Chapter 540: What Are You Staring At? Bend Over!

The next day, Chang Chao.

At first everyone thought today would be an ordinary day; if Chen Yan didn't speak up, the ministries would probably raise some seemingly important but unnecessary matters, then adjourn, each going about their own business.

However, after the ministers performed the court ceremony today, they did not hear Wushe's usual words, "If there is a matter, present it; if not, adjourn."

Li Shimin slowly rose from his seat, one hand clasped behind his back, the other holding a folded pamphlet as he walked down.

When he reached Dai Zhou, he tilted his head slightly and said, "Minister Dai, a few days ago you quarreled with Minister Duan of the Ministry of Works, and you said you would have Minister Duan properly investigate the Ministry of Works."

"Minister Dai, do you still think that way now?"

"Of course!" Dai Zhou replied without hesitation, "To build a structure for the Imperial Examination, yet even with five hundred thousand strings of cash it remains unfinished; I simply cannot believe it!"

"If the Ministry of Works has no problem, I would gladly eat the pillars of Tai Ji Hall."

"Dai Zhou… you…"

Duan Lun suddenly flared up, about to rebuke aloud, but Li Shimin raised his hand and cut him off.

"Enough, calm yourselves!"

"What is the Court for? Isn't it simply a place to discuss state affairs?"

He said calmly, "Minister Dai, as Minister of Revenue, you repeatedly allocated funds to the Ministry of Works to construct a grand hall for the Imperial Examination. Yet after nearly a year, with support from various ministries, the Wen Ming Dian remains unfinished, and now you claim the funds are insufficient."

"You said that Minister Dai's refusal to allocate money caused the Wen Ming Dian's delay, and now you claim that there are officials in your Ministry of Works pocketing money; that too is not unheard of."

Duan Lun is not foolish; on the contrary, he is very clever.

Otherwise he wouldn't have any connection with Li Shimin, nor be able to sit in the position of a Six Ministries Minister.

Upon hearing Li Shimin's words, he instantly realized something was amiss.

Duan Lun declared firmly, "His Majesty, I am willing to lay out the detailed accounts of all expenses for the Wen Ming Dian for everyone to see; I have a clear conscience!"

"Very well!" Li Shimin stepped before him, staring intently into his eyes, "What a clear conscience!"

"Duan Lun, you may have a clear conscience, but look at those under your command… they don't seem so innocent!"

Duan Lun was slightly startled, instinctively turned his head back, and saw panic in the eyes of several of his subordinates.

"Hehe… I don't need you to bring out the so‑called accounts; I have them here. Minister Duan, you might as well look yourself."

Li Shimin casually tossed the pamphlet in his hand to Duan Lun, whose cold sweat instantly broke out as he clumsily caught it.

Indeed, Duan Lun has a clear conscience; he has never taken even a single copper coin.

But if someone under his command had tampered with things, his position would likely be at the end of the line.

After all, everyone knows how much Li Shimin values the Imperial Examination!

No one can bear responsibility for errors in constructing the Examination site!

"By the way!"

When passing Chen Yan, Li Shimin halted, "I heard that on the day Minister Chen took office, he uncovered many corrupt officials in the Ministry of Revenue; yesterday the investigation was completed, and the people and evidence were sent to Dali Temple."

"The Ministry of Revenue is like that, the Ministry of Works even more so; tell me, do the other Six Ministries and three provinces still have such people?"

These words were so heavy that a large group instantly knelt inside the hall, spouting grandiose denials, insisting there were none.

"Minister Chen, what do you think?"

Li Shimin asked.

Chen Yan straightened his back, "How else could I look? I stand and look!"

"I say this without fearing Your Majesty's ridicule: on the day I took office, I bluntly declared that a new official should light three torches, and asked the subordinates whether I should follow the precedent and also light three torches."

"If we could expose corrupt officials it would be even better, adding a merit to my record. Then immediately someone stepped forward, swearing solemnly to me that the Ministry of Revenue absolutely has no such people, even pointing to the heavens as proof."

"As a result, that day I had people identify seven or eight rotters."

"Hmm…" Li Shimin chuckled lightly, lifting his chin, gazing at the large group kneeling behind with a half‑smile.

"Minister Chen, what you say is spot on; after all, words cost nothing, no matter how vicious the oath, Heaven won't mind such trivialities, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty…"

As the ministers were about to speak, Li Shimin impatiently cut them off, strode back to his seat and sat down, his gaze like a blade fixed on the pallid Duan Lun below.

"Enough, my Minister of Works, now tell me, what kind of damn green bricks cost fifteen wen each? Then they go into the Ministry of Revenue and become earth bricks?"

"Ah!!!"

"Tell me!"

Li Shimin, having suppressed his fury all night, could no longer hold back; veins bulged on his forehead as he let out a near‑roaring howl!

Upon hearing him, the entire court erupted in a clamor!

Green bricks?

Fifteen wen a piece?

What the damn joke is this?

"Hehe…"

Dai Zhou laughed untimely, "A few days ago I already said that Minister Duan should thoroughly investigate the Ministry of Works; five hundred thousand strings of cash, a year and the Wen Ming Dian still unfinished—only you, hmm, a naive person, would think there's no problem."

"Haha… sorry, I couldn't hold back for a moment!"

Chen Yan's mouth twitched, nearly bursting into laughter.

At least you really don't take it!

"Your Majesty… I…"

"No need to continue, I don't want to hear!"

Duan Lun was about to speak when Li Shimin cut him off directly, "From today, Duan Lun is removed from the post of Minister of Works; the Dali Temple will be responsible for a thorough investigation of corruption in the Ministry of Works. The position of Minister of Works will temporarily be held by Chief of the Secretariat Wen Yanbo, Minister Wen."

He stared intently at Wen Yanbo, saying in an unmistakable tone, "Before next year's Imperial Examination, I must see the Wen Ming Dian completed and fully functional!"

"Yes! Your Majesty, the senior minister receives the order!"

Wen Yanbo naturally would not contradict Li Shimin at this moment and readily agreed.

"The other Six Ministries must also fully cooperate with the Ministry of Works; the construction of the Wen Ming Dian must not have any mistakes. Do you understand?"

The people from the other five ministries all bowed and agreed, but the Ministry of Revenue's men—why can't their waists bend?

Han Zhongliang originally wanted to bow along, but seeing Dai Zhou and Chen Yan standing still, he didn't dare to take the initiative.

Li Shimin, seeing the situation, immediately darkened his face and said, "What? Does the Ministry of Revenue have any objections?"

Dai Zhou stayed silent, and Chen Yan, grasping the situation intuitively, stepped forward, and in an instant went through all the sorrows of his two lifetimes, forcing himself to squeeze out a single tear.

"His Majesty, our Ministry of Revenue... it's suffering!"

"It's truly too bitter!"

"We were just swindled out of five hundred thousand strings, and we still have to meticulously plan the court's expenses before the autumn harvest. Now, with the Ministry of Works' situation... it's hard to say whether the embezzled money can be retrieved, and our Ministry of Revenue simply can't produce any funds."

Li Shimin's vision went black.

He truly hadn't expected that after Chen Yan took office, the first person he would beg for money from would actually be himself.

He had even previously looked forward to seeing Chen Yan and other money‑seeking people cry poverty or quarrel.

Now it's fine—first cry onto one's own head.

Li Shimin's eye corner twitched, the blue veins on his forehead subsided then swelled again, and he raged, "First take money from my imperial treasury! No need your Ministry of Revenue!"

"Ah, fine then, I have no problem!"

"...... What are you still standing there for? Bend over!"

Li Shimin: "......"

Damn it!

"......"