Wang Gui and Cui Mingan left Gao Shilian Manor and boarded the carriage.
Cui Min said," Shu Jie, it seems like Zhangsun Wuji is being stubborn. How should we deal with this?”
Wang Gui said," Tomorrow morning, impeach him."”
They had already prepared the relevant plans. Zhangsun Wuji's refusal to cooperate was naturally within their expectations.
On the morning of the second day, the representatives of the aristocratic families impeached Zhangsun Wuji for running a cheap business, harming the merchants and disrupting the market order.
Dozens of people stepped out, creating a spectacular scene.
"Your Majesty, this subject impeaches the Duke of Zhao for operating a cheap business, maliciously lowering the price, suppressing the printing workshop, and shaking the foundation of the country.”
All the censors were targeting Zhangsun Wuji.
Old Cheng Yuan was ignored in Longyou, and Old Foolish Yuchi and Old Qin were also attending court, but no one actually impeached him. Everyone received the same amount of money. It was too unfair, and the old man was a little indignant.
The Tang Dynasty stipulated that officials were not allowed to engage in business, but there were always loopholes to exploit. The dignitaries ordered their servants to take care of the business, so they naturally would not personally appear.
"Your Majesty, the cost of the Analects of Confucius is 700 wen, but the Duke of Zhao is selling it for 300 wen. This is clearly a malicious competition.”
"Your Majesty, this trend cannot be allowed to grow. With so many cheap books flooding the market, those law-abiding bookstores will not be able to survive. This is shaking the foundation of the country.”
Li Er looked at the officials jumping up and down in the court and couldn't help but sneer.
It would probably shake the foundation of these aristocratic families. These people only knew about the interests of their families and did not know about the country. They were probably still immersed in the dream of monopolizing education and controlling the government.
"We request Your Majesty to seal up the bookstore under the name of Duke Zhao.”
Li Er didn't deny it and said lightly," Assistant Minister, the ministers are impeaching you. What do you have to defend yourself?”
" Since when did merchants become the foundation of the country?" the old man asked lightly.”
The ministers who were impeaching him were speechless. Merchants had always been a lowly industry. Zhangsun Wuji's words blocked all their impeachment attempts.
"Your Majesty, scholars, farmers, businessmen, and the Duke of Zhao are competing maliciously, making it impossible for law-abiding bookstores to survive.”Someone had a good brain.
The sly old man laughed." I did it so that all the scholars in the world can afford to study. My books are worth so much money. Why would I compete with you?"”
"Your Majesty, the Duke of Zhao is eloquent. We request Your Majesty to investigate the book purchase center and give justice to all scholars in the world.”The officials of the aristocratic families were still unwilling to let it go.
"Alright! Don't waste someone's time on such trivial matters.”Li Er rudely interrupted the chattering censors.
"Your Majesty, this matter concerns all the scholars in the world. How can it be a trivial matter?”The censors refused to give up.
"Enough, don't mention this matter again." Li Er said angrily," Don't tell me you think my steel knife is not good?”
"We dare not." Li Er was furious, and those officials did not dare to insist.
After the court session.
Cui Mingan caught up with Wang Gui.
"This time, I'm afraid that the Guanlong clan is trying to suppress the Shantung clan. It's obvious from His Majesty's attitude in the court.”Cui Mingan's expression was not good.
Li Tang relied on the support of the Guanlong nobles to obtain political power. In the court, the Guanlong nobles had the advantage.
However, in terms of social status, the Shandong aristocrats were a notch higher. The Guanlong Group, led by Li Er, had always been unconvinced. Wang Gui was also considered a smart person, but due to the limitations of the times, his vision was not so far-sighted.
They only saw this as the Guanlong Group's suppression of the Shandong aristocrats.
Wang Kai nodded.
"This matter will definitely have His Majesty's support. However, if the books are sold at such a low price, it will be a form of harm to the Guanlong clan.”Cui Min Gan frowned.
However, Wang Kai smiled and said," The lowest cost of a book is 700 coins. Zhangsun Wuji is making a loss of 300 coins to earn money. How long can he last?”
Naturally, he did not know that there was something called movable type printing in the world that could greatly reduce costs. Otherwise, he would not be so calm.
He had an expression that said," I've already seen through Zhangsun Wuji's scheme."
"Shu Jie's words are reasonable.”Cui Min Gan suddenly understood.
They had not thought of this before.
"When you heard that the number of books had dropped to three hundred wen, you became flustered. How could you think of the key points inside?”Wang Kai said as if he was pointing out the situation," I think that Zhangsun Wuji won't be able to hold on for long. This matter should be a warning from His Majesty to us Shandong nobles.”
"If that's the case, why did you go to see Zhangsun Wuji? He even wants us to impeach him." Cui Mingan asked in confusion.
"I was just testing the waters. If Zhangsun Wuji didn't have the support of His Majesty, he wouldn't dare to go against the Five Surnames and Seven Wangs no matter how bold he was.”Wang Kai said proudly.
Li Er could immediately conquer the world, but governing the world still depended on them, the aristocrats. This was where their confidence lay.
"Shu Jie hid it from us so hard. These days, the disciples in the clan have been in a constant state of panic and have no interest in learning.”Cui Min laughed dryly." Could it be that His Majesty wanted to take us women into the palace a few days ago but was rejected?”
A few days ago, Li Er wanted to take some of the Cui women into the palace, but they refused because Li Er had Hu blood and was not pure.
Li Er was naturally furious.
However, they thought that they were smart enough to think of this.
"Since Your Majesty is burning with anger, we might as well avoid him.”Cui Min Gan suggested.
Even if the Shandong gentry looked down on Li Er's Hu blood, they did not dare to go against him.
Wang Kai said," Zhangsun Wuji is too arrogant. We must teach him a lesson. Otherwise, he will think that we are weak and easy to bully."”
"How should we deal with it?"
"Shouldn't Zhangsun Wuji and the others 'books cost 300 coins each? "Although he has the support of the iron factory, it won't last long. We'll go buy all the books in his bookstore. He'll naturally retreat.”Wang Gui stroked his beard and smiled lightly, like Zhuge Liang.
The cost price was 700 copper coins, so if he sold it for 300 copper coins, he would naturally lose more and more.
"Wonderful! I'll go back now and take charge of the disciples in the clan to buy books. It's rare to see such cheap books. I have to thank Zhangsun Wuji, haha.”Cui Min laughed dryly.
If Qin Mo knew that the so-called counterattack of the Five Surnames and Seven Wangs was to buy all the books, he would probably wake up laughing.
It was their clever plan to make the old man unable to bear the loss and close down his shop.
It had to be said that they had a beautiful misunderstanding.
Therefore, in Chang 'an City, the books printed by the People's Publishing House were in short supply. The mysterious man went in and out, buying them by the truckload. Looking at the money falling into their pockets, Old Yin, Old Qin, and the others couldn't stop smiling.
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