As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, several eunuchs rushed over and hoisted Li Jue to the roof beam.
Seeing his rebellious grandson hanging up, Li Shimin immediately took a whip and began to beat Li Jue mercilessly. To his surprise, no matter how hard he hit him, Li Jue gritted his teeth and remained silent.
This is getting a bit boring. This grandson should at least let out a couple of howls!
Li Shimin increased the pressure, but Li Jue remained silent, which made him a little flustered.
"You feel wronged?"
"No!"
"I don't want you to go to Liaodong for your own good!"
"You unfilial grandson, not only are you ungrateful, but you even dared to forge an imperial edict! You've really angered me to death!"
"Grandpa, I confess to the crime of forging an imperial edict!"
"Even if you beat me to death, I won't say a word in my defense."
"But I don't acknowledge the trip to Liaodong!"
"oh?"
Li Shimin immediately put away the whip and coldly looked at Li Jue, who was hanging from the roof beam.
What do you mean by that?
"Grandpa, parents who love their children plan far ahead for them!"
"I have made no contribution to the Tang Dynasty. After you pass away, why should I hold a high position and order around those subordinates who once fought alongside you to conquer the country?"
"this……"
Li Shimin fell silent upon hearing this. He had thought Li Jue was just being childish, but he hadn't expected Li Jue to think so deeply and so far ahead.
Now that Li Shimin understood Li Jue's thoughts, there was no need for him to beat Li Jue.
"Put him down!"
"promise!"
Several eunuchs hurriedly put Li Jue down, but Li Jue, who had been silent just moments before, burst into tears the moment he was put down.
"Ouch, it hurts so much! Waaaaah!"
Upon hearing the crying, Li Shimin glared at Li Jue with displeasure.
"Weren't you just praising the hero?"
"Grandpa, I was just faking it, waaaaah..."
"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and call the imperial physician! Waaaaah..."
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but smile. He then gestured towards Zhang Anan, who quickly led the imperial physician in to treat Li Jue's injuries.
While the imperial physician was treating Li Jue's injuries, Li Shimin strolled outside the palace. Zhang Anan, seeing this, quickly followed him.
"Your Majesty, the eldest grandson is right!"
"Since His Majesty is personally leading the expedition this time, why not take the eldest grandson to Liaodong to earn some military merits? After His Majesty passes away, the eldest grandson can rightfully succeed to the throne!"
Li Shimin nodded upon hearing this, then shook his head.
Let's discuss this matter again!
"Liaodong is a dangerous place, and it cannot be conquered in a day. Even I may not be able to take it down in one fell swoop. Let me remove the thorns in Liaodong first, and then find an opportunity to let Li Jue go and reap the rewards!"
Zhang Anan nodded in agreement upon hearing this.
"His Majesty's idea is still the most prudent..."
"Go to the Ministry of War in a bit and remove the name 'Sanglin Garrison Commandery' from the list. Have them change it to another name!"
"promise!"
Zhang Anan left quickly and returned even faster, bringing someone back with him.
"Auxiliary machine?"
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, the selection of the military governor's office has already been announced to the world. If you rashly change it, you may lose the trust of the people..."
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately frowned in displeasure, his dissatisfaction with Changsun Wuji growing even stronger.
"Auxiliary machine, don't you think you've gone a bit too far?"
"Your Majesty, I am acting in the best interests of the nation!"
"Auxiliary Machine, you should know that Li Jue is only eleven years old after the New Year!"
Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji smiled bitterly.
"Your Majesty, weren't you only fourteen when you joined the army?"
"And even as a captain, he has to lead soldiers to push carts through mud and water in the dead of winter..."
"In comparison, the eldest grandson is far more fortunate than His Majesty was back then, thanks to His Majesty's protection!"
"this……"
Li Shimin stared at Changsun Wuji with a serious expression for a while before speaking.
"Auxiliary machine, is this really your true thought?"
Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji immediately knelt down.
"Your Majesty, I know you favor your eldest grandson, and I do not object to him. But has Your Majesty considered the great calamity that comes with a young ruler and a suspicious court?"
"Since your eldest grandson is so eager to fight, why don't you give him a chance to make a name for himself?"
"Only if the eldest grandson truly achieves military merit and gains the heartfelt support of the generals can he secure the throne of the Tang Dynasty in the future!"
Li Shimin was thrilled to hear this, as he had been struggling with how to deal with Changsun Wuji for the past year.
Based on Changsun Wuji's past performance, only one of him and Li Jue could remain.
If Li Jue is to be installed as emperor, then Changsun Wuji must be deposed. But if Changsun Wuji is to be protected, then Li Jue must be deposed.
However, seeing Changsun Wuji's performance now, it's clear that these two are not irreconcilable!
"Auxiliary machine, are you serious about that?"
"Your Majesty, I do indeed prefer Zhi Nu, but Li Jue is also my own grand-nephew. How can I show favoritism?"
"Your Majesty, I previously opposed establishing Li Jue as emperor simply because I was worried that he was too young and that the veteran nobles and generals in the court would not accept it!"
"But if His Majesty dares to send Li Jue to Liaodong for a period of training, allowing him to gain some military merit, then it can make up for the disadvantage of being the eldest grandson of the legitimate wife..."
Li Shimin nodded repeatedly after hearing this, and then suddenly noticed that Changsun Wuji was still kneeling on the ground, so he quickly went forward to help him up.
"I see!"
"I never imagined that I had misunderstood you all along..."
"Start the auxiliary machine quickly, I have a lot to say to you..."
"To be honest, that grandson just said something similar to me, even quoting Chu Long's words to persuade the Queen Dowager of Zhao, saying that parents who love their children plan far ahead for them..."
"I am deeply moved. After listening to your advice, I have decided that I will take Li Jue with me on this expedition!"
Changsun Wuji was secretly delighted upon hearing this, as his goal had finally been achieved.
Once Li Jue goes to Liaodong, his life and death will be out of his hands!
Putting aside his own methods, just the assassins from Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje alone would be enough to give him a hard time!
Furthermore, Changsun Wuji had a two-pronged plan. Even if Li Jue did not die in Liaodong, he could stay in Chang'an and find an opportunity to support Li Zhi's ascension to the throne, leaving Li Shimin and his 100,000 troops in Liaodong forever!
"Your Majesty is wise!"
"Your Majesty believes that Your Majesty should put Li Jue in charge of logistics and provisions, and assign him a mature and prudent person to assist him. This will surely ensure that nothing goes wrong!"
"A mature and prudent person?"
Li Shimin's mind raced as he considered several people, including Li Jing and Yuchi Jingde, but he ultimately abandoned both of them.
Li Jing is certainly a mature and prudent man, but after winter came, I heard that he was always sick, and I'm afraid he won't be able to withstand the journey to Liaodong.
As for Yuchi Jingde, that guy has never been mature or prudent!
Therefore, after filtering out several candidates, Li Shimin suddenly set his sights on Changsun Wuji.
"Fuji, why don't you come with me to Liaodong?"
"I?"
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