Li Shimin shook his head and said: "I have never done business, how can I hear it?"
Queen Changsun took the words next to her and said: "Your Majesty, I have heard this sentence. What Li Mu means is that even if this matter is good for the court and the clan, if the clan is asked to do it, they will propose various suggestions.
Such demands will make things difficult to handle."
Li Mu nodded and said: "This is exactly the truth. Human nature is like this. It is like a donkey. If it cannot be led away, it will go backwards. If I don't use some tricks, how can I get things done? Now there is the Wang family of Taiyuan.
For example, I will concoct them first and set an example for other forces, and things will be much easier to handle in the future."
"My dear, I am determined." Li Shimin said with emotion: "At your age, although I have begun to lead the army in war, I don't have the strategy you have. My dear, I still have one thing that I don't understand. Can you help me clear up my doubts?
"
"Your Majesty, please speak."
"You once said that the bustling world is all about profit, and the bustle in the world is all about profit. Since road construction is a business that is sure to make money without losing money, why don't you participate in it yourself?" Before Li Mu could speak, Li Shimin said
He added: "Don't tell me anything about treating money like dirt, I won't believe it."
Li Mu gave a wry smile and said: "Your Majesty could guess what I was going to say. I'm really ashamed. Actually, the reason for this is complicated and simple. To put it simply, I don't want to make this money. It's too much.
Tired, too slow, and I have too many things to worry about. Your Majesty, you have also seen that I only have one wine shop, so why do I make so much money? I have no family and no children, so what is the use of coming here? I often
It is said that money is like dung, and it is also for this reason that I have no use in asking for money, so I am too lazy to make money."
Li Shimin remained calm and silent. Li Mu quickly stopped his pretense and continued: "If you want to talk about complicated reasons, I really don't have the capital to do this business."
"Oh, you still lack capital?"
"What I'm talking about is not money." Li Mu explained: "The capital I'm talking about is food, manpower, local influence, and so on."
Li Mu said seriously: "Your Majesty, when it comes to building roads, it is really not something that can be done casually. Even if Your Majesty wants to do it, I'm afraid it will be difficult. Take the road from Taiyuan to Chang'an as an example, if the imperial court comes to repair it,
, the money and food spent must be more than that of the Taiyuan Wang family, at least twice as much."
Li Shimin frowned and said, "Why am I not as good as the Wang family in Taiyuan?"
"Your Majesty, I have been in the Ministry of Industry for almost half a year, and I have gained some experience. A project, whether it is building a road or building a city wall, is a very complicated matter. It is just like leading troops to fight in a war that Your Majesty is familiar with.
Soldiers led by different generals will have completely different effects."
Li Shimin nodded and said, "I don't understand what you said about building roads, but leading troops to fight is exactly what you said."
"Let's take the road from Taiyuan to Chang'an as an example. When talking to his ministers, His Majesty also admitted that in the local area, the influence of the imperial court is weaker than that of the clan. In other words, near Taiyuan, the face of the Taiyuan Wang family is greater than that of the imperial court.
Bigger.”
Li Shimin snorted coldly, but did not deny it.
Li Mu continued: "If this matter is led by the imperial court, I can guarantee that the officials from top to bottom will definitely accept the request. Your Majesty has allocated one hundred guan, but in the hands of those who do the work, I am afraid that there will not be 30 guan left.
"
Li Shimin was silent. Although he wanted to say that the officials under his rule were honest, he also knew that Li Mu was telling the truth.
"Not to mention the lack of money and food from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, but even if there is enough money and food, can the project go smoothly?" Li Mu shook his head and said: "Not necessarily, because the people who work understand that the court gave the money, and the majority of the money,
It's all in the hands of the people in charge. If the people in charge don't work, they can get more. The people who work are naturally unhappy, but they can't help it, because they count on this job to make a living. Your Majesty, you know, at this time
What will the people doing the work do?”
Li Shimin said firmly: "I don't know!"
"If I were working, I would be passive and slack in my work. Because no matter whether I work fast or slow, I won't get much money. If I work slower, the project will be completed slower, and I can still make more money.
And those who manage things from top to bottom are also happy that the project is slower, because the longer the project takes, the greater the benefits they get. In such a vicious cycle, can the cost not be too much?"
Li Shimin's face looked a little ugly. After listening to what Li Mu said, he finally understood why the money and food allocated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs was always not enough. It was because of the existence of these moths!
Li Mu didn't care what Li Shimin thought, and said: "This is not what makes me angry the most, but in the face of this situation, as a court, we can't say anything."
"Rebellion!" Li Shimin said angrily: "They are so arrogant and seeking personal gain, I can't control them anymore?"
"Your Majesty, you have forgotten that everything in the world is for profit. You can control it, but when the water is clear, there will be no fish. After you control it, who will do the work for you? Even if he is forced to do it, he will do it.
, will you do your best? Road construction cannot be done with deception. Don’t look good on the surface, but it will be full of potholes after a rain. At that time, even if your Majesty kills people, will the money and food spent be returned? "
"Furthermore, Your Majesty also needs to consider your reputation. If you really issue an edict to rebuke, these people in charge will impose it on the people. Do the people know what's going on? They will only think that Your Majesty is tyrannical, and your reputation will be at a loss then."
Li Shimin gritted his teeth and said angrily: "Would it be different if the Taiyuan Wang family came to do it?"
Li Mu nodded and said: "Your Majesty is right. If the Wang family of Taiyuan does this, it will be different."
Li Shimin was unconvinced and said: "What's different, tell me!"
"First of all, let's talk about the cost of money and food. Your Majesty uses officials, and the officials are not part of the same family as Your Majesty. But the Taiyuan Wang family uses servants as their stewards. These servants have been tied to the Taiyuan Wang family for generations.
Together, their interests are consistent, and even if there is a deficit, it is easy to check, so they have to save a lot in terms of taking money and getting cards."
"Furthermore, if the Wang family in Taiyuan wants to build roads, they must first gather the refugees. If Your Majesty gathers the refugees, the refugees will feel that Your Majesty is responsible. You are the emperor, they are the people, and Your Majesty has the obligation to feed and clothe the people.
Nuan. But the Taiyuan Wang family is different. They use food to find people to work. Those who can work will have food to eat, but those who cannot work will have no food to eat. The refugees will not think that the Taiyuan Wang family should. This is also a
A different place.”
"Then there are issues of efficiency and quality. For the Wang family in Taiyuan, they build roads to collect tolls. If they build the roads very badly and there are potholes after it rains, they have to repair the roads. This
Once they come back, they will incur expenses. If they keep repairing, they will lose money, so they will definitely do the work when they build the road. They use their own money and food, unlike the court.
When it comes to building roads, all the officials are involved. The officials use money and food other than their own, so naturally they won’t feel bad! They come to build the roads. If they can’t repair the roads, your majesty can still hold them accountable. The Wang family of Taiyuan can’t escape, and they will definitely do something.
concerns to ensure quality.”
"I am similar to your Majesty. I have money but no food, and I don't have any reliable people under my command. The price I have to pay for this business is too high. I can't afford to lose money if I am not careful. In addition, I am not short of money, so I don't want to get involved.
."
Li Shimin put his hand on his forehead and sighed: "I feel very uncomfortable after hearing these words of yours. I often think that as long as I treat you as a national scholar, my ministers will repay you as a national scholar. But why is this not the case?
"
Li Mu whispered: "Your Majesty, I will repay you as a national soldier. Why don't you treat me as a national soldier?"
"What did you say?"
"I didn't say anything."
Li Shimin glared at Li Mu and said: "Sometimes I really feel strange. If you don't want to benefit from it, why do you put so much effort into instigating this matter? What good will it do to you?"
Li Mu said seriously: "Your Majesty, I am just doing this for the people."
"Do you really think you can believe it?"
Li Mu sighed and said: "Your Majesty, please don't be biased against me. You also said that I have no benefits to gain, so what can I do for you? I can think of this because I think that this can feed many refugees.
, it’s really that simple.”
"real?"
"Uh..." Li Mu said helplessly: "Also, um... it's endless fun to fight with others. Your Majesty is really wise and wise."
"I knew you thought so!" Li Shimin said with an expression that said, "You can still deceive me." "Don't try to deceive me. I have crossed more bridges than you have walked."
"Your Majesty's Holy Wisdom"
Li Mu doesn't want to say anything anymore. What's going on in this world? Why doesn't anyone believe him if he tells the truth? Is there something wrong with his "personality"? Do I just not look like a good person?
"Okay, don't feel aggrieved. I will leave this matter entirely to you, but when it comes to uncle Guo, you should also say hello when appropriate, otherwise the auxiliary machine will think that I am really cool."
Li Mu glanced at Empress Changsun and agreed honestly.
Queen Changsun smiled and said: "Li Mu, look at what I am doing. Do you think I will leak the news?"
Li Mu looked a little embarrassed and simply admitted it, saying: "I'm scared, I really think so."
"You brat!" Li Shimin said with a smile: "The Queen and I are of the same mind. She may inform my uncle in advance about small matters, but when it comes to major matters, the Queen is never confused. Don't treat the Queen as an ordinary woman."
Li Mu quickly stood up and saluted: "I have offended the queen, please forgive me."
"What's so blameworthy about this? The fact that you have such thoughts shows your loyalty to His Majesty." Empress Changsun helped Li Mu up and said, "I have never asked my mother-in-law to be more prominent, as long as I don't suffer any loss.
Already."
Li Mu understood what he said. It would be impossible to forget these five words.
"Li Mu, I still have two things to tell you."
Li Mu thought to himself, why is there something wrong again, but he still said respectfully: "Your Majesty, please speak."
"Is this the first thing? It's about the studies of the Crown Prince and the King of Yue. You are also a professor at Chongwen Hall, so you should give lectures when you have time. Also, I heard that you can make colored glaze?"