Chapter 276 Wei Shuyu Offers Advice Again

Li Chengqian gritted his teeth...

I thought Xiao Wei was different from Lao Wei.

The result is that they are evenly matched, birds of a feather!

Why is Lao Wei disliked by everyone...?

The root cause is that they can't distinguish between friend and foe, and they attack anyone they can.

I never expected that Xiao Wei, whom I had tried so hard to win over, would be this kind of person!

"You're talking nonsense!"

Li Chengqian retorted sharply, "It is clearly you who are using clever words and flattery to spread rumors."

This time, Li Tai did not speak up.

Wei Shuyu retorted to the Emperor, "We should just stand by and watch."

Neither of them are good.

It would be best if both sides suffered heavy losses!

"Your Highness, I am doing this for your own good."

Wei Shuyu casually bowed and said, "It's better to be betrayed by one's own people than by outsiders."

"You may blame me, scold me, or even hold a grudge against me."

"But I still hope Your Highness will remember this lesson..."

"A ruler should not blindly believe everything he hears, but should think more deeply and verify things from multiple perspectives."

These words sounded like a strong mockery to Li Chengqian.

If Wei Shuyu were an elderly man in his seventies or eighties, then it would be understandable.

But Wei Shuyu was just a little kid.

That's not enough to be convincing!

"You bastard!"

Li Chengqian was even more furious: "You instigated me, and you still think you're right..."

However, before he could finish speaking, Li Shimin interrupted him.

"Shut up!"

Just then, Li Shimin suddenly rebuked, "Gao Ming, you are wrong about this!"

"Father..."

Li Chengqian's eyes were blurry with tears.

Your son was bullied by outsiders.

"You're still feeling wronged, aren't you?"

Li Shimin scolded, "Shuyu risked your resentment to give you advice, and you not only don't appreciate it, but what else do you want?"

"Do you want to kill Shuyu?"

Li Chengqian felt wronged.

So, I was tricked by Wei Shuyu, and I should thank him?

"Apologize to Shuyu."

Li Shimin then turned to Li Tai: "And Qingque, you are the same as a prince."

"Don't always listen to your subordinates; learn to think twice before you act!"

"Shuyu is right. It's better to be betrayed by your own people than to be laughed at by outsiders!"

"If you were to bring this matter to the imperial court, do you know you would be ridiculed by the court officials!"

Upon hearing this, the two...

They all lowered their heads in unison.

As proud as they are, they simply couldn't bring themselves to say it...

After all, not everyone has the magnanimity of Li Shimin.

Li Shimin was scolded by Wei Zhongxian... He should admit his mistake.

He may seem cowardly, but that's only when he's with Wei Zheng!

However, due to Wei Zheng's straightforward advice, Li Shimin's public image appeared even more heroic.

Using a bronze mirror, one can straighten one's clothes!

This sentence describes Wei Zheng correcting Li Shimin's image!

"Your Majesty, there is no need for this."

Wei Shuyu smiled and waved his hand: "I am a tutor, this is my duty."

"If I were to make the Crown Prince apologize, it would only make me appear to have overstepped my bounds."

Li Shimin heard this.

He nodded in satisfaction.

"You two, take a look at Shuyu..."

"Look at you, you know the bigger picture and how to behave appropriately."

"You complain about injustice over such a small matter, and even say that Shuyu instigated you and tricked you..."

"How utterly shameful!"

Li Shimin's reprimand, expressing his disappointment and frustration.

"Cough cough..."

Just then, Wei Shuyu coughed.

"His Majesty."

Wei Shuyu calmly said, "In fact, I also agree with what the Crown Prince and the King of Wei said."

"It was indeed inappropriate for the Tang Dynasty to prohibit the consumption of carp."

Um?

Um?

Li Chengqian and Li Tai stared wide-eyed.

Son of a bitch!

You did this on purpose, didn't you?

When we stood up for you, you distanced yourself from the situation and didn't say a word.

After we've been scolded by Father, you step forward again?

what?

Are they deliberately trying to make a fool of us?

"What did you say?"

Li Shimin frowned: "Wasn't my explanation clear enough?"

I just praised you for being sensible and knowing your limits...

That's the kind of treatment they'll give me!

Sure enough, the Wei family deserves to be treated unfairly!

The others...

Giving it to them would be pointless!

"His Majesty explained it very clearly..."

Wei Shuyu thought for a moment and replied, "But what does the fact that the Confucius family doesn't eat carp have to do with the Tang Dynasty?"

"This matter is not limited to Confucianism..."

Li Shimin said solemnly, "There are also Taoists and Buddhists, who emphasize respect for life!"

"Especially for mythical species like carp, this will provoke a strong backlash from them!"

Wei Shuyu was also taken aback.

This matter involves so many people, it is indeed quite difficult to handle.

but……

We've already brought this up, so we can't just give up halfway.

"His Majesty!"

Wei Shuyu stepped forward, his expression extremely solemn: "If that is truly the case, I believe we should further open up this policy!"

Um?

Li Shimin frowned.

Xiao Wei's expression is off...

The last time he showed this expression was when he was criticizing his ministers in court.

"Tell me about it."

Li Shimin responded with a single sentence.

"It may seem like a small matter."

"But Taoist priests and Buddhist monks have interfered in the affairs of the court."

"The impact of this incident is extremely negative!"

Wei Shuyu began his somber narration.

But Li Shimin did not take this matter seriously.

"That statement is a bit of an exaggeration."

Li Shimin frowned: "The main reason for banning the consumption of carp is because its pronunciation is similar to the imperial surname."

"Your Majesty, that's not what I meant."

Wei Shuyu shook his head: "What I want to say is, how many Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries does the Tang Dynasty have?"

"There are probably over a thousand Taoist temples and about five thousand Buddhist temples," Li Shimin replied directly.

Because he claimed to be a descendant of Laozi Li Er, he has been supporting Taoism.

There is also the story of Xuanzang's journey to the west.

He has always been interested in Buddhism.

"Doesn't Your Majesty think it's too much?"

Wei Shuyu replied solemnly, "What Your Majesty knows is only what is registered. How many are not registered?"

"May I ask, Your Majesty..."

Do you know how large the land occupied by Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries is?

Li Shimin couldn't answer that.

He couldn't possibly go around checking everything.

"What exactly are you trying to say..." Li Shimin rebuked.

"Your Majesty, please allow me to explain in detail..."

Wei Shuyu bowed and replied, "Yesterday, I strolled around the area around Chang'an..."

"A temple under construction has been discovered..."

"I cannot discern its exact size at this moment, but the key point is that it is constantly expanding outwards!"

"Why does Your Majesty believe it has been able to continue expanding?"

Li Shimin frowned.

I thought about it for a moment and then didn't answer.

"Because the Tang Dynasty was too lenient towards monks and Taoist priests!"

“The local people can be exempted from taxes by registering their land under the name of the temple!”

"His Majesty……"

Wei Shuyu bowed solemnly and said, "May I ask one more question..."

"You've been struggling financially for years, and you don't even have the money to build a palace for the retired emperor!"

"And the temples they built could easily support five palaces for the retired emperor!"

Where did they get so much money?

Um?

Li Shimin seemed to realize the seriousness of the problem!

"Monks and Taoist priests!"

"They may not seem to have many people, but they also have believers and lay followers!"

To put it bluntly...

"They have money and manpower!"

"The various feudal lords and vassal kings have power, but at least they will pay taxes to the imperial court!"

"Where are the monks and Taoist priests?"

"They not only exempted them from corvée labor, but also from taxes!"

"I can say with absolute certainty..."

"At least 40% of the world's wealth is now in the hands of monks!"

"If this is not curbed, the economy of the Tang Dynasty will surely stagnate!"

Swish.

Li Shimin's expression changed drastically.

He considered Buddhism a threat, so he supported Taoism to curb it.

But I never expected it to be this serious!

"Du Junchuo, Li Junxian!" Li Shimin shouted sternly.

"Your subject is here!"

"I order you to investigate Buddhist and Taoist temples around Chang'an."

"Tonight, I will find out exactly how many people have registered under their names to evade taxes!"

"promise."

Du Junzhuo and Li Junxian accepted the order and left.

Li Shimin's face was exceptionally gloomy.

If what Wei Shuyu said is true, then monks and Taoists are parasites on the Tang Dynasty!

Now he understood why Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou had suppressed Buddhism.

Damn it.

So it turns out the monks were rich!

Thinking this, Li Shimin looked at his son again...

“Gao Ming, Qing Que…”

Li Shimin rebuked, "Look at how Shuyu offered his advice!"

"The cause and reasons were explained in great detail."

"Look at you all again..."

"What kind of carp is considered a delicacy?"

"If people eat one less carp, they won't survive, right?"

"Learn from Shuyu; don't just do whatever comes to mind."

Li Chengqian and Li Tai were both dumbfounded.

That's not right.

We came to offer our advice together with Wei Shuyu.

We have done a great job!

Why...why are you scolding us again?