Li Shimin looked at the officials below and said softly, "You are excused."
"Your Majesty, I have been on the throne for less than half a year, and the court's affairs have been greatly aided by all of you. Today, I thank all of you, my esteemed ministers."
"We dare not, it is our duty to assist Your Majesty! It is our duty!"
The hundred officials bowed again.
After the pleasantries, Li Shimin began to discuss court matters at length.
To Fang Er, this was akin to playing the lute to a cow.
As there was a pillar behind him, he leaned against it and narrowed his eyes.
He had just seen a woman in his dream and before he could greet her, he felt someone tugging at his clothes.
He opened his eyes and saw Cheng Yaojin.
"Brother, His Majesty is talking to you."
Fang Er quickly looked towards Li Shimin.
"Zhi Guo Cavalry Commander Fang Anzhi."
"Your subject is here."
Fang Er quickly responded and walked to the front of the officials, awaiting their questions.
"The matter of national debt was your idea, explain to everyone the benefits of it."
"Damn it, how many times have I said this?"
"Once in the Eastern Palace."
"Once in the Ministry of Revenue."
"Are they treating me like a broken record?"
Helpless, Fang Er had to explain it again in front of the civil and military officials.
After he finished, discussions began below.
"Your Majesty, I believe this move is excellent! It can solve the problem of the empty national treasury and also allow the money in the hands of the people to circulate. Therefore, it is excellent!"
Wei Zheng, who usually opposed Li Shimin, unexpectedly stood up and expressed his agreement.
"Oh? I thought you would object. this is truly beyond my expectation."
Li Shimin looked at him with surprise.
"Your Majesty's words carry the implication of attacking the heart. I have never been dissatisfied with Your Majesty, I merely express my own views. If it is good, it is good; if it is bad, it is bad."
Wei Zheng felt very wronged.
"I just wanted to make a statement! Do you have to target me like this!"
"Is there anyone else with a different opinion?"
Li Er nodded at Wei Zheng and then looked at the others.
"Your Majesty, I believe this move is inappropriate!"
A minister stepped out from the crowd, expressing his objection.
Li Er frowned slightly.
This person was an informant from one of the Five Great Clans and Seven Noble Houses, installed in the imperial court. He was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Cui Hao, from the Cui Clan of Qinghe!
"Are they afraid of harming their interests?"
"Cui Hao! State your opinion."
"Replying to Your Majesty, firstly, this move smacks of appropriating the wealth of the people."
"Secondly, this move might lead to a large number of people abandoning farming to engage in commerce, neglecting production!"
"Thirdly, if the war is unfavorable, it might lead to ridicule and damage Your Majesty's noble reputation."
"Fourthly, if this move were to spread, it might displease the surrounding countries. Once they unite to attack, the Tang Dynasty will be in peril! I implore Your Majesty to reconsider!"
This fellow listed four reasons in a pedantic manner.
Fang Er was almost infuriated listening to him!
"What the heck!"
"I've already spent three hundred thousand guan on this matter, who the hell do you think you are!"
And so.
Fang Er directly fired at him.
"May I ask, sir, what is your official rank? What is your position? What is your background?"
"Presumptuous! You are merely a seventh-rank cavalry commander, are you questioning me?"
Cui Hao did not expect Fang Er to dare to jump out.
"Cui Hao, answer him!"
Li Er stood on Fang Er's side, very cooperatively.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I am of the third rank, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, from the Cui Clan of Qinghe!"
Li Er's words displeased Cui Hao, and he glared at Fang Er fiercely.
"Oh! So you are from a prestigious family! No wonder! No wonder!"
Fang Er deliberately glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
Cui Hao instantly became furious.
"Kid! Explain yourself clearly! No wonder what? And if you look at me like that again, beware of me not being polite!"
"Oh~~~! So scary!"
"As the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, you are in charge of our Tang Dynasty's household registration, taxation, and corvee. May I ask, sir, how many households, how many males, how many people, how many merchants are there in our Tang Dynasty, how much tax is collected annually, and what are the expenses of the national treasury!"
Fang Er's expression changed, and he sternly questioned Cui Hao.
"I, I, this official~~~!"
Cui Hao was about to speak but was immediately interrupted by Fang Er.
"As the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, you cannot even answer these questions. Who gave you the courage to comment on the national debt!"
"Fang also asks you, last year's great drought, how many people were affected in various regions? How many people starved to death? What was the price of grain in Chang'an? What was the price of grain in the prosperous southern regions!"
Fang Er pointed at Cui Hao's nose and unleashed a barrage of fatal questions.
Cui Hao was stunned!
He had obtained his position through the power of his family. It wasn't just him; others from noble families were the same!
Normally, during his duty, he would either be drinking or with women. How could he possibly answer these questions?
It would have been fine if he couldn't answer on ordinary days.
But damn it, this was a grand court assembly!
If he couldn't answer, it wouldn't just be his own face that would be lost, but the face of the Cui Clan of Qinghe!
He had never imagined that someone would show such disrespect to the Cui Clan!
After thinking for a long time, he couldn't answer anything.
Looking at Li Er's stern expression, large beads of sweat began to seep from Cui Hao's forehead.
"Cui Hao! I also want to hear your answer, speak!"
Li Er pounded the dragon throne, walked to Cui Hao, and stared intently at him.
"Replying to Your Majesty, I, I, I, I do not know!"
Cui Hao's legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the ground.
"Guards! Drag this incompetent fellow away! Dismiss him from his post and investigate him!"
Li Er kicked Cui Hao away, walked up the imperial steps without looking back, sat on the dragon throne, and looked at the officials.
"Who among you can answer the questions from just now?"
Wei Zheng felt a surge of relief!
"My goodness!"
"I'm truly a clever ghost!"
"Fortunately, I didn't object, otherwise, my reputation for a lifetime would be ruined!"
The officials looked at each other, dumbfounded!
"Good heavens! Even the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue couldn't figure this out, how can we outsiders answer it?"
"Duke Fang, you answer!" Li Shimin said to Fang Xuanling when no one spoke.
"Replying to Your Majesty, our Tang Dynasty currently has 3.04 million households, a population of 12.35 million, approximately 4 million males, and less than 500,000 merchants."
"Last year's annual tax revenue was 19 million guan, and the national treasury expenditure was 20 million guan!"
"Last year's great drought, the reported affected population was approximately 1.7 million, and the number of those who starved to death cannot be calculated!"
"Currently, the price of rice in Chang'an is two guan per dan, wheat is one guan and five hundred qian per dan, and millet is no longer being sold!"
Fang Xuanling, as if reciting from memory, summarized the current situation of the Tang Dynasty with numbers, thus answering Fang Er's previous questions.
"Did everyone hear clearly?"
"This is the current situation! Is there anyone else who opposes national debt? Step forward and state your reasons!"
Li Er glared at the officials below.
The people from other noble families below dared not utter a sound.
"Damn it!"
"If they step forward to object, they will probably be subjected to another barrage of fatal questions from that Fang Er!"
"This fellow should be called Fang Da Pao (Cannon Fang) instead of Fang Er!"