Chapter 109: In a Flustered Rage

Page (1/3)

“Hmm!” In a moment of frustration, Emperor Taizong indeed thought that way.

However...

Was this the right course of action?

General Li Ji said, “Your Majesty, troop movements are delicate affairs—pull one thread and the whole fabric moves. What if someone takes advantage of this to stir rebellion? If the army is dispatched to Guanlong, might the Turks mistakenly think we intend to attack them, causing unnecessary misunderstandings?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, I believe this would be unwise!” Wei Zheng added.

“We respectfully reconsider...” the other ministers echoed.

“I was merely speaking offhand. Dear ministers, no need to take it seriously. Let us instead quickly devise a foolproof plan!” Emperor Taizong calmed himself and sat back down.

The courtiers whispered among themselves.

After a moment,

Wei Zheng said, “Our dynasty has always valued both civil and military talents. Civilians are tested on their knowledge and literary skills, warriors on strategy and combat. Yet, we have never thoroughly studied economics. For example, just now, overnight, prices in the capital have surged multiple times. How did this happen? Who manipulates it behind the scenes? We simply do not know!”

“Is it possible that in our vast and glorious Tang Dynasty, no one understands economics?” Emperor Taizong was greatly vexed.

“There are such talents!” Wei Zheng replied.

“Who are they?” the emperor asked.

“The experts in economics have all been recruited by prominent aristocratic families. They understand the situation thoroughly,” Wei Zheng explained.

“Nonsense!” Emperor Taizong grew hot with anxiety, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he vigorously fanned himself.

Seeing this, Cheng Yaojin stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, have you not entrusted this matter to Lord Zhangsun? Why not inquire with him?”

“Hmph!” Mentioning this made Emperor Taizong angry.

Lord Zhangsun Wuji, chief among officials, was specifically tasked with handling this issue. Yet, he was utterly powerless against the soaring prices in the capital. From the initial rise in grain prices to now, nearly everything had nearly tripled in cost.

Zhangsun Wuji simply watched without uttering a word.

What was worse...

When Emperor Taizong asked him for advice, he could not provide any.

“Don’t mention him!” the emperor said.

“If he could have managed this well, would I have summoned you all to discuss it?” Emperor Taizong retorted.

...

For a time, the study was enveloped in silence.

Everyone was deeply absorbed in contemplating strategies.

“Report!”

A royal guard entered and handed Emperor Taizong a note.

“Zhi’er truly is exceptional! He anticipated that the recent events in the capital were orchestrated by the aristocratic families from Guanlong and even warned me to handle it carefully, or the court would suffer losses!”

Emperor Taizong read the note and put it away with satisfaction.

Page (2/3)

“Have any of you come up with a plan?”

“No...” the answer was unanimous.

Emperor Taizong grew even more irritated.

He promptly dismissed them.

“Whenever you have a solution, return and report.”

“Regarding the aristocratic families, what does Lady Guanyin know?” The emperor’s mood darkened as he paced the Hall of Elegant Justice and discussed the matter with Empress Zhangsun.

“They are like a towering mountain, crushing the breath from our chests!”

“That’s a very apt metaphor!” Emperor Taizong self-deprecatingly said. “I am the Son of Heaven, ruler of a vast realm, yet I cannot punish a mere band of commoners. Isn’t that laughable?”

“Sigh...” Empress Zhangsun sighed deeply.

“Why do you sigh, Lady Guanyin? Are you disappointed in me?” Emperor Taizong asked.

“No!” the empress replied. “I was thinking that even Your Majesty is powerless against them. A slight trick, and the court is helpless. What about the common people throughout the land? Are they to be bullied at will?”

“Indeed!”

Emperor Taizong rose abruptly, energized as if injected with vitality.

Towards the aristocratic families,

he could endure and summon ministers to deliberate, but what about the people?

“Your words remind me!” he declared.

“No matter how strong these families are, I will eliminate them!” Emperor Taizong vowed silently. Without eradicating them, he would be unworthy of being a ruler.

...

To stabilize prices in the capital, Emperor Taizong allocated ten million coins to the Ministry of Revenue, which bought up all goods in the city within a single day. Simultaneously, the capital was placed under strict lockdown, with inspections on all incoming and outgoing shipments to prevent disruptions by the aristocrats. Afterwards, the goods were resold at normal prices.

It must be said!

This was a clumsy method, one that only incurred losses but no profit.

Yet it was effective.

Ten million coins spent.

In just one day, prices were stabilized.

The aristocrats could not interfere.

However!

Emperor Taizong bought these goods at triple price but sold them at regular price, losing six million coins. Meanwhile, the aristocrats profited by six million.

The emperor’s liver ached with anger!

He urgently summoned Zhangsun Wuji to the palace.

“Such an incident must never happen again, or the treasury will be depleted. I ask you plainly: have you come up with a solution?”

Page (3/3)

“This...” Zhangsun Wuji would have solved the problem long ago if he had a way. How could he watch Emperor Taizong lose six million without acting?

“Hmph! I knew I couldn’t count on you!” the emperor snapped.

“I deserve death!” Zhangsun Wuji replied.

“Today the aristocrats raised prices, and I lost six million! What if tomorrow, the day after, or any day in future, they do it again? How shall we respond?”

“What if they are not in the capital but in Jiangnan or Hebei? What then?”

The emperor shuddered at the thought.

The aristocrats were like venomous snakes!

If not eliminated, they would bite sooner or later!

“Had you not foreseen these risks before?”

“I had precautions...” Zhangsun Wuji began.

“Nonsense precautions!” Emperor Taizong couldn’t restrain his vulgarity. “Your so-called precautions were merely preparing a few hundred thousand coins against price surges. What use is that? Can you balance prices with such a sum?”

“I... cannot!” Zhangsun Wuji stood before the emperor like a guilty child, unable to move.

At that moment,

a commotion was heard outside.

Someone was being stopped by the palace guards and eunuchs.

“Who’s there?”

“Father! It’s me! Let me in!” Li Zhi broke free from the eunuch’s grasp and rushed into the imperial study. Luo Tong followed, holding a small square box.

“Father, your son has come to see you!”

“Just to see me?” Emperor Taizong lifted Li Zhi, affectionately brushing his nose against the boy’s. “I don’t believe you came back empty-handed from outside the palace!”

“Hehe!”

Li Zhi beckoned Luo Tong, who handed over the black lacquered box.

“Father, guess what’s inside?”

“It must be food!” Emperor Taizong’s keen nose caught the aroma at once.

“Exactly! Father, you’re amazing for guessing right immediately...” Li Zhi opened the box to reveal a roasted sweet potato, its surface charred and unremarkable in appearance, yet emitting an enticing scent.

Emperor Taizong, burdened with many worries, felt instantly lighter upon smelling the roasted sweet potato.

“You came all the way back just to bring this delicious treat to your father?”

“Yes!”

“Father, try it now. Roasted sweet potatoes are best hot; once cold, the flavor diminishes...” Li Zhi broke off a piece and fed it to him.