The conversation between the Court of State Ceremonial and the Persian monk went far more smoothly than anyone had expected.
Once Great Tang displayed a rather forceful attitude, and Ma Zhou used fragments of intelligence to create an air of inscrutable knowledge, the pace of the discussion clearly accelerated.
Because of this, when the Persian monk politely declined the small banquet offered by the Court of State Ceremonial, the regret on Ma Zhou's face was quite genuine.
However, as soon as the Persian monk departed, Li Chengqian could no longer restrain himself. He quickly stepped forward and blocked the path of Ma Zhou and Du Ruhui, both of whom appeared to be in rather good spirits.
Ma Zhou immediately laughed and cupped his hands.
"Your Highness, this minister was fortunate enough not to fail…"
Before he could finish speaking, Li Chengqian poured out the words that had been pent up in his heart.
"Zhuangyuan Ma, what you did today. Is it not using the strength of Tang to oppress the weak?"
Then Li Chengqian turned toward Du Ruhui and cupped his hands of his own accord.
"Father once said Minister Du is a senior worthy of respect, one who should embody the manner of a gentleman…"
"Your Highness!"
Before Li Chengqian could finish, Du Ruhui stepped forward half a pace and interrupted him directly.
The light rebuke carried a faint sharpness. Li Zhi was so startled that he immediately hid behind Li Chengqian. Li Tai was somewhat frightened as well and retreated half a step.
The younger brothers' emotions were plainly reflected in their movements. Feeling their hands gripping him more tightly, Li Chengqian first reassured them gently. When he raised his head again, he saw the somewhat aggrieved expression on Ma Zhou's face, as well as Du Ruhui's slightly stern countenance.
"Your Highness believes today should have been handled how?"
The question carried the tone of a formal remonstration. Li Chengqian also grew more serious.
"That naturally should have…"
But at that point he suddenly fell silent. In truth he had no experience dealing with such matters.
His earlier sharp words had merely arisen from the education he had received in the palace, which made him feel somewhat uncomfortable with what had occurred. Yet when asked to present a concrete alternative, he found himself unable to speak.
Seeing Li Chengqian at a loss for words, Du Ruhui showed no particular courtesy.
"Does Your Highness believe that Tang should have allowed the Persian monk complete freedom, permitting him to spread the doctrines of Jingjiao as he pleased, so that the people would know only his divine lord and no longer know the Son of Heaven?"
The words were clearly provocative. Li Chengqian felt somewhat uncomfortable. Yet Du Ruhui did not give him any chance to respond. Instead he cupped his hands again.
"This minister has spoken improperly. Yet I dare ask Your Highness. Has this Persian monk rendered any service to Tang?"
The Crown Prince of Great Tang had already become somewhat flustered. He hurriedly raised his hands to stop Du Ruhui's bow and said quickly,
"At present he has rendered none."
Du Ruhui stepped back half a pace, his tone softening.
"Your Highness may not know that this Persian state is called Sasanian Persia. It has recently suffered defeat against Rome and cannot contend with the Arabs. Its situation is already one of troubles both within and without."
"As for Jingjiao, it is a branch of the Roman faith. Because it was not favored there, it traveled east in search of revival."
"Persia is unstable. The states of the Western Regions do not understand propriety. Only our Huaxia of Tang possesses a vast land of ten thousand li, a stable state, and millions of people who all understand ritual and order."
Li Chengqian grew thoughtful.
From what Du Ruhui had said, he had already begun to understand why the Persian monk had agreed to so many conditions. Even so, Tang was the superior state. Acting in this manner still seemed somewhat…
The young Li Chengqian wrote all his thoughts plainly on his face. Seeing that Du Ruhui had already fallen silent, Ma Zhou stepped forward instead.
"This minister also has a question for Your Highness."
The Crown Prince, whose confidence was not very strong at the moment, nodded.
"Zhuangyuan Ma, may speak freely."
Ma Zhou likewise advanced half a step.
"May I ask, Your Highness. Do the people of Tang have merit toward Tang?"
His father's teachings instantly echoed in his ears. The question required almost no thought.
"Of course they do."
"Then Your Highness, do the people of Tang make demands of Tang?"
This question was less certain.
Naturally the people desired stability of the state and upright governance, yet Li Chengqian felt these were things Tang itself ought to provide. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head.
"They do not."
Ma Zhou smiled faintly and cupped his hands, speaking in a clear voice.
"The Persian monk has rendered no service, yet he makes requests."
"The people of Tang have rendered service, yet they make none."
"How then could we value the foreigner and belittle our own people?"
Li Chengqian's face flushed red at once. He felt an awkward sense that his thoughts had been seen through. What embarrassed him even more was that Ma Zhou had pointed out so plainly why such thinking was unacceptable.
Ma Zhou stepped back. Speaking again was the earnest Du Ruhui.
"His Majesty often says that the barbarians fear power but do not cherish virtue. This minister believes those words to be very true."
"When Your Highness travels the realm and later goes to the Western Regions, you will personally understand their meaning."
Li Chengqian felt his mind in complete confusion, but he still remembered to cup his hands and accept the instruction.
Du Ruhui had originally intended to turn around and leave immediately. Yet when he saw the two younger princes looking somewhat worriedly at their elder brother, and the Crown Prince himself standing there with a complicated expression, he paused for a moment and turned back to add one more instruction.
"Your Highness. Such methods may be used toward the barbarians."
"But toward the people, you must never act in this way."
"The people cherish virtue and do not fear power. Your Highness must remember to guide them with virtue and must not act with haste."
That evening Li Chengqian returned to Taiji Hall somewhat dejected.
At this moment Li Shimin had ordered a target to be set up. He had already changed into light training clothes and was carefully adjusting a large bow in his hands.
Seeing that his father showed no sign of surprise, Li Chengqian asked directly,
"Father sent your son to observe Minister Du speaking with the Persian monk. Did you already expect this outcome?"
Li Shimin tested the bow's limbs and then took a length of sinew to twist the bowstring. This laborious task seemed effortless in his hands. He even had spare attention to speak with his son.
"What is written in books and what one sees in reality will always differ."
"If governing the world could be done simply by following what is written in books, then at this moment you and I, father and son, should still be subjects of Zhou."
Although his son spoke somewhat vaguely, Li Shimin understood what troubled him and reassured him easily.
"Reading books and broad experience. Neither can be neglected."
"If one only reads books, he will take the views of the sages as his own. What he knows will be like a tower built in the air."
"If one only relies on experience, he may be blinded by a single leaf and fail to see far. What he encounters will resemble mirages upon the sea."
Li Chengqian listened silently. When he saw his father finish twisting the bowstring, he dismissed the palace attendants himself and fetched an arrow, placing it into his father's hand.
The Emperor of Great Tang showed even greater satisfaction on his face. With practiced ease he nocked the arrow and drew the bow. The massive bow instantly opened like a full moon. Yet he did not shoot the target, instead strolling leisurely as he continued speaking with his son.
"Chengqian, do you know what is power and what is virtue?"
By now Li Chengqian had completely abandoned his earlier pride. He shook his head honestly.
"Your son does not know. I ask Father to enlighten me."
Li Shimin turned his head slightly and released the string. The arrow shot forth like wind and lightning, striking the very center of the target and continuing onward until it embedded itself in the wall behind it.
After slowly breathing out, Li Shimin pointed toward the arrow whose fletching still trembled.
"Where this arrow can reach. That is power."
"Only when power can intimidate can virtue then be spoken of."
Then he lifted his finger slightly and pointed at the wall.
"This arrow cannot threaten what lies beyond the wall. To speak of virtue outside that wall would be nothing but the foolish dream of an idiot."
Li Chengqian seemed to grasp something.