Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 14 Wei Zheng: He was talking about my words! [New book, please collect it]

The distance between Juxian Hall and Xiande Hall is neither far nor near. Now that the teachers have left, it is impossible for students to just wait in the school.

So, under the leadership of brothers Li Chengqian and Li Tai, they left as soon as Old Man Kong left.

And the other side.

Li Shimin, who was still unaware of the situation, was discussing state affairs in the side hall of Xiande Hall.

At this time, Li Shimin was sitting on a soft couch. He had just finished reading a scroll of memorials and casually handed it to the Secretary Fang Xuanling, sighing:
"Look, from the first to the ninth year of the Wude era, we've been at war year after year, leaving the treasury empty. Now, we have to send large amounts of money and goods to the Turks every year. How are we going to survive from now on?"

After reading the memorial, Fang Xuanling said thoughtfully:
"Your Majesty, logically speaking, the Tang Dynasty's national strength should not be like this during the years that His Majesty the Retired Emperor has been in power. Is there something that is unclear?"

"Even if there are some unclear points, the difference won't be much!" Li Shimin waved his hands helplessly.

"This"

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui exchanged a glance, and the latter instantly understood. He immediately bowed to Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, a small mistake can lead to a huge mistake. In my opinion, it is best to let our people conduct an inventory of the national treasury."

Li Shimin thought for a moment after hearing this, then nodded and said, "That makes sense. Please tell me your opinion."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Du Ruhui bowed again and said, "As far as I know, after Your Majesty ascended the throne, the officials of the Qin Palace and the Tiance Palace entered the court and began to take charge of government affairs.

However, positions like Shangshu Ling (left and right servants) are still controlled by the retired emperor's old ministers. It should be said that we are still unable to completely control the government!"

"You're right!"

Li Shimin's eyes lit up: "These old officials are increasingly unable to keep up with our new policies!"

"but."

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and his eyes darkened: "These old ministers were arranged by the emperor himself. This was also one of his abdication conditions."

"It's been over half a year, we should have some new moves!"

Zhang Sun Wuji narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice:
"Over half a year ago, we dealt with Prince Xi and Prince Hailing. Their people are now ours. So, it's time to deal with the retired emperor's group of old ministers."

Hearing this, Li Shimin looked at Changsun Wuji deeply, but did not express his opinion. Instead, he looked at Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui.

Seeing that the two were silent, he raised his finger and pointed at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "You! Minister of Personnel!"

"All the officials in the court are under your control!"

As he spoke, he slowly stood up from his seat and said as he walked: "We can think of a way, do something, and then turn the situation around, kick out the emperor's group of old ministers, and completely take control of the government!"

"What does Your Majesty mean?" Fang Xuanling asked tentatively.

Li Shimin paused and said with a smile:
"You are my subjects. You should be the ones to find solutions for me. Why are you asking me?"

"Uh"

Fang Xuanling couldn't help but feel embarrassed when he heard this.

At this time, Zhangsun Wuji said again: "Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not!"

"Ah!"

Li Shimin chuckled and said, "There are no outsiders here, so what's wrong with talking about this? Could it be that you, Changsun Wuji, also want to be distant with me?"

"I dare not!"

Changsun Wuji quickly bowed and said, "What I mean is that since ancient times, politics and law have been inseparable. If we want to change things, we might as well start by amending the law."

"Oh?"

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows when he heard this: "Tell me about it!"

"Your Majesty, although the Wude Code is more lenient than the Sui Dynasty's, since Your Majesty came to power, the major policy you have adopted is to give the people a rest. Therefore, I think it can be made even more lenient."

"wonderful!"

Li Shimin's eyes lit up and he couldn't help but applaud: "Excellent!"

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui looked at each other in surprise when they heard this.

They all knew that Li Shimin valued Changsun Wuji, but they had never seen such a wise Changsun Wuji.

In other words, in their perception, Changsun Wuji has always been a moderate person who is not greedy for credit and not arrogant.

Although he is quite resourceful, he is not a very good strategist.

But now, even they did not understand Li Shimin's meaning, but Changsun Wuji understood it immediately, which was really impressive.

"Well, Wuji's advice is deeply appreciated by me."

Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said with a smile, "How about this? You, together with the Minister of the Central Secretariat and the Minister of the Supreme Court, will amend the law!"

"what?"

Changsun Wuji was surprised and thought to himself, I just made a suggestion, but I didn't say I would participate!
Also, Cheng Qian didn’t ask me to participate!

"No, Your Majesty, the revision of laws is the responsibility of the Minister of the Central Secretariat. I have many things to do here. Please see..."

"Humph!"

Before Changsun Wuji could finish, Li Shimin interrupted him with a cold snort and said sternly, "I regard you as my confidants and my most trusted ministers. In my eyes, you are the only ones who can accomplish great things. Therefore, those who can accomplish my great things are not divided by official rank!"

"This"

Changsun Wuji was speechless and subconsciously looked at Fang Xuanling. The latter shook his head slightly, signaling him to stop talking.

Emperor Li II always kept his word in front of them, and only Wei Zheng could give them some advice.

However, they probably never dreamed that Emperor Li II's revision of the law was like opening Pandora's box.

If we were to ask what the biggest stain on Emperor Li II's life in history was, I'm afraid many people would say the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

In fact, the Xuanwu Gate Incident is only a stain in the hearts of ordinary people. For later politicians, the Xuanwu Gate Incident is nothing at all. After all, which emperor has not killed a few relatives?
Didn’t the former chess master of the Han Dynasty also initiate the reign of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing and be praised by later generations?
Therefore, the real stain of Emperor Li II was changing history.

The content of the history he changed was not the Xuanwu Gate Incident, but his father Li Yuan.

In the "Old Book of Tang", he changed Li Yuan into an incompetent monarch, who relied on his own efforts to establish the Tang Dynasty.

Although true history will not cover up Li Shimin's achievements, and it was indeed he who conquered the Tang Dynasty, Li Yuan was by no means an incompetent monarch.

At least from the time when the army was raised in Taiyuan to the founding of the country in Guanzhong, all of Li Yuan's political resources accumulated over several decades were consumed. As for after he arrived in Guanzhong, it is undeniable that it was indeed Emperor Li II who conquered the country.

Therefore, to be precise, the Tang Dynasty was the result of the mutual achievements of Li Yuan and his son.

Emperor Li II's revision of history was indeed a political stain on his part.

"Listen, everyone. The law is like clothes for the people to wear. It can't be too tight, and it can't be too loose either. That's why I'm asking you to discuss and revise it."

After saying this, Li Shimin looked around at the three of them and said, "This should be broad and simple. It should be easy for the common people to understand and for the officials to implement. And once it is decided, it should not be easily changed. Do you understand?"

"clear."

The three of them looked at each other and said in unison.

At this moment, a voice suddenly came from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, Wei Zheng requests an audience!"

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "Call him in!"

"promise!"

There was a response from outside the hall, and soon, Wei Zheng in a green robe walked in.

"Chen, Wei Zheng, see Your Majesty!"

"No gift!"

Li Shimin smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Wei Zheng, what do you want to see me for?"

"Reply to Your Majesty!"

Wei Zheng bowed and said, "I, Your Majesty, have ordered me to advise the court on government matters. At today's court session, Your Majesty made some revisions to the decrees issued during the reign of the Supreme Emperor.

After returning, I pondered over it again and again, and I felt that the clause 'stopping contributions from all directions' should not be deleted too quickly, otherwise it would make the local authorities feel that Your Majesty changes his orders every day, which would affect the implementation of the new policy."

"Why do I change my mind so often?"

Li Shimin suddenly said with some displeasure: "The order for various places to pay tribute with rare treasures, if I remember correctly, seems to have been issued in the eighth year of Wude, before the birthday of the Supreme Emperor!"

Wei Zheng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I remember correctly, but I would like to ask Your Majesty, what year is this evening?"

"How dare you!" Zhangsun Wuji shouted angrily, "Wei Zheng, do you think Your Majesty doesn't remember the years? This is the ninth year of Wude!"

"Then may I ask, Minister of Personnel, how big is the territory of our Tang Dynasty?" Wei Zheng said indifferently.

"This"

Changsun Wuji was stunned for a moment and was about to fight back.

At this moment, Li Shimin interrupted him with a wave of his hand: "Okay, Wuji, I already understand what Wei Zheng means!"

"With the current territory of the Tang Dynasty, government orders can be delivered to the nearest places within a day. To the farthest places, it takes several months to reach them. It's really not easy to delete or modify them too quickly."

"but."

As he spoke, he changed the subject: "We still need to inform the nearby places not to send any more rare treasures as tribute!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The four of them said in unison.

"hehe."

Li Shimin smiled faintly.

At this time, Du Ruhui said, "Your Majesty, the Grand Counselor just mentioned the year and month. It's almost next year. Isn't it time to decide on a new year name?"

"Well, Keming is right!"

Li Shiming smiled and nodded. "When the Emperor ascended the throne, he designated Wude as the reign title. Apparently, the term Wude is no longer appropriate in peacetime!"

After saying this, he looked around at the four of them and said, "My dear ministers, do you have any ideas about the new era name?"

"This"

The four of them looked at each other and fell into deep thought.

After a moment, Fang Xuanling spoke first, "Your Majesty, what do you think of Tianyou?"

"That's not right!"

Before Li Shimin could express his opinion, Du Ruhui took over the conversation: "This seems to be putting the blame on God.

The key is, you can't show your majesty's determination to rule the world!"

"The Heaven I'm referring to is the vast Heaven, the chaotic firmament. Do you call it chaotic? If it exists, then it doesn't exist; if it doesn't exist, then it exists!"

"But the survival of all things depends on his protection!" Fang Xuanling explained with a smile.

"Um"

Li Shimin nodded, but did not express his opinion.

Fang Xuanling continued, "The Son of Heaven is a gift from Heaven. The Tang Empire must also rely on the protection of such Heaven! Why not?"

After saying that, he turned and looked at Li Shimin.

But Li Shimin said thoughtfully: "God bless, protect, well, it can be used!"

"But I still can't express my feelings!"

Fang Xuanling was silent and fell into deep thought again.

Li Shimin glanced at him and said with a smile:
"Keming is right. The reign title is a way to express the new policies. Once the reign title is chosen, the people will know the will of our court."

After he finished speaking, he couldn't help but look at Wei Zheng in the corner and said, "Wei Zheng! Come here..."

"Your Majesty! I have something to say!"

"Ok?"

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, and looked at Changsun Wuji in surprise, thinking, are you two having a fight?

However, the advice proposed by Changsun Wuji before was deeply appreciated by Li Shimin, which made Li Shimin feel hopeful that this advice would be another good one.

Although he really wanted to hear Wei Zheng's advice, since Changsun Wuji had already taken the initiative, he couldn't refuse Changsun Wuji's face, so he smiled and nodded: "Okay, tell me more!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Changsun Wuji happily bowed and continued, "King Wen of the Tang Dynasty wrote the Anthology of the Book of Changes, and Confucius wrote the Book of Changes. The Book of Changes says that the way of the world is the Zhenguan period. The word Zhen means upright and the word Guan means to show. Therefore, the two words Zhenguan have the meaning of showing uprightness.

Confucius also said, "Political principles are righteousness." What the Master meant was that leading by example is the foundation of politics. Your Majesty, I believe that the Zhenguan era demonstrated righteousness, which is the foundation of governing the world!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wei Zheng's pupils suddenly shrank and he turned his head to look at Li Shimin.

But Li Shimin's face was full of surprise: "Zhenguan, showing justice, good, well said!"

Not Your Majesty!

He was using my words!
Wei Zheng looked depressed.

Is this guy Changsun Wuji a worm in my stomach? Why does he say whatever I think?!

"hehe."

Seeing Wei Zheng's face as black as the bottom of a pot, Changsun Wuji smiled triumphantly and thought to himself, I'll teach you how to show off in front of me!
If I didn’t have a good nephew, you would have almost stolen the limelight!

This is the year number!

How can we let an outsider like you decide?

Thinking of this, Changsun Wuji struck while the iron was hot and said, "So, my suggestion is, can we use the name Zhenguan for the new year?"

"Um"

Li Shimin nodded, then looked around at his ministers and said, "What do you think?"

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

"Hahaha!"

Li Shimin laughed out loud, obviously very satisfied with Zhangsun Wuji's performance. He couldn't help but admire him and said, "Wuji, I didn't expect you to be so talented!"

"I've been following His Majesty for these years, and I've learned a lot from him!"

Changsun Wuji bowed modestly and thought to himself, "My good nephew, you never lied to me!"
Next, Your Majesty, should you consider the matter of You Pushe?

When Changsun Wuji thought of that coveted position, he was full of anticipation.

However, at this moment, a voice came from outside the palace again: "Your Majesty! I want to present this to Your Majesty!"

"Ok?"

Li Shimin frowned: "Who is making noise outside?"

"Your Majesty, this is Kong Yingda, a doctor of the Imperial College and an instructor at the Juxian Academy!"

A palace servant hurried into the hall to report.

Li Shimin was slightly stunned and subconsciously looked at the four ministers, only to see them looking at each other, seemingly unaware of what had happened.

"Announce him to come in!"

Li Shimin gave the order in a deep voice.

Soon, Kong Yingda walked into the hall with a face full of grief and indignation: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!"

"What do you mean, Dr. Kong? You are well-versed in Confucian classics, so why don't you observe etiquette?"

"Your Majesty, it's not that I lack etiquette, it's simply that the princes are too difficult to teach. I resign from my position as a teacher at the Juxian Hall!"

"What do you mean?"

Li Shimin frowned, obviously a little angry.

But Kong Yingda didn't care at all and told everyone what happened in the classroom word for word.

The five people, the king and his ministers, were stunned.

Good guy!
If we don’t appoint a crown prince, the country will be destroyed!

How dare they say that!
Li Shimin suddenly stood up from his seat and angrily asked, "Where is my sword?!"

　Tomorrow's Tuesday's catch-up reading is very important, I hope readers will read it! In addition, please recommend votes, monthly votes, and collections.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)