Tang Dynasty: Consort Wu? Your Majesty, please address her as the Crown Prince's Consort.

The next morning, the court session began.

Li Shimin couldn't help but smile as he looked at his rebellious son standing at the very front.

Then he turned and gave Canyue a look, and the latter immediately understood, taking out an imperial edict from her bosom and saying:

"Emperor's Decree of the Great Tang Dynasty:"

Crown Prince Li Chengqian personally led the expedition against the Xueyantuo, beheading their leader Yinan in battle and prompting the Ashina tribe to surrender to the Tang Dynasty. I am greatly pleased! ...I hereby award him one thousand taels of silver, five hundred taels of gold, and brocade...

Xue Rengui, the commander of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace, fought bravely against the enemy, killing several enemy generals. He was granted the title of Earl of Longxi and awarded five hundred taels of silver!

Yang Zaixing, the deputy commander of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace, always took the lead in every battle and was unstoppable. He was granted the title of Earl of Anding and awarded five hundred taels of silver!

Ashina Duer, the deputy commander of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace, was brave and skilled in battle. He facilitated the surrender of the Ashina tribe to the Tang Dynasty and was granted the title of Earl of Deqing and a reward of five hundred taels of silver!

Duke Hou Junji of Lu State, in cooperation with the Crown Prince, captured the Xueyantuo royal court and was rewarded with one thousand taels of silver and five hundred bolts of brocade!

Ashina Qingya led the Ashina tribe to surrender to the Tang Dynasty, took care of the Crown Prince's daily life, was made a Crown Prince's concubine, and was given the surname Li!

In addition, all other meritorious soldiers were rewarded according to their merits.

So be it!

As the crescent moon finished speaking, all the soldiers accepted the imperial decree and expressed their gratitude.

"Your Majesty, we accept the decree and thank you!"

Xue Rengui and the others couldn't help but show their excitement.

The reward money is secondary; the real prize is the earldom. Don't underestimate this mere earldom; how many marquises and dukes are there in the entire Tang Dynasty?

Moreover, the title of nobility was hereditary, and this one title alone was enough to put them into the ranks of the true nobility of the Tang Dynasty!

……

Just then, Li Tai gave Wang Gui a look, and the latter immediately understood.

He immediately stepped forward and said:

"Your Majesty! His Highness the Crown Prince has rendered meritorious service in slaying Yinan, but why not directly annihilate the Xueyantuo? As far as I know, His Highness does seem to possess the ability to do so!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin, seated on the dragon throne, also tensed up. He had witnessed the scene clearly; Qingque was becoming increasingly entangled with these aristocratic families.

But this is good too. With the help of powerful families, perhaps we can really challenge that rebellious son. I wonder how he plans to deal with it?

Thinking of this, Li Shimin couldn't help but look down at Li Chengqian and say:

"Your Highness! What do you have to say?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian was speechless.

Seriously, I'm speechless. Don't you know why I did this?

What are you pretending for?

Then he turned to Wang Gui and said:

"What can I say? If you're so capable, why don't you do it yourself?"

Upon hearing Li Chengqian's words, Wang Gui couldn't help but be taken aback.

He never expected Li Chengqian to say that!

"Your Highness, I am a civil official and not skilled in leading troops in battle!"

"Then what the hell are you spouting? If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense. The military officers haven't said anything yet, so what are you, a civil official, doing jumping out and making a racket?"

As soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, Wang Gui was so angry that he blew his beard and glared. He was, after all, the chief official of three provinces. When had he ever suffered such humiliation?

"Your Highness, how can you be so rude? I am merely stating the facts. Is Your Highness's way of speaking not crude enough?"

Seeing Wang Gui's angry expression, Li Chengqian said indifferently:

"Lord Wang is joking. I was merely stating the facts. If you don't believe me, ask the military officers over there. Did I do the right thing this time?"

As he spoke, he casually pointed towards the ranks of military officers.

Seeing this, Li Jing immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Li Shimin, and said:

"Your Majesty, I have read the Crown Prince's battle report. Compared to destroying the Xueyantuo, keeping the Xueyantuo alive is actually more beneficial to the Tang Dynasty."

If the Xueyantuo are destroyed, another Xueyantuo will soon emerge on the grasslands. Rather than that, it would be better to let the Xueyantuo and Ashina tribes check and balance each other, so that the various tribes on the grasslands will be too busy fighting to look south!

As soon as Li Jing finished speaking, Li Ji quickly stepped forward and echoed him:

"I second that suggestion. Rather than the Tang Dynasty frequently sending troops to suppress rebellions, it would be better to let them remain mired in internal strife for a long time. This way, our Tang Dynasty can suffer fewer casualties!"

As the two men stepped forward, Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, Xue Wanche, Hou Junji, and others behind them also stood up to support Li Chengqian.

Even Li Shimin above couldn't help but be surprised by this scene.

What's going on with this bunch of killers?

Why is everyone jumping out to speak up for Gao Ming?

Especially that old fellow Li Jing, who didn't take sides back then during the Xuanwu Gate incident, is now the first to jump out and support that rebellious son!

Thinking of this, Li Shimin couldn't help but look at Li Chengqian with a hint of doubt in his eyes.

That's right, he's the epitome of a rebellious son. When did this kid develop such charm?

When Li Chengqian noticed the look in his father's eyes, he couldn't help but reveal a smug expression.

Seeing this, Li Shimin's face darkened, and he immediately turned to look at Li Ke, who was standing next to Li Chengqian, and blinked twice. His eyes seemed to say, "Ke'er, this rebellious son is too arrogant. Quickly, take him down!"

Li Ke noticed the look of doubt in his father's eyes and couldn't help but show a hint of confusion.

What does this mean, Father? Do you want me to step in and help my brother?

Yes, that's it. Father must think that the military generals don't carry enough weight and wants me, a prince, to speak up for my elder brother. Yes, that must be it.

Upon realizing this, Li Ke immediately gave Li Shimin a reassuring look, and then stepped forward aggressively.

Upon seeing this, Li Shimin, seated on the dragon throne, immediately showed a look of satisfaction.

Ke'er understands me best; he is truly my good son!

However, the next second, Li Ke spoke, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture to Li Shimin and saying:

"Father! Your son believes that your elder brother's strategy was flawless. He not only severely damaged the Xueyantuo and killed Yinan Khan, but also subdued the Ashina tribe. This battle brought at least ten years of peace to the north of the Tang Dynasty. However, the amount of gold and silver rewarded to your elder brother is far too little."

Your Majesty, I believe that with your great achievements, you are fully deserving of the title of General of Heavenly Strategy!

boom!

These words caused an uproar throughout the court, and even Li Chengqian, who was standing to the side, was stunned.

What the hell!

Little bro, are you always this fierce?

Li Shimin, sitting on the dragon throne, was also filled with disbelief, and he even wondered if he had misheard.

This script doesn't seem right!

Shouldn't you help suppress that rebellious son?

But when Li Shimin saw the unspoken admiration in Li Ke's eyes as he looked at Li Chengqian, he was immediately startled.

Don't accept! There's a traitor! Could this kid be in cahoots with that rebellious son?

It was only then that he realized he had forgotten to pay attention to the relationship between his third son and this rebellious son.

In his view, since it concerns the throne, shouldn't every prince have some ambition?

Moreover, Li Ke was one of the most outstanding among all his princes. If we disregard the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, Qing Que was definitely no match for Ke'er.

And now you're telling me you're in cahoots with that rebellious son, and you even want me to appoint him as the Grand General of Heavenly Strategy?

What do you want to do? I haven't even considered becoming the Retired Emperor yet!