This made Li Shimin anxious, and he wanted to trade one for one with me.

Cheng Jun nodded, "Yes."

Li Shimin handed the flintlock pistol in his hand directly to Zhang Anan, saying, "I'll take this one."

"I'll take it back and familiarize myself with it."

Cheng Jun reminded you, "Your Majesty, you should be careful when using it, and try to let it rest after firing a few shots."

Li Shimin was stunned. "What? It can even devour its master?"

Cheng Chumo said from the side, "My third brother calls this a 'burst.'"

The chamber exploded... Li Shimin secretly noted it down, then nodded and said, "I understand."

"Minister Cheng, once this item displays its great power, I will reward you handsomely!"

"Isn't this just empty promises?" Cheng Jun said, somewhat amused and exasperated. "I'll be waiting for that day."

Li Shimin smiled and said, "I came here today to see what you mentioned. Now that I have seen it, I am returning to the palace."

The three Cheng brothers immediately saw them off from the Cheng residence. Watching Li Shimin's hurried departure, Cheng Chumo said with a sense of loss, "I haven't had enough fun yet, and now I can't have any more."

Cheng Chuliang said enviously, "It's still better to be the emperor. You can have whatever you want."

Cheng Chumo turned to look at him and said, "Second brother, what you said is not right. It should be that we, the third brother, are good. What His Majesty wants, we can also have, right, third brother?"

Seeing that Cheng Chuliang was also looking over, Cheng Jun smiled and said, "There must be my eldest brother and second brother among them."

The two immediately smiled.

The flintlock musket has been made; now it's time to put it to use... Cheng Jun thought to himself as he and the others walked back to the mansion.

However, we don't need it right now; we'll have to wait a while.

Cheng Jun recalled that historical records stated that Li Jing led a large army on an expedition and, in a very short time, defeated the Turks, who then sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty to surrender.

Cheng Jun had no doubt about Li Jing's abilities; after all, he was the military genius of the Tang Dynasty.

I just don't know how long it will take...

Cheng Jun thought about it, but he wasn't in a hurry.

Time passed day by day, and Cheng Jun followed the routine, serving in the Censorate after attending court every day.

Cheng Jun wasn't quite sure what the situation was at the front, but judging from Li Shimin's expression during court, the battle situation at the front should be favorable to the Tang Dynasty.

At the end of December, when Cheng Jun returned home for lunch, he heard Cheng Zhong's reminder:

"Sanlang, in a few days it will be New Year's Eve."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Jun couldn't help but sigh, "Time really flies."

Before you know it, the Chinese New Year is just around the corner.

This was also his first New Year in the Tang Dynasty.

Cheng Zhong smiled and said, "The eldest and second sons have already arranged for the people from Leyunlou to deliver the dishes for New Year's Eve. Everyone in our household will be in for a treat."

Cheng Jun smiled and said, "Food that doesn't cost money really does taste good."

It's a pity that Lao Cheng isn't here... Cheng Jun thought of Cheng Yaojin on the front lines, wondering how he was doing.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the main room.

Cheng Jun turned his head and saw the servants of the mansion leading Zhang Anan, who was dressed in a purple robe, toward him.

"What news came from the palace...?" Cheng Jun asked, somewhat puzzled. He stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Eunuch Zhang."

Zhang Anan returned the greeting with clasped hands, and then solemnly said, "Imperial Censor Cheng, His Majesty summons you to the palace."

Cheng Jun said, "Wait for me a moment, I'll go change into my official robes."

Zhang Anan shook his head and said, "His Majesty specifically instructed that you should not wear official robes when entering the palace."

What does Old Li mean by this...? Cheng Jun was a little puzzled, but didn't ask any more questions. He nodded and said, "Then let's set off."

"Please come, Imperial Censor Cheng."

Soon, Cheng Jun rode his Akhal-Teke horse 'Adolf' and arrived at the palace with Zhang Anan.

Before Cheng Jun even reached Ganlu Hall, he heard a gunshot from that direction.

When Cheng Jun arrived at Ganlu Hall, he saw Li Shimin, dressed in plain clothes, outside the hall, pulling the trigger again towards a wooden target fifty meters away.

boom!

A gunshot rang out, and the target in the distance instantly fell to the ground.

"Holy crap, that's accurate..." Cheng Jun was somewhat surprised. He had tried shooting at targets from fifty meters away before, and his accuracy wasn't particularly bad.

I never expected Li Shimin to hit the target!

At this moment, Li Shimin caught a glimpse of Cheng Jun approaching out of the corner of his eye and said with a smile:

"Minister Cheng, how is my marksmanship?"

Cheng Jun solemnly replied, "Your Majesty is a master archer."

He wasn't flattering me; he genuinely admired me.

Li Shimin smiled, handed the flintlock pistol in his hand to the guard Li Junxian beside him, and said, "Your words prove that my training over the past month has not been in vain."

Do you know why I told you not to wear official robes when entering the palace?

Li Shimin pointed to Cheng Jun's blue robe with cloud patterns, and before he could respond, he continued:

"I am in a good mood today and am going on an incognito trip. I have decided to take you with me."

"Come with me out of the palace."

Cheng Jun immediately agreed and left the palace with him.

The two did not ride horses, but instead traveled to the city in a carriage.

Despite the freezing winter weather, the carriage was surprisingly warm.

Li Shimin lifted the carriage curtain, looked outside, noticed the sweaters worn by the pedestrians on the road, and turned to Cheng Jun with a smile, saying:

“Minister Cheng, do you see? In the capital of our Great Tang Dynasty, many people are wearing sweaters.”

Looking at the pedestrians outside, Cheng Jun said, "Your Majesty's compassion for the people is a blessing for all."

Li Shimin smiled and said, "Having you is my blessing."

"If it weren't for the knitting method you provided, this winter would probably have been just like last year, with many people freezing to death."

Li Shimin lowered the carriage curtain and slowly said, "Our soldiers of the Great Tang Dynasty are fighting bravely on the front lines and have made outstanding contributions."

"And you, you have made a contribution to stabilizing the nation."

"Your merits are great, and I plan to reward you after the Turks are pacified."

Cheng Jun pondered for a moment and said, "Actually, I only made a small contribution."

When he's humble, he's genuinely humble; when he speaks, he's truly blunt... Li Shimin looked at him, thinking to himself, and said aloud:

Do you know why I'm in such a good mood today?

Cheng Jun's heart skipped a beat. "Is there some military intelligence from the front lines?"

Li Shimin smiled and said, "Last night, I received an urgent message from Li Jing that traveled 800 li."

According to military intelligence, Li Jing led three thousand elite cavalrymen from Mayi, stationed them at Eyangling, and launched a night attack to capture Xiangcheng.

"He launched a surprise attack. Jieli's side did not expect our Tang soldiers to arrive suddenly, and they were so frightened that they withdrew their camp to the Qikou."

"Afterwards, he led his troops to retreat to Yinshan. Following Li Jing's plan, Chai Shao led the Jinhe Army to Hunhe ahead of time and fought a great battle with the Turkic troops led by Jieli."

"Jieli fled in panic to Baidao, where he was intercepted by the Tongmo Army led by Li Ji and retreated to Tieshan."

"Jieli suffered defeat after defeat, like a stray dog. The various tribes of the Turks are probably full of resentment towards him."

Li Shimin snorted, "Jieli's end is near."

Cheng Jun exclaimed in surprise, "So fast?"

According to historical records, what Li Shimin just mentioned should have happened after the New Year.

It's not even Chinese New Year yet, and it's already happened!

It was a month earlier than recorded in historical records!

Li Shimin said, "Because of gunpowder, and also elm wood cannons."

"The Turks never expected that our Tang soldiers would possess these two items. Caught off guard, how could they not be defeated?"

Cheng Jun suddenly realized why Li Shimin had said he would reward him.

It turned out to be because of this!

Li Shimin looked at Cheng Jun and asked, "Minister Cheng, what do you think the Turks will do next?"

Cheng Jun pondered for a moment and said, "I feel that the Turks will surrender."