Chapter 317 Hard to tell
Li Shimin was still very satisfied with Li Ke's attitude.

No matter whether it's sincere or not, at least he has shown his attitude, right?

Among these children, Li Shimin was thinking that apart from the sixth child, the third child was the most caring.

As for the three brothers playing football outside, Lao Li subconsciously curled his lips when he thought of them.

Expecting them to share their father's worries? It would be better to hope that the sixth brother would not make mistakes from now on!
Ever since Li Yin led two thousand people to raid Japan, he jumped from a "bad bastard" to a good son who shared his father's worries in Li Shimin's heart.

From a habitual criminal who hunted every day and refused to change despite repeated warnings, to a famous general who led two thousand men to capture the king and ministers of the enemy country, Li Yin's transformation was truly extraordinary.

Of course, Li Yin's core character is still the same. He is as dishonest as he was before. Otherwise, he wouldn't have done something like executing without authorization and running off to go sailing on the ocean.

Therefore, it is understandable that Li Shimin had such a change. After all, the sixth brother was indeed a worthless person at the beginning.

Of course, Li Yin was not guilty of such a crime. He had Li You, the fifth brother, to support him. No matter what, he could not be the worst one. Even if he was on the same trajectory as Li You and was captured by Li Shimin because of rebellion, he would still be better than Li You in Li Shimin's heart.

Li Yin also has something to say. What did I destroy and what did you destroy?
Li Shimin looked at Li Ke and said to Li Xiang, "Xiang'er, go and get me the map."

After hearing Li Shimin's order, Li Xiang didn't even move. He stuck his butt out to find the map under the table and handed it to Li Shimin.

Old Li spread out the map and did not rush to explain the situation to Li Ke. Instead, he asked, "Ke'er, if I give you a chance, would you rather be an idle prince in the Tang Dynasty, or would you rather be a wise king who fights for the Tang Dynasty?"

You don’t say it, Li Ke subconsciously thought about it in his heart.

How to answer this question...?
He is used to being cautious and careful, and when he encounters something, he always subconsciously thinks whether there is a trap.

Of course, Li Shimin also noticed Li Ke's expression. Old Li's face became darker and darker. He picked up the small pillow on the table and hit Li Ke on the head.

"Fuck you, who do you think Ye Ye is?"

Li Ke smiled awkwardly. He now realized what was going on. Given his father's personality, if he wanted to deal with him, there was no need to beat around the bush and test him.

If you don't like something, just get rid of it. Why make so many excuses?

Not only is it troublesome, it's also not appetizing.

"Aye, calm down. I am also..."

"You are nothing too." Li Shimin still had a fierce look on his face.

"Father, I know I was wrong." Li Ke said with his head down, his tone sincere.

"Oh." Li Shimin's expression softened a little, and then he said, "You can speak freely. I won't punish you just because you speak poorly."

Li Ke looked back at Li Xiang. Li Xiang noticed Li Ke's gaze and smiled gently, "Don't worry, Third Uncle. This is just the national policy that I discussed with Grandfather a few days ago. Of course, it depends on whether you are willing to implement this national policy. It is entirely voluntary. If you are not willing, it doesn't matter. Don't you think my Ninth Uncle is pretty good?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Zhi's heartless laughter was heard from outside.

The somewhat gloomy little boy in the 16th year of Zhenguan has now grown into a sunny and cheerful boy.

It must be said that this growth environment is very important to a person.

Li Xiang glanced outside the door and for no reason thought of Harry Potter, a character in the famous children's literature.

If Harry Potter had grown up in the wizarding world and been adopted by Dumbledore instead of suffering in his aunt's house, the praise from all sides since childhood would have made him the next James... no, perhaps the next James plus Draco.

The same was true for Li Zhi. From the 16th year of Zhenguan to the 17th year of Zhenguan, he saw his two brothers turning against each other for the throne. One of them was lame and deposed and died, and the other was demoted outside the capital. He lived his life like walking on thin ice. Sometimes when he had a deep and simple communication with Wu Meiniang, he always asked her whether he could make it to the other side.

Growing up in such an environment, it is understandable that Li Zhi was a bit gloomy, but of course he could not escape the fact that he had this kind of personality.

He now lives in a family with harmonious brothers, which is naturally different from his previous life.

"Zhi Nu...is pretty good." Li Ke searched for a long time but couldn't find a suitable adjective, so he could only use the word "is pretty good" to get away with it.

Otherwise, what else can I say? I think Zhinu looks like a big fool?

"What about you? What do you want to do?" Li Shimin asked again.

Li Ke sat there and began to think about life.

What is the purpose of this person's life?
Is it just to go out and play football when you have nothing to do?

Seeing Li Ke's hesitation, Li Xiang fanned the flames again.

"Uncle San, I think a person's life should be spent in this way: when he looks back on the past, he will not regret wasting his years, nor will he be ashamed of doing nothing; in this way, when he dies, he can say: 'My entire life and all my energy have not been wasted', what do you think?"

You know what, these words are indeed very inspiring. At least Li Ke's eyes lit up immediately.

He looked at Li Shimin, took a deep breath, and his gaze gradually became firm.

"Aye, I've made up my mind. I choose to fight for my country!"

"Good! You are worthy of being my offspring!" Li Shimin clapped his hands and exclaimed: "I knew you would choose this!"

After saying that, he stretched out his hand to Li Xiang: "Xiang'er?"

Li Xiang sighed and took out a hundred coins from his pocket and handed it to Li Shimin.

"What are you doing..." Li Ke asked in astonishment.

Li Shimin stroked his beard and smiled, "Just now I made a bet with Xiang'er. I said you would definitely choose to fight for the country, and Xiang'er said it was hard to say. Now it seems that I won."

Li Ke took a deep breath. He felt that his entire family had started to go off track ever since Xiang'er became the Crown Prince.

"Please teach me, father. What should I do?" Li Ke asked, looking up.

Li Shimin asked Li Ke, "Ke'er, do you still remember the year before last when Li Shiji and Su Dingfang led their army to the border and annihilated the Western Turkic tribe?" "Of course I remember." Li Ke smiled and said, "I wish I could be a soldier and follow the two generals to the border."

"In the 18th year of Zhenguan, Persia came to the Tang Dynasty to ask for help." Li Shimin pointed to the map of Persia: "Look, Persia is located here."

Li Ke stepped forward and nodded, saying, "This kid knows."

"To the west of Persia, there is a country called Dashi that is rising rapidly. They resisted Fulin in the north and defeated Persia in the east. Under their offensive, these two ancient countries retreated step by step." Li Shimin began to popularize the background knowledge to Li Ke. "Since the 12th year of Zhenguan, Persia has repeatedly sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty, hoping that the Tang Dynasty would send troops to help them resist the invasion of Dashi."

"However, in the 18th year of Zhenguan, there was a Western Turkic tribe between Persia and the Tang Dynasty." Li Shimin pointed to the original location of the Western Turkic tribe, which is now the Hanhai Protectorate and other places. "If we rashly send troops to help Persia, if the Western Turkic tribe goes south and cuts off the supply line of the Tang Dynasty, then the expeditionary army will be in danger."

"Now that Western Turks have been incorporated into the rule of the Tang Dynasty, this difficulty no longer exists." Li Shimin said here, looked at Li Ke and said: "I plan to establish a vassal state for you west of the Anxi Protectorate. The state will be similar to the vassal states of the former Han Dynasty, and it will be hereditary. I will fully support you. What do you think?"

Li Ke's breathing gradually became heavier. He knew very well what the princes of the Western Han Dynasty represented.

The princes of the Western Han Dynasty were not the princes of later generations. They were real kings. In the English context, it is king, not prince. For example, if Li Ke, the King of Wu, was in the Western Han Dynasty, then his wife would not be the princess, but the real Queen of Wu; the crown prince would not be the prince, but the Prince of Wu!

Of course, you must not be the crown prince of Wu in the Western Han Dynasty. Even if you are the crown prince of Wu, you must not play chess with a crown prince of the Han Dynasty...

Is there really anyone who plays chess without wearing a helmet?

As long as Li Ke is not stupid, he will understand what this means.

This means that from now on, he will be a true local emperor in his fiefdom, rather than just a governor who does not live up to his title.

"Is it true, Aye?" Li Ke raised his head and asked.

"Of course it's true." Li Shimin nodded and smiled, "Not only will I allow you to inherit the throne, but if you can expand the territory, all the land you get will be yours."

"No need to say more, Aye." Li Ke nodded fiercely: "I am willing to be the prince!"

"Good! You are worthy of being my son!" Li Shimin nodded happily. "Then I will issue an edict in a few days to officially enthrone you as the King of Wu and your queen as the Queen of Wu, and give you the privilege of recruiting 10,000 soldiers in the Tang Dynasty. As for the soldiers in your Wu territory, I will not limit it. How many you can recruit locally is up to you!"

"I will also give Third Uncle some food and fodder as start-up capital." Li Xiang said at the right time: "After all, Third Uncle is the first vassal king of the Tang Dynasty, and he is also my uncle. As his nephew, I have to show my appreciation in any way."

"It's right to let Xiang'er express his opinion. Don't refuse." Li Shimin saw that Li Ke wanted to be polite, so he stopped him and said, "Don't you know your nephew? He is a local rich man in our Tang Dynasty. Even I, the emperor, am not as rich as him!"

"Aunt, you are joking." Li Xiang said seriously, "Where do I have money? My money is only from the Tang Dynasty..."

"You speak so righteously, but why don't you just say that it's Tang Dynasty's money when you squander it?" Li Shimin snorted.

"That's not the case. My grandson only has the critical use rights for twelve hours every day." Li Xiang said sternly.

Li Shimin: "..."

I knew this grandson could come up with so many twisted ideas, but I didn't expect that his ideas would be so twisted.

Critically use you also...

"Hahaha..." Li Ke couldn't help laughing, "Then I won't be polite with you. The Wu Kingdom is still in its infancy and needs money and food. Please support me as much as possible."

"Don't worry, Third Uncle. As long as I can do it, I will do my best to help you." Li Xiang nodded and said, then looked at Li Shimin: "But Uncle, if Third Uncle is given a title in the Western Regions, does the country's name have to be changed? After all, the Wu Kingdom in history was all in Kuaiji."

"Well, you have a point." Li Shimin nodded. After thinking for a long time, he glanced at Li Xiang and said, "Let's call it Wu. It's just a title anyway. Since your third uncle was enfeoffed, Wu will not be in Kuaiji, but in the Western Regions."

"I think you just can't think of a suitable name, Aung." Li Xiang complained in a low voice.

Of course Li Shimin heard Li Xiang's complaints, but he did not take it seriously.

There's nothing I can do. This grandson is like this everyday. If I were to argue with him, I'd be so angry...

He said to Li Ke: "Next year at the latest, you can take office."

"Why so late?" Li Ke asked in confusion. He was really anxious.

As an ambitious prince, his dream in life is to achieve great things and become a figure of the Tiance General level like his father Li Shimin.

It’s a pity that he is not the eldest son, so he can only have great ambitions and waste his life in the Tang Dynasty.

Now Li Shimin and Li Xiang have planned a path for him that he could only dream of. Of course, he can't wait to go there and show his skills.

"Do you think you're the only one going to be a vassal?" Li Shimin smiled and shook his head. "As the saying goes, food and fodder must go before the army moves. From the officials in the country to the money and food, which one doesn't need to be prepared? Besides, you're just going to be a vassal in the Western Regions like this? Are you going to learn from that bastard Li Yin and leave without even saying goodbye to your mother?"

"What you said is right, father." Li Ke lowered his head and accepted the criticism seriously.

"You should stay in Cuiwei Palace for the time being." Li Shimin sighed, "Let the local chief historian handle the affairs of your fiefdom. Bring your family to Zhongnan Mountain in a few days. You will be enfeoffed next year. You should get closer to me. It will be difficult for us to meet again in the future..."

"Okay, Aye." Li Ke said quickly.

"Spend more time with your mother during this period." Li Shimin looked at Li Ke with a twinkling gaze: "Your mother only has two sons, you and the sixth son. The sixth son, that little bastard, has gone out to sea again, and you have to go out to be a vassal too..."

Having said this, Li Shimin stopped talking.

Of course, Li Shimin would bring his family with him when he came to Zhongnan Mountain this time.

After all, he is only fifty years old and is still a man with physical needs.

So he not only brought the young and beautiful Concubine Xu Hui, but also Concubine Yang.

When Li Ke heard this, he couldn't help but feel emotional and started to cry.

But what else can I do? In order to fight for my future, I have to do this.

Li Xiang now more or less understood Su Shi's painstaking efforts. As the saying goes, "I only wish my son was stupid." If either of the two brothers, Li Ke and Li Yin, was a little dumber and more heartless, they could have stayed in Chang'an and stayed by Concubine Yang's side.

(End of this chapter)