"Young Master Shi?"

Li Jue was stunned when he heard this, and it took him a while to realize that he was being called.

"at home!"

"Please wait a moment, I'll come out and open the door right away!"

Li Jue quickly put away his diary and then ran to the gate to open the courtyard gate.

"Why is it you?"

Li Shimin smiled at Li Jue.

"While I was eating fried dough sticks today, you mentioned Chidao, and it resonated with me, so I came to chat with you about it!"

"May I ask your name, sir?"

"My name is Shi Zun Sui!"

Li Jue knew immediately that the name was fake. He had made up a father name for Shi Jingtang, and the man had given him the name Shi Zunsui. Wasn't this a clear attempt to take advantage of him?

"Uncle, that's a good name. It sounds like my grandfather's name..."

Li Shimin laughed happily upon hearing this.

"At my age, I'm old enough to be your grandfather, so it's not a loss for you to call me grandfather!"

"snort!"

Li Jue didn't have the habit of randomly calling someone "father-in-law," and immediately rolled his eyes at Li Shimin.

"Since this uncle is unwilling to reveal his real name, then please go back. I don't like dealing with people who hide their true identities!"

"Okay, okay!"

"I'll tell you my real name, my real name is Li Dechong!"

Upon hearing that the other party's surname was Li, Li Jue felt a chill run down his spine.

"royal?"

"no!"

"imperial clan?"

"No, he's just an ordinary person with the surname Li!"

"Oh oh oh..."

Li Jue was relieved to hear Li Shimin say this.

"Then please welcome Mr. Li!"

Li Shimin followed Li Jue to the study, and after they sat down as host and guest, he immediately raised his questions.

"Little Stone, was what you said about the imperial road this morning just a casual remark, or did you have something else in mind?"

"It was said in anger, but it also reflects my expectations for the Tang Dynasty."

"oh?"

"I don't know what official position or post Elder Li holds in the court, but I suppose Elder Li must have noticed the changes in the Tang Dynasty in recent years?"

"change?"

"Haven't you noticed that the territory of the Tang Dynasty has been expanding in recent years?"

"Since the Tang Dynasty defeated the Eastern Turks and captured Gaochang, its territory has indeed become increasingly vast."

Li Shimin pretended to be confused, and deliberately asked a question.

"But what does this have to do with the imperial road?"

Li Jue smiled slightly upon hearing this. He didn't believe that the other party couldn't even understand such a simple principle; the other party was definitely taking this opportunity to test him.

"To answer this question, we must first clarify a concept: what is effective governance?"

"Effective governance?"

"right!"

“Any place where taxes cannot be collected cannot be considered an effective territory.”

Upon hearing these words, Li Shimin felt his heart surge with emotion and his blood boil; he even felt as if he had met a kindred spirit.

"right!"

"Little Stone is absolutely right!"

"What use is it for my Great Tang to occupy so much land if we cannot collect taxes!"