Being personally received by the old man, the craftsman was both honored and nervous, and came to Li Tao with trepidation.

The craftsman knew everything about Li Tao's questioning, from Li Qinzai giving him the drawings, to how to explain how to make this bow, to how to make it in the Ordnance Prison, and how to try it out for himself after making it.

Even Li Qinzai's hooligan argument that threatened him to go with him was repeated as it was, honestly word by word, without any discount.

Li Tao kept smiling and listening, occasionally couldn't help but laugh, as the craftsman recounted, Li Tao's face gradually became ruddy, obviously in a better mood.

After the craftsman finished speaking, he stood aside with a worried expression, Li Tao's eyes were half-closed, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

In the past, Li Qinzai's various stubborn performances were now changed as if he had been reborn, and he created a new type of sharp weapon as if it were at his fingertips.

Li Tao fell into deep thought, he was thinking about his incredible grandson.

It's so shocking that a stumbling grimace who has been in trouble all day long has created a weapon that completely surpasses today's national weapon overnight.

Is it an occasional gain, or is it in a hurry, or is it a matter of daytime, and when it is critical, he has to show his edge a little?

After a long time, Li Tao suddenly laughed: "Whether it's a mistake, or a thick accumulation, this evil obstacle has escaped a catastrophe, haha!" ”

Liu Asi next to him also looked excited, and he understood the meaning of Li Tao's words.

In the blink of an eye, Li Tao asked, "Qin Zai should have been away from Beijing for a long time at this time, and he was rushing in the direction of Jinzhou, right?" ”

Liu Asi lowered his head and said: "Yes, according to the footsteps, I should have left Chang'an for more than an hour." ”

The corners of Li Tao's mouth hooked, and he said with a smile: "If you have caused such a big disaster, you should also be guilty." Don't worry, let him go more, and the old man will go to the palace. ”

…………

Outside the gate of Taiji Palace, the palace is strictly forbidden, and the armor is like rain.

A team of ironclad soldiers patrol outside the palace gate, the palace tower is waving flags, the palace gate is closed, the dragon's head is raised to the sky, like a beast that is resting, it is daunting.

Li Tao's Guogong honor guard came to a stop twenty zhang away from the palace gate, Li Tao dismounted, took the strong bow handed by the ministry, lowered his head and looked at the strong bow for a moment, and smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth.

Then Li Tao straightened his clothes, showed a solemn and dignified demeanor, held a strong bow in both hands, knelt outside the palace gate, and said in a deep voice: "Old minister Li Tao, beg for the face of the saint, and offer a weapon for the country!" ”

The sound echoed outside the empty palace gate, like a flood bell and a big Lu, for a long time.

After an hour of incense, the closed palace door opened, and a eunuch walked out slowly, and said proudly: "By order, the Son of Heaven summons the British duke." ”

Li Tao got up, still maintaining a respectful posture with his head down, and first handed the strong bow in his hand to the eunuch, who handed it over to the palace guards to escort him to the Son of Heaven Ming Hall.

Follow the eunuch into the palace gate slowly, his gait is dignified, and every step he takes is steady.

He is the first general of the military, and the official is already the top of the people.

However, in front of this huge and majestic palace, Li Tao still maintained a posture of walking on thin ice, and there was no decisive order in front of the army soldiers to make a fierce general like a mountain.

An hour later, Li Tao walked out of the Taiji Palace empty-handed, his face still expressionless, and his eyes were calm and waveless.

In the Taiji Palace just now, Li Tao presented Li Qinzai's original strong bow with both hands.

The Son of Heaven Li Zhizheng and the Empress Wu enjoyed the singing and dancing of a hundred operas in the Chengqing Palace, after Li Tao entered the palace, the two heavenly husband and wife were respectful, and specially ordered to stop singing and dancing.

After entering the palace, Li Tao presented a strong bow and explained it in detail to the two, deliberately emphasizing that the range of this object is twice that of today's bows and arrows in the army.

Although Li Zhi is not the son of heaven immediately, he has also grown up beside Li Shimin since he was a child, and he is familiar with many famous generals in Zhenguan, so he is naturally no stranger to military affairs.

He knew very well how important it was for Datang to have an additional long-range weapon with double the range, which would be important for Datang's future war against the barbarians in all directions.

After Li Tao's explanation, Li Zhi couldn't help but be happy, and ordered the test firing outside the hall with great interest.

Two hundred paces away, the Praetorian Guard general held a strong bow and shot the bullseye impartially, Li Zhi was shocked, and couldn't help but look up to the sky and laugh.

After the excitement, Li Zhixing rushed to ask who created the new strong bow.

Only then did Li Tao unhurriedly say that it was his grandson Li Qinzai's originality, and asked the craftsmen of the Ordnance Supervision to make it.

When Li Zhi heard Li Qinzai's name, his expression suddenly became strange, and he quickly glanced at the Empress Wu next to him.

Li Tao did not wait for Li Zhi to speak, but suddenly knelt on the ground and begged.

To everyone's surprise, Li Tao did not atone for his grandson Li Qinzai, but asked the Son of Heaven not to change his fate.

Li Qinzai's creation of a strong bow is indeed a merit, but it is also a great crime for him to steal and sell the things given by Emperor Taizong.

Merit is rewarded, but sin is unforgivable. The criminal Li Qinzai still has to live in exile in Lingnan and cannot be released, otherwise it will be difficult to hide the discussion in the court, and it will also damage the prestige of the Heavenly Family and bring shame to the meritorious family of the Li Family.

Hearing Li Tao's solemn request, the emperor and queen were a little surprised.

I thought that Li Tao was here to intercede for his grandson, but he didn't expect to give his grandson a backstabbing ......

Li Zhi's eyes flashed, and he didn't answer Li Tao face-to-face, but he started a homely gossip with this famous general of the Three Dynasties.

After a small talk, Li Zhi accepted the new-style strong bow, and the emperor and queen politely sent Li Tao out of the palace.

The palace gate closed slowly, and Li Tao's back disappeared outside the palace gate.

Li Zhi, who was in his thirties, was in high spirits, staring down at the strong bow in his hand, not knowing what he was thinking.

The Empress Wu and Li Zhi beside her have been married for many years, and they are four years older than Li Zhi, a proper royal sister.

Today's Li Zhi is in the prime of life, and the husband and wife have just gotten rid of the eldest grandson Wuji and Chu Suiliang, reinvigorated the imperial power of the Li family, and the subjects of the world are gradually returning to their hearts.

At this time, the Empress Wu had not yet given birth to the idea of turning the sky upside down, and the husband and wife were in a sweet honeymoon period regardless of their life or career.

Seeing Li Zhi hanging his head and pondering, Empress Wu's eyes blinked, and he said softly: "Your Majesty, the things offered by the British Duke are extraordinary, if you equip the Tang Army, it will increase the chances of winning the war, obviously you can use this thing to atone for his grandson, why does the British Duke ......"

Li Zhi was silent for a long time, then suddenly smiled, his eyes narrowed with laughter, and he said in a low voice: "The old fox has a lot of thoughts, and some words can only be said by me, if he says it, it will not be reasonable." ”

Of course, Empress Wu is also a woman who has become a fine woman, and she has long understood what Li Tao meant, but she still covered her mouth and smiled: "Your Majesty is extremely smart, if it weren't for Your Majesty's point, the concubine would still think that he really planned to kill his relatives in righteousness." ”

Li Zhi was held very comfortably, his eyes still staring at the strong bow in his hand.

Empress Wu also looked at the strong bow in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Your Majesty, this thing ...... Could it really be the grandson of the British Gong? The concubine heard that the reputation of the fifth grandson of the British prince is ......"

Li Zhi said lightly: "Whether it's true or not, I already understand the meaning of the British duke." ”

Empress Wu chuckled and said, "Your Majesty wants to release this son?" ”

Li Zhi said with a smile: "Dare to sell the things given by the first emperor, this son is also an extraordinary person, although I can't compare to the martial arts of the first emperor, but the broad-mindedness of self-examination is still not lost to the first emperor, the left and right are just an object, and if you lose it, you will lose it." ”

Empress Wu also smiled and said: "Your Majesty has decided, and the concubine is willing to draft a decree on behalf of Your Majesty and release it to Li Qinzai." ”

An hour later, a fast horse galloped out of the Taiji Palace, chasing Li Qinzai in the direction of leaving Beijing.