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

Chapter 198 Li Er! This condition is rejected by this prince! [Seeking monthly votes]

Cai Kun was very quick and within five days he had prepared the first draft of "Entertainment Weekly" as well as the craftsmen and materials for printing the newspaper.

Even reporters from newspapers and newsboys selling newspapers were recruited.

At this time, Li Chengqian was revising and polishing the first draft of "Entertainment Weekly" on the second floor of the newspaper office.

The corners of the wall had been repainted, and the red writing on the white wall read something like: "If you can't lead a team, you'll work yourself to death," "A wolf-like team, united from top to bottom," and "Life is beautiful because of work, and work is joyful because of hard work."

In short, there were only some PUA slogans, which stunned the reporters who came to apply for the job and the literate newspaper boys.

Although they didn't know why these slogans existed, the more they looked at them, the more excited they felt, and they were eager to try them out.

He seemed completely unaware of what his future would be like.

Cai Kun, who witnessed the whole process of their growth from immaturity to maturity and from clear eyes to incomparable fanaticism, was extremely impressed by Li Chengqian.

After waiting for about two quarters of an hour, Li Chengqian finally finished polishing and revising the first draft of "Entertainment Weekly". He then stood up from his seat with a smile, handed it to Cai Kun and said, "President Cai, please publish it according to this manuscript!"

"Yes! Your Highness!"

Cai Kun took the manuscript from Li Chengqian and bowed respectfully without even looking at it.

Li Chengqian smiled, then turned around and picked up another piece of paper, handing it to Cai Kun. "This is the training manual I developed. It contains training methods for newspaper reporters and newsboys. I believe you can train them and make them bigger and stronger!"

"This"

Cai Kun took the paper from Li Chengqian and said with some concern, "To be honest, Your Highness, I have never trained any subordinates before. What if I made a mistake?"

"It doesn't matter!"

Li Chengqian waved his hand to interrupt Cai Kun and added, "It's not scary to make mistakes. As long as you gain experience from your mistakes, that's progress!"

"Also, the salaries of reporters and newsboys can't be low. In addition to bonuses, reporters get one kan of cash per month, and newsboys get two hundred cash per month. Furthermore, for every newspaper sold, newsboys get a two-cent commission!"

"Yes!"

Cai Kun nodded in response, then glanced at the eagerly awaited reporters and newsboys downstairs and said with a smile, "Your Highness, would you like to say a few words to them?"

"This"

Li Chengqian hesitated for a moment, then walked to the second-floor window, looked at the people below and said, "Everyone, I am Crown Prince Li Chengqian!"

"This humble servant pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Upon hearing this, everyone downstairs knelt down in a flurry, their faces flushed with excitement.

This is working for the prince!
What a blessing it is to be where I am today!

"Be flat!"

Li Chengqian smiled and raised his hand, then added, "I won't say anything else. I'll just say this: be content with life, be unsatisfied with learning, and even more unsatisfied with work!"

"Don't worry, Your Highness! We will study hard and love our work!"

"Your Highness! The newspaper is my home! I will work for it until I die!"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"hehe."

Hearing these almost fanatical speeches, Li Chengqian smiled awkwardly.

I never thought that one day I would become the person I hate the most.

Ugh!
Damn capitalists!

"His Royal Highness!"

Just as Li Chengqian was sighing, Lai Fu ran up from downstairs and whispered something in his ear. The smile on his face disappeared instantly, replaced by extreme seriousness.

"Prepare the carriage immediately, I want to go to the palace!"

On the other side, the imperial palace, Liangyi Hall.

"Oh! I went around trying to recruit talented people, but in the end, they were all poached by the Crown Prince. Look at this Sun Fujia. When he was in front of me, he risked his life to offer advice, but after arriving at the Crown Prince's residence, he became a housekeeper who ran errands, and he worked very hard. It's really bizarre!"

Li Shimin held the report in his hand and smiled self-deprecatingly. Then he looked around at Fang Xuanling and the others, then restrained his smile and said, "What do you think? Am I too kind to my ministers, which is why they are so presumptuous?"

"This"

Fang Xuanling and others looked at each other when they heard this, but no one dared to respond to Li Shimin.

Because on the surface this statement was saying that the minister did not know how to be grateful, but in fact it was saying that Li Chengqian was stretching his hand too far.

But no matter what Li Shimin meant, Fang Xuanling and others had to remain silent.

After all, this is a competition between father and son, and nothing they say will be of any use.

However, just because they don't want to speak doesn't mean Li Shimin will keep them silent.

But then Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "What do you think? Am I being too indulgent to the Crown Prince?"

"Uh, this"

Fang Xuanling and others looked at each other again.

However, when Li Shimin's eyes fell on Fang Xuanling, he dared not remain silent any longer, so he said with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, I think the Crown Prince is only nine years old now. If Your Majesty feels that he is being pampered too much, you might as well find him a teacher. After all, there is no Junior Tutor for the Crown Prince since he was appointed Crown Prince."

Li Shimin was slightly stunned when he heard this, then nodded in agreement and said, "Yes! I was negligent in this matter, Crown Prince!"

Then he asked Fang Xuanling, "Then, in your opinion, who is the most suitable person to be the Prince's Junior Tutor?"

Fang Xuanling thought for a moment, then glanced at the ministers present and said, "Some time ago, I discussed this matter with Wei Zheng, and he felt that the position of Crown Prince's Protector would be more appropriate!"

"Oh?"

Li Shimin's eyes lit up: "You said Wei Zheng is optimistic about Li Gang?"

"Not bad!"

Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "Li Gang is upright and honest, and has a dignified academic background. He is suitable to teach the prince."

Li Shimin hummed a sound and said in a rather approving manner, "Being the Crown Prince's Third Preceptor is a great honor. Furthermore, being responsible for teaching the Crown Prince requires someone of high moral character and prestige, and only those of high esteem and integrity can be qualified for this position."

"Li Gang, whether in moral character or academics, is number one. I remember during the Wude period, when Prince Yin was the Crown Prince, he was the Crown Prince's Junior Guardian. When I was the Crown Prince, he was my Junior Tutor. Now he is Cheng Qian's Junior Tutor, which is perfect for him!"

As he spoke, he issued an order directly: "Then pass on my decree to promote Li Gang, the Crown Prince's Junior Guardian, to the position of Crown Prince's Junior Tutor."

"promise!"

Fang Xuanling agreed and left.

At this moment, a report suddenly came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, the Minister of Revenue Wei Jin and the Minister of the Left Lu Chengqing request to see you!"

"Ok?"

Li Shimin frowned, then waved his hand and said, "Let them in!"

"Yes!"

There was a response from outside the door.

Soon, Wei Jin and Lu Chengqing hurried into the hall.

But Lu Chengqing was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, Hongling is reporting urgently that the locust plague has spread from Henan Road to Guannei Road and is heading straight for Chang'an!"

"what?!"

When Li Shimin heard the news, his body suddenly stiffened and his face turned pale.

He had a premonition that the locust plague would be serious, but he didn't expect it to be so severe that it spanned two territories in less than five days.

This is too fast.

Could it be that this natural disaster is truly unstoppable?!
Thinking of this, Li Shimin suppressed his shock, cast his gaze upon his ministers, and asked solemnly, "Do you have any countermeasures?"

"Your Majesty, locusts are divine insects."

"Shut up!"

An official was about to bring up the "divine insect" when Li Shimin stopped him. Then, Li Shimin said solemnly, "What I'm asking now is how to deal with the locust plague!"

"Your Majesty! Such a large-scale locust plague is rare in the world. I think that instead of discussing how to treat the disaster, we should discuss how to provide relief!"

Seeing Li Shimin's outburst, Changsun Wuji quickly stepped forward and said, "Although the locust plague has had a significant impact, fortunately, the locusts eat crops, not people. As long as the court can protect the people, the region will be stable. Therefore, in my opinion, the court should quickly mobilize grain to the disaster area for disaster relief and to stabilize the people's hearts."

"Yes, Wuji is right. We should prioritize stabilizing the people's hearts!"

Li Shimin nodded in approval, then said to Wei Jin, the Minister of Revenue: "Minister of Revenue, pass on my order to all prefectures and counties to open their granaries and release grain to stabilize the people's hearts. At the same time, mobilize the grain in the national treasury and transport it to the disaster area!"

"Uh, this."

When Wei Jin heard what Li Shimin said, he was embarrassed. Then he knelt on the ground with a plop and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I came to see you this time because I want food!"

"Ok?"

Li Shimin frowned, then sat up straight and said solemnly, "What do you mean?"

"Your Majesty, I have been summoning all the major families to donate grain in recent days, but the results have been minimal. Almost no major families have volunteered to donate grain. As a result, the national treasury remains empty, and we are unable to ship grain to the disaster area!"

"What did you say!?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin suddenly stood up from the throne and looked at Wei Jin in disbelief.

He originally thought that with his prestige, those aristocratic families, no matter how stingy they were, would at least give him some face.

I didn't expect them to give me any respect at all. What the hell is this?!

Are you trying to embarrass yourself on purpose?!

"Good good!"

Li Shimin was furious but laughed: "Since they are unwilling to donate grain, then buy it for me! Buy as much grain as you have!"

"Uh, this."

Wei Jin was embarrassed when he heard this, but he couldn't help but say, "To be honest, Your Majesty, the strategy we used last time didn't work this time. All the grain in the hands of the major grain merchants in Chang'an, including those in the surrounding areas, has been bought up."

"Who is so bold as to buy out all the grain from all the grain merchants?!"

Li Shimin was completely furious when he heard this.

But Wei Jin remained silent.

It is obvious that the person who can buy so much food is definitely not a small family.

Moreover, this operation was obviously aimed at the imperial court.

Thinking of this, Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji exchanged a glance, and then Changsun Wuji spoke first, "Your Majesty, I would like to discuss an important matter with Lord Lu and Lord Fang. Could you please let the other ministers go first?"

"Ok?"

Li Shimin frowned, then looked around at the ministers, and then set his eyes on Lu Chengqing. As if he had realized something, he narrowed his eyes and said, "The Minister of the Left and the Minister of the Central Secretariat will stay, and the rest of the ministers can go back first!"

"Yes!"

The ministers responded respectfully and then stood up and left.

When only Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Li Shimin, and Lu Chengqing were left in the hall.

Zhang Sun Wuji looked at Lu Chengqing with a cold expression and said solemnly, "Shangshu Zuocheng, if you have anything to say, just say it!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Chengqing feigned surprise and glanced at Zhangsun Wuji, saying to him in confusion, "What do you mean, Duke Zhao? I don't understand!"

"Ah!"

Zhang Sun Wuji sneered, then stood up from his seat, walked towards Lu Chengqing step by step, and scolded: "Lu Chengqing, you are so bold that you even dare to tease His Majesty!"

"what?"

Lu Chengqing's eyes widened, still confused, and he asked, "Duke Zhao, what do you mean by that? When did I ever tease His Majesty?"

"Lu Chengqing! Do you think your tricks can be hidden from His Majesty?"

Fang Xuanling took over the conversation and said sternly, "Master Cui Ren suggested that Your Majesty call on the noble families to donate grain, but now there has been little effect. Wasn't this secretly planned by you?"

"No, we didn't plan it!"

Lu Chengqing flatly denied it, "Your Majesty! We are wronged!"

After hearing Lu Chengqing's cry of injustice, Li Shimin, who had not yet fully reacted, finally reacted.

He said with a gloomy face: "Lu Chengqing, I will give you a chance now. If you tell me honestly what you want to do, I will still let you be the Shangshu Zuocheng. Otherwise, do you know the consequences?"

"Your Majesty! I am truly wronged! I know nothing! This is purely a slander against me by the Duke of Zhao and the Minister of the Central Secretariat! Please investigate!"

Lu Chengqing fell to his knees on the ground with a thud, crying out for justice.

Li Shimin was in a terrible mood.

If Cui Renshi had not suggested donating grain, he probably would not have wasted these few days trying to find a way to deal with the locust plague.

This would prevent the locust plague from spreading to the Guannei Road and directly attacking Chang'an.

To be honest, he now wished he could tear Cui Renshi into pieces.

But in this situation, even killing Cui Renshi would be of no avail.

We can only find a way to get food and stabilize the people's hearts first.

If the people lose their hearts, the world will be in chaos.

"call"

Taking a deep breath, Li Shimin suppressed the anger in his heart. Even though he knew that he was being plotted against, he acted as if nothing had happened. He slowly walked to Lu Chengqing, stretched out his hand to help him up, and said with a smile: "My dear Lu, I have wronged you!"

"Your Majesty, I am truly wronged."

Lu Chengqing said aggrievedly.

Li Shimin forced a smile, then turned and scolded Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji, saying, "As ministers of the imperial court, how dare you slander your colleagues so wantonly? Each of you will have your salary reduced by half a year as a warning to others!"

"Yes"

Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji exchanged a glance, then said in unison: "We accept the blame!"

"Alright! That's the end of it!"

Li Shimin waved his hand in annoyance, then said to Lu Chengqing with a pleasant expression, "Lord Lu, I remember that you are the head of the Fanyang Lu family, right? The Fanyang Lu family is a big family. You can't just not donate any grain at all, right?"

Hearing this, Lu Chengqing couldn't help but shook his head and sighed:

"Your Majesty, I am indeed the head of the Lu family, but I have not been involved in family affairs for many years, and all I care about is the affairs of the court and the country. Now, the locust plague is severe, and Your Majesty has issued an order for the major clans to donate grain. My Fanyang Lu family naturally must respond to the court's call. Therefore, I have notified my clan members to do their utmost to donate grain to the court!"

"But."

At this point, Lu Chengqing showed a face full of shame and sighed, "I don't know why my clan didn't donate grain. I really failed your Majesty's grace. Please, your Majesty, dismiss me, the Minister of the Left, and allow me to retire and return home."

Hearing this, Li Shimin's eyes flashed with murderous intent, but it disappeared in an instant, and then he said with a smile: "Shangshu Zuocheng, you are too serious. I know this matter and I don't blame you!"

After saying this, he turned and walked towards the emperor's throne, saying as he walked: "The so-called donation of grain is voluntary. I have not forced the major families to donate grain. Even if you don't donate grain, I will not blame you!"

"Alright, you can go down first. I have other matters to discuss with the Duke of Zhao and the Minister of the Central Secretariat!"

"Ah? This"

Lu Chengqing hadn't expected Li Shimin to order him to leave so quickly. He was stunned and subconsciously glanced at Zhangsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling, who both looked indifferent. After a moment's hesitation, he took the initiative to speak, "Your Majesty! I am a minister of the court. As the saying goes, I eat the emperor's salary and I share his worries. I am willing to share your worries!"

"Oh?"

Li Shimin paused, then said calmly, "I wonder how Lord Lu is going to help me relieve my worries?"

Lu Chengqing hesitated for a moment, then said as if considering it: "To be honest with your majesty, although I, as the head of the family, do not care about the affairs of the clan, my eldest brother is mainly responsible for the clan affairs. If you send someone to inform him of your majesty's will, I believe my eldest brother will definitely respond to the court's call and lead the family members to donate grain enthusiastically!"

"Ah!"

Li Shimin sneered inwardly, but turned around with a calm expression and said, "Then according to Lord Lu, who should we send to inform your elder brother?"

"This"

Lu Chengqing hesitated for a moment, then said cautiously, "To be honest with you, Your Majesty, my elder brother has a son, Lu Yuanling, the Minister of the Imperial Household. If he were to go, it would be appropriate."

"Hahaha!"

When Li Shimin heard this, he suddenly laughed out loud with his head raised.

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling, who were standing by, instantly became disheartened.

Who is this Lu Yuanling? !
He was an official from the Five Surnames and Seven Families who plotted to assassinate the prince and manipulated the disaster victims to cause unrest!

Asking him to return to the Lu family's land is like throwing meat buns at a dog, and he will never come back.

What's more, the emperor has already ordered his execution, how could he let him go so easily! ?

"Lu Chengqing, you are so bold, how dare you threaten His Majesty!"

Before Li Shimin could speak, Fang Xuanling lost his temper and scolded Lu Chengqing, "Lu Yuanling is a serious criminal of the imperial court! Don't you know that?"

"Mr. Zhongshu Ling, I..."

"What do you mean by 'you'? I think you have ulterior motives! How dare you use the disaster to disrupt the law?" Changsun Wuji interrupted Lu Chengqing before he could finish his words.

Lu Chengqing once again showed an aggrieved expression and cried to Li Shimin: "Your Majesty, I am really wronged. I am just helping Your Majesty and have no intention of breaking the law. Please understand clearly."

"Hehehe"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but let out a terrifying, inhuman laugh, then nodded and praised: "Lord Lu, your loyalty is commendable. I believe in you!"

Then he turned to Fang Xuanling and said, "Minister of the Central Secretariat, pass on my decree to appoint Lu Yuanling as the grain donation envoy to Fanyang to be in charge of grain donation matters!"

"His Majesty!"

"Okay, let's do it!"

Changsun Wuji wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Li Shimin.

However, just as Fang Xuanling was about to receive the imperial edict and Lu Chengqing was filled with joy, a familiar yet unusual voice suddenly came from outside the palace: "Your Majesty! I have something to report!"

Li Shimin was slightly startled, then looked in the direction of the voice and said calmly and majestically, "What do you want to report, Crown Prince?"

"Your Majesty, I request that you supervise the execution of Lu Yuanling and his accomplices!"

"What!?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Chengqing was struck by lightning and looked at Li Chengqian in disbelief.

Li Shimin, Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji's eyelids twitched.

Good guy!
You have guts, boy!
　[Requesting monthly tickets, requesting double monthly tickets]

　　
　
(End of this chapter)