Da Tang Xiao Si Zi: I have a little pouch-like boy.

"Oh? Then in your opinion, how should this matter be handled?"

Li Shimin looked at Li Qin with curiosity, wanting to hear the opinion of this person from later generations.

"Release them," Li Qin said without the slightest hesitation.

"Release them???"

That's it?

Li Shimin's eyes widened, thinking he had misheard.

“That’s right, we released them,” Li Qin said with certainty.

Li Shimin took a deep breath and said in a solemn tone:

“Boy, you should know that if Wei Zheng is released, and he goes around spreading rumors, the secret between you and Sizi will probably be exposed.”

“He wouldn’t dare!” Li Qin said with absolute certainty.

“He wouldn’t dare spread this matter recklessly. Wei Zheng isn’t stupid. He can’t bear the crime of spreading royal secrets without any basis.”

"Even if he doesn't think about himself, shouldn't he think about his family? For such a serious crime, His Majesty could easily execute his entire family."

Li Shimin still didn't understand what Li Qin meant.

"Then let's forget it?"

Li Qin scoffed, "Of course we can't just let it go like this. He dared to slander Mingda like that, how can we let him get away with it?"

"Oh? What do you plan to do?" Li Shimin finally became interested.

Li Qin glanced at Li Shimin speechlessly and sighed, "Actually, Your Majesty never intended to kill Wei Zheng, otherwise he would have been beheaded long ago."

"It's just that we couldn't do anything about him. If there were any way to make him suffer, you would have used it already, right?"

Li Shimin: "..."

That's right, that's what he thought.

Then Li Qin continued, "In our later generations, there is a kind of corporate slave called 'oxen and horses.' I think Wei Zheng has the temperament of a corporate slave. Your Majesty can make good use of him."

"You... you want me to use Wei Zheng like an animal? To make him plow the fields? To farm?"

Li Shimin was stunned, and not only him, but Empress Zhangsun, who was standing next to him, was also stunned. What kind of divine method was this?

Treating people like animals? Have later generations really sunk to this level?

"Uh... Your Majesty has misunderstood." Li Qin smiled awkwardly and quickly explained:

"The term 'corporate slave' is just an adjective, not a real animal. It refers to employees who work very obediently and are exploited like animals."

"Like the waiters in taverns, teahouses, or brothels, they are obedient, compliant, hardworking, and earn little money. They look like cattle and horses, eating grass and doing heavy work."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin understood.

"You mean you want me to assign Wei Zheng some heavy work?"

Li Qin gave him a disdainful look. "How can it only be heavy work? Can't you do dirty work? Can't you do tiring work?"

“The powerful clans are hindering His Majesty’s ability to retaliate, the Five Clans and Seven Families look down on the Li family of the imperial family, and the Jiangnan gentry are entrenched in one place and have become local emperors. These are all things that need to be dealt with.”

"I think Wei Zheng is a good man. He dares to speak the truth and is not afraid of offending people. He is the most suitable person to deal with these people."

"Well, in our modern terms, it's about using magic to defeat magic."

Li Shimin: "..."

What's the difference between this and sending Wei Zheng to his death?

Not to mention Wei Zheng, even Emperor Li Shimin wouldn't dare to offend these people to death.

If Wei Zheng were sent, there probably wouldn't even be any bones left.

However, one of Li Qin's remarks struck a chord with Li Shimin.

Wei Zheng dared to speak the truth and was not afraid of offending people.

They are indeed the best choice to deal with those troublemakers; if handled properly, it is not impossible to profit from them.

"What? Does Your Majesty find it unpleasant?"

Seeing Li Shimin remain silent, Li Qin thought his plan had failed, so he continued:

"If that really doesn't work, you can find other jobs."

"For example, when on a mission to Tibet, one could record the topographical maps of Tibet along the way, observe the relationships between different tribes, and investigate the strength of Tibet's military forces."

"Don't be fooled by the fact that although Tibet occupies the plateau region and seems no different from savages, this country will be a great enemy of the Tang Dynasty in the future. In the next few generations, Tibet will be a force that will turn the Tang Dynasty upside down."

"Right now, a remarkable figure has emerged in Tibet, named Songtsen Gampo. He has unified the various Tibetan tribes, bringing together all the uncivilized tribes and establishing a unified regime."

"In two years, well, it should be around the 8th year of Zhenguan, the Tibetan Grand Minister Gar Tongtsen will be sent as an envoy to the Tang Dynasty to propose marriage. Your Majesty will be able to meet him then."

"Once he succeeds in proposing marriage, he will inevitably demand that the dowry include a large number of books and skilled craftsmen."

"Then the Tibetans will learn knowledge from various books and learn how to make various tools from skilled craftsmen. When their army is strong and their horses are ready, the Tibetans will bare their fangs and take a big bite out of the Tang Dynasty."

"Therefore, Tibet is a major threat, and it is very necessary to send Wei Zheng on a mission to learn about the enemy's situation in advance."

Li Shimin: "..."

Listening to Li Qin's endless chatter, Li Shimin really wanted to slap the kid a couple of times.

So this is what you mean by not studying history? You remember the history of Tibet so clearly, but you've forgotten the history of my Great Tang?

Furthermore, sending Wei Zheng as an envoy to Tibet is a perilous mission for ordinary people in the high plateau region. How is this any different from murder?

You're still the most poisonous one!

I was just thinking of punishing you a little, because you're always trying to take Wei Zheng's life.

It has to be a legitimate reason, the kind that leaves no room for criticism.

"Is Your Majesty still not satisfied? If so, I have another plan."

"It is said that there is a kind of..."

"Alright!" Li Shimin quickly raised his hand to stop Li Qin from speaking further.

Annam...

That's practically the same as exile. If Wei Zheng went there, he'd die on the way before he even arrived.

"I need to think about this matter some more."

“Tsk, Your Majesty, a true man should be decisive when necessary—no, I mean, ruthless and decisive in killing—and not indecisive. Wei Zheng is a man of great talent, and those with great talent should be put to great use.”

"As the saying goes, good steel should be used on the blade. People like Wei Zheng should give full play to their talents and should not be buried in the intrigues of the court."

"Alright, shut up!" Li Shimin couldn't help but snap at Li Qin, who was still trying to nag.

"Oh," Li Qin replied honestly, and then fell silent.

However, he had already made a mental note of Wei Zheng's actions.

Damn it, how dare you spread rumors about the little princess? I'll never forgive you!

Think about how else we can deal with Wei Zheng.

Should Li Shimin marry Gaoyang to Wei Shuyu?

No, using a little girl is not my style.

Or, should we also spread rumors about Wei Zheng's family?

However, when it comes to rumors, few people will believe them if there's no basis for them.

You need to find someone who seems reliable and never lies, and use them to spread rumors. That way, the rumors will be more credible and spread more widely.

Yes, Fang Xuanling is a good choice.

As for how to persuade Fang Xuanling...

Prime Minister Fang, you don't want your son to marry Princess Gaoyang either, do you?

(As usual, there will be another chapter after 12 o'clock)