Early childhood education

In the early autumn of the tenth year of the Yonghui era, the pear trees in Jiucheng Palace were already laden with heavy fruit.

Li Xian toddled around in the courtyard covered with fallen leaves, the golden ginkgo leaves rustling beneath his feet.

Wu Meiniang sat on a stone bench sewing winter clothes, with several memorials awaiting approval beside her.

She would occasionally look up at her three sons, her gaze pausing slightly when she came across the memorials opposing the reform of the Grand Canal.

(Inner monologue: These powerful families still haven't given up...)

Li Hong, holding flashcards from the "Jijiuzhang" dictionary, solemnly taught his younger brother to recognize the character "漕".

Li Xian piled up fallen leaves into the shape of a cargo boat, mimicking a work chant.

When Li Xian fell again, Wu Meiniang put down her memorial and gently encouraged him, "My lord, get up by yourself."

Li Zhi walked over with the newly received report of the successful canal transport operation, and stopped in his tracks upon seeing this.

The little guy pouted, then actually used his hands and feet to get up and jumped into his mother's arms.

"My son has grown up." Li Zhi smiled and lifted his son up, startling the birds that were foraging for food.

He handed the good news to Wu Meiniang: "The losses in the Hebei canal transport have decreased by another 20%."

Wu Zetian quickly glanced at the page, a slight smile playing on her lips: "Liu Rengui certainly didn't disappoint."

She wiped the drool from Li Xian's mouth, saying, "When Chi Lang is a little older, let him see a real grain transport ship."

"Why wait until later?" Li Zhi sat down, holding his son, his gaze sweeping over the dissenting memorials. "Return to the capital in three days, and I will take you to see the new sluice gate on the Bian River. Let those old ministers who say it's a waste of resources and manpower see what it truly means to achieve great things in this era."

(Inner monologue: The boss is using family matters as an excuse to handle official business!)

On the day of departure, it was drizzling in the autumn.

Li Xian was riding in a carriage for the first time, and he excitedly peered out the window at the rain.

Just as we reached the new sluice gate on the Bian River, the rain stopped.

The massive sluice gate stood majestically, and beneath it, a steady stream of cargo ships passed by in an orderly fashion.

"This is the sluice gate from the picture book of Chi Lang." Wu Meiniang held her son's little hand and pointed into the distance.

Li Xian opened his eyes wide and suddenly said clearly, "Control the floods!"

The accompanying officials from the Ministry of Works were both surprised and delighted, while the faces of the several senior ministers who came with them were complicated.

Wu Zetian sighed, seemingly unintentionally, "Even children know the benefits of flood control, so how come some who have studied the classics are so ignorant?"

Li Xian tugged at Li Zhi's sleeve: "Father, I also want to learn how to control floods!"

"Learn them all." Li Zhi smiled and gathered his three sons around him. "Hong'er, learn to govern the people; Xian'er, learn craftsmanship to revitalize the nation; Xian'er..."

He patted his youngest son's head and said, "Learn how to fill the granaries of the world."

(Inner monologue: The art of ruling must be taught from childhood!)

As dusk fell, the family dined at the river official's office.

As the lanterns outside the window were lit, they reflected on the river surface, creating countless shimmering golden reflections.

Wu Meiniang watched her three sons gathered around Li Zhi, listening to stories about the river works, and said softly, "Does Your Majesty know that the canal fees saved from this new sluice gate are enough to build three official schools?"

Li Zhi took her hand: "I know. You always say that education is fundamental."

"Yes..." She looked out the window at the busy canal workers, "If children from poor families could study and understand principles, how could they be misled and oppose policies that benefit the country and its people?"

As the autumn moon rose, the postmaster delivered the latest official gazette.

By candlelight, Wu Zetian reviewed documents, and on a memorial impeaching Liu Rengui for "competing with the people for profit," she wrote in vermilion ink: "The 'people' you speak of, do you mean your own hidden land?"

Li Zhi took the brush and added a sentence: "Even the Third Prince knows how to manage water resources; are you all inferior to mere children?"

——

[Mini-Theater: Autumn Whispers]

(Observations of the Postmaster of Bianhe Post Station)

His Majesty was holding the Third Prince while reviewing memorials, and the Empress was teaching the First Prince how to write rebuttals.

The second prince was the most amusing; he held up a small wooden boat and gestured on the canal map, saying he wanted to help his father "quell the opposition."

(This kind of teaching by example is more effective than any formal instruction in the Imperial Study.)

The most wonderful thing was that when the Empress saw that the old ministers looked unhappy, she specially asked the Third Prince to give each of them a freshly picked pear.

"Try the sweet pears from Jiucheng Palace," the Empress said with a smile. "They're much better than sour grapes."