I opened a tavern in Datang/Datang: My peerless talent was exposed

"Shopkeeper Zhang, what do you think of Emperor Sui Yang as an emperor?"

Zhang Nuo was stunned, with his mouth half-opened, looking at Empress Changsun, he said dumbfoundedly after a while,

"Sister-in-law, I didn't expect you to be interested in these things. However, although it is already the Tang Dynasty, is it appropriate to talk about an emperor?"

Empress Changsun replied confidently,

"What's wrong with this? My husband and I also came from that era. Sometimes I look back and feel very emotional. What's wrong with talking about it? Let alone the emperor of the previous dynasty, even if we talk about the current emperor, that is also to open up the way of speaking." , Ming Jun who can’t help but talk, you won’t get into any trouble if you talk about it, are you right, husband!”

After finishing speaking, Empress Changsun lightly bumped Li Shimin twice with her elbow.

Li Shimin also can't laugh or cry at the moment, but he can't break the stage.However, he was really interested in this topic. He not only wanted to hear Zhang Nuo's opinion on Emperor Sui Yang, but also wanted to see, from the perspective of ordinary people, how he viewed the emperor who had just ascended the throne.

So he patted his chest nonchalantly and said,

"Don't worry, Shopkeeper Zhang, we're just chatting, and our old Li is also a man who spit and nails. Could it be that we still go around and yell."

Zhang Nuo was also shocked just now, and now he realized that Emperor Sui Yang was a character who had been dead for almost ten years, so it was indeed not forbidden to chat.Besides, if a major customer has a request, just talk about it.

After thinking about it for a while, Zhang Nuo said directly, surprisingly,

"In my opinion, Emperor Sui Yang is a fool with vision but no means!"

As soon as this remark came out, not to mention Li Shimin, even Empress Changsun, who was just looking for a random topic to change her husband's mood, became interested at the moment.

Over the years, some people have criticized Yang Guang for extortionate taxes, and some have called him fatuous, but this is the first time I have heard that someone has called him high-minded and low-minded.

Zhang Nuo didn't hide his clumsiness, or it was rare to have the opportunity to show off, and when the conversation started, if you wanted to gag him right now, you might not be able to gag him.

"It is said that he has vision, and he can tell just by looking at three things, one is the Grand Canal, the other is the conquest of Goguryeo, and the third is the imperial examination."

Seeing Li Shimin's pensive look, Zhang Nuo poured a glass of wine on his own, took half a sip before continuing,

"Let's talk about the Grand Canal first. Old Li, you are a businessman. You travel all over the world and you know how to transport goods. This Grand Canal is centered on Luoyang, from Zhuojun in the north to Yuhang in the south. It is worth tens of thousands of gold just for business, not to mention, Its political and military value is gone, you have to ponder whether this is the reason.”

Li Shimin nodded after hearing the words and was silent for a while. Although Emperor Sui Yang dug the canal for his own enjoyment, he had to say that the canal was really useful.

Just listening to what Zhang Nuo said, apart from promoting commerce and trade and facilitating the transshipment of grain and goods, it also has a great effect?

It's my fault that Li Shimin didn't understand that people at this time didn't pay as much attention to the concept of transportation as later generations. There is such a grand canal that can solve the food turnover and cargo transportation in the important areas of the capital, and can also solve the irrigation of the farmland along the coast. It's the limit they can think of.

Li Shimin, who was completely interested in this topic, didn't care about his dignity at the moment, and took the initiative to pick up the jug and fill Zhang Nuo's half-empty wine glass, and then said with a smile,

"Shopkeeper Zhang, don't rush to talk about Goguryeo. Tell me about the Grand Canal. You know that I am a businessman. I really don't know that the canal has so many benefits."

Zhang Nuo looked at the full wine glass in front of him and nodded in satisfaction. That's right. These things in his mind were all researched by those bigwigs in later generations. Which one is not the insight that has been tested by history? earned.

"The Grand Canal has three other functions. The first is to protect the capital. As long as the Grand Canal remains unimpeded, the two lines, one south and one north, are like fists stretched out from Guanzhong and Gyeonggi. The area covered by the fists is a safe zone."

"The second function is to transship the southeast. Think about it, Lao Li, the grain in Jiangsu and Zhejiang is piled up in mountains. Without this canal, it would take a lot of effort to transport the grain by carts and horses, shoulders and hands. Are you transporting it to Chang'an City?"

Li Shimin is the emperor who really conquered the world on horseback. He knows better than anyone how important a smooth and convenient logistics channel is for a war.

But at this moment, not only him, but even Empress Changsun was also fascinated by it. Seeing Zhang Nuo stopped to drink, she quickly picked up the flagon and filled it up.

Zhang Nuo, who didn't know it, enjoyed the honor of being poured by the two most distinguished people in this country, but he didn't know it. Instead, he felt the pleasure of chatting with drinking buddies back then, and continued to say enthusiastically,

"The third function is related to another achievement of Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty, which is to go through the Northeast and aim at Goryeo!"

"With this Grand Canal, countless grains and military equipment can be continuously sent to Zhuojun. This will have a huge effect on preventing the invasion of the Turks, Huns, and Xianbei in the north, let alone targeting Goryeo."

"And Emperor Sui Yang's three expeditions to Goguryeo, although they all came back in a big defeat, but they have to admit that if Emperor Sui Yang hadn't consumed a lot of Goguryeo's national power back then, it is not clear whether our Northeast territory of the Tang Dynasty will be safe at this moment. Woolen cloth."

What Li Shimin thinks at this moment is not just about consuming Goguryeo's national power, but if it wasn't for the three conquests of Goguryeo that caused "starvation everywhere and people's thoughts in disorder" in the country, it is really unknown whether his Li family can conquer this huge country.

Chapter 6

At this moment, Li Shimin felt that he was not talking to a young man ten years younger than himself, but a sage who was full of knowledge and talent was teaching him a lesson.

Unknowingly, things that were originally blurred and unclear in front of my eyes gradually became clear under the analysis of shopkeeper Xiao Zhang.

This made Li Shimin, who was still thinking about taking care of Zhang Nuo, even more enthusiastic.

It seems that Lao Zhang has cultivated this shopkeeper Xiao Zhang a lot these years. His bearing, knowledge, and vision are almost comparable to those of the court officials.

Looking at Li Shimin's admiring eyes, Zhang Nuo felt elation in his heart at the moment. Isn't bragging just for the sake of it? You have to brag about it by making the brothers around you docile and obedient.

So, Zhang Nuo, who was getting excited, couldn't control his mouth now.

"Speaking of the third thing that Emperor Sui Yang did, it was the imperial examination! This is a very good thing for both the people and the royal family."

"The old saying often says that a poor family has no noble sons, and that a century-old royal family has a thousand-year-old family. The imperial examination is an important bargaining chip to connect the royal family and the people and break these situations."

"Students from poor families need such a way to show what they have learned and seek a promotion. The royal family needs such a channel to find some scholars who are not from wealthy families and come from five surnames and seven Wangs to fight against the increasingly powerful power of aristocrats."

Li Shimin's fists under the table were clenched instantly, especially when he heard the phrase "a century-old royal family and a thousand-year-old family", he almost exclaimed.

But the slightly heavy breathing finally caught the attention of Empress Zhangsun, who was always paying attention to him.

Empress Changsun held Li Shimin's hand with her backhand, and she leaned lightly on Li Shimin's body. Li Shimin calmed down almost instantly.

And Zhang Nuo's narration is still going on, he belongs to this kind of person who doesn't know when the sky is falling when he's blowing up.

Right now, I was in the mood for excitement, so I couldn't care less about the little tricks under the table of the couple next to me.

"Why do you say that Emperor Sui Yang had good vision but no means? Look at the three things I said before, they are all good things, but he did a stupid thing that harmed the country and the people. Isn't this high-mindedness or low-handedness?"

Li Shimin was able to listen calmly now, and when he thought about what Zhang Nuo said, he suddenly felt enlightened.

That's right, vision is vision, and means are means. He thinks that his literary and martial arts skills are not inferior to his cousin, and more importantly, he is much more patient than his cousin.

Li Shimin, who was relieved, became more and more interested in Zhang Nuo, so he asked a question he had always wanted to ask,

"Then what do you think of the current Majesty? After all, this one is not in the right position."

Li Shimin calmly said the four words that he was not in the right position. After all, the whole country and the civil and military of the Manchu Dynasty knew that the crown prince was his eldest brother Li Jiancheng, and he did grab the throne abruptly by killing his brothers and brothers.

With Li Shimin's mind, he would not cover up this matter, but he really wanted to know what Li Shimin would look like in the mouths of ordinary people.

Li Shimin thought he was visiting the folks, even if he was talking about himself, he had no taboos, but Zhang Nuo was different, he was just an ordinary person now, how long did the Xuanwumen incident last?

Talking about this now, do you want to try the prison food?

So Zhang Nuo looked at Li Shimin with a strange face and said,

"Lao Li, you are too courageous. If you are bored with life, you can make peace with your sister-in-law first. Then I will take care of you for the sake of our friendship, so that you will not involve others. "

Li Shimin couldn't laugh or cry at the moment. Could it be that the emperor himself was so terrifying that he would worry about harming his family when he talked in private?

The point is that this kid just met for the first time, and he was thinking about taking care of the Guanyin maidservant. If he wants to make peace with himself, should he praise the charm of the Guanyin maidservant or scold the boy for his bad intentions.

Empress Changsun was also making fun of it at the moment, covering her mouth and snickering, while winking at Li Shimin, with a look of "I am very charming, I am very proud".

Li Shimin has already uttered the question at this moment, how could Zhang Nuo shrink back, at a small scale, he said it was a loss of face, and at a high level, he said it was blocking the way of public opinion, Li Shimin wants to be an emperor through the ages Characters, naturally cannot do this kind of thing.

"Brother Zhang, we are both businessmen. This is just chatting in private. We don't intend to rebel. Even if the Holy Majesty finds out today, we will only be two small businessmen. It's not a big deal. Let's say brother You can't trust me, Old Li?"

That's right, my brother has called out, and the aggressive method has also come out. This is a big customer, and Zhang Nuo is pointing to Lao Li's bounty to make a fortune, so he can't be offended.

Moreover, Zhang Nuo, as a promising young man who has been swaying and berating Fang Qiu on the Internet for so many years, has been influenced by the core socialist values ​​for so many years, so he really doesn't have much respect for imperial power and the like.

So, Zhang Nuo pretended to hesitate for a while, and finally spoke.

"Then let's talk about the current Holy Majesty. First of all, let's talk about the improper position you care about. In my opinion, it's none of my business!"

Li Shimin and Empress Changsun were a little surprised when they heard Zhang Nuo swearing, but before they could ask any questions, Zhang Nuo continued talking on his own.

"Old Li, this issue is actually not what we ordinary people should care about at all. It doesn't matter whether he is upright or not. We only need to care about whether His Majesty will be light-hearted in the future, whether the government will be clean and honest, and whether the national strength will be prosperous. .”

"That is to say, you, Lao Li, are acquaintances. I just said a few words, and I don't bother to talk to other people. Because no matter whether the current emperor is upright or not, it's not our turn to be emperor anyway. What's the point of caring about this?"

"Before the current emperor, starting from the first emperor, there were 54 emperors. Most of them were very upright, but the people should be scolded as they should be, and there are no good words in the history books. But for example, Han Gaozu, who was forced to come from the hands of the Great Qin The emperor's throne snatched from here will not still be famous through the ages."

"So, Lao Li, if you ask me what I think about this matter, I'm really saying what I said before, and it's none of my business!"

Li Shimin was almost shut up at the moment by Zhang Nuo's gun and stick spray. What is caring about this matter is wanting to be the emperor. I am already the emperor now, okay?

However, Zhang Nuo's vernacular words also reminded Li Shimin that what ordinary people care about is three meals a day, food, clothing, housing and transportation, which can be seen and touched.

If you can give them the life they want, then you are the Mingjun of the prosperous age, the emperor of the ages, even if you are not in the right position, the common people will still sing praises to you.

But if you were like Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, you were extorted and extorted, no matter how upright you are, someone might lift you off the dragon chair.

Sure enough, shopkeeper Xiao Zhang can tell the truth with profound intentions even if he uses market slang, he is a great talent in the country!

Chapter 7 Bro, are you an official?

It's almost the end of the meal, after all, we can't let the current emperor and empress see people all afternoon.

Li Shimin was quite satisfied with today's conversation. From Zhang Nuo's mouth, he knew that the people at the bottom didn't care how you got the position at all, but how diligent you were in governing and caring for the people.

Although this statement is only Zhang Nuo's, but Li Shimin thinks it is very reasonable, then this is the opinion of the people at the bottom, well, for sure, there is nothing wrong with it.

Li Shimin has a very good habit, that is, whenever he sees something good, he wants to move it to his house.

The good things here do not only refer to objects, but also to those civil servants and generals.

Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Cheng Yaojin, and Qin Qiong back then, all of them were not found by him slowly.

At this moment, he looked at Zhang Nuo who was ten years younger than him, and the collection addiction in his heart broke out again.

Thinking about it carefully, Zhang Nuo himself has a clean family background, and he was born in the Prince Qin's Mansion with his roots, so he was born as his own.

What's more, judging from the current conversations, his views on government affairs can be regarded as unique, and he is truly a high-level, insightful existence.

Such a person of suitable age, background, and ability can not only assist him, but also succeed him when he grows old in the future. This is a proper candidate for prime minister.

So Li Shimin looked at Zhang Nuo with a smile and asked,

"Brother, do you want to be an official? How about I find someone to recommend to you, brother?"

Zhang Nuo looked at Li Shimin with suspicion on his face. This old Li must have been drunk and stupid.

If you had that connection, wouldn't you arrange for your own children first?

Moreover, the most important thing is that he hasn't received the cheat yet, and his handwriting is like a chicken paw convulsion. Even if he is recommended at the moment, he is probably a small official who runs errands and does miscellaneous work. Writing and doing calculations every day?

That's absolutely not okay, you have to reveal your secrets on the first day of work.

I still have to practice my handwriting, get the cheat account, and then find a way to make a big contribution or something. It would be nice to wear a scarlet robe at the beginning.

Look at the green body below the fifth rank, the more you look at it, the more shabby it becomes.

Zhang Nuo, who wanted to understand, replied angrily,

"Old Li, don't worry about it. The officials you know are probably the clerks in the yamen. I'm afraid I can only run errands in the past. By then, my beard will be gray and I won't be able to get ahead."

"You don't have to worry about my affairs. I've already made plans. I'll read, write and write first. After I've made a great contribution to the search, I'll find a way to dress up in a scarlet robe."

Now Li Shimin couldn't laugh or cry, dare to feel that he is still looked down upon by others?

Empress Changsun next to her couldn't help laughing anymore. Her husband, His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, was disliked for not being close enough, so he could only arrange an errand job.

Now Empress Changsun is enough to make fun of Li Shimin for several years. The most important thing is that she laughs so hard that her stomach hurts.

Li Shimin supported the eldest grandson empress who was so weak from laughing that she went straight to the ground, while looking at Zhang Nuodao dumbfounded,

"Brother, I really know a few high-ranking officials, why don't you believe it?"

Zhang Nuo was speechless, what is this, my buddy is so talented, so someone cried and shouted to recommend him to be an official?

Are you kidding, how easy is it to open a small shop, come to a random customer with a little money, just know a lot of high-ranking officials, and then let those high-ranking officials recommend you?

You can’t even write novels like this!

A letter of recommendation is not just a matter of simply writing a letter of introduction, it requires joint and several liability.

That is to say, if the person you recommend has a problem in the future, you will not be able to afford it yourself. This shows how important the letter of recommendation is.

Especially those bigwigs who have been mixed with scarlet robes or even purple robes in the court, even the nephews of their own families will not easily give letters of recommendation.

Then Lao Li has only known himself for a few days, so he can ask those big shots to write letters of recommendation for him?

Forget it, be considerate, after all, Lao Li brought his wife out today, and he must brag in front of his wife to save face, which is understandable and understandable.

So Zhang Nuo said to Li Shimin like coaxing a child,

"Okay, okay, I blamed you wrongly, I know you have a lot of face. But I won't bother you about the letter of recommendation for the time being, I still have to practice and practice. When I want to become an official in the court, I will definitely ask for your help." Come on, don't be angry!"

Empress Changsun couldn't do it anymore, because she found that Zhang Nuo's tone of voice to her husband seemed to be exactly the same as when she coaxed Cheng Qian. Isn't this just coaxing her husband like a child!

Hahaha, it can't be done, her husband, the Ninth Five-Year Lord, the co-lord of the world, His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, has been coaxed into being a child!She can laugh at this joke for a year!

Li Shimin's face is very ugly at the moment, like a pot bottom, but he can't help it, he can't slap the table and show his cards to others and say that I am the emperor!