Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 361: The Night Banquet of a Rich Family (Part )

"What does the prince mean by this? Is he just reminding me, or is he reminding every prince who is mourning?"

After returning to his residence in Jingyang County, Yong Wang Li Lin paced in the study while asking Gao Shang beside him. "Condolences" to the Crown Princess are just a pretense. The real reason why Li Long did this is to convey the news!
After returning home, Li Lin's mind turned around and she realized that this matter was not simple.

He had no doubt that what was written on the note was true, but why Li Chen did this was still hard to think about.

"Your Highness, the prince is just doing this to divert trouble to the east and let the kings take action first, while he is behind."

Gao Shang read the note in his hand again and again. There were only sixteen words in total, not one more!

Damn Li Chen, if you write a few more words, you will die. You have to be the Riddler!

Gao Shang scolded Li Xuan half to death in his heart, but he had to admit that this prince whose life was precarious and whose status was in jeopardy was far more intelligent than Yong Wang.

But what's the use of being smart?
He has to be a loser like Li Lin to obey his words. If you change it to a smart one, it will be difficult to manipulate!

"Is this really the case? However, the prince has no soldiers and not even a few staff. When he meets his staff on weekdays, he has to report to the saint, which is like sitting in prison.

Seeing Li Lin's confused look, Gao Shang wanted to step forward and give him a few slaps!

If he said that Li Xuan had the intention to kill the emperor, he believed it. But with Li Chen's little strength, dealing with Brother Ji is like hitting an egg with a stone. Is he worthy?
What is he planning?

"Your Highness, the crown prince himself is Li Han's greatest asset. As long as the emperor suddenly dies, he will have great justice in his hands and have much more room for maneuver than your highness. He will have troops and horses hiding in the Shence Army camp.

Li Chen wants the oriole behind him, is he worthy? I still have some domestic slaves that I can use! "

As long as you are sick, there are always clues to follow. Your Highness will just observe carefully when the time comes.

What does it mean that Li Chen has no capital? The position of the prince itself is the biggest capital! This is the legal heir to the Tang Empire!

“In a few days, it will be the saint’s birthday banquet.

Although the invitation has not yet been sent, the fact that the prince did not attend the saint's birthday banquet can prove that what Li Xuan said is true.

If you invite kings to a birthday banquet, you can carefully observe the saint's manners.

And how difficult it is for an ordinary prince to place confidants among the top leaders of the Shence Army! Only mutiny can compete with Li Long.

Gao Shang explained heartbrokenly, and then Li Lin suddenly realized.

Gao Shang was completely speechless with Li Lin, a wooden fish head.

This is where Li Lin feels confused.

When the emperor died, the prince automatically became the emperor. There will be countless people who want to follow the dragon's power and will follow him to protect him!

Li Lin's tone was urgent, even impatient.

"Yes, yes, I think so too. So, how should we deal with it now? Should we just pretend that nothing has happened?"

It’s still unclear who will win!

Isn't Li Chen's move just to let the kings test it first? "

Of course, private bribery does not count. However, the prince only has a great reputation and does not have much private money in his hands. How can he bribe his cronies?

Then just win over the courtiers step by step and form a new court center.

Li Lin asked with some confusion. Even though Li Chen was the prince, he didn't even have a single soldier under his control. The Shence Army guarding the East Palace are all private armies controlled by the Emperor!

If His Highness wants to explore the impact of this matter, he must first confirm the authenticity of this matter, otherwise it will be meaningless. "

Gao Shang said calmly.

"Indeed."

Li Lin nodded slightly and said.

Whether the emperor is "terminally ill" or not must be confirmed with his own eyes. But it is true as Gao Shang said, if the emperor does not invite princes like Li Lin to the banquet, it would be contrary to human ethics and weird, but it would actually prove Li Xuan's statement.

"Your Highness, the saint sent someone to deliver the invitation. A birthday banquet will be held in Huaqing Palace in three days. The eunuch who sent the invitation has already left."

Just as Li Lin was discussing important matters with Gao Shang, a eunuch outside the study reminded him.

"There is indeed something wrong with that old immortal!"

Li Lin looked excited, clenched her fists tightly and said!
If there was no evil in his heart, why did the eunuch who delivered the order throw away the invitation and leave? This must be because they are worried that the kings will ask the person who sent the invitation in turn, and they are afraid that any secrets will be discovered.

"Your Highness, this matter is of great importance. I think it is necessary to send someone to Youzhou. I believe this news will change the minds of some Jiedu envoys."

Gao Shang threw out his trump card.

Originally, he had already negotiated with An Lushan, but the man actually died on the road. But over in Youzhou, is there only Anlu Mountain?
The news that the emperor was seriously ill was enough to make many ambitious people restless. After all, who wouldn’t want to be a dragon?
"There's no rush, we'll talk about it after the banquet."

Li Lin waved her hand gently, still feeling that the noble idea was too radical.

Leading the border troops into Chang'an is the same as when Dong Zhuo entered Luoyang. What this actually means is self-evident.

If there were imperial troops available, who would be willing to lure the border troops to help him in his coup?
Li Lin does not look very smart, but after all, he was tricked by King Shou once, and he gained some experience.

He colluded with An Lushan before because he knew that An Lushan also needed a backer. More importantly, Li Lin at that time understood very well how long the emperor could live. This variable was too big.

If he doesn't lead the border troops into Chang'an to take a gamble, he will never have a chance, and the people's hearts and righteousness are not on his side.

Now times have changed, and if the emperor gets sick, does that mean... In fact, we don't have to be so radical, and we can think of other ways?
Li Lin had already made up his mind. He decided to observe it first at the emperor's birthday banquet.

However, what Li Lin didn't know was that stories similar to his were still happening to other adult princes. Like Li Lin, these princes also found their trusted advisers to discuss countermeasures.

Some people are confused and don’t know how to deal with it;

There are also people who think more than Li Lin, and have even implemented some key things.

Not surprisingly, they all received invitations from the Emperor and must come to Huaqing Palace for a banquet in three days.

Among Ji Ge's disciples, only Prince Li Chen did not receive the invitation. …

Three days passed by in a flash. Generally speaking, the situation in Chang'an City was calm during these three days, but a big event still happened!
A major matter related to people's livelihood!

At the beginning, the imperial court proposed "Jiaozi Loan" to provide start-up capital for poor farmers. The farmers used the money to buy farm tools and grain to express their gratitude for Jigo's kindness. The court was considerate of the people.

However, now that the autumn harvest is here, farmers need to exchange their grain for Jiaozi according to the "government-guided price" when they signed the contract, and then use the Jiaozi to repay their debts, thus completing the entire process.

However, the situation today is completely different from what it was back then.

The value of Jiaozi in Chang'an has greatly depreciated. Homeowners who have grain in hand and even landlords who have borrowed Qingmiao loans can exchange a small part of the grain for Jiaozi to repay the debt and keep the rest for their own use.

This is tantamount to taking advantage of the government.

Therefore, all prefectures and counties in Guanzhong, as long as they implemented the "Green Crops Law", refused to accept Chang'an Jiaozi. Instead, they forced farmers and even some large landowners to complete the transaction in accordance with the contract and hand over the grain, and then the government would give it to them. Chang'an Jiaozi.

Then these people take the Jiaozi to pay off their debts.

In other words, you can use Jiaozi to repay Qingmiao Loan, but you cannot directly use Changan Jiaozi to repay it. You must have a "document" for the handover of grain to do this!
To be fair, the government has its own considerations, and they have good reasons.

When I lent you Jiaozi, I signed a contract. Now that the autumn harvest is here, just follow the contract and whatever the price is, you want to repay the debt at the market price, which is obviously a violation of the contract. Do you want to rebel?
But farmers and some landowners also have something to say.

If I sell this grain in Chang'an City, I can settle the accounts in minutes and still have a lot more leftover. Wouldn't it be good if I use it to buy some things for my home and save some money for emergencies?
Why should I suffer the loss of being dumb?

The benefits are in front of you, so the contract is nothing! That piece of paper is too hard to wipe your butt!

If you talk about a contract or something, I’ll just say: I won’t listen! Do not listen! I won't listen!
As if someone was secretly instigating them, farmers from all over Guanzhong petitioned in groups in front of local government offices and county offices, sitting in meditation every day, asking the court to allow them to sell grain at the Chang'an market and then hand over the grain to Chang'an. The money is used to repay the Qingmiao loan!
If they don't agree, they won't let the local government work normally!
These people were unable to stop or persuade them to leave, and there were even many local big players who quietly added fuel to the flames!

In fact, this is also easy to understand.

Many big households have secretly planned that as long as the imperial court is willing to open this hole, they can buy the Chang'an Jiaozi that no one wants at a low price in Chang'an City, and then use these Jiaozi to buy grain at a "high price" from the farmers. , let these people take Chang'an Jiaozi to repay the Qingmiao loan.

This is equivalent to local large households and farmers gathering the government's wool together. The imperial court suffered a loss, and the wealthy people became good people, so why not?

For a time, there was a raging public sentiment in various parts of Guanzhong, and there was even a strange incident where farmers organized themselves to attack the county government.

When Brother Ji in Huaqing Palace heard about these nonsense, he cursed the peasants who were making trouble as ungrateful and ignorant of praise! But for a while, he couldn't think of any good solution. Apart from sending troops to suppress it, there seemed to be no other good solution.

After all, there are real interests involved. In the eyes of the powerful, a few dozen guan is just the cost of a meal, but in the eyes of the peasants, this money can be spent for several years.

Just don’t let it go if the government says you don’t want it?
The people who were usually very "reasonable" suddenly became "unreasonable". It was obvious that they did not abide by the contract!
Brother Ji was full of irritability, and his birthday party was in front of him. He had no interest in government affairs at all, so he threw this burden to the right prime minister Li Linfu!

Now Ji Ge's life is just one day at a time, and he doesn't want to spend time dealing with these annoying things at all. Those unscrupulous people don't abide by the contract, are they still justified?

Brother Ji gave Li Linfu a fatal order: There must be no trouble in the autumn harvest this year, no matter what method is used! If something goes wrong, then you, the Right Prime Minister, don’t do anything!
After Li Linfu got the news, he was also confused.

When this "Young Seedling Law" was first introduced, the response was indeed excellent. Farmers took low-interest loans and purchased farm tools, grain and other necessities under the supervision and coordination of local governments. This move made the economy of Guanzhong region more prosperous.

If you have money, you can stimulate consumption. With consumption, prosperity can be created.

Li Linfu understood this truth, but what he didn't understand was that Chang'an Jiaozi depreciated too fast! It’s almost time for the policy to fail to keep up with the changes!

What was policy honey at the beginning has now become policy arsenic. The farmers who got the benefits now want them to suffer a loss and fulfill their contracts. As a result, these people quit working altogether!

In desperation, Li Linfu had no choice but to call Liu Yan, the director of the household department to Zisi, to discuss countermeasures.

"Nowadays, the public sentiment is raging, and the truth is that I am helpless. I dare to ask Liu Sicao what good strategy he has?
I can't count on Taifu Yin Yang Shenjin. I have high hopes for you. "

In a small study room in Li Linfu's house in Pingkangfang, Li Linfu looked at Liu Yan with a smile and asked, making tea for him personally. Liu Yan looked flattered.

"Right Prime Minister, because of your despicable position, the consequences of breaking the contract will be endless, and this trend cannot last long. Once this hole is opened, what we will face will not be those farmers, but a large number of opportunistic landlords."

Liu Yan took the teacup handed over by Li Linfu and replied carefully.

"Don't you know the truth of the situation you mentioned? But is there a plan?"

Li Linfu looked at Liu Yan with burning eyes and asked.

"Right Prime Minister, you can let the people sell grain and fodder in Chang'an. However, the government only accepts Hexi Jiaozi, not Chang'an Jiaozi. When the contract was signed, it didn't say what kind of Jiaozi must be used to repay the debt, right?

How much money you borrow, how much money you pay back, this is a matter of course. The imperial court is considerate of the people, and the common people should also know the difficulties of the imperial court. "

Liu Yan suggested in a low voice.

Li Linfu nodded slightly, and then he thought of something and asked Liu Yan: "Why doesn't the imperial court take back the right to publish Hexi Jiaozi? It won't be a problem to print Hexi Jiaozi and send it to Liangzhou for distribution."

"Right Minister, if this matter is done, Hexi Jiaozi will definitely depreciate significantly. When the time comes to trade with Hu merchants from the Western Regions, we will be weak. And once Hexi Jiaozi becomes the next Chang'an Jiaozi, Hexi Jiaozi will What to do if the border troops mutiny?
If Jiaozi does not communicate with each other, it will actually burn down the forest and cut off the fire! With the barrier, chaos in one place would not lead to chaos in the whole country. I thought it was necessary to preserve the independence of Hexi Jiaozi.

I have recently been thinking about Jiaozi's reform strategy, and will report it to the Prime Minister after the idea is complete. Hexi Jiaozi will be used temporarily to solve the urgent need.

The reputation of Chang'an Jiaozi is getting bad day by day, so it is probably inevitable to abolish it and replace it with a new one. "

Liu Yan tried his best to describe his method to Li Linfu in more euphemistic terms.

His method is simple and simple, which is to use Hexi Jiaozi, which is relatively stable in value, as an official currency substitute. Farmers are allowed to sell grain in the Chang'an market, but they must hand over Hexi Jiaozi.

Or just follow the court's approach and use "internal digestion" to settle the accounts with grain.

No matter how you choose, there are only two paths.

If the imperial court has given a solution, and there are still people who want to take advantage of the situation, they are just unruly people. Don't blame Shen Cejun for beating him with an iron fist and it hurts!
"Well, this method may be a try. Have you really thought about what the new Chang'an Jiaozi will be? Changing the soup without changing the medicine is useless. If the saint blames you, you and I will be in bad luck."

Li Linfu sighed helplessly and couldn't help but remind Liu Yan.

It’s not just Changan Jiaozi who is having problems now!
The sharp depreciation of Jiaozi was essentially a result of the frantic plundering and plundering of wealth by the imperial court. If there is no restructuring, the new "Chang'an Jiaozi" will still follow the old path! What will be damaged then is the institutional dignity of the imperial court!

"Please rest assured, Prime Minister, I have found a solution and I will not let you down."

Liu Yan crossed his hands and saluted confidently.

(End of this chapter)