The Great Tang Dynasty's Trans-Dimensional Conference: Little Rhinoceros Arrives

The next morning, after breakfast, Lin Fan took Chang Le to the driving school for some practice driving, as usual.

He made an appointment with Li Shimin last night to visit Jieli and Songtsen Gampo in the afternoon.

"Why did it end so quickly? I felt like today's practice didn't last as long as before," Lin Fan asked curiously on the way back after driving practice.

Chang Le chuckled, his eyes filled with excitement and anticipation. "The coach said I can apply for the exam now."

"Oh? That's a good thing!" Lin Fan wasn't very surprised by this.

He continued, "Are you confident? When do you plan to apply?"

Chang Le hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath and nodded, "I'm still confident, let's apply in the next couple of days."

According to the normal procedure, after applying, you have to wait a few days before you can take the exam.

Lin Fan looked ahead and nodded. "Okay, I believe you can do it."

Back at the villa, after lunch, Lin Fan took the little princesses back to the Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin had already changed into casual clothes.

After leaving the palace, Wencheng expressed her desire to go home for a visit.

Thinking that it wasn't appropriate to bring the little princess and her companions along to the person he was meeting today, Lin Fan decided to have them go with Wen Cheng.

Soon, led by the guards, Lin Fan and Li Shimin arrived at Xingdaofang.

Looking at the courtyard in front of him, Lin Fan said with some surprise, "They live here? I thought you had locked them all up in prison."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Do you think I'm that kind of person? They were people of status before, I wouldn't be so harsh on them."

"Alright, Auntie, haven't you ever considered just killing them?" Lin Fan scratched his head awkwardly and quickly changed the subject.

Without much consideration, Li Shimin directly stated his thoughts.

"I definitely thought about it, but later I felt it wasn't necessary. After all, I've already destroyed their country, what difference would it make to spare their lives?"

Now that the Tang Dynasty is a leading global power, Li Shimin also hopes to project an image of tolerance and magnanimity to the surrounding countries.

It's just a matter of life and death, but if we kill Jieli Khan, the surrounding countries and people will probably think that the Tang Dynasty is cruel and bloodthirsty.

If we pardoned Jieli Khan and treated him with some preferential treatment, we could demonstrate the benevolence and magnanimity of the Tang Dynasty as a superior nation to the outside world, and make other countries more willing to submit to or befriend the Tang Dynasty.

Besides that, there is another reason.

The Turks were a powerful force in the north at that time.

Although Khagan Jieli was defeated, the number of Turkic tribes on the grasslands was still quite large.

If Li Shimin had ordered the killing of Jieli Khan, it might have provoked even stronger resistance from the remaining Turkic forces.

As a result, the borders of the Tang Dynasty might once again fall into a long period of turmoil and instability.

By sparing the life of Khagan Jieli, it could serve as a form of appeasement, while also leveraging his influence to guide the Turks to accept Tang rule.

Li Shimin was a magnanimous ruler, and the Tang Dynasty was a country that embraced all cultures.

He hoped that while Jieli stayed in Chang'an, he could come into contact with many advanced things in Tang Dynasty culture and institutions.

With his leadership, the Turks were able to develop a greater sense of identity with Tang Dynasty culture.

Upon seeing Li Shimin arrive with Lin Fan, the taxi drivers guarding near Jieli's residence quickly bowed in greeting.

Li Shimin led Lin Fan directly into the courtyard.

This residence is not luxurious; strictly speaking, it can only be considered average.

Upon seeing Li Shimin arrive, Jieli and Songtsen Gampo, who were having a pleasant conversation, quickly rose to greet him.

"Your humble servant Jieli greets Your Majesty."

"Songtsen Gampo greets His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty!"

"Jiali, it's been a long time!"

Li Shimin's tone was very calm, as if he were greeting an old friend.

Jieli nodded calmly. "Your Majesty is right. It has indeed been some time since I last saw Your Majesty."

"Damn it, is this guy trying to make me dance again?" Although Jieli appeared calm on the surface, he couldn't help but complain in his heart.

Soon, a guard brought a stool and placed it in front of Li Shimin.

Li Shimin didn't waste any words and went straight to the point, "I've come today mainly to see if the two of you get along well?"

Upon hearing this, Jieli and Songtsen Gampo couldn't help but exchange a glance, with the former speaking first.

"Your Majesty, I hit it off immediately with the Tibetan king, and we had a very pleasant conversation."

Songtsen Gampo quickly clasped his hands in agreement.

Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction. "Hmm, by the way, how have you been lately? Have you had any problems?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Fortunately, the Imperial Attendant from the Palace came to examine me yesterday and found that I do have some minor ailments, but they are not serious," Jieli said truthfully.

"That's good." Li Shimin stroked his beard. "Do you have any other requests?"

Jieli thought he had misheard and quickly glanced at Li Shimin.

The next second, realizing what was happening, he quickly bowed and clasped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, I have no other requests."

After spending so many years in Chang'an, Jieli had finally figured it out.

If he and Li Shimin had switched places, Li Shimin would definitely not be alive today.

Now he not only lives a peaceful life, but he can also occasionally eat meat and drink some wine.

Although the carefree life on the grasslands is gone, we still have no problem eating and drinking our fill.

"Alright then." Li Shimin pondered for two seconds before speaking, "In that case, I will order you to be buried back on the grasslands in the future."

Upon hearing this, Jieli was initially incredulous.

He then knelt down before Li Shimin without hesitation and said in a hoarse voice, word by word:

"Your subject, Jieli, thanks Your Majesty for your great favor! Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Tang Dynasty!"

It's no wonder Jieli lost his composure; the concept of returning to one's roots is not unique to the people of the Central Plains.

Jieli originally thought he would never be able to return to his homeland in this lifetime, but now this opportunity is right in front of him. At this moment, he even had the idea of ​​drawing his sword and committing suicide.

At this moment, besides Jieli, there was another person who was excited, and that was Songtsen Gampo.

In his mind, the grudge between Jieli and Li Shimin was much greater than his own.

Now that Jieli has the opportunity to return to his homeland, doesn't that mean he will have the same opportunity in the future?

Thinking of this, Songtsen Gampo knelt down without hesitation.

"This sinful subject begs Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang for mercy!"

Li Shimin waved his hand, "Get up! We'll discuss this later."

Since there was no direct refusal, it meant there was a chance. Songtsen Gampo thanked him again before standing up.

He was already quite young, and standing next to Jieli, they looked like grandfather and grandson.