The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed with delight, "Huai'an, you've finally figured it out!"

"However... although Wei Zheng, that country bumpkin, was no good, is it really appropriate to kill him and celebrate?"

Chen Huai'an raised an eyebrow: "Your Majesty thinks it's too lenient on Wei Zheng? Hmm... indeed, Your Majesty is wise. Cutting off his head like this is indeed too lenient on him."

"Then why not exile him to Lingnan and let him suffer a fate worse than death?"

Li Shimin: ? ? ?

"That's what I mean, isn't it?"

What did Wei Zheng ever do to offend you? Why do you keep making people wish they were dead?

What grudge do you have?

To exile people to Lingnan, a place known for its humid heat and miasma, teeming with poisonous insects and ferocious beasts?

Li Shimin forcibly suppressed his somewhat tempted thoughts: "Tell me why you came to see me today. As for Wei Zheng... let him off the hook for now."

Chen Huai'an remained silent.

He's just wasting his time, doing absolutely nothing all day.

Knowing that Li Shimin wouldn't take it seriously, Chen Huai'an skipped the whole topic and said, "Your Majesty, I came here today to tell you that grain prices will continue to rise. During this period, you must withstand the pressure and delay as much as possible, otherwise all your previous efforts will be in vain."

Li Shimin frowned upon hearing this.

During this period, Chen Huai'an and his team had an easy time; all they had to do was raise grain prices according to plan.

But he was in trouble.

Since the order to buy up grain was issued, the more fiercely grain prices have risen, the greater the pressure he has been under.

The public outrage and the repeated memorials from court officials were truly giving him a headache.

But in order to keep the game going, he had to endure it.

I thought that with a large number of grain merchants bringing grain to Chang'an, it would be time to close the net soon. But now, judging from Chen Huai'an's words, it's not time to close the net yet.

In other words, he has to keep carrying the burden?

"Look here," Li Shimin said, pointing to the mountain of memorials piled up on his desk. "See? These are all memorials requesting me to stop buying grain at high prices in Chang'an and instead send people to other regions to buy grain."

"This kind of memorial is already considered good. What's worse is that some people have even ordered me to kill those grain merchants who raised prices and to regulate grain prices. Some of the bolder ones have been saying that I shouldn't have issued that order in the first place, and they're practically calling me a foolish emperor."

"You expect me to continue bearing the burden of grain prices that are already at the same level?"

Chen Huai'an laughed and said, "But it was clearly the officials who petitioned for you to collect grain from the people. Now that there's a problem, how can you be blamed?"

Li Shimin's face turned ashen: "What do you think?"

Chen Huai'an remained silent.

Being an emperor isn't easy; sometimes, emperors even have to take the blame.

Li Shimin said in a deep voice, "Speak frankly, when exactly will we close the net? Do you still think there isn't enough grain in Chang'an?"

"Not enough!" Chen Huai'an shook his head. "Far from enough!"

Why?

Chen Huai'an did not answer that question. Instead, he asked, "Your Majesty, do you intend to launch a military campaign against the Eastern Turks?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Li Shimin said irritably. "How could I not want to? I dream about it!"

In the ninth year of the Wude era, although the Wei River Alliance was not re-established as in the original history, it is an undeniable fact that the Turks led a large army into the territory of the Tang Dynasty, causing much bloodshed.

For Li Shimin, it was a disgrace as well.

More importantly, the Turks were powerful; if they could break an alliance once, they could break it a second time.

If this threat is not eliminated, the borders of the Tang Dynasty will never be peaceful.

"Very well!" Chen Huai'an clapped his hands. "Your Majesty, I have a question for you."

"In what ways is the Tang Dynasty inferior to the Eastern Turks? In terms of soldiers? In terms of brave and skilled warriors? Or in terms of brilliant generals?"

Li Shimin's face turned pale, then flushed: "They're both good!"

Chen Huai'an slowly spoke: "Since we are all equally capable, why does everyone feel that now is not the time to wage war against the Turks? Is it because the people's livelihood has not recovered, and the imperial court has neither money nor grain?"

Li Shimin remained silent.

Chen Huai'an asked again: "Your Majesty wants to create a prosperous era, surpassing Emperor Wen of Han in literature and Emperor Wu of Han in military prowess. But whether it is literature or military prowess, money and grain are hurdles that cannot be bypassed."

"Now, with just a drought, the imperial court is already in an extremely passive position. What if other natural disasters occur next?"

Li Shimin remained silent.

Chen Huai'an emphasized, "At that time, let alone a prosperous era, if we were to launch a military campaign against the Turks, it would be quite an achievement for His Majesty to maintain stability in the realm and prevent internal strife."

"When that time comes, will His Majesty regret not waiting a little longer today to stockpile more grain?"

"Will the Emperor Emeritus be disappointed in His Majesty?"

Li Shimin's body trembled, and his eyes widened.

These words were like a knife stabbing into his heart, immediately breaking him down: "What did you say? Say it again?"

"When have I ever needed to care about the opinions of others? When have I ever needed to prove to anyone whether I am a qualified emperor? I don't need to prove anything to anyone; I myself am the best proof!"

"Did you hear me?"

Chen Huai'an nodded repeatedly: "Your Majesty, I understand. I understand perfectly well. Do we, as ruler and subject, need to say such things? Do you think I don't know what kind of emperor you are?"

"It is precisely because I understand this that I have entrusted you with the responsibility of withstanding the pressure!"

"You tell me, if it were someone else, could they withstand this kind of pressure? I reckon by the end of March, they probably wouldn't have been able to withstand the pressure from the people and the officials at court, and would have listened to their advice, right?"

"But what about you? Not only did you withstand it, you also managed to deal with all the court officials."

"For the sake of the people, you have sacrificed so much, willingly enduring infamy and bearing immense pressure."

"Your Majesty, you are so great!"

"If the Emperor Emeritus understood your good intentions, he would surely be very pleased."

Li Shimin twitched the corners of his mouth, his expression shifting for a moment before he let out a heavy nasal sound: "Hmm!"

Although he felt something was wrong, he did find these words helpful.

Chen Huai'an pressed his advantage: "Now that things have come to this, you just need to hold on a little longer, and you can drive grain prices down to rock bottom, and then buy up a large amount of grain at a low price."

"With grain, and a steady stream of money from ironware and refined salt, wouldn't your ideals and ambitions finally have a chance to be realized?"

"Your Majesty, just endure a little more hardship, and it will be alright."

Li Shimin struggled for a moment, then slowly exhaled a breath of stale air: "Alright, I... I'll listen to you, and endure this hardship a little longer..."

Chen Huai'an's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile.

"..."