Tang Dynasty: Taking the Empress Dowager to a brothel, Father Emperor, what a coincidence!

"Your Highness, this matter is of utmost importance; please refrain from speaking recklessly."

Kong Yingda leaned closer to Li Chengqian with some concern and whispered a reminder.

Li Chengqian did not immediately answer Li Shimin's question, but instead looked around at the civil and military officials.

Finally, their gaze settled on Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji felt a chill run down his spine under his gaze, and a sense of foreboding suddenly rose in his heart.

Li Chengqian then looked at Li Shimin and said:

"Father, the matter of money and provisions is easy to handle."

He pointed at Changsun Wuji.

"My uncle's family is wealthy. I just heard that my uncle's mansion has 300,000 dan of grain and 100,000 guan of copper coins stored up."

I heard they've even blocked the gates of the Duke of Qi's mansion?

Changsun Wuji's mind went blank.

Didn't you have the Cui family deliver this to my residence?

Now you're actually trying to pin this on me?

Cui Mingan's eyes lit up instantly upon hearing Li Chengqian's words.

He was still feeling bad about the money, but when he heard that Li Chengqian wanted to confiscate it, he immediately jumped up.

"Your Majesty! His Highness the Crown Prince is absolutely right."

The Duke of Qi, Changsun Wuji, abused his power and extorted 100,000 strings of copper coins and 300,000 dan of grain from the minister, all of which are now hidden in the Duke of Qi's mansion.

"Now that the nation is in peril, the Duke of Qi actually wants to hoard a huge sum of money! He's a traitor, a beast!!!"

If Changsun Wuji doesn't dare to scold Li Chengqian, why wouldn't he dare to scold Cui Min?

He pointed at Cui Mingan and began to curse:

"You old dog Cui! You're spouting nonsense. It was clearly you..."

Changsun Wuji suddenly stopped talking halfway through his sentence.

What could he say?

Is it true that Li Chengqian extorted money from the Cui family and then forced it on him?

Li Chengqian had his confession in his hand; if he was really pushed to the limit, he would show it in court.

Then Changsun Wuji would have no reason to stay in the imperial court.

When Li Shimin saw the scene below, he almost burst out laughing.

This brat swindled the Cui family out of their money, shifted the blame to Changsun Wuji, and now he's using that money to fill the hole in the national treasury.

I don't know how he came up with this plan that killed three birds with one stone.

Now that he had the money, he could finally put his plan to destroy Goguryeo into action.

As for whose money it was, that was none of Li Shimin's business.

"Fuji, is what the Crown Prince and Minister Cui said true?"

Changsun Wuji replied, feeling frustrated:

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Your Majesty...

"I do indeed possess this amount of money and provisions. I had originally intended to donate it to the national treasury at the morning court session today, but now I can use it to supplement military supplies."

Li Chengqian led the applause and said:

"Uncle Gao Yi! He is truly the most loyal minister of our Great Tang Dynasty."

Seeing Changsun Wuji's frustrated expression, all the civil and military officials suppressed their laughter and praised him.

"The Duke of Qi is indeed a man of noble character and integrity."

"Lord Changsun sacrificed his family fortune to relieve the nation's distress; he is a role model for us all!"

As Changsun Wuji listened to the praises around him, his vision went black, and he suddenly fainted.

Li Chengqian glanced at Changsun Wuji being carried out and curled his lip in disdain.

With such a lack of mental fortitude, how dare he call himself the most powerful minister in the Tang Dynasty?

He then turned to Tang Jian and asked:

"Lord Tang, shouldn't 100,000 strings of cash and 300,000 dan of grain be enough for the army to set off?"

Tang Jian replied with a smile:

"That's enough. Absolutely enough. Your Highness is truly a divine being."

Li Chengqian nodded and turned to look at Cui Mingan, who was still smug.

"Lord Cui, my uncle has already donated; shouldn't the Cui family of Qinghe also make a donation?"

Cui Mingan's smile vanished, and he stared at Li Chengqian in disbelief.

Li Chengqian, with a naive look on his face, continued to urge:

"Lord Cui? The Cui family of Qinghe is a thousand-year-old family, and can be considered the number one family in the Tang Dynasty."

My uncle just emptied his family's coffers for the Tang Dynasty; you can't possibly be less than my uncle who fainted, can you?

Everyone in the hall was shocked by Li Chengqian's shamelessness.

Whom does the Crown Prince take after?

Cheng Yaojin wouldn't let such an opportunity pass, and immediately stepped forward to shout:

"That's right, Lord Cui. You were the one shouting and yelling the loudest just now, but why do you turn into a coward when money is mentioned? Surely your Qinghe Cui family can't even come up with my old Cheng's three hundred strings of cash?"

Cui Mingan almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

If Cheng Yaojin were to hand over 300 strings of cash, that would be because you're shameless.

If the Cui family of Qinghe were to also contribute several hundred strings of cash, they would become the laughingstock of the entire Chang'an tomorrow.

What's worse is that he had just mocked Changsun Wuji, and now he's reaping what he sowed; the fire has spread to him.

Now that the entire court is watching, I can't very well embarrass myself, can I?

"minister......"

Cui Mingan was furious.

"The Cui family of Qinghe is willing to congratulate the Great Tang! Your subject is willing to donate 50,000 strings of copper coins and 100,000 dan of grain as military supplies."

After announcing the numbers, Cui Minqian's heart was bleeding.

He did nothing these past two days, yet he was inexplicably swindled out of 150,000 strings of cash and 400,000 dan of grain.

Li Chengqian clapped his hands and laughed loudly:

"Lord Cui is indeed a pillar of the nation. Father, look, the military supplies are secured now!"

Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian with a smile.

This little brat's ability to trick people is absolutely amazing.

They got their hands on the grain for the expedition with just a few words.

"Good! Minister Cui is loyal and courageous, which greatly pleases me."

After Li Shimin finished speaking, he suddenly looked at the other aristocratic officials.

"Minister Wang, Minister Lu, what do you think?"

Wang Gui trembled slightly upon hearing Li Shimin's question.

This bastard has tasted success and is now planning to fleece them mercilessly.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is willing to donate 20,000 strings of cash..."

"Your Majesty, I also donate 20,000 strings of cash and 50,000 dan of grain..."

For a time, the Taiji Hall became a large-scale fundraising site.

One by one, the officials from powerful families reluctantly agreed to make the donations.

However, when they made the donation, everyone glared at Cui Mingan fiercely.

If it weren't for this old bastard showing off, how could things have turned out like this?

Tang Jian, the Minister of Revenue, excitedly took notes with his brush.

The Ministry of Revenue has never fought such a wealthy battle in its entire history.

The crown prince is practically his personal cash cow.

Li Shimin was in a great mood and immediately announced the end of the court session.

Li Chengqian yawned as he left the Taiji Hall.

......

Two hours later.

The Duke of Qi's Mansion.

Changsun Wuji sat on the grand master's chair with a livid face.

He didn't faint at all in the Taiji Hall; he would have been embarrassed if he hadn't pretended to be dead.

After being carried back to the mansion, he was so angry that he smashed everything he could in the study.

"Bang!"

Cui Mingan and Wang Gui walked in with grim faces.

The two were summoned by the steward at Changsun Wuji's behest.

That's why people say Changsun Wuji was the number one cunning strategist in the Tang Dynasty.

They could have just had a fight in the imperial court, and then immediately swallow their pride and invite someone over.

Who could do that?

"Changsun Wuji, you really put on a good show today."

Not only did they swindle me out of 100,000 strings of cash, they also dragged me into trouble in the imperial court.

After Cui Mingan entered, he angrily shouted at Changsun Wuji.

Wang Gui also said with a gloomy face:

"Duke of Qi, we are allies. You're using our aristocratic families as stepping stones to show your loyalty to His Majesty. Isn't that incredibly dishonorable?"

Changsun Wuji stared coldly at the two of them without saying a word, only taking a sip of his tea.

"Have you two finished your tirade? Still don't understand?"

Today in the Taiji Hall, the three of us were all made fools of.

Cui Mingan was taken aback by his words: "What do you mean?"

"Those 100,000 strings of copper coins and 300,000 dan of grain were not something I intended to cheat you out of."

Changsun Wuji recounted the threatening letter sent from the Eastern Palace.

"It was the Crown Prince. That little brat extorted money from your Cui family, then piled up money and grain at my gate, forcing me to accept it."

Cui Mingan said with an incredulous expression:

"That's impossible. How could he be so cunning? Even you wouldn't be that cunning, would you?"

That's just the way it is.

Changsun Wuji clenched his fists.

"Today in the court, he deliberately provoked a war, causing the Goguryeo envoy to anger the military general and start a conflict."

Then, using the pretext that the Ministry of Revenue is short of funds, they will conveniently confiscate the money and grain from my household, and finally, they will play a trick on your aristocratic families once again.

Cui Mingan and Wang Gui exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

If what Changsun Wuji said is true, then this crown prince is truly extraordinary.