The "child" Li Shimin was referring to was naturally Lu Zhaolin. However, he forgot one thing: this "child" was actually two years older than Li Jue.

If the emperor dared to entrust important military matters to an eleven-year-old child, why wouldn't Li Jue, also an eleven-year-old, dare to entrust such matters to a thirteen-year-old child?

However, Li Shimin had deliberately picked a mistake, and now that he had a ready-made handle, he immediately stormed off to Li Jue's tent.

However, when Li Shimin stormed into Li Jue's tent, he found that Li Jue was nowhere to be seen.

Where are they?

"Bring Li Jue here to me!"

Upon hearing Li Shimin's roar, Su Dingfang was the first to rush over to greet him.

"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty!"

"Where is your master?"

"Your Majesty, the eldest grandson has gone... to purchase military provisions..."

"Purchasing military rations?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin sneered. The local government of the Tang Dynasty was obligated to provide the army with food and fodder free of charge, so Li Jue did not need to purchase them at all!

As for the money he gave Li Jue for food supplies, it was actually an extra allowance for meals, specifically for buying vegetables and meat for the tens of thousands of people under his command!

"Su Dingfang, you had better tell me the truth. If I find out that your master deserted in the face of battle, I will punish him according to military law!"

Upon hearing this, Su Dingfang's expression immediately changed.

"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words. The eldest grandson would never desert his post. He really did go to the front to purchase military rations..."

"Hmph!"

"Keep making things up, let's see how long you can keep this up!"

Although Li Shimin was very angry, he still accepted Su Dingfang's "advice" and did not pursue Li Jue's crime of leaving the army without permission in a big way.

He simply deployed ten cavalry units to the Sanglin Garrison Commandery, so that they would inform Li Jue immediately upon receiving any news of him.

Li Jue returned three days later. To prepare for his mission, he specially bought ten cartloads of chickens and ducks, as well as fresh vegetables.

Upon returning to the main camp, before he could even record the gains of the trip, he was dragged by the Hundred Cavalry to Li Er's central command tent.

Li Er sat imposingly on a tiger-skin chair, coldly staring at Li Jue.

"You secretly ran away for five days this time?"

Li Jue replied calmly upon hearing this.

"yes!"

Li Shimin sneered upon hearing this.

"You'd better give me an explanation, or I'll use my whip on you!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jue merely glanced at the whip on Li Shimin's table and then calmly recounted his experiences over the past few days.

"Reporting to Grandfather, my son did not leave the group to purchase provisions, but rather to take a stroll!"

"What?"

Li Shimin was so angry when he heard this that he stood up. Although he had known for a long time that his grandson had gone out to play, he never expected that his grandson would dare to say it so openly.

"How dare you say that?"

"While the army was marching, you not only didn't stay with the soldiers, but you actually dared to go out and play on your own!"

"Guards, tie him to this pillar! I'm going to beat him to death today!"

Just as the Hundred Cavalrymen rushed in, Li Jue suddenly spoke.

"Wait!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin glared coldly at Li Jue.

"What else do you have to say, you unfilial grandson?"

Upon hearing this, Li Jue clasped his hands in a respectful bow.

"Grandpa, I have a few questions. If you can answer them, you can even have me executed!"

"oh?"

When Li Shimin heard Li Jue speak so solemnly, he immediately waved to the Hundred Cavalry Commandery, signaling them to go out and wait.

Once everyone was out of the tent, Li Shimin spoke slowly.

"Speak!"

"You'd better give me some reasoning, or I will not let you off lightly!"

"May I ask, sir, does the army of the Tang Dynasty belong to the Tang Dynasty court, to you, or to the people of the Tang Dynasty?"

"this……"

Li Shimin was stunned when he heard this, thinking to himself, "Is there a difference?"

Am I not the Tang Dynasty, and is the Tang Dynasty me?

However, upon further reflection, he realized the difference.

The Tang Dynasty is the Tang Dynasty, the imperial court is the imperial court, and the common people are the common people... Similarly, he is himself...

Because the Tang Dynasty once belonged to Li Yuan, now it belongs to Li Shimin, and in the future it may belong to Li Jue...

Therefore, the emperor was a change of ruler, while the name of the dynasty was fixed.

However, the name of the dynasty was only relatively fixed, after all, several decades ago this dynasty was called "Great Sui".

Since the name of the country is not fixed, what about the imperial court?

The imperial court was merely an administrative body, and it has undergone several changes since the Qin and Han dynasties, so it doesn't seem to be static...

As for the people living on this land...

After the Five Barbarian Invasions and the subsequent eastward migration of the elite, things have become less clear...

So, to whom did the Tang Dynasty's army actually belong?

emperor?

The imperial court?

Or perhaps ordinary people?