The treatment of the Tang Dynasty captives is really not bad, since Jieli cried in front of the emperor, there is no shortage of meat.

In the courtyard, which looked more like a prison than a house, a pale young man was basking in the sun under the watchful eye of several guards. Basking in the sun in winter is definitely good for the body, but the despair on the face of the person who basks in the sun is too great compared to the bright sun.

When the guards saw that it was the prince, they pulled out their horizontal knives one after another, repelled the Gaochang servants in the courtyard, and respectfully invited the prince in.

"Koji Zhisheng?"

"Li Chengqian?"

Zhang Yun was about to get angry, but Li Chengqian stopped him with a smile. In terms of status, Koji Zhisheng is still qualified to call his name.

Even if he is a prisoner now.

Yang Yang held the wine jug in his hand, Li Chengqian naturally sat on the bench and handed a jug to Koji Zhisheng.

Koji Zhisheng happily took it, and without using a cup, he took a big sip at the spout and coughed again and again.

"I'm not used to drinking this kind of emerging wine in Datang, but my father collected a lot of them, all of which were sent to Gaochang by the Datang caravan."

"It was sent by the caravan belonging to the East Palace, and the spirits are very marketable in the Western Regions, if it weren't for your Gaochang cutting too much, it is estimated that it will not only be the previous amount that will be sent."

Li Chengqian was not surprised by the Tang Dynasty official dialect of Koji Zhisheng Lisuo. Facts have proved that the Chinese language was still very marketable in the Tang Dynasty, whether it was for communication or for vigilance, foreigners all learned Chinese. Especially leaders, it is unimaginable that they do not know Chinese.

After taking another sip of wine, Koji Zhisheng said: "I told my father at the beginning that Gaochang is located at the junction of the Three Kingdoms, and it is still in the core of the business road, so it is time to stop if you can get so much." Because once the balance between the three kingdoms is broken, the end of Gaochang will come. Even so, it is better to take advantage of the scenery to choose a country and completely surrender, although there is no throne, but with this merit, the little Khan of the Turkic Tuyuhun and the prince of the Tang Dynasty can still be exchanged. In this way, the people of Gaochang will also be protected from the suffering of war.

However, at that time, my father was immersed in the sea of gold and silver, and turned a deaf ear to my advice, if he had listened to me, how could he have come to this point? A small country should act like a small country, relying on the support of its neighbors and provoking another big country to the extreme. ”

Li Chengqian nodded, puzzled: "In that case, why did you refuse to surrender when attacking the royal city?" ”

Koji Zhisheng smiled slightly, and after taking a sip of wine, he said: "That's different, Datang has a murderous intention towards Gao Chang." There is a saying in the Central Plains that 'the lord humiliates the ministers to death', you haven't seen the battlefield in Gaochang, but if you do, you know how brutal your generals of the Tang Dynasty are. In the first battle of Mokou, the Tang army captured more than 10,000 prisoners, but those captives did not even appear in the slave market of the Tang Dynasty, guess where they went? ”

Li Chengqian shook his head, he didn't know, and he didn't want to know. The generals of the Tang Dynasty have strong autonomy, even if they kill one or two thousand prisoners, they can find a good excuse and report it to the imperial court.

"My father insulted Datang, and I don't resent Gao Chang for being treated like this. Rather than surrender and see your subjects slaughtered, it is better to fight to the end. At this point, I guess you'll be the same choice! ”

Li Chengqian nodded, picked up the wine jug and touched it with Koji Zhisheng, and the two of them took a big sip.

What Ko Zhisheng said, Li Chengqian couldn't refute. Although he hadn't experienced it, imagining such a scene, he had no choice but to resist to the end. Even "surrender" is not an option. Cheng Yanjin, Wei Chigong and others were all generals, but no one looked down on them, because they surrendered to the Central Plains forces. When it comes to the outside world, if anyone surrenders, he will immediately be nailed to the list of shame in the history books and will be scolded for thousands of years.

Today is sunny and windy, and it's easy to forget it's winter.

Li Chengqian and Koji Zhisheng both drank a lot of wine, and their bodies were hot, so they couldn't help but spread their bodies and stretched.

Although it was the first time they met, the two were like friends who had been separated for many years.

"I want to commit suicide, because Gaochang is destroyed in my hands, I have no face to continue to live, only once I die, can I have the face to face the ancestors and ancestors under the Yellow Spring. Li Chengqian, you are also the crown prince, you should understand my feelings, although the disaster was brought on by my father, but I still can't shirk my responsibility. I've seen Jieli too, I don't want to live like that, if you understand me, give me a good time! In return, I can give you the treasures of the royal family. You must know that the treasures of our royal family are not just those in the royal palace. ”

"Tsk, if there is no return, maybe I will promise you, but if you take out your family funds, won't you trap me in a place of injustice? It's like I'm trying to get you to die because I'm greedy for your money. ”

Koji Zhisheng smiled bitterly and could only take a big sip of spirits.

Seeing that Koji Zhisheng's wine jug was empty, Li Chengqian handed over his wine jug. Obviously, they drank together, but he still had most of the wine in the jug. Li Chengqian has always controlled the wine and stopped when he was slightly drunk.

Koji Zhisheng didn't dislike it, but drank it directly.

Leaning on the bench, Li Chengqian thought for a long time before he spoke: "From tomorrow, I will send you a lot of wine, unlike the previous wine, if you drink too much spirits, you will really drink the dead." Dying in a drunken state shouldn't be too painful...."

Koji Zhisheng's eyes lit up, and he bowed his hand to Li Chengqian, and suddenly became happy.

Standing up, Li Chengqian walked out and said, "Compared with your father, you are more suitable to be a virtuous monarch. Although we are hostile, I don't need to insult you, I can give you the right to die. ”

After speaking, Li Chengqian stretched his waist before leaving the courtyard completely.

At the gate of the courtyard, Tang Jian saw that the prince had come out, and walked over nervously and asked, "Your Highness, has he dispelled his will to die?" ”

Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "No, on the contrary, I promised to let him die." Ju Gong, for such a respectable enemy, we have to be generous. However, he promised to hand over the news of the Gaochang royal family's treasures, and the Honglu Temple would not lose money. ”

Tang Jian suddenly didn't know what to say, although the treasure of the Gaochang royal family must be a lot of money, but the captured Gaochang royal family, only Koji Zhisheng, if he died, there would be less deterrence.

Ignoring Tang Jian, who was fighting between heaven and man, Li Chengqian went back to the East Palace directly.

When I came to see Koji Zhisheng today, I also came with feelings.

Seeing the loyalty of Qi Bi He Li and the will to die of Koji Zhisheng made him feel a lot of emotion.

The surrender of Chebiholi was correct, as he preserved his people. It is also appropriate that Koji Zhisheng will not surrender to death, because this is the embodiment of his backbone.

As the prince of the Tang Dynasty, if he wants to avoid this choice, he has to work hard to make the Tang Dynasty stronger.

Fortunately, I traveled to the Tang Dynasty, which is a powerful dynasty and a fierce dynasty. Externally, only the Han and Tang dynasties were particularly strong, and it was difficult for a dynasty like the Song Dynasty that was accustomed to losing and losing, and who loved to do anything, to reverse this decline.

Tang Jian had no choice but to play to the emperor. The emperor finally accepted Koji Zhisheng's terms, but he wanted to die only after the Tang army found the property of the Gaochang royal family.

Along with this order was a rebuke from the emperor, against the crown prince.

Li Shimin felt that Li Chengqian was looking for something to do, so he went to Honglu Temple to make such a play.

Li Chengqian, who was reprimanded, could only stay in the East Palace honestly and "read and think".

The matter of promising Koji Zhisheng to find death was purely a coincidence that day, and when he saw the power of Qi Bi in the court, he sent a ghost to see Koji Zhisheng.

However, he did not regret agreeing to Koji Zhisheng's condition. Enemies, sometimes with respect.

When Xiao Nian came, Li Chengqian's ban was lifted and he was able to go out of the East Palace for activities.

Approaching the New Year, Manchang'an is filled with the atmosphere of approaching the New Year's Festival. However, this year is different from previous years, and there are many places on the streets where you can see strangers.

"The current Chang'an can be regarded as the dynasty of all countries, not only the Tibetan Turks and other countries, but even the Sassanid Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire in the far west, all sent envoys, and His Highness's gunpowder weapons really shocked the world."

It was Tang Jian who came to announce the lifting of the ban, and after meeting, he patted himself first.

"Ju Gong laughed, although the gunpowder weapon was invented by Lone, but it was the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty who were used on the battlefield, this is their credit, not Lone."

Although he felt that Tang Jian was very noisy, Li Chengqian still entertained him.

It's good to be punished for reading and thinking, just read in the study all day, and you don't have to deal with all kinds of government affairs, but it's a rare opportunity to rest.

After pouring himself a cup of tea, Tang Jian had no intention of saying goodbye directly, but sat down and prepared to chatter for a long time.

"Your Highness, the scale of the Hajj of the envoys of various countries this time can surpass the one after the fall of the Eastern Turks, and the tributes paid by various countries have more than doubled. But what happened that the ministers and others didn't know? ”

Tang Jian obviously not only came to announce the emperor's order, but also came to probe the wind.

Li Chengqian did give an order to the gunpowder weapon workshop, asking them to step up the production of weapon shells, because he knew very well that the Tang Dynasty would face a lot of stupid temptations next. The destruction of Gaochang was not enough for the enemy country to see the true power of gunpowder weapons. Gaochang is known as a country, but in fact, the strongest is only one royal city. Raiding a Gaochang is not much different from attacking a city.

Because of this, countries will be more curious about gunpowder weapons, and even send troops to provoke them at the risk of being questioned by the Tang Emperor. Gunpowder weapons terrify them, but it's not just cats who like to be on the edge of danger, it's people who like to be tempted on the edge of danger.

What's more, Li Chengqian clearly remembered what would have happened in the eighth year of Zhenguan. It was this incident that made the emperor see clearly the attitude of foreign countries towards the Tang Dynasty, which led to the almost disappearance of foreign rewards.

"Ju Gong, you'd better detain Tuyuhun's envoys and let them go in February, if Lone's expectation is good, Tuyuhun is likely to do something to our Datang, although these envoys have given a lot of gifts, but our Datang has rewarded them with a lot of things!"

Hearing Li Chengqian say this, Tang Jian was even more confused.

During this time, the prince was very abnormal, he seemed to be indifferent to everything, and he seemed to have a little disgust for the court, which made the emperor very curious. After the incident with Koji Zhisheng, the emperor thought that the crown prince was just a nervous attack, which was called punishment, and actually asked him to rest for a while. But he never thought that even if he studied behind closed doors for nearly a month, the prince would still be like this.

After coming out of the East Palace, Tang Jian directly confronted the saint and told the emperor everything he had seen and heard.

"I know, Aiqing go back."

After Tang Jian left, Li Shimin couldn't help but have a headache.

He thought that the prince was just the same as before, the pressure was too great, and he just needed to relieve it for a while. However, it is obvious that this time is different from before, the prince really has some complaints about the court, or about his father.

What is there to complain about?

The emperor, who really couldn't figure out the situation, could only choose to ignore it for the time being.

This year, the number of envoys far exceeded the four years of Zhenguan, and the title of "Heavenly Khan" was once again worn on his head, and the most rare thing was that the Sassanid Dynasty and other Western Regions countries in the extreme west also rushed to the Tang Dynasty to declare their respect for the Tang Dynasty. For an emperor, there is nothing more exciting than this.

It would not be good if the pattern of all nations coming to the dynasty was destroyed. This is a grand event that can go down in the history books, and there is no room for error.

Thinking of the rich gifts presented by the envoys, Li Shimin was proud for a while.

Since ancient times, even Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty has not been able to enjoy so many tributes! The former Qin Emperor and Han Wu, but that's it! What did he get the throne for? Isn't that it? Since the Han Dynasty, few emperors have such a reputation, even if it is Guangwu Emperor Liu Xiu, it is a little worse.

Thinking that his exploits were so good, even enough to go to Mount Tai to seal Zen, Li Shimin's heart was hot.

Now, there shouldn't be anyone to stop Feng Chan Taishan!

When the mood is good, people are extraordinarily generous, so when Li Shimin gave the envoys a return gift, he waved his pen and rewarded even more than the value of the gift. In particular, the steppe tribes, because of the lack of forging skills, received a large number of iron products. Tea, silk, etc. are countless.

During the New Year of the Tang Dynasty, foreigners were no more, but they who received rich gifts involuntarily joined in the celebration of the whole world.

The whole of Chang'an is joyful, and it has nothing to do with Hu Han. However, in the midst of all the joy, there is only one person missing, and that is the crown prince Li Chengqian.

When he saw the emperor's reward list, Li Chengqian knew that the emperor's narcissism had recurred.

Can't you see if your people have enough to eat? Rewarding outsiders for dry hair, is the tribute an act of collecting protection money, or is it a commercial exchange?

Until the New Year's state banquet, Li Chengqian's face was not good-looking, even if he greeted the emperor for the New Year on the first day of the new year, he couldn't open his mouth.

In the Liangyi Palace, Li Shimin, who had always been angry with the prince, finally couldn't help it.

"Wait a minute, come back, Qingque Li Ke, you take your younger brothers and sisters to ask the emperor to say goodbye, the prince stays!"

Li Tai cautiously glanced at the angry father, and then glanced at the imperial brother worriedly, and when he saw the imperial brother nodding, he walked out of the Liangyi Hall tremblingly.

The eldest grandson, dressed in full costume, sighed, took the emperor's hand and said, "Dissipate your anger, why are you shouting so loudly for the New Year." ”

Shaking off the eldest grandson's hand, Li Shimin said sharply: "Prince, come and tell me clearly, what is going on with you these days?" After the incident of Koji Zhisheng, you are neither yin nor yang, and you deal with the twists and turns, all of which are perfunctory. I thought you were tired and deliberately let you rest for a while, but you still did it. Also ordered the gunpowder weapon workshop to reorganize the battle, who are you guarding against? When all nations come to court, you have to block me, don't you? Last night's state banquet was the same, who did you show with a stinky face? ”

Li Chengqian didn't expect the emperor's reaction to be so violent, so he could only sit on the ground and say, "It's not a son...."

"Get on your knees! What are you doing sitting, trying to rebel? ”

Li Shimin was really angry, otherwise he would not have said such a heart-wrenching word as "rebellion".

Li Chengqian glanced up at him, ignored him, and continued: "It's not that the son-in-law wants to block his father, but the son-in-law knows that it is unfilial to speak out about his father's fault, so he has been holding back." ”

Hearing the prince say this, Li Shimin was also stunned. If he did something wrong, the prince didn't say it straightforwardly, and it was indeed right.

With a wave of his hand, Li Jian and the others left the Liangyi Hall in a hurry, and the eldest grandson also left with worries. As soon as the door was closed, except for the eunuchs who recorded the living notes, there were only father and son left in the main hall.

After sitting on the ground, Li Shimin was already relieved: "In this case, I forgive you for the sin of unfilial piety, and now you and I, father and son, have something to say directly." ”

Finally waited until now, Li Chengqian said without hesitation: "Erchen just wants to ask you, why do you give so many gifts to foreign envoys?" It is natural for them to pay tribute to Datang, but if you give them so many gifts in return, in terms of business means, it is definitely a loss. Don't you feel a loss to pay so many rewards just for the title of Heavenly Khan? There is also Jieli, he is obviously a wasted person, and he can't die of hunger, but he just cried to you, and he was richly rewarded, and the cost of one day was enough for a family of five to live for a month. You should know that our Datang is still only a false prosperity, and only this part of Chang'an City has become rich, and I don't know how many people are still hungry in other places. ”

Li Shimin didn't expect that what the prince said would be this, and said confusedly: "It's just a reward for envoys, which dynasty doesn't do this?" Wei Zheng didn't object to anything, why did you react so much? ”