Time Travel: I am the idle king Li Shen and Li Shimin in the Tang Dynasty

The Prince Ji’s Mansion is busy in full swing.

All the shopkeepers in Chang'an City started to move, each taking on tasks and recruiting people.

Hundreds of servants in Prince Ji's mansion were so busy that they had no time to rest.

The people of Chang'an all felt this change, and the whole city was filled with joy.

The gates of the 108 blocks in Chang'an were all decorated by people from Prince Ji's Mansion.

It was tied up with red silk and hung with huge lanterns.

Prince Ji’s palace was still sending red cloth and small lanterns to every household, asking them to hang them up.

Candles are a luxury item that only nobles and wealthy people can afford.

The Prince Ji’s mansion was transporting the gifts in carts and delivering them door to door.

Countless carriages coming in and out made Chang'an City even more lively.

"Your Majesty, this is the news reported by the guards at the gate."

At this moment in Ganlu Hall, Li Shimin was sitting at the top and Li Chengqian was sitting beside him.

After hearing Wang De's report, Li Shimin's face was full of helplessness.

"What on earth is this rebellious son trying to do? It's just a coming-of-age ceremony, but he's causing such a big fuss."

Ever since Wang De came back and told him that Li Shen had a backup plan, he has been sending people to keep an eye on Prince Ji's Mansion.

Any disturbance in Prince Ji’s mansion must be reported immediately.

So there has been news coming in continuously these days.

What I am reporting today is the fifty or sixty cartloads of candles shipped into Prince Ji’s Palace.

There are fifty or sixty cars, that would take a lot of candles.

"Father, my tenth brother has always been like this, so it's not surprising. This is much smaller than the grand ceremony at his wedding."

Li Chengqian said with a smile on his face.

He came today because the censor impeached Li Shen for extravagance. He didn't know what was going on, so he came to tell his father.

Just happened to catch up with the report to Prince Ji’s Mansion.

"Is this too young? There are some things you just don't know.

Prince Ji's Mansion asked the people in the villages below to make hundreds of thousands of small lanterns, and they are distributing them door to door."

"Hundreds of thousands of little lanterns!"

Li Chengqian was stunned. He really didn't know this. He thought Li Shenyun used candles to illuminate the palace or something like that.

Or they can be placed on both sides of the road, as was the case when Li Shen got married.

But he never expected that these candles seemed to be distributed to the people.

"Aye, hundreds of thousands of candles, wouldn't every household in Chang'an City have one?"

Chang'an City now has a permanent population of 600,000 to 700,000, and a floating population of up to one million.

This number means that every household must receive two.

“You’re right, two lanterns and two candles in every household, just like Yuanzheng.

He wants everyone to celebrate."

Li Shimin nodded.

"But fifty or sixty carts of candles wouldn't be enough."

Li Chengqian asked.

“Your Highness, this is just the first batch of candles for the entire industrial park.

The shopkeeper of Prince Ji's mansion has already gone to the surrounding counties and prefectures, including the big cities like Luoyang, to purchase candles.

Moreover, an announcement was issued in the First Chamber of Commerce of the Tang Dynasty, and Prince Ji’s Mansion purchased the Ten-Day Candle.

As long as they arrive in Chang'an within ten days, Prince Ji's Palace will buy them all, no matter how many there are.

Now many merchants are rushing to buy candles everywhere.”

Wang De saw that Li Chengqian was confused and stepped forward to explain.

"Of course, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make money. When that rebellious son buys something, he never talks about the price, as long as the quality is good.

He bought up all the red cloth, silk and satin in Chang'an City.

I don't know what he wants to do, using silk to make lanterns, do you think he is a spendthrift, huh?"

When Li Shimin talked about something that made him angry, his voice became a little higher.

How much will this cost? Didn’t he say he had no money?

With so much money, it’s enough to make a hundred sets of alloy armor.

"Father, calm down. My tenth brother just loves to enjoy himself and enjoy the show. We have experienced this over the years.

As long as he doesn't do anything harmful, let him do it. It's better than getting into trouble."

Li Chengqian didn't think there was anything wrong. Li Shen loved face and was particular about appearances, which was nothing new.

It's his money anyway, so as long as he doesn't get into trouble, that's better than anything else.

Li Shimin thought about it and realized that this was indeed the case, but as a father, he definitely had to take care of it.

At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the treasury was empty, and he himself lived a frugal life in order to set an example.

Let go of half of the servants in the palace to save expenses.

Even Empress Changsun was spinning and weaving in the harem just to cover some of the palace expenses.

Li Shimin still remembers the hard days vividly, but he did not expect that his family was unfortunate and had a prodigal son.

A super-dandy leader who lives a luxurious and wasteful life. Li Shen's spending alone can support the entire palace.

This made the old father feel very uncomfortable.

But thinking about it now, Li Shimin is not so angry anymore, because his current luxurious life is also due to this prodigal son.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin sighed;

"Well, forget it. Just send someone to keep an eye on him and don't let him get into any trouble.

The coming-of-age ceremony is a major event, and it also involves offering sacrifices to ancestors. If something goes wrong, wouldn’t you be laughed at by the whole world?

My royal family will be disgraced.”

"Aye, what Tenth Brother did this time was actually not a bad thing.

My tenth brother once told me about the argument of money circulation.

As Prince Ji's palace makes large-scale purchases this time, there will be a shortage of cloth and candles in Chang'an City, and goods will be mobilized from all over the country.

If there are no goods, production is needed, production requires people, and people can get wages by working.

My tenth brother said that production is the cornerstone of a country’s wealth and can drive national wealth and tax revenue.

It can make more people rich.”

Although Li Chengqian didn't understand the principle behind what Li Shen was talking about, he believed what Li Shen said.

Because Li Shen indeed has an unparalleled talent in business.

"That rebellious son said all this? He must be looking for an excuse to justify his extravagant spending."

Although Li Shimin believed in Li Shen's ability and what Li Shen said, he still had to save face when he spoke.

Li Chengqian smiled slightly. His father just cared about his reputation and was unwilling to admit it.

But soon, Li Shimin continued:

"Well...sometimes what this rebellious son says actually makes some sense. He has unique insights into many things.

Although many of his ideas are far-fetched, they can often solve problems.

So you have to remember what he said and verify it yourself. What he said may not be wrong, nor may it be completely correct. "

Li Shimin just realized that he should not miss the opportunity for Li Chengqian to grow just because of his anger.

Compared with one's own face, the future emperor of the Tang Dynasty is the most important, nothing else matters.