The wave of opposition was similarly unparalleled compared to the past.

It even reached a point where.

This matter was brought to Li Yuan, hoping he could persuade Li Shimin.

But Li Shimin’s attitude remained unchanged.

Facing the hundred officials in the court, he publicly declared, his voice resounding: "The governance is unclear, and the people are unsettled!"

"I must see that the governance is as clear as a mirror, with prefectures and counties free of dust!"

He entrusted this matter to the Gu Clan’s descendants.

Not only because of trust but also knowing that this was what the Gu Clan excelled at the most.

Starting from the time of Gu Kang.

The Gu Clan’s rulers throughout generations valued governance far more than others, especially after Gu Xi, forming a tradition.

Furthermore, he officially abolished the "Five Balances and Six Controls" policy against merchants from the Wude era, stimulating domestic trade and ordered the minting of "Kaiyuan Tongbao," gradually phasing out old currency.

This formally initiated the reforms of the Zhenguan era.

——The four directions were astounded.

Li Shimin successively dispatched officials to oversee the implementation of the policies in all regions, including equal land distribution and taxation, with every detail within his scrutiny.

The people from all directions felt the emperor’s grace.

Though the policies within the court continued to change, these only targeted the regional officials.

For those at the very bottom.

They could only feel the court’s determination for recuperation and rest.

The people of the world had indeed suffered too much.

Even though they could not fully experience the changes brought by the rectification of governance, just the reduced taxes were enough to make them grateful to the court.

But how could everything go so smoothly?

In the first year of Zhenguan, a natural disaster struck Guanzhong again.

In fact, this disaster was far from severe, but precisely because the people were too weary and ragged.

Even though this disaster was not severe, it still caused a great famine across Guanzhong.

This was undoubtedly a major blow to the implementation of new policies.

Especially since Li Shimin always maintained a character of heeding advice, giving those ministers who had opposed his policies a chance to seize the opportunity.

....

In the Taiji Hall.

"Your Majesty, during the Wude era, there were no major disasters, and now that new policies have just been implemented, a disaster strikes again, it’s far from a good omen. This old minister earnestly requests that Your Majesty consider the people’s plight and restore the policies of the Wude era."

"The world is weary, and now a major disaster strikes again. If Your Majesty wishes to rejuvenate the world, the Wude policies must be restored!"

"..."

As one official after another stepped forward, their voices echoed through the great hall. Each of their expressions was so sincere, as if they were truly thinking for the people of the world.

These were almost all old veterans from the Wude era.

Li Shimin did not take direct action against them, merely stripped them of their real power.

This was also Li Shimin’s act of mercy towards them.

After all, Li Yuan was still alive.

These people could be considered old brothers of Li Yuan.

The atmosphere was incredibly silent.

Looking at the people before him, Li Shimin’s gaze grew colder, but he did not show direct anger, instead looking towards Pei Ji and calmly said: "Why does the Grand Minister remain silent?"

How could he not see that these people were led by Pei Ji?

How could he let the main culprit stand aside?

"Your Majesty," Pei Ji took a deep breath, bowed to Li Shimin, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I dare not speak much about the new policies, but this old minister knows Your Majesty’s ambition to rejuvenate Kyushu."

"Now that the new policies have just been implemented, a disaster strikes."

"Perhaps it is the way of Heaven.... This old minister still requests Your Majesty to consider the advice of the ministers."

He did not speak too bluntly, yet he expressed his stance.

This was Pei Ji’s cunning.

"The Grand Minister is mistaken."

Before Li Shimin could speak, Wei Zheng immediately interjected, quickly coming forward: "What does a disaster have to do with the new policies?"

"Since the Grand Minister knows His Majesty’s ambition, why say such words?"

"Could restoring the old Wude policies stop the great famine?"

"Have fellow colleagues forgotten Marquis Wencheng’s saying, ’Revere the spirits and keep them at a distance’?"

He spared no face for anyone.

In an instant, Pei Ji and the others’ faces turned somewhat unpleasant.

"Gu’s School" is one of the core classics of Confucianism today, and Wei Zheng accused them of forgetting to "revere the spirits and keep them at a distance," essentially insulting them.

Conversely, upon seeing this scene, the anger on Li Shimin’s face gradually faded.

He liked Wei Zheng this way.

Although Wei Zheng often disregarded circumstance when advising him, in certain times, such a person would have great use.

"Alright."

Seeing someone about to get angry, Li Shimin timely intervened to halt the dispute, then slowly stood up and said: "Wei Zheng is right, ’revere the spirits and keep them at a distance’ is fundamentally what Marquis Wencheng once said."

"I have studied the classics and histories since childhood."

"Recall when Marquis Wenxiang Xi Gong faced natural disasters across Kyushu, did he ever yield?"

"To overcome heaven consummately;"

"This saying has been a constant reminder to me until today, if Marquis Wenxiang could withstand the natural disasters across Kyushu, can’t I withstand a famine in Guanzhong?"

"Issue my decree——"

"From today, the court shall undertake disaster relief and exempt all taxes for disaster victims nationwide for the entire year."

"Anyone who mentions restoring the old policies of Wude will not be forgiven by me!"

By the time he finished speaking, Li Shimin’s gaze suddenly sharpened, immediately looking towards Pei Ji and the others present. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Instantly, Pei Ji and his followers felt a wave of hostility come over them and instinctively lowered their heads.

Daring not to say anything more.

The vigorous disaster relief efforts commenced across the entire region of Guanzhong.