Chapter Twenty-Seven: Recruiting Li Shimin for Business

In the time that followed, Li Kong personally prepared a medicinal meal designed to nourish and heal. This recipe not only posed no harm to the unborn child but also helped suppress the illness within Empress Zhangsun’s body, gradually strengthening her resistance.

After settling the matter with the Empress, Li Kong finally breathed a sigh of relief. He could hardly wait before asking, “Uncle, where is that set of tables and stools I sent you last time?”

Li Shimin had been about to order the preparation of the medicinal meal, but hearing Li Kong’s words, he was taken aback, frozen in place.

“Tables and stools? What are those?”

It took him several minutes before he slapped his forehead and replied, “Oh, that! I had it stored away for the time being. Why do you ask?”

Li Chengqian and Empress Zhangsun looked on in curiosity, especially at Li Kong. Though his temperament had become a bit more lively of late, he was still of excellent character, always behaving with proper decorum—at least, that was how it seemed for now.

Li Kong was nearly in tears. No wonder no one had come to buy his wares—if they were sealed away, who would pay any attention to such odds and ends? If word got around that Li Shimin disdained those things, only someone tired of living would dare buy from him.

“Uncle, how could you do this? I was hoping you’d move that set into the Hall of Supreme Harmony!”

“Why?”

“I’m practically starving, Uncle. I’m counting on those things to make a little pocket money.”

Li Kong’s intentions were laid bare for all to see, but it hardly mattered. He could already tell that Li Shimin’s family had not distanced themselves from him since becoming the imperial household; on the contrary, they were even kinder than before. These were his own people—there was no need to hide his thoughts from them.

Besides, it was better to be honest now than to have his schemes discovered after he had already made a fortune. At least for now, he’d only surprise Li Shimin. If it came to light later that he’d used the emperor as a shield, the consequences would be far more severe.

Li Shimin was left speechless. Could Li Kong really be short on money? But then, thinking of Li Ji’s current wife, Lady Wang, he understood. Smiling, he patted Li Kong on the shoulder and said, “Tomorrow then! There’s a grand audience at court. I’ll have someone bring your things to the Hall of Supreme Harmony tonight. But tell me, since you’ve used your uncle as your pawn, how should I punish you?”

Li Kong choked. Punish him? For what? Did his uncle really want to starve him?

Just as his gaze was about to turn resentful, Empress Zhangsun shot Li Shimin a glare and asked, “Kong’er, are you truly so short of money?”

Li Kong was about to say yes, but then he caught sight of the Empress’s gown and fell silent. The imperial family of the Tang was, at present, one of the poorest royal households in all of China’s history. To his knowledge, the Empress had worn this same dress for nearly a year.

He glanced at Li Shimin, too; even the dragon robe he wore was showing creases.

They were not lacking for food and clothing, but in terms of daily expenses, they were little better off than Li Kong himself.

Recalling the various money-making ideas and techniques in his mind, Li Kong made his decision.

“Uncle, I have quite a few ingenious tricks up my sleeve—methods that, if put to use now, could quickly sweep across the land. If you don’t mind, why not go into business with me? I dare not promise too much, but providing a million coins a year for the imperial household would be no trouble at all.”

At these words, Li Shimin was momentarily stunned. He glanced at Empress Zhangsun and Li Chengqian, then turned back to Li Kong. “Come with me!”

Li Shimin’s expression was grave, and rightly so. After all, the entire Tang Empire’s annual tax revenue scarcely reached a million coins. If Li Kong could truly deliver on his promise, the empire’s rise would be vastly accelerated.

Li Kong’s purpose was only to improve the lives of the royal family and himself, while incidentally bolstering the Tang’s economy. But Li Shimin was thinking of the nation’s development from top to bottom.

Within the Palace of Sweet Dew, Li Shimin dismissed everyone and then fixed Li Kong with a piercing gaze. “Is it true, what you just said about earning a million coins a year?”

“It will be difficult at first, but if you support me wholeheartedly, you’ll see results in no more than half a year. By the end of next year, delivering a million coins to you will not be a problem.”

He paused, then continued, “But that’s only in the early stages. Once everything is running smoothly, profits may be even greater. But as a member of the gentry, I cannot openly run these businesses. To ensure smooth operations across the realm, I’ll need you to provide some men to serve as guards for our caravans.”

“Enough with the details. Just tell me what you need.”

After thinking for a moment, Li Kong said, “How about this: I’ll write up a proposal for you when I return. You just need to make the preparations. I also realized you’ll need to provide some land to build workshops. So, as for profits, I’ll only take forty percent, and the rest will go to you. What do you think?”

“You’re not greedy, I’ll give you that. In that case, you can go back now!” Li Shimin smiled, and Li Kong swore it was the most genuine smile he’d ever seen from his uncle. Had he really been fooled before?

But he quickly dismissed the thought. He knew Li Shimin had never deceived him, but given the turmoil at home and abroad, if a ruler with such ambition could smile sincerely, it would be the strangest thing of all.

Now, seeing such a genuine smile, Li Shimin must have glimpsed a brighter future, and his heart could finally relax a little.

Suddenly, Li Kong felt a pang of pity for this emperor, famed throughout the ages. Well, given how well they treated him, he would do his best to help settle their family affairs in the future.

As for fraternal strife? Aside from the Empress’s children, he didn’t know the others and couldn’t care less. If he could help, he would; if not, he’d leave it to Li Shimin to handle.

But just as he reached the palace gates, he suddenly remembered that his family was almost out of money. He turned back, grinning shamelessly. “Uncle, um… could I borrow a little money? Just enough to get me through the next few days.”

Li Shimin was taken aback. Seeing the light in Li Kong’s eyes, he felt a twinge of sympathy. “Go find your aunt and get a coin from her. I don’t have much either.”

Li Kong breathed a sigh of relief and clasped his hands in thanks. “In a few days, I’ll be sure to give you more!”

With that, he dashed out.

Half a day later, Li Kong emerged from the Taiji Palace, a relaxed smile on his face as he headed home. Though a single coin was not much, it would last him a week or so. By then, his tables and stools would certainly have all been sold, and then… He chuckled to himself, imagining the days ahead as the wealthiest man in the land.

Yet, just as he was filled with hope for the future, a childish voice called from behind, “Brother Kong, wait for me…”