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

Guo Xiaoke was a little confused at this time. He poured himself a cup of tea and drank it in one gulp as if he was drinking wine.

“Dai Zhao, my father has been managing the Anxi Protectorate for many years, and has always performed his duties conscientiously, pacifying the people and suppressing rebellions.

But he made the wrong choice in the matter of Wang Wencheng.

As a father, I should not have turned a deaf ear and dumb and become an accomplice to the evil for the sake of money.

Now that I think about it, I regret it. "

"Father, what do you mean? Even if Wang Hongfu came here to investigate Wang Wencheng, Father, you are the governor and the governor.

The investigation of Wang Wencheng in the Prince Ji's mansion was his family affair, and dealing with Wang Wencheng was also dealing with his own servant.

But you are an official appointed by the court, and the Ji Wang Mansion does not have the right to punish an official appointed by the court, let alone a third-rank official."

Guo Daizhao was somewhat unconvinced. Although Prince Ji was a prince, the Governor was not an ordinary official either, and the Grand Protector of the Anxi Protectorate was even more incomparable to the prince.

His official position was not high, but he had great power and was in charge of a region.

Even though Prince Ji was in favor, he had no right to punish the third-rank official.

He said this because he was young. Guo Xiaoke saw it clearly and said:

"Dai Zhao, why don't you understand? If they are really coming for Wang Wencheng, arrest Wang Wencheng and put him on trial.

Wang Wencheng will definitely give us away, and by then Prince Ji will pose no threat to us. But what if Prince Ji hands the evidence of bribery to Your Majesty?

The Grand Commander of Guangzhou Governor's Office, Dang Renhong, has committed the crime of corruption. Your Majesty, in consideration of Dang Renhong's meritorious service,

They also confiscated our property and exiled us. What do you think will be our fate? "

Only then did Guo Daizhao show an expression of sudden realization.

"But...but Aye, you are a founding hero, you have made outstanding contributions, and you followed the Tang Dynasty relatively early.

Even if he knows about our affairs, His Majesty should forgive us this time, right?"

"Oh~~~"

Hearing his son's words, Guo Xiaoke sighed, picked up the teacup but found that there was no tea. Guo Daizhao immediately picked up the teapot and poured him a cup.

"My father did have some merits. He surrendered to the Tang army and followed Your Majesty in the conquests.

But do you know why your father did not enter the Lingyan Pavilion?"

Guo Daizhao shook his head.

“That’s because my father was at the border at the time and didn’t get involved in the Xuanwu Gate incident.

Your Majesty is not as close to your father as before.

It was because of this that your majesty transferred my father from the imperial court to the Anxi Protectorate.

It seems like a promotion, but in fact he was excluded.

Those who participated in this incident were all high-ranking officials in the court, and were given titles and appointed as prime ministers. "

Guo Xiaoke revealed the hidden truth. He had kept this matter in his heart for a long time and he knew it better than anyone else.

When he was sent to this bitter and cold place where life was hard, he knew that he was being squeezed out of the power and loyalty.

It was the first time that Guo Daizhao heard his father mention this matter, and then he suddenly realized it.

"Father, what should we do now? If it is true, Wang Hongfu will investigate this matter and report it to Prince Ji, who will then report it to His Majesty.

Then I am afraid we will follow in the footsteps of Dang Renhong."

Guo Daizhao became a little anxious. He didn't want to be exiled at such a young age.

"We want to find out Wang Hongfu's purpose right now, and then make plans."

Guo Xiaoke had no choice.

"Aye, since they are here to investigate Wang Wencheng, why don't we give Wang Wencheng to..."

Guo Daizhao made a gesture of wiping his neck.

Guo Xiaoke's eyes lit up. What his son said was a good idea.

But he asked again:

"But what if Wang Hongfu has already found out something?"

"Then let's just go all out and leave all these people here. We will report to the court later.

There were rebellions among the barbarians. The news spread in Anxi, and they killed people and robbed people. Didn’t they carry valuable things with them?

Then we can say that the bandits in Anxibei are targeting us and will kill us on the way."

Guo Xiaoke looked at his son, constantly thinking in his mind what the consequences would be if he really left Wang Hongfu and others in Anxi.

"Aye, it's okay to be fussy about small matters when doing big things. For the sake of the family, this is nothing."

Guo Daizhao advised.

Guo Xiaoke thought for a long time and finally shook his head:

"Don't be impatient yet. Wait until you figure out their purpose before making plans.

Just now the gatekeeper reported that they brought a large number of guards, as many as two thousand people.

It is not easy for us to wipe them out, and it is even more difficult to keep them all.

If we were wearing armor, we would be immediately recognized as ours, but without armor, we would need at least 5,000 men."

Guo Daizhao wanted to say something else but was interrupted by Guo Xiaoke.

"Okay, let's do as I say. Maybe they didn't come here for Wang Wencheng, but to do business."

In the end, Guo Xiaoke made a decision, and Guo Daizhao had no choice but to obey his father.

~~~~~~~

After obtaining Guo Xiaoke's consent, Wang Hongfu and Ashina Liang entered Xizhou City with infantry driving carriages and five hundred cavalrymen.

The rest of the people set up camp two miles outside the city.

After entering Xizhou City, the gatekeeper found them an open place not far from the office of Prince Ji's Mansion.

I heard that this place used to be a training ground, but it was no longer used.

Wang Hongfu naturally expressed his gratitude and secretly gave him a gold bar weighing one or two taels.

This made the general guarding the gate very happy, and he told Wang Hongfu to just ask if he needed any help.

After seeing off the gatekeeper, Wang Hongfu and Ashina Liang entered the office of Prince Ji's mansion.

"Manager Wang is back. I'm here to meet you, Manager Wang."

The guy who stayed behind immediately came forward when he saw Wang Hongfu.

"Well, what happened during the days I was away?"

Wang Hongfu asked after he came to the living room and sat down.

"Shopkeeper Wang, it's nothing serious. I sent away several merchants who wanted to see Zhang Sheng.

I heard that Zhang Sheng went to the workshop and will be back for some time."

The guy replied quickly.

"Well, you did a good job. Is there any problem with Zhang Sheng?"

When Wang Hongfu left, he originally wanted to take Zhang Sheng with him, but later he felt that he would be a burden.

The horse can't keep up, and it's not worth it to have someone to watch him.

And since he already had Zhang Sheng's testimony, it didn't matter whether he was taken with him or not. If he wasn't going to take him back to Chang'an, Wang Hongfu would have just killed him.

"To tell you, Shopkeeper Wang, Zhang is a very honest man. He was locked in the room for no other reason than to ask for a few books.

I told him that if he ran away, his family would be implicated and he would have no descendants.

"Haha, not bad, you are quite capable. By the way, what's your name?"

Wang Hongfu glanced at the waiter and laughed.

"To reply to Shopkeeper Wang, I don't have a name, they all call me Kumu.

I am a Tang person. When I was a child, I was picked up in the desert and brought to the former Gaochang.

They call me Kumu, which means sand.”

Kumu explained respectfully.

“Alas, it turns out that you are also a miserable person, Kumu, you are very smart, and you do very well in what you are asked to do.

This piece of gold is given to you as a reward. After you leave here, buy a house and start a small business."