Chapter 39: Defying Wei Zheng, Li Shimin Smiled

Li Shimin glared at Wei Zheng, but didn't say anything.

Chen Yan looked at this bickering couple and found it somewhat amusing.

Wei Zheng, he truly is Li Shimin's nemesis.

Afterwards he didn't delay, continuing: "His Majesty, after pacifying the realm, the Tang Dynasty was newly established."

"The Retired Emperor perfected the Three Provinces and Six Ministries, implemented the Equal-Field System and the rent-labor-tax system, lightened corvée and taxes, and encouraged the people to reclaim wasteland."

"Only then did the people's lives become a bit easier."

"However, good times didn't last; in recent years, various natural and man-made disasters continued—great drought, heavy snow, locust plagues—coming one after another."

"To survive, the people could only sell their children, their daughters, and their land."

"At this time, the people's Risk Resistance Ability had dropped to a negligible level."

"They lived in leaky thatched huts, wore tattered hemp clothes, had no stored grain, and any slight crisis could instantly destroy their lives and sweep away their families."

"This is what is called Risk Resistance Ability."

Having said that, Chen Yan let out a light sigh and continued: "As for why I say the method of raising pigs cannot be announced to the world, it's because the people simply won't believe us—or dare not believe us."

"Raising pigs is simple, but raising a pig takes at least a year."

"We raise pigs with servants to help, needing no worry, but the people don't have that—they must build pigpens themselves, spend time daily cutting grass to feed them, and constantly worry about the pigs being stolen."

"Your Majesty, do you think the people can bear this risk?"

His words left everyone present silent.

Even Qing'er, bringing two maidservants in to serve them tea, saw no one drink.

Xiao Sizi knew not to disturb the adults' conversation, so she quietly leaned in Empress Changsun's arms, neither crying nor making noise.

Li Shimin looked at the roasted tea before him, which he used to be reluctant to drink, and felt a myriad of emotions.

Chen Yan explained it very clearly; he finally understood why raising pigs, clearly a good thing, could not yet be announced to the world.

Just as Chen Yan said, the people now cannot bear even the slightest risk.

Raising pigs is indeed simple, but simplicity does not mean no care is needed.

The people dare not spare any time from tending their fields to look after a livestock animal.

Because they dare not gamble, and cannot afford to.

Wei Zheng said in a deep voice: "With so many people under heaven, surely someone will be willing to try; then we only need to wait until next year when those who tried reap their results, and the people will know we didn't deceive them, right?"

"Naive!" Chen Yan snorted after hearing that.

Wei Zheng flew into a rage: "How am I being naive?"

"How vast our Tang is, how numerous the people!"

"A single method of raising pigs, I simply don't believe that no one would dare to try it!"

"That's why you're naive!" Chen Yan mocked: "Lord Wei, believe it or not, if the method of raising pigs is announced to the world, those who raise pigs will certainly not be the common folk."

"It will be the meritorious nobles, those merchants, and even the clans!"

"They will raise the price of piglets, then raise them on a large scale; when the piglets grow into big pigs next year, they will sell the pork at high prices, making a fortune."

"You......" Wei Zheng said, sticking out his neck: "This is merely your speculation; nothing has happened yet, so no one knows how it will turn out."

"You, a mere yellow-mouthed brat, how dare you rashly judge state affairs?!"

"But it is precisely this yellow-mouthed brat's method of raising pigs." Chen Yan sneered: "Not only that, I also improved the salt-making method, turning the toxic salt mines that everyone avoids like snakes and scorpions into fine salt better than green salt."

"From now on, the people will be able to eat better, cheaper, and cleaner salt."

"I don't know, Lord Wei, what do you think of this yellow-mouthed brat?"

Those two sentences left Wei Zheng utterly unable to refute.

Regarding the fine salt matter, Li Shimin had already, on the day Chen Yan presented his salt-making method, invited his trusted ministers to discuss what to do.

Wei Zheng naturally knew about this.

He had even heard Li Shimin say that when Chen Yan presented his salt-making method, he only mentioned one request.

That Li Shimin not use salt to extort wealth.

So that all Tang people could afford fine salt.

He could not help but acknowledge that Chen Yan had made an indelible merit to the Tang Dynasty and to all the people under heaven.

Therefore, he could not possibly refute Chen Yan's words.

"Lord Wei, at the very least, this yellow-mouthed brat has actually done something good for the people, made a tiny contribution."

"I don't know...... how does this compare to the glorious reputation you, Lord Wei, have earned time and again by risking your life?"

Chen Yan did not conceal the mockery in his words at all.

To be honest, he doesn't really dislike Wei Zheng, and even feels a bit of admiration for him.

But, Wei Zheng unexpectedly sprayed his criticism onto him.

So don't blame him for being impolite.

"......"

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling's faces were quite strange.

The glorious reputation earned by risking one's life...... isn't that exactly what Wei Zheng has been spraying at Li Shimin time and again?

To be honest, the two of them felt like laughing.

After all, Wei Zheng's relationships are terrible; everyone has been sprayed by him, and now seeing him suffer a setback, the two naturally feel relieved.

Of course, the one who feels most relieved is Li Shimin.

Although it wasn't him who made Wei Zheng suffer a setback, Chen Yan is his son-in-law.

If the father-in-law has suffered a setback, what's wrong with the son-in-law going to regain face?

Nothing wrong with that!

Li Shimin glanced at Wei Zheng teasingly, the pride on his face impossible to conceal.

Empress Changsun actually wanted to laugh as well, but seeing Li Shimin so pleased, she suddenly felt torn between laughter and tears.

She quickly patted her husband's hand in secret, reminding him to be careful.

Seeing Wei Zheng's face flush red, on the verge of bursting with anger, Li Shimin gave a dry cough and hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Cough... Beloved Minister Wei, Zi An is still young, his temper is a bit fiery."

"You are fifty years old; don't quarrel with him, and don't take his words to heart."

"Besides, Beloved Minister Wei's achievements are evident to all; who in the court doesn't know them?"

"Right?"

Saying this, Li Shimin gave a glance to Chang Sun Wujie and Fang Xuanling.

The two understood each other implicitly.

Chang Sun Wujie immediately spoke up to soothe him: "Lord Wei, calm down; His Majesty is right—who doesn't acknowledge your achievements?"

"Don't take to heart what the Marquis of Weinan said; he's still just a child."

Fang Xuanling said: "Exactly, Lord Wei; besides, the Marquis of Weinan was originally debating with you whether to announce the pig-raising method to the world—isn't it normal to bring such a matter to the court?"

"But you, on the other hand, just blurt out that he's an inexperienced youth, unqualified to decide major state affairs."

"If you ask me, you shouldn't be angry either, after all, you were in the wrong first."

Wei Zheng's mouth twitched slightly, and veins bulged faintly on his forehead.

Were these three people comforting him, or mocking him?

Why do their words feel so off?

At least, the three had nonetheless offered him a way out.

After a moment of thought, Wei Zheng flicked his sleeve, let out a "hum", and fell silent.

Mainly, the more he pondered Chen Yan's words, the more he felt Chen Yan was right.

Those meritorious nobles, wealthy merchants, landowners, and even aristocratic families would certainly do something like this.

They would not miss any opportunity to bleed the common people dry.

If the pig-raising method were actually released, it would surely be no blessing for the common people.

"..."