Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

Niu Jinda had been guarding Li Shimin for many years, and he had not seen him so angry for a long time.

So Niu Jinda held up the battle report in both hands and said with a serious expression.

"As ordered!"

Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "Niu Jinda, please read the battle report first!"

"promise!"

Niu Jinda responded respectfully.

He then opened the battle report and looked through it quickly.

As a military commander, Niu Jinda's tiger eyes instantly burst into murderous intent when he saw that Zhang Junyi not only deserted the battlefield but also led the enemy troops towards the food and grass.

What is the difference between Zhang Junyi and his masterminds' behavior and treason?

If tens of thousands of elite troops were lost in Goguryeo, it would not only be a heavy blow to the prestige of Your Majesty and the Crown Prince, but would also cause the Tang Dynasty to lose control over a number of surrounding vassal states.

After a cup of tea.

Niu Jinda handed the battle report back to Li Shimin and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, rest assured. Even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I will find the person behind the scenes!"

Li Shimin nodded slightly.

He put his hands behind his back, walked back and forth several times, and finally stopped in front of Niu Jinda.

"Niu Jinda, take your men to investigate now. No matter who the mastermind is, we must investigate thoroughly!"

"If the evidence is conclusive, go straight to jail!"

When Li Shimin spoke, he gritted his teeth, which shows how angry he was.

Niu Jinda's pupils shrank, and then he responded in a deep voice.

"promise!"

After bowing, Niu Jinda quickly left the Ganlu Hall.

Li Shimin saw Niu Jinda's figure completely disappear from his sight, then he turned and walked to a screen on the side, staring at the names of the princes written by Zhangsun Wugou.

His gaze lingered longest on the names of Li Tai and Li Ke.

The eunuchs guarding the hall carefully picked up the memorials on the ground and placed them on the desk according to categories.

It was unknown how long Li Shimin had been watching, when suddenly a eunuch's report was heard outside Ganlu Hall.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei requests an audience."

When he heard Li Tai coming, Li Shimin raised his eyebrows.

If it were any other time, he would definitely let Li Tai in with a smile, but today he did not feel happy about Li Tai's request to see him.

A moment of silence.

Li Shimin whispered, "Please let him in."

"promise!"

The eunuch's voice quickly sounded outside the hall.

Not long after, Li Tai, with a rosy face, trotted in with a vermilion treasure chest in his hands.

The fat on his body swayed back and forth in his loose, expensive robe like surging waves.

Li Tai walked up to Li Shimin with a smile on his face, and was about to act coquettishly and then give away the treasure in his hand.

But he keenly noticed that his father's expression was not right, so he quickly changed the content of his words.

"Father, are you worried about something?"

Li Shimin stared at Li Tai and shook his head slightly.

Feeling the change in his father's attitude towards him, Li Tai's heart tightened and he felt a little uneasy.

Soon he suppressed this emotion deep in his heart and began to use his method of acting like a spoiled child.

"Father, I don't know why you are worried, but I have a treasure to give you today."

"Hope it makes you smile."

As he spoke, Li Tai opened the treasure chest in his hand and held it in front of Li Shimin with a smile.

"Father, I know you have been looking for the original copy of the Lanting Preface. I have finally found it after going through so much trouble!"

Hearing Li Tai's words, Li Shimin's eyes instantly focused on a roll of silk in the box, and his expression gradually softened.

He picked up the silk with slightly trembling hands, opened it carefully, and asked excitedly.

"Qingque, are you sure this is the authentic copy of the Preface to the Lanting Poems?"

Li Tai nodded heavily and said, "Father, I got this authentic work from Monk Biancai, the seventh-generation grandson of Wang Xizhi and a disciple of Wang Zhiyong."

"I have already asked Chu Suiliang, Yan Shigu, Cen Wenben and other ministers to authenticate it, and they have confirmed that it is undoubtedly the original!"

Seeing a hint of doubt in his father's eyes, Li Tai hurriedly explained.

"Father, due to the years of war, Wang Zhiyong became a monk when he was young and accepted a disciple named Biancai."

"A few years ago, Wang Zhiyong died of illness. On his deathbed, he passed on his family heirloom, the Preface to the Lanting Poems, to Biancai, his only disciple."

Li Shimin nodded slightly, and then asked curiously: "Qingque, the Preface to the Lanting Poems is the relic of Monk Biancai's mentor, and it is priceless. How could Monk Biancai be willing to hand it over?"

Faced with his father's questions, Li Tai had already thought of a solution before coming.

He said with a painful look on his face: "Father, I paid a huge price to get this original copy of the Lanting Preface."

"But when I think about making my father smile, I feel that any price I pay is worth it!"

Li Shimin said with relief: "Qingque is thoughtful."

After saying this, Li Shimin carefully placed the silk on the table and admired it with joy.

If he knew that Li Tai's men had obtained the money from Monk Bian Cai by robbing and cheating, I wonder if he would be ashamed.

When Li Tai saw his father's ecstatic expression, a smug smile appeared on his face.

While Li Shimin was admiring it attentively, Li Tai stood quietly by and waited.

After a long time.

Li Shimin raised his head with a look of satisfaction and rewarded Li Tai: "Qingque has contributed greatly to the delivery of the Preface to the Lanting Poems. I will reward you with 100 catties of gold and 1,000 pieces of silk!"

Li Tai did not accept the reward, but said with a somewhat difficult expression.

"Father, I don't want any reward."

"Why?"

"My father-in-law, Yan Lide, is still imprisoned in the Dali Temple. Thinking of Princess Yan Wan crying every night, I feel very uncomfortable."

At this point, Li Tai's eyes turned red, and the tears in his eyes seemed like they would fall at any time.

He bowed deeply to Li Shimin and said, "I beg you, father, to spare my father-in-law Yan Lide!"

Although Li Tai has a new love, Yin Yushan, he still attaches great importance to Princess Yan Wan.

Because the Yan family behind it is a big family in Hedong

Moreover, his father-in-law Yan Lide was originally a great architect, and his brother Yan Liben was also deeply trusted and relied upon by his father, so he would definitely hold a high position in the future.

Now Yan Lide has been demoted and imprisoned because of working for him, and as his son-in-law and master, he has no choice but to save him.

Li Shimin frowned and said, "Qingque, Yan Lide's mistake led to the death of two soldiers. I didn't kill him because of our friendship."

"Now he is only demoted to the position of Junior Minister of the Imperial Guards and imprisoned for two months. This is already the minimum punishment!"

"Don't mention this matter again!"

Repairing a city wall is like building a bridge. If it collapses after a short period of use, the person responsible will be beheaded.

What’s more, the collapsed city wall also caused the deaths of two soldiers.