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

Looking at Li Shimin's angry face, Li Shen didn't know what to say.

The incident at Prince Ji’s Mansion this time was of great importance, and it has not yet been known to people in the imperial court.

If the censors really knew about this and impeached him in the court, the prince would try to win over the border governor.

This is a serious crime.

Moreover, from what he saw from Wang Hongfu, it seemed that the situation was even more serious than what he had investigated.

But Wang Hongfu did not explain this in the letter.

But even so, the stolen money of over one million strings of cash shocked Li Shen, who knew that this matter must be no small matter.

A tax revenue of 100,000 strings of cash for a state is an astronomical figure and belongs to a large state.

Wang Wencheng was able to handle a million-dollar case in that desolate place in Xizhou. What a shocking case that must have been.

"Why, are you hiding something?"

Seeing that Li Shen didn't speak, Li Shimin frowned and asked sternly.

Li Shen quickly shook his head:

"No, no, absolutely not, Aye, I know very little about it.

Wang Hongfu sent a letter, which did not give any detailed information, but only said that he would report to my son after he returned."

"Then why did you mobilize the cavalry of the Ashina tribe?"

Li Shimin asked immediately.

“I…I was just transporting a batch of more expensive goods, but due to the emergency, I didn’t have enough manpower.

I happened to have business dealings with the Ashina tribe, so I wanted them to send my son to Chang'an, even if it was to a neighboring state.

I will ask the guards to pick them up."

The thing Li Shen least wanted to talk about was money. His father was a money-grubbing man, and he wished all the wealth in the world was his.

If his father knew that he had transported millions of treasures, he would probably have to bleed again.

"Precious goods? Haha, tell me, what kind of goods are so precious that we would allow the barbarians to enter the country.

If you tell the truth honestly, maybe I will agree."

When Li Shimin heard about the valuable goods, his eyes narrowed and a smile appeared on his face.

"This... isn't... anything valuable. It's just some worthless stuff."

Li Shen said hesitantly.

"You bastard, you broke the rules for some worthless things and want to let the barbarians in?

Do you want to do something?"

Li Shimin's face turned serious and he angrily scolded Li Shen.

Li Shen was so frightened that he quickly stood up, bowed, and apologized:

"Aye, don't be surprised. I definitely don't have any other ideas. It's just... just to transport some treasures."

"Even if it's a valuable treasure, the rules shouldn't be broken."

Li Shimin had a cold face.

"Aye, it's very valuable." Li Shen replied seriously.

"How valuable can it be?" Li Shimin was curious.

"Treasures worth millions of taels."

"What? Hundreds...millions of taels of treasure?"

Li Shimin also lost his composure. He stood up in surprise and looked at Li Shen in front of him.

Li Shen could only nod his head helplessly. There was no other way. If he wanted to let Ashina enter the pass, he would have to explain the situation.

There has to be a very good reason.

Even if Li Shen did not allow Ashina to enter the pass and sent the guard battalion to meet him, he still had to give a reasonable reason.

Otherwise, ordinary cargo caravans can be escorted, so why would a guard battalion be needed to pick them up?

Since you have to explain sooner or later anyway, you might as well just do it.

Looking at his father's inquiring expression, Li Shen felt very scared.

His money is now at the gates of hell, and his life or death is decided by others.

"Where did you get so much money? How can there be such a big piece of meat in Anxi?

The terrain there is complex, it is either grassland or desert, and only the remnants of Gaochang live there.

Where do they get so much money?"

Li Shimin would never believe that the money belonged to the survivors of Gaochang.

If their people had so much wealth, it would have been taken away by Gaochang's nobles and tribal leaders long ago.

Can we still wait for Li Shen?

"My Lord, this money is the stolen money that Wang Wencheng, the owner of Anxi, has earned over the years.

This is only a part of it. He embezzled more money from Prince Ji's Mansion than this.

Over the past few years, Prince Ji's Mansion has been kept in the dark and has lost millions of guan."

Li Shen replied with a serious look on his face. He didn't know the exact amount of money Wang Hongfu had embezzled, but he had to estimate it as high.

This way he still has a chance to keep his treasure.

"Several million strings of cash, haha, your Ji Wang Mansion is really rich."

Li Shimin was no longer angry. He knew exactly what this rebellious son was thinking.

"Where."

"Humph, do you think I'm so easy to fool? Do you think I don't know your little tricks?"

Li Shimin snorted coldly.

"Aye, you are wise." Li Shen quickly flattered him.

“However, if you want to allow the Hu people to enter the pass for personal reasons, that won’t work. Even if I give the order, the three people in the three provinces will not agree.

By then, the matter will have to be brought to the court.

Besides, it’s against the rules.”

Li Shimin shook his head, looking very embarrassed.

"Father, this is all the money lost by my Prince Ji's Mansion." Li Shen said with a bitter face.

"Of course I know, but it is against the rules for the Hu people to enter the pass. How about this, you can let the caravan transport it."

Li Shimin felt very sorry.

"Caravan? Aye, that's millions of family wealth. If a caravan transports it, and they run into bandits along the way, wouldn't they suffer heavy losses?"

What level are the guards of the caravan? There are not that many of them, and their fighting capacity is even worse.

This is not a small amount of money. If you were robbed, you would be heartbroken.

"There's nothing we can do about it. You can't ask the court to do things for you privately. That's the rule."

Li Shimin sat down indifferently, picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea.

"But... that is... because..."

Li Shen was completely helpless. Since his father didn't agree, there was nothing anyone could do.

"Then... I should send the guard battalion to pick them up, right?"

Li Shen could only settle for the next best thing.

"This... won't work." Li Shimin took a sip of tea and shook his head.

"What? Why? I can't send the guard battalion of Prince Ji's Mansion to meet them."

Li Shen became anxious when he heard this. Can't I send my own people?

"Of course not, don't you know that the Imperial Guard Battalion also belongs to the Ministry of War?

Alas, over the years, there have been many complaints within the imperial court about the guard camp of your Prince Ji’s mansion.

They all say that I dote on you too much. Chang'an City is the capital, but there is an army that is not under the control of the court.

Ministers have been saying this is dangerous.

They are all afraid that you will do something disloyal.

Although I believe in you, the officials in the court do not.

They have been asking me to issue an edict to disband the guard camp of Prince Ji's Palace.

Among all the princes in the capital of the Tang Dynasty, no one has an army of his own like you.

Even the prince's six generals are not as strong as your guard battalion.

The ministers’ concerns are not exaggerated.”