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

Li Shimin was well aware of Chen Huai'an's thoughts.

With so many officials supporting him, Li Shimin readily agreed: "Since everyone agrees, it seems they all think Minister Chen's suggestion is good."

"Then let's do it this way. From now on, refined salt will be produced, approved, and sold by the government. Merchants from all over the country will be allowed to apply for government salt permits. The Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of State Affairs should draft a detailed system as soon as possible and submit it to me for approval."

"Your Majesty, we obey!" Chen Huai'an and the officials of the Ministry of Personnel agreed.

"Do any of you have anything else to report?" Li Shimin asked.

Chen Huai'an spoke again: "Your Majesty, since refined salt is already produced, approved, and sold by the government, why not adopt the same method for other official business such as papermaking, printing legal books, and medical books?"

"I have heard that Zheng Yuanzhu, the Minister of Ceremonies, is quick-witted, eloquent, and of unwavering integrity. He was detained by the Turks for several years without yielding and was praised by the Emperor Emeritus as a contemporary Su Wu."

"Furthermore, Zheng Yuanzhu comes from a family with a long and distinguished tradition of classical studies, which is universally acknowledged. Why not... entrust this matter to him?"

After he finished speaking, all the officials in the court fell silent, including Zheng Yuanzhu, the person in question.

Zheng Yuanzhu was truly helpless.

Honestly, he had no intention of getting involved in these struggles between imperial power, factions, interests, and aristocratic families.

Those scions of powerful families who could hold high positions in the imperial court either leaned towards imperial power or remained neutral. They were the representatives that Li Shimin used to balance imperial power and powerful families.

It was difficult for a steadfast member of a powerful aristocratic family to rise to a position like the Minister of State Ceremonies, a third-rank official, unless Li Shimin lost a power struggle and had no choice but to promote a member of the aristocratic family to the throne.

Zheng Yuanzhu was clearly not one of them; he was a neutral party and did not participate in these struggles.

Whether it's iron or refined salt, it's actually none of his business, and it's not even related to the Zheng family of Xingyang behind him.

Only Chen Huai'an's manipulation a few days ago caused them to lose some grain.

But none of this matters.

In any struggle, there are winners and losers, which is normal, and Zheng Yuanzhu didn't care at all.

Today, watching Chen Huai'an clash with Cui Xuan and the others, I thought it had nothing to do with me, but I didn't expect it to get involved.

But he couldn't refuse the thing Chen Huai'an had proposed!

"Hmm?" Li Shimin seemed to have become somewhat interested, and then asked, "What do you think, Minister Zheng? Minister Chen suggested that you handle this matter; are you capable of doing it?"

Once the words were spoken, everyone understood that Li Shimin had skipped over the question of whether or not to undertake the task, and instead directly asked Zheng Yuanzhu whether he was capable of doing it.

This undoubtedly means that Li Shimin agreed to Chen Huai'an's proposal that papermaking and book printing, like refined salt, should be produced, approved, and sold by the government.

Zheng Yuanzhu remained silent for a long time, intending to refuse.

He really didn't want to get involved in this struggle, but he also understood that he couldn't refuse.

Neither the Zheng family behind him nor Li Shimin at present would allow him to refuse.

This is an exchange of interests, a political compromise, and he is the middleman.

"Your Majesty, I am deeply humbled by such high regard from the Duke of Anguo. If Your Majesty is willing to entrust this important task to me, I will certainly live up to your expectations." Zheng Yuanzhu bowed deeply.

"Excellent!" Li Shimin smiled. "Since Minister Zheng is willing to take on this important task, how could I possibly disagree?"

"When you, Zheng Aiqing, have successfully completed this matter and printed the first book, I will personally come to celebrate your achievement!"

Zheng Yuanzhu remained silent: "Your subject... obeys the decree!"

I personally celebrated his success after the first book was printed...

This is not a reward, but a silent warning.

"......"

"Minister, there is something I do not understand."

After the court session, officials from the Ministry of Works followed Chen Huai'an. Chang Gui couldn't help but say, "Didn't you bring up movable type printing yesterday? Why didn't you mention it at all? You only talked about woodblock printing?"

"Furthermore, Minister, you hold two powerful ministries, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue. You already have the necessary channels; given time, you can gradually popularize refined salt. Why must you share a portion of the profits?"

Ouyang Shu's lips twitched slightly.

Chen Huai'an stopped in his tracks: "Chang Gui, I remember you also came from a poor family, right?"

"Yes, I come from a humble background."

"Having been in officialdom for so long, haven't you realized just how terrifying the control that powerful families have over the lower levels truly is?"

"This..." Chang Gui hesitated, "But Minister, they've already sent people to kill you! And you're still sharing the spoils with them, how can you tolerate that?"

Chen Huai'an's tone was strange: "When did I ever tolerate it?"

Chang Gui is a good person. He comes from a poor family, is upright, and is efficient.

He lacks a keen sense of smell in certain areas, but he is also passionate.

This is both a good thing and a bad thing.

Ouyang Shu slapped his forehead and quickly pulled Chang Gui: "Brother Chang, don't you understand yet? Even if refined salt is produced, approved, and sold by the government, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue still have the final say."

"Both of these departments are controlled by the Minister. Who gets the profits is simply a matter of the Minister's word."

"Even if the Minister offers his benefits, do you think it will be easy for the Cui family to obtain them? Is it possible for them to get them without paying a price?"

"Is the Minister such a generous person?"

Chang Gui was stunned for a while before finally figuring it out: "I understand now. Cui Xuan's faction must be the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on the Minister. They want to get the profits from the refined salt from the Minister, so they have to show their sincerity. Otherwise, the Minister won't agree."

"Once they show their sincerity, the Minister can share the benefits with Cui Dunli's faction. After all, they are all from the Cui family of Boling, and the Minister has never broken his word."

"At that time, they will have to fight among themselves first. The faction that gets the profits from refined salt will likely grow stronger, while the Cui Xuan faction, which has lost salt as its main source of income and has not gotten the profits from refined salt, will inevitably fall into decline..."

"Minister...you're brilliant!"

I have always admired him sincerely.

He thought he had already understood a lot, but he didn't expect that he was still on the first level.

Chen Huai'an glared at Ouyang Shu, annoyed. "What do you mean I'm such a generous person? Are you implying that I'm petty?"

Ouyang Shu: "..."

"Your Excellency, I was wrong. I spoke recklessly."

Chen Huai'an snorted: "Considering you've done a good job debunking rumors, I won't hold it against you."

Ouyang Shu gave an awkward smile and quickly changed the subject: "Minister... what kind of sincerity do you think the Cui family should offer in order to obtain the profits from refined salt from you?"

"Want to know?" Chen Huai'an raised an eyebrow.

"We want to." Ouyang Shu and Chang Gui nodded repeatedly.

"You think I wouldn't tell you? Do you think I'm that generous?"

Ouyang Shu and Chang Gui: "..."

"....."