Zhenguan Xiaoxian Wang Li Shen Li Shimin

There was another reason why Li Shen wanted to get to the bottom of this matter. Not only the bed crossbow, but also the siege equipment used by Tubo to attack the city were all of the Tang Dynasty style.

Although it's a bit rough, it's really not much different.

Li Shen suspected that someone had given them the blueprints. The Tibetans were not good at craftsmanship, so their work was crude.

"Yes, Aye, this must be checked. It's not just the crossbows. When Tubo attacked the city, they used a ladder truck similar to ours."

At this moment, Li Tai expressed Li Shen's thoughts.

Li Zhi on the side also nodded.

"Is there such a thing?" Li Shimin frowned.

"Aye, that's true. We also seized some ladders. After dinner, Aye can go and have a look.

Although the workmanship is crude, it is generally not much different from our ladder trucks.”

Li Shen nodded.

"If that's the case, then we need to investigate. Where did Tubo get so much wood?"

"I'm not sure about that. I'll ask Liu Su to check whether Tubo has ever purchased timber during the trade."

Li Shen replied.

After that, they started chatting about some things related to trade. Li Shen didn't say anything else at the dinner table.

After the meal, Li Shen took Li Shimin to the tea room he had specially prepared.

"Someone, please invite Duke Zhao and Duke Yi over."

While Li Shen was making tea, Li Shimin sent someone to inform Changsun Wuji and Qin Qiong.

After a while, the two of them came.

"Greetings to Your Majesty, King of Wei, King of Jin, and King of Ji." The two men bowed after coming in.

"Well, there are no outsiders here, so no need to be polite." Li Shimin said with a smile.

The two sat down and Li Shen poured them a cup of tea.

There were no outsiders in the tea room and they were all sent away by Li Shimin.

“Assistant Ji, Shubao, my coming here this time is no secret, but the timing calculated by Tubo is indeed just right.

I think there must be someone from the Tang Dynasty delivering messages to them."

Li Shimin expressed his judgment as soon as he opened his mouth.

Changsun Wuji and Qin Qiong nodded.

“Your Majesty said that our whereabouts were revealed to Tubo.

They seized the opportunity very accurately. They attacked us three days after we set out from Shanzhou.

They calculated that your majesty's main force was not moving fast, so they launched a surprise attack with light cavalry. Even if they wanted to send someone to inform your majesty, they would not retreat far.

And the fact that they have a crossbow is indeed suspicious?"

Qin Qiong also expressed his thoughts.

“Not only are there crossbows, but Prince Ji just said that when Tubo attacked the city, a large number of siege weapons appeared.

And it is very similar to the siege equipment of our Tang Dynasty.

It was obvious that someone had given them the blueprints.”

"Is this actually happening?"

Li Shimin's words surprised the two again.

Even the blueprints were given to Tubo, isn't that treason?

"Shubao, have you found out anything from the interrogation of the captured prince?" Li Shimin asked.

Qin Qiong stood up quickly:

"Your Majesty, that man is called Gongri Gongzan, the only son of Songtsen Gampo. Their main purpose of coming here this time is to capture Your Majesty, and assassinate him secondarily.

All these were revealed by his deputy general.

Gongri Gongzan was very tough, and I did not dare to torture him too much, for fear that he could not bear it.

So Gongri Gongzan said nothing. As for the origin of the bed crossbow, Gongri Gongzan refused to recruit workers.

His deputy general only knew that it was sent by the Tang people, but he didn’t know who sent it.”

"You also arrested that Gongzan?"

Li Shen was a little surprised to hear Qin Qiong's words. He had seen that Tibetan prince before and his attitude was extremely arrogant.

I didn't expect that he would be captured.

"Your Highness Prince Ji, this is all thanks to your personal guard commander who captured the Tibetan prince among the enemy troops."

Qin Qiong explained.

“It was Tie Niu who caught him. He must have thought the prince was valuable, so he caught him.

It seems I have to give him some reward when I go back later." Li Shen suddenly realized.

"Give him a bigger reward. He has made great contribution in saving the emperor. Consider it as a reward from me." Li Shimin interrupted.

When Lao Shi heard this, he was about to say, "I don't have any money," but his eyes rolled.

"Father, if you want to reward, you can't just reward one person. They have made great contributions in saving the emperor, but the enemy forces here in the Protectorate are indeed several times smaller than ours.

We still have a lot of casualties, why don't we give them all away."

"Rescuing the emperor is a meritorious service, and defending the city is also a meritorious service. Both can be rewarded. After I return to Chang'an, there will naturally be rewards."

Li Shimin nodded in agreement.

"It's a bit too late to wait for Aye to go back. In my opinion, it's better to strike while the iron is hot. It can also boost morale and let the soldiers feel the great grace of the emperor."

Li Shen advised.

"Reward now?" Li Shimin thought for a moment and then continued:

"Okay, then reward now. I will think about how to reward you."

"Father, there is no reward more practical than giving money. Soldiers go through life and death just to make a living, don't they?

Father, why don't you just give me some money?" Li Shen said expressionlessly.

"I can give you a reward, but this much... Well, you rebellious son, you are deceiving me again.

Tell me, do you want me to give away the one million strings of cash?"

As Li Shimin was speaking, he suddenly reacted.

"Aye, no, absolutely not, I came up with this idea just to improve Aye's reputation.

Strike while the iron is hot, give more pensions to the soldiers who died in battle, and give more money to the disabled soldiers so that they can live in the future.

If other soldiers see this, they will surely thank the emperor and fight bravely in the future."

Li Shen waved his hands repeatedly. Even if that was what he meant, he couldn't say it.

"Your Majesty, I think what His Royal Highness Prince Ji said makes some sense. The reward will be given sooner or later anyway, so why not give it sooner?"

Qin Qiong agreed with Li Shen's opinion.

"I also second the proposal. If there is to be a reward, it should be a great reward. The merit of saving the emperor is as great as the sky, and the merit of becoming an important city is also great.

We will send a report to each border army about the reward, and then the morale will be boosted, and the border armies in various places will also feel the great grace of your majesty."

Changsun Wuji also agreed with Li Shen's opinion.

Only Li Shimin looked conflicted, as he was about to give away the money he had finally earned.

"Father, this money was originally transported to the bank for circulation.

We were robbed by thieves, but fortunately Aye got the money back. Anyway, the money belongs to my son, and I am willing to give it to Aye.

Let Aye use it as a reward."

Li Shen saw the opportunity and stood up and saluted.

"Asshole, this money belongs to me! You stole it from me.

Oh, forget it, then I'll give you a reward. Saving the emperor and defending the city will be given equal merits.

Shubao, you take charge of the statistics for the Right Guard, and you, Old Ten, take charge of the Duhufu.

The key is to reward the soldiers who died or were injured, so as not to let them feel disheartened."

Finally, Li Shimin sighed. The money was just warm in his hands for a few days, and then it was gone again.

If he were to give out rewards after returning, the money used would be from the national treasury and would be distributed by the Ministry of War.

But it is definitely not as much as one million strings of cash.

(I may not read the comments recently, I am going to go out for a walk.

Some people may say that you are being pretentious and it’s no big deal.

Well, those who have experienced it will understand.

I don’t want to say it here, because there is really no one I can talk to. I plan to write a short story about what I want to say, post it and vent my feelings.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.)