Gaochang was a key transportation hub and guarded the gateway of the Silk Road of the Han Dynasty. Li Shimin hoped to control the Silk Road by pursuing the Western Regions and subjugating the Western Turks. Gaochang could not avoid it. However, since Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, Gaochang has enjoyed the national reign until now. The Ju family has managed Gaochang for more than 500 years, which is longer than the Central Plains dynasty. Moreover, unlike the other races, Gaochang was a Han country. Ju Wentai brought his family with his family to see him, and his etiquette was thoughtful.

Whether it is attack or occupation, it actually damages the face of the superior country of the Celestial Empire. This is also the tradition of all dynasties. The Central Plains have not developed an unknown army or an unjust strife. They pay attention to the reputation of the army, otherwise what is the difference between them and the barbarians?

Although in Li Shimin's mind, he didn't mind being a barbarian, and there was no such restriction on doing things like this. However, if he wanted to be a wise ruler, he had to consider these things. Now there is a way that doesn't have to harm his face, so why not do it?

Moreover, this incident opened a new door for Li Shimin and made him suddenly realize. Why didn’t he expect that it would be faked by others before?

There is no need to use an army in Gaochang's place of egg-burning. It only needs to support some horse bandits to harass it, and it will inevitably surrender. Instead of begging him, it is better to let him beg me. Why didn't you think of such a simple thing before?

Li Shimin thought of this festival, and his mood swept away the haze that had been going on for several days, and he suddenly became cheerful.

"Li Mu! You are really my blessing!"

Li Mu immediately looked confused and said, "Your Majesty, what did you do? I also want to apologize to Your Majesty. Not only did I hide it from Your Majesty, I also deposed the public for personal gain and retaliated against the envoy—"

"That's all a trivial matter!" Li Shimin glanced at Li Mu and exposed mercilessly: "Didn't you just want me to say it in person, forgive you for being innocent? What a clever thing? Although you did something wrong in this matter, you did a good thing by chance, and it was a great thing that would greatly benefit my Tang Dynasty. If you have any merits and demerits, I will not punish you."

Li Mu quickly climbed along the pole: "Can you give me some rewards?"

Li Shimin frowned and said, "Don't be more aggressive. I will just not punish you. Do you dare to ask for rewards?"

Li Mu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I am not seeking reward for myself. Let's analyze this matter. You see, I am naturally like Your Majesty said, and I have repaid my merits and demerits, and I don't say anything and accept it. Your Majesty cannot ignore the merits of others."

"Other? Who?"

"For example, my brother Li Siwen, right? If he hadn't sent back the news in time, wouldn't Your Majesty still be upset now? It can be said that the Prime Minister Shangshu of the Three Provinces and Six Ministry did not eliminate the worries that the Secretary of the Majesty had eliminated for Your Majesty, and a letter from my brother was solved for Your Majesty. Shouldn't such great achievements be rewarded?"

Li Shimin heard what it means, and smiled helplessly: "You can be far-fetched. Then Li Siwen is passing on the message to you, but he has not sent the message to me. I want to reward you, but if you have to repay me, I will not reward you anymore. What is the relationship with him? It doesn't make sense to put the merits on him."

"How can it not make sense?" Li Mu quickly said, "The news was passed by him, right? This is always a fact. Your Majesty cannot be unreasonable. How can my righteous brother pass the message to Your Majesty? He is a small lieutenant, and he did not directly write to Your Majesty the power. If he went to the Ministry of Personnel first and then the Secretariat's subordinates through normal channels, it would be half a month later when His Majesty saw it? This is a temporary solution. My righteous brother must have thought that I am loyal to Your Majesty. After seeing the news, I will definitely notify Your Majesty immediately. I did the same. From this incident, it can be seen that my righteous brother Li Siwen is a resourceful and loyal young talent who is thinking about Your Majesty, and I am a rare hero in the Tang Dynasty. Your Majesty is a talent-loving person. How can I not reward you?"

Li Shimin stared at Li Mu who was politely speaking and was shocked. He had seen Li Siwen before. To put it bluntly, he was a little better than the playboy who was inverted. Why did he become a "natural" hero in his mouth? This kid's ability to make a quibble has become better again!

"If Your Majesty does not reward you, that is unfair!" Li Mu snorted angrily: "If Your Majesty is unfair, I think that the knowledgeable people in the world will not be proud of assisting Your Majesty. They would rather retire to the mountains than serve the foolish lord!"

Li Shimin was so angry that he laughed and said, "Ha! If I don't reward Li Siwen, will I be foolish?"

Li Mu avoided Li Shimin's eyes guiltily and muttered in a low voice: "Why are you going?"

"Good boy!" Li Shimin said helplessly: "The civil and military officials of the court, the royal relatives, are you the only one who dares to talk about me... Well, no matter what, whether you are willing or unintentional, you have done something for me. Then I will give you face and reward Li Siwen. What do you think is the best reward?"

Li Mu was so excited that he was about to ask for it, but Li Shimin added another sentence, saying, "Officials cannot be promoted, money cannot be rewarded, and titles cannot be promoted. Apart from that, you want to find something else."

"I..." Li Mu almost choked himself to death in one breath.

Li Mu really wanted to ask, what else is there besides official positions, money, and titles? Who is the emperor? He learned so hypocritical from? You might as well say that I just deduct it, but I won’t reward you!

"Um..." Li Mu pursed his luck, and Li Shimin looked at him with a smile, as if he had done something big. From Li Mu's perspective, his gloating look was happier than just learning that Ju Wentai's son was dead.

"Your Majesty is wise, I cannot match... Since Your Majesty said this, I will ask for a reward for my brother who can return to Chang'an to visit my relatives. I hope Your Majesty will be grateful."

"Yes, I agree!"

Because Li Siwen was not aware of people, he brought Li Yourong back to Chang'an. Li Shimin drove him to Dingxiang, and his decree made it clear that he would not return to the court if he was summoned. This was just an angry sentence. Now Li Shimin has already been relieved and it is nothing. Li Mu asked for the lifting of the ban, so he went down and responded.

"I promise him to visit him twice a year, is that enough?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Mu knew the reason to stop when he was ready, and it was indeed enough for two times. Dingxiang was far away from Chang'an. If it was four or five times a year, it would almost be on the road. Li Siwen was still Dingxiang's Zhechong Captain, and he was responsible for defending his territory, which was enough for twice a year.

"besides……"

"Also?" Li Shimin gave up his face and said, "Li Mu, don't be too arrogant, I have given you face, what else do you want?"

"Your Majesty misunderstood. This time I am trying to give your Majesty an idea."

Li Shimin frowned and said, "Li Mu, you are still young, you can read more and learn more. You should not get involved in the affairs of your family and country. There will be opportunities in the future."

"Please let me finish my words." Li Mu begged: "Or won't explain if I go home?"

"Home?" Li Shimin suddenly realized, "You are for your father-in-law, right?" Li Shimin glanced at Li Mu, and saw his anxious face, and said with a cold face: "If you don't say it, I'll forget it! I've heard about Zhangjiazhai for a long time. I've been wandering around the border of Longyou, doing some smuggling business, and making a living by black people! The crime is so great that I'll die! I'll kill it soon!"

Suddenly, as if he was just thinking about it, Li Shimin said in surprise: "Hey? Zhangjiazhai is not far from Dingxiang, and it is just a chance to make meritorious service. When I return to the palace, I will issue an order to ask Li Siwen to activate the troops of the palace, destroy Zhangjiazhai within fifteen days, and restore peace to the people in the border city!"

"Your Majesty..." Li Mu knelt down immediately without thinking. He knew very well why Li Shimin said this. If it weren't for intention, how could he point out Li Siwen and Zhangjiazhai and let his brother wipe out his father-in-law? Isn't this just an obvious dilemma, and he would almost write "Call me quickly" on his face?

There is no way, people have to bow their heads under the roof, and just act this scene to satisfy the strangeness of this inappropriate emperor!

Li Mu hugged Li Shimin's thighs tightly, and his crying was desolate. It was said that those who heard it were sad and those who listened to it were crying.

"Your Majesty, I sincerely ask Your Majesty to forgive the old and young people in Zhangjia Village! Your Majesty doesn't know that the people in Zhangjia Village are all pitiful people! Thinking about the chaos in the world more than 20 years ago, the people of Lingzhou were displaced. My father-in-law Zhang Xun could not bear the death of the people in the war, so he moved west with a group of villagers to escape the war. But the world was full of war. How could he be safe? He did not want to surrender to the Turks, and he also hated the former Sui Dynasty for being unkind and cholera, and refused to submit to the Sui Dynasty for his evil intentions. He had no choice but to build a village to protect himself and become a bandit!"

"Your Majesty also knows that Zhangjiazhai makes a living by smuggling. It is said that it is a horse bandit, but it is more like a merchant. It cannot be said that it is not true that it is a black man, but compared with the other two groups of horse bandits, it is definitely rare. They will never have this idea until they are forced to help themselves. Their opponents are not kind people, they are all vicious people!"

"Of the three major horse bandits, only Zhangjiazhai is a man, woman, young and old. Rather than being a horse bandit, it is better to be a group of refugees! Your Majesty has the virtue of life, so I would like to give you a chance to invite him to peace! I am willing to protect my father-in-law and Zhangjiazhai. There are thousands of young and old people in the village, and I hope to return to the Tang Dynasty for a day. Please give your Majesty a chance to return to the Central Plains people to the embrace of our Tang Dynasty. Your Majesty's benevolence and righteous behavior will be recorded in history and will be passed down for thousands of years!"

When he was excited, Li Mu even shed tears. The tears made two tears on his face, and it looked like that!

Li Shimin was also moved. He didn't take this matter seriously. He was just a horse bandit. The reason why he didn't move them was not that he couldn't move them, but that these horse bandits could not make a big difference. The army had just returned triumphantly and had not put in time to deal with it.

In Li Shimin's view, Li Mu's plea for his father-in-law was also a filial act. Of course, the most important thing was the last sentence.

It has been recorded in history and has been passed down for thousands of years.
Chapter completed!