I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

The betrayal of aristocratic families often brings turmoil and instability to the court.

This has been the case throughout all dynasties. During the Wei and Jin dynasties, some aristocratic families even established their own countries.

This is what Li Shimin was most worried about.

There are many scholars and writers from aristocratic families, but the common people are ignorant and can be easily instigated.

Li Shimin really wanted to figure out one thing, which was whether Yang Shaowei's rebellion was caused by Yang Shaowei himself or he was instructed by the Yang family.

Or it could be a trap set up by the aristocratic families.

Today, the aristocratic families are weaker than before.

At the beginning, Emperor Yang of Sui spent so much money but failed to destroy the aristocratic families. However, Li Shen rose to power.

They began to erode the aristocratic families economically and culturally.

Digging out their roots step by step.

If you want to change this situation, changing the dynasty is the fastest way.

Or he could get rid of Li Shimin and create turmoil in the court, and then take advantage of the new emperor's unstable position to deal with Li Shen.

As long as they can get everything that Li Shen has, their comeback will be just around the corner.

As an emperor, Li Shimin certainly knew this.

Looking at Yang Shaowei kneeling on the ground in shackles, Li Shimin's mind raced.

“Your Majesty, this was all done by me alone. It has nothing to do with the Yang family. I was obsessed with money and coveted the Tibetans’ money.

I feel ashamed of my Majesty and my ancestors, and I beg Your Majesty to grant me death."

Yang Shaowei cried and begged for death. He did not ask Li Shimin to spare his life, as he knew that was impossible.

"Money-obsessed? Yang Shaowei, do you think I am confused? You are a member of the Yang family, an official, and supported by your family. Would you sacrifice your future for a mere sum of money?

Do you think he is really a three-year-old child?

If you don't tell me, don't blame me for letting you suffer."

Hearing Yang Shaowei's words, Li Shimin shouted angrily. He didn't believe Yang Shaowei's nonsense.

They are not short of money. They have everything they want and their family provides them with money every month.

Li Shimin didn't believe that Yang Shaowei had rebelled for money.

"Your Majesty, everything I said was true. I dare not lie. I feel guilty.

I know that I have committed a grave sin, and I only ask Your Majesty to grant me death."

Yang Shaowei insisted that it was his own personal behavior.

"How dare you refuse to admit your majesty's mistake? Come, chop off all ten of his toes."

Li Shen, who was standing nearby, immediately yelled, which frightened Li Shimin.

"Asshole, is this how they try a case? Aren't you being tortured into confessing?" Li Shimin glared at Li Shen.

"Aye, if he doesn't confess, there is nothing we can do. We can only torture him to extract a confession. Aye, don't worry. Leave him to me. I will give you a satisfactory answer."

Li Shen volunteered and said that some things still had to be done by the people below.

Li Shimin ignored Li Shen and looked at Yang Shaowei:

"Yang Shaowei, since you said that you were bribed to do this, then tell me what happened."

"Your Majesty, this matter actually started a few years ago."

Yang Shaowei then began to narrate his fall.

When Qinghai Protectorate was first established, he was the Chief Secretary of Qinghai Protectorate.

The deputy protectors at that time were Zhou Daowu and Wang Qing.

Because Wang Qing was not obedient to Zhou Daowu, he made things difficult for him. Yang Shaowei, as a member of the Yang family, was also an ally of the Wang family.

So a lot of ideas came up in the process.

Their purpose was very clear, which was to squeeze Zhou Daowu out, and then they would have the final say in the Protectorate.

As for Prince Ji, at that time they thought that Prince Ji was just a teenager.

Having never led troops or held any position, he must be inexperienced and easily deceived.

The management of such a large Protectorate still depends on the two of them.

By then, as long as they can trick this little prince, they can cover the sky with one hand.

They knew that Prince Ji would not stay for too long. As long as nothing unexpected happened when Prince Ji left, and the family made some efforts, Wang Qing would most likely become a third-rank Grand Protector.

They naturally understood the importance of Qinghai Road, and there were infinite benefits involved.

But what they least expected was Prince Ji's tyranny.

It is said that this young prince is able to act arrogantly in the capital, and no one in the entire Chang'an City can control him except His Majesty.

Even the ministers in the court were unwilling to provoke this calamity.

I originally thought that this was not Chang'an City, and Prince Ji would be more restrained as he was unfamiliar with the place.

But no one expected that after King Ji arrived here, he gave everyone a warning.

In order to avenge his brother-in-law, he abused his power for personal gain and had the deputy governor Wang Qing beaten to death.

This was unexpected for Yang Shaowei, and their plan failed because of the death of the main mission.

Yang Shaowei was also frightened by Prince Ji's actions, and he became much more honest.

However, after beating Wang Qing to death, Prince Ji gave him a sweet treat by improving the army's food supply.

Not only has the training increased, but the meals are also sufficient.

As the Chief Secretary, Yang Shaowei was responsible for purchasing tasks, with the focus on buying large quantities of cattle and sheep from the Tubo tribe.

The number of cattle and sheep eaten by 50,000 troops is not a small number, and there are many ways to do this.

He made dozens of strings of cash the first time he falsely reported a price, and that was because it was his first time and he was timid.

After tasting the sweetness for the first time, he couldn't stop, and he became more and more daring.

In order to get Yang Shaowei to go to their tribe to purchase cattle and sheep, the people of the Tubo tribe gave him many gifts.

Besides gold and gems, there are women.

Every time Yang Shaowei went to Tubo, the tribe that invited him would arrange for a woman to accompany him.

He received more and more gifts and slept with more and more women, two of whom gave birth to children.

And Yang Shaowei was deeply trapped in it.

At the beginning, the leader of a tribe was not satisfied with Yang Shaowei just buying cattle and sheep, and wanted Yang Shaowei to do him a little favor and transport some tea and the like.

This matter is insignificant to Yang Shaowei.

He bought a lot of tea in the name of exchange, and then sold it at a higher price in Tubo, making a lot of wealth.

After seeing this, other tribes also had various requests, but they were all small requests.

Tea, wine, cloth, porcelain, etc. There is also cheap food in the Tang Dynasty.

These were easy for Yang Shaowei, so he helped get them one by one. It wasn't in vain anyway.

But finally a large tribe found him and asked him to get some iron and weapons for Tubo.

Yang Shaowei was unwilling to agree, so he rejected the other party.

Not to mention that he couldn't get it, even if he could get it, he would not give these contraband to Tubo. At that time, he still retained a little dignity as a Tang person.

However, he did not expect that after hearing his refusal, the other party immediately changed his attitude and told him the amount of money he had collected from various tribes over such a long time.

They also threatened that if their demands were not met, they would report the matter to the Protectorate and report it to Prince Ji.

Yang Shaowei was scared.