Add Bookmark | Recommend this book | Back to the book page | My bookshelf | Mobile Reading

Free Web Novel,Novel online - All in oicq.net -> Historic -> Capital Datang

Text Chapter 732: Attack on Changsun Wuji

Previous page        Return to Catalog        Next page

    In the Liangyi Hall, the twenty-six-year-old Li Zhi was carefully listening to the reports from the ministers below. Each piece of government affairs was given a solution by the court and handed over to different officials. The more important government affairs were temporarily placed in his hands.  On the desk, he will not give the result until he has thought it through, or even some important ministers will discuss it now.

    Originally, Li Zhi handled government affairs in the Mingde Hall of the East Palace, but later, when Li Shimin knew that he did not have much time, he let go of all government affairs and handed them over to Li Zhi. He also personally ordered Li Zhi to summon the group to the Liangyi Hall.  The minister handled government affairs, and only the emperor could sit on the dragon chair in Liangyi Palace. Therefore, Li Shimin's order almost passed the throne to Li Zhi in disguise.

    One by one government affairs were handled by Li Zhi. According to unwritten rules, the most important government affairs would be reported by Changsun Wuji, the prime minister. However, looking at Changsun Wuji's appearance, it didn't seem to be anything important. Generally speaking,  Generally speaking, the court meeting should end at this time.

    But what no one expected was that a fat minister wearing a fourth-grade official uniform came out, saluted Li Zhi and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report!"

    "Oh? What's important, Mr. Xu?" Li Zhi said with a smile on his face when he saw the minister coming out.

    The minister who stood up was Xu Jingzong, who had just been transferred back to Datang from Daqi. At the same time, Li Yifu and others who had gone to Daqi with him had also been transferred back.  Moreover, as soon as they returned to the Tang Dynasty, these people were immediately entrusted with important tasks by Li Zhi. Among them, Xu Jingzong was currently the Minister of Huangmen and was the second chief of the Menxia Province.  The position of door servant carries great real power.

    "Your Majesty. Hundreds of large factory owners in cotton textile industrial bases in Youzhou, Yizhou, Cangzhou and other places have jointly submitted a letter. They denounced some wealthy families for hoarding cotton and driving up cotton prices. As a result, the value of cotton has increased since the New Year this year.  Many times, many factories are unable to operate due to lack of raw materials. Workers have to go home on vacation and naturally cannot get wages to support their families. This has made many workers live in poverty. If this continues, I am afraid it will cause more serious consequences. Please  Your Majesty¡¯s Holy Judgment!¡±

    Xu Jingzong and others have just returned.  He was immediately entrusted with important tasks, which naturally aroused the dissatisfaction of many courtiers, but no one expected that Xu Jingzong would make a blockbuster announcement without complaining, directly report such an important event, and also directly point the finger at Changsun Wuji.  None of the ministers knew that the Changsun family owned large cotton fields in the Western Regions.  Controlling a large share of cotton production, the Changsun family was the first among those wealthy families that Xu Jingzong mentioned as driving up cotton prices.

    It was Xu Jingzong¡¯s amazing performance that made the courtiers couldn¡¯t help but talk among themselves.  At the same time, almost everyone's eyes were turned to Changsun Wuji, trying to see how the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty would respond?

    But what everyone didn¡¯t expect was that Changsun Wuji not only didn¡¯t fight back immediately.  On the contrary, he was very calm on the surface, as if what Xu Jingzong said had nothing to do with him.  for his reaction.  Some insiders sneered secretly, preparing to see Changsun Wuji's joke.  Those who don't know are full of doubts and plan to visit friends before leaving the court to find out the reasons.

    In fact, although Changsun Wuji looked calm on the surface, he was helpless and a little sad in his heart.  The political structure of the early Tang Dynasty was a system of three provinces and six ministries. Among them, the three provinces of Zhongshu, Menxia and Shangshu held the core power of the court. Changsun Wuji's current official position is "Tongzhongshumenxiasanpin", which actually combines the positions of the highest officials of the three provinces.  Yu Yishen, that is, the position of prime minister, has less power than Li Min's Prime Minister Wang An, but he is still less than one person and more than ten thousand people.

    It can be said that after the death of Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji was appointed as the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty, and he also had quite a lot of supporters in the court. In the past, he had a lot of responses in the court, and no one in the court could compete with him anymore.  But this situation began to change after Li Shimin became seriously ill and Li Zhi took over handling government affairs.

    At the beginning, Li Zhi obeyed Changsun Wuji, but occasionally he would express his own opinions on some things. This made Changsun Wuji discover that his seemingly cowardly nephew actually had his own opinions.  Opinion.

    Later, with the return of people like Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu, Li Zhi immediately revealed his ambitious ambitions. Regardless of the opposition of the officials, he promoted Xu Jingzong to the rank of Minister of Huangmen of the Menxia Province, and Li Yifu served as the minister of the Shangshu Province.  Among Zuosi Lang, Shangguan Yi was promoted to the position of Zhongshu Sheren. Other people who had returned from Da Qi or were Li Zhi's confidants were also promoted in different ways. Although most of them did not have high official positions, they had a lot of control in their hands.  Holding great real power.

    It was also because of Li Zhi's promotion of officials that he placed all the people in the three provinces, six ministries and twenty-four divisions. Changsun Wuji now feels a little constrained in what he can do.??.  And as people like Xu Jingzong became familiar with Zhenghe, he had to face the fact that a new political enemy was growing rapidly in the court.

    It is precisely because he clearly knows the above that Changsun Wuji is not particularly surprised by Xu Jingzong's sudden attack. As for what Xu Jingzong said about driving up prices, it is indeed true, and it is not the first time this year.  The price of cotton was raised for the first time only in the past few years because he was suppressing it. Not to mention the textile factory owners, even some nobles involved in the textile industry did not dare to say anything.

    But now that Xu Jingzong has just come back, he, the prime minister, has not yet fallen, and those textile factory owners have signed a letter together, which is too bold.  So Changsun Wuji didn't have to guess. There must be support behind these people. As for who has the ability to organize those scattered textile factory owners?  Apart from His Majesty the Emperor of Da Qi, there is no other person to think of.

    Considering that there is the shadow of Li Min behind this incident, Xu Jingzong, Li Yifu and others are also inextricably linked to Li Min. Coupled with Li Zhi's secret support, these forces combined, if Changsun Wu  If you don't take the initiative to resist, it will be a bit overestimating your own capabilities.

    After listening to Xu Jingzong's memorial, Li Zhi on the dragon throne first glanced at the calm Changsun Wuji, and then suddenly said: "Master Sikong, how do you think this matter should be handled?"

    Hearing Li Zhi asking for his opinion, Changsun Wuji sighed secretly in his heart, stepped forward and bowed and replied: "Your Highness, the cotton textile industry has surpassed the silk industry, and cotton has become the most important thing in our Tang Dynasty.  One of the export goods is cotton textile bases in Youzhou and other places. The cotton cloth produced in the cotton textile bases in Youzhou and other places accounts for one-third of the total cotton cloth on the market. Therefore, there must be no chaos there. The veteran believes that illegal traders who drive up cotton prices should be resolutely cracked down on.  !¡±

    Regarding Changsun Wuji's self-deprecating words, Li Zhi finally showed a smile of victory. Regarding today's attack, he had secretly planned with Xu Jingzong and others for a long time, and even asked his sixth brother Li Min for help. As a result, he combined the forces of the three parties and  Sure enough, he suddenly overwhelmed his powerful uncle.

    However, Li Zhi still had some regrets in his heart. He originally thought that when Changsun Wuji faced Xu Jingzong's attack, he would immediately jump out and argue with him, but he did not expect that the other party's eyes were so sharp and he could see through the power of both parties at once.  In contrast, he chose to retreat very wisely, which made Changsun Wuji's loss not so ugly.

    Seeing Changsun Wuji choose to admit defeat so easily, this shocked many courtiers, especially those who were attached to Changsun Wuji. They seemed a little panicked for a while, and some smart people had begun to secretly think about this.  After the incident, the situation in the government changed, and at the same time, I was weighing in my mind how to choose?

    "Okay, since even Master Sikong said so, then the matter is settled!" Li Zhi said with a smile, an excited smile on his face, and then he turned his eyes to Li Yifu and said: "Master Li's new Zuo Silang  You are responsible for carrying out the imperial decrees. This time, you will be responsible for cracking down on the powerful and stabilizing the price of cotton. The six ministries and departments will assist in the execution. No one is allowed to interfere or obstruct it!"

    When Li Zhi said the last few words, he couldn't help but reveal a bit of imperial majesty, which made everyone feel an irresistible feeling.  Even Changsun Wuji felt dazed for a while, as if sitting in front of him was the young Li Shimin.

    There was nothing to discuss in the next court meeting. Li Zhi immediately announced his resignation and then left Liangyi Hall first.  The moment he left, the courtiers immediately divided into several small groups and began to discuss what happened today. Among them, several small groups who were originally at odds with Changsun Wuji were looking at Changsun Wuji at the front.  At the same time, they all showed expressions of gloating on their faces, and at the same time, they began to approach the location of Xu Jingzong, Li Yifu and others.

    A large group of ministers also gathered around Changsun Wuji, but most of their faces were a bit depressed, and some even had wandering eyes, not knowing what they were thinking in their hearts.  Among them, Chu Suiliang, whose status was second only to Changsun Wuji, seemed to want to say something, but Changsun Wuji interrupted him with a wave of his hand, and then said with a bit of dejection: "Don't say anything anymore, let's leave!  "

    After Changsun Wuji finished speaking, he strode out of the crowd, and then left Liangyi Hall without looking back. Leaving Chu Suiliang and others behind, they looked at me and I looked at you. In the end, they all let out a long sigh and then dispersed.  .

    Changsun Wuji, who left Liangyi Palace, did not stay in the palace, but went straight through Chengtian Gate and prepared to get on his carriage to go home. Although he had been mentally prepared for what happened today, it was still too sudden after all.  He needs to explain the matter to his family to avoid being caught by Li Yifu and others. In addition, he also needs to think calmly about where to go from now on.

    But just when Changsun Wuji was about to board theAs he drove his carriage, a clear voice suddenly said: "Master Changsun, are you interested in talking to a certain person?" (To be continued)
Didn't finish reading? Add this book to your favoritesI'm a member and bookmarked this chapterCopy the address of this book and recommend it to your friends for pointsChapter error? Click here to report