Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 214 Want to go to sea? Go find Wen He
"The sage has ascended the throne!"

With a shout from Gao Yue, all the civil and military officials in the Taiji Hall bowed deeply in respect.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully wish you good health."

Li Shimin took his seat, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials before finally settling on a furtive-looking man at the very back.

Wen He was not tall, and the person standing in front of him, even when bowing, was enough to block his view.

Unless you are paying special attention, no one would notice that he is standing ramrod straight and is merely making a bowing gesture.

But today, Li Shimin knew he would be attending court, so he specifically looked at him.

'This brat's manner of bowing is different from everyone else's. It's fortunate that the censors didn't notice him, otherwise they would surely have charged him with impoliteness.'

May Your Majesty be well.

Gao Yue repeated the story, and only then did the officials rise.

As is customary, the high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Personnel would first report on the recent situation, and then ask if any officials from various prefectures and counties would have any news to report.

After all that is over, we'll get to today's main event.

"The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Changsun Wuji, has submitted a memorial."

"allow."

As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, Changsun Wuji stepped out of his seat and immediately reported on the bidding process.

It must be said that Changsun Wuji was indeed very capable.

In such a short time, he was able to summarize and generalize what Wen He had written before, and then report it.

It can also be understood by everyone.

After he finished speaking, he silently withdrew.

At this point, Yan Lide stepped forward to second the motion and requested that the matter be overseen by an imperial censor.

Li Shimin glanced at Wen He and saw that the boy was yawning, so he shook his head.

Little did he know that Wen He was unusually focused today.

He was thinking about what Li Daozong had said earlier.

Li Shimin also allowed members of the imperial clan to participate in the bidding process.

In fact, if you only look at the bidding superficially, it may seem that there is no benefit, and you may even lose money.

Changsun Wuji previously suggested that members of aristocratic families join, but they were after fame and prestige.

Don't underestimate the importance of reputation; for aristocratic families, it's the key to survival.

With fame comes greater benefits.

If they help the people inside the pass repair the irrigation canals, they will naturally gain a following of believers.

In the ancestral lands of these aristocratic families, they do not recognize the Tang Code, but only the laws of their clan.

Even local officials were helpless.

And that's the benefit of fame.

But for the royal family, they don't need these things at all; all they care about is making money.

That's why Wen He couldn't understand how Li Shimin had persuaded the imperial family to participate in the bidding process.

"Your Majesty!"

at this time.

Then, an old man with a white beard, dressed in a purple robe, came out.

Wen He was standing too far back, so she could only see the person's profile and couldn't make out their face clearly.

Just as he was wondering who this person was, Li Shimin above him smiled and said, "Uncle Prince of Huai'an, it is rare for you to come to court today. May I ask what brings you here?"

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Works' bidding process is a policy that benefits the country and its people. As members of the imperial family, we naturally have an unshirkable duty to participate. We beg Your Majesty's permission to participate in the bidding."

This person is actually Li Shentong?
Wen He looked at his broad back and was secretly surprised.

His stepping forward at this time was likely at Li Shimin's behest.

Wen He just couldn't understand what the royal family was after.

This Li Er is always causing him trouble.

The involvement of powerful families was already chaotic enough.

Officials from the Ministry of Works certainly wouldn't dare to supervise, so they had to ask the Censorate to step in.

With Wei Zheng, the remonstrating official, around, the censors dared not for the time being engage in any dishonest dealings with the powerful families.

Li Shentong's sudden intervention surprised not only Wen He, but also Changsun Wuji and Yan Lide.

Clearly, they hadn't received any information either.

“Uncle, you are very kind. Since that’s the case, then I grant your request.” Li Shimin said almost without hesitation.

There was no attempt to conceal it; he was the one who spearheaded the involvement of the royal family.

The matter was thus settled, and a tender would be held at the Ministry of Works in five days.

Today, the Ministry of Works will select those qualified merchants.

Throughout the court meeting, Wen He remained silent.

He wanted to ask Li Shimin, but he was worried that Li Er would take the opportunity to deliberately make things difficult for him.

After thinking for a moment, he noticed Li Daozong.

This brat is the Minister of the Imperial Clan Court; he must know what deals Li Shimin made with the imperial clan.

"I do not know."

After court, Li Daozong and Wen He walked together. When they left the palace, Wen He asked about the matter, and Li Daozong looked completely bewildered.

"His Majesty only told us that there was profit to be made, saying that once we successfully obtained the bidding qualification, the court would pay for the repair of the canal for us."

He looked at Wen He, somewhat taken aback.

He also wanted to know from Wen He what exactly was profitable.

Wen He was dumbfounded.

He couldn't help but turn around and look at the Taiji Hall.

'You, Li Shimin, have dug a huge pit for the imperial clan and made them willingly jump in!'

"No, what's going on with this bidding process?" Li Daozong grabbed Wen He's sleeve; he had also gotten involved.

"Well, well..." Wen He looked at him and couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him.

This is like being scammed and then gleefully helping the other person count their money.

"Actually, it's not complicated. As Changsun Wuji just said, the participants simply submit their prices, and whoever submits the lowest price will be eligible to repair the canal."

"However, all the quotes and proposals are kept secret, written on a piece of paper, and we review them."

What he said was similar to what Changsun Wuji had said at the court meeting before.

But that's not what Li Daozong wanted to hear.

“I mean, is there any profit to be made?”

"Hmm, good reputation."

"What would I need that for?"

Do members of the royal family still need a reputation?

They would love for their reputation to be as bad as possible.

"Besides this?"

"He may also receive a personal audience with His Majesty, as well as various honors."

"Gone?"

"Gone."

Wen He smiled and nodded.

Li Daozong's face fell completely. "Then can I not participate?"

Wen He blinked. It seemed too late to say this now.

Just now, Li Shentong requested permission to allow members of the imperial clan to participate in the bidding.

Therefore, members of the royal family now have no choice but to participate.

Moreover, Wen He felt that the quota for the imperial clan members was definitely predetermined.

"Did you tell His Majesty before how much money you wanted from the court?" Wen He asked.

He felt that the members of the imperial clan shouldn't be that stupid; perhaps Li Shimin had given them a lot of money.

"Will the imperial court still provide funds?" Li Daozong asked in surprise.

Wen He stared at him in astonishment: "Uh, what else? What did His Majesty promise you?"

"All maritime taxes collected by the Maritime Trade Office for the next five years, and a pardon for those involved in the Li Yuan case." Li Daozong blinked.

Wen He stood there, stunned, and blinked.

Okay, he takes back what he just said.

He now didn't know whether to call the royal family members stupid or shrewd.

The amount of silver sent by Japan this time is indeed substantial. If someone goes to Japan to earn silver in the next five years...

The profits from the seawater brought by the Maritime Trade Office were enough for them to build water conservancy projects within three passes.

But that's just the ideal situation.

Let alone whether the ships can reach Japan smoothly now, even if they do reach Japan, the Japanese will not let them take away so much silver so easily.

Wen He now understands why Li Shimin, who was previously unwilling to let people go to sea, suddenly wanted to establish the Maritime Trade Office.

This is clearly a case of getting something for nothing.

More importantly, he also shifted the blame onto Wen He.

No wonder Li Daozong asked him earlier what the profits were in building water conservancy projects.

He probably still thought there were some hidden interests involved, which is why he came to ask me.

This time, Li Shimin undoubtedly dug a huge pit for the imperial clan and made them willingly jump into it.

Moreover, Li Shimin knew that even if they knew they had fallen into a trap, even if they had grievances in their hearts, they would not dare to say it.

After all, Li Xiaochang had only been dead for a short time.

Li Yuan is still in the prison of the Hundred Cavalry, and Li Shimin has not yet executed him.

No information has been released.

This became a sword hanging over the heads of the royal family.

Whether anyone involved in the Li Yuan case will be pardoned, or whether any members of the imperial family will be implicated, remains unknown.

It's like Schrödinger's cat.

If Li Shimin says you have it, then you have it.

In the future, Changsun Wuji will use Fang Yi'ai's rebellion case to eliminate all his political enemies.

The methods used are exactly the same as those used by Li Shimin now.

"So you mean we've all been deceived?" Li Daozong noticed Wen He's strange expression and immediately guessed what was going on.

Wen He chuckled dryly twice: "Not really, after all, the maritime tax from the Maritime Trade Office is still there."

“But I feel like there’s something off about your expression.” Li Daozong squinted, staring into Wen He’s eyes.

"Really? No, it was getting late, and I suddenly felt a little hungry. I'll be going now."

Wen He didn't want to reveal too much, so he pretended not to know.

Otherwise, if the imperial clansmen cause trouble, Li Er will definitely make things difficult for him.

“I’m hungry, that’s easy, didn’t we say we were going to Wangchun Tower?” Li Daozong said, then grabbed Wen He’s sleeve.

Without waiting for Wen He to agree, she grabbed him and ran outside.

at the same time.

Inside the Li Zheng Hall.

Li Shimin did not sit on the throne at the top, but instead placed a table in the middle.

Sitting in front of him was Li Shentong.

The two were silently sipping the freshly brewed tea.

Just then, a palace attendant strode in from outside, bowed at the door, and said, "Your Majesty, the Prince of Rencheng and the County Magistrate of Gaoyang have left."

"Well, back off."

Li Shimin picked up his teacup, gave a faint reply, and then took a sip of tea.

"That rascal has prepared some fine tea today; Uncle Wang, would you like to try some?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Shentong calmly picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

His guzzling made Li Shimin chuckle. He slowly put down his teacup and looked at Li Shentong's somber expression.

After a moment of contemplation, he smiled and asked, "Uncle, do you think the imperial family will oppose me after learning about this?"

"Your Majesty's actions are all for the future of the imperial family, and we naturally understand." Although Li Shentong said this, there was clearly some anger on his face.

After the court session, Li Shimin summoned him to this place and had a frank and open conversation with him.

Upon hearing this, Li Shentong was furious.

He never expected that the emperor would dig such a huge trap for the imperial family.

The so-called five-year maritime tax revenue from the Maritime Trade Office was clearly just empty talk.

If no one goes to sea, the Maritime Trade Office will have no harvest.

"In fact, I am not deceiving you, but rather encouraging members of the imperial family to go to sea on their own. If you go to sea, all the profits will belong to you, and the Maritime Trade Office will not collect any sea tax for five years."

Li Shimin personally poured Li Shentong a cup of tea.

The latter quickly bowed.

"Going to sea is extremely dangerous; Your Majesty is joking."

Li Shentong bluntly pointed out that Li Shimin was playing a trick on them.

Li Shimin laughed and asked, "Uncle, do you know where this tea came from?"

"It is said that the people of Gaoyang County do not like to drink tea soup, so this fried tea was made," Li Shentong replied casually.

This matter was no secret in Chang'an.

Li Shimin nodded and continued with a smile, "Then does Uncle Wang know who made the curved plow and the seed drill sent to Jiangnan?"

"It is said that he was also from Gaoyang County."

"Where's the telescope?"

"It's him again."

Li Shentong frowned, not understanding why Li Shimin would bring this up.

"Does Uncle Wang know who proposed going to sea?" Li Shimin asked again after finishing his cup of tea.

Li Shentong was a clever man; how could he not have thought of it when Li Shimin had made it so explicit?
"Still Gaoyang County?"

"That's right, it's him. I remember that brat told me not long ago that he had a way to build a large ship that could sail in the wind and waves, and he also had the skill to identify directions at sea. It's just a pity that he has no money to use, and I have no money to use either."

After Li Shimin finished speaking, he slammed the teacup down heavily.

Looking at Li Shentong, he smiled meaningfully.

Li Shentong, sitting opposite him, stared wide-eyed in shock.

(End of this chapter)