My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 273 It is necessary to put an end to the Crown Prince's rebellion

Tai Chi Palace.

Li Shimin, sitting on the dragon throne, had no intention of expressing his opinion.

However, Chu Suiliang did not give up.

Ever since Chu Suiliang stepped forward, he has received strong support from the Five Surnames and Seven Aristocrats, even more than Fang Xuanling. It seems that he has already stood in the camp of the Five Surnames and Seven Aristocrats.

The amount of money secretly received is unknown.

Then, Chu Suiliang tilted his head slightly and gave a look.

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Qian Yi immediately understood what he meant.

After a brief pause to collect his thoughts, he walked forward with steady and firm steps, solemnly straightened his clothes and hat, and then bowed respectfully, his voice loud but unable to hide his worry: "Your Majesty, "Guan Zi Guo Xu" says: "Currency is what the ancient kings used to protect property, control civil affairs, and pacify the world." The issuance of currency is the lifeblood of the country and is related to the rise and fall of the country. Only when the court regulates it can the foundation of the economy be stabilized and the people's livelihood be guaranteed."

"But now the crown prince has arbitrarily issued paper money in Liaodong. Such actions are actually disrupting the national financial system."

“As the Zuo Zhuan says: ‘Without the skin, where will the hair be attached?’ If the finances are in disarray, the foundations of the country will be shaken.”

"If all places follow the prince's example and mint their own coins, the national treasury will be filled with nothing. How will the court support its various expenses?"

"How can we pacify the border and comfort the people?"

"The prince's move really disregards the overall interests of the country, and his intentions are really hard to guess."

"Besides, if paper money is issued excessively, prices will soar and people's livelihood will be in trouble. Is this what a prince should do?"

Minting coins is nothing new. It happened during the Eastern Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period.

Liu Bei minted 100-5-zhu coins and engraved his name on them. One coin was worth 100 5-zhu coins.

Sun Quan was even more ruthless. He minted five hundred large coins and stipulated that one coin was worth five hundred five-zhu coins.

Later, he felt that the money was coming in too slowly, so he minted more Daquan coins, such as Daquan Dangqian, Daquan Dangqian 2,000, and Daquan Dangqian 5,000.

Qian Yi, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, criticized the prince from the perspective of national finance, and his reasons were sufficient.

After all, the prince is now issuing paper money, which only needs to be printed, and the numbers on it can be printed as much as you want.

Of course, Qian Yi deliberately avoided mentioning the amount of banknotes issued by the prince in his speech. In fact, they were "bills", which were equivalent to reserves.

It’s just that in this era, there is no concept of reserve funds.

Qian Yi’s words made Li Shimin frown even more, but this was not enough.

Upon seeing this, Chu Suiliang signaled with his eyes again.

Upon seeing this, Sun Ming, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, brushed his sleeves lightly, his expression calm yet serious.

He bowed respectfully to Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, I heard that the Crown Prince issued paper money, and there may be a deeper purpose behind it."

Li Shimin asked in a deep voice: "What is your intention?"

Anyone with common sense can tell that His Majesty is very angry now.

However, Sun Ming, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, insisted on telling the story: "Now in Liaodong, the crown prince vigorously promotes new policies and promotes new people. These people have benefited from the issuance of paper money and have gradually formed a new force."

"The Book of Shang says: 'Only the virtuous should be appointed to office, and only the right people should be appointed to the posts.'"

"However, the prince's move may be suspected of nepotism and forming a clique for personal gain."

"If this continues, the imperial court's selection system will be severely impacted, and it will become increasingly difficult for the Ministry of Personnel to select talents."

"The Crown Prince's move is clearly to cultivate a private party in an attempt to challenge the imperial court. I hope Your Majesty will understand that once this new force becomes powerful, the implementation of government orders will be hindered, and the long-term stability of our Tang Dynasty will be in jeopardy!"

Sun Ming spoke sincerely, with an expression of concern for the country and the people.

The talent selection system in Liaodong is completely different from that in the Tang Dynasty. In particular, there is no need for imperial examinations. One only needs to have the most basic achievements to embark on a career in officialdom. This is simply an insult to people like them.

In this regard, Sun Ming, the Minister of Personnel, had long harbored a grudge against the prince.

When Li Shimin heard this, he behaved out of character.

Not only did he not get angry, but he even leaned back slightly.

At this time, Minister of War Wang Yong stood up.

After Hou Junji was imprisoned, Wang Yong, who was originally the Vice Minister of War, temporarily took over the position of Minister of War.

Wang Yong was tall and sturdy, with a resolute and courageous look. He strode forward, clasped his hands together, and said in a voice as loud as a bell: "Secretarys, what you said is really biased!"

"The Crown Prince issued paper money in Liaodong with the intention of revitalizing the local economy and facilitating transactions for the people. Moreover, after the Crown Prince implemented the new policy, Liaodong's military was strong and its borders were stable, which was undoubtedly a great achievement."

"Mencius said: 'There is a way to win the world: win the people, and you will win the world; there is a way to win the people: win their hearts, and you will win the people.'"

"The prince's move has benefited the people of Liaodong, and the people will naturally be loyal to him. How can it be called an act of treason?"

"How can you accuse the prince of treason just because he issued paper money?"

"Moreover, the prince did not use the imperial treasury silver, nor did he disrupt the normal economic order of our Tang Dynasty."

"On the contrary, Liaodong is now prosperous in commerce and the people are living and working in peace and contentment. Doesn't this prove that the Crown Prince's decision was correct? Why are the two assistant ministers holding on to this and insisting on accusing the Crown Prince of a crime that they don't even need?"

Wang Yong's face was filled with righteous indignation, and he looked at Qian Yi and Sun Ming with burning eyes.

However, these words made Li Shimin, who had been gradually calming down, look angry.

Chu Suiliang smiled secretly.

This soldier thought he had read some books, so he tried to imitate others by quoting from classics, but he failed to draw a tiger and ended up drawing a dog instead.

To win the world is to win the hearts of the people.

Is the will of the people of Liaodong the will of His Majesty the Tang Dynasty or the will of the prince?

Chu Suiliang didn't even need to signal with his eyes.

The Minister of Justice Zhang Liang had a look as cold as ice. He snorted coldly and took a step forward.

He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has issued paper money without the permission of the court. This is a blatant violation of the law of the country."

"What's even worse is that he even printed his own portrait on the banknotes, which is a serious act of usurpation."

"Throughout history, only the emperor has been able to enjoy this honor."

"This is the order of superiority and inferiority clearly defined in the Book of Rites. The ruler of the world is called the Son of Heaven, who meets with the princes, divides responsibilities and delegates government duties, and says: I am the one who gives you."

"The prince's actions clearly show his disrespect for the emperor. His intention to rebel is obvious."

"If it is not contained in time, it will lead to disaster. Your Majesty must not take it lightly!"

Zhang Liang was originally neutral in the fight for the throne between the Crown Prince and the King of Wei.

However, with the efforts of the Five Surnames and Seven Aristocrats, although they did not support the King of Wei, they did not want the Crown Prince to go too far.

Although Zhang Liang was not from a prominent family, the benefits given by the Five Surnames and Seven Families were really too great.

In his early years, Zhang Liang served as a grassroots official in the Wagang Army led by Li Mi and had a relatively low status.

Later, because of his friendly relationship with Li Ji, who was also a member of the Wagang Army, he was recommended by Li Ji and became the General of Chariots and Cavalry in the Qin Palace. He was gradually appreciated and valued by Li Shimin.

During this eastern expedition, Li Ji arrested Hou Junji and stood on the opposite side of the prince. Even if Li Ji did not say anything to him, Zhang Liang naturally stood on Li Ji's side.

Li Shimin was already a little hesitant at this moment.

He really didn't expect Zhang Liang to take sides.

Zhang Liang at this time had not yet reached the point in history where he was accused of treason and was deeply trusted by Li Shimin, otherwise he would not have been appointed as the governor of Pyongyang Province of Dongzheng Goryeo.

Li Shimin turned his gaze to Wei Zheng.

Changsun Wuji went to Liaodong, leaving only Wei Zheng and others on the prince's side.

The wind was currently turning to one side, which was something Li Shimin did not want to see. However, at this moment, Fang Xuanling, who had been silent all along, stroked his beard with a calm expression and took a few steps forward.

Then he bowed and saluted, and said slowly: "Your Majesty, today in the court, all the ministers expressed their opinions, all for the sake of our Tang Dynasty."

"This matter is of great importance. It concerns the reputation of the Crown Prince and even more so the stability of the Tang Dynasty. We cannot make a hasty decision and must investigate it in detail."

Fang Xuanling didn't say anything on the surface, but the implication of his words was very obvious.

It is to force a final conclusion.

Wei Zheng, the prince's tutor, looked solemn and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, what you all said makes sense, but this matter must not be decided hastily."

"The Analects says, 'A gentleman respects the virtuous and tolerates the masses; he praises the good and sympathizes with the incapable.'"

"Although the prince may have acted on his own initiative by issuing paper money, his original intention may not have been malicious."

"During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, Jia Yi once wrote a memorial entitled "On the Storage of Grains", in which he argued for the importance of national storage at that time. His words were sincere, and although some of his ideas conflicted with the old system at that time, they attracted the attention of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty and laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Han Dynasty in the future. Now the crown prince is promoting paper money in Liaodong, perhaps because he saw the difficulties of local economic development and wanted to solve them with a new policy."

Li Shimin nodded slightly.

Emperor Wen of Han was the idol and role model for emperors of all dynasties, and Li Shimin was obsessed with hearing Emperor Wen's evaluation.

It can be said that Emperor Wen of Han was Li Shimin's number one idol.

Wei Zheng quoted the story of Emperor Wen of Han, which made Li Shimin's mind diverted.

Wei Zheng continued, "The prince has always been diligent and loyal to Your Majesty. It is very likely that he issued the paper money this time because he was too eager to achieve success and was not well-thought-out, rather than deliberately plotting a rebellion. It would be unwise to judge the prince as a treasoner based on this alone."

Wei Zheng had been a censor for many years and understood Li Shimin's mind best.

As long as the accusation of treason is removed from the crown prince, everything else is not a big deal.

Upon seeing this, Chief Censor Ma Zhou hurriedly stood up.

"Duke Wei is the Prince's Junior Tutor, and everyone knows how protective he is of him."

"However, state affairs are more important. Now, various signs show that there are indeed many suspicious points in the prince's trip."

"The prosperity of the world is all for profit; the hustle and bustle of the world is all for profit."

"The interests behind the prince's issuance of paper money are complicated. We cannot ignore the safety of the country because of the friendship between teacher and student."

At this point, Ma Zhou said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I suggest that a comprehensive investigation be conducted on the crown prince. If the crown prince is innocent, he should be cleared of all charges; if he does have the intention of treason, he should not be tolerated."

After a slight pause, Ma Zhou said in a deep voice: "The Zuo Zhuan Yin Gong 4th Year says: 'To uphold justice, one must destroy relatives.' For the sake of national justice, one must make a decisive decision when necessary."

As soon as this statement came out, the officials were in an uproar.

Li Shimin's face changed drastically.

Even Chu Suiliang did not expect that Ma Zhou would be so bold.

It was almost like deposing the crown prince.

At this moment, Zhongshu Ling Yang Shidao couldn't help it.

"Your Majesty, I think the ministers' remarks are a little too extreme."

"The prince issued paper money in Liaodong in response to the local situation in Liaodong, aiming to promote economic development and benefit the people."

"Looking back to the past, King Wuling of Zhao promoted the Hu clothing and horse riding, which was initially considered to be against the ancestral system and encountered many objections. However, it was this reform that greatly increased the military strength of Zhao State and made it a powerful country during the Warring States Period."

"The prince is now promoting paper money in Liaodong, which is quite similar to what King Wuling of Zhao did back then."

"Liaodong is far away from the Central Plains, and its customs and economic conditions are very different from those in the mainland."

"The old coins of Goryeo, Silla, and Baekje were difficult to mint, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. The prince issued paper money, which was not only easy to carry, but also greatly promoted local business exchanges, making Liaodong's economy unprecedentedly prosperous."

"It also made the people of the Three Kingdoms return to the Tang Dynasty."

"When times change, things change. When things change, be prepared for change."

“Although the laws established by our ancestors are the foundation of our country, they must also change with the times.”

"The prince cares about the country and is well aware of Liaodong's plight. He is eager to seek benefits for the country. Although he did not report his actions to the court, he did not intend to go against the ancestral system."

"Now the new policy in Liaodong has achieved remarkable results. The people live a prosperous life, the army is strong, and the border is stable. This is the work of the prince."

"If we punish the crown prince severely for issuing paper money at this time, it will not only discourage the crown prince and all those who work hard for the country, but it may also bring the newly emerging prosperity of Liaodong to an abrupt end and even cause unrest in the border areas. I hope Your Majesty will put the overall situation first and think twice before acting."

The Minister of the Central Secretariat Yang Shidao was not considered a member of the Prince's Party, but his son Zhao Jie was a die-hard member of the Prince's Party.

Zhao Jie's mother was Princess Changguang, Li Shimin's sister.

His father Zhao Cijing died on the battlefield in the early years of the Wude period, and his mother Princess Changguang remarried Yang Shidao.

Yang Shidao also loves his stepson Zhao Jie as well.

Now that Zhao Jie has been valued by the Crown Prince and His Majesty because of the coal issue, Yang Shidao will naturally stand on the side of the Crown Prince.

Wei Ting, the Minister of the Honglu Temple, stepped forward immediately, looking stern, and said with a folded hand, "Secretary Yang is wrong."

"The Crown Prince has issued paper money without authorization, which has violated the ancestral system and the laws of the court. How can it be covered up with the word 'innovation'? Even if Liaodong has achieved some results, it cannot cover up his mistakes of making decisions on his own and disrupting the court order. If everyone breaks the rules at will under the pretext of 'conforming to the situation', then where will the laws and moral principles of the Tang Dynasty be placed?"

Xiao Yu, the Minister of the Imperial Household, also stood up, with a serious face, and said in a serious tone: "Your Majesty, what Minister Wei said is absolutely right."

"I can talk about the Xia rituals, but Qi is not enough to prove it; I can talk about the Yin rituals, but Song is not enough to prove it. This is because there is not enough literature. If there is enough, I can prove it.' It can be seen that the inheritance of ancestral system is of great significance."

"The Crown Prince's issuance of paper money is a serious violation of our ancestral system. Our Tang dynasty has always used copper coins as the currency of circulation. This is the law of our ancestors and cannot be easily changed. The Crown Prince acted rashly and ignored the rules of our ancestors. If Your Majesty does not punish him, how can you show it to the world and maintain the dignity of our ancestors?"

"The prince cannot escape blame for his actions."

The words of Xiao Yu, the Minister of Taichang Temple, carried a lot of weight. Last year, he was given the title of "Third Rank of the Secretariat" and became one of the prime ministers of the Tang Dynasty.

The Minister of the Central Secretariat Yang Shidao did not change his expression and replied, "I am not advocating the abolition of the ancestral system."

"The purpose of the ancestral system is to maintain the stability of the Tang Dynasty and promote the well-being of the people. The prince's issuance of paper money is essentially not contrary to the original intention of the ancestral system."

"Furthermore, although the court's laws are important, we also need to consider the actual situation."

"The prince did not act recklessly, but based on his in-depth understanding of the situation in Liaodong and his urgent desire to develop it."

"The Crown Prince implemented a new policy in Liaodong, which made the local people live and work in peace and contentment, and made the people of the Three Kingdoms return to the Tang Dynasty. Isn't this a way to maintain and practice the laws of the country?"

"If we stick to the old ways and stick to the old rules regardless of the actual situation, we may miss the opportunity for development and it will be detrimental to the long-term development of the country."

Wei Ting's face darkened and he retorted: "Secretary Yang, even if the situation in Liaodong is special, we should not act on our own."

"The imperial court system is orderly from top to bottom. If everyone does as they please under the pretext of 'adapting to local conditions', where is the majesty of the court? What is the use of laws?"

Xiao Yu also glared at him and shouted, "Mr. Yang, you are just making up stories! The ancestral system is the foundation of the Tang Dynasty, how can it be changed at will? You are making excuses for the prince, but in fact you are disrupting the government!"

Yang Shidao also lost his temper and said angrily: "Wei Siqing, Lord Xiao, you keep talking about the ancestral system and the laws of the court, but have you ever really thought about the situation of the people in Liaodong? Now that Liaodong has just been settled, there is a lot to be done. If we blindly follow the old system, how can we develop? How can we stabilize the border?"

"Although the Crown Prince did not follow the usual procedures when issuing paper money, the effect was remarkable and the people of Liaodong became rich. Isn't this the greatest 'reason'?"

Wei Ting was so angry that his beard trembled. He retorted loudly: "Yang Zhongshu, you are putting the cart before the horse! The ancestral system and laws are the foundation of the country. How can they be trampled on for the sake of temporary benefits? If everyone uses "for the good of the people" as an excuse to act recklessly, the majesty of the court will be gone and the country will fall into chaos!"

Xiao Yu also nodded repeatedly and scolded: "Mr. Yang, you are looking for excuses for the prince's presumptuous behavior! The prince is so bold and reckless. If he is not severely punished, who will take the rules of the court seriously in the future?"

Yang Shidao did not back down and asked loudly: "Do you two think that sticking to the ancestral system and ignoring reality is responsible for the Tang Dynasty?"

"When Emperor Gaozu of Han entered Guanzhong, he made three laws with the people. He did not completely follow the old system of the Qin Dynasty, but he was able to quickly stabilize the situation and win the hearts of the people. Wasn't this a wise move based on the actual situation?"

"Now that the Crown Prince is in Liaodong, it is the same. He has implemented new policies in accordance with local conditions and made Liaodong a stable frontier of our Tang Dynasty. This is a great achievement. How can we turn a blind eye to it?"

Wei Ting sneered, "Humph, Yang Zhongshu, you are just quibbling! Emperor Gaozu of Han made three laws to stabilize the situation, and he also gradually improved the laws afterwards. But what about the prince? He arbitrarily issued banknotes and printed his own portrait on them. This is naked usurpation. How can it be simply explained by 'adapting to local conditions'?"

Xiao Yu's words were even more fierce, calling him by his name: "Yang Shidao, stop making excuses for the prince. The prince's actions are clearly a challenge to the imperial power and disrespect for the ancestors. If you don't punish him, how can you explain to the people of the world?"

Seeing that a fight was about to break out, Li Shimin shouted: "Enough!"

(End of this chapter)