this novel is healthy

Chapter 1614: March Doesn’t Know the Taste of Meat
[PS: My nephews are all here today. There are more than eight children, so I can’t write, so I can only update twice.]

"This bitch... doesn't she know how to sympathize with the people? I had the plan for this Mingtang back then, but building such a wonder would require at least 30,000 civilians over five years to complete. This bitch has completely ignored the people!" Seeing this magnificent Mingtang, Li Shimin's face not only showed no joy, but became even angrier.

When Li Zhi saw the Mingtang, his face showed some joy. He obviously admired this wonder very much. Until Zhangsun Wuji beside him suddenly said leisurely, "Your Highness, I have already investigated in advance. This Mingtang cost a total of 1980 million strings of cash, took a total of two years, and mobilized 9 civilians to complete it!"

"1 million strings of cash?" Li Zhi was stunned when he heard this number. He said in disbelief, "When my father was in power, the highest annual income was only 980 million. This bitch spent the equivalent of three years' income of the whole country to build the Mingtang. Where did she get so much money?"

"These are all what you saved!" Changsun Wuji said happily.

"I saved it?" Li Zhi was stunned again!
"Yes! Didn't it say in the novel? When you were in power, the area surrounding the Great Tang was very unstable. First, there was the rebellion of Goguryeo, then there were the Tubo, Tuyuhun, Turks, and Khitans. You established the Four Anxi Towns to deter these foreign vassals."

"Among these enemies, the most powerful is Tubo, which has posed a serious threat to the borders of our Tang Dynasty. So you have been planning to launch a large-scale campaign against Tubo so that future generations of Tang Dynasty will no longer face such a threat! So, Your Highness, you have been frugal for more than ten years, practicing strict economy, and raising funds from various sources. In the end, you saved more than 3000 million strings of cash to use against Tubo."

"Your Highness, I have to admit that you are exactly like His Majesty in some aspects. You are both so far-sighted and can see future threats. However, the terrain and climate of Tibet are very complicated. Several military operations were hastily concluded, and there was no opportunity for exposure within Tibet. Therefore, until the moment of your death, the money was not spent."

"Now... it is used to build the Mingtang!"

"You mean... the money used to build the Mingtang was all saved by this prince with great difficulty to ensure the long-term stability of the Tang Dynasty!" Li Zhi's face turned red at this moment, and the next moment Zhangsun Wuji continued, "Yes! But I heard that it was not necessary to spend so much money. 9 civilians were conscripted, and each civilian was paid 20 strings of cash a year. In two years, it would be 40 strings of cash, a total of 360 million strings of cash!"

"As for the materials used to build the Mingtang, although I don't know how much these materials cost, I have built many projects over the years and have summed up one experience, that is, for a large-scale construction project like this, the money spent on various materials will definitely not exceed the cost of the laborers."

"That is to say, the entire project cost only 720 million guan at most!"

"What? 720 million strings of cash? Didn't you just say that the total amount spent was 1 million strings of cash?" Li Zhi was confused again.

"Yes, so the 1260 million strings of cash were, as expected, embezzled by officials at all levels and officials in charge of the construction project!" Zhang Sun Wuji sighed, "Alas, 720 would have been enough, but they spent three times the price. Poor people of the Tang Dynasty!"

"Who is this corrupt official who has made great contributions to the country? How dare he embezzle my money like this!" When Li Zhi said this, he gritted his teeth.

"Oh, Your Highness, you know this man. He is Xue Huaiyi, the monk Xue, who was in the bed of that bitch yesterday!" After Changsun Wuji finished speaking, he quickly followed Li Shimin, leaving Li Zhi alone there, going crazy and wanting to die... My wife uses my money to support her lover... It's not enough that she cheated on me, she also uses my money to support a man!

At this moment, Li Zhi's combat effectiveness increased by at least 10 times.

"Hmph, little slave, don't blame your uncle for not forgiving you. You just wore a green hat, but your uncle lost his life!" Changsun Wuji laughed happily, leaving Li Zhi still going crazy. Fortunately, Li Shimin discovered the abnormality in time and asked Li Chengqian and Li Tai to take this unlucky brother into the Mingtang together.

Compared with the outside, the Mingtang was even more magnificent and majestic, but Li Shimin paid no attention to those. There was only one person in his eyes, and that was the old woman who was standing high at the highest point of the Mingtang, overlooking the entire Mingtang, wearing a golden dragon robe and also exuding a strong imperial aura.

"Wu Cairen, long time no see!" Li Shimin stared at the woman for a long time. In his impression, Wu Cairen was still a bright young girl. Only their appearance vaguely matched that of the old man in his sixties.

Li Shimin never dreamed that his kingdom would actually be taken away by this woman.

At this time, the entire coronation ceremony had already begun, and the musicians started playing music.

Music has always been a very important part of the entire coronation ceremony. When a new emperor ascends the throne, there must be optimistic playing of Shao music, which is the court music passed down since ancient times.

It is said that Shao music was first created by Ling Lun, a musician under Emperor Huangdi, who was inspired by the heaven and earth. A total of 48 different musical instruments were used to play different pieces of heaven and earth music to please the heaven and earth.

In this way, the emperor can also receive the blessing of heaven and earth, and his rule will be forever stable.

In addition to music, there will also be corresponding dances and poems, achieving the level of integration of music, dance and poetry.

It is said that the entire Shao music has been passed down in a very orderly manner since the period of the Three Emperors. Even after experiencing the changes of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, it has still been preserved intact.

In the Zhou Dynasty, the ancestors of Chen State were music officials who were responsible for playing Shao music. Later, Chen State was destroyed and Chen Wan, the prince of Chen State, fled to Qi State. More than 100 years later, Confucius, who was passing by Qi State, had the honor of appreciating Shao music at Gao Zhaozi's house and exclaimed, "I never thought that music could be so good!"

Later, his disciples asked him how he felt after listening to Shao music. Confucius replied, "After learning it, I have not tasted meat for three months."

By the way, later on, the descendants of the State of Chen usurped the throne of the State of Qi. This is the famous story of the Tian family replacing the State of Qi.

Later, although it is said that Shao music has been passed down in an orderly manner, even in the Tang Dynasty, it was still the Shao music that Confucius had listened to.

Regardless of whether it is true or not, it is a pity that after the Song Dynasty, after being damaged by the Yuan Dynasty, the orthodox Shao music was eventually completely lost, leaving only the famous saying "One does not taste meat for three months."

(End of this chapter)