Chapter 150 The Policy of Promoting Commerce, Wei Zheng's Death in Remonstrance

The next day.

Wei Zheng slept soundly and didn't get up even when the sun was high in the sky.

When he woke up and opened his eyes, he found a tall man standing in front of the window, reading a book.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?"

Wei Zheng was startled and quickly threw off the blanket, got out of bed, and bowed.

"woke up?"

Li Shimin smiled and helped him up: "You're both sick, so let's skip these worldly formalities. Besides, it's just the two of us here. If you keep criticizing me, I'll leave..."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Wei Zheng thanked the emperor, but this time he did not argue further.

"You'll feel much better now that you're sick; you can sleep until you naturally wake up."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Wei Zheng quickly admitted his mistake: "Your subject will definitely recover and return to his post as soon as possible."

"..."

Li Shimin's lips twitched.

Please don't get sick too soon; you should rest for a few more days.

"Let's not talk about that. Xuancheng, with such a large mansion, don't you feel lonely with only a few servants?"

No sooner had Li Shimin finished speaking than a loud, drafty sound came from outside...

"Big pot, big pot..."

That familiar leaky tooth—who else in the entire Chang'an could have it besides Cui Shenji?

Li Shimin felt as if a crow had flown overhead.

Why do I always get slapped in the face when I run into Lao Wei?

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Wei Zheng smiled and asked, "May I ask what brings Your Majesty here?"

"What? My trusted minister is ill? Can't I visit him?"

Li Shimin made a joke, then patted Wei Zheng's hand and said sincerely, "Xuancheng has worked hard these days."

"To share Your Majesty's burdens and bring blessings to the people is my willing duty, and I find joy in it," Wei Zheng responded sincerely.

The emperor and his minister were having a heart-to-heart talk.

A sudden noise came from outside the door.

It turned out that Wei Shuyu wanted to come in, but was blocked outside by Li Shimin's guards.

"Let him in."

Li Shimin's voice rang out.

As he spoke, Li Shimin turned to Wei Zheng and said, "You have raised a fine son. These past few days, Shuyu has managed Hu County very well, and many officials are pleading for his merits."

"I will do my utmost to the best of my ability."

Instead of taking advantage of the situation, Wei Zheng gave a warning: "Shuyu is still young and needs more training."

"What you're saying."

Li Shimin shook his head: "I know you have concerns, but I will remember this merit and not promote Shuyu for now."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Wei Zheng replied with a smile.

Shuyu has already shone brightly and holds all the positions and powers he should have.

Moreover, thanks to his connection with the retired emperor, he could enter and leave the palace more easily than I could.

Official rank really doesn't matter.

If he can maintain this position, it's only a matter of time before he reaches the highest ranks of officialdom.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Wei Shuyu bowed.

"Shuyu, what brings you here?" Li Shimin asked with a smile.

Wei Shuyu yawned.

He then took out a stack of papers and handed them to Wei Zheng.

"Dad, I've written down the good plan you wanted. I'm going back to sleep for a while."

After saying this, Wei Shuyu bowed and took his leave.

Li Shimin did not offer much resistance.

This is the Wei family's home; it wouldn't look good for them to overstep their bounds.

"A good plan?"

Li Shimin quipped, "Xuancheng, are you grooming Shuyu?"

"Your Majesty has misunderstood."

Wei Zheng smiled and said, "Isn't it because I'm ill? Shuyu couldn't stand seeing me working so hard, so he insisted on helping to share my burden."

"Such a thick stack of papers, it must have taken all night to sort them out."

As he spoke, Wei Zheng's smile faded, and a hint of heartache flashed in his eyes.

Wei Zheng opened the paper and began to read it...

Huh?

He hadn't had high hopes, but as soon as he saw it, he was immediately drawn to it, and his expression kept changing.

"Shuyu, this..."

Looking up, he realized Wei Shuyu was gone again, and immediately cursed, "Where is that brat? Why has he disappeared again?"

Li Shimin, speechless, reminded him: "Didn't you yourself agree to let him go to rest? And what did he write that made you so agitated?"

"His Majesty……"

Wei Zheng hesitated for a moment, then finally handed over the paper.

Li Shimin glanced at it a few times, was quickly attracted, and then couldn't stop.

After a long while, he finally put down the paper and let out a heavy sigh...

"It's an excellent national policy, but unfortunately, it's destined not to pass the court meeting."

bass.

Wei Zheng suddenly stood up and bowed to Li Shimin: "Your Majesty, I would like to give it another try!"

"Xuancheng, the civil and military officials will not agree with this article, and scholars throughout the land will also have objections!"

"The distinction between the scholar-official, farmer, artisan, and merchant classes was clear and deeply ingrained in people's minds."

"Shuyu's attempt to overthrow this class system and elevate the status of merchants among the people is tantamount to playing with fire and courting his own destruction!"

"If this matter is not handled properly, your Duke Zheng's mansion will also be implicated!"

However, Wei Zheng remained resolute, showing no sign of wavering.

He looked directly at Li Shimin: "Does Your Majesty consider this a good strategy?"

"It's good, but it won't work!" Li Shimin shook his head and sighed.

"In that case, I will take on all of this."

Wei Zheng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you consider this advice!"

“Xuancheng…”

Li Shimin looked troubled.

"Your Majesty, do you remember what I said when I first followed you?"

Wei Zheng straightened his body and said, "My loyalty in this life is not to you, but to the common people of the world!"

"As long as it benefits the people, I, Wei, will not hesitate to risk my life!"

"Your Majesty, please accept this advice..."

"Your subject, Wei Zheng...will die for his principles!"

This is the real Wei Zheng!

Wei Zheng offered more than two hundred remonstrances throughout his life, all of which were adopted by Li Shimin.

Anyone can offer advice.

The difficulty lies in getting the king to adopt your suggestion!

What's even more difficult is... getting it implemented after it's adopted!

Many of these suggestions were useless even if Li Shimin had adopted them.

It must be approved by the majority of civil and military officials at a court assembly before it can be truly implemented.

Why did the court officials form factions?

Civil officials, military generals, gentry...

All this is so that their proposals can be passed smoothly.

Wei Zheng, a loyal minister, held power all by himself!

He overpowered the civil and military officials in the imperial court and passed the bill.

The Twenty-Four Meritorious Officials of Lingyan Pavilion.

Why is Wei Zheng, a surrendered official of Li Jiancheng, ranked fourth?

First, Changsun Wuji was Li Shimin's brother-in-law.

Secondly, Li Xiaogong was Li Shimin's cousin.

Third, Du Ruhui, also known as Du the Decisive, often helped Li Shimin make firm decisions, serving as a pillar of stability for Li Shimin. Moreover, he died young, inevitably leaving behind a sense of nostalgia.

Fang and Du should be listed together.

But Wei Zheng managed to squeeze above Fang Xuanling!

He relied on his own abilities and countless effective strategies for governing the country!

As the saying goes, conquering the world is easy, but maintaining it is difficult!

Old Wei is not just good at criticizing people; his true historical record is that of a politician!

"Xuancheng, have you thought this through?"

Li Shimin paced back and forth anxiously, then suddenly turned to Wei Zheng.

"Your Majesty, I have never considered it."

"The moment I saw this article, it was already destined that it would be brought to the court!"

Wei Zheng spoke with a firm tone, his eyes were bright, and his whole being exuded an aura of fearlessness.

Suddenly, he started coughing violently...

Li Shimin quickly helped him up, patting his back to pat him on the back and soothe him: "Your health..."

"Your Majesty, it's just a minor illness."

Wei Zheng waved his hand, then bowed to Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your concern."

Li Shimin replied sincerely, "If you are willing to go through fire and water, what harm is there in me helping you up?"

"However... Xuancheng, you'd better not participate in this?"

Um?

Wei Zheng looked puzzled, as if to say, "Your Majesty, what do you mean?"

"Wasn't this pro-commerce policy proposed by Shuyu?"

Li Shimin said solemnly, "Let him go!"

"no!"

Wei Zheng flatly rejected the suggestion: "Shuyu is still so young, how can he be a match for civil and military officials!"

"This matter has too great an impact; if you get involved, the outcome will be difficult to manage."

Li Shimin maintained his opinion: "Shuyu is just a child. Even if he is dismissed from his post, I can still promote him in a few days..."

"His Majesty……"

Wei Zheng resisted.

"Xuancheng, stop talking."

Li Shimin shook his head: "It's settled then!"

"A pro-commerce policy will not be supported by anyone except merchants; it is going against the will of the people!"

"The Tang Dynasty still needs your assistance; I do not wish to lose my right-hand man!"