The Ministry of Personnel.
Changsun Wuji glanced at the tax ledger handed over by Cui Renshi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, tapped the table lightly, and casually said a few words to the two officials.
"It's too chaotic!"
"chaos?"
"Lord Situ, we prepared the accounts exactly according to the imperial court's instructions, and there is not a single mess in them!"
Seeing that this person was so obtuse, Changsun Wuji simply threw the account book on the ground.
"Too chaotic!"
"You can report back when you've cleaned it up properly!"
Because Tang Jian, the Minister of Revenue, was someone who didn't manage affairs, all the matters of the Ministry of Revenue fell on the shoulders of the Vice Minister, Cui Renshi.
Upon hearing this, Cui Renshi picked up the account book from the ground with a bitter expression, still unable to understand what Lord Changsun meant by "chaos."
It wasn't until Chu Suiliang, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, came over and casually mentioned a story to Cui Renshi that Cui Renshi understood what Changsun Wuji meant.
"You may not know this, but today, when Lord Changsun was on his way to court, several vendors blocked his path, causing him to be late for court for the first time!"
"Although His Majesty said nothing, Lord Changsun felt deeply ashamed and punished himself by withholding three months' salary!"
"If you dare to hand over the account books to Lord Changsun at this time, wouldn't you be inviting trouble from him?"
Upon hearing this, Cui Renshi suddenly understood and quickly thanked Chu Suiliang for his guidance.
"Thank you for your guidance, Vice Minister Huang!"
After thanking Chu Suiliang, Cui Renshi continued, echoing Chu Suiliang's words.
"However, since the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat just mentioned street vendors, I do think it's indeed time to regulate them!"
"If they dare to obstruct Lord Changsun from attending court today, wouldn't they dare to block His Majesty the Emperor's carriage tomorrow?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Suiliang was immediately overjoyed.
"That's absolutely right!"
Having received Chu Suiliang's affirmation, Cui Renshi became even more certain that he had guessed Lord Changsun's thoughts, and immediately seized the opportunity to elaborate again.
"His Majesty is preparing for a grand military review soon, which will be attended by many envoys from foreign vassal states. If these vendors are allowed to set up stalls on the streets of Chang'an, wouldn't they become a laughingstock among the foreign vassal states?"
"Now that Minister Cui has noticed this problem, why not try to find a solution?"
"How to solve this?"
"This matter is simple; just order the magistrates of Chang'an and Wannian counties to handle it!"
"Oh oh oh..."
"I see, thank you for your guidance, Vice Minister!"
Upon returning to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Cui Renshi immediately summoned the magistrates of Chang'an and Wannian counties and ordered them to resolve the issue of the vendors in Chang'an as quickly as possible.
What could the two county magistrates possibly do?
Upon returning to their respective county offices, the two men immediately dispatched a group of constables to drive away the vendors, confiscate their tools, and arrest those who dared to resist law enforcement.
The next day, when Changsun Wuji went to court, he saw that there were no vendors on the street and immediately smiled with satisfaction.
The claims that street vendors are blocking the road and obstructing traffic are completely unfounded.
Zhuque Avenue is several tens of feet and 150 steps wide, so even if thousands of people set up stalls, it won't be congested!
His reason for wanting to regulate these vendors was simply to create some trouble for Li Zhong, that mysterious man in Xianyang.
Although he was certain that this person was Li Zhong, the eldest grandson of the Tang Dynasty, he had decided to deny it to the death.
After all, once his identity is acknowledged, he will become Li Zhi's biggest competitor.
But if Li Zhong's identity is not acknowledged, then no matter how much favor His Majesty bestows upon him, he will still be just an unclaimed wild child!
When Cui Renshi saw Lord Changsun at work, he once again brought the Ministry of Civil Affairs' account books to report. This time, Lord Changsun was indeed much more amiable.
Not only did they personally issue him a receipt, but they also kindly invited him to have a cup of tea before letting him leave.
Just before leaving, Changsun Wuji stopped Cui Renshi and asked him a strange question.
"Cui Renshi, you've worked in the Ministry of Revenue for many years, haven't you?"
"Reporting to Lord Changsun, I have been working in the Ministry of Civil Affairs for almost ten years..."
"Have you considered moving it around?"
"ah?"
Cui Renshi was stunned when he heard this. Who in this world doesn't want to get promoted? But he was already very lucky to become the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Could he possibly become the Prime Minister?
"May I ask, Lord Changsun, would you like me to be promoted, or would you like me to leave the capital...?"
Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji laughed heartily.
"Of course, we should promote him!"
"Fang Xuanling is nearing retirement age. Even if His Majesty is reluctant to let him retire, he won't last many more years at his age. I wonder if you are interested in doing something in the Secretariat?"
Upon hearing this, Cui Renshi immediately knelt down, holding Changsun Wuji's shoes and weeping bitterly.
"Lord Changsun, if you could truly grant me a position in the Secretariat, you would be my savior! Waaah!"
Changsun Wuji was very satisfied with Cui Renshi's performance; he was a grateful person!
"Please rise quickly!"
"We are both officials in the same court, how can you perform such a grand ceremony!"
While Changsun Wuji was recruiting followers, Li Jue was figuring out how to rescue the people of Sanglin Village.
The first person Lin Jiu thought of was his master's grandfather.
"My lord, why don't you go and ask your grandfather for help?"
Li Jue refused without hesitation. Although Old Li had some influence in the Tang Dynasty and treated him well, he had no kinship with him and it would be inconvenient to trouble him all the time, and he would also be looked down upon by others.
"Shan Daozhen, you know many people in the government. Go to the county government offices in Chang'an and Wannian and ask them why they arrested people and how to get them released!"
"promise!"
After Shan Daozhen left, Li Jue gathered all the villagers of Sanglin Village who had not been arrested together.
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