Chapter 419 Wei Shuyu's Petition to the Emperor
"Summon the Baron of Wei County to an audience!"
As the eunuch's chanting reached his ears, Wei Shuyu finally stepped into the Taiji Hall!
Under the watchful eyes of all the civil and military officials, Wei Shuyu walked step by step to the front of the court...
"Your subject Wei Shuyu greets Your Majesty." Wei Shuyu bowed.
Li Shimin's expression was strange.
There was a strange sense of frustration. How could Xiao Wei have gotten in again despite all the precautions?
No need for formalities.
Li Shimin raised his hand: "Wei Shuyu, the Tang Dynasty does not have a Dengwen Drum. Do you think it is appropriate to bring something from the previous dynasty into the court?"
"I believe there is nothing wrong with it!"
Wei Shuyu responded with a firm and resounding voice.
"oh?"
Li Shimin, quick-witted as ever, decided to first give him a hard time: "Then tell me, what's wrong with it?"
Wei Shuyu pondered for a moment...
"The Dengwen Drum originated from Emperor Wu of Jin."
"But it existed before that."
According to records, there was a "drum for daring to remonstrate" during the time of Yao and Shun.
"During the Zhou Dynasty, it evolved into the Lugu drum!"
"The true meaning of the Dengwen Drum is not just a drum, but represents a bright and just world!"
"In my opinion, the world under heaven is not divided into dynasties."
"..."
Xiao Wei managed to smooth things over again.
Looks like you did your homework.
"Then do you know about the system of the Dengwen Drum...?"
Li Shimin smiled and said, "Anyone who beats the drum must first report their grievances through the county, prefecture, or state. Only if no place accepts their case can they present it to the emperor?"
"You have placed the Dengwen Drum in front of Xuanwu Gate without authorization; I can now punish you!"
Wei Shuyu was not alarmed at all.
He bowed slightly to Li Shimin...
"His Majesty."
"That's because the person I'm suing is someone that ordinary officials can't handle..."
Um?
The assembled officials were taken aback.
Looks like Xiao Wei is up to something again...
Whom are you going to sue?
Li Shimin seemed to have guessed something, and his voice suddenly turned cold.
All eyes were on Wei Shuyu.
Wei Shuyu bowed slightly...
"Your Majesty, I wish to file a lawsuit against the Crown Prince, the King of Wei, the King of Shu, and the King of Yan..."
"Disregarding the lives of ordinary people, they levy exorbitant taxes and plunder the people's wealth!"
Go to hell.
I know the person you're suing is no ordinary person, but this is far too many.
The courtiers felt a chill run down their spines.
On the other side.
The historian was incredibly excited...
Sure enough, it was thanks to Xiao Wei that he would be remembered in history.
“Bold Wei Shuyu, you have tarnished the royal reputation and deserve to be executed.”
"Wei Shuyu, watch your words! Be careful what you say!"
"Your Majesty, Wei Shuyu is spouting nonsense in court. I humbly request that Your Majesty strip him of his title and imprison him..."
The ministers were all more excited than the last.
Especially the supporters of those princes, their eyes were filled with hatred as if they wanted to devour Wei Shuyu.
"Wei Shuyu, speak with evidence, don't make baseless accusations."
"This is outrageous! What have I done to offend you that you would slander me like this?"
“Father, Wei Shuyu has spread rumors and framed us. We beg you to do justice for us.”
Li Tai, Li Ke, and others also couldn't stand up any longer.
In the struggle for the throne, reputation is the most important thing.
His reputation was ruined; the only way for him to ascend the throne was to rebel like Li Shimin.
Do you know what you're saying?
Li Shimin looked at Wei Shuyu, his eyes also filled with coldness.
Beating the drum to appeal to the prince is a slap in the face to him.
"I am willing to take responsibility for what I have said."
"If this is untrue, I am willing to die to atone for it!"
As he spoke, Wei Shuyu bowed again and said, "The Crown Prince, the King of Wei, the King of Shu, and others have been levying exorbitant taxes and oppressing the people..."
"Your Majesty, I implore you to uphold justice for the people of Hu County!"
Li Shimin suppressed his anger.
Since Wei Shuyu had filed a complaint before the emperor and even brought up commoners,
No matter what, he has to accept the case.
"Then I'd like to hear... how they exploit the people."
Li Shimin spoke casually, even shifting to a more comfortable sitting position, yet his words carried a strong sense of authority.
"Thank you, Your Majesty..."
Wei Shuyu bowed, then looked at the row of princes.
"Your Highness, Prince Yan."
Wei Shuyu turned his gaze to Li You: "I wonder if you issued the decree regarding the entrance fee to Hu County?"
"That's right."
Li You replied arrogantly.
"Did you also set the city entrance fee of one coin per person, two coins for carrying a basket, three coins for a horse, and ten coins for a carriage?" Wei Shuyu continued to ask.
"So what if it is?"
Li You flicked his sleeve and snorted coldly.
What I wanted to say was...
Wei Shuyu paused, then suddenly roared, "Are you out of your mind for money?!"
Holy crap.
The assembled officials were all taken aback.
No one expected that Wei Shuyu would actually start cursing.
Although we're used to it, we weren't prepared for your sudden, stern shout.
"Bold Wei Shuyu."
Before Li You could even step forward, his uncle Yin Hongzhi stood up and said, "This is the imperial court; how dare you bark and bite here?"
The ministers all rolled their eyes.
This isn't the first or second time that Xiao Wei has cursed people in the imperial court.
It's no use scolding him like that.
"What? You can get things done, but you can't be criticized?" Wei Shuyu sneered disdainfully.
"What has the Prince of Yan done?"
Yin Hongzhi immediately retorted, "It's common for cities to collect city fees; it's not unique to Hu County."
The ministers nodded in agreement upon hearing this.
In some bustling county towns, it's quite normal to charge an entrance fee.
"You all think so?"
Wei Shuyu's sharp gaze swept over the assembled officials.
Well……
He was stared at like that by Wei Shuyu.
Those officials who echoed the sentiment were taken aback.
Isn't that so?
"I see you're all used to being high and mighty, you don't know how expensive a penny or a few pennies are for ordinary people!" Wei Shuyu cursed.
The ministers blushed.
They all stared at Wei Shuyu with ill intent.
"In the Tang Dynasty, the price of grain was four coins per dou (a unit of dry measure). One coin was enough for several days' worth of food for ordinary people!"
"It costs so much money to enter the city..."
Do you really think that all ordinary people have vast fortunes?
"Ninety-nine percent of the people in the Tang Dynasty wished they could stretch every penny to its limit!"
Wei Shuyu rebuked him mercilessly.
The courtiers were also somewhat embarrassed.
In their eyes, a penny is really insignificant.
"And you need to pay three coins to bring a basket."
"People come here to sell firewood, fruits and vegetables in exchange for supplies."
"The cost isn't even three coins, and you want them to pay three coins?"
"How brain-dead do you have to be to come up with this kind of pricing?"
"Not to mention horses and carriages..."
"Most of the people who come to Hu County are merchants doing business, and you're keeping them out..."
"Are we still going to proceed with the transaction?"
"For a few coins' entrance fee, you'd give up several or even dozens of coins' worth of taxes?"
Wei Shuyu angrily spat out his words, spittle flying everywhere.
None of the officials dared to utter a sound.
That makes a lot of sense.
"Hu County is a prosperous place, so it's understandable to charge a little more..." Yin Hongzhi explained reluctantly.
"You bastard!"
Wei Shuyu suddenly shouted: "Is this just a little more expensive? This is exploitation!"
"There's another thing I'd like you to clarify..."
"It's prosperous not because it's Hu County, but because it has a large population!"
"If they continue to collect like this..."
"In less than a month, Hu County will become a county town where no merchants bother to visit!"
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