Tibet.

Chapter 1415: Promoting a Confidant
After discussing the currency, Zhang Li and Xiao Hua took their leave first. As the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Xiao Hua had the responsibility to formulate various rules, draft plans, implement pilot projects, etc. More importantly, he had to mint gold and silver coins. He couldn't issue the gold and silver coins of the Western Regions as those of the Tang Dynasty!

Therefore, it will take at least several months to half a year of preparation before the new currency can be issued.

Before that, the imperial court had to spend the huge amount of copper coins in its stockpile so that the people would have money and alleviate the current problem of monetary deflation.

This is the job of the Ministry of Industry, which involves dredging rivers, widening roads, building bridges, constructing granaries, building reservoirs and other water conservancy facilities, as well as increasing grain storage, increasing mining of coal and other minerals, increasing investment in technological research, and so on.

Wei Jiansu stayed behind. He paused for a moment and asked, "Your Majesty, I heard that Minister Dugu is going to resign?"

Li Ye nodded. "He is going to Lvgong Island. It will take a year to go there and back. It is impossible for him to occupy the position in the Political Affairs Hall. He must resign!"

Wei Jiansu sighed softly and said, "The problem that has troubled three dynasties has finally been solved in the hands of Your Majesty."

Wei Jiansu was referring to the Guanlong nobles. This huge power group lasted from the Northern Zhou Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty. This power group has always been a supporter of Li Ye. It can be said that Li Ye’s success today is entirely the result of the full support of the Guanlong Group, which provided a large amount of money and grain to solve his military salary.

Wei Jiansu thought that after the emperor ascended the throne, the Guanlong nobles would rise again in the Tang Dynasty. Unexpectedly, Li Ye used only one move to make the Guanlong Group disappear in the Tang Dynasty and allowed the Guanlong families to establish countries overseas. This was simply a stroke of genius!

Li Ye smiled faintly and said, "It's all about exchanging benefits. If we give them enough benefits, they will naturally give up the bottles and jars of the Tang Dynasty."

"You also need to have the vision and resources. If it were Emperor Xuanzong, how could he allow the Guanlong nobles to establish a country? Besides, he didn't have so many large uninhabited islands."

"This is the time of fortune. The fortune of the Guanlong nobles has come. They are willing to go out to sea and establish a country. Of course, I will not stop them and will help them. However, establishing a country is not that easy. It requires the hard work of several generations. Some families may come back, but they will not have a place when they come back."

Wei Jiansu hesitated for a moment and said, "I have something to ask, but I don't know if it's appropriate. If it's inappropriate, please don't be angry, Your Majesty."

Li Ye smiled and said, "My mind is not as narrow as the Prime Minister thinks. If it is really inappropriate, I can choose not to answer, but I will not be angry."

"Your Majesty, if the Dugu family completely leaves the Tang Dynasty, will it affect the status of the Empress?"

This sentence is indeed very sensitive, but Wei Jiansu still has to ask, because it involves the prince. If the queen falls, the prince might be in danger.

Li Ye smiled and said, "The Queen and I have been married for more than ten years. How could I divorce my first wife? Besides, a mother's status is based on her son, and it has nothing to do with family."

Wei Jiansu felt relieved and said quickly, "I will not ask any more questions."

Li Ye nodded, "Pei Zunqing will also resign from his position in the Political Affairs Hall. He took the initiative to propose this. His health is not good. I will give him the title of Prince's Tutor so that he can rest assured and recuperate at home. If you have time, please visit him on my behalf."

Wei Jiansu nodded and asked, "Who will take over the positions of Minister of War and Minister of Rites?"

"I have not yet made up my mind about the position of Minister of War, but I intend to promote Wang Jin, the Vice Minister of Rites, to the position of Minister of Rites."

"Wang Jin?"

Wei Jiansu was stunned for a moment, and suddenly understood that the emperor was trying to balance the Hedong gentry. Pei Zunqing was the representative of the Hedong gentry. If he went down, it would be natural for the Taiyuan Wang family to come up.

Wei Jiansu smiled and did not object.

"Your Majesty, I have disturbed you for so long. I will take my leave now!"

Li Ye smiled again and said, "Regarding the position of Minister of Rites, I suggest that Li Xun, the Deputy Observer of Longyou Road, be appointed. Prime Minister Wei, please consider it!"

Li Xun was Li Ye's cousin. In the tenth year of Tianbao, he passed the Mingjing examination and, with the help of Gao Lishi, was appointed as the chief clerk of Xianyang County. Later, he served as the magistrate of Xiangyang County, the governor of Lanzhou, and the deputy envoy of Longyou Road. He had always been Li Ye's confidant and right-hand man.

Li Ye had been looking for an opportunity to transfer him to the court. It would be best if he could get the position in one step and directly enter the Council of State as a minister. However, considering that Li Xun was only 35 years old this year, it was a little early for him to be a minister. He might as well wait for another term. When Li Mi was transferred back, Li Xun would be the minister at the same time.

At present, Li Xun has enough experience as a local official, but he has never served as an official in the imperial court. Now he should be allowed to accumulate some connections and qualifications in the imperial court.

Wei Jiansu understood the emperor's plan. He would not go against the emperor on this issue. He would cooperate with the emperor's plan. What's more, Li Xun himself was a very good person. Not only was he smart and capable, but he was also an honest official and had a very high reputation among the people.

After returning to his own court room, Wei Jiansu hesitated for a moment and ordered, "Prepare the carriage and go to Minister Pei's residence!"

Pei Zunqing accidentally fell two months ago. Although it is not a big deal for ordinary people to fall, Pei Zunqing is not an ordinary person. He is a man in his seventies, and it is a big deal for an old man to fall.

Although Pei Zunqing did not break any bones and could still come to the court to handle government affairs normally every day, the fall brought him endless sequelae. A month ago, his feet suddenly became swollen like white radishes and he could not walk. The swelling of his feet has not subsided yet. Half a month ago, he suddenly had a facial stroke and his face was paralyzed. When he tilted his head, saliva would flow directly from the corners of his mouth.

Soon after, his hands became a little out of control. Pei Zunqing was frightened and changed several imperial doctors in succession, hoping to hear some good news, but none of them favored him. To be honest, his health was in danger, and if he took care of himself quickly, he could live a few more years. If he didn't take care of his health, he would only have one or two years left.

What is more important, power or life?

If he hadn't fallen, Pei Zunqing would have definitely chosen the former, but now it's different, he began to consider the latter as more important.

He hesitated and considered it for a full ten days, but the wind broke out and he was in so much pain that he finally lost all hope.

Just yesterday morning, he submitted his resignation to the emperor.

Wei Jiansu's carriage slowly stopped in front of the gate of Pei Mansion. Pei Zunqing's eldest grandson Pei Yin had been waiting in front of the gate for a long time.

Pei Yin passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi five years ago. He served in another county for several years and was transferred back to the court last year to serve as a Yuwenlang of Baihu Hall.

"Why didn't you go to court today?" Wei Jiansu asked with a smile.

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, we are taking a break at noon, and I will return to the court immediately."

Wei Jiansu nodded, "Where's your grandfather?"

"Grandfather is waiting in the inner hall. Please follow me, Prime Minister."

Pei Yin brought Wei Jiansu to the back hall. Pei Zunqing was already sitting in the hall. He was sitting on a soft couch with a backrest and a blanket covering his legs.

"Brother Wei, I have a disability, so please forgive me for being rude!"

"You are Welcome!"

Pei Zunqing asked Wei Jiansu to sit down and had someone serve tea. Pei Yin quietly said goodbye and left.

Wei Jiansu smiled and said, "I just found out about Minister Pei's resignation yesterday when I met His Majesty today. It's quite surprising!"

Pei Zunqing smiled bitterly and said, "I am old and my body is declining. I used to refuse to accept my age, but now I know that fate is unpredictable. The harder you speak, the harder you will fall. I have developed five or six serious illnesses, so I have to accept my age."

Wei Jiansu nodded, "The emperor has accepted your resignation and will appoint you as the crown prince's tutor. Wang Jin, the minister of rites, will take over your position as minister."

"Wang Jin?"

Pei Zunqing smiled and said, "The emperor still took the interests of our Hedong family into consideration."

Wei Jiansu shook his head. "Wang Jin does not represent the interests of the Hedong family. He only represents the interests of the court. He works for the world and for the Tang Dynasty!"

"I did not mean that!"

Pei Zunqing quickly explained: "I mean that the emperor understands the feelings of the Hedong family and does not marginalize Hedong."

"Maybe a little!"

Wei Jiansu said calmly: "The key is Wang Jin's own ability. Wang Jin has led the imperial examinations for two consecutive years and completed them very successfully, which made the emperor very satisfied. In addition, his own qualifications are sufficient, so it is natural for him to take the throne this time."

Pei Zunqing felt a little unhappy. Wei Jiansu never mentioned his good leadership and only praised Wang Jin for his capable work. Was he implying that he was incompetent?

"What does Wei Xiangguo have to do today?"

Wei Jiansu laughed, "I am here to visit Master Pei on behalf of the emperor. I hope Master Pei can recover well. If you have any difficulties, please tell the government hall and we will do our best to help you."

Pei Zunqing picked up the teacup and said coldly: "Thank you for your concern, and thank you for Prime Minister Wei for coming to visit me. If you have any requests, I will speak to the Political Affairs Hall!"

(End of this chapter)