“……”
Kong Yan's disrespectful words stunned Li Shimin.
Wang De had long since prostrated himself on the ground, shivering and not daring to make a sound.
The imperial guards and some eunuchs who were on duty outside the palace heard Kong Yan's words and knelt down in fear. They gasped and looked like kings.
Everyone who heard Kong Yan's words felt that Kong Yan was doomed!
Li Shi Min came back to his senses, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.
"Are you saying that I'm jealous that you're richer than me?”Li Shi Min's face was filled with shame and anger, his voice filled with hatred as he gritted his teeth.
It was as if someone had poked at his little thoughts.
Kong Yan took a deep breath. He did feel that Li Shiming was jealous of his wealth, but he couldn't say that.
Otherwise, he would really be courting death.
"There's a saying: the sea accepts hundreds of rivers.”Kong Yan looked at Li Shimin and said seriously," Your Majesty fought all over the world to conquer the Tang Empire. His Majesty's mind must be like Wang Yang's, able to accommodate countless rivers and streams!”
"Otherwise, why would His Majesty have so many heroes of the present age gathered around him!”
" Humph, they can indeed be called the heroes of the world, but you…" Li Shi Min sneered.
Kong Yan sighed,"I'm just a commoner. How dare I call myself a hero?" I only hope to be a rich man in this peaceful world. I hope Your Majesty will grant my wish.”
"Peace and prosperity?" Li Shi Min snorted coldly. With natural disasters and foreign invasions, do you think the Great Tang is at peace?”
"With His Majesty around, the prosperous Great Tang will come.”Kong Yan said slowly.
"Is that so? I don't have confidence." Li Shi Min's voice was low, and a hint of worry flashed in the depths of his eyes.
Kong Yan lowered his eyebrows and remained silent. Li Shimin was undoubtedly the most outstanding emperor of the Tang Empire. Some people even ranked him together with the first emperor in history, Qin Shihuang, Ying Zheng.
Zhenguan was the beginning of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. During this period, political clarity, economic recovery, and cultural prosperity were extremely rare in history.
It was also because the current Emperor was Li Shimin that Kong Yan decided to come to Chang 'an without hesitation after hearing the summons. If it were any other Emperor of the Great Tang, he might not have been so obedient.
"The Guanzhong region is suffering from a drought. You offered five million taels of silver. Zhen will not let you pay for nothing.”Li Shi Min asked.
Kong Yan instantly became vigilant. After pondering for a while, he shook his head and said,"That is my wish. I only hope that the five million taels can be used on the disaster victims!”
After a moment of hesitation, Kong Yan continued," As far as I know, the drought is extremely severe this time. The people are short of food. Many people sell their children in exchange for clothes and food. I hope that Your Majesty can issue an edict to help redeem the sold children and return them to their parents.”
"The disaster in Guanzhong has already reached such a serious stage?" Li Shiming frowned and asked.”
" Yes." Kong Yan nodded." It rained for a long time in the Guanzhong region last year, and many farmers lost their crops. This year, there was a great drought, and the disaster was serious.”
After some thought, he couldn't help but add,""I suggest that Your Majesty build granaries in each prefecture in the future in case of emergency.”
Li Shi Min didn't comment. Building granaries in each prefecture was not a small matter.
"You have a kind heart. No wonder you're called the Great Philosopher Kong.”Li Shimin teased and said," I will bring up the matter of the disaster in the court meeting tomorrow. If the disaster is really as serious as you say, I can issue an edict."”
"Your Majesty is wise." Kong Yan complimented insincerely.
Li Shiming looked at Kong Yan again and asked,""The day before yesterday, in the court of Yi Mansion in Jingzhao, the Crown Prince asked you why you didn't kneel. You replied that it took a lot of time to travel from the directorate to Yi Mansion in Jingzhao…What is the reason?”
Kong Yan didn't expect Li Shiming to ask such a irrelevant question.
"At that time, this commoner probably wanted to say that an inch of time is an inch of gold, and an inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time. This commoner has already wasted a lot of Lord Jing Zhaoyi's time, so there's no need to continue wasting time with some empty formalities.”Kong Yan pondered for a while and told him the reason he had thought of at that time.
Li Shi Min smiled coldly,"Then why didn't you kneel when you saw me?"
"My leg was just broken.”
Under Li Shiming's gaze, Kong Yan's body was slowly tilting, as if he could not stand steadily.
Li Shi Min's expression gradually froze, and then he let out a creepy laugh,""Do you know what will happen if you don't kneel?”
Kong Yan stood up straight and sighed faintly."" I have been doing business for more than ten years. I believe that I have never done anything wrong. I abide by the law and pay taxes on time. I have never bribed or colluded with local officials. After coming to Chang 'an, I have even rejected the three most favored princes of His Majesty!”
"What are you trying to say?" Li Shimin frowned, realizing that he couldn't keep up with the other's train of thought.
"Your Majesty, you should know that when Qin General Wang Jian was conquering Chu, he had asked Qin Shihuang five times for land.”Kong Yan hinted.
Li Shi Min smiled and said,"You didn't kneel because you saw me?"”
"Your Majesty is wise!" Kong Yan cupped his hands and said," I've never liked to associate with others, so I can only use this method to defile myself. If Your Majesty is worried about me, you don't have to look for groundless charges. You can directly punish me for being disrespectful!”
"But why do I feel that you just don't want to kneel?”Li Shi Min said faintly.
Kong Yan raised his head in disbelief and said in a trembling voice,""Your Majesty, do you really plan to slaughter me like a fat sheep?”
Li Shiming was speechless.
This thought process has exposed my thoughts.
"You're too sensitive. I'm rich in the world, so why would I really care about your money?”Li Shimin looked at Kong Yan with disdain.
Kong Yan secretly rolled his eyes. A poor emperor who can't even take out the money for disaster relief, what right does he have to speak loudly in front of me?
"Your Majesty is merciful." Kong Yan cupped his hands and said without any sincerity.
"Get out!" Li Shi Min waved his hand.
Kong Yan was just about to turn around when he saw Wang De. He smiled and said,"Please, this eunuch, send this commoner off. This commoner's leg is really broken.”
"Get lost!" Li Shimin's face darkened.
"Yes."
Without hesitation, Kong Yan turned around and walked away. His steps were vigorous, and it was impossible to tell that his legs were broken.
Li Shiming looked at Kong Yan's back, dumbfounded.
After a while, he asked faintly,"Tell me, who gave him the courage to be so impudent in front of me?"”
Wang De wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and did not dare to answer this question.
In fact, he was also very puzzled about this question.
"Send someone to investigate all of his businesses. I want to know a specific number!”
"Yes." Wang De retreated.
Outside the hall, Kong Yan stopped and looked up at the sky.
The sun was setting, and the horizon was dyed with a layer of purple light.
"The setting sun is infinitely beautiful, but it's almost dusk…Ah pui!”" Pah!" Kong Yan spat and read again," The sun sets on the west mountain.”
"Young Master Kong, the birthday banquet is about to begin. Please follow this servant.”At this moment, a palace maid dressed in palace robes came to Kong Yan's side.
Kong Yan nodded slightly, his footsteps lighter than when he came.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。