Ba Zhuo had already shown his utmost sincerity in order to save his life, but Li Jue still didn't seem satisfied.
"Li Jue, tell me, what do you want me to do!"
"If I can do it, I promise I will!"
"Well..."
Li Jue smiled but remained silent upon hearing this, thinking that some things did not require him to speak; someone would naturally teach him how to do them.
The greatest value of this man's life was that he served as a warning to the Uyghurs and Western Turks for the Tang Dynasty...
The thought of the Western Turks filled Li Jue with sorrow.
After all, the Western Turkic Khan was his sworn brother, and he really couldn't bear to harm him.
However, the Tang Dynasty's population is too small to occupy the Western Regions, otherwise the Tang Dynasty would not have kept the Xueyantuo, this scourge, alive.
In fact, Li Jue also understood that keeping Xueyantuo alive was far more worthwhile than eliminating him.
Because once the Xueyantuo are destroyed, the entire Western Regions will immediately become a no-man's-land. If given a few decades, who knows what powerful tribes might spring up in this desolate place.
However, judging from the outcome in later generations, it is highly likely that a tribe called the Khitan rose to power.
Li Jue teased Ba Zhuo for a while and then went back to sleep. He had been busy all day and hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time.
When he woke up, Ba Zhuo had already been reprimanded by Li Shimin and sent back.
Li Shimin also planned to return to the capital to handle the affairs of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Jue traveled back with Li Shimin by carriage, but he spent the entire journey either sleeping or eating, prompting Li Shimin to complain incessantly.
"Does my family, Old Li's family, raise a pig?"
"Grandpa, are you talking about me?"
Li Shimin rolled his eyes upon hearing this.
Do you think there's anyone else in the carriage?
"Grandpa, I'm growing!"
"You're still growing?"
"How tall are you already? Are you still growing?"
Finally, Li Shimin was still worried, so he had to call the imperial physician to take Li Jue's pulse carefully. Only after receiving a positive answer from the imperial physician did Li Shimin feel at ease.
"Your Majesty, the eldest grandson is in good health. He is probably growing, which is why he is eating and sleeping well."
"Oh oh oh..."
"In that case, instruct the imperial chefs accompanying us to prepare more good meals for this grandson every day!"
On the way back to Chang'an, Li Jue grew an inch taller, so much so that his shoes were too small. He had to cut the toes off his shoes to reveal his bare toes.
Li Shimin couldn't help but laugh even more upon seeing this.
"I refuse to believe that we can't find a pair of shoes that fit you in this vast military camp!"
Li Jue said dejectedly upon hearing this.
"I don't like wearing other people's shoes!"
"I'm going back to Chang'an to have someone make one custom-made!"
"So dramatic!"
Li Shimin chuckled and complained, then tossed out several scrolls.
"Pick one yourself!"
What to choose?
"Of course, it's about choosing a wife!"
"ah?"
Upon hearing this, Li Jue immediately wrapped up the scroll and sat down in a corner to carefully select the painting.
"Grandpa, who is this chubby guy?"
Li Shimin said impatiently upon hearing this.
"How would I know who's who? Can't you see for yourself?"
"oh……"
Li Jue looked down and saw that the scroll did indeed contain the woman's name, as well as her ancestral background, official position, and place of origin.
"Dai Xiaowan, granddaughter of Dai Zhou, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?"
"This one won't do, she's too fat, she looks like a glutton!"
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin rolled his eyes dismissively and couldn't help but sneer.
"Hmph!"
"Even if someone can eat a lot, can they compare to a glutton like you?"
Li Jue ignored him, pretending that Li Er was talking about someone else, and then opened the next scroll.
"Grandpa, this is good!"
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin curiously craned his neck to look over.
Who is it?
"Li Gang's great-granddaughter!"
"The Li family... Their social standing is quite good, and their family background is decent, but after Li Gang passed away, the Li family hasn't had any outstanding individuals, so I'm afraid they won't be able to offer you much help in the future."
Li Jue smiled slightly upon hearing this.
"A real man should not expect help from a woman!"
"Besides, back then, didn't Aung also lack the woman's help?"
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin shook his head and said...
"no the same!"
"Gao Shilian, and your maternal uncle Changsun, are both my helpers!"
"Without the assistance of these two, I might not have achieved what I have today."
"Furthermore, my father-in-law, Changsun Sheng, was also a high-ranking official in the Sui Dynasty. The strategy he devised to divide and control the grasslands is still being used by me today."
"oh?"
"Is this the strategy devised by Changsun Sheng to divide the grasslands?"
"yes!"
"Please tell me more, Grandpa!"
Seeing that Li Jue was interested, Li Shimin immediately pulled him aside and told him the story from back then.
During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, Changsun Sheng made several trips to the Turks, befriended many tribal elders, and learned about the various customs and traditions of the Turks, as well as their internal conflicts.
Then, in response to the characteristics of the Turks, a number of strategies were formulated to divide, win over, corrupt, and balance them. These strategies not only became the official policies of the Sui Dynasty, but were also perfectly inherited by Li Shimin.
It can be said that Li Shimin's various schemes in the Western Regions were basically the same strategies his father-in-law had employed.
After listening to Li Shimin's account, Li Jue immediately developed a strong interest in Changsun Sheng.
"Grandpa, did your father-in-law leave behind any books?"
"have!"
"They're all kept in my study. You can look for them if you're interested!"
"promise!"
"Oh, by the way, have you made your choice yet?"
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
