I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

Li Shimin held his beloved wife's hand and gave her careful instructions.

Empress Changsun was frail and sickly, and had always been in poor health, but she was always thinking about him and stopped taking medicine when she felt better.

It was such a waste that he fell ill a second time.

This time, Li Shimin didn't want anything to happen to Empress Changsun.

"Don't worry, Erlang, Shen'er has already made all the arrangements. In order to let me take the medicine with peace of mind, Shen'er brought a cart of precious medicinal materials before the New Year.

The food was slowly piled up in a side hall of Li Zhengde, and it was estimated that it would be enough to last for one or two months.

Oh, Shen'er is a kind-hearted, benevolent, and filial child, and he never uses these things to gain fame.

He said that this was all his job and was very humble and low-key. I was deeply touched.

Until now, I have never really given Shen'er any reward. Today, I suddenly remembered that I still have a farm and 50,000 acres of land in the south of the city.

I am going to give Shen'er the fiefdom and food in the manor as a reward. What do you think, Erlang?"

Ever since Empress Changsun said that Li Shen was kind-hearted, Li Shimin's face had always been filled with disdain.

He sneered at the compliments given to Empress Changsun.

How could he not know what his own son is like? They have been playing together for more than ten years, so they know each other well.

Is this guy kindhearted? And righteous?

When this guy makes money, he is kindhearted. He is so kindhearted. He is kindhearted if he does not sell a penny worth a coin for a ton of silver.

He was still kind and righteous. The dandies in Chang'an City were deceived by him and sold out, and they even helped Li Shen count the money.

He had complete faith in Li Shen, served him at his beck and call, and was willing to serve as Li Shen's vanguard.

Many times, it was this group of playboys who caused trouble. Li Shen just cheered them on from behind and stayed out of it after the incident.

As for being humble and low-key, Li Shimin shook his head secretly and decided not to say anything.

Li Shen didn't know how to write these four words.

"Erlang, do you think my reward is too little?" Just as Li Shimin was complaining in his heart, Empress Changsun asked again.

Li Shimin then looked at Empress Zhangsun:

“Guanyin maid, good farmland is fine, but Zhuangzi has gone beyond the rules of etiquette.

The tenth prince already had a fief of fifteen hundred, which exceeded the share that a prince should have.

Your manor has a fief of 1,000 households, so doesn't that mean he has 2,500 households in real fiefdom?"

According to Tang etiquette, the prince's fief was 10,000 households, but this was a nominal fief. In other words, the actual fief was 1,000 households.

This is already a lot, as an ordinary princess only has 300 households.

Li Shen was given an extra 500 households for saving Empress Changsun, and even Wei Zheng opposed it at the time.

Now the Queen actually wants to grant Li Shenshi a thousand households. I'm afraid even the royal family will stand up to oppose it.

The taxes actually collected were basically borne by the prince, and they were divided into three types: rent, commission and transfer.

Moreover, the fiefdom they were granted would become Li Shen's household slaves in the future. As long as it was not taken back, they would serve the Prince Ji's Mansion for generations.

You have to know that a fief of 2,500 households has a population of at least tens of thousands.

"Erlang, over the years, what is the value of all the things Shen'er has given me as a gift?

Even 500,000 acres of fertile farmland wouldn’t be lower.

Moreover, I heard that the people in Prince Ji's mansion live well and every family is wealthy.

These fiefs have been with me for many years, and it is hard work. Letting them follow Prince Ji’s Mansion is a reward for them."

Empress Changsun insisted on her own idea. She felt that rewarding only some land was a bit too light, and the one thousand households of fiefdom were the key point.

Li Shimin pinched his eyebrows with his hands, he had a headache.

The Queen insisted so much, and he couldn't just refuse. After all, it was the Queen's good intention.

But if this is done, it will definitely be brought to the court.

Not to mention the aristocratic families, even the three provinces and six ministries would not agree to this matter, as it is beyond the rules.

And the amount is a bit outrageous.

Real seal and virtual seal are different concepts, and the meanings are even more different.

"What's the matter? Erlang, do you think this is inappropriate?" Empress Changsun asked when she saw that Li Shimin looked a little worried.

"Sister, I would like to thank you for your kindness on behalf of Shen Er, but the intention is enough, please don't make things difficult for Your Majesty.

This is the ancestral rule and cannot be changed.

Besides, Shen'er is so spoiled now. If his sister rewards him with things, Shen'er will become even more unscrupulous.

Now disciplining him is giving my sister a headache."

Seeing that Li Shimin was in a difficult situation, Concubine Wei quickly declined and found a way out for the two.

In fact, he was also afraid that his son would attract attention because of his status as a big boss.

He is already so troublesome now. What will happen if we give him a few thousand more people?

"Sister, you can't say that. In the past ten years, I have never really rewarded Shen'er once.

It's Shen'er who has always been filial to me, which makes me feel a little guilty.

I always feel like I owe Shen'er a lot."

Empress Changsun was very determined.

Li Shimin wanted to say that it would be fine to reward him with 100,000 acres of fertile land, but not the actual fiefdom. Otherwise, he would have to go to the court and engage in a debate with the ministers.

"His Majesty."

At this moment, Wang De, who was beside him, saw this situation and called out in a low voice.

After hearing this, Li Shimin leaned back and whispered in Wang De's ear:

"Your Majesty, I think you should agree with the Queen's opinion. The imperial physician said that the Queen is most afraid of having a heart disease.

If you always feel that you owe Prince Ji and cannot let it go, and if you become depressed, you may get sick in the long run, and then...”

He played it to the point where he was satisfied, and there was no mention of raising his head. Li Shimin understood the rest on his own.

He thought about it carefully and felt that what Wang De said made sense. It would not be worth it to become depressed over such a small matter.

But how should these thousand fiefs be rewarded?

There will definitely be people who oppose this matter, so it cannot be done in the name of the Queen, otherwise it might be detrimental to the Queen.

Moreover, only the emperor has the right to reward for such things.

After thinking it over, I still couldn't come up with a conclusion, but I still agreed:

"Okay, since Guanyin has this intention, then I will allow it."

After hearing this, Empress Changsun smiled.

"Erlang, it's getting late. Can you rest here today?"

"Yeah." Li Shimin nodded.

Empress Changsun and Concubine Wei stood up.

"In that case, Erlang, you should rest earlier, and we will take our leave first."

After saying that, Empress Changsun took Concubine Wei and left Yajingju.

Li Shimin was left alone in a daze.

What excuse can you find?

"Your Majesty, are you worried about an excuse to give the reward?" Wang De, who had gone to see the queen off, came back and asked.

"That's right. The court officials will definitely oppose this matter. I must have a sufficient reason."

Li Shimin stood up and walked out of the room, came to the edge of the terrace and looked at the Nanhai Pool.

"With this bastard, it's hard for me to live a hundred years.

As long as he is involved in the preparations, and makes me worry and trouble, I should deduct his salary. "

The more he thought about it, the more suffocated he became. Li Shimin couldn't help but curse at the Nanhai Pool.

"Haha, Your Majesty, if you keep deducting money, I'm afraid you'll have to start deducting the salary of the heir to the Ji Palace."

(The fiefs mentioned in the article are real. In the Tang Dynasty, the fiefs of princes were 10,000 households, of which 1,000 were actually granted fiefs. However, many fiefs were only 800, which would be filled after the new emperor ascended the throne.

What is mentioned here is the early and middle period, not including the chaotic period in the late and middle period.)