Li Mu smiled and said: "If I say so, can I not give out the money?"
"This..." Li Shimin was about to get angry. Suddenly, Hou Junji became more intelligent and quickly grabbed Li Shimin's sleeve and said, "Your Majesty, there is a way!"
Li Shimin also reacted and said: "If I don't let you talk, will you bear the money?"
Li Mu did not answer happily, but said: "I dare not say that I am worried, but I will not let you down. As long as the general is willing to cooperate, let alone 10% or 20%, even if it is based on the original number, there will be no problem.
, and this money doesn’t have to be diverted from the Ministry of Industry. It’s not easy for the six ministries, so you can’t bully others.”
Li Shimin frowned and said: "Li Mu, if you don't embezzle the Ministry of Works and don't have to pay from internal funds, you still dare to boast about 40%...Are you not deceiving me?"
Li Mu laughed and said: "Your Majesty, when it comes to making money, do I still need to boast? Is there anyone in the world who can compare with me? If anyone is dissatisfied, let him stand up, no matter what the profession is, if I don't do it within three months
How about putting him out of business and giving away all the wealth of Zhuluhou Mansion?"
"Arrogant!" Li Shimin couldn't help but cursed, but he had no choice. Although he couldn't believe everything Li Mu said, he had proven his strength when it came to making money, and his words were at least eighty percent credible.
. If he were to use any means necessary, it would not be impossible to bring down a merchant or even a powerful family within three months.
Others, even if they feel uncomfortable, will not quarrel with Li Mu because of this verbal dispute. They all have big families with big businesses and many involved people. In comparison, Li Mu is just a barefoot person who is not afraid of wearing anything.
As for shoes, there's really no way to compare.
Li Shimin thought for a while and said: "Okay, once I trust you, when will you pay me?"
"In the second half of the year, I have to reiterate the premise that I can only agree with the cooperation of the general. If the general is unwilling to cooperate, then the money will be discounted!"
Hou Junji hurriedly said: "As long as you have money, you can talk about anything. I will definitely cooperate!"
But Li Shimin heard something different and said, "No, you only said you would cooperate, but you didn't say anything about it. If it's robbing families or breaking the law, do you have to cooperate? First, explain clearly what you are doing!"
Li Mu's eyes rolled around, but he still didn't say a happy word. He only said: "I haven't thought about the details yet, but I promise not to rob my family or break the law, and maybe I just do my best. Your Majesty, my condition is already very simple. If you don't do this,
I agree, let’s forget it. Anyway, I don’t have much time in the new year. The imperial examination is coming soon, so I still have to review.”
"Review?" Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, and remembered the bet between Li Mu and Wei Zheng. He couldn't laugh or cry, and said, "You haven't forgotten that thing yet? Do you have to be angry? Li Mu, it's just a momentary quarrel. You're taking the imperial examination, are you sure?
What's the use? Even if you get the top prize in the examination, you will only be awarded the sixth rank at most. Do you think you can take it seriously?"
"This is not a question of whether you like it or not." Li Mu said solemnly: "In my opinion, this is a matter of faith. I made a bet with Wei Zheng and must keep the appointment. Otherwise, how can I keep my promise? Moreover,
I have recently been criticized by flies from the Shandong gentry. It seems that many so-called great scholars are secretly criticizing my talent and learning! They think that I am a heretic and not a disciple of a saint. I can only write poems but not make policies. For such people, I must also
I want them to see with their own eyes that genius means talent from heaven, which is unattainable for ordinary people like them. I want to make a policy statement that makes them obey, so that they never dare to mention the word "strategy" again.
Shut their mouths!"
Seeing what Li Mu said, Li Shimin had to become serious. He glanced at Li Mu and asked: "So, you are confident?"
Li Mu said: "I will definitely win the top prize in both rankings!"
Li Shimin couldn't laugh or cry and said: "Li Mu, Li Mu, it's a good thing for you to be confident, but you can't be too confident... Ordinary people have studied hard for more than ten years and still can't pass the exam. You can't read for ten months, and you can do the full math in less than a year. You're the number one on both lists.
, what do you think? Is it that easy?"
"Even if you are the top scorer in regular subjects, you can get it, but I am the one who sets the questions for the general subjects. Can you guess what questions I will ask? You are arrogant, you are arrogant!"
"Whether you are arrogant or not, you will know when the time comes." Li Mu did not want to argue, and said: "There is one more thing, it happens to be talking about the imperial examination, and I would like to tell your majesty. This year's imperial examination, I want to recruit a group of people with clear calculations. I hope your majesty can
By grace, in addition to the number of qualified Jinshi, an additional subject will be calculated separately, and the enrollment will be expanded to 80 people, specially for the use of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
"Eighty people?" Li Shimin frowned and said, "There are not that many people who have passed the Jinshi. You want eighty people. What are you doing?"
"When the Ministry of Internal Affairs will flex its muscles in the coming year, there are too many things involving accounts. Eighty people are not enough, but qualified talents are limited, so we can only deal with them first. Your Majesty, the Accounting Department is very important to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It can be said that
It determines the development speed of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Your Majesty, please pay close attention to it."
"Well, I will think about it carefully."
After the business was done, it was noon. Naturally, Li Mu couldn't let Li Shimin wait and left. He called the kitchen to cook and entertained everyone. Li Shimin never knew what politeness meant when Li Mu was here. The beef dumplings he ate last time were delicious.
The first order was taken. It happened that the kitchen had two bulls that had died in a fight in heat yesterday, and they were all sent over. There was enough beef. Li Mu asked the kitchen to cook it according to Li Shimin's taste, and changed the tea to wait for the dishes to be served.
, he excused himself for a while and came to the edge of the city wall to give the suffering dandies a holiday, and by the way brought Changsun Chong back.
The longer he stayed with Li Mu, Changsun Chong became more and more taciturn. Comparing Changsun Chong's changes before and after, Li Mu felt a little sorry for him. But that's okay. The original Changsun Chong had a bad temper. It just so happened that Li Mu also had a strong personality.
The two of them would definitely not get along. The current Changsun Chong is very good. He doesn't have a temper, or he has a temper, but he doesn't show it. In any case, it's a pleasure to get along with him.
The big table was placed in the courtyard, and the guests and hosts took their seats. Li Mu took out the wine he had brewed, and patted open the mud seal on the jar mouth, and the aroma of the wine filled the air. Hou Junji sniffed it tightly and praised:
"People say that the spirits of Bashang Distillery are the best in the world, but I don't think they can be compared with those brewed by Zhuluhou himself. The wine of Bashang Distillery is good, but it lacks a bit of flavor. Zhuluhou's wine,
After drinking it, my strength seems to have increased a bit, and I can’t exert enough energy all over my body.”
"Everywhere, they have the same koji." Li Mu said this, but he was thinking in his heart that Hou Junji is a man who knows the goods. The wine in Bashang Winery is not produced by the system and has no buff, but he brews it himself.
As his [Wine Brewing] skill improves, more and more temporary attributes are added. As long as he is not drunk and unconscious, it is still obvious that his strength has improved.
Li Shimin was also a soldier and liked strong liquor. After drinking "three glasses" of it, he felt warm all over. He echoed Hou Junji's words and said: "It does seem to be energetic." He glanced at Li Mu and said: "You kid
Don’t be too lazy. When you have time, brew some and share it with everyone.”
Li Mu rolled his eyes in his heart, why should I score one point? Brewing requires no time, no energy, no food and no money? My time is precious, okay?
He was cursing in his heart, but he couldn't say it with his mouth. Li Mu also took a sip of wine and said: "When I have nothing to do, I really want to live a life of studying at night, but unfortunately, things are getting worse and worse.
There are too many... That’s why I worked hard to train my disciples, hoping that they could share some of the burden, but unfortunately, each of these disciples failed to live up to the expectations."
When Changsun Chong and Li Tai, who were eating beef dumplings, heard what Li Mu said, they quickly put down their chopsticks, stood up and bowed and said, "I have disappointed my teacher. I have realized my mistake."
Li Shimin felt sorry for his son and took Li Tai's hand to ask him to sit down, but Li Tai refused. Li Shimin looked at Li Mu reproachfully and said: "My son, I can't even bear to scold you, but you are better off, armed with a gun and a stick.
What's the meaning?"
Li Mu sighed and said: "Okay, sit down, you two have tried your best. Remember, if you are a teacher, if you are stupid, you have to study hard, and you will eventually enlighten yourself."
The two responded, looked at Li Mu again, and then sat down.
Li Chengqian snickered beside him, and thought to himself that it was a good thing that he was the prince and did not become a disciple, otherwise he would be the one who was belittled today. But he did not expect that the sound of the snickering was a little louder, and Li Shimin next to him heard it.
Li Shimin originally preferred Li Tai, but when he saw Li Chengqian actually snickering at his younger brother, he immediately became unhappy. He couldn't say it directly, so he looked at Li Mu and said, "I heard recently that you set up some kind of urban management brigade? And you still let the house prime minister have the time?"
Zifang Yiai has recruited many dandies, what does he do?"
Li Mu was not surprised at all. Li Shimin knew about this and did not ask. He said directly: "Your Majesty, there is a proverb among the people, which is called 'A small tree will not grow straight if it is not repaired, and a man will not repair it.' I discovered that these dandy young men in Chang'an City
They are usually too idle, so I want to find something for them to do. It can be regarded as waste and can be used to make them worthy of the glory of their fathers. Otherwise, two or three generations later, the heroes of our generation who opened up the territory of the Tang Dynasty will all be trash.
Descendants, how can the Tang Dynasty talk about ten thousand years of foundation? One hundred years is enough."
Li Shimin smiled and said: "You are thinking far ahead." He glanced at Li Chengqian and said: "The prince is very busy every day, why not take him with you?"
"Ahem, cough..." Changsun Wuji was drinking. When he heard this, he almost choked himself. He quickly cleaned up and stood up and said: "Your Majesty, you must not do this! The prince is the heir apparent, how can he associate with a dandy?
If you teach the prince bad things, what will happen to the future of the Tang Dynasty? Your Majesty, please think twice!"
"Uncle!" Li Chengqian turned red with excitement and said anxiously: "I just lack experience! Now that my father has given me a chance, how can I shirk it?" After saying that, he looked at Li Shimin and said: "Father, I have given you a chance.
Don’t worry, I will definitely lead the urban management team and make great contributions to the Tang Dynasty!"
"Your Majesty," Li Mu looked at this naughty kid and smiled bitterly, "You should think about it again. What the prince should do is the prince's business. The urban management brigade is a government office that deals with people in the market. No.
Suitable for the prince’s training.”
"Why is it not suitable? Brother!" Li Chengqian grabbed Li Mu's hand, with tears in his eyes, and said: "Brother, it is suitable. There is nothing more suitable than this. My father also often said that water can carry a boat and also capsize it.
The people are the foundation of the country. I am the prince. If I cannot get close to the people, how can I be the king in the future? You think so, brother!"
"This..." Li Mu was choked by the desire in Li Chengqian's eyes. He looked at Li Shimin, hoping that he could stop him, but Li Shimin clearly wanted to give Li Chengqian a punishment, how could he be accommodating?
Li Shimin was also depressed and said: "Let the prince go and have some experience. However, he cannot be allowed to lead. He must be anonymous and cannot let anyone know that he is the prince."
Li Mu was dumbfounded and said: "Your Majesty, how can you hide this? There is not a single commoner in the urban management brigade. They...should all recognize the prince, right?"
"No, no, no, I don't recognize him!" Li Chengqian said quickly: "I don't go out of the palace often, how can they recognize me? I have also heard about the people in this urban management team, most of them are the second and third sons of each family. They
They all study in Hongwen Hall. Their eldest brother is studying with Chongwen Hall, so eldest brother doesn’t have to worry, they don’t recognize me, only their eldest brother does, and the secret won’t be revealed!”
"Is that what happened?"
Li Chengqian nodded vigorously and said: "If someone recognizes me, at worst, I will go back to the East Palace? Brother, I beg you, let me practice!"
"Oh..." Li Mu frowned and threatened, "It's really hard work!"
"It's hard work, it's worth it!" Li Chengqian beat his chest loudly and said, "We martial arts practitioners will never have to endure hard work. Don't worry, brother, I have been practicing martial arts for ten years, so today is the day!"
Li Mu just wanted to laugh when he heard this. Li Chengqian was only thirteen years old after the New Year, so why had he been practicing martial arts for ten years? However, Li Shimin had already made up his mind, and he didn't want to be a bad guy in vain, so he said: "Okay, tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year."
, I will ask Changsun Chong to take you there on the second day of junior high school. You can pretend to be a distant relative of the Changsun family, change your name, and practice for a while. But before you say anything, if your identity is revealed, stop it and go back to the East Palace obediently."
"Okay, okay! I'll be careful!" After the matter was settled, Li Chengqian jumped up and down with joy. He also forgot the original intention of coming. There was no map without a map. How could he be happy when he left the palace? He thought that he no longer had to squat in the palace and be a
Canary, the corners of Li Chengqian's mouth couldn't help but turn up, wishing that he would arrive in the second grade of junior high school.
After eating and drinking for a while, Li Shimin left with Li Chengqian and Li Tai. There was a banquet in the palace in the evening. The emperor and the prince would not be able to do without it. Hou Junji also had to take over the guard work. All the officials from Chang'an City were going to the palace today.
Zhuque Street was to be sealed off, and the Ministry of War was naturally responsible for the dispatch. Li Mu also sent Changsun Wuji and Wang. Changsun Wuji took out a pair of jade pendants from his sleeves and gave them to Li Muquan as a thank you gift. Wang gave him a brocade box.
, and when he opened it, there were four pairs of clear jade bracelets. He didn’t say much, but the meaning was self-evident.