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

Li Shimin's words were sincere and heartfelt, but Li Shen frowned as he listened.

"Aye, do you also think that my son would do something treasonous?"

That's the point.

Li Shimin shook his head:

"Of course I believe you, but what's the point of me believing you if the ministers don't believe me.

But unless you are going out, it is best not to move the guard camp, otherwise it will easily attract the attention of the ministers again.

You don't know how much criticism I have endured for you over the years to preserve your guard camp."

Looking at the long gray hair on his temples and his slightly wrinkled face.

These are not only traces of time, but more of the hard work over the years.

Not only does he have to worry about state affairs, but he also has to take on everything for me. This is my father, the emperor. What a great fatherly love.

Li Shen's eyes turned red as he thought of this, and he said in a trembling voice:

"Then.....Aye, how much do you want?"

Li Shimin smiled slightly and stretched out a hand.

"Fifty percent."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Li Shen jumped up like a cat whose tail was stepped on.

Shouting at the top of his lungs.

This is too much. They actually want to take away 50% of my treasure. Isn't that 500,000 strings of cash?

Can an imperial edict be worth 500,000 strings of cash?

Looking at his son who was jumping up and down, Li Shimin seemed much calmer, or rather, more nonchalant, and just watched Li Shen perform.

"Father, you are asking for too much, right? These are the stolen money he embezzled from my Ji Wang Mansion. They originally belonged to my Ji Wang Mansion.

Even if they took everything back, Prince Ji's Mansion would still suffer a lot of losses.

Aye asked for 500,000 strings of cash, so I will lose even more."

How could I possibly give him so much when I have suffered such a huge loss?

“Haha, you said it yourself that it was stolen money, so shouldn’t it belong to the court?

You should be glad I didn't know about this.

Otherwise, the person in your house is a local tyrant who not only exploits the people, but also colludes with management and bribes officials.

This is against the law and must be tried by the imperial court. Confiscation of property is the most basic punishment.

By then, you won’t get a penny.”

Li Shimin laughed. Since it was stolen money, it was against the law, and the court and the government would take care of it.

“No, 50% is too much. It would be better to let the caravan escort them there. We just need to hire more guards or laborers.

Even if I was robbed by bandits, they wouldn't have taken away 500,000 strings of cash from me."

Li Shen stuck to his bottom line and shook his head firmly.

"Then tell me how much you'll give me. Don't think I don't understand anything."

Li Shimin had not really intended to take half.

He learned this from Li Shen, asking for a high price and paying a low price. He just asked for a little higher price.

Now it depends on Li Shen's sincerity.

Li Shen looked at Li Shimin and didn't speak immediately, but he was constantly thinking in his mind.

Give him 10,000 strings of cash? That's definitely not possible. Just being beaten up would be the least of his worries. 100,000 strings of cash? His father doesn't seem to agree.

But you have to try:

"Fifty thousand strings of cash."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Then... one hundred thousand strings of cash, no more."

Li Shimin shook his head and said nothing.

"Well... two hundred thousand strings of cash, the last bid. If it doesn't work, I'll use a caravan to transport it."

Li Shen made a final concession.

"I think you are right. If so much money is seized by bandits and used to recruit soldiers, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"

Li Shimin laughed, picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"Alas, two hundred thousand strings of cash are gone just like that." Li Shen felt heartbroken. This little bit of money of his had gone through a near-death journey and cost him a piece of flesh.

A big piece of meat.

He died more miserably than Zhao Si's father for this little bit of money.

Before he even saw it, he was already missing 200,000 strings of cash.

"Aye, now that the deal is done, what should we do next?

The Hu army is not allowed to enter the pass, which breaks the rules. The ministers in the court will not allow it either."

Since the deal has been made, Li Shen naturally has to ask.

"It's definitely not possible to do this openly. I will have the three provinces issue a secret decree to have the Hu people's caravan escort a batch of goods to Beijing secretly.

In this way, they are just Hu people, not a Hu army.

It is useless for you to say they are businessmen. I have to say they are businessmen."

Li Shimin replied confidently.

"Yeah, that's great, really great." Li Shen gave a thumbs up and praised.

But in my heart, I thought, this is called a good plan? Isn't this just a stupid move?

Relying on the fact that he is the emperor, he says whatever he wants. What's the difference between him and others?

Li Shimin's face suddenly became proud, but soon turned gloomy again.

"According to what you said, many officials from Xizhou Prefecture will probably be involved, including Xizhou Governor Guo Xiaoke.

This matter is no longer the business of your Ji Wang Mansion. This is a crime of corruption.

For the sake of money, he covered up for the powerful, ignored the suffering of the people, and rashly served as an official appointed by the court.

These officials must also be brought to justice.”

"Father, Guo Xiaoke is a meritorious person, and I heard that he is quite serious about his work.

It's just that I am a little greedy for luxury.

Why not just forget it? "

Li Shen pleaded for mercy, but in fact he knew that Li Shimin was also unwilling to deal with Guo Xiaoke.

There are just no steps.

"Forget it. What if he gets worse in the future? I really sent him to Xizhou so that he could guard the Anxi Protectorate."

Li Shimin said angrily.

“Father, if Guo Xiaoke’s affair is exposed, that place will be in trouble too.

The person who bribed Guo Xiaoke was from Er's family. When the court investigates, it will be found that Er had oppressed the people, exploited the laborers, forced purchases and sales, and killed people for looting.

I was speechless at that time, so it is best not to deal with this matter, just give Guo Xiaoke a warning.

Even if you want to deal with it, I suggest you do it in secret, but I will give you 200,000 strings of cash."

Li Shen is not a saint, Li Shen is not a fair person, and Li Shen is not a good person.

He is selfish and he thinks of himself first.

This matter had nothing to do with him, but Wang Wencheng has been doing bad things under his name.

Many people have always believed that what Wang Wencheng did was ordered by the Prince Ji’s Mansion.

If the truth were to be revealed, those ministers who had grudges against Li Shen would surely rise up and attack him.

This is solid evidence.

In order to bring down Li Shen, what does Guo Xiaoke count for?

By then, Li Shen really had no way to defend himself.

After hearing this, Li Shimin fell into deep thought. He felt that what Li Shen said made sense, and he also had a reason.

After all, Guo Xiaoke had followed Li Shimin for many years and had made great military achievements over the years.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin nodded:

"Well, we'll make a decision on this matter after Wang Hongfu from your mansion comes back.

At least we need to know who is involved first, and then make plans.

I will also write a letter to Guo Xiaoke, asking him to be more restrained. I don't believe he is not afraid of death."