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

"Snapped!"

Li Shen used a calligraphy brush as a dart, throwing it directly at Wang Hongfu's face. Wang Hongfu didn't even dare to dodge, only lowering his head to avoid the brush poking his eyes.

"Quickly, men, come and beat this scoundrel to death for me!"

Li Shen pointed at Wang Hongfu, his anger reaching its peak, and wanted to flip him over off the table and beat him up.

Chunxiang and Dongmei quickly pulled Li Shen back, preventing him from making such a dangerous move. This was partly to help Wang Hongfu out of a predicament, and partly to give Li Shen a way out.

Having grown up with Li Shen since childhood, the two women naturally knew that Li Shen was just saying this out of anger. Wang Hongfu held a pivotal position in the Prince Ji's mansion.

If Wang Hongfu is killed, the next head manager may not be as good as Wang Hongfu.

More importantly, Li Shen had been training Wang Hongfu for over ten years, and he couldn't possibly spend another ten years training another Wang Hongfu. Li Shen simply didn't have that kind of time.

"Your Highness, please calm down. Your Highness, please calm down. I am a man of limited knowledge and have not read many books. Even Your Highness says that I am uncultured and illiterate."

The prince's calligraphy is grand and majestic, with flowing strokes and profound meaning; it is understandable that a humble person like myself cannot recognize it.

I beg Your Highness's forgiveness.

Seeing the furious Prince Ji, Wang Hongfu knelt on the ground in a very cooperative manner, putting on a pitiful look.

"Hmph, I told you long ago, if you're uncultured, go learn it." Li Shen sneered.

"I just haven't had the time," Wang Hongfu said with a grin.

"If you don't have time, why don't you do middle school?"

“Dry...dry middle school?” Wang Hongfu was taken aback. Ji Wang had used a new term that he didn’t understand.

"Learn on the job, don't you understand? Also, if you know you're uneducated, don't talk nonsense. Don't you know what it means to get into trouble from your mouth?"

"You damned bastard!" Li Shen cursed, then calmed down and sat down. Chunxiang quickly handed him a cup of Xiangning.

At this moment, Wang Xuance changed his position several times, carefully observed for a moment, and then said:

"The Great Tang Empire!"

"That's right, it's all thanks to Xuan Ce's culture. It was worth the high price I spent to win Li over. He's worlds apart from that scoundrel."

Li Shen put down his teacup and smiled. True friends are hard to find.

"Your Highness, is this the important matter you mentioned?" Wang Xuance asked, puzzled.

"Indeed, this is the important matter I was referring to. In the next few days, the imperial court will issue an edict to announce to the whole country that from this day forward, the name of our Great Tang Dynasty will be the Great Tang Empire, and all the people will be Tang people."

After the imperial decree is issued, Xuan Ce, you need to write a special report on this news, which will be proposed by His Majesty and the Crown Prince, and discussed and decided by officials from the Three Departments and Six Ministries.

Our Great Tang Dynasty is named Tang, and its official name is the Great Tang Empire. This imperial edict is hereby issued and is now in effect. From this day forward, all official documents submitted by any country or domestic correspondence must be in the name of the Great Tang Empire.

Our Great Tang Dynasty is about to enter a new era, truly dominating the world and invincible.

Li Shen raised his hands high like a believer, looking up with a look of holiness and piety on his face.

However, after a while there was still no movement, Li Shen lowered his head:

"What, are my words and actions not persuasive enough?"

Li Shen began to doubt whether his abilities had declined.

Wang Hongfu was the first to react, immediately prostrating himself on the ground and raising his hands in a sincere manner, shouting:

"I swear to follow Your Highness to the death and help Your Highness achieve great things."

"Get out of here!" Upon hearing Wang Hongfu's words, Li Shen almost threw an inkstone at him.

Is this guy doing this on purpose? He's even vowing to follow me to the death. Is he planning to drag me down with him?

"Your Highness, why isn't your name mentioned in the newspaper? If I'm not mistaken, this idea must have come from Your Highness, right?"

Wang Xuance was quite normal. He wanted to give Li Shen a chance to be remembered for all time.

Li Shen shook his head;

"It's alright, I don't need that title. You must remember, it's not only conquering cities and seizing territories that makes one a great hero."

Sometimes, having too much fame isn't a good thing.

Why do you think I always make mistakes?

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand." Wang Xuance bowed, but in his heart he was thinking, "Isn't your mistake simply a matter of your personality?"

Isn't this how you are when no one else is around? Lawless and doing whatever you want.

"There is one more thing. I want the people of the Tang Dynasty to know about the living conditions of people in other countries, including their taxes and how the court provides relief after disasters."

I want the people of the Tang Dynasty to know how fortunate they are to live in the Tang Dynasty.

The imperial court intends to comprehensively improve the status of the people of our Great Tang Dynasty, and there will be a series of measures. The Ministry of Rites will consult with you on this matter.

From now on, the court's punishment of corrupt officials will be made public, so that the people know that the court's laws are strict and that no matter who oppresses the people or embezzles public funds, His Majesty will punish them.

Li Shen's words greatly shocked Wang Xuance. It sounded like the court was really undergoing reforms, especially the public disclosure of evidence of crimes committed by court officials, which was unprecedented.

After all, the imperial court didn't want the people to know too much, for the sake of its image. If the people knew too much, the court feared they would be disappointed in it.

"What? Xuan Ce, do you think there's something wrong with it?"

Seeing Wang Xuance's expression, Li Shen asked.

"Your Highness, if this continues for a year, won't the people become disappointed with the court? It will also damage the court's reputation among the people."

Wang Xuance asked directly.

Li Shen smiled and shook his head:

"No, no, no, quite the opposite. This will make the people more supportive of the court, no, more supportive of His Majesty."

You should know that human desires are endless. When people are hungry, they crave to be able to eat their fill.

After they have eaten their fill, they expect to enjoy delicacies every day. At this point, they hope to live in a big house, have their own carriage, and have many wives and concubines.

People's desires gradually grow with their environment, but once they find that they cannot fulfill these desires, they will look for reasons and blame others.

Their first complaint was that the imperial court hadn't given them everything they wanted.

Seeing those officials possess power, status, and wealth, they feel hatred and repression.

By publicizing those officials who have broken the law, we are essentially giving these people a target to vent their emotions.

This... is the Doctrine of the Mean.

Li Shen lightly tapped his fingers on the desk, making himself appear so profound and unfathomable.

After pondering for a moment, Wang Xuance bowed in respect.

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness. I understand. The court has been concealing the truth and using suppression as a means of control all along."

Instead of suppressing, it's better to guide and channel the people's anger, allowing them to find an outlet for their resentment.

"That's right, that's the point. Actually, I also hate the rich. Whoever is richer than me, I hate them and hope that all their money will become mine."

I hate anyone who has more power than me. Why should he be able to control me?

This is only human nature.

Li Shen nodded.

(This wicked old society)