Chapter 25: A Deft Collision of Knowledge, Newspapers, and Fine Cuisine

Li Shimin’s gaze seemed drawn by a magnet, fixed intently upon the young girl who was busily recording their menu with a brush.

He could not help but ask, "Young lady, are you literate?"

His profound eyes flickered with curiosity. In this flourishing era of the Great Tang, literacy remained an unreachable luxury for most people. Across the entire empire, those who could read were as sparse as stars in the night sky, and those who could pen a beautiful, flowing script were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

Among these few literates, most were scions of noble families. These clans acted like misers squatting before the gates of a treasure vault, tightly controlling the inheritance of knowledge. They possessed countless precious books and enjoyed perfect, high-quality educational conditions, allowing them to monopolize the crucial path to wealth and status through academic advancement.

Conversely, the common people spent their days struggling for survival; they had never even seen the look of a book, let alone received a systematic education. For them, books belonged to another world entirely.

After nimbly finishing the menu, the girl lifted her head. Her eyes, clear as a mountain lake, held a hint of confusion as she swept her gaze over Li Shimin and his three companions.

"I wouldn't call myself a scholar; I just happen to know how to read and write," she replied, her lips curving into a light, sweet smile. "My classmates who went to Chang'an—they are the true scholars! They are incredibly capable; they excel at addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, farming, and even building houses!"

"Alright, honored guests, your dishes will be served shortly!" She blinked her large, bright eyes, which sparkled like stars, and looked at the four men with enthusiasm. "Is there anything else you need help with?"

Li Shimin paused for a moment before a gentle, spring-like smile emerged on his face. "There is nothing else needed, but I would like to ask you about that previous point." He paused, his interest piqued, and continued, "Do those classmates of yours go to Chang'an to serve as officials?"

The girl was like a little lark. She nodded vigorously, her face radiant with pride as she said in a crisp, clear voice, "Yes! The ones who learned the best all went to Chang'an to be officials. I heard the highest-ranking one has already become a fourth-rank Secretariat Drafter! That’s a magnificent official who participates in the decision-making of state affairs!"

The curiosity in Li Shimin’s eyes deepened, burning like a flame. He pressed, "What exactly do you study? Why have I never heard of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division?"

"Science, of course! Have you not heard of the Xianyang National Academy?" She squinted slightly, her eyes scanning the four men like searchlights. "You aren't from Xianyang, are you? Looking at you, you don't seem to know much about what's going on here."

Li Shimin remained calm and nodded generously. "Indeed, we are not from Xianyang! We have come from Chang'an and are quite curious about all the novel things here."

Upon hearing Li Shimin’s direct admission, a flicker of disappointment crossed the girl’s eyes, and their brightness dimmed slightly. Seeing this, Li Shimin frowned, puzzled. "Young lady, I see you are disappointed. Why is that? Is there a reason?"

The girl’s mouth twitched into a look of helplessness. "There is an imperial decree in Xianyang City: if anyone discovers an outsider sneaking into the city, reporting them earns a reward of ten thousand coins! For us common folk, that would mean an instant fortune."

Hearing this, all four men widened their eyes. Cheng Yaojin’s rugged face was full of astonishment. He couldn't help but shout, "That much money?"

"Yes!" The girl nodded firmly. "That’s why everyone hopes to find outsiders."

Li Ji looked at the girl intently, knowing that Li Shimin was deeply concerned by these revelations. He asked, "Are all the people in Xianyang literate like you? It feels very different from other places."

The girl nodded, then shook her head. "Not everyone is a scholar, but everyone can read and write. When His Majesty was still the Crown Prince, he started arranging for everyone to learn literacy not even two years after he took charge of Xianyang."

"In two years' time, if there are still illiterate people, they will be dragged to the Prefect’s Office to copy books every single day!"

"The scene was quite spectacular. Many people complained at first, saying they had farm work to do." At this point, the girl shivered slightly, as if recalling her own days of being dragged to the office to copy books. A trace of fear flashed in her eyes—it was truly an experience she would never forget.

Seeing that they had asked enough, the four men stopped bothering the girl and, after thanking her, let her return to her duties.

The four of them sat at the exquisite rosewood table, looking at one another with astonishment. Everything here was so novel and unique that it felt as if they had opened a door to a new world. For instance, the table and chairs were made of superior pear wood, with clear, delicate grain. The craftsmanship was superb. Sitting on them felt comfortable, providing perfect support for the body—far better than the awkward softness or hardness of the cushions they were used to.

From these seemingly trivial details, Li Shimin perceived something extraordinary. He vaguely understood why his son dared to challenge the powerful aristocratic families. If all the people of the Great Tang were like the citizens of Xianyang—possessing knowledge, culture, and the ability to reason—then what was there to fear from the noble clans? Their monopoly would crumble, and the power of the people would be as unstoppable as a surging tide.

"Xianyang Evening News, one coin a copy! Xianyang Evening News, one coin a copy!"

Suddenly, the crisp, loud cry of a newsboy echoed from outside the Songhe Tower. The sound reverberated through the bustling street, drawing everyone's attention. The boy was young, dressed simply but cleanly, with a large cloth bag over his shoulder filled with newspapers. He moved from shop to shop, shouting enthusiastically.

Hearing this new term, Li Shimin felt an itching curiosity, as if a cat were tickling his heart with a feather. He hurriedly said to Li Ji, "Quick, go buy me one."

Following orders, Li Ji stepped out to the newsboy, took a coin from his robe, and returned to the table, reading the paper impatiently as he walked. His eyes were glued to the pages, as if spellbound. He was so focused that it felt as if the world around him had disappeared. It was only when Li Shimin coughed that Li Ji snapped back to reality, as if waking from a fantastic dream. He handed the paper over with obvious reluctance.

Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde had no interest in the newspaper. As veteran generals, they were typically unrefined men. Between the two of them, they knew fewer than a hundred characters; to them, the dense blocks of text looked like a swarm of ants, giving them a headache just looking at them.

Li Shimin pinched the paper, looking at Li Ji in disbelief. "Did you really only spend one coin on this?" As he spoke, he scrutinized the paper, trying to find some clue.

Li Ji nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty, it only cost one coin!"

As he spoke, he suddenly realized something was amiss. He looked at the paper and pondered. Such a large sheet, both sides filled with dense content—from the quality of the paper to the printing process, it didn't seem worth a single coin; the cost alone far exceeded that! There were too many curiosities here, like a massive puzzle.

Li Shimin didn't dwell on the price. His attention was completely captured by the content, and he began to read intently at the dinner table. The paper recorded the various happenings of Xianyang from the previous day. Some were trivial daily affairs, but presented in the paper, they took on a peculiar interest.

For instance, news of a lady having an affair acted like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring ripples among the diners. Some were surprised, some felt pity, and others were purely curious. There were even gasps from nearby tables! "How could that lady have an affair?"

There were also reports of children who didn't study hard and skipped school, only to be caught by the authorities. Such incidents were recorded in detail, including the child's embarrassed appearance, the parents' anxious expressions, and the stern attitude of the officials. They were even accompanied by vivid illustrations to serve as a warning to other families to educate their children properly.

There were also sections with particularly large, bold headlines reading "SHOCKING." Li Shimin first thought this concerned some major national event, so he tensed up and read carefully. The content, however, read: "SHOCKING! Seven years of literacy campaigns in Xianyang! And there are still illiterate people! Let us all feel ashamed for them!"

Li Shimin couldn't help but chuckle. He looked at the daydreaming Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde, thinking to himself that he really ought to send these two illiterate men to Xianyang to learn—perhaps it would knock some sense into them.

The headline, written in bold, large characters, announced a major event: "The Late Emperor's Funeral Procession Will Arrive in Xianyang Today!"

The article then proceeded to lavish praise on Li Shimin’s achievements. The prose was beautiful and ornate, comparing him to Emperor Wen of Han and claiming his deeds surpassed those of that great ruler. It detailed his life story, from his youthful heroism—how he charged into battle and outwitted the enemy—to the great accomplishments of the fourth year of the Zhenguan era.

The prosperity of the nation, the peace of the people, and the harmony of the empire were all presented on the paper like a magnificent scroll. The writing was vivid and filled with reverence, painting Li Shimin as a legendary figure with the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix—a savior sent by Heaven to rescue the people and build the Great Tang. The conclusion even specifically noted his posthumous title "Wen" and his temple name "Taizong." These terms lent a solemn, sacred air to his image.

Li Shimin was overjoyed. He hadn't expected his image in the paper to be so glorious. He thought to himself that when he spoke of his achievements in the future, he could certainly draw inspiration from these brilliant descriptions.

After finishing, Li Shimin saw Li Ji watching him with eager, longing eyes. Finding it amusing, he handed the paper over. "Take it and read. Give it back when you're done; I have great use for this paper!"

Hearing this, Li Ji beamed. He had wanted to run out and buy another one, but looking around, he realized the newsboy had long since vanished. Furthermore, the Songhe Tower was so vast, like a giant labyrinth, that he dared not wander off alone for fear of getting lost.

As Li Ji immersed himself in the paper, the dishes they had ordered began to arrive.

"Pickled Fish! This is one of our signature dishes—the fish is tender, and the pickled vegetables are tangy and appetizing," the waiter announced loudly while placing the steaming dish on the table. A rich fragrance instantly filled the air.

"Braised Pork! Made from three-year-old pig, it is bright red, melts in the mouth, and is sweet and savory," a mouth-watering plate of pork was set down, the pieces gleaming like rubies.

"A pot of 'Little White Dry'! This liquor is mellow and fragrant, a favorite among drinkers." The waiter placed the pot on the table, emitting a faint, intoxicating aroma.

"And this is your Hot Pot set, standard 'Yin-Yang' style. One side is pork bone broth, the other is spicy. The broth is our signature—the pork bone base is simmered for a whole day with old hens and pork bones, making it rich, fragrant, and nutritious. The spicy base is seasoned with chili peppers from overseas and various spices. You should try it; many people in Xianyang love this taste. These chili peppers are supplied directly by the Qianyu Chamber of Commerce!"

The waiter introduced the dishes with infectious enthusiasm, his eyes sparkling with pride. "This bowl of stir-fried greens with lard is a gift from the house! The greens were picked from the fields just this morning! Please, after you finish, give us a five-star review on the sign at the entrance!"

Li Shimin looked in the direction the waiter pointed and saw a banner hanging on a pillar. It featured five stars, with instructions that if they were satisfied, they just needed to fill in the five stars with a brush. Li Shimin understood immediately, nodded with a smile, and said, "Your service is truly thoughtful, and the food looks excellent."

"Enjoy your meal, honored guests!" The waiter bowed slightly and retreated.