xymnovel Chapter 35 Things Don't Go As Planned
Chapter 35 Things Don't Go As Planned
Li Er surveyed the assembled officials, his gaze settling on Wei Zheng. His eyes lit up immediately: "Draft an edict appointing Wei Zheng, the Junior Chamberlain of the Imperial Household Department, as Grand Envoy with Imperial Credentials, responsible for pacifying the various prefectures of Shandong, touring the counties and districts, informing both the inner and outer courts that Jiancheng and Yuanji's officials and their associates are to be pardoned and their past transgressions forgiven; and that he be allowed to appease the displaced people and comfort the populace, and to act expediently along the way."
"No."
"Your Majesty, please reconsider."
As soon as Li Er finished speaking, Changsun Wuji and Yuchi Jingde stepped forward to object.
Li Er knew what the two men meant, and with a flick of his sleeve, he said sternly, "My mind is made up. My dear ministers, there is no need for further discussion. You may leave."
The two exchanged a glance and reluctantly retreated to the middle of the classroom.
Fang Xuanling then reported: "We have received a report that the Turkic Khagan, Jieli Khan..."
After the grand meeting, a smaller meeting was held. Now, the matter of determining national policies has been entirely entrusted to Li Er (Emperor Taizong of Tang), and Li Yuan has since become a figurehead.
In the side hall, Changsun Wuji spoke fiercely, unlike his usual submissive manner in court. He launched a fierce attack on Li Er, spitting as he said, "Your Highness, how could you send Wei Zheng to pacify Shandong? The Wei family is a powerful clan in Shandong, and he was once a confidant of Jiancheng. If something goes wrong on this trip, wouldn't it cause Shandong and Hebei to rebel against the Tang Dynasty three times?"
Yuchi Jingde chimed in from the side, "That's right, Your Highness. Half of the prefectures in Shandong are former officials of the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi, who have received favors from them. Sending Wei Zheng there would only throw us into disarray. I disagree."
"You disagree?" Li Er was amused by the two men below who were glaring at him and pointed at them, saying, "I trust those I employ and I don't employ those I don't trust. Although Wei Zheng was once Jiancheng's confidant and even advised Jiancheng to kill me, after surrendering, did he wholeheartedly serve me? Yuwen Shiji, you tell me."
Yuwen Shiji remained calm and slowly cupped his hands, saying, "For the past half month, Wei Zheng has been diligent in his work and has treated the former crown prince and the current crown prince equally, without any difference in their treatment. I believe we should trust his character."
"That won't do either," Yuchi Gong slammed his hand on the table and stood up, saying to Yuwen Shiji, "Who knows if he harbors malicious intentions?"
Yuchi Jingde was afraid that the Shandong regions he had fought so hard to conquer would fall into war again, so he was already making judgments based on emotion.
Upon hearing this, Li Er immediately strode up to him, grinned, and said, "Black Charcoal Head, don't forget, you were also a surrendered general, and you once attacked me too."
Yuchi Jingde's expression changed, and he turned around, looking at Li Er with embarrassment, muttering, "That's different."
Yuwen Shiji watched them bicker without interfering. He brewed tea using the tea leaves Shen Ce had given him, then his eyes flickered as if he had figured something out. He put down his teacup and raised his hand to press something in the air:
"Please be quiet, everyone. I have a plan; would you like to hear it?"
Li Er was always open and unreserved with his subordinates, and when he heard someone offer a suggestion, he was overjoyed. He turned back to his couch, stroked his mustache, and said, "Tell me."
"Your Highness, since the ministers are not at ease with sending Wei Zheng, why don't we choose a deputy envoy of slightly lower rank but who is also loyal?"
Firstly, this would not interfere too much with Wei Zheng's decision-making, ensuring the implementation of his ideas; secondly, if any disagreements arose, he could secretly report them at any time, so that we could be informed.
"Who will be the deputy envoy?" Li Er asked, quite satisfied with Yuwen Shiji's speech.
Yuwen Shiji glanced at the teacup in his hand and smiled, "Shen Ce, the chief clerk of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."
Li Er's laughter seemed to pierce through the roof, startling the sparrows that had landed on it.
Shen Ce is indeed the best candidate. He joined Li Er's army at a young age, made many military achievements, and then shone brightly at Xuanwu Gate. Now, he is doing his job under Wei Zheng in a very orderly manner.
He was acquainted with Wei Zheng, so there would be no estrangement between them, and he was also loyal to Li Er, so he was indeed a suitable person.
"Granted. So be it, my esteemed minister. Does anyone have any objections?"
After hearing this, everyone considered it and agreed that it was feasible, nodding in unison, "We have no objection."
Standing under the sun, Shen Ce couldn't help but sneeze. Who's cursing me in this sweltering heat?
After standing under the stove for more than an hour, his light green robe was soaked with sweat and turned dark green. As soon as he got home, he took off his official robe and threw it to the servants. He stood in front of the well and used a gourd ladle to cool himself down. He stood there for a long time before finally exhaling a deep breath of the hot air.
Wan Bingwen, who was quite perceptive, took advantage of Shen Ce's comfortable moment to say, "My lord, in the past ten days or so, more than twenty families in Chang'an have sent their stewards and maids to learn abacus. They are quite generous, starting with ten strings of cash, and they have only one requirement: they must learn the whole thing before they can leave."
Shen Ce was overjoyed upon hearing this. This alone would bring considerable income to the family, at least enough to furnish their empty house. The garden in the back courtyard was currently bare, so he had his mother plant radishes...
Money is something you really can't do without. If you want to get things done, who will buy your money if you just talk the talk? When dealing with nobody, giving money is much more effective than using your official power.
After thinking for a while, Shen Ce replied, "This matter cannot last long. Since it is knowledge, it cannot be kept secret. After another month or so, I will hand over the entire matter. I will give the construction plans to the Craftsman's Office, and as for the formula, I will teach it to the mathematics department of the Six Schools."
"Are we handing it over so soon?" Wan Bingwen frowned, looking reluctant. "I was hoping to earn some more money for the master."
Shen Ce laughed loudly: "Don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities to make money in the future."
He had his own considerations. The abacus wasn't difficult for people in the Tang Dynasty who had studied mathematics; after a month or two of trial and error, they could naturally figure it out. He figured he might as well be magnanimous and gain a good reputation.
Tea is the industry he wants to develop in the future. The price of this stuff is not fixed. Since it's something he's promoting himself, there's no price anchor. The specific price depends on the packaging.
As for marketing, I think none of the people in the Tang Dynasty today are any good at it...
If you just want to make a lot of money and do more things, you also need to improve your position and rank. Without these two things, the wealth you control is just like a pig raised by someone else. Anyone who wants to take it can make you disappear with a wave of their hand.
At this time, the Tang Dynasty was still a society where the emperor and noble families shared power. The emperor seemed to be the patriarch chosen by the noble families. The so-called thousand-year-old aristocratic families and the ever-changing emperors were all secretly accumulating power, waiting for the day when it would be their turn.
While he was pondering, the doorman hurried over and whispered, "My lord, the steward from the Duke of Su's household is waiting outside. He says General Cheng is looking for you."