Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

"Wait, Your Majesty! That's not it!"

Fang Xuanling interrupted quickly, his voice rapid and loud.

I saw him leaning forward slightly, his eyes as sharp as torches.

Li Shimin's anger was instantly suppressed by this look.

Li Shimin was a little overwhelmed by this sudden interruption. The anger in his eyes had not completely dissipated, but there was a bit more confusion.

"Then, my dear Lord Fang, why did Tubo attack the Tang Dynasty?"

There was a hint of doubt in his voice and his eyes were full of questions.

Fang Xuanling took a deep breath, as if he wanted to take in all the complicated situations in this breath.

He looked at Li Shimin again, his eyes filled with helplessness and solemnity, and slowly said, "Your Majesty, because the Crown Prince rejected the marriage proposal from Tubo, Princess Wencheng is not allowed to enter Tibet!"

His speech was steady, and every word seemed to be carefully considered, yet with a sense of determination that had to be said.

When Li Shimin heard this, he became furious, his face turned red, and the anger in his eyes ignited again.

"This traitor!"

He began to pace back and forth in the room, his steps quick and heavy, each step carrying his anger and anxiety.

"Does he know what he's doing?"

Li Shimin's voice was a little hoarse, and his eyes were full of grief.

"Marrying Princess Wencheng will ensure peace and stability on the borders of the Tang Dynasty for at least thirty years!"

As he spoke, he waved his arms vigorously, as if trying to grasp the lost opportunity for peace.

Fang Xuanling stood quietly by, his figure appearing exceptionally calm amid Li Shimin's anger.

He is like a pine tree, who can maintain his posture no matter how fierce the wind and rain are.

He looked at Li Shimin, without any fear in his eyes, only deep understanding and a hint of barely perceptible worry.

He knew that Li Shimin was angry at the moment, but he also understood the deep meaning behind the prince's actions, and was even more aware of the thorny nature of this complex situation.

Li Shimin continued to pace back and forth, muttering his dissatisfaction with the prince's decision.

Fang Xuanling looked at him silently until Li Shimin's gaze turned to him again.

"Lord Fang, if you have anything to say, just say it..."

Li Shimin's tone was a little impatient, but also with a hint of expectation. He knew Fang Xuanling's wisdom very well, and perhaps his words at this moment could untie this mess.

Fang Xuanling sighed slightly, and this sigh was filled with worry about the fate of the country.

He began to talk about what happened today, his speech still neither fast nor slow, and in an orderly manner.

His eyes sometimes looked into the distance, as if he was recalling those heated discussions.

He looked at Li Shimin from time to time to make sure he understood every detail.

"Your Majesty, today in Liangyi Palace...

Fang Xuanling's voice is deep and magnetic, as if he is narrating a major historical event.

"But His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had a firm look in his eyes. He said that the Li Tang could no longer use marriage as a means to buy peace.

"The Li Tang dynasty, the ancestral precepts of the Li Tang dynasty that began with him."

No marriage alliance, no indemnity, no cession of territory, no tribute. The Son of Heaven guards the national gates, and the King dies for the country."

There was a glint of admiration in Fang Xuanling's eyes. He looked at Li Shimin, as if waiting for his reaction.

"He said that the dignity of the Tang Dynasty must not be violated, and even in the face of war, we must not succumb to the threat of Tubo."

Li Shimin listened quietly, his pace gradually slowed down, and the anger in his eyes was gradually replaced by thought.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's words moved us all. He knows full well that this move could lead to war, but he is willing to take this risk for the dignity and long-term interests of the Tang Dynasty."

Fang Xuanling continued, his voice showing more support for the prince.

"He said that if we can't make Tubo understand the toughness of the Tang Dynasty, there will never be peace on the border."

Li Shimin fell into deep thought, his brows furrowed, and the expression in his eyes was complex and changeable.

Fang Xuanling stood quietly by, waiting for Li Shimin to digest this information.

He knew that as a subject, what he had to do now was to report all the circumstances to His Majesty truthfully.

After a while, Li Shimin raised his head and a gleam flashed in his eyes.

"Hahahaha! My son is right! He is truly a sage king! He's almost catching up with me!"

His laughter was hearty and heroic, full of pride.

"We, the Li Tang, do not accept marriage alliances, pay indemnities, cede territory, or pay tribute. The emperor guards the borders, and the king dies for the country!"

As he spoke, he waved his arms excitedly, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Well said! Very well said! You all saw it! This is my son, he's so tough!"

Fang Xuanling smiled slightly, and that smile was like a spring breeze blowing across the lake, causing ripples.

There was also a glint of pride in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, although the Crown Prince's action was risky, it fully demonstrates the style of our Great Tang."

His voice was steady and powerful, expressing his certainty in the prince's decision.

"He has the same spirit as His Majesty did back then."

Li Shimin's face was full of joy. He looked at Fang Xuanling with anticipation in his eyes.

"Lord Fang, you said you've been discussing this all day. Have you decided who to send to attack Tubo?"

There was a hint of urgency in his voice.

"My son has made a bold promise! He will destroy the Tubo nation and its people. Otherwise, he will commit suicide in the Imperial Ancestral Temple to thank the world!"

Li Shimin became more and more excited as he spoke.

"Then as a father, I must support you!"

As he spoke, he solemnly took out a black jade qilin from his sleeve and handed it to Fang Xuanling. The black jade qilin shone with a mysterious luster under the light, as if it contained endless power.

Fang Xuanling took the black jade Qilin with both hands. His movements were gentle and solemn, as if he was taking over a sacred object that concerned the fate of the country.

He looked at the black jade Qilin carefully, with a hint of surprise in his eyes. He knew very well that this was the military token of the three thousand black armored soldiers and one hundred cavalrymen, and it was the symbol of military power that Li Shimin cherished most.

"Your Majesty, this military token is extremely important. Have you really made your decision?"

His voice was a little low, with respect for Li Shimin's decision and a hint of worry.

"Lord Fang, please pass this to Cheng Qian tomorrow. It's the military token for three thousand Black Armored Soldiers and one hundred Cavalrymen."

Li Shimin looked serious.

"Seeing this military token is like seeing me!"

His eyes were extremely firm, as if he had already seen the victory of the Tang army on the battlefield.

"Your Majesty is wise and wise. With this military token, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will surely be even more powerful."

Fang Xuanling nodded slightly. He knew that once Li Shimin made a decision, it would be difficult to change, and all he could do was support and assist him.

Once this thing is handed over, Your Majesty will truly be Your Majesty!

Seeing that Li Shimin had even taken out his two most powerful troops, Fang Xuanling's expression was slightly moved, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

He knew very well the importance of these two armies to the Tang Dynasty, like two sharp swords protecting the country. Now Li Shimin handed them over to the prince without hesitation. This was an immense trust in the prince and also a gamble on the future of the country.

Li Shimin looked at Li Ji again, and Li Ji understood and walked out quickly.

After a while, he came in with a mahogany box, which exuded an ancient atmosphere.

Li Shimin placed the mahogany box on the table and opened it in front of Fang Xuanling. Inside were marked fish symbols, which were neatly arranged in the box and had a faint metallic luster.

"Lord Fang, give this to Cheng Qian tomorrow along with my military token. Even without these things, Cheng Qian, as the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, can mobilize them. But it won't be as easy as waving one arm."

Li Shimin gently stroked the fish symbol.

"There are 780,000 regular troops in the prefectures, counties, and garrisons across the country. I'm afraid I won't be able to use them all. Hand them all over to Cheng Qian."

His eyes showed both trust in his son and a hint of loneliness of a hero in his twilight years.

"I finally understand. Cheng Qian can lead the Tang Dynasty to a higher level!"

He shook his head slightly and sighed, "I am old, I can't refuse to accept my age!"

This famous emperor in history also showed a rare sense of frustration at this moment, and the traces left by the years on his body seemed to be more obvious at this moment.

Fang Xuanling looked at Li Shimin with emotion in his eyes.

He saw the helplessness and reluctance of this great emperor, and also saw his earnest expectations for the prince.

"Your Majesty, you have worked hard for the Tang Dynasty your entire life. Now it is time to hand over the heavy responsibility to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

There was a touch of comfort in his voice.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is young and promising. With the help of Your Majesty and the support of these troops, he will surely ensure the eternal stability of our Tang Dynasty."

He took a step forward and bowed slightly, as if expressing his respect to Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I, this old minister, will definitely assist His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and live up to your trust."

……

"By the way, who should we send to attack Tubo?"

Li Shimin asked again with some curiosity.

"Your Majesty, it's Li Jing."

Fang Xuanling replied, a hint of confidence flashing in his eyes.

"General Li Jing is renowned for his bravery and strategy. If he leads the army against Tubo, we will surely achieve victory."

"Li Jing, the destruction of Tubo is not a big deal. We brothers should go find Xueyantuo to play with."

A hint of excitement flashed in Li Shimin's eyes, as if he had regained the passion he had when fighting on the battlefield in his youth.

"If I'm lucky, I might even be able to catch up and participate in the battle to destroy Tubo!"

"Your Majesty, you are a man of ten thousand gold. Now let the young generals lead the charge."

Fang Xuanling hurriedly advised him, as he was worried that Li Shimin might make a mistake on the battlefield.

"If anything happens to you..."

His eyes were full of worry, and his brows furrowed again. The deep wrinkles were filled with concern for Li Shimin's safety.

"Have the funds for destroying Tubo been calculated?" Li Shimin did not respond to Fang Xuanling's dissuasion, but changed the subject.

Fang Xuanling shook his head. "Your Majesty, we haven't had time to calculate it yet! The Ministry of Revenue has been extremely busy these past few days."

As he spoke, he gently stroked his beard with his hand. The beard was black and white, like a special mark left on him by the years.

"But rest assured, Your Majesty, I will urge the Ministry of Revenue to calculate the accounts as soon as possible to ensure the smooth progress of the war."

"That's good!"

Li Shimin nodded, with a hint of relief in his eyes.

Fang Xuanling looked at the wrinkles at the corners of Li Shimin's eyes, his eyes couldn't help but warm up, and his voice choked.

"Your Majesty, you must take good care of yourself during this expedition against the Xueyantuo! You are old, and you are no longer young!"

His eyes were full of sincere concern, which was the embodiment of the friendship between the monarch and his subject over the years. His voice trembled slightly, as if he was afraid of losing this emperor who was both his king and his friend.

Li Shimin smiled, he walked forward and took Fang Xuanling's arm.

"Don't worry, my dear Lord Fang. I am the Grand General of Heavenly Strategy. My father has bestowed upon me the title of Grand General. There is no battle I cannot win!"

Li Shimin said this with great confidence, as if time had not taken away his bravery.

"Your Majesty, I know you are unparalleled in your bravery, but the battlefield is dangerous. I hope you will be more careful."

Fang Xuanling held Li Shimin's hand tightly, his eyes full of reluctance and worry.

"This old minister awaits your majesty's triumphant return."

"Lord Fang, what posthumous title did Cheng Qian give me?"

Li Shimin had been worried about the posthumous title because his coffin had not yet been buried in Zhaoling Mausoleum. He had wanted to ask about it before, but was afraid, fearing that his rebellious son would take revenge on him and give him a bad posthumous title.

Fang Xuanling saw the worry in Li Shimin's eyes and smiled slightly. The smile was like a spring breeze, warm and gentle.

"Your Majesty, your posthumous title has already been chosen, Wen!"

He said softly, a look of relief in his tone.

"This is the most wonderful posthumous title specially chosen for you by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Temple name Taizong!"

……

"Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin!"

Li Shimin muttered it to himself, tears gradually welling up in his eyes.

"Good, that's great, I'm satisfied!"

His voice was choked, and his heart was filled with emotion.

Fang Xuanling looked at Li Shimin with tears in his eyes. He was happy for the emperor and felt at ease about the future of the Tang Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, you have made outstanding contributions throughout your life and you deserve this posthumous title." His voice trembled slightly, full of respect for Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, your coffin will be laid to rest tomorrow and buried in Zhaoling Mausoleum!"

"Got it. I'll have to take a good look around the streets tomorrow. There won't be many people who can see my funeral procession!"

Li Shimin said generously, with a hint of ridicule in his tone.

Fang Xuanling shook his head helplessly. He knew that this was Li Shimin. Even when faced with death, a topic that emperors avoided, he had a unique open-mindedness.

"Your Majesty, your life has been legendary. Perhaps this is also a unique experience."

There was a hint of emotion in his tone.

"It's just that this old minister is not open-minded enough."

.........

Zhaoling Mausoleum is located in Xianyang.

Li Shimin's coffin was carried all the way from Chang'an to Zhaoling Mausoleum to be buried with Empress Changsun.

The funeral procession was huge, like a winding dragon, stretching for no less than a hundred miles.

In the team, Li Chengqian was dressed in white and had a solemn expression. He mixed in with the funeral procession and walked towards Xianyang together.

According to etiquette, Li Chengqian was not allowed to join the funeral procession.

As the current emperor, Li Chengqian's most important task is to preside over the funeral ceremony of the late emperor, including leading the ministers to perform sacrifices, escorting the coffin and many other matters.

His duty was to ensure the smooth running of the late emperor's funeral and to continue to perform his duties as emperor after the funeral.

As a living ruler, the role of the current emperor is to express filial piety and respect for dynastic succession during rituals, not to accompany the funeral procession.

But Li Chengqian didn't care about etiquette at all. In his opinion, those Confucian teachings had corrupted the minds of those people.

There is no reason in the world that a son should not be allowed to attend his father's funeral.

Today, Li Chengqian is not the emperor, he is just an ordinary son who comes to bid farewell to his father.

Fang Xuanling looked at Li Chengqian's actions and frowned slightly. He understood Li Chengqian's feelings, but was also worried about this behavior that violated etiquette.

He was well aware of the importance of etiquette and law to a dynasty. It was like the cornerstone of a building. Once shaken, it could cause a series of problems.

But he couldn't bear to blame the young emperor. After all, it was his deep affection for his father.

As the prime minister, Fang Xuanling could only replace Li Chengqian and take charge of the overall situation in the palace!

Li Shimin sat in the white sedan arranged by Li Ji and followed the team towards Xianyang.

He looked at the huge crowd with curiosity, like a child seeing something new and interesting.

"Li Ji, why are there so many people attending my funeral? Cheng Qian must have spent a lot of money, right?"

Li Shimin asked, with a hint of doubt in his voice.

Li Ji hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince didn't spend much. He said that your funeral and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's coronation ceremony will be kept simple."

“As for why there are so many people.”

Li Ji couldn't help but smile, with relief in his eyes.

"That's because Your Majesty is a wise and sage monarch, and the people love you, so they spontaneously want to follow the team and see Your Majesty off."

When Li Shimin heard Li Ji say this, his heart felt as sweet and warm as if he had eaten honey.

"No one in the world will let me down!"

Li Shimin's life achievements were seen and remembered by the people. This is the highest praise for an emperor.

"Your Majesty, you have devoted your life to the people. The people will naturally remember your kindness."

The team marched towards Xianyang in a mighty procession. When Li Shimin quietly opened the curtain of his carriage and took a look at the city outside, his expression suddenly changed.

"No, Li Ji? Tell me, is that mighty city Xianyang?"

Li Ji opened the curtain on the other side of the carriage and looked towards Xianyang. He saw the tall city wall built with blue bricks rising into the sky, like a towering giant beast. It made people feel intimidated at just one glance!

The city wall looks particularly solemn under the sunlight, exuding an ancient and mysterious atmosphere.