that how could he possibly remember the matter of a manor given to Li Xian four years ago? Still, he did not think Li Xian would lie. After all, such matters were recorded in the palace archives, and a check would reveal the truth at once.

Li Xian smiled with confidence and answered in a calm, measured voice.

“May Father Emperor be informed that the annual yield of Binger Manor is more than twice that of the western estate. The difference lies precisely in the words crop rotation. If Father Emperor does not believe it, you may send men to verify the matter; this will fully confirm my words.”

“Oh? Is this truly so? How is Binger Manor cultivated? Tell me quickly, Xian’er.”

Seeing Li Xian speak with such certainty, Gaozong reflected that Li Xian would surely not dare to make random claims at such a court audience. His already extinguished curiosity flared up again. He rose suddenly to his feet and pressed him eagerly.

“In answer to Father Emperor, the subtlety lies entirely in the principle of circulation. This method was not created by me alone; it was summarized by a steward in my household from what is recorded in Essential Techniques for the People. In broad outline, it is thus: a pond is built at the center of the fields; around it, in sequence, are arranged pigsties, poultry enclosures, orchards, and grain fields. Fish are raised in the pond, lotus is planted there, and the pond serves as the water source for irrigating the orchards and fields. The straw left over from the grain fields is used to feed livestock and poultry. Their manure, in turn, can be used both to raise fish and lotus in the pond and to fertilize the land. Aside from bearing fruit, the orchard’s fallen leaves and dead branches are also excellent material for enriching the soil. Through such cyclical use, one can both eliminate the need for crop rotation and obtain additional produce such as fruit, making a doubling of output from a field devoted only to grain no strange matter at all.”

This time Li Xian no longer kept Gaozong waiting. He briefly described the overall design of Binger Manor, revealing the principle of cyclical use.

“Good. What Xian’er has said seems very fine to me. If this can be spread widely, why worry that Guanzhong’s yearly revenue will not increase? Where is Wei Xiji?”

Though Gaozong understood nothing of farming, Li Xian’s words struck him as quite reasonable, and his spirits rose at once. Before the ministers could respond, he had already called upon the Minister of Agriculture, Wei Xiji.

“Your servant is here.”

If Yan Liben was an expert in agriculture, then Wei Xiji was an expert among experts. Before anyone else could even make sense of the secret of the “circulation” Li Xian had mentioned, Wei Xiji had already understood the key to the matter completely. While he was still agitated with excitement, he suddenly heard Gaozong call his name and naturally dared not delay. He hurried forward from the side and answered in a loud voice.

“Minister Wei is an old hand at agriculture. In your view, is the method Xian’er has proposed feasible?”

Though Gaozong believed Li Xian would not dare to boast wildly before the court, he was still not entirely at ease, and thus asked cautiously for Wei Xiji’s opinion.

“Your Majesty’s discernment is keen. In my humble view, this method is sound in principle. As for whether it can truly be carried out, that still requires field verification. Before seeing actual results, this humble minister dares not speak rashly.”

Wei Xiji was an extremely prudent man. Although inwardly he had already believed Li Xian’s method to be workable, when answering Gaozong he still held to a reserved stance with great care.

“Mm. Minister Wei is a cautious and far-seeing man, one I can trust. I shall leave this matter to you to handle in detail. If it can truly be promoted throughout Guanzhong, that would be an achievement of no small measure. I look forward to it greatly.”

In his delight, Gaozong had completely forgotten the grain transport dispute that had just been under debate. With boundless excitement he issued his order to Wei Xiji.

“Yes, Your Majesty. This humble minister will proceed with caution and certainly not disobey the imperial will.”

Since Gaozong had made up his mind, Wei Xiji naturally dared not delay. He hastily accepted the command, then bowed and withdrew to his position.

Phew... at last the situation has been turned back somewhat. Damn that Sixth Brother, just do not let there be any more trickery! Seeing that the scene had greatly improved because of his efforts, Li Xian finally let out the breath he had been holding. Taking advantage of the moment when Gaozong and Wei Xiji were engaged in imperial discussion, his mind raced furiously as he thought anxiously about how he should press the advantage and pursue the matter further.