Prince of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 544 tit for tat

The Quyuan plow was a farm tool that only appeared in the late Tang Dynasty. In the early Tang Dynasty, the plow commonly used by farmers was still the Zhiyuan plow.

Compared with the curved shaft plow that conforms to mechanics, the straight shaft plow is not only less effective in cultivating land, but also very laborious for the person in charge of the plow.

In order to gain fame for Li Shimin, and also for his plan to popularize ox nose rings, Gao Ming used this thankless straight plow to plow the land all afternoon. His face suddenly became ugly.

"Damn, at first I thought today would be smooth and smooth, but I didn't expect that some people jumped out. If the tiger doesn't show its power, you think I'm a sick cat?"

Thinking of this, Gao Ming immediately sneered.

"Hmph, my lord, wearing a cow nose ring is exactly my idea, and I also asked people to wear it. What do you plan to do?"

"you……"

Seeing Gao Ming's arrogant attitude, the official's tone froze for a moment, then he turned around angrily, and then bowed to Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, you heard what His Highness the Crown Prince said just now. This kind of behavior is really detrimental to virtue. I hope the Holy Majesty will learn from you!"

As soon as his words fell, three more people came out one after another, either saying that he was brilliant and cruel, or that he was not virtuous, and let Li Shimin deal with him.

Looking at the scene in front of him, Li Shimin's eyes widened - not because of surprise, but because of anger.

Li Shimin was very clear about the opposition to wearing a cow nose ring from the very beginning, and he also knew that it would cause some trouble.

In Li Shimin's view, even if someone would make trouble, they should wait for them to come back to the palace and make trouble in the court hall, instead of making trouble in front of so many people in such a large audience!
Hearing the whispers of the surrounding people, Li Shimin knew what the plan of these officials who came out to criticize was.

"These guys did it on purpose!"

Undoubtedly, if they succeeded, even if Gao Ming's position as Crown Prince would not be shaken, the blow to his reputation would be very serious.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin's face darkened.

But before Li Shimin could speak, Gao Ming who was standing behind these officials burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha, some adults said that I am cruel, and that I have a lack of virtue. It is nothing more than seeing the nose of this cow being pulled by the nose ring and bleeding, but everyone knows that this cow is a grassland cow. If you don't wear a nose ring Otherwise, it is impossible for them to cultivate the land properly!"

Hearing Gao Ming's words, the surrounding people began to discuss again.

"From the very beginning, I thought this cow looked different. It turned out to be a grassland cow. A grassland cow can't plow the land at all!"

"I also know this, no wonder His Royal Highness wants to put this ring on it, I said how could His Royal Highness be a cruel person!"

"It's just..."

Seeing that the people's thoughts changed because of Gao Ming's words, the official who jumped out to make trouble immediately frowned, and he cupped his hands at Li Shimin again.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I think that even grassland cattle may not be unable to plow the land, just like what you and His Highness the Crown Prince did before, one person pulls in front and the other drives behind, no need to wear clothes at all. For such a cruel method of nose ring, please enlighten me!"

Seeing his plausible appearance, Li Shimin didn't know what to say, so he could only turn his eyes to Gao Ming.

Gao Ming had expected this situation a long time ago, and when he saw Li Shimin looking at him, he grinned again.

"Hehe, I think what this lord said is indeed quite reasonable. It just so happens that I also have a prairie cow without a nose ring. Why don't you ask this lord to go down to the ground and demonstrate it. If you don't wear a nose ring, you can make it obedient. Plowing the land is also a good thing!"

"This……"

Hearing Gao Ming's words, the official was stunned.

He just said that he can let the prairie cows plow the land without nose rings, it was just an excuse, but he didn't expect Gao Ming to immediately make a prairie cow without nose rings, which is too coincidental right?
It always feels like a conspiracy!
Thinking of this, he instinctively felt that something was wrong, but at this moment, he was already on the verge of riding a tiger, so he could only bite the bullet and nodded, and then cupped his hands towards Gao Ming.

"May I ask His Royal Highness, where is the prairie cow without the nose ring you mentioned?"

"right here!"

Speaking of this, Gao Ming immediately waved in the direction behind him.

"Hey, bring another cow here!"

"Yes, His Royal Highness!"

Hearing Gao Ming's words, a reply sounded not far away, and not long after, a soldier in armor came over leading a cow, which was the other of the two cows that Gao Ming had brought before.

Seeing the ox coming, Gao Ming smiled again at the official in front of him.

"This kind-hearted lord, I originally planned to use this cow to wear a nose ring, but since you said that you don't need to wear a nose ring, then you can try it. I am looking forward to your performance!"

Having said that, Gao Ming handed the rope tied to the cow to the official in front of him, and made a "please" gesture to him.

Seeing this scene, the official also understood that it was impossible to get off the ground, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and lead the cow down to the ground.

Seeing that he was leading the ox down, Gao Ming immediately followed and put the plow that he had just unloaded on the ox again.

After setting up, he waved to the other three people above the field ridge.

"Hey, didn't the three of you agree with what he said before? Now it's your turn. He is in charge of leading the oxen. Who will help him with the plow?"

"This……"

Originally, the three of them wanted to shrink back when they saw Gao Ming pulling the ox out, but now after hearing Gao Ming's words, they also knew that it was hard to get off the tiger.

So the three of you looked at me, and I looked at you. After a while, one person was selected, and he went down the ridge to take charge of the plow.

After everything was ready, the officials holding the ox followed what Li Shimin had done before, pulling the ox and preparing to move forward.

Under his tugging, the cow let out a "moo" immediately, but it didn't intend to leave at all. Instead, it shrank its head, no matter how much he tugged it.

Seeing this scene, suppressed laughter erupted from the crowd of onlookers.

As the saying goes, "There is no harm if there is no comparison". Li Shimin and Gao Ming both walked away as soon as they pulled the cow. The father and son worked smoothly all afternoon, but now it is the turn of these two officials, but they can't even pull the cow away. .

Under such a huge contrast, the common people couldn't help laughing out loud, but because of their identities, they didn't dare to be too presumptuous, so they could only laugh in a low voice.

The people were afraid of offending the two officials, but Gao Ming was not afraid, let alone let go of such a good opportunity. He immediately made a trumpet shape with his hands and shouted at the two officials below the ridge.

"Two lords, work hard. I, a cruel and morally deficient person, have plowed the land all afternoon. If you are a clean stream of Confucianism and a benchmark in the moral world, if you can't even lead a cow away, wouldn't you be making Confucius Are you losing all your face? Do your best! Do your best!"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

As soon as Gao Ming finished speaking, the crowd burst into laughter again.

(End of this chapter)