Chapter 160 Your Majesty, I, Wei Shuyu, earnestly request that Your Majesty agree to reconsider the negotiations.

Wow.

The courtiers were in uproar.

He subconsciously looked at Fang Xuanling, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue in charge of taxation.

Fang Xuanling remained expressionless.

On the dragon throne, Li Shimin remained expressionless!

Why did he support Wei Shuyu's pro-commerce policy?

Just because of a minister's suggestion?

No……

That's because of profit!

He would only allow Wei Shuyu to speak in court if it was a win-win situation for both the people and the court!

This is the most important reason why he strongly supports business development!

“Your Majesty, taking Jiangnan as an example, this old minister believes that the policy of promoting commerce is feasible!” Yu Shinan bowed.

"You are very kind, Minister Yu."

Li Shimin responded with one sentence, then looked at the assembled ministers: "Do any of you have anything else to say?"

At this point, those who were supposed to step forward had basically done so.

Moreover, Yu Shinan proved the benefits of the pro-commerce policy with facts, so what grounds could others have to object?

But reality is strange.

Another person stepped forward, and it was an old acquaintance... Changsun Wuji!

"Your Majesty, a policy of prioritizing commerce might be a good idea..."

As he spoke, Changsun Wuji glanced at the assembled officials: "But the problem is, this policy is very difficult to implement in practice."

Um?

Li Shimin frowned, then quickly realized what was going on...

The opposition from the court officials was too fierce.

The Tang Dynasty still needed its ministers to govern it. However, all the ministers held opposing views. Even if a pro-commerce policy were passed in court, it was estimated that the officials would secretly comply but secretly disobey.

The only one who supports him is Yu Shinan!

Although, Yu Shinan also had his own faction.

But that faction's influence in the court was utterly pathetic.

We usually just exchange calligraphy ideas and do some writing and drawing.

Yu Shinan himself was so old that he had one foot in the coffin.

His seconding of the motion, aside from adding another voice of agreement in the court, was utterly useless...

"Your Majesty, I believe that the policy of promoting commerce is of great importance and can be discussed further."

Cui Zhi of the Cui clan of Boling stepped forward and bowed.

If you can't win an argument, can't you at least stall?

If it drags on and on, the matter will naturally fade away.

"I second that proposal."

"I second that proposal."

As Cui Zhi finished speaking, all the officials bowed.

For a moment, the court was filled with voices of agreement, and all the ministers bowed to Li Shimin, reluctant to straighten up for a long time.

Li Shimin's face immediately darkened.

This is the court assembly; even if he were the emperor, he could not defy the wrath of the masses.

"Shuyu, do you have anything else to say?"

Now that things have come to this, Li Shimin has no other choice.

Pressuring him with his ministers to forcibly issue decrees would only backfire.

His original intention was to have Wei Shuyu step forward first and give the other officials a heads-up.

Once the officials were mentally prepared, they were less averse to accepting it.

Then, he won over a group of court officials, and then Wei Zheng proposed...

Once the bill is passed, it can be implemented smoothly.

Otherwise, the situation wouldn't have arisen where even trusted confidants like Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling opposed it.

Who would have thought Wei Shuyu would be so fierce...

He silenced all his ministers with his words.

This unexpected scene caught Li Shimin completely off guard.

"Your Majesty, I believe that the opposition of the ministers is not important."

Wei Shuyu bowed and replied.

His words immediately drew criticism from the court officials.

"How dare you!"

"presumptuous!"

Are you insulting a high-ranking official of the imperial court?

The ministers questioned him sternly, one by one.

However, Wei Shuyu was completely unaffected and simply listened as he continued his story…

“Yesterday, my father said something to me…”

"He said those words were spoken by His Majesty, and he felt deeply ashamed that he could not share the burden of the emperor..."

These words immediately attracted the attention of the court officials.

They were very curious about what could possibly stump Li Shimin and Wei Zheng.

"Your Majesty asks: Is there a plan that can bring peace to the land?"

"I would like to say: No!"

"But I have heard a saying: 'Man can conquer nature!'"

"Whenever a natural disaster occurs in a region, the pressure falls entirely on the imperial court."

"The imperial court will handle everything."

"Does His Majesty think so? Do you all think so too?"

After a pause, Wei Shuyu raised his head and looked at Li Shimin.

Looking directly at the monarch is disrespectful.

But Li Shimin couldn't care less about that at the moment. He frowned and asked, "Shouldn't we?"

"When the imperial court collects taxes, it must naturally protect the people."

Wei Shuyu nodded: "But has Your Majesty considered how long it will take for the court to receive the message?"

"How long will it take for the imperial court to mobilize disaster relief supplies and send them over?"

"Although the imperial court has taken action, don't you think the efficiency is a bit slow?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin frowned again.

He pondered these words repeatedly and felt they made some sense.

But communication was poor in ancient times, and he couldn't think of a better solution.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

"You mean that promoting commerce can solve this problem?" Li Shimin asked.

"I can't guarantee that."

Wei Shuyu shook his head helplessly: "But I have also heard a saying, which is..."

"When one place is in trouble, help comes from all sides!"

"When a certain place is struck by disaster, merchants, common people, and officials from all over the country lend a helping hand. Can Your Majesty imagine the magnificent scene of disaster relief?"

hiss……

Li Shimin gasped.

Just imagining this scene is exhilarating.

"Merchants, common people, and government officials all stepped forward to provide disaster relief, minimizing the losses, and the imperial court followed suit."

"With a series of coordinated efforts, the disaster is actually not that terrible!"

“Even if money, houses, and land are lost, as long as the people are still alive, things can be restored quickly.”

All the ministers fell into deep thought.

Soon, some officials stood up to refute this...

"Merchants are selfish and despicable; can they be trusted?"

Yuchi Gong stepped forward.

Military generals didn't actually have much affection for merchants.

"There are not only heartless and ungrateful people in the world, but also many true heroes who value loyalty and righteousness!"

Wei Shuyu simply smiled and asked, "May I ask how many true-hearted men assisted Your Majesty when you were conquering the world?"

"Wu Shihu was also a merchant by birth. He devoted his entire fortune to supporting the retired emperor. Isn't that the best example?"

The courtiers were speechless once again.

The current retired emperor is too powerful; it's not appropriate for him to criticize samurai.

If the retired emperor were to suffer a stroke and come knocking on the door with the imperial seal, that would be quite a sight.

"If Samurai Go is not enough, let me tell you about others..."

"In fact, many wealthy businessmen and prominent families have stepped forward to provide disaster relief and porridge during this disaster, but you thought their small acts of kindness were just a drop in the ocean and didn't pay attention to them."

"Many chivalrous people also stepped forward to help, but they were few in number and you all overlooked them."

“Even some families that were not well-off to begin with donated food to help with the disaster relief.”

"I would like to ask you all, have you seen their good deeds?"

The courtiers remained silent.

Wei Shuyu was not wrong.

They took the spontaneous acts of kindness from ordinary people for granted.

"I know that you all oppose the pro-commercial policy!"

"You are all talented individuals selected by His Majesty from various regions, and your dissenting voices are very important..."

Suddenly, Wei Shuyu improved...

"But the world is not just the imperial court; there are also millions of ordinary people and top talents from all walks of life!"

"Their voices are even more important!"

"You can stop me in the court, but can you stop them?"

"Innovation promotes talent, and merchants spread their influence throughout the world."

"Only when everyone in the Great Tang Dynasty is united in purpose can we build an invincible and magnificent empire!"

"I wish to say..."

Wei Shuyu turned around, his sharp gaze sweeping over the assembled officials one by one, finally settling on Li Shimin...

"By recruiting talented individuals to the court, one can establish a lasting legacy!"

"By attracting talented individuals from all over the world, we can ensure the dynasty's longevity!"

As he finished speaking, Wei Shuyu held the tablet in both hands, bowed slightly, and his voice, as resounding as a great bell, echoed throughout the Taiji Hall…

"Your Majesty, I, Wei Shuyu, humbly request that you issue an edict agreeing to reconsider!"