Chapter 602: First Court Session So Thrilling?

"He uses the money that the common people have deposited in the Money Shop, then lends that portion of funds back to the common people. Does this even need to be questioned?"

Dou Dan, knowing that Kang Chong works for Chen Yan, cares not at all and coldly says, "Using the money the common people deposit and then lending it back to them—what a masterful calculation!"

"How is this different from those landlords who prey on the common people?"

Kang Chong, unhurried, replies, "But Grand Secretary, are you aware of the Money Shop's interest rate? Do you also know why so many people deposit money there, and why some deposit tens of thousands of strings at once?"

"You don't know!"

He says to himself, "If the Grand Secretary's Money Shop, like the landlords, takes nine parts and returns thirteen, you could call it usury."

"But the Money Shop's loans—borrowing a hundred wen, the yearly interest is merely ten wen. If that's usury, then the landlords you mentioned should have their entire clan implicated, shouldn't they?"

Kang Chong chuckles, "Allow me another analogy: a destitute commoner borrows a jin of grain from the Money Shop; after a year, the interest owed is less than a handful."

"Do you consider this usury?"

Dou Dan's expression hardened, "So you mean Grand Secretary Chen is still doing a good deed, thinking of the common people?"

"I don't mean that," Kang Chong says slowly, shaking his head. "Let me continue: you accuse Grand Secretary Chen of deceiving the Crown Prince, using the royal name to reap profit."

"Before bringing this up, have you understood that the common people who deposit money actually profit as well?"

"You claim Grand Secretary Chen's Money Shop extorts wealth, taking over ten million strings, yet according to the Money Shop's rules, depositing ten million strings—without doing anything—entitles the depositor to five hundred thousand strings of interest each year."

"If not for this rule, Grand Secretary Dou, why would so many commoners, wealthy merchants, even noble families rush to deposit money?"

Dou Dan refuses to bite, becoming even more brazen, "So that's the crux: he deceives the common people into depositing money with high interest, then lends it back at an even higher rate!"

"Isn't this a case of competing with the people for profit?"

"Moreover, he also leverages…"

"Enough!" Li Shimin suddenly interjects, cutting Dou Dan off.

"His Majesty…"

"No need to say more!" Li Shimin sits down, his gaze icy, "The Money Shop was established by me!"

"Rather than saying Chen Yan deceived the Crown Prince, it's more accurate to say Chen Yan deceived me!"

"The profit you claim to wrest from the people all went into my pocket, funding libraries, paving roads, building waterworks, and promoting agricultural tools!"

"Grand Secretary Dou, you mean I was wrong!?"

Dou Dan was stunned.

The civil and military officials were also stunned!

In fact, most officials are clever and fully understand the Money Shop's inner workings.

Thus, even when the Money Shop produced shocking news, no one mentioned it.

But encountering someone as utterly foolish as Dou Dan, he aired the matter openly before everyone.

"His Majesty, I…"

"No need for me," Li Shimin, no longer wishing to hear this clown, says slowly, "Wushe, bring up Grand Secretary Dou's achievements over the years and let him see them himself."

Wushe respectfully replied and went down.

Dou Dan didn't understand; what does 'bring up his achievements for him to see' mean?

But soon, he understood.

Because when Wushe returned, he carried a thick stack of papers.

"Dou Dan, take a look."

Dou Dan instinctively took them, and after seeing what was recorded, his whole body trembled uncontrollably, his legs went weak.

These… are evidence of his years of lining his pockets, abusing his authority for bribes, even framing loyal officials and exonerating the guilty.

Li Shimin calmly says, "Actually, I originally wanted to give you a respectable position out of respect for your wife, but you're far too clever; I can't accommodate you."

"His Majesty! I was wrong!"

Dou Dan knelt instantly, hastily kowtowing, "I should not have been deluded; I acknowledge my mistake."

Chen Yan chuckled, "Grand Secretary Dou, you're not saying you're wrong; you know you're about to die!"

"In your next life, when you speak or act, try moving that rusted brain of yours!"

"Shut up!" Li Shimin scolded, feeling a headache.

He looked at the kneeling Dou Dan, waved his hand.

"Attendants, take Grand Secretary Dou down, imprison him in the Dali Temple prison, and await his sentencing!"

With those words, two imperial guards entered, and in front of all officials, escorted the continuously wailing, pleading Dou Dan away.

Li Shimin coldly scanned the ministers, "Who else wants to bring up the Money Shop? I tell you now, the Money Shop was established by me, with Chen Yan and the Crown Prince; any objections?"

The hall fell silent; most bowed their heads.

Fifteen scholars truly opened their eyes.

No one expected the first day of court attendance to be this thrilling!

"Chen Yan, what do you have to say?" Li Shimin asked again.

Chen Yan, somewhat helpless, knowing he could not escape today, stood and said, "His Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue has already signed a loan agreement with the Money Shop; the supplies for the campaign against Tuyuhun are fully prepared by the Ministry."

As his words ended, the eyes of many soldiers instantly brightened, while the civil officials were stunned.

"You… you used the Ministry of Revenue to borrow from the Money Shop?" Xiao Yu was at a loss for words.

Chen Yan nodded, "Grand Secretary Xiao thinks this move improper?"

"It's not exactly improper… it's just…" Xiao Yu didn't know how to continue.

Borrowing from the Money Shop in the name of the Ministry of Revenue is something they never imagined.

But thinking it over… this seems to satisfy protocol on all fronts.

The Money Shop is royal; the royalty cannot fund privately, yet because troops must be dispatched, the Ministry of Revenue lacks funds, so it borrows from the Money Shop, signing a contract, making everything seem justified.

Because the money still comes from the Ministry of Revenue.

Lending, lending!

Since you borrowed, you definitely have to repay.

So, this matter seems flawless from every angle.

Reading up to this point, Xiao Yu was silent for a long time, and finally said, "Minister Chen is full of resolve… I admire!"

"In that case, Minister Xiao, do you still oppose sending troops?" Li Shimin asked.

Xiao Yu actually also opposed sending troops, but only said so privately, telling Li Shimin not to be impatient, which is why they asked this.

Xiao Yu said calmly, "Since the Ministry of Revenue has solved the biggest problem, and without burdening the people or wasting resources, I naturally would not oppose."

"Then, everyone! Is there anyone still opposing my dispatch of troops?"

"......."