Sui and Tang Dynasties: Awakening the Supreme Skills at the Beginning

In the early morning, after the morning bell rang, countless citizens began to gather outside Shuntian Gate. They were all ragged men with faces full of vicissitudes and indignation. They had banners wrapped around their heads, held banners, and shouted slogans. They were petitioning the court for demonstration.

They were all the lowest class of people in Chang'an City. When they heard that the Cui family of Qinghe controlled the grain market in Chang'an, bought grain at low prices, sold it at high prices, and made huge profits, they were extremely angry, so they gathered together and petitioned the Emperor, demanding severe punishment for the Cui family and a bright future for the people of Chang'an.

The Jinwu Guards on duty at Shuntian Gate stopped them without any suspense.

"Don't stop us, we want to see you!"

"The Qinghe Cui family is blinded by greed and has monopolized the grain market in Chang'an. They took advantage of natural disasters and man-made calamities to hoard grain and drive up grain prices to make a fortune in the national crisis. This is intolerable. We must seek justice for the one million people in Chang'an!"

Someone shouted loudly and righteously, as if he was the embodiment of justice.

"As a noble family, holding high positions and generous salaries, you do not think about serving the country, but instead exploit the people and make a fortune from the country's misfortune. The Cui family should be demoted to commoners, and their property should be confiscated. You should give an explanation to the people of the world!"

The crowd was excited and the people at the scene began to link hands and attack the checkpoint.

"presumptuous!"

The captain of the Jinwu Guard shouted loudly, his sword drawn, "How dare you break into the palace without permission? Are you planning a rebellion?"

"We want to meet His Majesty and ask Him to give an explanation to the people of the world!"

One man raised his arms and shouted, and the people behind him responded.

An old man with gray hair stood up. He was not afraid at all, but was furious. "I'm standing right here. Cut me with your sword if you dare!"

The captain of the Jinwu Guard put away his sword and his scalp went numb.

He really didn't dare to draw his knife and attack anyone. Although trespassing into the palace was a capital crime, there was a difference between rules and reality. With so many people at the scene, if a civil uprising was provoked, he, as a captain, would surely lose his head, and his family might even be implicated.

The right thing to do is to stop them at all costs, and would rather be beaten than take action.

His Majesty the Emperor himself said, "Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it!"

If we really take action against these people, wouldn't that be a slap in the face of His Majesty the Emperor?

Even if they were given a hundred courages, they wouldn't dare!

Fortunately, the Jinwu Guards were strong and it was no problem for them to stop these people. No matter how the people shouted, they refused to retreat.

What’s really worrying is that as the situation gets more and more serious, more and more people gather, including some students.

There was a commotion at the gate of the imperial city, and the two sides were in a stalemate.

With deliberate spread by many parties, everyone in Chang'an City knew that the Cui family had raised the price of grain and made a fortune from the national crisis.

Now, hearing that the people from all walks of life were petitioning outside Shuntian Gate, because it was related to the main expenses of their families, the citizens of Chang'an left their homes and joined the petition team.

On the streets, groups and teams of citizens were jostling each other and gathering at Shuntianmen Square.

Pingkangfang fully tells the story of the elegance of the Tang Dynasty.

A servant ran by quickly, shouting loudly.

"Something happened! Something happened!"

"Something happened at Shuntian Gate!"

"The Cui family of Qinghe controlled the grain market and made a fortune from the national crisis. The people have risen up to petition and demand severe punishment for the Cui family. The number of people has now exceeded 10,000!"

With this shout, the hungry scholars who lingered in brothels and brothels left the beautiful girls around them.

"This is a great opportunity to make a name for ourselves. Let's go and take a look!"

As more scholars joined the petition team, more and more scholars flocked in.

Soon, the number of people gathered in Shuntianmen Square exceeded 100,000.

The huge Shuntianmen Square was packed to the brim, with people not even able to squeeze in a foot.

At this time, a carriage stopped on a nearby street, the door curtain was lifted, and first a handsome young man with white teeth and red lips came out, followed by three old men with long flowing beards.

"Head," Gongsun He's voice came from the side.

“What do students need to do?”

Qian Shu stroked his silver beard and whispered, "Although this move will offend the Cui family, it is a great opportunity for me, Bai Lu, to become famous after I leave the hospital. Besides, who among the scholars gathered at the palace gates would not have the same idea!"

"Just speak freely. If you can get people from the government and the public to praise you, it will definitely be of great benefit to your future career. There is no need to worry about not being able to rise to the top in the future!"

Lin Qiuhao coughed and said solemnly: "We are not here to become famous, but for our beliefs, for the people and for the country!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Brother Lin is so righteous!"

Lin Qiuhao patted Gongsun He on the shoulder and looked towards the palace gate. "I'm afraid there's a lot of quarreling going on inside the court. The imperial power is not dominant over the noble families. The common people are numerous, but they lack in talking skills!"

"Then let's take advantage of the situation to help the people start a fire!"

Qian Shu said.

The Cui family monopolized the grain market in Chang'an, and took advantage of the country's crisis to make a fortune of 90 million guan. Throughout Chinese history, such greed is really intolerable! If we can't overthrow the Cui family today, we scholars will be unworthy of being scholars!

Gongsun He came to the outside of the crowd, his qi sank into his dantian, his face slightly ferocious, and he shouted angrily: "Get out of the way!"

The noise suddenly disappeared and the scene became quiet.

The scholars frowned and turned around, "Who are you?"

"Gongsun He from Bailu Academy!"

"So he is one of the four great scholars of Bailu Academy, and he is an excellent speaker!"

Someone knows Gongsun He.

After hearing this, the crowd silently made way for a passage.

The people stretched their necks and looked at Gongsun He, as if they were expecting something from him.

Gongsun He ignored the gazes around him, took a deep breath, and shouted loudly.

"I heard that the Cui family, for their own selfish reasons, took advantage of the national crisis to build up a settlement and accumulate wealth, drive up the price of grain, and exploit the people. Mother, I really don't like this, so I came here..."

Time passed, the sun rose, and at the gate of Shuntian, only Gongsun He's voice was left.

This cursing lasted for two whole hours without stopping.

He cursed very skillfully, reciting manifestos on the spot, quoting from classics, beating around the bush, and using sarcastic words. His rich vocabulary was speechless.

More and more scholars gathered, from the old to the young, and they looked at Gongsun He with eyes full of admiration!

It's really eye-opening! If the imperial court had a test for cursing, Gongsun He would be the undisputed number one!

The spies of Changsun Wuji who were mixed in the crowd all had the idea that "if we take this boy under our wing, Lord Changsun will definitely be happy, and we will probably have no rivals in future disputes in the court."

The Jinwu Guards were scolded so much that their faces turned red, they felt ashamed and couldn't bear it. They wished they could find a crack in the ground to hide in!

While Gongsun He was drinking tea to warm his mouth, an old eunuch led a group of people and rushed out.

"According to the Emperor's order, the Cui family is willing to donate five million taels of wealth to enrich the national treasury and provide relief to the victims!"

"Oh! Oh! We have won. Long live the Emperor!"

Everyone present cheered and praised the emperor for his wisdom!

Tai Chi Hall.

Li Shimin sat high on the dragon bed.

All the officials of the Cui family in Qinghe looked as if their father had died.

"My dear ministers, the weather is warming up now, and everything is reviving. I have discovered that the locust plague is about to come back. Therefore, officials from all over the Tang Dynasty must strictly enforce the law. If they fail to control the locusts, they will be dismissed and investigated!"

Li Shimin said with dignity.

At this time, the Imperial Counselor Wei Zheng came out and bowed to Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, we have no idea how to deal with the locust plague!"

"It might as well."

Li Shimin waved his hand.

"Chang'an citizen Li Zhen has presented me with twelve strategies for exterminating locusts through Chang'an County Magistrate Li Shutong. I think the measures are very good. I will now implement them throughout the country. Officials in all places must implement them according to the law. If they deliberately neglect them, they will be severely punished!"

"Your Majesty, no! Locusts are divine insects from heaven, and they are protected by the Locust God. If our Tang Dynasty kills them wantonly, I'm afraid it will cause the wrath of heaven, and the consequences will be disastrous!"

When Cui Hu heard that Li Shimin wanted to control the locusts, he felt that it was not good. If all the locusts died, how could the price of grain be raised? The Cui family had just suffered a heavy loss, and the idea of ​​using the locust plague to make a big comeback would be in vain!

"Hmm?" Li Shimin's face darkened. "Lord Cui, in your opinion, locusts are inviolable. Are you going to watch them eat up all the food and make a fortune from the national crisis?"

Seeing the emperor furious, Cui Hu shut up tactfully. He bowed and said, "I am afraid, that is not what I meant. They have just suffered a loss of five million taels, and their vitality has been greatly damaged. If they anger the emperor again, I am afraid that money will not be able to solve the problem. They may become the first family to be brought down by the imperial power.

"Think of Li Zhen, who was a commoner helping the country. Aren't you a commoner who is a high-ranking official with a high salary less loyal to the emperor and patriotic to the country?"

Li Shimin was heartbroken.

All the ministers bowed together, "We are guilty, and we will learn from our mistakes. If we do it again, please punish us severely, Your Majesty."

"Well, Fu Ji, Xuan Ling, you can go to Shen Xing Zhen to see Li Zhen. If he is indeed talented, you should recruit him into the court and make full use of his talents."

Li Shimin spoke.

"I will obey your orders!"

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling bowed.

Li Zhen? Shenxing Zhen? Could it be that fool who didn't know whether to live or die? He had caught the emperor's eye at some point. Could it be that those ten thousand notices were written by him? Too scary!

All the officials of the Cui family were stunned and could not help but break out in cold sweat.