Li Shimin brought the ministers to the royal study. No matter how the ministers asked, he would not say anything.
That's right, Li Shimin was secretly pleased to see the ministers eager to know the answer.
After everyone in the royal study took their seats.
Li Shi Min smiled confidently." Food, I have already thought of a way. How can I let a child like the King of Zhao provide food?"”
F * ck, if Li Yuan Jing was here, he would definitely be shocked to the point of vomiting. Li Shi Min didn't have such a face just now.
Obviously, Li Er couldn't wait to show off his real skills.
The ministers were also stunned.
"Zhen plans to hold a banquet the day after tomorrow and invite the nobles of the capital to attend. At the end of the banquet, Zhen will evaluate the aristocratic families.”
"One from a first-rank aristocratic family, three from a second-rank aristocratic family, ten from a three-rank aristocratic family, and twenty from a fourth-rank aristocratic family."
"I will also make this evaluation into a register. After it is printed, it will be distributed throughout the country. I hope that the wealthy families in all parts of the country will follow this example.”
"As for the evaluation criteria of this aristocratic family, the various families have been arguing for many years. Since there was a drought in the east of the river, as an upper-class family, they would definitely serve the country. Then, they would decide by how much food they donated.”
Of course, he would not say that as long as you donated more food, he would let you become a first-rank aristocratic family. This was too much of a hooligan. It was like snatching food.
The words in the officialdom were still roundabout. In the end, the focus fell on the donation of food.
Hiss!
Everyone gasped.
It was unprecedented to judge the level of aristocratic families.
At present, they were the five surnames and seven Wangs that everyone recognized as the strongest. They were Cui, Zhao, Wang, Li, and Zheng.
Now that His Majesty was re-evaluating them, it was simply shuffling the cards.
The ranking of aristocratic families was a bit like the ranking of classes. Those with high grades would naturally have high prestige and influence.
"His Majesty has only left the royal study for a moment and already thought of such a scheme.”
"I'm afraid that the Sage of Scheming, Zhang Zifang, is only so-so here. The relief food in the east of the river has been found.”
"Your Majesty, can you tell me how you came up with such a wonderful plan?”
"I feel that my position as prime minister is really useless and I want to retire.”
Zhangsun Wuji was the first to congratulate him. This really wasn't licking, really wasn't licking!!!
The others cursed in their hearts. Hurry up and get down from the position of prime minister. Don't just say it and not do it. F * ck!
He was just complaining.
After some hesitation, Li Jing, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and the others agreed.
The Five Surnames and Seven Wangs were old aristocratic families, and they were all new dignitaries.
No one present wanted their families to be under someone else.
This time, he had to let his family move forward.
However, if he wanted to move up the rankings, he had to throw money at it!
Li Shi Min looked at his confidant and suggested,""These few days, you can use all your connections to purchase food and make preparations.”
The core of the ranking was still how much food they had.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Zhangsun Wuji and the others cheered on the surface, but they were thinking in their hearts," His Majesty, this old bastard, is going to cut our flesh again.
Everyone had seen through Li Shimin's plan. He was just making a big deal out of it to get everyone to donate food, but no one said anything.
After fighting for the ranking, these aristocratic families donated hundreds of thousands of stones and even millions of stones. All the benefits went to the Imperial Court.
Only Cheng Yaojin, who was distressed by money, spoke the truth. He said sourly,
"Your Majesty, you're really cunning."
Bang!
Li Shimin angrily slammed the table,"How am I being shady?"”
"Cheng Yaojin, I use food to evaluate the strength of each aristocratic family. Don't donate if you don't want to!”
The ministers trembled in anger.
Cheng Yaojin wanted to curse, but the other party was the emperor. He immediately shouted,
"I'm saying that Your Majesty is sinister... You heard wrong."
Li Shi Min, calm down.
It had to be said that King Zhao's move was indeed quite sinister, but it was f * cking effective.
......
As expected.
After the imperial study ended.
Zhangsun Wuji and the other ministers received the inside news and immediately purchased food to prepare to fight for the clan's ranking.
The price of grain in Chang 'an City, which was 20 wen per bushel, rose to 22 wen per bushel.
It seemed like it had increased by a small amount, but it was actually very shocking.
Chang 'an City had a population of a million. For example, Wang Yang and Dahai would need thousands of tons of water to raise the sea level by two centimeters.
The commoners felt that the rice was too expensive and ran to the nearby rice shops. They could no longer buy rice that cost 20 wen per bucket. They all cried out.
Li Shi Min left the royal study.
They headed to Consort Qi's residence.
It just so happened.
Empress Zhangsun was also catching up with Princess Consort Qi in the courtyard. Li Shimin was instantly embarrassed to death. It was simply too embarrassing to be bumped into by his wife.
"Your Majesty, since you have something to discuss with Qi Wangfei, ChenQie will take her leave first.”
Empress Zhangsun emphasized the three words 'Consort Qi', then left the courtyard expressionlessly.
She was also very embarrassed. They were originally sisters-in-law, but now they were sisters.
"Your Majesty, did you win the bet?”
After the Empress left, the Qi Princess Consort immediately threw herself into Li Shimin's arms.
Li Shi Min looked at the delicate and fair-skinned woman in his arms and said with a dignified tone,"
"Baby, of course I won. How could I lose? Moreover, King Zhao has already admitted defeat to me."
"He borrowed one thousand strings of money from zhen, and now he can't pay back the interest. He will no longer care about zhen taking you as a concubine.”
If he wanted to maintain a great image in front of women, he had to bluff.
If he wanted to maintain the image of a wise ruler in front of his subjects, he had to pretend.
Li Shimin was already well versed in this, so he tried every means to deceive Princess Consort Qi. How could the Emperor say that he was lying? It should be for your own good.
Especially since Consort Qi was in the small courtyard, she was not well-informed. Many things were told to her by Li Shimin.
"Really? Then can I always serve His Majesty?”
Consort Qi danced with joy. She was from the Yang family of Hongnong and had been well protected since she was young. However, she was like a girl in her twenties who had never been in the world.
His ex-husband, Li Yuanji, was very rough with him, unlike Li Shimin, who was so attentive and considerate.
Therefore, after the incident at Xuanwu Gate, she met Li Shiming a few times and was touched by his handsome appearance and thoughtfulness. She fell in love with him and could not pull herself out.
"However, Imperial Father…" Li Shi Min was silent, but his acting skills exploded.
"What did Retired Emperor say?" Consort Qi grabbed the corner of his shirt tightly.
Li Shiming immediately pushed the blame to Li Yuan and even set up a filial character.
"Imperial Father said that it is impossible for us. Other than the matter of Black Tortoise Sect, I am very obedient to Imperial Father.”
Consort Qi began to sob and sat on the ground.
"But…"
"Zhen loves you as much as I cherish my own hands and feet. How can I be separated from you?”
"Even if the people of the world separate us, Zhen will not be afraid. Although I can't give you a status, I can love you wholeheartedly. However, you should avoid me first. I've found a courtyard for you in the city.”
Li Shimin said the sweet words of a man. As expected, Consort Qi cried and was moved."Good! Your Majesty, it's fine as long as we don't separate.”
In the past, she had always clung to Li Shiming and begged him to make her a concubine. Now, she only wanted to follow Li Shiming.
Li Shi Min hugged the beauty and was delighted.
Indeed, women and children were the easiest to deceive.
Cough cough, that King Zhao was not a child. He was a little demon. Was this really Li Yuan's child?
Outside the house.
Empress Zhangsun pursed her lips. The Emperor had gone too far.
He didn't bring up new things, and he had told her the same thing back then.
Looking at the bronze mirror in her hand, her expression was downcast.
After giving birth, her face aged.
I heard that King Zhao has some kind of facial mask that can maintain youth and not age.
The man and woman in the room had already fallen in love. Suddenly, a voice sounded from outside the room.
"Empress, rise!"
Li Shi Min was so scared that he went soft. Why did the Guanyin maid leave just like that?
How much did she hear?
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