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

"You personally oversee this matter, and make sure nothing goes wrong."

Li Shimin couldn't help but add a word of advice. To be honest, the impact of the hail was quite damaging to him, so he was eager to win over the hearts of the people.

"Your subject obeys the decree." Chen Huai'an readily agreed, "I will keep a close eye on this matter and ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"That's good." Li Shimin leaned back, feeling much more relaxed.

"You must have something else to say, right? Tell me about it."

"Your Majesty is indeed a prophet," Chen Huai'an smiled. "I would like to ask Your Majesty to consider creating a new Vice Minister position in the Ministry of Revenue."

"The Ministry of Revenue is usually too busy, and I also have to take charge of the Ministry of Works, so I am really struggling to keep up."

"To create a new position of Vice Minister?" Li Shimin sat up straight. The Vice Minister of Revenue was a fourth-rank official, no small matter.

Considering that Chen Huai'an held two positions and that the Ministry of Revenue was indeed overwhelmed with affairs under various policies, Li Shimin pondered, "What are your thoughts?"

"My idea is simple: the Vice Minister of Revenue should be divided into the Left and Right Departments..."

Chen Huai'an repeated what he had said to Liang Bingyi, but in more detail, so that Li Shimin could understand.

In the original history, the Ministry of Revenue was originally set up with a Vice Minister, but due to the excessive workload, a position was added.

It would be better if he took it out earlier.

Having someone else to help share the burden is always a good thing.

After listening, Li Shimin pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, I agree. However, this is no small matter. I will talk to Fu Ji and Xuan Ling and arrange it as soon as possible."

"Do you have any good suggestions regarding the selection of a new Vice Minister?"

Chen Huai'an was taken aback for a moment: "Your Majesty can decide this matter; I have no objection."

"Of course, they need to be able to get things done."

Li Shimin scoffed, "So, you mean someone who can help you write memorials?"

Chen Huai'an: "..."

Some things are better left unsaid; it's impolite to say them out loud.

Li Shimin then asked about the time, somewhat speechless: "Why is it that every time you come to see me, it seems to be around mealtime?"

"If Your Majesty does not welcome me, I may leave."

"Fine, fine, I'm truly impressed by you... Zhang Anan, prepare the meal."

"..."

Meimei ate until she was about half full, but Chen Huai'an patted his stomach, still feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

Li Shimin was so stingy, only preparing enough food for five people. Who could possibly eat that?

You'd think he couldn't afford it!

Forget it, let's go out and find something to eat.

As he walked out of the imperial city and onto Zhuque Street, the small vendors who were already familiar with Chen Huai'an kept greeting him, and many people silently stopped to make way for him.

"Old Huang, give me two flatbreads and two bowls of mutton soup," Chen Huai'an said without any politeness as he approached Huang Yun's stall.

"Alright." Huang Yun quickly wrapped up two flatbreads, handed them to Chen Huai'an, and bought two bowls of mutton soup from a nearby stall.

"Your Excellency, please have some." Huang Yun cheerfully handed him the mutton soup and even brought over a small table and stools.

"Well, Lao Huang," Chen Huai'an said, somewhat surprised. "You're just a flatbread seller, and you've even got tables and chairs."

"Well, it's because of your frequent patronage that my flatbreads are selling better and better. With more customers, I decided to have a carpenter make a few sets of tables and chairs." Huang Yun said with a bright smile.

Who is Chen Huai'an?

The Ministers of Works and Revenue were high-ranking officials whom ordinary people could never even see.

People like that patronize his stall every day; it's practically a golden brand.

Moreover, with Chen Huai'an's connection, no one, from local thugs to high-ranking officials, dared to make things difficult for him.

"Your Excellency, Minister."

At this moment, a person who surprised Chen Huai'an walked over carrying flour and other items.

Chen Huai'an asked with a smile, "Hey buddy, you're here too?"

Zhang Peng scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly: "Your Excellency, Boss Huang saw that I was having some trouble and that business was good, so he asked me to help out while I was still here."

"I see..." Chen Huai'an said with a sudden realization. "Have you already registered? Is everything settled at home?"

"It's been reported!" Zhang Peng said excitedly. "I'm leaving on the fifteenth of May. My mother was overjoyed when she heard about it. She said I must work hard for the court and live up to the wages they pay me."

"It's good that you've reported it." Chen Huai'an patted his shoulder. "Take good care of your mother and your sisters."

"Don't worry, Your Excellency, I will." Zhang Peng patted his chest and assured him.

Chen Huai'an nodded slightly, took a bite of the sesame flatbread, and casually asked, "It's been hailing lately, how's your family doing?"

"My house is alright," Zhang Peng replied. "When my father was alive, the house was built sturdily, so there weren't any major problems. As for the crops in the fields... well, they were almost eaten by locusts long ago. Plus, I'm leaving soon, so I can't take care of them anymore, and there aren't any problems."

"So... have any negative rumors been circulating?" Chen Huai'an asked again.

Zhang Peng was taken aback: "What constitutes inappropriate remarks?"

Huang Yun was somewhat helpless; this was truly a foolish young man. He then answered for him, "Reporting to the Minister, there are no bad rumors circulating."

"However, everyone is quite... uh, angry."

Chen Huai'an's heart sank. Had the thing he least wanted to see still happened?

"What are you angry about? The imperial court?"

"No, no, of course not." Huang Yunke wasn't stupid; she was quick-witted and understood that Chen Huai'an was referring to the imperial court on the surface, but was actually alluding to His Majesty or herself.

He wouldn't dare admit it.

"What is that?"

Huang Yun said angrily, "What else could it be? Of course it's that damned God! He doesn't treat us like human beings at all."

"Famine, locust plagues, and hailstorms have struck one after another; who can withstand that?"

"Recently, too many people have been cursing God. Many of them are very hot-tempered and have gone to catch locusts, then burned them one by one..."

Huang Yun's words left Chen Huai'an speechless for a moment.

Zhang Peng knew what they were talking about, and grumbled, "How can I not curse? This so-called God is clearly making it impossible for us to live."

"Since they're not even letting us live, why bother caring about anything else?"

"What kind of bullshit 'heavenly worm' is that? It'll still die if it gets burned!"

Listening to their conversation, Chen Huai'an suddenly understood.

Many people say... that the common people are ignorant.

This is true; many people are indeed ignorant.

But ignorance does not mean being easy to bully. From the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to the present day, the people of this land have suffered far too many hardships, yet they have never been defeated.

The emperor made their lives unbearable, yet they could even overthrow the emperor. If Heaven were to drive them to their doom, even the most foolish person would go mad.

"..."