Chapter 159 Li Xiaogong opposes, Yu Shinan supports
Holy crap.
You really dare to say that...
The ministers muttered amongst themselves, unable to find a reason to refute the argument.
Wei Shuyu was not wrong.
If food can't be bought anywhere in the world, what other path is there besides national subjugation?
At the same time, Li Chengqian's expression kept changing...
Defeated?
He was defeated before he could even last one round?
*Smack*
Suddenly, Li Chengqian slapped himself.
I'm really stupid.
Everyone says they want to win over Wei Shuyu, but they don't want to argue with him.
Why did I have to stand up again, acting like a fool?
The officials all lowered their heads, pretending not to have seen anything.
We can't exactly shout that the crown prince has gone mad, can we?
"Gao Ming, what are you doing?"
Li Shimin shouted sharply, his face extremely gloomy.
The Crown Prince inexplicably slapped himself in the face in the imperial court; this incredible act is unprecedented.
"Father..."
Li Chengqian's heart trembled, and he stammered in response, "Your subject... Your subject thinks that what Wei Shuyu said makes sense."
Li Chengqian had a sudden inspiration.
If you can't win an argument, then side with Wei Shuyu!
Then he started frantically giving Wei Shuyu meaningful glances, hoping that the other party would help him.
"Then why did you slap yourself?" Li Shimin continued to question.
"this……"
Li Chengqian stammered and couldn't speak.
"His Majesty."
Just then, Wei Shuyu spoke up.
The crown prince believed he was right and naturally lent a hand.
To some extent, with the Crown Prince's support, the chances of the bill passing will be much greater.
"The Crown Prince thinks what I said makes sense. Perhaps he is slapping himself to prove himself and resolve never to become a foolish monarch."
As Wei Shuyu finished speaking, Li Shimin's expression immediately brightened.
"It's good that you have good intentions, but you must remember that you are the crown prince and you must not do such things in court in the future."
Li Shimin's tone was noticeably calmer.
"Thank you for your teachings, Father Emperor."
Li Chengqian breathed a long sigh of relief.
It had to be Wei Shuyu; with just one sentence, he turned the tide and extricated himself from his predicament.
Win them over!
We must win them over!
Li Chengqian cast a grateful glance at Wei Shuyu.
"His Majesty."
Just when everyone was at a loss, another unexpected person stepped forward.
Prince of Hejian, Li Xiaogong!
After Li Shimin ascended the throne, Li Xiaogong had already been stripped of his real power. In his later years, he enjoyed attending banquets and entertaining himself with singing, dancing, and beautiful women.
However, Songtsen Gampo has now submitted to the Tang Dynasty.
As a renowned general who had spent half his life on the battlefield, he naturally wanted to see this scene.
"Does the Prince of Hejian also have something to say?"
Li Shimin rarely smiled at a minister in court.
Li Xiaogong's tactfulness earned him Li Shimin's kindness.
"Your Majesty, I believe that the move of 'trading the world for business' is inappropriate."
Li Xiaogong bowed, hesitated for a moment, and then uttered seven words...
"Detrimental to the dynasty's rule!"
Whoosh...
This is insane! This is insane!
You guys are all so outspoken!
Can such words be said in the imperial court?
Although Li Xiaogong spoke in a very veiled way, who among those who held positions in the court could not understand the meaning behind his words?
The implication is...
The common people are all ignorant and easy to control.
Once people become wealthy, they will become more intelligent, making the dynasty harder to control.
"Prince of Hejian, you are tired."
Li Shimin angrily rebuked, "Guards, take the Prince of Hejian back to his residence."
Li Junxian led his troops into the Taiji Hall, but Li Xiaogong refused to leave. Who could take him away?
"Your Majesty, for the sake of the Tang Dynasty, even if it means bearing a name that will be infamous for ten thousand years, I must speak out!" Li Xiaogong bowed, his attitude extremely resolute.
As a member of the royal family, he had to view this policy issue from the perspective of the royal family.
Li Shimin was suddenly in a dilemma.
On the one hand, he hoped that the people would live well.
On the one hand, as Li Xiaogong said, he was worried that the enlightenment of the people would affect the imperial power.
Unconsciously, Li Shimin turned his gaze to Wei Shuyu.
"The Prince of Hejian".
Wei Shuyu first bowed before calmly saying, "Actually, your worry is completely unnecessary."
“If the people are not enlightened, they are easy for the dynasty to rule.”
"From another perspective, aren't they also more easily instigated to rebel?"
Li Xiaogong was taken aback.
That seems to make some sense.
But Wei Shuyu continued to tell his story…
"Let me give you an analogy..."
“If someone instigates a rebellion, the people, being unenlightened, will foolishly go along with it.”
"But if it were an enlightened commoner with a little money, I think he'd have to be out of his mind to rebel, right?"
The Taiji Hall fell into an eerie silence once again.
At first glance, it seems to make some sense.
"Your explanation is illogical."
Li Xiaogong flatly refused: "How can everyone in the world be rich and everyone be wise?"
"Then your explanation doesn't make sense."
Wei Shuyu retorted with a smile: "No matter what, the people will rebel. What difference does it make whether they are enlightened or not?"
"Or are you hoping that the unintelligent masses will be easier to deal with?"
Well……
Li Xiaogong was speechless.
That sounds plausible.
But something still feels off.
"The purpose of traveling the world in business is to improve the lives of ordinary people..."
"If the people are doing well, the chances of rebellion will be reduced."
"The people are the foundation of a dynasty. Only by building a solid foundation can a dynasty withstand the onslaught of storms!"
Li Xiaogong was speechless and silently returned to his seat.
The ministers were also muttering to themselves.
It's something that everyone opposes, so why does it sound so different when it comes to Wei Shuyu?
"His Majesty."
Just when everyone was at a loss, an unexpected event occurred: an old minister stepped forward.
Yu Shinan!
And he was also the first person to support Wei Shuyu!
He began to speak, his voice both aged and steady…
"My ancestral home is in the Jiangnan region, and I approve of merchants traveling for business!"
"Great battles have frequently occurred across China, but throughout history, the frequency of wars in the south has generally been lower than in the north."
"Although the south was barren before the Han Dynasty, the people of the south lived very well thanks to their commercial skills."
"Especially during the Sui Dynasty, with the southward shift of the economy, Jiangnan gradually became a strategic location fought over by military strategists."
"Despite repeated wars, Jiangnan not only did not decline, but instead became increasingly prosperous!"
"This is inseparable from the efforts of businessmen!"
"Nowadays, the Jiangnan region focuses on handicrafts, agriculture, commerce, and other industries, developing multiple sectors simultaneously, and its development speed is unstoppable."
"Especially after the large-scale development of water conservancy, the level of agricultural development is now no less than that of the north."
"With the help of merchants from Jiangnan, although Jiangnan is not as prosperous as Chang'an, its wealth has far surpassed that of other places!"
"It is not that I am praising my hometown..."
"But the fact is, right now, the entire tax revenue of the Tang Dynasty is concentrated in the Jiangnan region alone, which accounts for a quarter of the total!"
"Moreover, this trend is increasing year by year. I believe that in less than ten years, the tax revenue of the Jiangnan region will account for half of the entire Tang Dynasty!"
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