Chapter 46: Are you kidding a fool?
Wang Xu was stunned by Li Shimin's retort.
Others also looked at Li Shimin in confusion, only a very few people sat on their horses and pondered.
Li Shimin ignored Wang Xu and ordered his men to lead the troops into the city as soon as possible. He was anxious to see Li Yuanji.
In Wang Xu's eyes, Li Yuanji's actions were privately granting and receiving official positions and reselling official titles, which were serious crimes.
In Li Shimin's eyes, that is ability, great ability.
Li Yuanji used his official position to steal grain from wealthy families. In Li Shimin's view, he was not guilty and was making a huge profit.
He and Li Jiancheng took grain from the hands of wealthy families, and it was impossible for them to exchange it for official positions.
Because this is bad for their reputation, they can only exchange it for benefits.
That way, the price they pay will be even greater.
Once you exchange benefits, it is extremely difficult to get them back.
However, once the official position is given, it is easy to take it back.
It is no exaggeration to say that if a fifth-rank official is promised today, it may be given to him tomorrow, or he may be removed with a suitable reason. People from wealthy families can only sigh that they have met the wrong person and swear never to believe in anyone who promises them an official position again.
If the people from other wealthy families knew about this, they would only laugh at his stupidity for falling for such a trick, and would definitely not help him to fight against Li Tang.
Interests are different. Once they are promised, if you want to take them back, the wealthy families will mobilize all their forces to resist. Other wealthy families will also be worried that you will covet the interests in their hands and will take action secretly.
The most important thing is that even if you don’t sell the official position to someone from a wealthy family, you will have to give it to their people in the future.
Because most of the world's knowledge is in their hands, and most of the talents are also in their hands.
If Li Tang wanted to govern the world, he had to give them official positions.
Therefore, Li Yuanji's behavior was a serious crime in Wang Xu's eyes.
But in Li Shimin's eyes, it was a profound knowledge. If handled properly, he could not only obtain a huge amount of grain, but also severely harm the wealthy families.
Under Li Shimin's urging, the army quickly arrived at the south gate of Luoyang City.
The south gate of Luoyang City had long been blocked by convoys transporting grain.
Qu Tutong and Luoyang Ling took people to negotiate for a long time, but it didn't work, so they could only run to Li Shimin to apologize.
"I, Qu Tutong, failed to supervise the army properly, which delayed the progress of the army. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
Qu Tutong, who was in his sixties, knelt on one knee in front of Li Shimin's horse and clasped his fists to apologize.
The Luoyang magistrate knelt on the side, not daring to raise his head, let alone speak.
Surprisingly, when Qu Tutong and the magistrate of Luoyang were apologizing, none of the civil and military officials behind Li Shimin spoke out to accuse Qu Tutong and the magistrate of Luoyang of being guilty.
It was not because of the precedent of Chang'an Ling Wang Xu that they did not dare to speak.
It was because several of them saw the convoy with their own flags flying in the convoy at the city gate.
Qu Tutong and Luoyang Ling gave them face, so they did not drive them away forcefully.
Otherwise, with just one order, the convoy at the city gate would have been flattened by the army.
The moment Qu Tutong knelt down, Li Shimin quickly jumped off his horse, held up Qu Tutong's arms, and helped him up. "General Qu Tutong, what are you doing?"
With the help of Li Shimin, Qu Tutong stood up and said with a wry smile: "Your Highness ordered me to guard Luoyang, but I let Luoyang City become like this and delayed the army's journey. I deserve to be punished."
Li Shimin glanced at the convoy blocking the city gate and said with emotion: "I already know the inside story. This is not your fault, you don't need to blame yourself."
Without waiting for Qu Tutong to speak again, Li Shimin ordered the people behind him: "Kaishan, Dao Zong, you two will lead the army and enter the city from the west gate.
Remember to restrain the soldiers under your command, do not disturb the people, and do not act recklessly.
Anyone who disobeys the order will be punished according to military law."
Yin Qiao rested in Hangu Pass for more than half a month, and under the careful care of the imperial physician, his condition improved.
Although I can't lead troops into battle now, I can still lead them into the city.
Yin Qiao and Li Daozon clasped their fists together when they heard Li Shimin's order.
“Yes!”
Immediately, Yin Qiao and Li Daozon led the troops and headed to the west gate.
Li Shimin entered Luoyang City from the "sidewalk" of the South Gate with a small entourage.
Li Shimin politely declined the welcoming banquet prepared for him by Qu Tutong, Luoyang magistrate and others, and also politely declined the visits from Luo Shixin, Guo Zihe and others, and rode his horse straight to the Luoyang Palace.
As soon as Li Shimin and his men arrived at the gate of Luoyang Palace, Xie Shufang hurried to the place where Li Yuanji handled government affairs to report.
Ever since the last time at Hangu Pass, when Li Shimin broke into the pass and Xie Shufang failed to report it in time and was severely scolded by Li Yuanji, Xie Shufang has been particularly concerned about this matter.
A side hall of Luoyang Palace.
Li Yuanji slumped on the couch, feeling both pain and happiness.
The sad thing is that the official positions in hand are almost sold out, but wealthy families from all over the country are still transporting grain to Luoyang City in an endless stream.
I felt very unhappy watching the grain arrive at Luoyang City but not being able to take it for myself.
The good news was that the food he had in his hands had exceeded the amount of food and fodder raised by the Grand Secretariat of the East Shaanxi Province. The food and fodder he had in his hands was not only enough to feed the refugees in Luoyang until the summer harvest , but also left some surplus.
He no longer had to worry about the refugees starving to death due to lack of food, nor did he have to watch those human tragedies.
"Your Highness!"
Xie Shufang hurried into the palace and reported: "His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin has arrived at the gate of Luoyang Palace..."
Li Yuanji was stunned and asked suspiciously, "What is he doing in Luoyang Palace? He just arrived in Luoyang City today. Shouldn't he gather all the officers and discuss the expedition against Liu Heita?"
As the supreme commander of this expedition against Liu Heita, Li Shimin should have convened a "military meeting" immediately after all the troops gathered in Luoyang City to discuss the strategy for the subsequent expedition against Liu Heita.
It's obviously a bit unreasonable to come to Luoyang Palace.
Xie Shufang hesitated and asked, "Could it be that they are here to question His Highness?"
Li Yuanji glared and said unhappily, "Why does he come to me to question me?"
He appointed more officials than I did, okay?
Not only did he appoint fifth-rank officials under his command at will, he also extended his hands to other areas.
His power is about the same as mine. I only appoint officials below the fifth rank under my command. What right does he have to come to me and hold me accountable?
He only has to set the fire and I am not allowed to light a lamp?
Will Li Yuan agree?
Xie Shufang lowered his head and dared not say anything more. He didn't know how to respond to Li Yuanji's words.
Li Yuanji glanced at Xie Shufang and ordered, "Go and guard the door of the side hall. If he comes to see me, tell him I'm not here."
Xie Shufang smiled bitterly.
"has a problem?"
Li Yuanji questioned.
Xie Shufang smiled bitterly and said, "Although I am an official of your Highness, I am also on the expedition this time. Your Highness the Prince of Qin is the commander of the army. If he questions me with his orders, I can only tell the truth."
Li Yuanji was speechless.
During an expedition, the commander's orders are above all else.
If Li Shimin used the command to control Xie Shufang, Xie Shufang would not dare to lie in front of Li Shimin.
Ultimately, it was because Xie Shufang was too upright.
If it were Li Sixing, he would agree to the matter without hesitation, and then push Li Shimin back without violating the commander's orders.
Unfortunately, Li Sixing is now running around Luoyang with Ma Zhou and is not in the Luoyang Palace.
"Forget it. If he must see me, bring him here."
Li Yuanji said with a sigh.
Since we can't avoid it, let's just give it a try and see what Li Shimin wants to do.
Xie Shufang felt relieved. He quickly agreed and left the side hall of Luoyang Palace.
Not long after, Xie Shufang brought Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wuji, who were dressed in military uniforms, into the side hall of the Luoyang Palace.
As soon as he entered the door, without waiting for Li Yuanji to greet him, Li Shimin said with a cheerful smile: "Silang, I heard that you have been fascinated by doing business recently. Your business is pretty good and you have made a lot of money."
Li Yuanji stood up and put on a smiling face, "Second brother, you are joking."
Li Shimin walked up to Li Yuanji arrogantly, sat down in Li Yuanji's seat, and asked with a smile: "How much did you gain? Tell me."
Li Shimin took the main seat, and Li Yuanji was unwilling to sit with Li Shimin, who was sweating all over after a long journey, so he sat aside and said with a dry smile: "I don't know..."
"have no idea?!"
Li Shimin's smile froze. "How could you not know how much you have gained?"
Li Yuanji didn't know what Li Shimin was thinking, so he could only say vaguely: "I have handed this matter over to my subordinates to deal with. I really don't know how much we have gained."
After reselling official positions on a large scale, the Prince of Qi's Palace was considered to be "strong and powerful".
A group of talented but incapable descendants of wealthy families became officials of the Prince of Qi's Palace.
With their help, Li Yuanji barely escaped the pain of paperwork.
So he really didn't know how much grain he had harvested. After all, there was income every moment, and it was impossible to report it to him all the time. He only knew a rough estimate.
"So you know something about it?"
Li Shimin stared at Li Yuanji and asked.
Li Yuanji asked cautiously: "Why do you ask this, second brother?"
Since you can't guess Li Shimin's thoughts, just ask directly.
“Ahem…”
Li Shimin coughed twice and said in a gloomy tone: "Selling official titles is a serious crime. If the censors knew about it, they would definitely impeach me.
When the time comes, even if your father dotes on you, he will punish you and give an explanation to the censors."
Li Yuanji stared at Li Shimin suspiciously and asked, "You came here with such a large force just to tell me this?"
"so what?"
Li Yuanji wondered.
Li Shimin sighed and said nothing.
Changsun Wuji, who was sitting at the bottom of the hall, suddenly said, "This time our army is going to war, and we need a huge amount of food and grass. The Grand Administration of the Eastern Shaanxi Road has been raising funds for more than a month, but has only raised one-third of the food and grass needed by the army.
The commander's tent has issued a message to all directions, that if the convicted people in various places can offer a batch of food, when the army returns victorious, their crimes can be offset with their military merits."
