The next day.
In Taiji Palace.
Not only were the civil and military officials attending the court meeting, but the Crown Prince and the King of Wei were also present.
It was reasonable to say that Li Taicheng, the King of Wei, should go to his fief after the New Year. However, Li Shimin doted on him very much and left him in the capital.
On the dragon throne, Li Shi Min's expression was cold, but he looked at Li Tai with a hint of affection.
Chengqian is not my child, and the green sparrow is still my green sparrow.
He was chubby and adorable.
Li Chengqian also caught Li Shiming's gaze. There was no hatred in his heart, only grievance.
He looked like an abandoned puppy, pitiful.
Grievance, other than grievance, it was still grievance!
Crown Prince Zhan Shi Fang Xuanling stepped forward and cupped his hands."Reporting to Your Majesty, the Imperial Court has spent a lot of money on the military campaign against Tuyuhun.”
Wasn't Fang Xuanling a jinx? He actually said something so inauspicious. Famine?？？
But after thinking about it, the officials nodded in agreement. In the third year of Zhenguan, the Great Tang had already gone through a war to destroy the Northern Turks.
These years, the imperial court had adopted a policy of reducing taxes and corvee, which made the people rich and the imperial court poor. As a result, the national treasury was not very rich, and another disaster would really be unbearable.
"You, what plan do you have?" Li Shi Min said.
"I believe that the imperial court should control the salt industry, allowing the government to monopolize salt and prohibit the sale of salt among the people. This way, the tax revenue will increase by 30%.”
"With money in the national treasury, we can provide relief to the people when they are in trouble.”
Fang Xuanling glanced at Li Chengqian and said loudly.
He was originally one of the prime ministers of the Great Tang, and he was the Minister of State's Left Servant. Last year, His Majesty transferred him to the Eastern Palace to take on the position of Crown Prince Zhan Shi.
His Majesty's action was naturally to place a good minister beside the Crown Prince to pave the way for him.
Thus, Fang Xuanling had been helping Li Chengqian plan.
Control the salt industry and expand finance.
Can increase by 30%?
Last year, the Great Tang Empire's annual tax revenue was more than six million strings of strings.
How much rice could two hundred thousand strings of strings buy, how many people could be saved, and how many elite soldiers could be stationed at the border?
Li Shi Min was tempted!
" Your Majesty, it's inappropriate!" Wei Zheng stood up and shouted.
Li Shi Min frowned," Why?”
"Controlling the salt industry is absolutely inappropriate.”
Wei Zheng remembered that during the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, the warlords monopolized the salt industry. A bucket of salt cost 300 wen. The common people could not eat salt. They were either exploited or died of illness.
"Lord Wei is being too serious. If we can increase the financial income by two million strings every year, it's not impossible for the imperial court to monopolize the salt industry.”Zhangsun Wuji was Li Chengqian's uncle, so he naturally stood on the Crown Prince's side.
"That's right. Lord Wei is really worrying for nothing. Could it be that the imperial court will sell a bucket of salt to the commoners for a hundred copper coins?”
"I believe that Your Majesty can use this plan to fill the national treasury.”
In the hall, the short and fat Li Tai had a bad feeling. Fang Xuanling was now in the same boat as Li Chengqian. There was definitely something wrong with the salt industry.
At this moment, Li Shi Min looked at Li Chengqian and Li Tai. The two of them had opposite answers.
"Your son thinks so," Li Chengqian said lightly.”
"Imperial Father, no!" Li Tai said anxiously.”
Li Shiming didn't ask Li Tai, after all, two million was too tempting. He asked Fang Xuanling directly,
"How should we manage the salt industry?"
"Your Majesty, please set up the Salt Administration Department. The Salt Administration Department will be in charge of this matter. They will be stationed in Guanzhong and set up twenty-four Salt Administration Emissaries throughout the country.”
" The Salt Commissioner is mainly responsible for managing the salt policy, investigating the smuggling of salt, and selling official salt. After the salt policy is controlled, there will definitely be smuggling of salt among the people. The imperial court must punish them severely to warn others before they can collect taxes."
Fang Xuanling confidently gave a long speech, but it was a pity that his old friend Du Ruhui had died many years ago. Otherwise, he could have commented on it.
He didn't know that if Du Ruhui were to listen, he would definitely die of anger.
Li Shiming nodded in agreement. Fang Xuanling's plan was still perfect." Who can be the mastermind of the Salt Administration?”
The chief salt administrator was the best of the best, and it would be best if it was appointed by His Majesty.
"Crown Prince, please speak."
Li Shi Min said expressionlessly as if he had guessed something.
Li Chengqian was still a sixteen-year-old child and was very naive. He answered whatever was asked and hurriedly said,
"I heard that Duke Lai's son, Du He, has the style of his father and is able to make decisions. He has been in charge of guarding the palace for many years and is very loyal.”
Li Tai was so scared that he almost peed his pants. No matter how stupid he was, he knew that the role of salt administrator could not be taken by Li Chengqian's people.
The Crown Prince had power to begin with. With money, he would really be able to stand tall and not fall.
Soon, Li Tai's King of Wei's henchman stood out. A young scholar with a low official position spoke up for the King of Wei.
An Eastern Palace official was not convinced. He stood up and sneered at the young scholar. Are you saying that General Du He will line his own pockets?”
"Who knows!" the young scholar said.
"Are you slandering the late Duke Lai for not having a strict upbringing?”
"I... He didn't say that."
......
Soon, two factions appeared in Taiji Palace. One was the Crown Prince, and the other was the King of Wei.
However, they were all small fries. As for the big shots, they didn't take sides.
At first, Li Shimin was very uncomfortable because the salt industry control had changed from a political struggle to a struggle for the crown prince, but he soon felt relieved.
Fight, fight, fight for what?
Chengqian, Green Sparrow, what are you two in a hurry for?
There's still Yap Liangchen ahead of you!
As for these officials below Rank-5 and Rank-6, they were even more ridiculous. You didn't even choose the right master. You didn't even stand on the right side and came out to be pawns.
There was another candidate for the Crown Prince of the Great Tang.
Li Shimin rested his chin on his hand as he watched the clowns fight. Finally, he couldn't help but shout,
"Bastard, is this still my imperial court?”
Swoosh!
After the officials returned to their positions, Li Shimin saw that Wei Zheng wanted to say something but stopped, so he didn't pay attention to this old man.
The Salt Administration Department must be established!
Not only to fill the treasury, but also for Yap Liangchen.
Li Chengqian and Li Tai both wanted to get the money, but Li Shiming wanted to give it to Yap Liangchen.
If Yap Liangchen was really talented, he would have a lot of money to spend when he became the Crown Prince.
Liangchen, Father is poor!
I can only arrange an official position for you first to test the waters and see your talent.
Li Shimin felt a headache when he thought of Yap Liangchen's aloof and aloof appearance.
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