Chapter 32: I Have Failed Them

“Our Tang Dynasty is built on shaky foundations. Since the end of the Sui, heroes have risen everywhere, shattering a prosperous China into fragments. Among the men, barely one in ten survived; the registered population has been halved. This is a great calamity. In my opinion, there are several urgent tasks for our Tang Dynasty: first, to enrich the people and the nation. Without wealth, we lack even the courage to fight wars.

Second is to strengthen the army. The nations around us eye us hungrily—Turks, Tibetans, Goguryeo, and as for Liang and the false Sui, they are hardly worth mentioning. Third is to ensure good governance and harmony among the people. Years of warfare have exhausted our populace, and Your Majesty has only just ascended the throne. If I may speak frankly, beneath this calm surface, dangerous currents swirl!”

“You put wealth first—is that why you came to speak with me about commerce today?” The issues Cai Cong raised were ones Li Shimin and his ministers had debated countless times, yet they never understood why wealth should be their foremost concern.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. I have a question that troubles me, and I wish to ask you. All the flow of goods in the realm relies on merchants. They travel north and south, bringing goods so that people may buy what they need. Why, then, do we depend on merchants on the one hand, yet disdain them on the other?”

“Merchants chase profit, without concern for virtue or righteousness. The world scorns them for their lack of morality, not for their trade itself,” Li Shimin answered earnestly, while the secretary’s pen raced across the page. Cai Cong’s perspective left him half understanding, half bewildered.

“In my view, Your Majesty, people are not saints. Merchants sell goods to profit; you cannot expect them to be selfless, transporting goods from east to west and selling at fair prices. Crucially, merchants pay taxes. If the realm prospers, trade increases, and the court’s revenue grows. Thus, we need not rely solely on land taxes, which are unstable and at the mercy of heaven. If a region’s crops fail, it may not pay taxes for years. So, I wish to emulate Tao Zhugong, bringing wealth to Tang. As for the battlefield, leave that to the generals; I will focus on strengthening the troops.”

Li Shimin regarded Cai Cong with a bemused smile. This boy’s ambition was immense—who was Tao Zhugong? Already venerated as the God of Wealth, and Cai Cong dared hope to surpass him?

“Do you know how remarkable Tao Zhugong’s methods of amassing wealth were? He was rich enough to rival nations.”

“Rivaling nations hardly qualifies one as the God of Wealth,” Cai Cong said disdainfully. In later generations, those vast conglomerates possess the power to reshape the world economy.

“Oh? Then what, in your opinion, makes one worthy of that title?”

“To enable the people to live in peace and prosperity, and keep the treasury full. But only Your Majesty can be the true God of Wealth. I am unworthy and wish only to follow behind as your deputy.” Cai Cong chuckled warmly. National prosperity is something only an emperor can achieve—did not Shen Wansan perish for this reason?

“How could I compete with the people for profit? Such things are fit only for womenfolk. Cai Cong, say no more—tell me how to strengthen the army!” Li Shimin spoke with righteous authority. Cai Cong inwardly scoffed—how could he not see through this? The emperor cared for his reputation and wanted him to discuss business with the empress.

“I obey, Your Majesty. To strengthen the army, the first priority is not physical strength, but discipline. Soldiers must obey commands: when ordered to advance, even if faced with blades and fire, they must step forward; when ordered to retreat, even if gold and silver lie ahead, they must withdraw without distraction and in an orderly manner. This is the first step; only then are they worthy to be called soldiers.”

Li Shimin felt dizzy upon hearing this. How many armies in history have achieved such discipline? And yet, in Cai Cong’s words, this is merely the baseline.

“Next comes faith—faith in Tang. Your Majesty may not know: when battlefield casualties exceed twenty percent, morale often collapses, leading to rout. But a force with a sense of honor, fighting for its nation, may not retreat in the face of death, and their combat strength far exceeds an ordinary army. Of course, this cannot be achieved overnight; it takes time.

Then comes the king of soldiers. These must do what others cannot. To assassinate an enemy, they may lie in wait for days and nights, unmoving, until the moment to strike. They must know how to survive without food or water, navigate the forest, master the art of the killing blow, swim for miles with weapons, and launch surprise attacks from the enemy’s rear. What’s more, when necessary, they can be elegant gentlemen, or merchants, brothel madams, beggars—whatever disguise the mission demands.”

“Are such people still soldiers?” Li Shimin was stunned. With such abilities, who would choose to be a mere soldier?

“They are soldiers—just stronger ones. Often, a single individual can decide the outcome of a battle,” Cai Cong affirmed. Li Shimin felt his mind go blank, mouth agape, unable to speak for a long time.

“This matter will be decided after I discuss it with my ministers,” Li Shimin finally said after a long pause.

“Yes, Your Majesty. If there is nothing else, I request leave. I have been away for days, and fear my mother worries for me.” Cai Cong knew such decisions could not be made by the emperor alone—they required a council. So he decided to return home.

“You should go. Last night, your cousin Cai Tian broke into your home to seize money, frightening your mother. A child was killed. I have ordered his arrest, and news should come soon.” Li Shimin said at last.

Upon hearing this, Cai Cong’s eyes flashed with murderous intent, then he suppressed it. Unwilling but helpless, he pleaded, “Though I am reluctant, I ask Your Majesty to spare his life. The elder in our clan has no heirs but this grandson, and I cannot bear for him to die unremembered.”

“Very well, I will decide. When he is caught, your family may handle the matter as you see fit; the authorities will not intervene.” Li Shimin smiled gently. Granting favors is a skill of the powerful. Since Cai Cong was now released, it was only a matter of days before he would be ennobled—why not show him kindness?

“I thank Your Majesty.”

“Someone, arrange a carriage to take Cai Cong home, and summon thirty guards from the Right Martial Guard to protect him, obeying his orders.” Li Shimin feared more trouble might arise.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Go home first; your rewards will be announced soon. Your mother is a woman of great merit—remember to serve her with filial devotion.” With a wave, Li Shimin dismissed him, and Cai Cong departed without lingering.

“If Your Majesty cannot bear it, bring mother and son to the palace. I am no jealous wife and will treat them both with fairness.” After Cai Cong left, Empress Zhangsun emerged from the corner, calm and serene.

Rumors had circulated in the palace that Cai Cong was the emperor’s lost son. She had only smiled at such talk, but today, the emperor urged Cai Cong to care for his mother, with an undertone of remorse—this made her uneasy.

“What?” Li Shimin was puzzled.

“Your Majesty, don’t feign ignorance. I refer to Cai Cong and his mother—if royal blood flows, how can they be left among the common folk?” Zhangsun gave Li Shimin a sidelong glance, her voice placid.

“Alas, I have wronged them both,” Li Shimin said with regret. Zhangsun’s heart clenched—not out of fear of losing favor, but for her own son’s future. If Cai Cong were truly a prince, with his intelligence, who could challenge him for the throne?

“What are you thinking? I had the matter investigated. Cai Cong is the child of his mother and a passing soldier, with no relation to me.”

At these words, Empress Zhangsun’s heart was finally at ease. Though praised as the greatest empress of all time, even she could not help but worry. If Cai Cong were truly the emperor’s son, none of her own could compare.

Yet, upon hearing that Cai Cong’s mother had consorted with a soldier, her delicate brows arched in displeasure. “Shameless and wanton—utterly without shame.” Her treatise on female virtue had been the standard for centuries after her death, attesting to her role as a guardian of propriety. Hearing of such conduct, she was naturally indignant.

“That is to wrong her,” Li Shimin sighed.

“Oh? Is there justification for violating virtue? What do you mean by this, Your Majesty?” Empress Zhangsun’s eyes narrowed, rarely contradicting Li Shimin. As the exemplar of all women, she felt compelled to oppose such views.