The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

"The palace needs money. No matter how frugal you are, there are many things that cannot be done without rice." Li Shimin smiled and said, "You had a hard time in the past two years."

Empress Changsun shook her head slightly.

"Your Majesty, what are you talking about? After all, no matter how hard life is in the palace, it's just that my clothes use less cloth, my head has fewer jewelry, and I don't waste food.

It's not to the point of lack of food and clothing.

But the people outside are different. The world is stable, and Erlang has a heavier responsibility on his shoulders. The people are not yet fully fed and clothed. This is what we should worry about and what we should work together to solve."

"Compared with the world, these things in the palace are insignificant."

Li Shimin nodded seriously.

The court still has a lot of things to do, and the Tang Dynasty still has a long way to go.

"As for the personnel, I'll leave it to you to handle." Li Shimin looked at Empress Changsun: "If you have any difficulties, just tell me, I will work with you."

"Yes, I understand."

There was a brief silence between the couple.

"There is one more thing." Li Shimin said: "It was also decided after I talked with Huairen."

"What good ideas did Huairen provide to Erlang?" Empress Changsun smiled: "Or did he come up with some bad ideas? I think your majesty's expression is not right now."

After the conversation just now, the atmosphere between the two was extremely warm, so Empress Changsun's tone was much more relaxed during the chat.

Li Shimin smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"He gave me a difficult problem." Li Shimin responded: "It's about the management rights of salt and iron. His suggestion to me is that both of them should be returned to the court, and the court should manage them instead of giving them to private individuals. The rewards given in the past should also be taken back in a way."

"This..." Empress Changsun was silent.

This is really a difficult problem.

"Didn't Erlang find someone to discuss this matter?"

This is a matter of state affairs, so she couldn't say anything more.

"I just tried to test their attitude." Li Shimin said, "The main thing is that Auxiliary Machinery awarded him a mine a while ago. He has both salt fields and iron mines."

"I gave it to him. I can't open my mouth to take it back."

"But if we want to accomplish this, we really have to start from the Changsun family. Otherwise, other people will not be convincing at all.

Starting from other places will inevitably be accused of favoritism."

Li Shimin was very embarrassed about this matter and didn't know how to start.

So he first tested Changsun Wuji's opinion, and then told his wife about it.

When it's time to do it, let the Changsun family be prepared.

Or, they can talk about it between brothers and sisters.

This matter is really difficult.

Empress Changsun suddenly realized.

"So that's it. Then, what is the attitude of my brother?" Empress Changsun asked.

"It's so vague, I didn't understand it." Li Shimin shook his head helplessly: "So, I want to ask you for a favor."

"Let me meet my brother and ask him directly, or persuade him to take out the salt and iron business rights of the mansion as an example, so that others will not be able to say anything."

Empress Changsun was smart, as long as she was told, she understood.

"Yes." Li Shimin did not hide it and answered directly.

"Salt and iron rights are very important to the court. They are not only for increasing the court's income, but also for the court's health.

You should know that if ordinary people do not eat salt, their bodies will have problems. Soldiers in the army will not have strength to hold weapons, let alone go to the battlefield to fight.

People cannot afford fine salt, so they always find ways to replace it, such as coarse salt and vinegar cloth, in order to ensure a good body and strength to work.

Originally, the sale of private salt has been repeatedly banned. After the court revised the law, it was strictly controlled. However, if it is privately operated, it will jump out of the court's control. With the temptation of huge profits, some people will secretly sell the salt of the Tang Dynasty to other places.

Li Youliang is an example. He smuggled in Liangzhou, made friends with foreign tribes, and finally rebelled."

"According to the saying that soldiers in the army cannot eat without salt, salt is a strategic material." Li Shimin also learned and applied it, thinking that this word was very appropriate.

"Not to mention iron, from small farm tools to large weapons, they must not fall into the hands of foreigners. Smuggling salt and iron is a capital crime."

"Since I came back, I have thought about it and decided to return the salt and iron business rights to the court.It is something that must be done. "

"I understand." Empress Changsun responded.

So, this matter is indeed very important.

"Tomorrow, I will meet my brother and explain the pros and cons. No matter how difficult this matter is, for the sake of the Tang Dynasty, you and I must work together to accomplish it." Empress Changsun was determined.

Li Shimin looked at Empress Changsun with joy and comfort.

He reached out and took Empress Changsun in his arms, letting her lean on him.

"It has been a difficult journey, but I have come through it. I used to think that it would be easy after I came through it, but now it seems that it is just the beginning. The higher the position, the heavier the burden on my shoulders.

But I don't regret it. "

"I have no regrets following Erlang. "Empress Changsun said: "I know the responsibilities that Erlang shoulders, so I will share them with Erlang and do my part well, so that Erlang can concentrate on government affairs. If one day, Erlang feels tired, he can come to the Lizheng Palace to rest for a while, and I will comfort him."

"Luckily, you are here." Li Shimin sighed.

There are many beauties in the harem, and the emperor has many concubines, but he, Li Shimin, has only her as his wife, and it can only be her.

"Yes, Erlang has me, but Huairen..." Empress Changsun sat up straight: "Such a long time has passed, and I haven't heard of any movement. He has been on the farm all the time. I just heard that he sent something to the Duke of Ying's mansion during that period, and then there was nothing after that. "

"Hiss~ This kid, he talks to me in a set way, but when it comes to himself, he is so slow, always staying in the farm, building a lot of buildings. He is so good at building houses, he might as well go to the Ministry of Works." Li Shimin was also annoyed, or rather, he was disappointed.

He was so slow to marry a wife, which was not the style of their Li family at all.

"Huh? What did he talk to Your Majesty in a set way?" Empress Changsun asked curiously.

"Ah, this... business matters, money-making matters." Li Shimin responded with a smile.