In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

"Don't worry, I'll carry two fruit baskets for them," Li Yuanchang said half-jokingly.

Even a composed and experienced minister like Fang Xuanling was amused to the point of tears.

Then he hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

"Lord Fang, you are someone I admire. Speak frankly if you have something to say."

"Although I have a bad temper, the country is in trouble, and I have an inescapable responsibility to do so. I will bow my head."

Fang Xuanling was deeply moved upon hearing this.

"Your Majesty's noble character and integrity surpass even my humble self. However, this..."

He drawled, "As you know, a verbal apology is just a matter of saving face; Tibet clearly wants more than just that superficial gesture."

Li Yuanchang raised an eyebrow: "So?"

"So His Majesty means to make an example of it."

"How do I do it?"

Fang Xuanling carefully chose his words and said, "His Majesty's intention is to change Your Highness's position as Prefect of Liangzhou and Grand Commander to a nominal one."

"Reclaim all the fiefs and grants granted to him, and exile him to the border troops."

boom!

These words struck Li Yuanchang like a bolt from the blue, instantly enraging him.

He's willing to consider the bigger picture and apologize, but that doesn't mean he's willing to be completely dismissed.

"Remote leadership" means turning all real power into a nominal title.

Hand over everything that Liangzhou has been managing.

Although this was Li Shimin's right, he did something extremely wrong. If Li Yuanchang accepted it, he would be a fool.

"Lord Fang, I wish to see His Majesty!!"

Fang Xuanling smiled wryly: "Your Highness, please don't get agitated."

"His Majesty said it's just for show; otherwise, the punishment wouldn't be enough, and it would be difficult to appease Tibet."

"This isn't how you settle things peacefully. Who will dare to work for His Majesty in the future?"

"Those Tibetans wish they could get rid of me, because I restricted their demands on the Tang Dynasty, so they hold a grudge!" Li Yuanchang was extremely dissatisfied and refused to compromise!

"Your Highness, how could His Majesty not know what you are referring to?"

"If Your Majesty doesn't care about or consider His Highness's feelings, why make this old minister make a special trip? Why not just issue the order directly?"

Fang Xuanling appealed to his emotions and reason: "His Majesty has not forgotten His Highness's contributions; this is merely a temporary measure."

"His Majesty has said that Your Highness will be exiled to the border army. Does Your Highness understand what this means?"

Li Yuanchang frowned: "What do you mean?"

"His Majesty will definitely destroy the Xueyantuo this time they march south. If there are no unforeseen circumstances, the commander-in-chief will most likely be Li Ji."

"The so-called exile to the border troops is just sending Your Highness to a minor post. It's called exile, but it's really just a way to gain prestige. Once the war is won, based on military merit, His Majesty will just promote Your Highness back, won't he?"

"This way, we can shut up any gossip."

"Even if the Tibetans were dissatisfied, the Xueyantuo issue had already been resolved by then, and the crisis on both the northern and western fronts would not have occurred."

"As for the personnel in Liangzhou, there will be no changes. Wang Hongzhi will lead the civil service, and Song Yu and Wan Jun will continue to lead the military."

"Your Highness is doing well in Liangzhou, and His Majesty will not easily separate you from your family."

"Let me put it this way to Your Highness: His Majesty is worried that Your Highness might become stubborn and refuse to back down, causing an uncontrollable situation. That's why he sent this old minister to inform Your Highness in advance."

"The Xueyantuo's southward advance is now the court's top priority, and no one can stop it!"

Fang Xuanling was sometimes gentle and sometimes serious, implying to Li Yuanchang not to act impulsively, and that Li Shimin had already been very considerate in taking this step.

If it were anyone else, they would never send him to persuade them; a ruler is always a ruler!

Li Yuanchang, of course, also heard the subtext of the last sentence.

If we accept Fang Xuanling's assessment, then it's certainly not a case of being wronged.

"besides!"

Fang Xuanling hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Does Your Highness still remember the time you complained in the Liangyi Hall a few days ago?"

"You mean a leak?" Li Yuanchang's eyes were murderous.

Fang Xuanling nodded.

"This matter involves a great deal of issues, but His Majesty has thoroughly investigated it."

"His Majesty has not made it public, but... the Prince of Wei has been placed under house arrest!" His eyes were grave.

A thunderous roar erupted in Li Yuanchang's heart, stirring up boundless waves of shock.

Who is Li Tai? He was Li Shimin's most beloved son and was once considered the successor to the Tang Empire. Even though he lost the Literary Museum after being ruined by Li Yuanchang, he still managed to rise again.

According to historical precedent, Li Chengqian remained in power for a period of time after his rebellion, but now he is imprisoned, which is completely different from the historical trajectory!

For a prince, confinement is the second worst punishment, second only to execution; it's the maximum penalty!

"Does Lord Fang mean that His Majesty has already determined that it was Prince Wei who leaked the information?"

Fang Xuanling gently shook his head: "Your Highness, this old minister is unaware; His Majesty has not made it public."

"But His Majesty ordered a thorough investigation one day, and then immediately placed the Prince of Wei under house arrest, and even ordered his name to be removed from the Gazetteer of the Land."

"Many things are better left unsaid. I brought this up so that Your Majesty would know that Your Majesty has acted impartially, which is a way of giving Your Majesty an explanation."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was overjoyed!

I'm not even this happy when I had a son, hahaha!

The Great Tang Dynasty's Kuodi Zhi is somewhat similar to the Yongle Encyclopedia of the Ming Dynasty, only on a smaller scale. It is a national treasure passed down through generations and was initially compiled by Li Tai and a large group of people.

This thing has been removed from the list; Li Tai has truly been taken offline ahead of schedule.

Leaking high-level secrets and settling personal scores under the guise of official business crossed Li Shimin's bottom line.

"I see."

"Lord Fang, whether His Majesty does these things or not, I won't say anything and will just follow orders."

"I have always been obedient."

Fang Xuanling's lips twitched violently. This hindsight... He believed it, and that's why he had it.

"Cough cough cough."

Li Yuanchang remained completely calm and composed.

"Um, Mr. Fang, shall we leave now?"

"I'm getting rusty from staying here so long! Hurry up, I'm going to apologize to the Tibetan envoy, confess my crimes, and accept punishment!"

He was satisfied, utterly satisfied. Li Su was free, Li Tai was imprisoned, and his price was merely admitting defeat and going through the motions. The only downside was that he couldn't return to Liangzhou and had to join the war against Xueyantuo.

But this is already a perfect ending.

Fang Xuanling chuckled and said, "Your Highness, please don't be impatient. The morning court session has already ended."

"Let's do it first thing tomorrow morning."

"Someone will come to fetch Your Highness at the morning court tomorrow. At that time, Your Highness..."

Fang Xuanling then went on to discuss the specific details with him, repeatedly emphasizing that Li Yuanchang must not act recklessly, that his apology to the Tibetans must be sincere, and that the overall situation must be taken into account.

Even if the Tibetan envoy deliberately mocked him, he couldn't act recklessly. In the end, he had to put on a show with Li Shimin, a play in which Li Yuanchang was unwilling to accept being dismissed but was forced to accept it.

The two talked for a long time, marking the third time that Li Yuanchang and Li Shimin had worked together as ruler and minister.

Once things were finalized.

Fang Xuanling successfully reported back to his post.

Li Shimin was quite satisfied with Li Yuanchang's compromise and allowed him to meet with the Prince of Han's trusted confidants.