After listening to what was said, Li Xiaogong held his forehead and sat down slowly, "Slow down, wait a minute, don't talk yet, let me take my time."
Zhang Gongjin, Zhang Yang's teacher, reported the abuse of power for personal gain to Wei Zheng, but Xu Jingzong sent the news to Zhang Elephant in advance, so he burned the files in the Ministry of Rites in advance.
These files contain many arrangements for outsiders made with the Ministry of Rites as the core since Zhang Yang and Xu Jingzong took office.
This is the hard work of the Ministry of Rites these days, as well as the research on Turks and Tibet, but now they have been burned.
Li Xiaogong asked in confusion: "So it was arranged by Duke Zou?"
"It's me." Zhang Gongjin stroked his beard and said, "It's what a teacher should do to correct his students' mistakes. Wei Zheng is naturally willing to help me."
Several people sat together, and Li Tai scratched his head in pain.
As a teacher, it was normal for Gong Jin to correct his students. In Wei Zheng's eyes, Zhang Yang was still young, and young people would naturally make mistakes.
Zhang Gongjin smiled and said, "The only way to protect the Ministry of Rites is to retreat in order to advance."
Li Xiaogong sighed, "You underestimate your Majesty. Before the decree came down, I chatted with him for a long time. Your Majesty meant that the current Ministry of Rites should still be maintained, and the heavy taxes on the Turks should also be maintained. Gao Shilian meant that Gao Xiuxian should come. Preside over the current work of the Etiquette Department."
Li Shimin picked the fruit of the Ministry of Rites very unceremoniously, and the future Ministry of Rites will be in the hands of his own emperor. All the previous achievements will be retained, but these achievements have nothing to do with the people in the Ministry of Rites.
Zhang Yang smiled self-deprecatingly. The emperor is the emperor after all, and his selfishness is always the greatest, even for his son-in-law.
Li Xiaogong asked curiously, "Is it your boy who asked Zou Guogong to handle this matter?"
"I did it myself and it has nothing to do with Zhang Yang."
Zhang Gongjin still had a profound smile.
Li Xiaogong said in a low voice, "At least let me know."
"If I informed you, would you still burn down the Ministry of Rites to vent your dissatisfaction?"
Li Xiaogong snorted coldly, "I don't like you counselors, people who have studied people's calculations to the core."
"The Ministry of Rites has gone too far to reach this point. Since Xu Jingzong and my disciples have finished the matter, it is better to step back first and see the consequences. Your Majesty will remember that I am his teacher, so he will naturally be lenient. In the end, The worst outcome is jail time."
Zhang Gongjin continued, "Your Majesty has just stripped off the official body of my disciple. Sooner or later he will put it back on again, so there is nothing to be afraid of. There is a saying in the Book of Changes: A man can bend and stretch."
When the Ministry of Rites became a game between big shots, Zhang Yang felt completely helpless. No matter how many bigwigs in Li Shimin's court had any ill intentions towards the Ministry of Rites, Zhang Gongjin allowed everyone to get out this time.
Leave the whirlpool of the Ministry of Rites.
Just like in a stormy situation, the big ship is very unstable in the waves and may capsize at any time. Why not let everyone get off the ship at this time to see if the ship will sink in the wind and rain? .
Even if the ship sinks, everyone will be safe and sound, and only the treasure on the ship will be lost.
From Zhang Gongjin's point of view, he can earn back these treasures sooner or later, so there is no need to regret it.
Zhang Yang grinned and said, "I think it is unlikely that His Majesty will reuse me."
Zhang Gongjin took a sip of tea and said, "How do you know whether the people in the court can continue your achievements? Humility is a good thing, and you cannot belittle yourself."
Li Xiaogong looked at the master and apprentice in front of him strangely.
"Now you can break out of the prison of the Ministry of Rites and try your best to make His Majesty and the court forget about you. Take advantage of these days to take a good look at the current court and the world. Waiting for you to wear official uniforms again and enter the court again. When the time comes, you will see another scene, can my only disciple just be the Minister of Etiquette?"
"Teacher thinks highly of me." Zhang Yang said with cupped hands.
"I don't think highly of you. I have seen countless people in my life. You can reach a very high position. As long as you have great righteousness and care about the world and the country, what do people like Changsun Wuji mean?"
Zhang Gongjin finished speaking with a smile, turned around and left with a bowl of tea.
Li Tai, Shangguan Yi, Zhang Yang, Li Xiaogong, and Xu Jingzong sat in a row, and they all fell silent at this moment.
Li Tai suddenly slapped his thigh, "Brother-in-law! I want money."
Zhang Yang recovered from Zhang Gongjin's words, "What money do you want?"
"I have decided to return to the palace now to admit my mistake and buy back the shares from my mother and uncle."
"The maximum I will give you is five thousand guan. The money paid is my money. The shares bought back belong to me. Our accounts are clear."
Li Tai nodded, "That's natural. If the Wei Palace hadn't run out of money, I would have really wanted to buy it myself."
He gave Niu Chuang a look and asked him to take King Wei to get the money.
It's not too much of a loss to buy these people back with 5,000 guan, and you can earn more in the future.
Li Xiaogong looked at Xu Jingzong.
Xu Jingzong asked in confusion, "Why does Prince Hejian look at this official like this?"
Li Xiaogong touched the stubble on his chin, "His Majesty stripped off Zhang Yang's official clothes, but you and Zhang Xiangxiang did not deal with it. It seems that you still want to stay in the Ministry of Rites."
Xu Jingzong raised his head and looked at the sky, "The affairs of the Ministry of Rites will be handed over to the next Minister of Rites. Your Majesty will naturally not punish the subordinate, but the official will be bullied miserably by the new Minister of Rites. Maybe tomorrow the official will be punished because of I was so frightened that I became seriously ill.”
Li Xiaogong nodded slightly.
Li Shimin took away all the achievements of the Ministry of Rites, and replaced Gao Shicheng to preside over the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. Gao Shilian did not shy away from relatives when promoting talents, and Li Shimin also acquiesced in handing such a good fruit to Gao Shilian.
Because of the matter of becoming prime minister, Li Shimin did not want to create too much distance between him and Gao Shilian.
The well-established Ministry of Rites became a bargaining chip for Li Shimin to grasp power.
This bargaining chip allowed Li Shimin to retain Gao Shilian.
Gao Shilian also tasted the sweetness.
Zhang Yang slowly stood up and took a deep breath, and could even smell the fragrance of food.
The ones harvesting grain in the fields are all women, and there are even girls who look sloppily dressed. Boys have to do physical work, and things like harvesting grain are left to girls. Six or seven-year-olds Girls are already very sensible. They pick up the wheat and put it into the bamboo basket obediently, doing the same thing over and over again.
The waterwheel was running squeakingly, the number of millstones for turning grains was increased from three to six, and several girls under ten years old struggled to carry a large bag of millet and poured it into the millstones. It is the food grown in the village after half a year of hard work.
If two or three grains fall on the ground, they will pick them up carefully.
It's just that their clothes are not very good. They are all old clothes that boys used to change. They are the cutest young ones. Girls must give everything to boys first, and new clothes made of hemp must be given to boys first. Boys wear.
Zhang Yang thought about it, life in the village will get better in the future, and these troubles will not be troubles.
Li Yue and his wife were still cooking together. The wife couldn't cook her own food. They were talking and laughing while tinkering with some pork, not knowing what kind of dark dishes they would make.
Xu Jingzong also left.
Shangguan Yi also began to teach boys in the village.
Zhang Yang looked at the nearest girl in the field. Her little face was a little dirty and she looked only eleven or twelve years old. Her hair was messy and there was a lot of grass in her hair.
"Brother Niu, boil a big pot of water for the children to wash up after they finish their work."
Niu Chuang nodded and went to make arrangements.
Li Tai took away five thousand coins from the village, which was a huge expenditure.
Moreover, her husband was fired from his job.
The wife was in a very bad mood.
When she got home, Zhang Yang made her a bowl of fermented glutinous rice dumplings, and her mood improved a lot.
"Actually, the money is not important. We can earn it back."
"Yes, but my husband's official position is gone."
"It doesn't matter. The teacher said that my official position will come back sooner or later. The Ministry of Rites has done too many things these days, which are too outrageous. If I continue to stay in the court, I will inevitably encounter greater disturbances. Instead of doing this, it is better to wait for the opportunity. "
Li Yue asked in a low voice, "What happened now is just to get away from the storm?"
Zhang Yang nodded, "It can be said that when I return to the court for re-appointment next time, my official position should be higher."
"Everyone makes mistakes, and my husband is still young, only twenty years old. There is still a long way to go, so please don't lose heart."
Li Yue's eyes were firm.
Zhang Yang really wanted to say that he wished Li Shimin had forgotten him.
With a piece of paper spread out in front of them, the couple took off their shoes and sat on the floor to draw together.
Li Yue sketched a load-bearing rod, "Is this thing so complicated?"
"You can make full use of your knowledge of mechanics, and it is best to be driven by a water wheel."
"That's right, we don't have that much manpower in the village."
A small village of thirty households has a combined population of just over a hundred.
The purchase of Gaochang is in progress, and even Li Xiaogong doesn't know about the arrangements.
Adalan should be out of seclusion now following Prince Gaochang.
Zhang Yang whispered, "The matter of movable type printing must be kept secret. It will be a huge wealth."
"Um!"
Li Tai brought a few palm-sized pieces of brown sugar to the Zhengzheng Palace. Facing his father and queen, he lowered his head and said, "Father and queen, I know I was wrong."
Li Shimin looked at the brown sugar with a piece in his mouth, "Zhang Yang also made this thing?"
Li Tai nodded while kneeling.
Li Shimin smiled and said, "The taste is indeed good. Can Guanyin Maid try it too?"
After hearing this, Empress Changsun also picked up a piece of brown sugar and put it into her mouth to taste it carefully, "It has more flavor than maltose."
Li Tai, who was kneeling on the ground, felt increasingly uneasy as he watched his father and mother talking and laughing.
Li Shimin continued, "How much did you earn from your business with Zhang Yang?"
Li Tai lowered his head, "There isn't much left. The more you earn, the more you spend, because the business with the Turks cost several thousand more, and the government also collected 37% tax."
Queen Changsun looked at Li Shimin.
Li Shimin nodded.
Li Taiyou said, "My son and Zhang Yang discussed buying his mother's share with three thousand guan of silver. From then on, the business had nothing to do with his mother."
Zhang Yang used the power of the Ministry of Rites for personal gain. It was inappropriate for the queen to hold this business in her hands.
Li Shimin also had long wanted to let the queen get rid of this business.
There is already this heavy tax, which can increase the revenue of the DPRK and China a lot.
Some of the people in the Queen's hands can earn about 100 guan per month. This transaction can add 3000 guan to the treasury, and Li Shimin is naturally very happy.
"On weekdays, I hope you study more and get less involved in business matters. Your prince is my son."
"My son, please remember your father's teachings."
Li Shimin nodded and said, "Since the matter has come to this, let's leave it at that."
"Here."
Asking people to bring carts of money into the palace, Li Tai stood under the sunset. He didn't feel that before, he felt that his father was the hero of his life.
After this time, Li Tai deeply understood the dangers of the human heart.
Li Tai also didn't want to plead for Zhang Yang. Praying at this time would only be counterproductive.
All the results became his father's, and he shared them equally with Gao Shilian. He also received a heavy tax and the entire Ministry of Rites.
There was a lot of disappointment in his heart, and Li Tai also felt that he couldn't help Zhang Yang.
In front of Zhao Guofu, knowing that King Wei was coming, he hurriedly welcomed him in.
Seeing Changsun Wuji, Li Tai first saluted, "Uncle."
The eldest Sun Wuji, who served as Zhongshu's provincial minister, was always in the court and did not follow his father to the palace to escape the summer heat.
"I came here this time to discuss with my uncle how to take back the previous businessmen."
Changsun Wuji sighed in frustration, "Young people will always make mistakes, and Zhang Yang is still too out of touch."
"My nephew is willing to buy back his previous shareholding for a thousand guan of silver, because Zhang Yang uses his power in the Ministry of Rites to make profits, and having this business in his hands is not a good thing for my uncle."
Changsun Wuji helped Li Tai, who was bowing and saluting, "The King of Wei doesn't need to be polite. Why didn't Zhang Yang just talk about buying back the members?"
Li Tai sniffed aggrievedly, "Zhang Yang has now been dismissed from his post. He has made such a big mistake. Naturally, he has no face to face his uncle."
"It's my fault that the Ministry of Rites became what it is now. I should have warned him more at the beginning to prevent him from doing such a wrong thing."
Li Tai took out a contract and said, "Please ask your uncle to sign it."
Changsun Wuji wrote his name on the contract and used the seal of Zhao Guogong's mansion to secure it. Two large carts of money were delivered to the mansion. The copper coins looked a little haunting. The servants in the mansion had never seen so much silver.
This is not strange to Li Tai, he is used to it.
And the payment was in copper coins, not silver cakes.
Before leaving, Changsun Wuji asked again, "I still want to see Zhang Yang again."
Li Tai put away the second contract and said, "Then my nephew will take his uncle to see Zhang Yang."
Changsun Wuji nodded with satisfaction.
Because of the incident at the Ministry of Rites, Li Xiaogong was banned. The person who was in charge of the ban found Li Xiaogong in the village without seeing Li Xiaogong in Chang'an City.
Facing these people, Li Xiaogong shouted, "I was banned in Chang'an, aren't I banned here too?!"
Li Xiaogong had resentment in his heart, so he punched and kicked these petty officials.
Many people in the village watched this scene and looked at these people with sympathy.
There was some joy in Sun Simiao's eyes, hoping that Li Xiaogong would be more serious, just in time to verify that the medicine for golden sores has different effects on different people's constitutions, just like the allergies and side effects Zhang Yang mentioned?
(End of chapter)
