Chapter 413 Li Shimin and Wei Zheng quarrel
Seven days later.
Wei Shuyu embarked on his journey home.
He couldn't be bothered with the mess the Wu brothers had made themselves.
"Wei Shuyu, wait for me."
Wu Qiqi bid a reluctant farewell: "Once I've saved enough money, I'll go to Chang'an and buy a house."
"Alright."
Wei Shuyu said speechlessly, "Stop seeing me off, or you'll be all the way to Chang'an."
"That's alright."
Wu Qiqi replied nonchalantly, "I'll come back with Father then."
"..."
Wei Shuyu sighed: "I'm afraid if you keep sending people like this, I won't be able to get into the city before dark and will have to spend the night in the wilderness."
"oh."
Wu Qiqi then stopped and shouted from behind, "Then be careful on the road!"
"You must give the gifts I gave to Uncle Wei and Aunt Wei."
"Also, women are all liars, you can't easily believe what they say, and it's best not to even talk to them."
"besides……"
Wei Shuyu rode away.
If we don't leave now, we might not be able to leave even after sunset.
Two days later.
Wei Shuyu arrived in Chang'an.
As soon as I entered the city gate, a shout rang in my ears...
"Wei Shuyu is back!"
After shouting, the person ran away again.
What's going on?
This scene left Wei Shuyu completely baffled.
Upon seeing a stall selling scallion pancakes, Wei Shuyu dismounted and bought a few.
"Do you want some?"
Wei Shuyu suddenly turned to ask the bandits.
"Yes, we're starving." The bandits nodded in unison.
have to.
That stall owner has landed a big order; it will take him quite a while to finish.
I was bored and waiting for the vendor to make the pancakes.
A group of merchants hurriedly approached from afar...
"Dr. Wei, you're finally back."
"Dr. Wei, you must stand up for us!"
"Doctor Wei, if you don't come back soon, we won't be able to survive."
The merchants cried out in anguish.
They tried to curry favor with Wei Shuyu, but were forced back by the bandits.
"Don't shout like that, everyone. I'm not a doctor now." Wei Shuyu took a bite of his scallion pancake.
"We don't recognize anyone else but you, the doctor!"
"Yes, you'll always be the doctor!"
"We only recognize you, Physician Wei, as the person in charge of the Ministry of Commerce!"
Merchants vied with each other to pledge their loyalty.
"What's wrong with you guys?"
Wei Shuyu was utterly speechless: "Who bullied you so badly?"
"Crown Prince."
"King Wei."
"King of Shu".
"The Prince of Yan."
"Cui Tietou (Big Fool) (Stubborn) (Rogue) (Fool)"
"Li Chongyi".
The merchants spoke with righteous indignation.
"Stop, stop, stop! Who is it?" Wei Shuyu asked, bewildered.
“All of them, everyone!” a merchant stepped forward and exclaimed.
"..."
Can't you speak properly?
To prevent further unrest, Wei Shuyu pointed to someone and said, "You, tell me the whole story."
"Dr. Wei, this is what happened..."
As the other party recounted the events, Wei Shuyu finally understood the cause and effect of the matter.
The civil and military officials were arguing fiercely over the position of head of the Ministry of Commerce.
Li Shimin couldn't delay it even if he wanted to...
In the end, Cheng Yaojin gave a terrible suggestion.
The simplest way to prove who is capable is through a contest.
Everyone should do it!
Whoever does the best job should be in charge!
So how do you define "doing a good job"?
Of course, it's to generate revenue for the imperial court...
Then the merchants suffered.
The King of Wei proposed that taxes should be increased in prosperous areas.
The King of Shu proposed to regulate the market, starting with improving public morals, which would essentially mean collecting a cleaning fee.
Choi Shin-ki was even more violent, forming an enforcement team that patrolled the border market with a large group of people every day. If they encountered anyone causing trouble, they would beat them up without hesitation, and then... impose a fine!
Li Chongyi... offered a whole bunch of suggestions, but nobody paid any attention to him.
"That's really something."
Wei Shuyu rubbed his temples.
He had expected the imperial court to cause trouble, but he hadn't anticipated that they would send so many people to do so...
"Let's go to Hu County first."
Wei Shuyu stuffed the scallion pancake into his mouth all at once.
at the same time.
The Imperial Palace.
Li Shimin looked at the reports in his hands, his face ashen.
It's fallen again, it's fallen again.
A few days ago, Emperor Li Shimin was overjoyed because his income had indeed increased.
He bragged about it in front of Wei Zheng for a long time.
But now...
To generate revenue for the imperial court?
If this continues, no one will go to the border market to buy and sell.
"You bastard!"
"All they know how to do is exploit the people; they don't have a single good solution."
Li Shimin angrily slammed the memorial onto the imperial desk.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
Wei Zheng bowed and said, "Getting angry is bad for the emperor's health."
snort.
Li Shimin turned his head away.
If Lao Wei refuses to serve as a subject, he will surely plead for Wei Shuyu's life again.
Sure enough, Wei Zheng spoke up as soon as the idea crossed his mind...
"For the sake of all the people in the world."
"For the sake of the Ministry of Commerce."
"For the sake of merchants all over the world..."
"I implore Your Majesty to restore Shuyu's official position."
Li Shimin did not reply.
He was the emperor.
Words spoken are like water spilled; how can they be taken back?
"Your Majesty, merchants are now full of complaints."
"When merchants go to other places to trade, they only need to pay taxes."
"Hu County, however, has to pay taxes and various other miscellaneous fees."
"If this is not stopped, Hu County will become a ghost town!"
Wei Zheng's face showed a solemn expression.
Hu County was built up by his own son.
He would never allow his son's hard work to be ruined.
"I am training a new head of the Ministry of Commerce."
Li Shimin pondered for a moment and said, "Once we find the person in charge, we will..."
"His Majesty!"
Wei Zheng suddenly shouted.
Li Shimin was startled.
Hahaha, so you think your Wei family has the biggest throats?
"Haven't you realized how serious this situation is?"
Wei Zheng's eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward, bowing as he said, "As for the current situation in Hu County..."
"Officials abuse their power and exploit the people!"
"The imperial court levies exorbitant taxes, leaving merchants in dire straits!"
"His Majesty is incompetent and tyrannical, and the people are suffering unspeakably!"
Bang.
Li Shimin slammed his palm on the dragon table, his face so dark it seemed as if blood could drip from it.
"Wei Zheng, how dare you!"
Li Shimin pointed at Wei Zheng and sternly rebuked him: "How dare you insult me!"
"Your Majesty is wise."
Wei Zheng bowed and replied, "It is not that I want to scold you, but this is just the voice of the people of the world."
"Hu County has now aroused public resentment."
"If we don't stop it, it could become a reality!"
"It is a major taboo for those in power to fight over things with just words, while the common people suffer as a result!"
"Your Majesty, I implore you once again..."
“Recall Shuyu and appoint him as the head of the Ministry of Commerce.”
Li Shimin had a cold face.
Given the current situation, having Wei Shuyu return to take charge is indeed the best solution.
but……
My words are law!
And your attitude, Lao Wei, I'm not satisfied!
I want to stand up for myself.
"You bastard."
Li Shimin slammed his fist on the dragon table in anger: "You still have the nerve to talk back to me."
"The culprit behind this situation is none other than your precious son."
"If he hadn't disobeyed me, would things have turned out like this?"
Wei Zheng was taken aback.
Trying to shift the blame, huh?
My Wei family will not take the blame for this!
"His Majesty."
Wei Zheng, with his neck stiff, said while playing chess, "Back then, Shuyu only asked for leave, he didn't say he was going to resign."
"You little brat, you're blaming me now, aren't you?"
Li Shimin gritted his teeth and cursed, "Then why didn't you break your son's legs to stop him from going to Xiangzhou?"
"Your Majesty, let's discuss the matter at hand."
"I am simply discussing this matter with you, why don't you stop your son?"
"Shuyu has already been dismissed from office, how can I possibly stop him?"
"You can break his legs to stop him!"
"..."
Wei Zheng raised his eyelids slightly.
Are you trying to be a scoundrel?
"Even if I was wrong back then..."
"What do you mean, 'even if'?"
Li Shimin glared at him: "It's all your fault!"
"I know my mistake!"
Wei Zheng bowed deeply: "To make amends for my mistake, I humbly request Your Majesty to recall Shuyu!"
"Your Majesty, we've already made a mistake once."
"We can't afford to make the same mistake again!"
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