Late at night, the Tang Emperor Li Shimin hosted a banquet for his old subordinates when he was the king of Qin in the Wude Palace.

After three rounds of drinking, Li Shimin walked in front of Liu Zhenghui, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, and Liu Hongji, the waiter of the Ministry of War, and said: "You are all my old subordinates, and you are also my confidants, I know and understand your thoughts. To put it bluntly, I also dislike the gang of wealthy people in Shandong, who helped Jiancheng and Yuanji, and acted for the tiger, and they used to bully Yu me many times; Many of my relatives, many brothers who intersected with life and death, died at the hands of the forces secretly supported by the wealthy clan in Shandong, and my sister, Li Xiuning, the princess of Pingyang, who had always supported me, and Li Daoxuan, the king of Henan, Li Daoxuan, the prince of Tanguo, and Luo Shixin, the governor of Jiangzhou, all died at the hands of the forces they supported. There is a deep hatred in the sea of blood, I also want to take revenge, and I also want to kill all their Shandong wealthy clans. But now that the country has just experienced more than ten years of war, the people's livelihood is withering, there are many ills, and the Shandong Hao clan secretly controls the entire Shandong and Henan land, and seventy percent of the world's scholars and officials are from the Shandong Hao clan. For the sake of the Tang Dynasty, I can only endure it and win them over to stabilize the situation. You are all my confidants, and you should all know the bitterness in my heart. But you, you look at you, but ignore my painstaking efforts, set up, squeeze out Cui Gan and Lu Chengqing, and act recklessly, almost ruining my efforts. ”

After hearing Li Shimin's heartbroken words, Liu Zhenghui and Liu Hongji knelt down one after another, and said to Li Shimin with tears in their eyes: "Your Majesty, the minister is wrong, the minister does not understand His Majesty's difficulties, and the minister is wrong." ”

Li Shimin's eyes were red, and he helped Liu Zhenghui and Liu Hongji up and said: "It's difficult to be a courtier, and it's even more difficult to be a son of heaven." You are all my old henchmen, without you, I would not be able to do the position of the Son of Heaven of the Tang Dynasty, and you helped me to this position. The Manchu Dynasty is civil and military, and you are the ones I trust the most. The change in the Xuanwu Gate was the result of your firm and unwavering support for me to achieve victory, and what are the others doing? Li Jing and Li Ji held heavy troops, but chose to stand by and watch; The wealthy clan of Shandong is even more eager to build it, Yuanji to achieve victory, and kill me, a rebellious minister and thief. I also want to reuse you all, because you are loyal and trustworthy. But after all, I am the Son of Heaven, this world is my world, and all the people in this world are my people. I had to think about other people, I had to think about more. Take Li Jing's killing of my henchman and personal guard Duan Chang, my first thought was to avenge Duan Chang and kill Li Jing. But Duan Chang is too bold, he violated the national law and violated military discipline, I am the Son of Heaven, and I want to uphold the national law and military discipline, otherwise the world will be in chaos and the society will be unstable, so I can only praise Li Jing, and I can't ask about Duan Chang's death. Although I am the Son of Heaven, in the face of national law and military discipline, even if I have a heart, I can't protect you, and you must understand my difficulties. ”

Everyone nodded in agreement and said, "The ministers must be cautious and cautious, so as not to cause trouble and make Your Majesty worry." ”

Li Shimin patted Liu Zhenghui and Liu Hongji on the shoulders and said, "Cooperate with Cui Gan and Lu Chengqing to handle the affairs of the imperial court, and I have wronged you for the time being." ”

Liu Zhenghui and Liu Hongji's eyes were red with emotion, and they promised one after another.

After that, the two teenagers were led by Chai Shao, the general of Zuojin Wuwei, to the Tang Emperor Li Shimin. Chai Shao introduced to Li Shimin: "Your Majesty, these two are Duan Chang's two sons, Duan Xiong and Duan Hu. ”

Li Shimin looked up at the two of them, both of whom were big-shouldered and round-waisted, and burly. Duan Xiong was eighteen or nineteen years old, his face was restrained, very restrained, and he seemed cramped and uneasy, and he didn't know what to do; Duan Hu was only fifteen or sixteen years old, his expression was indifferent, his expression was calm, and his tiger eyes were bright. Duan Hu's performance made Li Shimin's eyes light up and he admired it very much.

Li Shimin beckoned with a smile, and the two walked in front of Li Shimin together. Li Shimin said to the two with a little guilt: "Your father has followed me for many years, hard work, loyalty and bravery, and now he has violated the law and military discipline of the country and was beheaded by Li Jing, and I have no way to avenge him." Do you resent? ”

Duan Xiong squeaked and didn't dare to speak, while Duan Hu bowed to Li Shimin and said, "We don't complain about Your Majesty." Your Majesty has your Majesty's difficulties, and we only hate Li Jing for being vicious. ”

Li Shimin stood up, stroked Duan Xiong and Duan Hu's heads, and said, "It's hard for you, you are all good children who are sensible." ”

After that, Li Shimin ordered: "Duan Xiong will inherit Duan Chang's title, and the imperial court will double it as compensation; Duan Hu canonized the six-grade Qianniu Guard, and guarded the Taiji Palace. ”

Duan Xiong and Duan Hu thanked Li Shimin one after another. Duan Xiong's face was pleasantly surprised, he thought that he was the eldest son, and he must be able to inherit his father's title, but he didn't expect that the Tang Emperor Li Shimin would double his fortune, which was really inexplicable; And Duan Hu looked depressed, he was much better than his brother in terms of reading and martial arts, but today, his brother inherited his father's title, and he was a high-ranking official of the imperial court from the third grade, and he was only a mere sixth-grade Qianniu guard, and he felt a little unbalanced in his heart.

Although Duan Hu behaved modestly and steadily, he was only a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy after all, and he couldn't hide his true thoughts very well. Everyone present saw the imbalance in his heart, and the Tang Emperor Li Shimin looked at Duan Hu with interest, as if he had discovered a very interesting thing, which was very unexpected and very interesting.

Chai Shao stretched out his hand, slapped Duan Hu's body, and said, "Boy, you have found a treasure, do you know?" Where are you still depressed? Qianniu guards prepare themselves, stay in Taiji Palace, and do things by the side of the Tang Emperor, that is what many people dream of, and they can't do what they want to do when they squeeze their heads. You're good, the gold ingots have fallen into your hands, you are still not satisfied, you look at the civil and military of the Manchu Dynasty, who walked out from His Majesty's side, which one is not in power, leading the army alone? That's the henchman of His Majesty's henchmen, the most trusted person. Silly boy, be faithful by Your Majesty's side, and study hard. ”

As soon as the words fell, everyone present burst into laughter and looked at Duan Hu with a mocking expression.

It was only at this time that Duan Hu realized that he had picked up the treasure. He hurriedly bowed to Li Shimin and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your cultivation." After that, a man opened his mouth with joy on his face.

Li Shimin was also amused, and promised: "Follow me and do things loyally." In the future, your achievements will certainly not be lower than your father's. ”