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

Lizheng Hall.

This belongs to Taiji Palace, which was Li Shimin's resting place.

This wasn't Li Yuanchang's first visit, but this time he felt an unprecedented quiet.

There were no people like Changsun Wuji around him, not even a eunuch; he sat alone on the dragon throne.

With his hair turning gray, he exuded a sense of age and gained an even more imposing presence.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"

Li Shimin looked up and a beam of sunlight shone in through the window, making his eyes slightly dazed.

Looking at the young and valiant Li Yuanchang, he couldn't help but sigh, "You really resemble me, but it's a pity you're not my son."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang's expression changed slightly.

This may seem like a compliment, but it's actually a bit malicious.

"Your Majesty, I am merely a subject of the Tang Dynasty!"

Li Shimin smiled faintly, his smile radiating a calm and composed quality.

"You don't need to be nervous, I am not Liu Bang."

"I remember everything you've done."

Li Yuanchang did not feel relieved by this. The more Li Shimin said this, the more he felt that today's summons was not simple.

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty."

"I wonder if His Majesty has summoned me suddenly because of something important?"

Li Shimin nodded: "What's the matter with Japan?"

Li Yuanchang thought to himself, "As expected, this matter has indeed come to light."

But he was prepared: "Your Majesty, the matter concerning Japan originated from my mission to search for medicine in the East China Sea..."

"..."

He spoke for the duration of half an incense stick, explaining everything in great detail, and clarifying that his intervention in the internal affairs of Japan was solely to rescue the ships and crew.

They even mentioned that they did indeed collaborate with Mr. Ōtomo.

Li Shimin remained calm and asked again, "The Japanese envoy said that the Ōtomo clan's army possesses many weapons. What is the meaning of this?"

Li Yuanchang said, "Your Majesty, those weapons were carried by the fleet at the time for self-defense."

"The Ōtomo clan helped me rescue the crew, one of their conditions being that they wanted some of the repeating crossbows."

"At the time, I was overseas and had no choice but to agree."

Li Shimin raised an eyebrow: "But that's not what they say over there. They say the amount is huge, and that the Ōtomo clan, with those weapons, has already rivaled the Japanese Emperor, ruling separately in the north and south."

"Disgrace!"

"Your Majesty, this is defamation!"

"There could never be that many. They are harboring resentment towards me and deliberately slandering me." Li Yuanchang shook his head in denial, since it was an overseas matter anyway.

There's no way to find out that, and even if you did, who knows how many years would have passed.

He knew very well that as long as he didn't admit it, the Japanese couldn't do anything to him, and Li Shimin wouldn't do anything either.

After all, the conflict was caused by Japan seizing ships and arresting people.

Li Shimin only glanced at him for a few breaths.

"This matter is not your fault."

Even if it causes diplomatic problems, so be it.

Li Yuanchang breathed a sigh of relief: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your understanding."

"But there's one more thing," Li Shimin said, changing the subject.

Li Yuanchang frowned and looked over, his expression inexplicably tense.

"Take a look at this."

Li Shimin presented a memorial to the emperor, indicating that Li Yuanchang should read it himself.

He was too calm, without sadness or joy, and even without expression, which made Li Yuanchang even more uneasy, feeling that he might have been tricked again.

He stepped forward, picked it up, and then opened it.

As expected, the memorial, written in black and white, was an impeachment letter written by Wang Wen, the deputy governor of the Southern Mongolian Governor's Office!

The impeachment memorial clearly stated that Li Yuanchang had privately trained assassins, which startled Li Yuanchang, who thought that Kou Zhu's affairs had been exposed.

But as you read on, you realize that the target is actually a mountain tribe!

The Gaoshan tribe was once a small tribe in the northern desert. Later, Li Yuanchang invited them down the mountain and helped them crush the Xueyantuo's camp.

Afterwards, the other tribes lived in peace and prosperity under the arrangement of the Tang Dynasty, but Huangtu and his tribe chose to follow Li Yuanchang and enter the Han Prince's Palace.

"Your Majesty, this is indeed true, but it has nothing to do with privately keeping assassins!"

"After we defeated the Xueyantuo, they sought refuge with my brother to repay our kindness. My brother took them in because he felt sorry for them. Their entire clan numbered only a little over a hundred people."

"The Prince of Han's residence has not overstepped its bounds!" Li Yuanchang explained seriously.

Li Shimin said quietly, "But they are Hu people. After the assassination at Jiucheng Palace, a large number of Hu people were relocated to the north of the Yellow River and placed under centralized management."

"You actually took an entire army of Hu people into your own household."

"Moreover, this matter was not reported at the time!"

He was somewhat displeased.

Li Yuanchang cupped his hands and quickly explained that the matter could be either a big deal or a small one.

"Your Majesty, although they are Hu people, they rendered meritorious service in the Xueyantuo War, so they shouldn't be within the scope of the migration, right?"

"They were all meritorious officials of the Tang Dynasty."

"Besides, they weren't really an army, just over a hundred people. When I encountered them, they didn't even have a sword."

"At the time, we were really short of manpower, so we recruited them. I originally intended to recruit them as my bodyguards."

"If this is to say that we are raising assassins, then I am being utterly wronged!"

What is a suicide squad member?

"A true assassin is someone whose identity comes from being an orphan, who pledges allegiance to a specific individual, and who carries out assassinations and other similar missions!"

"And they are not orphans, their relatives are all in Chang'an, and they are not only loyal to Chendi, but to the Tang Dynasty. Over the years, they have contributed to many missions, including the search for the elixir of immortality."

"If it weren't for their language barrier, I would have recommended them to the Ministry of War long ago."

"How can they be called suicide squad members?"

Li Yuanchang spoke with anger in his heart, thinking, "What kind of baseless nonsense is this?"

At his level, who doesn't have a guard, who doesn't have a group of men?

Following this logic, all the civil and military officials in the court must have kept assassins.

But soon, Li Shimin's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over him from head to toe.

"I once said that everything can be advised, and those who offer advice will not be punished."

"Since the matter of the mountain tribe exists, then this impeachment letter cannot be considered spreading rumors or sowing discord between the ruler and his ministers."

"Although I know you have no intention of raising assassins or rebelling, your actions have crossed the line!"

With that, Li Shimin turned his back and stood with his hands behind his back.

"This time, I'll only give you one reminder."

"But there won't be a next time."

Li Yuanchang was displeased, but he could only suppress it. Just as he was about to respond,

But Li Shimin wasn't finished. He added, "Hand over the people of the Gaoshan tribes. I want to exile them to Lingnan."

boom!

These words struck like a bolt from the blue.

Li Yuanchang stood there, stunned!

At that moment, he looked at Li Shimin and felt completely unfamiliar with him.

He instantly realized that it was all a setup; whether or not the charges were established was entirely up to Li Shimin's whim.

He began to understand that serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; they can change their tune in an instant.

He began to understand that if you want to find fault, you can always find a reason!

"Your Majesty!" he said, suppressing his anger.

"Your Majesty, I refuse to accept this!"

He expressed his resistance.

What kind of place is Lingnan? In ancient times, it was a primitive area, barren and desolate. Most of the people exiled there died of illness, exhaustion, or freezing. They didn't live more than a few years and had no place to live at all.