Du Ruhui pondered for a moment before digesting the news and finally said, "Mr. Lin, your righteousness surpasses us all!"
Wei Zheng furrowed his brows and stepped forward to ask, "Your Majesty, how can he ensure the provision of food for the entire Great Tang? With millions of people, the daily consumption is astronomical..."
"He only has a small shop..."
Emperor Li Shimin sighed, "He is a foreign scholar, a descendant of the Mo and Nong families who fled during the Warring States period."
"These should be the accumulations of his ancestors."
"I also thought it was fake."
"But yesterday, I ordered three thousand Jinwu Guards to accompany him to obtain the grain. Five hundred horse carts made six trips back and forth, transporting at least thirty million bags of self-heating rice, and there was still no sign of running out..."
Wei Zheng remained silent.
The fact was right in front of them.
Except for Hou Junji, everyone else looked extremely admiring.
Many spoke of "saving the people and the world."
But there were too few who could actually achieve it.
Even if this staple food cost one coin per bag, these thirty million bags of self-heating rice would still cost over three hundred thousand taels of silver.
Moreover, the floating oil on top was enough to prove that its price wasn't low.
Speaking of this, Emperor Li Shimin looked somewhat relaxed and happy.
"Though the locust plague is severe, it will not break the fortune of our Great Tang."
"With the help of such an extraordinary individual, I am confident that not a single person in the world will die of hunger."
Below, civil and military officials also looked much relieved.
They congratulated one after another.
"Great Tang's blessings are boundless!"
"Long live Your Majesty!"
Emperor Li Shimin's face was radiant, and he waved his hand, "I mentioned this matter to you all to discuss how to reward him."
No one spoke up.
Mainly because the merit was too great.
Throughout history, no one had ever done such a thing.
There was no precedent...
Any reward seemed inadequate, but no one dared to speak up about the specifics.
Seeing no one speaking, Li Shimin softly said, "Such merit has never been seen before, and perhaps no one in the future can surpass it. I want to crown him as the King of Chu. What do you think?"
King of Chu!
Everyone's heart trembled.
Being a king of another surname was the top identity in the Great Tang.
To confer a king was the most solemn matter in all dynasties.
Especially after Li Yuan conferred Luo Yi as the King of Yan, which eventually turned against the Great Tang, Li Shimin was extremely cautious about conferring kingship.
Even Li Jing and Cheng Yaojin, who had fought alongside him for the world, were only given the title of "Duke".
Moreover, this title of the king was "Chu".
"Qi, Chu, Yan, Zhao, Han, Qin, Wei."
Among the many titles, these seven were the most respected.
Among them, "Qin" and "Chu" were the most prestigious, after all, they were the two most powerful countries during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.
Li Shimin was the King of Qin, so naturally, he couldn't give Lin Shen the title of Qin Wang.
Therefore, the next best thing was King of Chu...
Everyone was still pondering.
Hou Junji was the first to speak out, saying firmly, "Your Majesty, this must not be allowed!"
Lin Shen couldn't become the King of Chu!
If Lin Shen became the King of Chu, then he really had no way to deal with Ru Yi Supermarket...
Moreover, just yesterday Lin Shen said that he would never give up!
Hou Junji felt a sense of urgency.
This matter must be stopped.
Seeing the person who spoke up, Li Shimin was somewhat surprised.
He thought the first to oppose would be Wei Zheng...
He didn't expect it to be Hou Junji.
Li Shimin asked, "What's the problem?"
Hou Junji said, "Lin Shen is just a businessman, of humble origin. Even if he can help the people of the world, he shouldn't enjoy such an extraordinary reward for his greed for celestial merit!"
"For him, a merchant, to hand over self-heating rice to our Great Tang is an honor. Rewarding him with the title of county male is already a great reward. Please, Your Majesty, think twice."
He paused for a moment and emphasized, "Don't forget about Lu Buwei."
Lu Buwei was the only person in history who, as a merchant, ascended to the position of chancellor.
He held power over the world.
If it weren't for the eternal emperor Ying Zheng he encountered, he would have been just a Qin king with no real power.
Coincidentally, Li Shimin was also a Qin king.
This hit a sore spot.
Du Ruhui stepped forward and said softly, "Duke of Lu, it seems you're overestimating the intentions of a petty person."
Hou Junji's face stiffened.
Their relationship was not good, so Du Ruhui naturally took this opportunity to criticize him.
Du Ruhui continued softly, "Your Majesty, I think conferring the title of King of Chu is feasible."
Li Shimin raised an eyebrow, "Oh, please elaborate."
Du Ruhui said, "Lu Buwei once said that extraordinary goods can bring profits. He meant that valuable items should be hoarded and sold at high prices. Lin Shen has many rare items in his hands, things our Great Tang has never had."
"Even if it's just one or two coins, or hundreds or thousands of coins, people would still buy them."
"But he didn't do that. Instead, at this time, he cares for the entire world and is willing to provide food for the people for free. Duke of Lu, do you know how much money Lin Shen will lose?"
Hou Junji waved his sleeve, "I am not a merchant, how could I know."
Du Ruhui smiled and said, "At least three or four years' worth of tax revenue for our Great Tang!"
"Would the Duke of Lu be willing to part with so much money?"
Hou Junji snorted.
Of course, he wouldn't.
Du Ruhui turned his head and looked at the civil and military officials in the court, saying loudly, "Gentlemen present, are any of you willing to part with this money?"
No one spoke, all silent.
If they were honest with themselves, they wouldn't be willing either.
Fang Xuanling stood up and said softly, "I think what the Minister of Personnel said is quite reasonable. To enable the people of the world to eat their fill is a heaven-sent merit. Mr. Lin is worthy of the title of King of Chu."
Li Shimin nodded and smiled, "Does anyone else have objections?"
Wei Zheng stood up, "I object."
Li Shimin asked, "And why do you object, Minister Wei?"
Wei Zheng stood his ground, "As a censor, what Your Majesty and the court approve of, I must oppose."
The meaning behind these words...
It's saying, "I agree with your views, but my position requires me to oppose."
Li Shimin couldn't help but laugh, "So be it, then let Lin Shen be crowned as the King of Chu."
Hou Junji felt a heavy sense of powerlessness.
The situation was unstoppable.
No matter how much he opposed, it was useless...
Now he deeply regretted it. If he had known about this yesterday, he would have reconciled with Lin Shen last night!
But who could have imagined that a mere merchant would become the highly esteemed King of Chu in the Great Tang overnight!
Suddenly, Hou Junji's face changed.
He remembered.
Last night, he had instructed his steward to file a complaint at the Chang'an County Office...