In Liu Wuchen's heart, as long as they do what they should do well and hand over the money and food sent to Di Zhixun, if they can not offend people, try not to have any friction.

Liu is now taking the way of doing business, doing business seriously, paying taxes truthfully, and never committing adultery. Although everything cannot be done in all aspects and exquisitely, it has always been cautious, especially when dealing with officials in the imperial court, it can also be said that he is respectful and does not dare to slack off.

Of course, respect does not mean fear, for those corrupt officials who do not know what to do or deliberately find fault with the Liu family, the Liu family will definitely not accommodate, even if it will cause some delayed trouble to the business of the Chamber of Commerce, it is not hesitating.

As their owner said, their Liu Chamber of Commerce will not cause trouble, but they will definitely not be afraid of things, and if trouble comes, then hold their heads high to solve the trouble. As long as the Liu family behaves rightly, walks straight, and does not violate the laws of the Tang Dynasty in the slightest, what can the officials of the imperial court do?

Therefore, although Liu Wuchen was impatient with the talented household servant, he was still polite and polite on his face, and he never offended him directly. However, if the old man wanted to forcibly move the money and grain into the treasury despite the persuasion, Liu Wuchen would never be polite.

After all, compared to a household servant who had nothing to do with their Liu Mansion, it was Di Zhixun, who had just returned from Sanyuan, who was more important.

"Master Di," seeing Di Zhixun approaching, Liu Wuchen bowed forward to salute, and at the same time handed over the list of money and things that had already been prepared in his hand, and said: "This is the details of the money and grain shipped this time, 500,000 yuan of money, 150,000 quintals of grain, please Lord Di to look at it and count it." If it is correct, Wuchen will let the people in the house start. ”

"There is no need to count," Di Zhixun waved his hand and said proudly: "A virtuous nephew and the credibility of your mansion are still trustworthy, but this matter of unloading is not to bother your mansion any more, the treasury is strictly managed, and all reserves have their own Ding Ying soldiers in and out of the transport, so I have to waste a piece of your mansion's good intentions." ”

The old fox, while dealing with it politely on his face, Liu Wuchen couldn't help but give such an evaluation in his heart, no wonder he was so generous, he didn't even pay attention to the necessary inventory, and he also sold them a big face for the Liu family. It turns out that the final node is here, and the number of money and food will be counted by the number of their own soldiers, so why bother to count it?

Either that these officials are old fritters, although they know each other well and have a lot of things to do, but in the face he will do it very mellowly, at least he will not make the other party feel inappropriate and hold grudges.

After the two leaders had finished contacting, they gave an order, and the carriage carrying the money and grain set out again, bypassing the gate of the household, and slowly drove towards the more empty treasury on the side.

"There are some words that our young master asked Wuchen to tell Master Di on his behalf," Seeing that the carriage and horses were slowing down, the front of the household became quiet again, and Liu Wuchen whispered to Di Zhixun beside him: "Today's these, this is only the first batch, tomorrow and the next two days, the original amount will be sent in full, please don't worry about Lord Di." ”

"A virtuous nephew is a believer!" With a smile and a compliment, Di Zhixun said to Liu Wuchen with a straight face: "Tired Steward Liu also brought a message to your host on behalf of Di, just say that Di Mou's promise that day will never break his word, and he will not let him down." ”

Di Zhixon is hesitating these days how to give Liu Yiyi's request to the emperor, how to make the emperor agree most likely, although when the original agreement, Liu Yiyi did not ask for things to be done, but as the biggest beneficiary of this matter, whether it is for himself or for the Tang Dynasty, Di Zhixun does not want to let Liu Yiyi, who contributes to the country and the people, feel cold.

Therefore, in Di Zhixon's mind, this matter is not said, but it must be done. This is also the reason why it has been two days since he came back, but Di Zhixon has not asked the emperor for a word.

Now is not the most critical time, the degree of embarrassment of the emperor is far from enough, if the Liu family's donation of money and food is reported at this time, although the emperor will be happy, but there may not be too much gratitude or attention.

Therefore, in the past two days, Di Zhixon has been doing one thing, that is, he has constantly stated to the emperor the difficulties of raising money and grain in various places, and the crisis of the lack of resources in the national treasury, so as to maximize the credit of Liu Yiyi's donation of money and grain after three days, so that the emperor will not be able to bear to refuse Liu Yiyi's request at that time.

As the days passed, the emperor's brows tightened, and the urging of the household to raise money and food became more and more urgent, and it can be seen that the emperor is really a little anxious now.

If at this time, he would have known about the Liu family's money and food to the emperor, Di Zhixun smiled so much that his eyes narrowed together, Liu Wuchen's money and food were delivered in a timely manner today, and the posture was also just right, at least, in addition to the household department, several other yamen in Chang'an City were afraid that they had also known about the Liu family's donation of money and food, and said that they had to use themselves to enter the palace to report, and the emperor had already gotten the news now.

"In this way, Wuchen will replace our young master, thank you Lord Di!" Although I don't know what Di Zhixun agreed with their host, but seeing that Di Zhixun is so confident at this time, Liu Wuchen knows that there is a good chance that the matter will be done, which is a good thing for their young master.

"There's no need to thank you, the old man is just throwing a pick." Di Zhixun waved his hand lightly, and then said: "When you go back, tell a virtuous nephew that the old man will not only tell the emperor about the matter as promised, but also try his best to promote this matter, and will never make my Tang Dynasty's heroes chill." ”

"Yes, Wuchen wrote it down!" Liu Wuchen nodded in response: "After I go back, Wuchen will definitely tell the owner the truth about Master Di's words." ”

"Okay, the old man has already made arrangements for the affairs here, so he won't stay here for long," Seeing that the convoy was gone, Di Zhixun arched his hand to Liu Wuchen and said, "The old man still has business to do, so he will take the first step." ”

Now that the fire has arrived, and the things that Liu Yiyi promised have arrived first, and there has been such a big movement, it is time to report to the emperor, otherwise, it will inevitably arouse the emperor's suspicion and blame.

Therefore, after saying goodbye to Liu Wuchen hastily, Di Zhixun ran all the way back to the palace.

At this time, in the Taiji Hall of the palace, Li Shimin was talking with Li Ji, who had been hanging out for many days.

Li Ji sat calmly opposite Li Shimin, looking respectful but not restrained, since entering the Taiji Palace, he has not taken the initiative to speak, Li Shimin asked, Li Ji replied respectfully, between a question and an answer, showing the way of a monarch and a minister.

"I heard that in the past few days since returning to Chang'an, Aiqing has received people to entertain guests, but she has received a lot of congratulatory gifts, and they are piled up to the size of a side room," Li Shimin chatted with Li Ji unhurriedly, and suddenly changed his conversation and asked Li Ji a more sensitive topic: "Is there such a thing?" ”

"Back to the emperor, this is indeed the case." did not deny it, in fact, Li Ji had been waiting for the emperor's questions, nodded unhurriedly and admitted, and reached into his arms, took out a long fold, and said to Li Shimin respectfully: "All the guests and the gift lists they gave have been recorded by Weichen, please take a look at the emperor." ”

"Oh?" There were not too many surprises, Li Shimin frowned slightly, glanced down at the book fold handed over, and said to Li Ji in a low voice: "Aiqing did this, do you know what the consequences are?" ”

Li Ji sent this gift list, undoubtedly selling all the people who were close to him or wanted to get close to him, and at the same time pushed himself to the opposite side of these people, this time, it can be said that he offended more than half of the courtiers in the court, and it is inevitable that he will be isolated by the ministers in the future.

"All the gifts and property, Weichen has not touched a penny, and from now on, all of them will be sent to the treasury of the Ministry of Household Affairs for confiscation," Li Ji replied bluntly: "Weichen knows that in the past two years, there have been continuous natural disasters in the territory, and my life in Datang is not easy, so Weichen wants to take this opportunity to collect some money for my Datang treasury." If there is an excesse, Wechen is willing to be punished. ”

"For the sake of a little money, do you not even care about how much you have saved up your reputation? You, alas, the matter has come to this point, it is useless to say more, your thoughts, I have received it," on the surface of a moved and excited look, Li Shimin nodded lightly, and said: "But those gifts don't have to be sent to the household department anymore, how to say it is also the heart of a colleague, and the imperial court is not short of you This little thing." ”

Although he was angry and regretful on the surface, Li Shimin's heart was full of joy, and he valued Li Ji a little more. Not because of the money he collected for the country, but because of the special act of betraying his colleagues and isolating himself in order to reassure himself, the emperor.

has brains, courage, and enough loyalty, coupled with the current reason for discord with the ministers, like such a sensible but isolated general by the ministers, what emperor would not like?

Therefore, Li Shimin is not angry about the means played by Li Ji, as well as his ambition to win the post of Shangshu of the Ministry of War and the post of Marshal Gaochang of the Army.

"Since Hou Junji went, the military department has been replaced by Xuan Ling, Ai Qing also knows that Xuan Ling is also the left servant of Shangshu, and he is already busy with official business, and now let him act on behalf of the military department, it is fashionable for a while, but after a long time, it will inevitably be a little stretched, yes," Li Shimin looked at Li Ji lightly, and finally got to the point: "I intend to let Qing serve as the secretary of the military department, what does Qing think?" ”