Early in the morning, Li Mu came to the palace to meet Li Shimin.

In the past, he was a member of the Ministry of Labor of the Fifth Grade, and he did not have the qualifications to be invited to see him at any time, but now he is the Waiter of the Ministry of Industry of the Fourth Grade, and he has this qualification. Li Shimin was a diligent emperor and got up early. But Li Mu came early, and he hadn't finished his breakfast yet, so Empress Changsun was also by his side.

Hearing that Gonggong Gao said that the Marquis of Zhulu asked to see him, the eldest grandson queen wanted to avoid it. Li Shimin stopped her and said, "Li Mu, this kid, is different from other officials. In my heart, I am like a nephew, and I don't need to be too suspicious. As he spoke, he said to Gao Gong, "Call him in." ”

Gao Gonggong listened to it in his ears and was surprised in his heart. He has served Li Shimin since Li Shimin was still the king of Qin. I don't know how many characters I have seen, but there has never been a person who has received such a 'special' evaluation in Li Shimin's mouth. The emperor's son and nephew, that is the imperial family. Could it be that in His Majesty's heart, Li Mu is already regarded as the imperial family?

When Gonggong Gao thought about this, he was even more shocked, and made up his mind that he would be even more friendly to Li Mu in the future.

Not long after, Gonggong Gao brought Li Mu in. Since Li Shimin was able to move to the Taiji Palace, Li Mu saw him in the palace for the first time. The last time he came to the Taiji Palace, he and Li Yuan drank too much and climbed onto the roof, and the scene was still vivid, and now, this hall has changed owners.

Somehow, Li Mu suddenly felt a little emotional, and he seemed slightly distracted. How did Li Shimin know what he was thinking, he was stunned when he saw him salute, looked down at the porridge in the bowl, and said, "Came so early, didn't eat?" ”

"Huh?" Li Mu came to his senses and didn't know how to explain, so he had to borrow the slope to get off the donkey and said, "Back to Your Majesty, I didn't eat." ”

In order to deepen his credibility, Li Mu also licked his lips.

Li Shimin frowned, he actually didn't have the habit of giving food to his courtiers, but after all, he asked Li Mu for something yesterday, and today people talked back and forth early in the morning, and they didn't eat...... If you don't give a bowl of porridge, it will be too cold. Empress Changsun watched from the sidelines, and without waiting for Li Shimin to speak, she asked Gong E to come over with another pair of chopsticks, and raised her hand to call Li Mu: "Zhuluhou, come and eat together." ”

Li Mu glanced at Li Shimin, Li Shimin had a tiger face, and said, "The queen has said so, you can come and eat together." ”

"Thank the queen for the porridge." Li Mu actually ate in the morning, but at this time, in order to fulfill his lie, he had to pretend to be very hungry. Fortunately, at his age, drinking an extra bowl of porridge didn't feel obvious at all, so he took the porridge bowl and pulled it in.

Empress Changsun had never seen such a food-looking person, so she was speechless in shock, and only spoke after a while: "I didn't expect Zhuluhou to be so hungry, another bowl?" ”

Li Mu saw that there was not much left in the clay pot, shook his head, and said, "The minister just pads it, the minister came to see Your Majesty, there is something serious to say." ”

Li Shimin snorted and said, "It's good, I haven't forgotten the business...... Tell me, has the thing I promised yesterday been done? ”

Li Mu nodded and said, "Back to Your Majesty, the matter has already been told to Su Guogong." ”

Thinking of Cheng Biting Jin's tired appearance, Li Shimin also had a headache, and said, "He agreed?" ”

At this time, it would be a fool not to invite credit, Li Mu said: "Uncle Cheng didn't agree at first, but the minister bargained with him, and finally agreed." ”

"Tell me."

"Hmm......" Li Mu hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Majesty has promised Uncle Cheng the right to run alone. ”

"Trespass again!" Li Shimin slapped the table, the bowls and basins were upside down, and Li Mu shrank his neck in fright. Empress Changsun glanced at him and said, "Your Majesty, you have to let people finish their words, don't use suspicious people, don't doubt people, who said this?" ”

Li Shimin took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, and said, "When will I give you the right to make decisions?" Li Mu, if you don't make your words clear, I will punish you today! ”

"Yes, yes......" Li Mu hurriedly left the table and bowed: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that this cannot be regarded as trespassing, so he should do it." It's only because His Majesty doesn't know much about doing business that he feels that his ministers are trespassing. ”

Li Shimin didn't speak with a calm face, Li Mu grinned, and continued: "Your Majesty, one of the prerequisites for this Marseille to make money is that it has to be unique. Your Majesty, if there are four horse farms in Chang'an City, competitions are held at the same time. Which will the people go to see? ”

Li Mu asked and answered himself, and said: "Perhaps, which one is wonderful to watch, or perhaps, which one is close to your own home." But in either case, it leads to dispersion. If it's scattered, you won't be able to make this money. After all, His Majesty can't do business with as much fanfare as a minister, and if he wants to profit through Masai, he must ensure that there is only one horse farm in Chang'an City. Otherwise, where will the money come from, Your Majesty? ”

"Hmm......" Li Shimin didn't respond in a hurry, the eldest grandson queen next to him understood, after Li Shimin came back yesterday, he had already told her about the matter, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the words of the Marquis of Zhulu are reasonable." ”

Li Shimin was noncommittal and said, "You just have to say, how it will be decided in the end." ”

"Your Majesty, it was so decided in the end. The net profit of the racecourse excluding expenses, His Majesty, Uncle Cheng, and ministers each account for 30%. The remaining 10% will be rewarded to the shopkeepers and men of the racecourse as a bonus outside of the monthly rate, provided that the income of the racecourse gradually increases. In addition, for the sake of His Majesty's reputation, the net profit given to His Majesty was given to the Imperial Family on the grounds that the horse farm used the land of the royal family, and Uncle Cheng came forward to give it to the internal treasury, and His Majesty naturally did not want it, but Uncle Cheng deeply felt that the emperor's grace was immense, and he must express that His Majesty could not refrain from resigning five times, so as not to accept it with difficulty, and promised to use it for the people. ”

Seeing that Li Mu was speaking seriously, Empress Eldest Sun couldn't help laughing. Li Shimin was also a little embarrassed, and said angrily: "When you say this, do you regard me as a person who takes advantage of it?" ”

"No, no, no, Your Majesty is definitely not such a person. If Your Majesty disagrees, then tell the truth......"

Li Shimin glared at Li Mu and said, "The words have already been spoken, do you want to take them back?" Let's put it this way! ”

"Commandment."

Li Shimin stared at Li Mu for a while, then suddenly sighed and said, "I know that there is something wrong with this, but I also have my difficulties. The Yellow River has flooded again this year, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs has already arranged for money, so I can only get money from the interior to plug this hole. But my internal money is not rich, and there are so many people in the palace, I can't treat the concubines and palace people to save money again and again, right? ”

"What Your Majesty said is that the minister can understand."

Li Shimin said: "I hate these family of gate lords, there are disasters along the Yellow River, and the people are not happy, but they turn a deaf ear, not only do not help the victims, but also raise the price of grain, and want to see my jokes." Every time I think about this, I can't wait for it, I can't wait for it......"

Empress Eldest Sun touched Li Shimin's elbow and said softly, "Your Majesty ......"

Li Shimin stopped talking and said: "In short, you have to understand that I don't want money for my own pleasure like the emperors of the previous dynasty. Therefore, I have a clear conscience. ”

Li Mu's heart is like a mirror, Li Shimin explains so much, in fact, it is the same reason as being a bitch and setting up a memorial arch. What I want to express is nothing more than that, yes, I'm robbing you of your money, but I'm not for myself, I'm for the world......

In fact, this kind of thing has been done by both Ming and Duan monarchs in all dynasties. But Li Mu is willing to believe that Li Shimin at this time really wants to spend money on the people.

"Your Majesty, the minister will do his best to share your worries. The minister has always done this, except for the 3,000 yuan lost by gambling with that Wang Pu yesterday, most of the money that the minister has recently obtained has been spent on the building of the craftsman's workshop, and the minister will try his best to invest it in the future. ”

Li Shimin frowned slightly, and said, "Li Mu, I have always wanted to ask you. Since the workshop was built, you haven't opened your mouth to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. You have always used your own money to build it, so you are not afraid that one day, I will transfer you from the Ministry of Industry, and all this money will be used to make wedding dresses for others? Even if I don't transfer you out, you spend your own money to build houses for the craftsmen, what do you want? ”

"Your Majesty," Li Mu replied, "Since the minister is in the Ministry of Industry, he wants to let the craftsmen return to their hearts?" Eating enough and staying warm is just basic. The minister thought that the previous system of the Ministry of Industry was too inefficient, and that reform had to be carried out. If the minister opens his mouth to apply to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, will the Ministry of Civil Affairs happily allocate funds to the ministers? At that time, the minister was only in the Ministry of Works, and he could not be the master of the Ministry of Works. If the minister's lobbying is successful, I don't know how long it will take. Since reforming the Ministry of Industry is something that the minister wants to do, and the minister still has the ability, the minister will take the money to do it. As for whether he will make wedding dresses for others, and whether His Majesty will transfer the minister, the minister has not thought about it, but just does what the minister thinks he should do at the moment. ”

"That's all?"

Li Mu nodded heavily and said, "It's really just that." Your Majesty, money can make the minister food and clothing, but it cannot make the minister happy. But using money to do things can make ministers happy. If this matter can still make the minister feel that he is a useful person, it will make the minister even happier. The minister only needs to keep enough food and clothing for his family, and the rest of the money is spent by the minister. It's better to spend on what is useful, and on what is useless...... As soon as the head is hot, it will be spent if it is spent, and the minister will not think about it after spending it, and it will not help if he does not say anything about his troubles! ”

Li Shimin saw that Li Mu's eyes did not seem to be fake, and he was very moved in his heart, and suddenly remembered something, and said: "In my opinion, you didn't say everything you said. ”

"I don't understand."

"Arguing with others seems to make you happy, too. When I saw you quarreling, I looked eager to try, and there was a fire in my eyes, for fear that people would not fight you. With your temper, aren't you afraid of offending people? ”

Li Mu thought that Li Shimin was going to say something, and when he heard this, he immediately said with a serious face: "Your Majesty, the minister is not afraid of offending people. The minister knows in his heart that the minister can't make everyone like it, so the minister also has a choice. As long as His Majesty likes the minister, and His Majesty needs the minister, the minister will have nothing to fear. The minister can choose the people the minister likes to get close to, and as for those who the minister doesn't look down on, the minister doesn't want to pay attention to them. They want to find trouble with the minister, and the minister fights with them, and they are idle when they have nothing to do anyway. ”