Back to the prosperous Tang Dynasty to be the emperor

Chapter 299 Evidence of advance and retreat
"I would like to report to your empress, I have a strategy that may be able to solve this knot."

I don't know how long the unbearable silence lasted. Empress Wu and Li Xian were still in a stalemate. Finally, some people couldn't stand it anymore, but Liu Yizhi appeared from the back of the queue of civil servants during the incident, walked quickly to the hall, and remonstrated loudly speak.

"Oh? Let me tell you about Liu Aiqing's good strategy."

Li Xian's tough attitude was obviously beyond Empress Wu's expectations. Originally, in his calculation, if Li Xian wanted to be crowned prince, he would not dare to fight against him in court. He could use the matter of building the mausoleum to severely suppress him. Li Xian gave it a try, but he never expected that Li Xian would dare to stand in court. Under the miscalculation, the situation of stalemate has become a reality. Just as he was anxious, he suddenly saw Liu Yizhi popping up. Empress Wu would not let go of this opportunity to solve the problem, so she immediately cut her mouth and asked questions.

"I would like to report to my lord, I think that it may be difficult to find a perfect solution, but the mausoleum of 'filial piety to the emperor' must be repaired. If the people who are confiscated can be repaid with profit, it seems that they will not be suspected of disturbing the people. Please make a clear decision."

The main purpose of Liu Yizhi's interruption at this time was to understand Empress Wu's difficulties. As for the solution, I really didn't think about it very much.

See you soon!Li Xian has the memory of the third generation, and he has so much experience in government affairs. He knows that Liu Yizhi's words are nothing but nonsense, and they can't be used to solve practical problems at all. The loss is certainly feasible, but the question is how much profit is required to satisfy the expropriated people. Obviously, if tens of thousands of people have to make up for their annual harvest, the number is really amazing, let alone The construction of the mausoleum will cost a lot of money. Considering the actual situation of the treasury today, it can't stand Liu Yizhi's toss. After the stalemate with Empress Wu continued, he took advantage of the situation and retreated to the side, which ended the head-to-head conflict with Empress Wu.

"Well, Liu Aiqing's proposal is quite good. What do you Aiqing think?"

Empress Wu naturally also saw the problem with Liu Yizhi's words, but, out of the intention of ending the conflict, Empress Wu also did not point out the matter, but looked around at the ministers and workers in the palace, and asked gently.

"Qi Niang Niang, I don't understand something, I want to ask Liu Gezhong, how much is the profit to compensate, and where should it come from?"

Officials who have reached the level of courtiers are not fools. Most of them can see the loopholes in Liu Yi's words, but everyone just recovered from the strong confrontation between Empress Wu and Li Xian. I don't want to stand up to be troublesome at this time, even the five prime ministers all pretended to be dumb, but Pei Yan, the new household assistant left servant, obviously didn't have such a blessing - it wasn't that Pei Yan didn't want to keep silent, but that he couldn't, Probably because the Book of the Household Department was co-authored by Yan Liben who had already been expelled from the palace, but in fact the person in charge of the Household Department was Pei Yan. After going through the previous method, pouring out all the points from the Ministry of Finance was not enough, so Pei Yan had no choice but to bite the bullet and stand up and sing the opposite.

"This……"

Although Liu Yizhi is a fifth-rank official, he actually has no previous experience in the local government. It is entirely due to the empress Wu's excellence. His literary talent is outstanding, but in practice, he is not good at all. When Pei Yan asked him, he immediately He was dumbfounded and couldn't tell why for a long time.

"Pei Aiqing, how much is the balance of the national treasury now? If it is calculated by enlisting [-] people, after two years of tax exemption, how much should each household need to compensate? Can the national treasury be used?"

After the case of He Lanmin, there are not many people that Empress Wu can rely on in the court. Earlier, Ming Chongyan was beaten to the brim by various ministers, and now he will face Liu Yizhi. In the same end, Empress Wu couldn't hold back anymore, so she had to interject, which barely relieved Liu Yizhi's misery.

"I would like to report to you, that there was a severe drought in Guanzhong the year before last, and more than forty prefectures had no harvests. The cost of immigration was huge, so that the surplus accumulated over the years was lost. Last year, Hebei suffered disasters, and 32 prefectures suffered from disasters. Fortunately, the southern prefectures still had a good year. , This is barely a tie. Now the balance of the court is only 35 two hundred and twelve guan. One hundred thousand people were collected and calculated. Even if they were exempted from taxes for two years, each person would have to make up seven guan to ensure that each family would not go hungry in the coming year. Including the need to build the mausoleum, the total shortfall will be over one million guan, and I really can't afford it, so please forgive me." Pei Yan is meticulous by nature, even in the face of the always strong Empress Wu, he has never had any regrets. Without the slightest fear, he pointed his fingers and reported the account in a calm manner.

"boom……"

I really don't know if I don't hear it. When I heard it, I was shocked. None of the civil and military officials in the court thought that the current treasury had been exhausted to such an extent.

"It's hard for Pei Aiqing. I know that this matter is quite difficult, but His Majesty's intention has been decided, and no matter how difficult it is, I have to deal with it. This is good. From now on, everyone in the inner palace will have to pay the same amount from me. It will be halved, and the remaining amount will be used as compensation, and another 30 guan will be allocated from the internal treasury for the purpose of building the mausoleum. There are two of these, and there may be some difference in the balance, and I will let the palace figure it out." Empress Wu didn't know much about the state of the treasury either. Hearing what Pei Yan said, her head immediately ached. She didn't want to make such a fuss about building the mausoleum. For a while, I couldn't show that I didn't want to build it. I could only grit my teeth and think of ways to raise money from the internal treasury.

"Your Majesty is wise, I have no objection."

But knowing that the money wasn't coming from the treasury, Pei Yan felt relieved, and since he wouldn't argue with Empress Wu any more, he hastily replied and stepped aside.

Try again?It's just a joke, after this calculation, there is still a shortfall of more than [-] guan. This is not a small amount, and it is so easy to make up. The old man's internal treasury only has more than [-] guan left, so give it all out Come on, can all the people in the inner palace drink the northwest wind?Li Xian doesn't believe that Empress Wu can raise so much money at all, and it is very likely that he will play a trick of beating white bills, so he doesn't want to take on such a job that is obviously hot potato, although after the previous trouble, Empress Wu may not dare to do it again. Forcing such a rubbish job into his arms, he was not afraid of ten thousand, just in case, Li Xian didn't want to fall into the predicament of being passively beaten again, so he quietly confronted Ling He Long made a signal.

"Your Majesty understands righteousness, benevolence, and benevolence. It is a great kindness rarely seen in ancient times. I am very grateful. Now that the matter has been decided, there should be a safe person to take charge of it. Liu Ge has such a wonderful idea in his affairs. Thinking about it, I must have the regulations in mind, and my minister suggested that Liu Wei should take charge of the overall situation, so as to ensure that there is no risk of mistakes in this matter, and please ask the empress to make a decision." He Long is an old man in the Yingwang Palace, and he has always followed Li Xian's advice. Immediately looking forward, seeing Li Xian gave the secret signal, he immediately stood up knowingly, first slapped Empress Wu, and then changed the subject, unceremoniously putting the construction of the mausoleum on Liu Yizhi's hands on the head.

"Your Majesty is sage, and I think what Langzhong said is very true. With Liu's ability in doing things, he will surely live up to the great trust of Your Majesty and Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, the ministers and others think that this is a big deal, and it must not be done in Liu's affairs. I hope your Majesty will make a clear decision."

"Qi Niang Niang, the ministers and others all think that Liu Ge is a stable person in his work, and he is also talented, so he is indeed worthy of such an important task."

When He Long opened his mouth like this, Lin Mingdu and others did not dare to be negligent, they stood up one after another, echoing each other loudly, and immediately, the original prince and other officials followed suit, and for a while the court discussion was overwhelming shape.

"Liu Aiqing, all the gentlemen say that you are talented, do you dare to do this?"

Empress Wu didn't expect Li Xian's counterattack to come so quickly and so fiercely, his face turned a little ugly for a while, and he couldn't survive the attack. He was 12 unhappy, and let the ministers make a fuss After having had enough, he raised his hand to signal everyone to be silent, looked at Liu Yizhi who was a little absent-minded, and asked in a flat tone.

"My minister... I should do my best."

Liu Yizhi is not stupid, how could he not know that the task of supervising the construction of the mausoleum is a hot potato, and he didn't want to take over from the bottom of his heart. When he came over, he was startled, and hurriedly changed his words, and 12 reluctantly agreed.

"That's very good. I believe that Liu Aiqing will never fail His Majesty's trust." As soon as Liu Yizhi's words fell, Empress Wu immediately made a statement to finalize the matter. Immediately, she looked sideways at Li Jingxuan, Minister of Rites, and pondered for a while. : "Li Aiqing, I will lead the officials of the Ministry of Rites to preside over the memorial ceremony. Do you have any questions?"

"Old minister obeys!"

The memorial ceremony was originally an activity of the Ministry of Rites, and Li Jingxuan had no reason to shirk it, he could only respectfully keep his promise.

"That's very good. Let's stop here today. Li Aiqing, please feel free."

Empress Wu obviously lost the enthusiasm to continue the discussion, and after leaving a scene, she led a group of accompanying eunuchs into the apse.

Although Empress Wu left, the courtiers couldn't leave. Without it, the sacrifice and even the spirit guard must start as soon as possible. There is no time for the courtiers to go home and rest. Of course, they must first produce a charter Okay, fortunately, Li Jingxuan is a person who is experienced in this way, so there is nothing wrong with it. However, this matter is easy to say, but it is cumbersome to do. After Li Jingxuan and Li Xian brothers asked for instructions, they immediately So they hurriedly dispatched, and the huge hall was suddenly in a panic.

(End of this chapter)