blogombal Chapter 2402 The Forgetful Queen
Chapter 2402 The Forgetful Queen
Li Shimin was very strict in educating Li Chengqian. After he became the crown prince at the age of eight, he was very strict with Li Chengqian's words and deeds, which could be described as perverted.
Otherwise, Li Chengqian wouldn't have been nearly driven crazy.
In order to make Li Chengqian feel oppressed, Li Tai was used as a whetstone.
If Li Shen had not appeared, Li Chengqian would have been worn out.
Today, Li Chengqian has initially possessed the basic qualities of an emperor, and Li Shimin is still very satisfied with Li Chengqian.
However, no matter how satisfied you are, there must be a bottom line for everything.
When Li Shimin heard that the palace was using money to repair the East Palace, his defense mechanism was immediately triggered.
He began to lecture Li Chengqian, saying that even father and son had to settle accounts clearly. They could talk about feelings, but never talk about money.
His remarks left Li Chengqian speechless and also stunned Empress Changsun who was standing beside him.
"Erlang, the East Palace has been in disrepair for a long time. Shouldn't it be repaired?" As a mother, of course she has to care about the place where her son lives.
Li Shimin remained unmoved:
"Guanyinbi, how could the East Palace have fallen into disrepair after so many years? Didn't the Tenth Master renovate the East Palace before?
Moreover, Old Ten has given Gao Ming a lot of money over the years. Hasn't he repaired the temple in recent years?"
Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian with questioning eyes, "What did you do with so much money?"
"Father, I did build some palaces, but..." Li Chengqian wanted to explain, but Li Shimin interrupted:
"Since it has already been repaired, there is no need to repair it again. Look at this palace, don't I live in it too?
As an emperor, you must set an example."
"But..." Li Chengqian was speechless, thinking to himself, I'm not the emperor yet, and it's true that you haven't repaired the palace, but don't you have others to help you repair it?
It's just building a house, but you say it's extravagant and licentious. What's extravagant and what's licentious about it?
Li Chengqian looked at his mother with grievance. He remembered that Li Shen had always used this trick and it always worked.
As expected, Empress Zhangsun felt distressed when she saw her son's appearance, and she argued with Li Shimin:
"Erlang, Shen'er renovated the East Palace several years ago, and not all the palaces were renovated back then.
Otherwise, why would Gao Ming catch a cold?
It’s been so long, it’s time for some repairs.”
Li Chengqian's actions had long been noticed by Li Shimin, so after hearing the queen's words, Li Shimin glared at Li Chengqian:
"You haven't learned any of Old Ten's good things, but you've picked up 70% of his bad habits. Can't you learn something good from him?"
Li Chengqian pretended not to understand and said nothing. He thought to himself, didn't you ask me to learn from him? Besides, how can he be any good?
"Guanyin Bi, Old Ten has given your son a lot of money over the years. Didn't he just say he renovated the East Palace?"
Li Shimin spoke again.
"Erlang, Shen'er did give a lot of money, but Gao Ming has also spent a lot of money to train talented people over the years.
Where has his money gone over the years? Doesn’t Erlang know?
How could he have any money now? In order to repair the temple, Gao Ming even borrowed 30,000 strings of cash from me."
Empress Changsun retorted that the two were just like an ordinary couple, arguing with each other about building a house for their eldest son.
They don't look like an emperor and empress at all.
Seeing that his beloved wife was unhappy, Li Shimin softened:
"Then...how much will it cost?" he asked cautiously.
"I don't know, Gao Ming, how much money would it cost to renovate the East Palace?" Empress Changsun shook her head and looked at Li Chengqian.
Li Chengqian quickly reported:
"Mother, if the entire Eastern Palace is to be renovated, it will cost at least 50,000 strings of cash."
"How much do you want? Fifty thousand strings of cash. Even rebuilding the East Palace doesn't cost fifty thousand strings of cash."
When Li Shimin heard the price of 50,000 strings of cash, his eyes widened immediately. It was just a matter of renovating the house, but his eldest son actually asked for 50,000 strings of cash. If you didn't know him, you would think he was the rebellious son.
"Father, many of the palaces in the East Palace are leaking, and some of the wood can no longer bear the weight.
Another temple collapsed last year.
Both the shingles and the wood needed to be replaced.
It is also necessary to build warm walls according to the drawings of the ten bases, and many places need to be renovated, and the couches inside need to be removed and replaced with kangs.
The tiles alone are a huge expense.”
Li Chengqian quickly explained that it was mainly because there were too many buildings in the East Palace.
"But this won't cost 50,000 strings of cash. The tenth prince only spent more than 30,000 strings of cash to renovate the imperial palace." Li Shimin shook his head. He felt that 50,000 strings of cash was just blackmail.
"Father, the materials aren't expensive, but the craftsmen's wages are. The craftsmen used for the palace renovation were all from my tenth brother's farm.
The labor costs are naturally paid by my tenth brother and are not included in the material costs.
If my son wants to reform the Eastern Palace, he must not conscript labor, otherwise the ministers will definitely try their best to dissuade him.
I am going to recruit the engineering team from Prince Ji's palace. They are better at repairing the palace than ordinary corvée laborers.
In the words of my tenth brother, it is called professionalism.
Their labor costs are more than the material costs."
Li Chengqian began to reason with his father.
"Erlang, I think Gao Ming is right. We can't conscript labor. Otherwise, if word gets out, people will say Gao Ming is wasting money and manpower. It's only 50,000 strings of cash. The treasury can pay for it."
After hearing her son's explanation, Empress Changsun nodded repeatedly. Her son was about to become emperor.
Is it possible that there will be any adverse effects?
Just his words of fifty thousand strings of cash almost made Li Shimin's nose crooked with anger.
"Five thousand strings of cash is all you need to pay back? Guanyinbi, why are you so arrogant like that rebellious son?
Do you know what fifty thousand strings of cash represents?
Gao Ming, you go ahead and answer it." Li Shimin threw the question to Li Chengqian, also with a hint of testing.
Li Chengqian thought for a moment and replied:
"Father, 50,000 strings of cash can support the monthly expenses of 100,000 soldiers and horses. If we buy corn, we can buy food for more than 200,000 people for a month."
"So much?" Empress Changsun was a little surprised. She was not unaware of the suffering of the people. When she led the palace to spin yarn and weave cloth, she also knew that money was hard to come by.
"Alas, maidservant Guanyin, do you still remember that after I ascended the throne, the treasury balance was less than 30,000 strings of cash?
At that time, I also wanted to renovate the palace, but I was short of money. For this reason, I streamlined the palace staff and released three thousand slaves.
You also led the concubines in the palace to spin and weave as an example. How hard were your days?
Li Shimin sighed, thinking of the hard days in the past when he had to be advised by Wei Zheng and others no matter what he did.
I can’t bear to eat or wear anything, and my life is very frustrating.
"Erlang, it was my fault. I shouldn't have forgotten those days."
Empress Changsun also realized that she was wrong.
"No, it's not your fault. It's all that rebellious son's fault. He led you astray."
(Sorry, sorry, it's a bit late. Please don't make random guesses or talk nonsense. I've been taken away.)