Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

"hiss!!!"

In Wang Ming's hand, the pencil tip clicked.

Upon hearing that his own crown prince was planning to build another, or rather, two, magnificent cities, he immediately broke apart.

He couldn't help but gasp.

"Your Highness...we're afraid we don't have enough funds, are we?"

He didn't dare to tell Li Chengqian "no money" on the spot. At this moment, he could only put on a bitter face and look at his son, Wang Qingyun.

The latter quickly understood.

He rose and cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Highness, in the past six months, as far as I know, the tax revenue collected in Bingzhou has reached approximately 80 strings of cash, which is far from enough to support the city construction you mentioned. However, if we can postpone it for two years, given Your Highness's plans, let alone two cities, even ten would be no problem!"

Changsun Wuji rolled his eyes.

Just as I was about to curse in my heart, I thought, "They're all sycophants, big and small."

Suddenly, it seemed as if they realized something.

Suddenly, with a "whoosh," he stood up from his seat.

"How many?!"

His voice was sharp and loud, like that of a woman who had heard something incredible.

Noticing the strange looks from those around him, Changsun Wuji finally came to his senses.

His face flushed red, but he anxiously asked again.

"Wang family...Wang Sima, you just asked how much the commercial tax was?!"

Wang Qingyun was stunned for a moment, then glanced at Crown Prince Li Chengqian beside him, thinking that he had said something wrong.

"Well, my duties are managing the military commanders within the cities of Bingzhou, as well as suppressing bandits and maintaining peace in the Bingzhou region. As for the matter of commercial taxes, it's all just hearsay. If it's not approved..."

Xiao Rui, who was also sitting at Li Chengqian's table, nodded.

Li Chengqian felt that if this guy wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses right now, he would definitely have an even stronger aura of a domineering CEO.

“Wang Sima must have heard it from the sidelines. This news is not accurate, or rather, because so many people spread it, some oversights occurred.”

Wang Qingyun nodded shyly, just about to say something.

But then Xiao Rui changed the subject.

"The commercial tax reform started in the second half of last year and was summarized at the end of the year. There was indeed a record of 800,000 strings of cash in commercial tax, but that was the tax contributed by peddlers and traveling merchants in various places."

"in addition......"

Xiao Rui stood up and picked up the documents that his subordinates had just delivered to him when he entered the city.

"Your Highness, in addition to these commercial taxes, there are also commercial taxes from registered workshops and factories in Bingzhou, totaling 120 million strings of cash."

"The commercial tax collected from restaurants, shops, gold shops, horse shops, and other businesses in Taiyuan Prefecture amounted to 35 strings of cash."

"Hiss!!!" Changsun Wuji lost his footing and fell back down to his seat.

Staring wide-eyed.

"That...that's two million three hundred thousand strings of cash?! That's half a year's worth of commercial tax?!"

Xiao Rui smiled and nodded, respectfully handing the document in his hand to Li Chengqian in front of him.

The latter, however, simply handed it over to Changsun Wuji.

"Two million three hundred thousand strings of cash, not bad results. Last year, in the ninth year of Wude, the total agricultural tax collected by our dynasty from all over the country was only 170 million strings of cash. And this was because we quickly dealt with the Eastern Turks and prevented them from raiding southwards even more recklessly."

"The people also lost less grain."

Li Chengqian nodded.

However, there wasn't much joy on his face.

“Brother, if we only have this much tax revenue, I’m afraid we really won’t be able to build two large cities at the same time, especially Jiuyuan, which you mentioned. It will definitely have to be built from scratch, and the cost will be even greater…”

Li Tai said from the side.

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, thought for a moment, then waved his hand, signaling everyone to hurry up and eat.

So they didn't say anything more.

Chu Dahai, the imperial chef of Yangcheng Palace, often receives advice and guidance from His Highness the Crown Prince regarding his appetite. Many of the ways to cook ingredients, and even this stir-fry, originated from Yangcheng Palace.

These officials today, though they are generally restrained.

However, when lunch ended, all the food on every table was completely gone.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, they bowed and greeted each other.

Swaying and staggering, they headed out of the palace to meet the Taiyuan Prefecture officials who were on duty once again.

Changsun Wuji was still immersed in the terrifying commercial tax of more than 2.3 million guan in half a year.

Li Chengqian glanced at Li Tai and Li Ke, who were leading their younger siblings to arrange accommodations, and pulled Wang Ming over.

"Prefect Wang, didn't I tell you to write a letter to Murong Shun, asking him to come to Taiyuan Prefecture to discuss things with me in detail? How is the situation? Has he arrived yet?"

Hear the words.

Wang Ming nodded hurriedly.

"Your Highness, Murong Shun is currently residing at the Heavenly Paradise in Taiyuan Prefecture..."

“Heavens…” Li Chengqian was stunned, and then the corner of his mouth twitched twice.

Murong Shun really knows how to pick a place. He had a perfectly good hotel in Taiyuan, but he chose to stay in the territory of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

However, thinking of his third brother, who had been openly and secretly bringing out all the enjoyment methods he had mentioned in his previous life, such as spas, baths, Thai massages, bowling, billiards, and so on.

All Li Chengqian could say was...

At least there wasn't a Heaven on Earth in Chang'an.

Otherwise, his own mother would probably write a letter to scold him.

"Ahem, then let him come to Yangcheng Palace. I happen to have some things to discuss with him."

As Li Chengqian watched, he was brought before him.

The man's hair was still slightly damp, and he exuded a faint scent of soap flowers.

Even Li Chengqian couldn't help but think to himself how strong the assimilation ability of Han culture was.

Despite having the appearance of a nomadic people from the northern frontier, he was dressed in Tang Dynasty Han clothing, wearing a crown and jade ornaments, yet no one could tell that something was amiss.

Li Chengqian was delighted when the other party spoke.

"Your humble servant Murong Shun greets Your Highness the Crown Prince of the Great Tang. May Your Highness be well!"

"Tuyuhun is no longer a vassal state of our Great Tang, so it's rather inappropriate for the prince to address us as 'foreign subjects.'"

Li Chengqian smiled faintly. The other party's fluent Mandarin, which even had a slight Guanzhong accent, really made him want to laugh.

"Your Highness is too kind. I grew up in Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty. If a prince of Tuyuhun were to refer to himself as an outsider, it might be inappropriate. But for me, Murong Shun, it is perfectly reasonable."

"Hahahaha!"

"He's quite the smooth talker!" Li Chengqian immediately burst into laughter, then winked at Gao Hai, the eunuch who had returned to Chang'an and was sent to Bingzhou by Li Shimin.

The latter immediately brought a chair for Murong Shun.

"Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Undoubtedly, at this moment, Murong Shun still pleased Li Chengqian quite a bit.

Lacking military strength, talent, and popular support among the Tuyuhun people, yet still adept at navigating social circumstances...

"If I remember correctly, you were sent back to Tuyuhun in the second year of the Wude era. How have you been these past years since you returned to your hometown?"

Li Chengqian's seemingly casual greeting actually made Murong Shun, who had just sat down, realize something.

Her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

It's unclear whether this guy is genuinely aggrieved or just putting on an act for Li Chengqian.

"Waaah, Your Highness! What hometown? Murong Shun's hometown is Chang'an. I studied, learned to read and write, walked the Zhuque Street, strolled through the taverns, and watched Han dances in Chang'an. When I went to Tuyuhun, it was not to go home, but to truly leave my homeland!"

After settling their younger siblings in, Li Tai and Li Ke, who had come to find their elder brother, the Emperor, had just arrived at the palace gate.

Hearing Murong Shun's mournful cries, they exchanged a glance.

He couldn't help but quicken his pace.

When I saw this son of the Khan of Tuyuhun, he was truly crying and pleading with his own elder brother, tears streaming down his face.

His lips twitched involuntarily.

Noticing the gaze from her elder brother, she almost couldn't suppress her laughter.

"Ahem... This is because the food from the Tuyuhun region doesn't suit our tastes."

"It's more than that, Your Highness. If it were merely a matter of insatiable appetite, why would I have rushed from Tuyuhun to Taiyuan immediately after receiving His Highness the Crown Prince's invitation? The truth is..."

"Those barbarians of Tuyuhun have never considered me one of their own. Even my father, the current Khan of Tuyuhun, sees me as a thorn in his side, Your Highness... I am suffering greatly!!!"

"Your Highness, may I please inform His Majesty that this humble subject wishes to return home, this humble subject wishes to go back to Chang'an! Waaaaah..."

Those who listen are sad, and those who hear cry.

However, after pondering several painful matters, Li Tai still retreated and walked outside Xiande Hall.

"Ha ha ha ha....."

Li Chengqian coughed twice: "Your Highness need not pay attention to him. My younger brother suffers from a brain disease and has been unable to stop laughing since he was a child."

Murong Shun nodded slowly, as if he was still immersed in the grievances he had suffered in Tuyuhun over the years.

Clearing his throat, he decided to get to today's topic.

"You definitely can't go back to Chang'an. After all, you are a prince of Tuyuhun. If you go to Chang'an, in the eyes of other countries, you will become a hostage. However... what do you think of my Taiyuan Prefecture compared to Chang'an?"

Murong Shun, who had just been looking sad, suddenly had a gleam in his eyes after Li Chengqian asked the question.

"Your Highness, this place is simply paradise on earth!"

His act, like a country bumpkin visiting the Grand View Garden, showed absolutely no trace of acting skill.

"The food in the restaurants of Taiyuan Prefecture is so delicious that it is incomparable to that of Chang'an. And the roads are amazing. I traveled all the way from Liangzhou to Bingzhou by official road. When I arrived in Taiyuan Prefecture, I could hardly believe that this was really Taiyuan Prefecture... Everything here is so magical."

Li Chengqian could clearly sense that this guy wanted to say "Heaven on Earth is truly a paradise on earth", but several times he was too embarrassed to open his mouth.

That's why they praised the food and transportation in Taiyuan Prefecture.

"Ahem, you can't go back to Chang'an, but you can come and go as you please in Taiyuan. I'll give you a token. As long as you don't bring an army or thirty or fifty attendants, I guarantee you'll have a smooth journey."

"However... living in Taiyuan is not easy. You will eventually squander all your savings."

Murong Shun wasn't stupid; he immediately stood up and bowed.

"Please, Your Highness, show me the way. I was willing to believe that Murong Fuyun at least had some love for his son, but after all these years in Tuyuhun, I have come to realize the reality that my father and brothers are cold-hearted. I only want to find a way out for myself."

Li Chengqian smiled and nodded.

"You wrote that day, requesting to borrow a piece of land in my Zhenbei Road to win over the hearts of the tribes. But have you ever thought that if you could really win over the hearts of the Tuyuhun people, why would it have taken until today?"

Li Chengqian shook his head: "I have heard that the entourage you brought this time does not even have a decent set of armor. In the end, you and I are both second-generation emperors, the pride of heaven!"

"But look at the life you live, and then look at me?"

Li Chengqian smiled and opened his arms to show off the furnishings in the palace around him.

The gold-threaded jade artifacts, the carved screens, and even the scrolls and writing implements on the table at this moment—all exude an aura of superior quality.

Murong Shun's eyes reddened again.

But then Li Chengqian stood up, walked to his side, and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

“My dear brother, do you know why I gave up being the Crown Prince of Chang’an and insisted on coming to Bingzhou, even fighting to the death with the Eastern Turks for it?”

Before the other party could answer, Li Chengqian took a deep breath and slowly spoke.

"My dear brother, you must understand, having your own resources is worse than having your own."

Murong Shun's eyes flickered slightly: "But, but I am completely unpopular in Tuyuhun now. Even if I wanted to, I would not be able to."

However, Li Chengqian once again held up a finger and waved it in front of him.

“My dear brother, let me teach you another piece of advice: money can make the devil turn the millstone. The reason why those Tuyuhun people do not trust you and ostracize you is indeed because your Han culture is too strong and you are incompatible with them. But you cannot change that.”

"But... if you can make them rich and let them live a life they never dared to dream of, wouldn't that win people's hearts?"

Murong Shun looked down at himself with a puzzled expression.

"Your Highness, I am currently short of money myself, how can I help them become wealthy?"

Suddenly.

Li Ke, who had been silent all along, understood the situation and went to his elder brother's desk to take a document.

It was handed to Murong Shun.

"The Tuyuhun County's Policies for Encouraging Migrant Workers and Talent Introduction Plan..."

He murmured the name on the document, and at Li Chengqian's prompting, he opened the document.

"I am currently undertaking large-scale construction projects throughout Bingzhou, and I also plan to build waterways and Zhenbei Road. You also studied and grew up in Chang'an, so you are considered one of my own. I will not hide anything from you."

“We are in dire need of manpower! We are so lacking in labor that even if people from other parts of the Tang Dynasty travel thousands of miles to work in Bingzhou, it is still far from enough.”

Li Chengqian had his arm around the other person's shoulder, suggesting that the two had a very good relationship.

“My dear brother, as long as you can introduce a Tuyuhun person to work in my Bingzhou Road, and he works for a full month, I will give you a sum of money. You have all seen how high the wages are in Bingzhou Road.”

Li Chengqian opened one hand.

"If you introduce someone, half of their salary will be your referral fee."

"The construction of Bingzhou is a large-scale project that cannot be completed overnight, so you don't need to worry that I will be harsh on these people. And when they make money, they will buy some nice things to send home, and then..."

"My dear brother, haven't you won people over yet? Haha!"

Li Chengqian gently bumped the other person's shoulder, his face full of smiles.

Murong Shun, being addressed as "Brother" by Li Chengqian, felt his already weak body go limp.

"Fifty, fifty percent?"

His face began to flush slightly.

Li Chengqian nodded: "Fifty percent! I'll write you a contract and stamp it with the seal of the Crown Prince of the Great Tang!"

"hiss!!!"

Murong Shun's heart began to pound uncontrollably.

He paced back and forth in the Xiande Hall.

suddenly.

He paused again, as if he had thought of something, and looked worried.

"Your Highness, I would very much like to agree. Such wealth and honor are a win-win situation. If I refuse, even my descendants will curse me in the future. But..."

"I'm afraid Murong Fuyun will try to obstruct things..."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian burst into laughter: "So, if Murong Fuyun hadn't objected, you would have agreed?"

Murong Shun nodded immediately.

Suddenly.

Li Chengqian's smile instantly turned into a ferocious and ruthless expression.

A sharp shout echoed from Xiande Hall.

"Wang De! Draft an imperial edict for me! Order Ashina She'er to immediately lead 15,000 Turkic wolf cavalry to attack Tuyuhun!"

"Give that damned Murong Fuyun a good talking to."

"His Sui Dynasty repeatedly invaded our Central Plains territory. How should we settle this score?!"