Liu Zhenghui felt that he still needed to question the emperor.
It would have been better if the emperor did not conspire with Zhao Chen to swindle money. It would be better if he really caught him.
Liu Zhenghui must expose the emperor's scandal.
Let the emperor know that as long as he, Liu Zhenghui, is here, the Tang Dynasty will not let the emperor do whatever he wants.
Liu Zhenghui went straight to the palace, but was told that the emperor had not returned yet.
Liu Zhenghui subconsciously thought that the emperor must have gone to share the spoils with Zhao Chen.
So I didn't come back at this time.
Old man Liu had a stubborn temper, so he stood outside Ganquan Hall waiting for the emperor in the cold weather.
Fortunately, a eunuch brought a brazier, otherwise in such a cold weather, Liu Zhenghui would have froze to death here before the emperor came back.
The emperor and the empress came back in a carriage, Empress Changsun returned to the Li Zheng Hall, and the emperor was about to change his clothes before leaving.
Immediately, 300,000 yuan came into the account, and Zhao Chen had promised to give him cotton seeds to plant.
In less than two or three years, cotton will bloom in every corner of the Tang Dynasty.
It can be foreseen how comfortable life will be for the people of the Tang Dynasty in a few years.
The emperor was very happy and stepped onto the last step with his hands behind his back. He looked up and saw Liu Zhenghui sitting on the threshold of Ganquan Hall.
There was a brazier in front of him, and Old Man Liu stretched out his hand to light the fire.
Isn't this old guy here to pursue the matter of the 300,000 yuan again? The emperor thought to himself.
He coughed lightly and said, "Why don't you go home, Aiqing, but you want to see me if you have something to do?"
"Why did your Majesty come back so late?" Liu Zhenghui stood up and asked, holding hands with the emperor.
He glanced at the emperor with suspicious eyes.
"I talked to Zhao Chen about something. I came back late. It's too cold outside. If you have anything to say, please come in." The emperor walked into the Ganquan Hall.
Liu Zhenghui frowned and followed in.
The door of Ganquan Palace is closed, and the room is slightly warmer than outside.
"Your Majesty, I came here today because I want to ask Your Majesty again, was the three hundred thousand guan given to Your Majesty by Duke Zhao?"
"Today, Duke Zhao is asking for 700,000 yuan. In fact, it was negotiated with His Majesty. Is what I said correct?" Liu Zhenghui also went straight to the point and struck the emperor's heart with his words.
How could the emperor admit it?
If this matter is exposed, how will he, the emperor, lead the officials in the future?
"There is no such thing. The queen also said that the money is kept by her and Zhao Chen." Li Shimin waved his hand.
There was some displeasure in his expression.
Liu Zhenghui is good at everything, he just loves to be serious.
You have given me this money, but who cares who the money ends up in?
What's going on, can you get the money back from Zhao Chen?
"Your Majesty!" Liu Zhenghui shouted.
"I know that your Majesty has an irreconcilable relationship with that Duke of Zhao, but the king is the king and the ministers are ministers. If there is no distinction between the king and the ministers, the principles will often change and the world will be in trouble."
"Your Majesty is short of money, I know it in my heart, but it would be a big mistake to join forces with Duke Zhao to defraud the treasury of money."
"I would like to ask, your Majesty really did not conspire with Duke Zhao about the Eight Ox Crossbow incident today..."
"Liu Zhenghui, don't be so shameless!" The emperor slammed the table with a stern look on his face.
This old guy seems to have concluded that he and Zhao Chen are collaborating to sell the Eight Ox Crossbow for money.
One sentence after another, it went straight to his heart.
It was true that Zhao Chen gave him money, but if anyone said that the eight-oxen crossbow was not worth 700,000, the emperor would chop off his own head.
What's wrong with the 300,000 yuan that I want back from the money-grubbing Zhao Chen?
Is there anything wrong?
When did he conspire with Zhao Chen?
Not only was Li Shimin right, he also cheated Zhao Chen and restored the dignity of the Tang Dynasty.
Liu Zhenghui, this old guy, has no sense at all.
It’s okay if you don’t say something nice, but you still question yourself again and again?
"I ask you, is the Eight Ox Crossbow worth 700,000 guan? Even if the 300,000 guan is given to me, is it Zhao Chen who loses, or your household department?"
"I don't let you take charge of the Ministry of Revenue to tighten my throat. If you don't want to do it, I can let Zhao Chen be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."
"Your Majesty, veteran..."
"Here's this thing for you, take it and get out of here!" The emperor walked down angrily and thrust the hand warmer into Liu Zhenghui's hand.
Without saying anything else, he went to the back hall to change clothes.
Liu Zhenghui held the hand warmer in his hand, feeling warm in his hands.
He just couldn't figure out now whether the 700,000 guan was really 300,000 guan given to the emperor.
Liu Zhenghui walked out of the hall with a hand warmer in his arms, and saw Fang Xuanling walking towards him.
"Did Liu Shangshu just meet His Majesty?" Fang Xuanling asked.
"I've seen it before, and I was scolded by His Majesty for a while." Liu Zhenghui said with a slightly self-deprecating smile.
"I just forgot to tell Liu Shangshu that no matter whether the money is 300,000 yuan handed over to His Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue will not lose money."
"On the contrary, if 300,000 yuan is really given to His Majesty, then the Ministry of Finance will still make a profit."
"What's the explanation?" Liu Zhenghui frowned.
He didn't quite understand what Fang Xuanling meant.
"Liu Shangshu, think about it. First of all, let's assume that His Majesty was not involved. The 300,000 yuan was not given to His Majesty."
"The value of the Eight Ox Crossbow must be more than 700,000 guan, but Hu Bu only paid 700,000 guan, so Hu Bu made a profit, right!" Fang Xuanling explained.
Liu Zhenghui nodded.
It seems to make sense when you think about it.
"Furthermore, even if the emperor told Zhao Chen in advance that 300,000 guan would be divided, the household department still only provided 700,000 guan, and the remaining 300,000 guan was in the hands of your majesty."
"Now that your Majesty is rich, he will not bother Liu Shangshu asking for money again in the future."
"Based on this, the Ministry of Revenue has not lost money, right?" Fang Xuanling said again.
Liu Zhenghui frowned, although it sounded fine.
But I always feel like something is wrong.
"Since no matter what, Hubu got the Eight Ox Crossbow with 700,000 guan, then he won't suffer any loss."
"So, why does Liu Shangshu come here to embarrass His Majesty?"
"Actually, it's not easy for Your Majesty." Fang Xuanling sighed.
He had seen with his own eyes how the emperor humbled himself in front of Zhao Chen.
But just like this, Datang will get better day by day.
If there was no emperor, would Zhao Chen sell such a powerful Eight Ox Crossbow for 700,000 pieces?
You know, the half-finished bed crossbow in the Ordnance Department of the Ministry of War cost 500,000 guan.
"No wonder Your Majesty is so angry. You gave me this thing and told me to get out." Liu Zhenghui rubbed the hand warmer in his hand and seemed to have figured it out.
"Isn't this the thing that His Majesty has been holding in your hands just now? Why did I give it to you?" Fang Xuanling looked at the oval copper pot in front of him and asked doubtfully.
"Yes, Your Majesty just gave me this and left. But don't mention it, it's quite warm. It seems to be filled with hot water." A smile appeared on Liu Zheng's face.
Thinking about it now, the emperor was quite good to him.
At least he had never seen this thing in his hand.
And, it's really warm.
"Let me touch it." Fang Xuanling became interested and reached out to touch it.
Liu Zhenghui took a step back, protected the hand warmer in his hand, and said: "This is a gift from His Majesty, how can you touch it casually?"
"If you want to touch it, go and ask His Majesty for one yourself."??