Li Zhi's Contributions: Property Law
Although Li Zhi’s question was rather obscure, Li Shimin nevertheless patiently explained it to him. In fact, not only did the royal household possess items with special emblems, but even military equipment such as bows, arrows, swords, and spears bore unique marks. These imprints not only indicated the origin of the objects but also distinguished their makers. The purpose of this was twofold: firstly, to prevent anyone from cutting corners and producing inferior goods, and secondly, to identify outstanding craftsmen and reward them more handsomely. After explaining this, Li Shimin smiled and asked Li Zhi, “And how does this relate to your furniture?”
Li Zhi countered, “Isn’t what I’m doing now exactly the same as the practices in the palace? Shouldn’t the furniture I’ve painstakingly created be protected from being freely imitated by others?”
Li Zhi’s reply left Li Shimin momentarily stunned; he seemed to have grasped a crucial point, yet couldn’t quite clarify it. So he asked again, “Tell your father, what are you thinking?”
Li Zhi responded, “I believe that although there are many goods in the marketplace, every type has both good and bad examples. We must find a way to classify them.”
Li Shimin grew interested and pressed further, “How would you classify them?”
Li Zhi explained, “I think many merchants can give themselves a unique name, so that the goods they sell have a specific origin.”
Li Shimin asked, “Just as you have done yourself?”
Li Zhi feigned dejection and nodded, “Yes, that’s exactly my thought. But I never expected them to be so unscrupulous—not only stealing my ideas, but also pretending to use the name I created.”
Li Shimin felt a pang of compassion at Li Zhi’s aggrieved expression. He immediately said, “Zhinü, do not be upset. Tomorrow I shall issue an edict forbidding them from misusing your chosen name.”
Upon hearing this, Li Zhi quickly waved his hands, “Father, you mustn’t. If you do that, many craftsmen will be too afraid to continue imitating furniture.”
Li Shimin asked in puzzlement, “Wouldn’t that allow you to sell more of your own pieces?”
Li Zhi shook his head, “That’s not what I want. If that happened, many craftsmen would lose their income, and their lives would become difficult.”
After hearing Li Zhi’s words, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun exchanged another look. Li Zhi’s words had truly revealed the kindness of his heart. Even when his own interests were at stake, he could still consider the welfare of others—a rare and admirable character indeed.
Li Shimin asked again, “But if I do not issue an edict, won’t your furniture cease to be unique?”
Li Zhi replied, “Father, you could enact a law!”
Li Shimin asked, “A law? What kind of law? How would it be established?”
Li Zhi answered, “A law to encourage merchants to create their own names!”
Li Shimin was momentarily at a loss, his brow furrowing, “Explain it to me in detail.”
So Li Zhi began to share with him some of the principles of property rights law he remembered from his previous life. Since there was so much to cover, Li Shimin even took notes as he listened. As Li Zhi continued, both Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun grew increasingly astonished. Several times, Li Shimin was so shocked he forgot to take notes and had to ask Li Zhi to repeat himself.
In truth, Li Zhi only recalled a handful of statutes—barely enough from his entrepreneurial days. Yet even so, in this era, these ideas could easily fill a book, or even directly serve as the foundation for new legislation.
By the time Li Zhi finished, darkness had long since fallen outside. But neither Li Shimin nor Empress Zhangsun paid any mind to the hour; instead, they stared intently at Li Zhi, leaving him feeling a little uneasy under their gaze.
After a while, Li Shimin finally spoke, astonished, “My son, did you come up with all these things yourself?”
Li Zhi nodded, “Yes, Father. I thought of all this recently.” At this moment, he dared not be modest; he had to claim this achievement for himself.
Li Shimin’s expression shifted rapidly after hearing Li Zhi’s answer. Shock gave way to a smile, which soon blossomed into laughter, until at last he burst out in unrestrained mirth. All the while, he muttered, “Linde… Linde, my qilin child… my qilin child…”
After laughing for a long while, Li Shimin suddenly turned to Empress Zhangsun, excitement in his voice, “Guanyin, you have given me a qilin child… a true qilin child!”
By now, Empress Zhangsun’s eyes were filled with tears of joy. She replied, “It is all thanks to Your Majesty’s great fortune, and the destiny of our Tang dynasty.”
Li Zhi was thoroughly frightened by their reaction. He thought to himself, “Aren’t they overreacting a bit? It’s just a few dozen property laws… is there really need for such excitement?”
What he didn’t realize was that the entire Kaihuang Code handed down from the previous dynasty contained just over five hundred articles. The current Tang dynasty’s Zhenguan Code had yet to be completed. That collection encompassed all the statutes of the nation, covering nearly every aspect of life. Yet what Li Zhi had just dictated concerned only the protection of property rights.
It was no exaggeration to say that Li Zhi had singlehandedly created a new body of law for Great Tang, a type of commercial code never before seen. For a child not yet three years old to devise an entire legal code in order to protect his own creations—how could Li Shimin not be beside himself with excitement?
After basking in joy for a while, Li Shimin suddenly grabbed his notes from the table and strode toward the door, calling out, “Anan, summon the three chancellors to the Hall of Supreme Harmony for a council at once!”
His words startled everyone. Empress Zhangsun hurriedly interjected, “Your Majesty, it is already late, and you have yet to dine today.”
Li Shimin paused at her words. Glancing at the darkening sky, he replied sheepishly, “I got so excited today that I completely lost track of time.”
Then he added, “Quick, bring the meal! Make sure my qilin child doesn’t go hungry.”
With that, he scooped Li Zhi up and planted a kiss on his cheek. Looking at him, Li Shimin said, “Zhinü, rest assured. Tomorrow I shall see to it that a law is enacted: from now on, no one in all the land may use the same name as your creations.”
Li Zhi had spent the entire evening waiting for this very promise from Li Shimin. So upon hearing it, he joyfully gave Li Shimin a kiss in return, exclaiming, “Long live Father! Thank you, Father!”