Because in this way, Zhaoling is not only his imperial mausoleum, but also the ancestral home of all the people of Chang'an.
If a hundred years from now they encounter a powerful enemy, the people of Chang'an will surely fight bravely and risk their lives to protect their ancestral tombs.
Wouldn't that mean their own imperial tombs would also be included in the protection efforts?
This is what Li Shimin most wanted to see, and it is also why he insisted on having his ministers buried with him.
Only by fundamentally binding the empire to themselves, sharing life and death, can the Li family's empire be passed down from generation to generation and last forever.
"That's very true!"
"Issue an order to the Ministry of Revenue: whatever amount of money Yan Lide requests, allocate it as soon as possible. As for supplies, give them priority!"
Upon hearing this, the Minister of Revenue immediately stood up to object.
"Your Majesty, the existing imperial mausoleum has already cost more than a million strings of cash. If we expand it tenfold, wouldn't it cost ten million strings of cash?"
"It's not that I'm making excuses, Your Majesty, but even if you sold me, you couldn't raise that much money!"
Li Shimin was very displeased upon hearing this, and even felt an urge to draw his sword and kill someone.
However, before he could even speak, others began to stand up and object.
"Your Majesty, such a siege is extremely costly and risks undermining the foundation of the nation!"
"Your Majesty, Yan Lide is flattering treacherous officials; this action will drag the Tang Dynasty into an abyss of no return..."
If only one or two people said this, Li Shimin would naturally not listen. But with the entire court and even the crown prince standing up to oppose it, Li Shimin had no choice but to take it seriously.
Li Shimin was filled with regret whenever he thought of Yan Lide's heroic deeds.
What a wonderful opportunity! We almost managed to tie the Li Tang dynasty to the entire nation...
However, just as Li Shimin was about to reject the proposal, Li Tai spoke up again.
"Your Majesty, my father-in-law said in his memorial that he only needs one million strings of cash to accomplish this!"
"What?"
"Say it again?"
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