Chapter 692: Gu Decides to Raise Tariffs!

"I will not fail the trust you have placed in me; I will spare no effort to aid the disaster victims!" Sun Fuja knelt, earnestly bowing his head.

In theory, he shouldn't have needed to perform such a grand ceremony.

However, Li Chengqian clearly wanted to give him a chance, so he naturally felt compelled to show his respect.

Otherwise, how could they choose him over the many suitable candidates in the Court?

Li Chengqian, seeing this, nodded with satisfaction: "Very good."

"Then it's settled. After the court session, you will go straight to the Ministry of Revenue to receive supplies, and then head to the disaster zone as quickly as possible!"

"I obey!"

Sun Fuja bowed again.

Everything was understood without words.

"Very well." Li Chengqian, seeing the matter settled, breathed a sigh of relief, then his gaze turned cold.

"Since the drought in Shandong now has a solution and a candidate, let's discuss the information Gu received yesterday!"

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and several eunuchs stepped forward, handing out multiple copies of the secret report to the ministers.

At first the officials were puzzled, but after reading it, each one was furious beyond measure!

"Absurd!" Wei Zheng could not help it: "Simply absurd!"

"How could a petty merchant dare to do this? Who gave him such nerve?"

"He deliberately hoarded grain prices, causing countless commoners to die, then profited many times over, building his fortune."

"Someone like that, yet in the region he is still regarded as a benevolent philanthropist… Ridiculous!"

"Extremely ridiculous!"

Even the usually unobtrusive Yan Shigu spoke up at this moment: "Your Highness, Shen Wanjun's deeds have already provoked heaven's anger and people's resentment!"

"Having committed so many crimes, he deserves the death penalty. I earnestly request Your Highness to immediately order Shen Wanjun's capture and execution to serve as a warning!"

"I second the motion!" Linghu Defen said in a deep voice: "For such a person, if no punishment is given, wouldn't that embolden similar merchants even more?"

"I also earnestly request Your Highness to immediately order Shen Wanjun's capture!"

"Second!"

"Second......"

With so many leading the charge, the Court was instantly drowned in voices of agreement.

How to put it, everyone doesn't just dislike these unscrupulous merchants.

They look down on all merchants equally.

Since ancient times, the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants has been ingrained; even though the Tang Dynasty is relatively friendly to merchants, few officials who can enter the Tai Ji Hall can afford to look favorably upon merchants.

Let alone such unscrupulous merchants!

In their eyes, such a person is not even worth mourning!

Li Chengqian said calmly: "But Shen Wanjun's outward deeds are commendable; he distributes porridge, builds bridges in Huazhou, treats people kindly and politely, and the locals are quite grateful to him."

"If Gu were to arbitrarily arrest him, it would likely be hard to win the people's support!"

Dai Zhou immediately replied: "Your Highness, rest assured. After the court, I will promptly write an article documenting Shen Wanjun's true deeds and publish it in the Great Tang Daily. Not only Huazhou, I will let the whole world see Shen Wanjun's true face!"

"In this way, the people of Huazhou will learn that Shen Wanjun is not a benevolent philanthropist at all, but a black‑hearted swindler. Having been deceived by him for years, they will surely hope more than we do for his punishment!"

Li Chengqian and the others, hearing Dai Zhou's words, stood up and said: "Very well, let's proceed as Lord Dai suggested!"

"Gu immediately orders the dispatch of troops to Huazhou to capture Shen Wanjun and to uncover all the evidence behind this!"

"Finally!" Li Chengqian coldly scanned the assembly: "Do you think Shen Wanjun is an exception?"

Upon hearing this, a few people shifted expression slightly and lowered their heads.

However, most furrowed their brows in thought, pondering Li Chengqian's meaning.

Standing above, Li Chengqian took in all the subordinates' expressions, yet he said nothing and spoke plainly:

"This spring, Luoyang suffered floods, and I cannot determine whether Luoyang officials' inaction caused the disaster to go unreported, or whether they were bribed by major grain merchants and deliberately delayed reporting!"

"Meanwhile, during that period, Luoyang's grain prices rose at an incredible rate, initially 30–50% higher, then eventually doubling, even twofold!"

"All this is because numerous grain merchants were scheming behind the scenes, using tactics to inflate grain prices and reap huge profits!"

Li Chengqian, hands clasped behind his back, paced before the ministers, never pausing: "At that time, Father Emperor acted mercifully, not wanting excessive bloodshed, so he only beheaded the leading grain merchants, while the smaller traders merely received punishments!"

"Now it seems that kindness is only exploited! The price‑inflation situation has not only persisted but intensified!"

Li Chengqian stopped, shouting: "What do you think should be done?"

Many ministers, hearing this, saw a flash in their eyes and a hint of a smile.

"Your Highness, since benevolence cannot resolve this, then we must deal with it according to law!"

"What exactly is the lawful method?"

"By leveraging the Court, money shops, and even the people's power, we will thoroughly investigate similar merchants—those to be arrested will be arrested, those to be executed will be executed!"

Li Chengqian did not answer immediately, but turned to Wei Zheng: "Minister Wei, what do you think?"

Wei Zheng, who never tolerates any impurity, and upon hearing the report from Huazhou and Li Chengqian's resolute stance, understood many things, and thus said plainly:

"I have no objection to Minister Ma's proposal; however, everything must be handled according to evidence—we must not let any unscrupulous merchant escape, nor wrongfully accuse any honest merchant!"

Du Ruhui clasped his hands and said: "I second the motion."

Fang Xuanling, seeing this, had nothing more to say and simply added his support.

The other officials, even if they had something to say, all fell silent at this moment.

Because the facts are right before them, if anyone steps forward to speak, even with a biased stance, they risk being labeled as shielding merchants.

Moreover, by now many have already seen it.

This may well reflect Li Shimin's intention.

Otherwise, Li Chengqian could not speak with such forceful confidence.

Many officials secretly sighed in their hearts: "Another bloody storm is about to be stirred up."

But then, Li Chengqian's words left most of those present dazed.

Moreover, I believe that not only these corrupt merchants, but also Tang Dynasty merchants and foreign merchants all need to be brought under control!

"For this, I have decided......" Li Chengqian returned to his seat, sat down, looked over the officials, and said word by word: "Increase tariffs!"

"......"