Chapter 41: Striving to build a team

It was already noon when he returned to the Han Palace. Li Ke came to the study and sat down to think about his next plan. He thought that if Cuju could flourish, Juqiu would be a way to make money, especially the Juqiu he designed, which had air cushions inside, so it was very elastic and more handy when playing. Therefore, he decided to hand over the work of making Juqiu to a dedicated person, and the specific production staff were selected from the families of the guards of the palace, Ye Xi and others. In this way, they could give them a job and solve their livelihood problems; secondly, they did not need to bother Su Zhi frequently, after all, they were not a place for these strange jugglings.

After figuring this out, Li Ke ordered his servants to find Yang En. Soon, Yang En came to the study and saw Li Ke and asked, "I don't know what your highness is looking for an old slave?" After Li Ke asked Yang En to sit down, he asked, "Old Yang, is there anyone in the mansion who understands the way of business and can trust?"

Yang En paused and asked back, "I wonder what your highness is going to do? Can you tell me the old slave?"

Li Ke introduced what he had just thought about making Juqiu to Yang En, and said that he lacked a management person.

After hearing Li Ke's words, Yang En said to him: "There is indeed one of my subordinates in this way. His name is Sun Fu. He used to go out for miscellaneous items for the royal palace, and he was also my subordinate."

Li Ke was happy when he heard this and said, "Then let Sun Fu handle this matter. How to operate it specifically will be done until I need to find the production method at Su Zhi."

Seeing that Li Ke had no other explanation, Yang En said goodbye and left. Li Ke began to think of another thing besides Cuju, which was the matter of forming a new army discussed at the court meeting today. He was praised by Li Shimin for being too ostentatious and made enemies in vain. Therefore, he was irritated and did not listen to the results of everyone's discussion in detail. So, when he thinks back now, he is a little confused.

Shortly after Li Ke left Liangyi Hall, he presented Li Shimin with a new method of Cuju, and told him that the court had set up a department specifically for this, which had reached the ears of the princes Li Chengqian and Li Tai who lived in the East Palace.

Li Chengqian was very annoyed by Li Ke's performance today. In the hall today, so many people praised Li Ke and did not take him as the prince seriously. So, now when he heard that Li Ke had come up with a new Cuju method and wanted to hold competitions throughout the Tang Dynasty, he was very unhappy. When Li Shimin asked him to set up a Cuju branch to manage and organize the entire competition, Li Chengqian felt even more like a thorn in his throat. He roared to Li Gang, the young master of the prince beside him, and said, "What exactly does the King of Han want to do? He is so arrogant, is there any brother, the prince in his eyes?"

Seeing that Li Chengqian was so angry, Li Gang slowly advised: "Your Highness, the Han King's move was just a result of playfulness, so why should you be angry about it? Now, your main thing is to improve your studies. You also saw it when discussing affairs in Tai Chi Hall. What the emperor paid the most was the princes' talent, not some strange and clever juggling." Li Gang is worthy of being a great scholar of the world. In his eyes, Li Ke suddenly became an ignorant and a slutty juggling.

Li Chengqian disagreed with Li Gang's words. He felt that Li Ke was not as simple as Li Gang said, but he didn't know how to judge Li Ke's actions. So he looked at the young master Zhang Xuansu to see what he had.

When Zhang Xuansu saw Li Chengqian looking at him and knew that he wanted to hear his opinions, he bowed and said, "In the opinion of the old minister, I think the move of the King of Han is nothing more than to win the holy heart."

After hearing this, Li Chengqian asked again: "I wonder why the young master said this."

Zhang Xuansu said: "The King of Han is not as knowledgeable as King Wei. Although he likes martial arts, he is young and cannot make any difference. Therefore, in order to please the emperor, he created his own new Cuju method. Only in this way can he attract the attention of the emperor. If he forms a team to participate in the competition and win the first place, the emperor will definitely reward him. This is his real purpose."

Li Chengqian hurriedly asked, "With the young master's intention, how should I deal with it?"

Seeing that Li Chengqian was extremely satisfied with his analysis, Zhang Xuansu smiled slightly and said, "The old minister thought that your highness might as well form a team in the palace. At that time, he would participate in the Cuju competition. If he could win the first place, the emperor would definitely be happy for your highness. Even if he couldn't win the first place, the emperor would be happy when he saw that your highness supported the competition held by the King of Han, and would be happy because of your highness's friendship with his brothers."

When Zhang Xuansu said this, everyone felt it was reasonable and supported his opinion. Seeing that everyone reached a consensus, Li Chengqian said to the prince’s left son Yu Zhining: "My dear, I will leave the team building to you."

Yu Zhining hurriedly said, "Thank you, Your Highness, the Crown Prince. I will definitely live up to your expectations."

After hearing Li Chengqian ask Yu Zhining to form a team, Li Gang sighed in his only heart, but he was silent.

After Li Tai learned about Li Ke's events about holding a Cuju competition, he felt that as a prince, he was justified in his mind. Therefore, he did not have too many ideas about Li Ke's new methods of Cuju and the establishment of Cuju Division. However, this did not mean that he liked Li Ke, but he began to be afraid of him. Because Li Ke's performance in the court today was too eye-catching, and even the eye-catching made him jealous. This made Li Tai not sit idly by even if he disdained the Cuju competition held by Li Ke. He also had to form a team to participate and won the first place. Thinking of this, Li Tai felt that he should go to the Han Palace to see if he could get a new Cuju booklet from Li Ke. Having an idea in his mind, Li Tai shouted to the eunuch beside him: "Tang Guan, leave the palace and go to the Han Palace."

Li You, who had just moved out of the palace and lived in Taipingfang Chu King's Mansion, was the last time he heard that Li Ke planned the Cuju competition. He said to the chief of the chief Xue Dading, "I, the third brother, won the praise of my father in the Taiji Palace today, and wanted to hold the Cuju competition. I really don't know what big things he can do in the future. I am really looking forward to it." Then he said, "Dading, I am my younger brother, and I must support him, so I decided to form a team to participate. You can prepare." Xue Dading couldn't understand Li You's thoughts and asked carefully: "Your Highness really wants to participate?" "Is it still fake? How could I miss the opportunity to show my face?" Li You said in a deep voice. Xue Dading quickly nodded.

In the Han Palace, Li Ke was very upset because he was thinking about forming a new army and was restless in the study. At this time, he heard from his servants that King Wei was coming and waiting for him in Juyi Hall. Li Ke was shocked and surprised why Li Tai suddenly came to his Han Palace today. Could it be for the purpose of Cuju? Li Ke guessed that the person had arrived at Juyi Hall.

When Li Tai saw Li Ke, he hurriedly stepped forward and smiled, "Qingque came to the third brother's mansion today to disturb me."

Li Ke invited Li Tai to take his seat and said, "Where did the fourth brother say anything? Brother, how could he say that."

Li Tai said embarrassedly: "What the third brother said is that Qingque is too disgusting." As he said that, he stood up and observed the Juyi Palace, and sighed: "It's still the father who favored the third brother, and he actually gave his mansion to the third brother as a royal mansion."

Li Ke heard that he was jealous and immediately retorted: "The fourth brother is so serious. What is your Qi Palace worse than the architecture in the palace? It's better than that of our palace."

When Li Tai heard this, Li Ke laughed and smiled on his face. The two brothers had their own thoughts, and they just talked nonsense and were insincere.

After a while, Li Tai saw that Li Ke had never asked him what he was doing, so he could only speak: "I heard that the third brother created the new Cuju method and wanted to hold a competition in Chang'an, and Qingque also wanted to participate. This time, he wanted to ask the third brother for a new Cuju method booklet and Juqiu. I hope the third brother can fulfill Qingque."

Li Ke said generously: "I'm just a booklet or a few kicks? Is it true that I'm going to send it to you immediately for my brother."

"Then I'll thank you for your third brother." Seeing that the matter was done, Li Tai said goodbye: "The Qingque has been out of the palace for a long time, so it's not advisable to stay outside for a long time. It's time to go back."

Li Ke knew that he had nothing to say, so he stopped trying to keep him, but said politely: "Fourth brother, you must come to the mansion to sit often in the future."

Li Tai also said politely: "It must be certain," and after that, he turned around and left.

Watching Li Tai walk away, Li Ke said to himself: "Even you want to participate, the one in the East Palace may not be able to sit still. It seems that this game is really a good way to promote the new Cuju." After saying that, he couldn't help but smile and began to look forward to the Cuju team in his mansion.
Chapter completed!