Chapter 657: I Declare You a Great Dam

"I, having received the edict, will certainly not disappoint His Majesty's great expectations."

Kang Chong bowed earnestly, feeling both surprised and excited.

"Hmm, that's enough, rise." Li Shimin gave a slight nod and raised his hand to signal Kang Chong to stand.

Then he looked at the other officials: "Gentlemen, do any of you have matters to report?"

"If not…"

"Your Majesty, I have a matter to report."

Before Li Shimin could finish speaking, Chen Yan stepped forward.

Some officials, as well as Du Ruhui and others, wore varied expressions, glanced over, and said nothing.

"You have a matter to report?" Li Shimin was startled; for some reason, an ominous feeling rose in his heart.

He kept his composure and said: "Minister Chen, what matter do you have to report?"

"Your Majesty, it is as follows." Chen Yan stepped forward two paces, speaking righteously: "A few days ago, a servant in my household, by chance, discovered a method to produce non‑toxic fine salt from poisonous salt ore."

"When I learned of it I could not believe it, so I ordered him, in my presence, to make fine salt from the poisonous ore. To my surprise, the servant succeeded; the salt was as fine as river sand, white as snow, tasteless, truly an auspicious sign."

"I asked the servant for his opinion; he volunteered to contribute the method to the court. I think the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue can cooperate to develop the production of fine salt from poisonous ore, thereby increasing the Tang Dynasty's treasury revenue."

Chen Yan spoke confidently, his words echoing throughout Tai Ji Hall.

The other officials at first listened in disbelief, then gradually showed strange expressions.

Regarding fine salt, who in Chang'an City does not know about it now?

Perhaps many places in the Tang Dynasty have not yet begun selling fine salt, but that certainly does not include Chang'an.

After all, this is the place where Li Shimin first began selling fine salt.

Moreover, that shop selling fine salt is only missing a royal signboard.

Anyone in the court knows this is Li Shimin's handiwork.

Now Chen Yan suddenly says a servant in his household discovered fine salt; who the hell would believe you?

You didn't discover it early or late; you just happened to find it shortly after becoming Minister of Revenue.

If you claim you're not trying to skim a layer of oil from Li Shimin, who would believe it?

Sure enough, some bolder officials quietly looked up at Li Shimin, whose expression had turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Yet Chen Yan continued, "Your Majesty, I believe this is a tremendous boon."

"Putting aside the wars this year, not long after the start of the year Luoyang suffered floods again; the harvest is still far off, and the Ministry of Revenue has been barely keeping finances from collapsing by borrowing from Money Shops."

"The Tang Dynasty's annual tax revenue is fixed; we cannot raise taxes and burden the people, so I think we can increase income by using this fine salt."

"We only need to sell it at a price slightly above cost; with consumption across the Tang Dynasty, or even by exporting to foreign merchants, even a modest profit, given the huge volume, will certainly add a massive sum each year."

"It would immediately resolve the court's urgent financial crisis, and the debts to Money Shops would no longer be an issue."

"Your Majesty, what do you think?"

Do I speak?

I say you are a great dam!

Li Shimin gritted his teeth and said, "Minister Chen! What is the name of the servant in your household who discovered fine salt?"

"He contributed the method of making fine salt without compensation; his merit is great, and I will grant him a reward!"

"No need." Chen Yan said with a stern face, showing no hint of emotion: "That servant does not wish to become famous, only wants to live peacefully, so he told me a reward is unnecessary; he only seeks some wealth to settle his family in a good place."

"I fulfilled his wish, found him a fine place, provided enough money for his family to live comfortably for life, plus a thousand acres of good farmland; he has already left Chang'an."

"Hahaha......." Li Shimin laughed upon hearing this.

It was purely provoked by Chen Yan.

"What a person who refuses fame, declines reward, and only wants a place to live well."

"I never knew that within the Tang Dynasty there are people who seek neither fame nor great profit, only a simple life."

"But..."

Li Shimin, pausing here, squinted and stared at Chen Yan: "I heard that fine salt has long appeared in Chang'an at a very low price."

"Is the servant in your household truly the one who discovered the method himself, and not stolen from elsewhere?"

"Minister Chen, you must not be deceived by petty people!"

"Losing some money and farmland is minor; if it is discovered that the technique was stolen, it would tarnish your reputation as the Weightlifting King of the Tang Dynasty!"

When these words were spoken, Du Ruhui and the others couldn't help but laugh aloud.

Damn it.

You say why this old man and son‑in‑law are so interesting?

After the White Tiger Holy Envoy, the twenty‑year‑old Minister of Revenue, the double Imperial son‑in‑law, the Top Scholar, and Chen Zaijiu, Chen Yan also acquired the nickname 'Weightlifting King of the Tang Dynasty.'

Chen Yan twitched his nose, unfazed by the other officials' snickers, and said firmly, "Your Majesty, I guarantee I will certainly not."

"My method of making fine salt is the authentic one; the versions circulating outside are only older editions from several years ago."

"My current technique is not only more mature than those of the salt sellers, but also yields finer salt and includes a series of supporting production facilities."

"Your Majesty, once you order the Ministry of Revenue to sell fine salt, I can immediately coordinate with the Ministry of Works."

"The Ministry of Works will mobilize personnel to mine poisonous salt ore and produce fine salt; the Ministry of Revenue will smooth all channels, using Money Shop networks to disseminate fine salt across the entire Tang Dynasty as quickly as possible."

"By then, the Ministry of Revenue's predicament will be instantly resolved."

Chen Yan, while speaking, frowned and gave a look to Ma Zhou, Han Zhongliang and others, and even flashed a glance at Wei Zheng.

Of course, Li Shimin above observed all of this.

His complexion had turned pitch‑black.

"Um... I second the motion," Han Zhongliang pursed his lips but still stepped forward.

Ma Zhou needed no further words and stepped forward to follow.

Wei Zheng stifled a laugh, bowed his head and clasped his hands: "His Majesty, I find Minister Chen Yan's suggestion workable; after all our Tang Dynasty's control over salt and iron is lax, Minister Chen Yan also does not forbid others from trading, he has simply found new salt and wishes to sell it to the people at a low price."

"This can be called a method that benefits both."

"The common folk get better, cheaper salt, and the Ministry of Revenue solves its fiscal strain."

"His Majesty, this is a tremendous boon."

"Yes, yes, yes…" Fang Xuanling bit his lip hard, nodded heavily: "His…His Majesty, this is indeed a good thing."

Li Shimin clenched his fist and glared viciously at Chen Yan.

That look seemed as if he could devour Chen Yan on the spot.

Damn it!

Is that how you play?