This made Li Shimin anxious, and he wanted to trade one for one with me.

Cheng Jun looked at the furious Changsun Wuji and turned to say, "Your Majesty, Minister Changsun said that I am imitating Yan Ying of the Spring and Autumn period who killed three warriors with two peaches, and using the blame to sow discord between the ruler and his ministers."

Li Shimin asked in confusion, "That's not right, aren't we, as ruler and subject, doing well together?"

Changsun Wuji exclaimed excitedly, "Your Majesty, the subject mentioned here is me!"

Li Shimin frowned and said, "How can you be considered a subject? You are my family!"

So should family members take the blame...? Changsun Wuji almost couldn't help but swear.

Cheng Jun's expression turned serious. He pointed to the pillar not far away and said, "Minister Changsun, His Majesty says you are family, yet you do not think of sharing His Majesty's burdens. Aren't you ashamed at all? If I were you, I would smash my head against this pillar right now!"

"Shuzi!"

Changsun Wuji couldn't help but curse.

Li Shimin said with a stern face, "Fuji, you are not allowed to speak of my beloved Minister Cheng like that!"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji's head was buzzing, and he almost fainted from anger. Before Cheng Jun could even speak, His Majesty had already refuted every word he was about to say.

Looking at Changsun Wuji's shocked and angry expression, Cheng Jun was very satisfied with the effect of the military strategy he had used.

Just as Changsun Wuji said, he was indeed using this crime to sow discord among them.

Li Shimin dared not bear the blame for selling official positions and harming the people, as it would damage his image as a wise ruler. Therefore, someone else was needed to take the fall.

Changsun Wuji, the Minister of Personnel, who was involved with the government's capital and the money-collecting officials, naturally became the best candidate to take the blame.

This is also the most heinous aspect of this crime.

Because Li Shimin did not want to bear this crime.

Changsun Wuji dared not carry it on his back.

Li Shimin made him take the blame, but Changsun Wuji refused. This would inevitably lead to a rift between the two of them, and the bond between the ruler and his subject would vanish!

This is one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems.

A strategy to sow discord.

Seeing Li Shimin's unwavering bias towards Cheng Jun, Changsun Wuji clicked his tongue and said, "Cheng Jun, you're quite good at military strategy!"

Cheng Jun cupped his hands and said, "You flatter me."

Changsun Wuji angrily retorted, "Was I praising you?"

Cheng Jun was surprised, "Is there another meaning?"

Changsun Wuji stared straight at him, his eyes bloodshot, and gritted his teeth as he said, "From the moment you entered the palace to meet His Majesty, you used the strategy of besieging Wei to rescue Zhao, the strategy of capturing the king first, the strategy of openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing Chencang, and the strategy of sowing discord between me and my ministers."

"You, an official who speaks out against wrongdoing, don't win with words, you use military strategy?"

Cheng Jun frowned and looked at Li Shimin, saying, "Your Majesty, do I have any merit in what I said?"

"Yes, every word makes sense."

Li Shimin nodded repeatedly, then looked at Changsun Wuji and said with dissatisfaction, "Fuji, you must understand that military strategy is just about taking shortcuts; the key is still reason."

"If what Minister Cheng says is unreasonable, do you think he can stump you, or he can stump me?"

"It is precisely because everything he said made sense that you were unable to refute him."

After saying that, Li Shimin turned his head and said in a gentle tone, "Minister Cheng, do you think what I said makes sense?"

"Your Majesty is holy."

"Hahahahahaha!"

"..."

Changsun Wuji opened his eyes wide and looked at the two men, the emperor and his minister, who were behaving harmoniously. He felt like an outsider.

Seeing how close the two of them were, Changsun Wuji began to wonder whether he or Cheng Jun was the real maternal relative.

Changsun Wuji said resolutely, "If Your Majesty insists that I do as Cheng Jun says, I am willing to die!"

Cheng Jun's eyes narrowed. "Minister Changsun, even a fat dog knows to thank its master. His Majesty has treated you so well, yet you are unwilling to take on even the slightest responsibility. You really are... I have nothing to say!"

You've said so much, and you still have nothing to say?

Changsun Wuji's face turned from red to purple, and he said angrily, "Cheng Jun, just say what you have to say. Don't beat around the bush. Comparing me to a dog is an insult. You are committing insubordination. What is your punishment?"

Cheng Jun turned to Li Shimin and asked, "Your Majesty, did I swear?"

Li Shimin said sternly, "Fuji, stop talking nonsense. Minister Cheng's analogy was just inappropriate; he didn't scold you."

"His Majesty!!"

Seeing Changsun Wuji jumping up and down, Li Shimin scolded, "Sit down, what's the rush?"

Changsun Wuji, his face dark, had no choice but to sit back down on the cushion.

At this moment, Cheng Jun's voice rang out: "Minister Changsun, if you have a reason, then speak. If you have no reason, then you don't have to speak. His Majesty values ​​officials who speak out so that all officials can speak freely. But you want officials who speak out to be punished for their words. Aren't you going against His Majesty?"

“Cheng Aiqing is right, Fuji, you mustn’t do that.”

Changsun Wuji couldn't help but stand up again, his voice trembling with emotion as he argued, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten his purpose in impeaching you? Cheng Junming is using a double-dealing tactic, ostensibly impeaching Your Majesty, but in reality seeking revenge against me. Now that his true intentions have been revealed, how can Your Majesty speak up for him!"

Li Shimin frowned. "Look, he's in a hurry again."

Cheng Jun said, "Minister Changsun, you say His Majesty cannot distinguish right from wrong and has ulterior motives. What are you planning?"

"You should say less."

Li Shimin turned and glared at Cheng Jun, his face hardening as he said, "Cheng Jun, don't think I'm easy to fool. Your map of Yan is really long; it's completely wrapped up in my head."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned to Changsun Wuji again and said, "Fuji, don't portray Minister Cheng as too narrow-minded. I am not a foolish ruler. I favor you out of personal affection because you are a relative of the emperor, but when it comes to matters of state, everyone must step aside, understand?"

Cheng Jun said sincerely: "Your Majesty is wise!"

Changsun Wuji was angry, but he knew that Li Shimin was telling the truth. He pursed his lips, bowed his head, and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

Li Shimin took in the expressions of the two men and slowly said:

"The government's capital, the money-collecting clerk, is problematic and should be abolished. If it is not abolished, it will harm the people!"

"I have always warned my subjects that the ruler is like the water, and the people are like the boat. I want you to know that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. When the great waves come crashing down, it will be too late to regret it!"

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

Cheng Jun and Changsun Wuji bowed in unison.

Seeing that the two men had clearly taken his words to heart, Li Shimin's expression softened. He looked at Cheng Jun with a gentle tone and said, "Minister Cheng, since you were able to come up with that solution, I believe you can certainly come up with other, even better solutions."

"Think again and see if there is a way to abolish the government office capital and the money-collecting clerk, while also preventing me from issuing an edict of self-reproach and ensuring that Changsun Wuji is not held responsible."

Changsun Wuji also looked at Cheng Jun.

Cheng Jun hesitated for two seconds, then shook his head and said, "I have no choice."

You can't believe a word he says... Li Shimin raised his finger and pointed at Changsun Wuji, saying, "You came to the palace this time just to vent your anger, didn't you? I will punish Changsun Wuji now and avenge you!"

Cheng Jun frowned and said, "Your Majesty, I have no such intention. I am devoted to the public good!"

Still won't admit it... Li Shimin grinned, genuinely annoyed by his stubbornness. He turned to Fuji with a stern face and said, "Fuji, apologize immediately!"

Changsun Wuji pursed his lips, stood up abruptly, bowed deeply to Cheng Jun, and said, "Imperial Censor Cheng, I was wrong, and I sincerely apologize to you!"

Cheng Jun asked in confusion, "What wrong has Minister Changsun done?"

I shouldn't have bothered you.

"You've been giving me trouble? How come I didn't know?"

"..."

Changsun Wuji's lips trembled, and his eyes reddened as he looked at Li Shimin. "It's not that I don't want to apologize, it's that he won't accept it."

Li Shimin was also somewhat annoyed, "Minister Cheng, do you have to absolve yourself of all responsibility so completely?"

Cheng Jun said helplessly, "I truly had no ulterior motives in offering this advice, why doesn't Your Majesty believe me?"

"Alright, alright, you're clearly just unhappy with his attitude when he apologized!"

Li Shimin saw right through his thoughts and said in an annoyed tone, then looked at Changsun Wuji and said:

"Fuji, do you understand now? If I don't punish you today, you won't get through this! You don't want the people and officials to talk behind your back, do you?"

Changsun Wuji's voice trembled: "I don't need to be gossiped about behind my back."

Li Shimin flew into a rage: "So you want them to talk badly about me behind my back?"

…………

This is the first update; there will be an extra update tonight.