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

"I had a dream last night in which the Tang army was defeated."

"But they all kept it from me."

"Father, Your Majesty, my uncles are afraid that if you knew the news of the prolonged siege and heavy losses at the front, it would affect your health, so they dared not tell you."

"I am aware of this matter, and I gave my permission!"

"If you want to blame someone, blame your son!" Li Zhi said frankly.

Li Shimin shook his head with a wry smile, stroking Li Zhi's head with one hand.

"No!"

"Sit down and let your father tell you in detail."

Li Zhi's tears flowed like a kite with a broken string in an instant, his nose stung, and he was almost struggling to hold back his breakdown.

In his memory, Li Shimin had never spoken to him so gently, as if he were a commoner, without any imperial distance.

"Father, please speak, I am listening."

Li Shimin mustered his strength and gradually recovered some of his power, saying hoarsely, "Some of them may be afraid that my body cannot hold on, but others are just worried that I will withdraw my troops, offer amnesty to the Prince of Han, or compromise and make peace."

Do you understand?

Li Zhi was taken aback. How come these words were exactly the same as Miss Ling Shuang's advice!

"Father, didn't you vow to quell the rebellion?"

Li Shimin shook his head hoarsely: "Times have changed. My time is coming to an end. Once I am gone, there will be no one left to check Li Yuanchang."

"Your reputation is far from sufficient."

"I must make a choice."

Li Zhi wanted to speak, but Li Shimin pressed him down, as he wanted to finish what he was saying.

"I am worried that after you ascend the throne, you will not be able to control Li Yuanchang."

"But I am also worried that the Guanlong Group and Li Yuanchang are at odds and will engage in large-scale internal strife for their own selfish interests, and that you will become their puppet."

"Furthermore, since the civil war in the Tang Dynasty, troops have been transferred eastward, and the Tibetan Empire in the west has been restless, eyeing the Hexi Corridor with predatory intent. They are just waiting for me to breathe my last!"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi was already sobbing uncontrollably.

Li Shimin wiped away his tears, never having been so gentle in his entire life.

"I am also worried that if things really come to a point where both sides are severely weakened, foreign tribes will take advantage of the situation and invade. Compared to Li Yuanchang, I would rather the Tibetans attack!"

"No matter how great Li Yuanchang's achievements may be, he will always be the king of the Tang Dynasty, a thousand times better than any foreigner!"

"Though I am old, the blood of the Tang Dynasty flows in my veins!"

"Of course, it would be best to quell the chaos, but as you can see, the battle on the front lines has become a pipe dream. I have once again underestimated Li Yuanchang."

"He commanded immense support in Goguryeo, with many of his former followers defecting to him. Even the entire Goguryeo and Japan listened to him."

"Now, the imperial court can no longer control him."

"Once I leave, no one will be able to suppress his prestige."

Li Shimin revealed a fact he had previously refused to acknowledge: that even he could not do anything about Li Yuanchang now.

Even if he were twenty years younger and led the army in person, he probably wouldn't stand a chance.

Although he angrily dismissed Li Ji, the returning Li Ji also brought him the truth, and at the last moment, he woke up!

He won't wake up anymore; his body can't take it anymore.

Li Zhi cried, "Father, no, no, you'll be alright!"

"Your subject will go now..."

Li Shimin grabbed the man with surprising force, staring intently into Li Zhi's eyes.

"Listen to me!"

The dragon's voice reverberated, waking Li Zhi, who stared blankly at Li Shimin, whose hair was disheveled and face was pale.

"You will soon be the master of the Tang Empire, you will soon take on this heavy responsibility, my son, you are not allowed to cry!"

"After you take the throne, you can't completely trust anyone's words, because everyone has their own stance, and everyone speaks according to their needs, but their needs may not include you!"

"Even with the ministers I entrust to you as my heirs, use seven parts, but leave three parts for yourself!"

"This is your first lesson as an emperor!"

"After I leave, you must recognize the King of Han's status in the name of the new emperor's ascension to the throne and a general amnesty, and grant him the entire Goguryeo territory as his fief, so that he can continue to serve the Tang Dynasty."

"If you do this, and Li Yuanchang rebels, the whole country will attack him!"

"But he will most likely accept it. When Li Jing was on his deathbed, Li Ji also told me that the Prince of Han might not have any intention of rebelling."

"Once he accepts, you must use this sword well, use it to cut down the Tibetans, and to cut down all the civil officials and meritorious officials who try to control you."

"Similarly, you must make good use of other forces to restrain and control this sword, understand?"

Li Zhi was completely bewildered and couldn't keep up with Li Shimin's thinking and imperial strategies at all.

If a trusted minister had already been chosen to be entrusted with the care of the young emperor, why was Li Yuanchang executed? Why then was a new minister chosen in the first place?

"Cough cough cough!"

Li Shimin coughed, his body trembling uncontrollably. Blood welled up in his throat, but he swallowed it back, forcing himself to speak: "Do you understand?"

"I understand... I understand, Your Majesty!" Li Zhi realized belatedly.

"I failed to control him, but perhaps you can!" There was a hint of regret in Li Shimin's eyes. He had originally intended to teach Li Yuanchang a lesson and make him more obedient, but he had messed things up.

"Besides him, you should also employ ministers like Wuji and Chu Suiliang; they are all capable ministers in times of peace..."

Li Shimin still wanted to give instructions, as if he had endless things to say. He felt that Li Zhi was too immature, but his body could no longer hold on.

"Cough cough cough!"

"Go, go and take the scroll from under that box!"

"Yes, yes."

Li Zhi scrambled and crawled to find the scroll.

Li Shimin did not accept it, but said, "This is what I left for you. Only you can see it. There are various instructions on it, and you must remember them well!"

Li Zhi subconsciously opened the scroll, which was filled with densely written and dazzling text. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a Tang Dynasty "Memorial on Dispatching the Troops".

Who to employ, who to be wary of, who to consult for each decision, what crisis requires what action to take—no detail is too small…

Even Li Ji's demotion was intentional. The scroll clearly states that he should recall him at an appropriate time, so that Li Zhi would become Li Ji's benefactor and Li Ji would be loyal to the death.

Like a father about to embark on a long journey, reminding his son that the food is in the pot, the money is in the cupboard, and not to drink anything cold...

"Waaaaah!!"

Li Zhi could no longer hold back his tears, and they finally broke free.

Li Shimin stroked his head, just like when he was a child.

But he was utterly exhausted, his eyelids were heavy, and he was barely breathing, as if he were about to die. He didn't have the energy left.

"Child, help your father lie down. Your father is so tired. Your father needs to rest for a while."

"Yes, yes!" Li Zhi suppressed his tears and heartache, and knelt down to help him up.

Li Shimin slowly lay down, his eyes closed, and weakly murmured, "I keep dreaming about Chengqian lately, oh, and your mother too, it seems she's here too..."

……