Zhang Yang sat down and said, "The sugar thing is going very smoothly. We may have more money to spend in the future."
Li Yue smiled and said: "The three boxes of gold sent from the Western Regions are enough."
The sky rumbled in the evening and thunderstorms fell.
Zhang Yang was lying on the chair, leaning on his wife's legs and reading the scroll.
Li Yue was quietly cutting out clothes that would be worn by children born in the future.
Looking down at her husband's side face, she smiled softly, "Auntie said that the DPRK and China have discussed several times to build the four counties of the Hexi Corridor."
Zhang Yang rubbed his legs, possibly relaxing his reading posture, "It costs a lot of money to build the four counties in Hexi."
Li Yue looked at her husband's ears and frowned again. These days, in order to study these Confucian classics, her husband rarely takes care of himself.
How could a person who loves cleanliness so much neglect his ears?
Li Yue put down the cloth in her hand, picked up a slender wooden spoon from the cabinet on the side, and cleaned her husband's ear.
"I have made careful calculations in my daily life. At the moment when the lake salt in Tubo has not yet been produced, it is difficult for my father to come up with money to build the four counties of the Hexi Corridor. This year, the results of the Western Regions have been delivered. There are indeed a lot of agates and jade. The people of Gaochang have already To deliver the gold in one step, my father doesn’t have much cash to spare now.”
"Well, the most important thing in his hands now is food."
It is actually very simple to know the financial situation of the palace. Li Yue has often visited the palace in the past two years, adding the Queen's story and the salaries of officials in the court.
After careful consideration, you can know how much money Li Shimin needs to pay in a year to maintain the stability of Chang'an City.
Of course, Li Yue could only estimate a rough figure. Money was needed everywhere in the court, and several ministers who had a good relationship with the emperor all owed several years of salary that they had not paid.
If you know where the money comes from and where it goes, you can understand Li Shimin's financial situation.
Zhang Yang turned over and smelled her scent, "Well, it smells really good."
Qiao's face turned red, and Li Yue picked her ears a little harder.
The rain was getting heavier and heavier. Listening to the sound of rain falling on the roof, Zhang Yang said: "Even if the lake salt in Tubo can be made and sent to Chang'an City, it will be difficult to turn this salt into cash. The distribution of salt instead of salary is only temporary. If the salt is put into the market, it will become even less valuable after the salt price drops, and it will be difficult to recover the capital by then."
"Salt is something that people can't live without. The fluctuation of salt prices often affects people's livelihood. So I thought that even if your father had enough salt in his hands, he would not dare to sell it. At most, it would increase the reserves of the court. Use salt, use this official salt method to control the price of salt."
Li Yue cleaned the ears and blew gently. After confirming that they were clean, she returned to smiling. Because she had used too much force before, her husband's ears were also a little red.
"Can my father control things like official salt?"
"Who knows? It depends on your father's ability." Zhang Yang put his arm around her waist. Because she was thin as a child, her waist is still very thin now.
Changing his position again, Zhang Yang lay on his side and looked at his wife's chin, "Well, your chin is so beautiful that I never get tired of it."
】
Li Yueqiao was stunned and looked at the heavy rain outside the window, "How could anyone say such a thing in broad daylight? It would be embarrassing to death if someone heard it."
She picked up the fabric on the side and continued cutting.
Zhang Yang closed his eyes, "Now that my wife has spoken, we should help our father-in-law when he is in trouble."
Li Yue stopped what he was doing and said, "Building the pass in Jiayu Mountain and the four counties in Hexi will cost at least ten thousand yuan a year, and it will take several years to complete. No one can say. Building the pass is such a thing that it is stopped and abandoned in the middle." It’s not like it’s never happened before. Our family finally saved 30,000 yuan, which makes me feel sad.”
"Could it be that if your father doesn't speak up, we really won't help?"
"This is a matter for the Central Government, not for Lishan."
Zhang Yang smiled and said: "Help him. After all, we are all members of our family. Just for the sake of your mother and your face, let Li Tai get some money by the way."
Li Yue nodded and said, "Then just listen to your husband."
Seeing her secretive smile, Zhang Yang sat up. Only if the family is harmonious can everything be prosperous.
Things like the Milk Emperor are sometimes similar to investing.
The benefits of investing in the emperor are also much longer-term. Senior Lu Buwei is indeed a real investment master.
A thunderstorm came suddenly.
In the palace, in the Manna Palace, Li Shimin looked at the silver cake on the table in front of him with a straight face.
In front of him are the most trusted ministers of the Qin Palace.
Everyone is spending money to build the Hexi Corridor, all for the sake of the country.
After so many years of friendship, when His Majesty was in trouble, these ministers who worked together in the past also used their own wealth to help.
Even Wei Zheng took out a hundred dollars for the first time.
Knowing that Wei Zheng's family was poor, he could still spare one hundred yuan.
Cheng Yaojin struggled for a while and took out two pieces of silver cake with a peculiar smell from the soles of his shoes.
Seeing him put two palm-sized silver cakes on the table, Yuchi Gong said unhappily: "Zhijie, I heard that your son has made a lot of money from the braised pork business, and you only spent this much?"
After the words fell, Wei Zheng snorted coldly.
Cheng Yaojin also had a troubled look on his face, "You all know that all the money earned from the goods at home has been spent, so how much money can be brought to the family."
Fang Xuanling also took out a lot of money and put it on the table, "Everyone is really sorry, the woman in the family is in charge of the money, so she can only take out so much."
Everyone let out a long sigh, knowing Fang Xuanling's situation. With such a mother-in-law, it was not easy for Fang Xuanling to be able to provide enough money.
Everyone took out money at this time because of their loyalty.
All of them are not only ministers, but also good brothers of His Majesty. When we were galloping on the battlefield, this friendship was life-saving.
Times have changed and things are no longer the same. Everyone has a family and children.
It does not mean that it was time to use all the family property to support Li Shimin.
This kind of thing is all about secretly taking money to help His Majesty without telling the family. No matter how it is that Tian Khan has no money and is in distress, everyone can help if they can. It's okay to understand it in your heart, let alone spread it.
A touching scene took place in the Manna Hall. Li Shimin had a sore nose and wanted to cry. Everyone tried their best.
Just looking at the silver cakes and copper coins on the eucalyptus is useless. These are at most a few hundred coins, not even a thousand coins.
Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "The construction of the Hexi Corridor is related to the country. I know that this matter cannot be rushed. You all can take it back and discuss it later."
Cheng Yaojin reached out to pick up his two pieces of silver cake.
Fang Xuanling said loudly: "No."
This sound made Cheng Yaojin quickly retract his hand, and then scratched his head calmly.
Fang Xuanling cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, now that the war with Tubo has been decided and the Western Region is being consolidated, it is a good time to build the pass."
Wei Zheng glanced at Cheng Yaojin and said, "Your Majesty, since the money has been given, there is no reason to take it back. As the prime minister said, Tubo in the Western Regions has always been repetitive. Because of the laxity at this time, if there is a change in the future, it will never be found again. good time."
Li Shimin took a breath and was about to say something else when a eunuch hurriedly came over and said, "Your Majesty, Lishan sent a message to the queen, saying that the Marquis of Lishan County and the King of Wei prepared 10,000 silver coins to build a pass for the Hexi Corridor."
After the words fell, there was silence in the hall again.
After just a moment of silence, everyone started talking again.
Li Shimin was surprised and stunned.
This news had a great impact on everyone. Everyone struggled to get together a thousand guan, but Lishan could come up with 10,000 guan in just one sentence.
How rich is your Majesty's son-in-law?
Seeing that His Majesty did not speak for a long time, the eunuch asked again: "Your Majesty, do you want to refuse, or..."
Li Shimin finally came back to his senses, "Tomorrow, I will go to Lishan in person."
"Here."
The money for building the pass was found, and everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
When everyone walked outside the hall, they were still in astonishment.
There were many consorts in the Tang Dynasty, and Princess Runan was the only one whose daughter was married and still in Chang'an City.
Lishan rushed to aid Sheji not once or twice.
Now there is still King Wei who can come up with money.
This way, everyone doesn't have to take out their own hidden money. If too much is taken out, it will be difficult for the family to explain.
Especially Fang Xuanling, if the women in the family find out, she might not even be able to enter the house.
The news was quickly blocked by Li Shimin.
Knowing that Zhang Yang was spending the summer in Lishan, Li Shimin rarely took the initiative to talk to his son and daughter about going to Lishan.
This time, Empress Changsun can also take little Sizi, who is babbling, with her.
The little Sizi is now only one year old, and her little eyes are very curious about the world.
The royal family tidied up for a day before setting off for Lishan Mountain.
His Majesty's people haven't arrived yet, but people from the palace have come to the village early to deliver a message.
Zhang Yang said to Shangguan Yi: "The building we built is for your Majesty and his family to live in."
Another three-story building was built in the village. This building was originally used for future people to work as stewards. Recently, the village has made efforts to make villagers literate, and various factories are also selecting stewards.
That building was just completed at the beginning of this year, but it has always been empty.
Shangguan Yi went to make arrangements after receiving the words.
Li Tai rode a donkey to the village entrance, ready to greet his father.
It's a shame that the donkey has to drag such a fat King of Wei.
Li Tai asked someone to take the donkey back. He wore a bamboo hat to protect himself from the sun and looked into the distance. A team of carriages and horses was heading towards the village.
Zhang Yang shook the cattail leaf fan in his hand and said, "His Royal Highness, King Wei, this time we are rushing to help Sheji. You and I will deal with it together. How about we share it equally?"
Li Tai gritted his teeth and said, "I can't afford more than three thousand guans."
Zhang Yang added: "The money you give must not be given in vain. My money should be lent to your father. I will also talk to your father about the commercial tax issues and tariff issues in the Hexi Corridor later."
"Four thousand strings!" Li Tai gritted his teeth.
"The more you give, the more you get. Your Highness, King Wei, had better think about it again."
Li Tai stamped his feet and said loudly: "Five thousand guans, no more! No more money is available."
Seeing him flamboyant and desperate, with Li Tai's current dividend, he has saved more than 8,000 guan from last year to now, and it is really difficult for him to spend more.
The motorcade slowly approached.
Li Lizhi, Li Zhi and other princesses and princes got off the carriage first and ran over quickly.
"Where is my imperial sister?" Li Lizhi asked first.
"In the village, it's the courtyard where you lived last time."
After receiving the words, Li Lizhi ran into the village with a group of younger brothers and sisters. Several palace maids followed in a hurry, fearing that the group of free-spirited princesses and princes would fall on the way.
Next to get off the bus were Li Shimin and Queen Changsun.
Empress Changsun was holding a baby in her arms, presumably the little Sizi, Princess Li Mingda of Jinyang.
Zhang Yang cupped his hands and said, "I have met Your Majesty, the Queen."
Li Tai bowed and saluted, "Father, Emperor, Mother."
Queen Changsun nodded and said: "Your village is really different every time I come here. There are many more houses."
Following Queen Changsun's gaze, Zhang Yang explained: "Those are warehouses used to store goods. In fact, there are many newly built houses in the village."
"I'm going to meet Yue'er first."
Wait until the queen and children have left.
Li Shimin looked down at Li Tai and then at his son-in-law.
"Your Majesty, how does the food taste?"
Taking another deep breath, Li Shimin nodded and said: "As long as I smell the fragrance of food, my heart will be calm."
Zhang Yang asked again: "Isn't His Highness the Crown Prince here?"
"He will stay in Chang'an City and be assisted by Fang Xuanling's eldest grandson Wuji. You don't have to worry about him."
Seeing that Li Shimin spoke lightly, Zhang Yang extended his hand to invite you: "I have arranged a place for your majesty. Since you are going to escape the summer heat, you might as well stay in the village for a few more days."
As he led Li Shimin to his newly arranged residence, Zhang Yang looked back again, "His Royal Highness the King of Shu is not here either?"
Li Shimin's face was grim. Why did this kid have so many problems?
"Ke'er is in the army and I won't see him these days."
"I see."
We arrived at the foot of Lishan Mountain, which is to the north of the village.
A house was right in front of him. Li Shimin raised his eyes and asked, "Second office?"
Zhang Yang also looked at the door plaque, "I originally wanted to arrange an office here to handle the factory's production affairs. The manpower is being trained and it is still vacant. It will be available next year at the earliest."
Just as Li Shimin was about to step into it, the guard on the side said: "Your Majesty, I will go in first to see if it is safe."
"No, this is my son-in-law's territory, there is nothing to be afraid of."
After speaking, Li Shimin walked into it.
This office has many rooms and is very spacious. There are balconies on each floor.
Li Tai introduced: "Father, this place was built by my son personally. This place has the best location. The sun shines just right in the morning. At noon, the sun will be blocked by the shade of the trees. After summer, the sun begins to shine." When the sunshine is higher, it can shine here, making it a good place to stay warm in winter and cool in summer.”
Seeing that Li Taizheng is constantly introducing each room here to Li Shimin, it's like a real estate agent.
"It's sweltering in Chang'an City right now, and the emperor's brother is staying in Chang'an City. Besides, Lishan Mountain is not far from Chang'an, so my father doesn't need to mobilize troops to leave the palace in Tiantai Mountain."
