Time Travel: I am the idle king Li Shen and Li Shimin in the Tang Dynasty

The two brothers, who were just being all lovey-dovey, are now bickering again.

Li Chengqian wanted to take advantage of the situation, while Li Shen was a miser who wouldn't give a penny.

Li Chengqian threatened that if others found out, someone would definitely fight over it.

To everyone's surprise, Li Shen launched a counterattack, saying something that neither Li Chengqian nor Li Shimin had expected.

"Su Dan?" Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding.

Li Chengqian was also taken aback, but he reacted quickly, his face darkening as he said with a bitter expression:

"Tenth Brother, how do you even know this? And you're bringing it up?"

Su Dan, father of Crown Princess Su, father-in-law of Li Chengqian, and in-law of Li Shimin. He currently holds the official position of Secretary Assistant.

The Su family was no ordinary family either; they were a prestigious clan, and in terms of martial arts, the Su family was an important member of the Guanzhong aristocratic group.

Su Dan's father was Su Wei, a famous general of the former Sui Dynasty. He served as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel during the reigns of Emperor Wen and Emperor Yang of Sui, and was a core member of the central government.

If it weren't for such a background, how could Lady Su have become the Crown Princess?

Li Shen also knew that Su Dan's aunt, Su Dan's sister, had married his father, the Consort Yan.

Therefore, the Su family has close ties with the royal family.

"Hehe, elder brother, this matter is not a secret. Everyone in the court knows about it. Although I do not attend court, I can't just ignore everything, can I?"

"If the imperial court makes any decisions that allow me to make money, I'd like to be the first to know, wouldn't I?"

Seeing Li Chengqian's surprise, Li Shen chuckled. Fortunately, he was usually forced by Wang Xuance to listen to current affairs, otherwise he really wouldn't have known about this news.

"You little brat, trying to pull strings to get your father-in-law promoted? I won't allow it," Li Shen thought to himself.

"What, is Tenth Brother planning to use this to bargain with his elder brother?" Li Chengqian asked with a smile. Since he was idle anyway, he might as well have a little competition.

"Didn't you just use iron ore to negotiate with me, brother?" Li Shen crossed his legs, leaned back, picked up his teacup, and looked relaxed and content.

"Tenth brother, if you're trying to use this to negotiate, you're in for a big disappointment."

The appointment has been approved by the court, and no one objects. You alone are not enough.

You wouldn't use the same methods you used today to make the Duke of Zhao turn against you, would you? That would be pointless.

Li Chengqian said earnestly that Su Dan's appointment was a done deal and a reality. After the New Year, the Ministry of Personnel would issue an official letter of appointment and publish a gazette.

Even if Li Shen were to oppose it alone, it wouldn't make a difference. Unless Li Shen were willing to resort to the same old tricks, but that would come at a high price.

Li Shen, with a calm expression, put down his teacup and said:

"No need for that. I'm not out of options. Father is right here. I can impeach you for nepotism and abuse of power."

"Ah!"

Upon hearing Li Shen's words, Li Shimin chuckled. He had wondered what kind of trick Li Shen was using, but it turned out to be a complaint.

However, this small matter is not enough to coerce the Crown Prince.

Li Chengqian laughed along, completely unconcerned.

Li Shen glanced at the two of them, then continued:

"I will also report this matter in the newspaper so that the whole world knows about it."

As soon as Li Shen finished speaking, Li Shimin frowned. This was not a good plan. This kind of approach was somewhat against the rules.

"Tenth Brother, is this all you have to offer? That's not enough," Li Chengqian said calmly with a smile.

"Hehe, actually the first one is enough. Don't forget, brother, I'm a merchant, I'm rich."

"Do you think Father would side with me if I offered him one million strings of cash from the imperial treasury?"

Li Shen smiled slightly in return.

"Pfft!" Li Shimin spat out a mouthful of tea, then glared angrily at Li Shen:

"You worthless wretch, what does your business have to do with me?"

This rebellious son actually dared to openly offer me a bribe, and was so certain that I would side with him.

Isn't this just admitting you're greedy? Even if it's true, you can't be so obvious about it.

Li Shimin secretly glanced at Li Chengqian, thinking to himself, if Li Shen really did this, then the Crown Prince would have to suffer, as it would cost a million strings of cash.

Li Chengqian was amused by Li Shen's shameless tactics. Li Shen always used the same few tricks, always using money as a means to an end, and he never changed.

In fact, Li Shen has many underhanded tricks, but he just didn't say them. It's not a real duel; it's just a joke between the two of them, so there's no need to make it sound so harsh.

This will damage your image; dirty tricks are meant to be used, not talked about.

With his power, framing a mere secretary would be incredibly easy.

"Alright, you win. But if the court encounters difficulties, you can't just stand by and do nothing."

Finally, Li Chengqian admitted defeat, knowing that Li Shen hadn't even made a move yet.

"Don't worry, brother. If any powerful families dare to use salt and iron as a tool, I certainly won't stand idly by. I can then take legitimate action to suppress them."

Li Shen quickly stated that the salt and iron he possessed were originally intended to deal with powerful families and clans, and he had never used them as a trump card.

When the Xiao family raised the price of salt that time, Li Shen only asked a prominent family to pass on a message.

"By the way, speaking of salt and iron, how much salt do you have?" Only after saying that did Li Chengqian remember that he still had salt.

Li Shen simply shook his head and said, "I don't know."

"Don't know? How could you not know how much salt you have?" Li Chengqian asked, somewhat puzzled.

"I really don't know. That salt has been piling up in the warehouse for many years. It seems like production has stopped, but I don't know the specifics."

Li Shen explained that he genuinely didn't know that the person in charge there was Wei Fugui's eldest son, who was mainly responsible for all affairs in the Fuzhou area.

Wang Hongfu used to report to Li Shen, but later Li Shen stopped asking, so Wang Hongfu stopped reporting.

Li Shen seemed to have heard that the saltworks there were going to have to stop operating because they couldn't afford to leave, but he didn't inquire about the specifics.

"Approximately how much?" Li Chengqian asked.

"Well... I heard Wang Hongfu say last year or the year before that the stored salt could supply the entire population of the Tang Dynasty for three years."

Li Shen recalled that he seemed to have heard it that way, but because of his poor memory, it was a bit vague.

"Three years! The entire Tang Dynasty would eat that for three years? How much salt would that take?" Li Chengqian exclaimed, speechless.

This younger brother had quietly produced so much salt and iron; he finally understood why his father had said Changsun Wuji dared not.

Once these salt and iron products are put on the market, the price of salt and iron in the entire Tang Dynasty will instantly be halved.

Currently, supply cannot meet demand, so prices are relatively high. But if people actually invest in it, then supply will exceed demand, and the powerful families and gentry will be devastated.

(The martial arts mentioned here refers to a place name.)