at the same time.
royal palace.
boom.
Li Shimin smashed the inkstone into Hou Junji's face.
Hou Junji's face was bleeding, but he didn't dare to say anything...
"Bastard thing!"
Li Shimin was furious: "The army is about to go on an expedition. Can you tell me that there are no supplies to keep out the cold?"
It's nothing more than Li Shimin being so angry.
In February, the weather in the West is still cold.
Naturally, it is indispensable to prepare cold-warming supplies for the soldiers.
But the Ministry of War... couldn't produce it!
You know, the Tang Dynasty adopted the military system!
What is the military system?
That is... plowing and harvesting when the farm is busy, training when the farm is slack, and fighting in the army during the war!
Because there is no war, there is no distribution!
"Your Majesty, please convict me!"
Hou Junji bowed to accept the crime.
In fact, the Ministry of War originally had supplies to keep out the cold...
The Ministry of War official took a look.
Winter is over anyway, so why keep it?
Can't we just apply to His Majesty when the time comes?
So, they secretly sold the cold-warming supplies!
Of course... they kept tens of thousands of sets in reserve.
Because there are tens of thousands of soldiers in the entire city of Chang'an.
(Not all Chang'an soldiers and horses went on the expedition)
(For example, 100,000 troops are sent, Chang'an sends 50,000 troops, and the remaining 50,000 troops are dispatched from other state capitals)
Therefore, they believe that tens of thousands of sets of cold-proof materials must be enough.
This has even been done over the years.
But who would have thought that Datang would start a war on multiple fronts.
Chang'an immediately summoned the soldiers and sent out a hundred thousand troops!
This is just great……
Something big has happened.
The embezzlement of cold-warming supplies cannot be concealed.
"Hou Junji, I trust you so much, is this how you repay me?"
Li Shimin's expression was terrifyingly gloomy.
Without supplies to keep out the cold, this battle would be a fart!
"Your Majesty, now is not the time to hold people accountable."
Fang Xuanling came out and said: "The top priority is to raise supplies to keep out the cold."
"One day the army is late for the expedition, and one day the border is more likely to be lost!"
snort.
Li Shimin snorted coldly.
Immediately he looked at Hou Junji: "Is it possible to mobilize from other prefectures in time?"
"this……"
Hou Junji broke into a cold sweat.
All cold-proof supplies were distributed from his hands.
After layers of deductions, how much money was left in other state capitals.
Even local corruption is worse than in Chang'an.
"Bastard thing."
Li Shimin was so angry that he smashed the pen holder on Long's case.
"Without cold-proof supplies, how do you ask the soldiers to go to the border? Do they go barefoot?"
Hou Junji did not dare to answer.
He continued to maintain his bowed posture, motionless.
"His Majesty."
At this moment, Changsun Wuji stood up: "For the current plan, we can only ask the nobles."
"They have controlled Datang's economy all year round, so they must have inventory."
Looking for a noble family?
Li Shimin's expression was terrifyingly gloomy.
Selling military supplies is a serious crime that will destroy the nine tribes. After officials are corrupted, they will definitely not dare to sell them without authorization.
Only the nobles can handle this matter.
"You want me to beg them?"
Li Shimin's eyes flashed with murderous intent.
Not only would you lose face if you went to the nobles, you would even be severely beaten.
Where does this put Li Shimin's face?
"Your Majesty, let me talk to you!"
Changsun Wuji took the order and said: "Promise to collect the cold protection materials within three days."
Li Shimin's expression softened slightly.
Changsun Wuji ranked first among civil servants not only because he was Li Shimin's brother-in-law, but also because he had connections among the gentry.
"In that case..."
Just when Li Shimin was about to compromise, Wei Zheng suddenly stood up.
"His Majesty."
"Have you forgotten that there is also a commercial department?"
Um?
Li Shimin was stunned.
yes.
If an official embezzles money and resells it, it will definitely be handed over to businessmen.
So the merchant definitely has the goods!
"Pass the message, let Wei Shuyu enter the palace as soon as possible." Li Shimin shouted.
"Your Majesty, Shuyu has gone to Hu County."
Wei Zheng bowed and said, "It may take a long time to go back and forth."
"And Hu County is the largest trading city."
Li Shimin suddenly realized.
He immediately said to Wang De: "Wang De, send an order to Wei Shuyu and ask him to purchase 50,000 sets of cold-proof materials at all costs!"
He said for a while: "You should do this yourself!"
Wang De took the order.
He left in a hurry.
"Auxiliary machine, you also go to the nobles to find out what they are talking about."
Li Shimin thought for a moment and said, "In case Shuyu can't handle it, we must get the cold-proof supplies."
"promise."
Changsun Wuji took the order and left.
"Hou Junji!"
Li Shimin gritted his teeth.
After all, he was the minister of Conglong who followed him to participate in the Xuanwu Gate Incident.
It was impossible for Li Shimin to kill him directly.
"If you don't know about it, I will spare your life!"
"But death penalty can be avoided, but living crime cannot be escaped."
"Just be a soldier and go to the front line to fight."
"Whether you can atone for your sins or not depends entirely on your own destiny!"
Hou Junji trembled all over.
I was fucked to the end.
But being able to live is thanks to Li Shimin's mercy.
"Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty!"
Hou Junji bowed and thanked him: "The guilty minister will fight bloody battles, and he will defend the territory of the Tang Dynasty even if he risks his life!"
Li Shimin waved his hand, looking a little tired.
at the same time.
Hu County.
Merchants gathered in the square.
I was amazed by the cement road under my feet.
They had never seen such smooth ground.
"Why do you think Mr. Wei summoned us this time?"
"Xue Yantuo and Tuyuhun's invasion should be a big deal."
"Stop talking nonsense. Mr. Wei is in charge of the Ministry of Commerce. What does the war have to do with him?"
"I know……"
Uh-huh.
All the merchants looked at the merchant who spoke.
"It is said that the imperial court intends to build roads, and this cement is the best proof."
As soon as these words came out, the eyes of all the merchants burst into light.
Obviously, this is another profitable business!
"Mr. Wei is here."
As a voice sounded, the whole place fell silent.
Everyone's eyes couldn't help but look towards the high platform.
Sure enough, the three familiar figures came into view.
Wei Shuyu, the second fool of Chang'an!
To everyone's surprise, there was also a little kid.
Because he was short, he jumped up and down and looked at the audience.
"Wow, there are so many people..."
Qin Shandao just sighed.
boom.
Wei Shuyu kicked him off the high platform.
I give a speech and you perform a circus on stage.
Do others listen to me or watch your performance?
"Woooo..."
Qin Shandao stood up holding his buttocks, his face full of grievances.
"Everyone, I'm sorry to interrupt everyone's time to make money again."
Ignoring Qin Shandao's resentful eyes, Wei Shuyu spoke loudly.
"No matter what Mr. Wei says, it is our duty to listen to the Ministry of Commerce's policies."
"Yes, as a citizen of the Tang Dynasty, you should obey the imperial decrees."
"Mr. Wei, tell me, are there any good projects to make money?"
All the merchants, you say something to me.
Not much formality.
"It seems like you guys still understand me."
Wei Shuyu laughed: "Then I won't say much. Have you seen the cement road under your feet?"
The merchants nodded repeatedly.
"Our money-making project this time is... road construction!"
All the merchants were stunned.
Isn’t it a thankless task to build roads with both money and effort?
Apart from erecting a broken monument, what other benefits can there be?
