Li Shimin sighed and said, "Although the idea is good, I am worried about arousing opposition from the clans. Although the world belongs to me, the influence of the clans in the local area is greater than that of the court. This is an indisputable fact. As soon as today, rest and recuperation are the top priority, and the clans... it is not yet time!"

Having said this, Li Mu had no reason to retreat. He said anxiously: "Your Majesty, I understand in my heart your worries. It is really wise to have such thoughts. But I think this move will not arouse much opposition."

"Won't?"

"Yeah." Li Mu nodded vigorously. He had to give Li Shimin a very affirmative answer now before he could persuade him: "Your Majesty, no matter which kind of mineral deposit it is, it is not available in every place. For example, there is coal in Taiyuan, and the Wang family in Taiyuan must benefit from coal, but Qinghe does not have coal. Your Majesty thinks that Qinghe Cui family will envy it?"

Li Shimin knew very well that although the Wang family in Taiyuan and the Cui family in Qinghe had an intermarriage agreement, it did not mean that the two families were close together. When facing interests that could determine the fate of the family, there was no covenant that could not be violated.

"By the same reason, Qinghe has copper ore. Will the Cui clan of Qinghe be willing to share the benefits of this copper ore to the Wang clan of Taiyuan?"

Without waiting for Li Shimin to answer, Li Mu gave the answer directly and said: "No, they will stick to their own interests and spy on the interests of others. In order to protect their own interests from being interfered with, they can only cooperate with the court."

"What if they don't cooperate?"

Li Mu snorted coldly and said, "Mine is the lifeline of the country. The family members do not obey the laws of the court and try to grasp the lifeline of the country. What do they want to do? Is it a rebellion?"

Li Shimin thought to himself, do you think they don’t have this intention? Not to mention others, these two Cui clans did not support my Li family back then!

"If it is decided today, my Li family in Longxi is the lord of the world." Li Mu unceremoniously transferred himself to the same camp as Li Shimin. Who made him recognize himself as his nephew just now: "If the five surnames and seven hopes are in harmony, it may cause some trouble. But if it is a family and two families, who will give them the courage to rebel? Although the treasury of our Tang Dynasty is a little empty, the soldiers of our Tang Dynasty are indeed like tigers and wolves. They have just destroyed the Turks, and are worried that there are no strong enemies to fight around. It is just a clan who can do great power in the local area. If they face the tiger beside us, how can they be opponents?"

Li Mu patted his chest and shouted with a stern face: "If there is really a rebellion, you don't need your Majesty to take action or use a general. I am deeply grateful to the emperor and have to receive the third-rank military honor. I am worried that I am not worthy of this honor. Your Majesty only needs to give me three thousand soldiers and horses. No matter what kind of opponent it is, I will flatten him."

Li Shimin couldn't help laughing and said, "You don't need to fight. Keep talking about your thoughts. You will tell me all of them. I will remember them in my heart. I will ask Fang Aiqing and others to discuss tomorrow. Such a big thing should not be careless."

Li Mu understood what Li Shimin meant. He still had doubts about the matter, but he gave Li Mu a chance to convince him.

"Your Majesty is thoughtful, but I'm better." Li Mu continued to say seriously: "If the family members in various places want to protect their interests, they must cooperate with the court. The court rented the mine to them in the form of a 'franchise'."

"Rent?" Li Shimin felt that it was novel. In various dynasties, there was no way to rent out mines. Isn't the mine just a mine? It's there. Whoever has a strong power in the local area will mine and then pay taxes. The court did not care who was mining, but just needed to pay the tax.

This is the method of managing mineral deposits in all dynasties. It is very rough, but there is no way. The influence of the court on the local area is too low. It is already a very good scene of prosperity that can do this.

"Yes." Li Mu focused his attention and said: "The ministers mentioned earlier that the court would take back the ownership of the mine. In this way, the mine would be like a shop in the West City. The shop belongs to the court. Whoever pays the higher the price will be operated. For example, a coal mine can pay 5,000 guan a year, while the Sun family can pay 6,000 guan. The mine will be mined by the Sun family next year. His compensation or profit has nothing to do with the court. When the year ends, we will rent it again."

"But in this case, will anyone come to rent it?"

Li Mu said confidently: "I dare not say anything else. If Your Majesty gives me this, I guarantee that these families will rush to rent and ask for rent. I can even make a small fortune because of this. I am willing to share the accounts with Your Majesty."

Li Shimin snorted coldly and said, "You are such a promising official. You actually talked about accepting bribes in front of me?"

Li Mu laughed and said, "I only need 20% of the money, and the Ministry of Works will continue to build houses. I don't have enough money. The remaining 80% will be sent to Your Majesty's treasury. Anyway, it's the money of the family, so is it useless to make it?"

Li Shimin thought it was right, why didn’t the family make money? Just as he was about to agree, he suddenly glanced at Li Mu and said, “You guy don’t want to put a trap for me. I haven’t agreed yet, so continue.”

“The other thing is that coal prices need to be priced.”

"How to decide?"

"Your Majesty, coal is an easy thing to obtain, and it is inexhaustible. Its cost does not lie in the coal itself, but in the manpower and material resources in excavation and transportation. But if it is transported in bulk, these costs are not much. Moreover, the value of coal has an upper limit. That is, it cannot exceed charcoal. If it exceeds charcoal, who will use coal? Not only can it not exceed, it must also be much cheaper than charcoal. Therefore, the price of coal must be set by the court as unified as salt."

Li Shimin worried, "But in this way, will the profit be too low? What if the profit is too low and no one will dig coal?"

Li Mu shook his head and said, "Although coal is cheap, it is a must-have for the people. Just like salt, I have checked the salt tax income over the years and it accounts for at least one-third of the inputs of the national treasury. Coal may not reach one-third, but it is not difficult to occupy one-tenth of the total amount last year."

"One tenth!" Li Shimin couldn't help but be amazed. Last year, the treasury revenue totaled 25 million guan, and the salt tax accounted for one-third, about eight million guan. Li Mu actually said that coal profits can be obtained by one-fifth, wouldn't it be 2.5 million guan?

You should know that the profit of this coal has not been before. Li Shimin was so excited to think that the treasury would be able to add 2.5 million guan out of thin air next year. 2.5 million guan is enough to support 10,000 elite cavalry. What a great help to the country!

At this time, the balance in Li Shimin's heart had begun to tilt. Although he still did not express his opinion, he had basically agreed. But he still had to discuss with the prime ministers to check for omissions. After all, this matter is very important and he cannot act arbitrarily.

"I have said everything I thought of, and other things will depend on the wisdom of Your Majesty and the Lords." Li Mu said everything he should say, and there were some things he thought of, but he didn't say it. He couldn't tell the whole story. Wouldn't it seem that the leader was incompetent? He always had to leave room for his leadership to perform. He believed that with the talents of Fang Xuanling and others, there would be no major mistakes.

This topic ends here. It’s almost over. It’s getting late at this time, and it’s getting darker and the west is drooping. Li Shimin stays for a while and Li Mu has to prepare a banquet. Li Shimin signales Li Mu to see him off, and the two of them walk to the lobby from the studio door together.

"I will discuss this with the prime ministers. Just wait for my news. There is also the matter of my father. The heaven and earth will open in a few days. The father attaches great importance to this matter and is worried. He will send the eunuchs around him to watch several times every day. If you are not in a hurry, put it aside and do your father's affairs first. Although official affairs are important, as the son of my father, how can I not put the word filial piety in front of me? I think that people in the world will understand me."

Li Mu thought to himself, it seems that the person who is so busy that he is not touching the ground is me, but the person who needs to be understood is you... But there is no way, who can make the person be the emperor or the boss? A worker should accept his fate.

"Your Majesty has already arranged it. I will start dealing with the affairs of the Supreme Emperor tomorrow, and it will not be delayed."

"That's fine."

As soon as you walked to the side door of the lobby, Li Shimin said again: "About what you just said... the money of the family is indeed useless. I know that you will not be able to make yourself rich, but if such a thing is spread, your reputation will be ruined. Therefore... if you want to do it, do it by others, don't get involved in yourself." Li Shimin glanced at Li Mu and said: "Do you understand what I mean?"

Li Mu was stunned. He didn't expect that Li Shimin would allow him to embezzle. He was just joking. But since Li Shimin gave him a chance, wouldn't he be stupid? Li Mu asked tentatively: "Can the share be changed to 55?"

Li Shimin angrily said: "28 is 28. Do you think I am a child? Let you deceive me?"

After all, it's for money!

Li Mu held back all the words behind him, and Li Shimin snorted proudly and said, "It's settled. I know you have a way, don't let me down."

"I have received the order, thank you for your trust."

The two of them entered through the side door of the lobby and were startled. They saw that the floor of the lobby was covered with paper. Li Chunfeng was squatting. Li Tai seemed to be unable to squat anymore, so they simply lay on the ground. Both of them looked frowning, as if they had reached a bottleneck.

Seeing Li Mu coming, the two of them hurriedly got up, grabbed Li Mu's arm from left to right, and said, "Mr. Marquis/Brother, see if I can solve it right?"

Li Mu glanced at the paper on the ground. He could not see so many pieces of paper and said, "It is your own way to read the book a hundred times. Only by doing the question a hundred times can you understand the tricks. I have given you the method. As for how to calculate it, it is your own business. I can't teach you how to cook, and then bring it up and feed it to you. People should have the ability to take care of themselves."
Chapter completed!