Li Zhi was never a tough person. During his time with Xueyantuo, he suffered some setbacks, which made him realize his own abilities even more.

He is now willing to serve Li Jue as his subject, completely abandoning his ambition to become the crown prince.

Li Jue did not make things too difficult for Li Zhi. He simply ordered someone to take him away and prepare a horse for him, along with dried meat and water.

"Uncle Jiu, we only have these simple foods on the march, please don't find them unpalatable."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi quickly shook his head.

"I don't mind!"

"I... I have suffered a humiliating defeat and disgrace to my country. I am already extremely fortunate to have survived. How could I dare to have any other expectations..."

Li Jue nodded upon hearing this, then led his group away.

Although the Xueyantuo cavalry were following them, their Khan was still in their hands, so they could only follow.

It wasn't until Li Jue and Yuchi Jingde's main force reunited that Ba Zhuo's relatives were released.

Seeing this, Ba Zhuo was completely convinced of Li Jue's integrity and believed that Li Jue was a trustworthy person.

In fact, he really overestimated Li Jue. Li Jue only kept his word on trivial matters. Once his bottom line was crossed, he would abandon not only his credibility but also his beliefs.

When Yuchi Jingde saw Li Jue return safely, he was as happy as a child, and he hugged Li Jue and spun him around several times.

"You little brat, you scared the hell out of me!"

"Those scoundrels from Xueyantuo didn't dare to hurt you, did they?"

"No!"

"They were very polite to me!"

As Li Jue said this, he deliberately glanced at Ba Zhuo, who was bound hand and foot, next to him.

"Bazao Khan, am I right?"

Upon hearing this, Ba Zhu snorted coldly and then stopped looking at him.

When Yuchi Jingde saw that Ba Zhuo still dared to act arrogantly, he immediately lashed out at his face with a whip.

"Traitor!"

"Our Great Tang Dynasty has treated you well, yet you dare to repay kindness with enmity, breaching our city and slaughtering our people!"

Ba Zhuo was whipped, but he didn't utter a sound and just sat there on his horse in a daze.

Upon seeing this, Yuchi Jingde immediately lost interest.

After all, no one can take their anger out on a dead person.

In Yuchi Jingde's view, Ba Zhuo was already a dead man.

When the group returned to Shuozhou City, all the city's defenses had been repaired, and the soldiers on the city walls had been replenished.

Although this attack by the Xueyantuo brought devastating disaster to Shuozhou.

However, with the support of the Tang Dynasty's overwhelming national strength, Shuozhou City will soon be able to usher in a new era of vitality.

Upon hearing that Li Jue had brought Ba Zhuo back in captivity, Li Shimin was overjoyed and went out of the city to greet him.

"You brat, I only asked you a few questions, and you dare to throw a tantrum at me?"

Upon hearing this, Li Jue snorted coldly and then ordered his men to bring Li Zhi over.

"Your Majesty, I have brought your son back!"

"you!"

Li Shimin's gaze was quickly drawn to Li Zhi. Before seeing Li Zhi, he wished he could kill this rebellious son. But when he saw Li Zhi's thin face, disheveled hair, and dirty clothes that made him look like a beggar, his heart melted instantly.

"Child slave..."

"Father!"

"Father, I'm so sorry, please kill me, sob sob sob..."

Li Shimin held Li Zhi and wept bitterly, but after only pounding his chest twice, he placed his fist on Li Zhi's back.

"You traitor!"

"I was afraid you wouldn't understand military affairs, so I specially appointed Xue Wanche to assist you. But you... you actually sold Shuozhou City for a mere few strings of copper coins!"

"My poor 30,000 soldiers, all of them were lost because of you! Waaah!"

Li Zhi had already regretted it immensely, and now hearing these words made him feel even more aggrieved.

"Father, I have no face to live on in this world, please let me die..."

After Li Zhi finished speaking, he broke free from Li Shimin's restraints and crashed into a rock three zhang away.

He was caught by Li Shimin after only running halfway.

"Rebellious son!"

"What exactly do you want me to do? Waaaaah!"

"I have already lost your elder brother, I cannot lose you too..."

"Zhi Nu, the trouble you've caused this time is too great. Even your father can't protect you. I have no choice but to remove you from your position as crown prince. Don't blame your father..."

Li Zhi nodded obediently upon hearing this.

"Father, I have long realized that I am not suitable to be the Crown Prince. Now that you have bestowed the title of Crown Prince upon Li Jue, it is exactly what I have always wished for!"

"In this way, the legitimate lineage of our Great Tang Dynasty has returned to my elder brother's family, which can be considered as destiny!"

Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this.

"That's right!"

"My decision to appoint Li Jue as Crown Prince was indeed based on this consideration!"

"From this day forward, all the emperors of our Great Tang Dynasty were born of the eldest son of the direct line, which can be considered as fulfilling the orthodox lineage of China!"

"Get up, go back and wash up quickly..."

"promise!"

Li Shimin led Li Zhi and others back to Shuozhou City. After sending Li Zhi away, he immediately ordered someone to bring Xue Wanche and others up.

When Shuozhou City fell, Xue Wanche initially fought bravely against the enemy. But when he discovered that the enemy had entered through the city gate, he realized something was wrong. He immediately led his several hundred men out through another city gate and hid in a mountain hollow.

It wasn't until he saw Li Shimin lead a large army to recapture Shuozhou that he ordered his soldiers to bind him and bring him to see the emperor.

Li Shimin was furious at the time and ordered his men to throw him into prison, where he was imprisoned with other convicted officials from Shuozhou.

There were quite a few officials in the prison, including not only Xue Wanche, the son-in-law of the emperor, but also Liu Rengui, who was of good character and ability.

Compared to Xue Wanche, Liu Rengui was even more wronged.

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