My father, Li Shimin, requests Your Majesty to become the Retired Emperor.

Li Si was originally from Shangcai in the State of Chu, and he was among those expelled that time.

Therefore, Li Si wrote "A Memorial on Expelling Foreign Guests" to persuade Ying Zheng not to take such a drastic approach.

Li Si said that the reason why the Qin state is where it is today is because of the help of many outsiders.

For example, Shang Yang, Zhang Yi, and Fan Ju,

These people all made great contributions to the Qin state.

Li Si then said that the King of Qin liked beautiful women and pearls from other countries.

If that's the case, why did the King of Qin resist talented people from other countries?

finally,

At Li Si's urging, Ying Zheng rescinded the order to expel Li Si and recalled him, appointing him as a guest minister.

This also shows that Qin Shi Huang truly deserves to be called one of the greatest emperors of all time; he was good at listening to the correct opinions of others.

Li Shimin was no exception. After Li Chengqian argued his case with reason, he suddenly realized his mistake and rescinded the order to expel the Turks.

but,

Li Shimin still harbored prejudices against musicians and Taoist priests, believing them to be a group of bad apples.

However, this is understandable.

Because many alchemists in history have indeed brought disasters to the country, such as Lu Sheng and Xu Fu during the Qin Dynasty, and Luan Da during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han.

At last,

Under the persuasion of Wei Lingfu, Mu Jishe, and others,

Chengxin led the people from Lijingmen and escaped through the underground passage.

It turns out that they had anticipated this day and had dug a tunnel in advance to facilitate their escape in case of a critical moment.

Ordinary people would never discover that entrance.

Su Gui was relieved to see that Chengxin and Wei Lingfu had left.

He returned to the army and led 2000 imperial guards to surround the Lijing Gate.

After searching, they found nothing.

Su Gui then led the original group back to Chang'an.

He steeled himself and went to see Chang He.

Upon seeing Su Gui return, Chang He eagerly asked, "Did you capture Chengxin and Wei Lingfu?"

Su Gui spread her hands: "No, I didn't even see a shadow of anyone."

"How is that possible? Our information is very accurate, very clear. Chengxin and Wei Lingfu are right around Chang'an, how could they just disappear without a trace?"

"Boss, if you don't believe me, take some men and go find them yourself. See if you can catch them."

Upon hearing Su Gui's words, Chang He paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, angrily saying, "I've wasted my time training you; now you've really put me in a difficult position."

Can Your Majesty spare me?

No, I have to make you take the blame! Guards!

Chang He grew angrier as he spoke, and shouted outside.

Shortly after, two soldiers entered from outside, saluted, and said, "Commander, what are your orders?"

Chang He pointed at Su Gui: "Tie him up!"

"This—", the two soldiers recognized Su Gui and knew that he was Chang He's favorite general.

They didn't understand what was wrong with Chang He today, why he had to tie up Su Gui.

The two people froze on the spot, not daring to move.

"Su Gui's incompetence has delayed important matters."

The Emperor only gave me three days; he's trying to kill me.

"What are you two standing there for? Why aren't you making a move?"

"promise!"

Seeing that Chang He had given the order, the two soldiers rushed forward and tied up Su Gui.

How could those two soldiers possibly be a match for Su Gui?

However, Su Gui dared not fight back.

Su Gui immediately became anxious: "Boss, you can't treat me like this!"

"I've tried my best, but I can't find a satisfactory match or a spirit charm. What can I do?"

Chang He walked up to Su Gui, staring at her with wide eyes: "As I see it, you're the one who let them go. Don't think I don't know you and Chengxin are close friends."

Therefore,

You did him a favor and let him go.

"No, that's absolutely not true."

"Really not? Can you swear to God?"

"I—." Su Gui's tongue hovered in her mouth for a long time, but she couldn't utter a word.

At that moment, a graceful woman walked in through the door.

That buttocks were round and big.

Seeing this, Su Gui thought her savior had arrived and quickly cried out, "Sister! Help me!"

This woman was none other than Bai Mudan, Chang He's favorite concubine.

When Chang He saw Bai Mudan arrive, his arrogance immediately diminished, and he greeted her with a beaming smile: "Madam, what brings you here?"

Bai Mudan ignored him and walked straight to Su Gui, untying the ropes binding her. She asked softly, "Su Gui, are your arms sore from being tied up?"

Su Gui stretched her limbs: "Sister, no, not at all!"

"That's good! If they had hurt you, I wouldn't have let them get away with it!"

Su Gui thought to herself that calling her "sister" was really worth it.

Chang He didn't dare utter a single word!

Bai Mudan glared at Chang He: "What are you doing?"

So you've become an official, huh? You've gotten too cocky, haven't you? Look how capable you think you are!

What are you showing off for? What are you pretending to be, acting all high and mighty?

Su Gui is the Crown Princess's younger brother.

Su Wan is my best friend; we're inseparable.

Look at what our family eats, wears, and uses now—how many of them weren't given to us by Su Wan?

I think you've forgotten your roots.

Chang He was scolded by Bai Mudan and didn't dare to utter a sound, acting like a grandson.

Bai Mudan continued, "Su Gui said that Chengxin and Wei Lingfu were not found."

That means that Chengxin and Wei Lingfu were indeed not in Chang'an.

Whose fault is this?

You're so capable, go and hunt them down yourself.

Furthermore, I've heard that Chengxin and Weilingfu aren't as lawless and unruly as you claim.

They are all rising stars of the Tang Dynasty, so why can't His Majesty tolerate them and insist on exterminating them all?

Are there no good people among the musicians and Taoist priests?

Are all the Imperial Guards good birds?

Su Gui glanced at him and saw that Chang He's face was alternating between red and white, and he didn't dare to say a word.

Su Gui chuckled inwardly; perhaps this was a case of one thing subduing another.

General Chang He, a man of such high rank, was inexplicably so afraid of Bai Mudan.

Of course, some people say that men are not afraid of women.

Being afraid of women is a sign of love.

Chang He dared not refute: "Madam, you are absolutely right."

But the crucial question is, what will I say if the Emperor asks?

"Just report the truth and say you couldn't find it, isn't that enough?"

Cheng Xin and Wei Lingfu aren't stupid; they're not waiting for you to arrest them.

If others had legs, they would have run away long ago. So what if he ran away?

"I'm afraid this answer won't do me justice."

Bai Mudan took out a white handkerchief, wiped the sweat from Chang He's forehead, and asked, "Is Your Majesty very familiar with Chengxin and Wei Lingfu?"

"It seems unfamiliar."

"Then go and catch two thieves who look like Chengxin and Wei Lingfu, and use them to pay off the debt."

Upon hearing this, Chang He slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "You know what, that's actually a good idea!"

Some time ago, they did catch two thieves while patrolling Chang'an at night.

then,

Chang He thought he had caught Chengxin and Wei Lingfu, but after all that, it turned out he hadn't.

Chang He couldn't help but marvel at how there could be people in this world who looked so alike. It was truly amazing how strange the world was. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he really wouldn't have believed it.

Chang He thought for a moment and said, "Alright then, we'll do it your way."

Bai Mudan put her left hand on her hip and pointed at Chang He with her right hand: "I'm warning you, from now on you must not be rude to Su Gui."

If I hear you acting all high and mighty again, I won't let you off the hook. You're not allowed in my room for a month, understand?

"Yes, yes, yes, I promise it won't happen again!" Chang He assured him repeatedly.

Su Gui watched all this and thought to herself, "Bai Mudan really has a way with things."

Chang He was extremely respectful to Bai Mudan, no wonder people said that Chang He was afraid of his wife.

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes today, it would be hard to imagine that a general could be so afraid of his concubine.

Bai Mudan said to Su Gui, "Su Gui, please don't take it to heart. You know your brother is a rough man. Calling him a blockhead wouldn't be an exaggeration."

He did whatever the emperor ordered him to do, carrying it out without question.

He has no sense of flexibility or adaptability; being too practical won't work these days.

Although I'm not very clear about those things in the court.

but,

From Chang Heping's occasional words, I could also sense that the palace was very complicated.

The concubines were constantly fighting amongst themselves, and the civil and military officials were vying for fame and fortune, forming factions and cliques. One could easily find oneself embroiled in their schemes.

Therefore,

The living environment is becoming increasingly harsh. If you want to gain a foothold and maintain your safety in the long run,

We must be considerate of each other and work together.

Since the Emperor opposes forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices, let's be careful and reduce our interactions.

Although Chang He is a martial artist, he is not a bad person at heart; you'll know that once you spend time with him.

"Sister, I've remembered what you said."

I know he was forced into this situation.

General Chang is a very capable man, deeply trusted by the Emperor; otherwise, the Emperor wouldn't have appointed him as the commander of the Imperial Guards, giving him such military power.

"That being said, you mustn't forget the saying, 'Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger.'"

How many famous generals in ancient times were killed?

Figures like Bai Qi, Han Xin, and Zhou Yafu—whose achievements weren't unparalleled?

finally,

What was the ending?

In the end, we can't escape the word "death."

It's too early to draw conclusions about Chang He's future.

"General Chang's fate will certainly be better than those you just mentioned, because the current emperor is a wise and benevolent ruler."

"I hope so. How about this, you eat here, and I'll cook a few dishes myself."

You two brothers should have a good drink and have a chat.

Upon hearing this, Su Gui quickly declined, saying, "No need. If word gets out, it will have a bad influence."

I'm heading back now.

at this time,

A guard entered from outside the door, bowed, and said, "Reporting to General Chang, the chief eunuch Wang De has arrived."

"Who did you say came?"

"Wang De!"

Chang He was confused because he couldn't understand why Wang De had come here at this moment.

Su Gui said, "General Chang, I think I'd better step aside."

Chang He nodded, and Su Gui slipped out through the side gate.

Not long after, Wang De strode in from outside.

Chang He knew that Wang De was no ordinary person.

His words carried considerable weight in front of Li Shimin.

Chang He quickly went to greet him: "Who do we have here? It's Eunuch Wang."

"May I ask what brings you here, Eunuch Wang?"

Wang De glanced at Chang He: "Nothing much, His Majesty wants to see you!"

Upon hearing this, Chang He's heart skipped a beat.

He stepped forward, slipped a packet of silver to Wang De, and asked in a low voice, "Eunuch Wang, do you know why His Majesty summoned me?"

Wang De weighed the bag of silver in his hand: "General Chang, you're too kind. I've spent your money quite a bit of yours before, how can I accept this?"

"No, no, no, Eunuch Wang, please accept this and use it to buy a packet of tea."

"In that case, this old servant will respectfully comply."

As for why the Emperor summoned you, you'll find out when you get there.

Upon hearing this, Chang He thought to himself, "Wang De is a real old fox. It turns out I wasted all this money."

……

Zichen Palace.

Li Shimin sat at his desk reviewing memorials, while Wei Zheng stood by with his hands at his sides.

The indoor lighting is rather dim tonight.

Li Tai arrived, knelt on the ground, and called out, "Father Emperor!"

Li Shimin put down the memorial in his hand, looked down at him, and frowned: "Tai'er, have you gained weight again?"

Upon hearing this, Li Tai grinned, thinking to himself that his father was really bringing up the very thing he didn't want to talk about.

He replied, "Our Great Tang Dynasty has only recently been established, and everything needs to be rebuilt. There are still many places where money needs to be spent, and many people are still starving."

Your son is worried about them.

Therefore, I haven't been eating anything good lately.

I eat simple meals three times a day, but somehow I've gained over 30 pounds.

"I get out of breath after just a few steps!"

"It's a good thing for men to be a little plump."

But you look a bit too plump.

then,

Emperor Yang of Sui had a crown prince named Yang Zhao.

Yang Zhao was skilled in both literature and martial arts.

Some consider him the most outstanding crown prince in history.

Even surpassing Fusu, Liu Rong, Liu Zhuang, and others.

If Yang Zhao can successfully ascend the throne, what role will our Tang Dynasty play?

However, Yang Zhao had one flaw.

"Oh, what's wrong?" Li Tai couldn't help but ask, very curious.

"It's just that he's too fat."

On one occasion, he went to Luoyang to pay his respects to Emperor Yang of Sui and requested to stay in Luoyang.

Emperor Yang of Sui refused and ordered him to return to Daxing City.

They said it would be more prudent for the father and son to be stationed in Luoyang and Daxing respectively.

but,

Yang Zhao didn't think that way.

He knelt there and kowtowed, begging Emperor Yang of Sui.

Emperor Yang of Sui was so angry that he didn't call him to get up.

however,

Unexpectedly, because Yang Zhao was too fat, he accidentally knocked himself to death.

Do you think he died unjustly?

Was he even more unjustly accused than King Wu of Qin, who famously broke his kneecap while lifting a heavy tripod?

"Oh, is that so?"

If that's the case, then his death was indeed somewhat unjust!

"Get up!"

"Thank you, Father Emperor!"

Li Tai huffed and puffed for a long time, his face flushed and his neck red from exhaustion, before finally getting up from the ground.

Seeing Li Tai kneeling and rising repeatedly, Li Shimin struggled to speak: "Speak, what brings you to me so late?"

"Father, there is something I'm unsure whether I should say."

"What is it? Tell me."

"I've heard that recently, two people have been robbing men and women near Chang'an, committing murder and arson, and all sorts of evil deeds, causing panic throughout Chang'an."

Who are those two people?

"They are Chengxin and Weilingfu."

Upon hearing Li Tai's words, Li Shimin immediately became interested: "Is this true?"

"How dare I lie to Father Emperor?" Li Tai said solemnly.

"So, were those two caught?"

"It doesn't seem like it's there yet."

Li Shimin stood up and paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back: "This matter must be taken seriously. No matter what, we must arrest Chengxin and Wei Lingfu."

in fact,

What Li Tai said was not the truth; it was Fang Xuanling who suggested it to him.

Fang Xuanling said that since Li Chengqian was not in Chang'an, they should target Li Chengqian's subordinates. Now was the best time to strike.

Framing others was one of Fang Xuanling's specialties.

then,

They then selected two people who looked like Chengxin and Weilingfu.

The two men put on Chengxin's and Wei Lingfu's clothes, and they looked exactly the same. If you didn't look closely, you really couldn't tell that they were fake.

These two, under the guise of Chengxin and Wei Lingfu, committed many evil deeds, causing quite a stir.

The purpose of this was to frame Chengxin and Weilingfu.

This was intended to provoke Li Shimin, so that Li Shimin could be used to deal with Chengxin and Wei Lingfu.

Chengxin and Wei Lingfu can be considered Li Chengqian's capable assistants.

The saying goes, "It's better to cut off one finger than to injure all ten."

This move can only be described as vicious.

Li Chengan was in Nanbojin, so he had no idea what was going on in Chang'an.

Li Shimin believed Li Tai's story because it sounded so convincing.

Li Shimin was so angry that the veins on his forehead bulged: "What did I say? I told you long ago that Chengxin and that stinky Taoist priest are no good!"

but,

Li Chengqian wouldn't listen! He insisted on spending all his time with those shady characters, which infuriated me!

in fact,

Wei Zheng also heard about this.

However, Wei Zheng never believed it to be true.

Because he knew Chengxin was not that kind of person. He had helped so many orphans and was kind-hearted. How could he possibly do such heinous things?

Isn't this nonsense?

Wei Zheng stepped forward: "Your Majesty, please calm down."

Your humble servant believes that this matter is probably not that simple.

What's the use of hearsay? We need to get to the bottom of this before drawing any conclusions.

Li Tai was displeased: "Old Master Wei, what do you mean by that?"

I said that Taoist priests are not good people, and you questioned that, right?

I wasn't talking about you!

There's a saying: "Don't expose someone's shortcomings."

However, Li Tai disregarded all that and publicly declared that Wei Zheng was a Taoist priest.

Wei Zheng smiled slightly: "King of Yue, that's right. Back then, I was indeed a Taoist priest."

later,

By chance, I arrived in Chang'an.

However, I do not think so.

Are there no good people among Taoist priests?

Taoist priests often robbed the rich to help the poor and did many other things to help ordinary people.

Li Shimin understood Wei Zheng's meaning.

In fact, Wei Zheng was saying that every profession has good and bad people, and we cannot generalize from a single case.

We must not judge people by their appearance.

at this time,

Li Tai was unaware that the two people impersonating Chengxin and Wei Lingfu had already been arrested.

"Father, I have never liked to speak ill of others behind their backs, including Li Chengqian."

However, some things, if left unsaid, feel like a fishbone stuck in my throat; I simply have to get them out.

When Li Tai mentioned Li Chengan, Li Shimin raised an eyebrow: "Speak your mind."

"This time, Li Chenggan and Songtsen Gampo went together to Naniwajin to mediate the relations between the Wa (Japanese) Kingdom, Baekje, and Silla. In my opinion,..."

Li Chengqian's actions can be described as showing off.

At the beginning,

One of the main reasons Qin was able to defeat the other six states was that Qin deliberately instigated conflict among them, causing them to fight and kill each other.

This is a good thing for the Qin state.

now,

Goguryeo, Wa (Japan), Silla, and Baekje were located to the east of our Tang Dynasty.

The more fiercely they fight each other, the more beneficial it is for our Great Tang Dynasty, isn't it?

Why did Li Chenggan try to mediate their relationship?

Let them fight it out, let them fight until the world is turned upside down, then we can reap the benefits.

I really don't know what Li Chenggan was thinking or what his purpose was.

It is undeniably malicious of Li Tai to say such things in front of Li Shimin.

in fact,

He was essentially saying, "Father, you must be careful! Li Chengqian is building up his own power base and plotting a rebellion!"

He just didn't say it outright.

Li Shimin nodded slightly: "There are indeed some controversies surrounding Li Chengan's trip to Nanbojin this time."

"If you want to understand a person, just look at who they are with."

How can Li Chenggan possibly have a good future when he spends all his time with someone like Chengxin, who is neither male nor female and commits all sorts of evil deeds?

Li Shimin naturally understood the principle of "one who is near vermilion gets stained red, and one who is near ink gets stained black," and he himself was very opposed to Li Chenggan and Chengxin having any dealings.

Because he felt that Chengxin was a monster.

Although Chengxin is a man, his every move is more alluring than a woman's.

If he were dressed in women's clothing, he would look exactly like a woman. If that's not a monster, what is it?

Mentioning Wei Lingfu reminded Li Shimin of the alchemists in history, especially Xu Fu and Lu Sheng from the Qin Dynasty.

The wealth that Xu Fu swindled from Qin Shi Huang was far more than hundreds of millions.

If Xu Fu hadn't swindled so much money and emptied the Qin state, how could Qin have perished after only two generations?

Therefore,

It's no wonder that Qin Shi Huang burned books and buried scholars alive. It's said that he didn't bury Confucian scholars, but rather alchemists.

If it really was those alchemists, then it seems that Qin Shi Huang cannot be entirely blamed for this.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, Luan Da rose to a high-ranking official position through charlatanism and deception, and even married a princess.

One step to the sky!

It once inspired envy, jealousy, and hatred among the people of the world.

but,

Luan Da was no good person.

He did so many bad things behind Emperor Wu of Han's back, severely damaging the court's image in the eyes of the people.

Emperor Wu of Han was very intelligent.

Soon it was discovered that Luan Da was all show and no substance, all talk and no action, and had no real talent or learning.

Ultimately, Emperor Wu of Han ordered Luan Da to be executed.

Whenever Li Shimin thought of these things, he felt a deep hatred for those Taoist priests and sorcerers.

He was worried that he would follow the same path as Qin Shi Huang.

Li Tai, observing Li Shimin's expression, realized that Li Shimin agreed with all the points he had made.

He became even more enthusiastic: "I'm not exaggerating."

If Li Chengqian continues like this, the future of the Tang Dynasty is in jeopardy!

Li Tai's implication was that if Li Chenggan was deposed and he was made crown prince, then everything would be fine.

Li Shimin rolled up his sleeves, lowered his head and remained silent, as if he were thinking about something.

Wei Zheng, watching from the side, thought to himself, "This is bad; Li Tai is a wicked man."

They wanted to take advantage of Li Chengqian's absence from Chang'an to slander him behind his back.

It seems,

Li Shimin did not object to what Li Tai said.

Wei Zheng coughed and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."

Although Li Shimin did not particularly like Wei Zheng, because Wei Zheng often embarrassed him in court,

However, Li Shimin knew in his heart that Wei Zheng was a loyal minister of the Tang Dynasty, and that his considerations were always for the benefit of the Tang Dynasty. Li Shimin never doubted this.

Li Shimin looked up at Wei Zheng and said, "My dear minister, just say what you have to say."

Wei Zheng strode about with measured steps, swaying his head and speaking eloquently:

"Firstly, His Majesty's approval was granted for Li Chenggan and Songtsen Gampo to travel together to Naniwajin to mediate relations between the Wa, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla."

Wei Zheng's first words shut Li Shimin down, implying that he had agreed to something, so how could he go back on his word?

"This—." Li Shimin choked on his words.

"Furthermore, don't think this is an easy task,"

If you think that way, you are really wrong.

That's one way to put it.

When the prince arrived there, he faced a perilous situation with a slim chance of survival.

Why did the Crown Prince still do this mission when he knew it was extremely dangerous?

That's because the Crown Prince had the Tang Dynasty and its people in his heart.

Think about it.

If war breaks out, won't it be the ordinary people who suffer?

Therefore, the Crown Prince's trip to the Wa Kingdom was undertaken with a public-spirited purpose; Your Majesty, please do not doubt the Crown Prince.

When Li Shimin heard Wei Zheng say this, he also felt that Wei Zheng's words made sense, and it seemed that his own ideas were somewhat extreme.

Wei Zheng continued, "Secondly, as the King of Yue just said, he believes it would be better if the eastern states fought each other to the death, causing chaos and destruction."

In my humble opinion, this is a misconception.

We need to study history.

However, it cannot be applied blindly.

Are the Eastern states today the same as the six states of yesteryear?

The six states were independent of each other, and none of them were subordinate to the others.

Silla was a loyal vassal state of our Great Tang Dynasty, and our relationship was one of shared prosperity and shared ruin.

Is this the same as the relationship between the six states and Qin?

Therefore,

We cannot allow Silla and its people to be harmed.

If that's the case, which country would be willing to become a vassal state of our Great Tang in the future?

How could our Great Tang Dynasty stand idly by while other countries united to attack Silla?

If we do that, we will break the heart of the Queen of Silla.

What will neighboring countries think after seeing this?

They'll definitely think that our Tang Dynasty is incapable of protecting Silla.

Or they may be unwilling to protect their vassal states.

Thirdly, the Wa (倭) Kingdom was a unique entity; it was originally just an island nation at sea.

Legend has it that Xu Fu led the Qin people there to find immortals and settled down, where the land gradually flourished.

In other words, the Wa people were descendants of the Qin people.

But now they've forgotten their roots.

They turned their ships around, intending to attack our Great Tang Dynasty.

They think they can just sail across the ocean and try to take over our Great Tang Dynasty because they have large warships and advanced navigation technology.

and also,

Two years ago,

The Wa (Japanese) Kingdom sent envoys Inugami Mitako and Yakushi Eri to our Chang'an to learn advanced agricultural techniques, various systems, and Buddhist scriptures. We treated them with courtesy and shared our knowledge generously.

but,

And how did they treat our envoys?

When our envoy Gao Biaoren arrived in the Japanese kingdom, he was imprisoned, tortured, and subjected to all kinds of humiliation simply because of a disagreement.

Can we swallow this insult?

Chen Tang once said, "Those who offend the mighty Han, though far away, shall be punished."

It stands to reason,

Our Tang Dynasty's military strength is no weaker than that of the Han Dynasty back then!

Any country that dares to insult the envoys of the Tang Dynasty will be severely punished without exception.

What reason do we have not to uphold the dignity of our Great Tang Dynasty?

and,

I heard that the Wa people have formed an alliance with Yanqi.

With the Wa (Japanese) Kingdom in the east and Yanqi (Yanqi) in the west, they formed a pincer movement, putting our Great Tang Dynasty in great danger.

In summary,

Li Chengan's trip to the Wa (Japanese) Kingdom was of great significance.

The Wa, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla were not the six kingdoms of that time.

We should treat them differently, rather than indulging them and letting them fight each other.

After all, Li Shimin was a wise and benevolent ruler, and he also felt that Wei Zheng's words made sense.

Upon hearing this, Li Tai cursed inwardly, thinking to himself, "This old Taoist priest is truly despicable."

What does this have to do with you?

It seems that

This person is definitely on Li Chengqian's side.

When one plan failed, Li Tai devised another.

at this time,

He took a scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Li Shimin: "Father, have you ever read this book?"

Li Shimin took it and looked at it; it turned out to be the "Zizhi Tongjian" (Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government).

He asked, "Wasn't this book compiled by Li Chenggan and his colleagues?"

"I have already read it, and it is very well written."

"Your subject believes there is a problem with this book."

"What's wrong?" Li Shimin was a little curious, because so far he had not found any problems with the book.

"This book begins in the 23rd year of King Weilie of Zhou, and describes the division of Jin into the three families of Han, Zhao, and Wei."

Please, Father Emperor, consider why Li Chengqian wrote it this way.

Is he implying that our Tang Dynasty is going to be divided up by three forces?

This is an ominous sign!

Wei Zheng, who was listening nearby, thought to himself that Li Tai's words were too far-fetched. What did the division of Jin by the three families of Han, Zhao and Wei have to do with our Tang Dynasty?

This book begins with the division of Jin into three states, intended as a warning to future generations that no matter how powerful one is, one must not be arrogant or domineering.

Simultaneously,

This also reveals a mistake made by the Zhou emperor: enfeoffing feudal lords.

then,

Although the three families of Han, Zhao, and Wei did not yet have their own territories.

However, the Zhou emperor, speaking carelessly, had already granted them the titles of feudal lords.

This made the three families of Han, Zhao, and Wei believe that it would be legitimate for them to divide up the land of Jin in the future.

Li Chengqian here fully reveals the importance of "rites". Without "rites", the world will be in chaos. How can this be said to indicate that the Tang Dynasty will be divided up by other countries?

Isn't this nonsense?

When Li Shimin first read it, he didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

but,

After Li Tai's reminder, he felt that what Li Tai said might have made some sense.

Is this implying that she is somewhat like Zhi Boyao?

That means he's a tyrannical ruler.

Li Shimin sat in front of the document and reread the beginning of the Zizhi Tongjian.

The more he read, the more he felt that Li Tai's words made sense, and it seemed to make sense.

Li Shimin's face turned ashen: "That Li Chengqian is actually resorting to innuendo and veiled insults!"

Seeing that Li Shimin was very angry, Wei Zheng quickly explained, "Your Majesty, you have misunderstood the Crown Prince's intentions; that's not the case."

The Crown Prince chose this particular time to begin writing this book for a profound reason.

Then,

Wei Zheng then explained his viewpoint, believing that the "collapse of rites and music" in the Zhou Dynasty was a sign of the country's demise.

Li Shimin listened and lowered his head in silence, but a knot in his heart remained stuck in his throat.

at this time,

Chang He walked in from outside and knelt on the ground: "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Li Shimin clenched his fists, trying his best to calm himself down.

He looked at Chang He: "Get up!"

After Chang He stood up, he bowed to Li Tai and Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng returned the favor with courtesy.

Li Tai ignored Chang He.

Chang He was no ordinary person; he was the commander of the Imperial Guards, wielding military power, and a favorite of Li Shimin.

However, Li Tai did not buy into his argument.

Chang He looked at it and cursed Li Tai in his heart.

However, on the surface, they pretended not to see it.

Li Shimin then asked, "I ordered you to capture Chengxin and Wei Lingfu within three days. Have you succeeded?"

"Your Majesty, I have captured him."

"Oh, you did a great job this time," Li Shimin praised.

"Before that, after I received His Majesty's decree, I began to take action. I put Su Gui in charge of this matter."

"Isn't Su Gui Su Wan's younger brother?"

"Exactly."

"Were Chengxin and Wei Lingfu captured by Su Gui?"

"Yes."

Where are Chengxin and Wei Lingfu?

"It's right outside the door!"

"Bring them in; I want to question them myself."

"promise!"

at this time,

Chang He shouted towards the outside, "Su Gui, bring Chengxin and Wei Lingfu in!"

"yes!"

Not long,

Su Gui led his soldiers to bring Chengxin and Wei Lingfu in from outside.

When the two men saw Li Shimin sitting behind the desk with a very dignified expression, they trembled with fear and knelt down on the ground with a thud.

in fact,

These two people are not Chengxin and Wei Lingfu, but imposters.

They were chosen by Li Tai and his team.

The two men were surprised to see Li Tai there as well.

Li Tai recognized them immediately and thought to himself, "This is bad. If these two are spineless and say whatever comes to mind, I will be guilty of deceiving the emperor."

Because the lighting was somewhat dim, Li Shimin didn't pay any attention to it.

He genuinely believed that the two people kneeling on the ground were Chengxin and Wei Lingfu.

Li Shimin looked down at Chengxin and asked, "Chengxin, do you know what crime you have committed?"

The imposter looked up and saw Li Tai standing there. Not daring to speak, he said, "Your Majesty, I do not know what mistake I have made."

"Don't know? Great!"

Let me ask you, did you ever sit on equal footing with Li Chengqian, or sleep side by side in the same bed?

Did you perform some dances with suggestive music to bewitch the prince?

"No, Your Majesty, I am innocent."

He's an imposter, so naturally he doesn't have one.

"You still dare to deny it?"

"It's not that I'm trying to deny it, but rather, it's simply not true!"

Li Shimin's gaze then fell upon Wei Lingfu.

Wei Lingfu hung his head, his face pale with fright, and he didn't dare to breathe.

"Are you a Taoist priest?" Li Shimin asked.

"I was once a monk in a Taoist temple." Wei Lingfu, who was in disguise, felt uneasy as he saw Li Tai's narrow eyes staring intently at him.

He knew that if he said the wrong thing, Li Tai would just smirk and his entire family would be doomed.

"So, tell me, what bad things have you done lately?"

"Recently, due to the poor business of the Taoist temple, fewer people have been coming to offer incense."

I simply couldn't survive, so I went down the mountain and robbed some valuables.

"You're quite honest. Who did you rob? How much money did you steal? Who were your accomplices?"

Why not just tell the truth?

"I didn't have any accomplices, it was just me. I robbed an old man who was passing by, and found one tael of silver on him."

"Do you know that robbery is a serious crime? Even if you steal a single coin, let alone an ounce of silver, it's still a crime."

What I hate most are those thieves. Those people are unwilling to work, but dream of getting rich overnight. They are the black sheep of the Tang Dynasty.

Su Gui,

"Drag Chengxin and Wei Lingfu out and behead them!"

"Yes!" Su Gui's voice was loud and clear.

Those two imposters heard Li Shimin issue such an order,

At that moment, I was so frightened that I collapsed to the ground and couldn't stand up at all.

The man who looked like Wei Lingfu had a wet patch on his crotch.

Wei Zheng observed carefully from the side and found that Chengxin was indeed thin and frail.

but,

His skin was a bit rough, and he was a little shorter than average.

Wei Zheng once enjoyed a dance at a banquet.

He felt that Chengxin was not as sleazy as the person in front of him.

In addition, he also noticed that the fake Wei Lingfu had shifty eyes and was afraid of Li Tai.

Wei Zheng suspected something was amiss.

He quickly intervened: "Your Majesty, please calm down!"

As the saying goes, every family has its rules, and every country has its laws. Although they both committed crimes...

However, it still needs to be reviewed.

In my humble opinion, it would be better to temporarily imprison them in the Dali Temple's jail.

After the Dali Temple conducts the trial, whatever the crime, that is the crime.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin felt that Wei Zheng's words were more prudent: "Alright, then let's do as you say. Imprison them both in the Dali Temple jail."

then,

Let Dai Zhou conduct a thorough investigation.

We must never wrong an innocent person, nor let a guilty person go unpunished.

Upon hearing this, the two imposters breathed a sigh of relief, realizing they had just narrowly escaped death.

If Wei Zheng hadn't spoken up, their heads would probably be rolling on the ground already.

Seeing that Li Shimin had made his decision, Chang He waved his hand, and Su Gui and his soldiers escorted the imposter away.

Li Shimin stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth in the hall: "The appearance of thieves near Chang'an is my fault."

then,

When Yao and Shun ruled the world, where were there any thieves?

It seems I am still lacking in virtue and ability.

Wei Zheng then said, "Your Majesty, you don't need to blame yourself too much."

Thieves have existed in every dynasty throughout history; it's just a matter of how many there are.

Why bother taking this to heart?

Throughout history, prisons have been packed with people, but Your Majesty's prison is almost empty. There are only a few hundred death row inmates in the entire country.

This is unprecedented in history.

Li Shimin said solemnly, "The criminal law must not be too harsh, and there should not be too many severe punishments."

then,

Wasn't that how Qin Shi Huang was? He used harsh laws and severe punishments to suppress the people of the land.

Little did they know that where there is oppression, there is resistance!

"Your Majesty is wise!" Wei Zheng exclaimed.

While Li Shimin and Wei Zheng were discussing...

suddenly,

A maidservant burst in from outside.

Li Shimin looked closely and saw that the maid who came was none other than Cai Xiang.

Cai Xiang was Empress Zhangsun's personal maid.

Seeing her flustered expression, Li Shimin quickly asked, "Miss Caixiang, what happened?"

Cai Xiang, breathless from running, gasped, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The Empress has vomited blood again! You must go and see her!"

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin felt dizzy and almost fainted.

"Father, are you alright?" Li Tai quickly came over to help Li Shimin.

Li Shimin waved his hand: "I don't need your help, I can walk by myself. Let's go see your mother."