When they heard that the Emperor was going to send Cheng Yaojin, a bandit from the Wagang Stronghold, to collect grain, most of the people in the court could not sit still.
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui weren't afraid, but they were afraid of this reckless Cheng Yaojin.
It might be useful to mention the five surnames and seven Wangs in front of others, but it was useless to mention anyone in front of Cheng Yaojin.
Cui Yong, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, came out and reported," Reporting to the Emperor, the disaster has been going on for nearly half a year. I don't have any surplus food at home. I object to the construction of irrigation works."”
Cui Yong was from the Cui Clan of Boling. Among the five surnames and seven Wangs, the Cui Clan had the most land and stored the most grain.
Most of the officials in the court had surplus food at home. In the face of famine, they had a tacit understanding that they would rather die than die.
Unexpectedly, Li Shimin suddenly came up with this work-for-relief method.
The most shameless thing was to ask Cheng Yaojin to collect food.
If he gave it to her, he wouldn't give it to her. If he didn't give it to her, Cheng Yaojin would definitely dare to force it.
Without waiting for Li Shimin to speak, Cheng Yaojin jumped out,"Assistant Minister Cui, if you really have no food at home, let me search. If there's no food left, I, Old Cheng, can reluctantly help you.”
Assistant Minister Cui was immediately speechless. It would be bad if Cheng Yaojin entered the house. Not to mention the fact that the granary would be turned upside down, even the residence in the residence would probably be searched.
Cheng Yaojin entering the residence was like bandits entering the village.
After a while, no one continued to speak. Du Ruhui stepped forward and bowed."Your Majesty is wise."
Although he had just been tricked by Li Shiming, as Li Shiming's right-hand man, he still had to fan Li Shiming when he needed to.
Following that, Fang Xuanling, Li Jing, Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Jingde…these ministers of Li Shimin's faction all stood up and bowed,"Your Majesty is wise."”
Seeing that more than half of the people had agreed with the Emperor's plan, the situation was irreversible. The officials who were biased towards the Five Surnames and Seven Wangs could only helplessly kneel and say,"The Emperor is wise."”
All the officials and officials in the court knelt down in front of him. Li Shimin smiled in satisfaction and said,"My dear ministers, please rise. You are all the pillars of our Great Tang. Although you are resourceful, you are sometimes narrow-minded. I don't blame you.”
Fang Xuanling was speechless.
Du Ruhui was speechless.
Pei Ji was speechless.
All the officials were speechless.
Are you mocking us for our shallow knowledge and wanting to learn from you?
"Alright, let's end today's court discussion here. Three days is the limit. Also, let me give you a reminder. The Minister of Rites, Lu Baoguo, has already donated 150,000 catties of grain on behalf of the Lu family. I have given his son the position of Dali Zheng.”
After Li Shiming finished speaking, he turned around and entered the inner court, leaving behind the dumbfounded ministers.
Cui Yong, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, angrily grabbed Lu Baoguo, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, and asked,"Lu Baoguo, you secretly donated food and played us like monkeys.”
This Lu Youcai was a member of the Lu family of Fanyang and was also one of the five surnames and seven surnames.
Lu Baoguo was dumbfounded. He really couldn't remember when he had donated 150,000 catties of food, and when his son had become a candidate for the Dali Principal.
"Milords, please listen to my explanation. I have never donated food. I don't know where the emperor heard this.”
"Even now, you still don't admit it.”Cui Yong was furious.
Cheng Yaojin chuckled." Lord Lu, the emperor said that your son has been appointed as a candidate for the Dali Principal. This is an official position from the fifth rank down. Do you not want it?"”
His son was only 13 years old. At this time, he was a candidate to enter the lower ranks of the Fifth Rank. When his son became an adult and entered the official ranks, he would start from the lower ranks of the Fifth Rank. He was a lot faster than others. This was a piece of fat meat.
Although he had offended the other families, he had reaped some benefits for himself.
Lu Baoguo gave a vague answer and turned to leave the court.
The others wanted to continue asking, but they were stopped by Cheng Yaojin.
"Milords, please remember that you have three days to hand in your rations. If you don't hand in your rations within three days, I, Old Cheng, will bring my axe to your door and ask for it.”Cheng Yaojin said to the ministers with a fierce look. Fortunately, no weapons were allowed in the imperial court. Otherwise, Cheng Yaojin would probably be using a set of three axes.
Looking at Cheng Yaojin's unreasonable appearance, everyone had a headache. Firstly, Cheng Yaojin's personality was there, and secondly, the emperor's fate was difficult.
Fortunately, the food was not given for free. At least they could find a good position for the younger generation.
As for how much to hand over, it was worth considering when to hand it over. There were only so many good official positions. If they handed it over late, they would lose it if they handed it over too little.
After all, 150,000 catties of grain in exchange for a fifth-grade official of the Supreme Court was still quite cost-effective.
Although the five surnames and seven Wangs were usually of the same mind, when they really encountered benefits, they would still compete with each other.
The courtiers exchanged a few words and then dispersed.
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui deliberately slowed down a few steps and started discussing.
"What's wrong with the emperor? Why is he suddenly so powerful today? Not only did he propose the unprecedented act of providing work as a form of relief, but he had also played these aristocratic families in the palm of his hands one after another. They had no way to fight back.”Fang Xuanling sighed.
"With my understanding of the emperor, he shouldn't be like this. There must be a master behind the emperor.”Du Ruhui immediately guessed.
Li Shi Min knew the capabilities of Fang and Du, and they also knew Li Shi Min's level.
"But no one has been coming in and out of the palace recently. Who can the emperor discuss this with?”
"This is also what I find strange."
"If there is a chance, we must find the person who gave the emperor advice.”
The two shook their heads and left the palace.
……
Li Shimin left the court and went straight to Empress Zhangsun's bedchamber, feeling very happy.
Empress Zhangsun was also waiting in the palace early. She also wanted to know how the situation of the court was today. She also guessed that Li Shimin would come to share with her in the next court.
"Emperor, how is the court meeting going today?”
"Guanyin maid, you don't know how shocked those officials were today. Their jaws were about to drop.”Li Shi Min felt great when he thought of how the ministers were so shocked that their jaws almost dropped!
"In that case, Qin Fang's plan has succeeded?”
"Success!" Li Shimin sighed," This Qin Fang, I want to see him again when I have the time!”
"When the emperor goes, you must bring ChenQie along and let ChenQie open her eyes to see what kind of immortal character Qin Fang is.”
"What's so difficult about that? When the time comes, you can go with me.”
Three days later, those aristocratic families and ministers all donated grain, and the grain in the national treasury was enough to start the construction of Guanzhong's irrigation works.
When the starving people heard that they would be able to eat if they worked, they immediately ran over to participate in the construction of the irrigation works.
The abandoned reservoir was rebuilt, and the snow piled up in the reservoir, waiting to melt in spring.
The famine caused by the snowstorm in the Great Tang had been resolved.
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