Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 8 Heavenly Family Couple
Being personally received by the old man, the craftsman was both honored and nervous, and came to Li Ji anxiously.

To Li Ji's inquiries, the craftsman knew everything, from Li Qinzai giving him the blueprint, to explaining how to make the bow, to how to make it in the military department, and how to try it for himself after making it.

Even Li Qinzai's hooligan argument of threatening him to emigrate with him was repeated as it was, honestly, word by word, without any discount.

Li Ji kept smiling and listening, and occasionally couldn't help laughing. As the craftsman talked, Li Ji's complexion gradually became ruddy, and his mood was obviously getting better and better.

After the craftsman finished speaking, he stood aside nervously, Li Ji's eyes were half closed, and he didn't know what he was thinking about.

Li Qinzai's all kinds of stubborn performances in the past, now Li Qinzai seems to have changed completely, creating a new type of sharp weapon as easily as he can find it at his fingertips.

Li Ji fell into deep thought, thinking about his incredible grandson.

It's so shocking, a dandy who makes troubles all day long, created a weapon of the country overnight that completely surpasses today's.

Did he get something occasionally, or did he act out of desperation, or did he usually hide his strength and bide his time, and only in times of crisis forced him to show his edge?
After a long time, Li Ji laughed suddenly: "Whether it's a mistake, or a lot of accumulation, this evil has escaped a catastrophe, haha!"

Liu Asi next to him also became excited, and he understood the meaning of Li Ji's words.

After a quick glance, Li Ji asked, "Qin Zai should have left Beijing for a long time, and is heading towards Jinzhou?"

Liu Asi lowered his head and said, "Yes, based on the distance traveled, it should have been more than an hour since I left Chang'an."

The corner of Li Ji's mouth curled up, and he said with a half-smile, "If he caused such a big disaster, he should be punished. Don't worry, let him walk a little longer, and the old man will go into the palace."

…………

Outside the gate of Taiji Palace, the palace is strictly forbidden, and soldiers are like rain.

Teams of armored soldiers patrolling outside the gate of the palace, flags flutter on the palace tower, the gate of the palace is closed, and the dragon's head is raised to the sky, like a resting beast, which is daunting.

Li Ji's guard of honor came to a stop twenty feet away from the palace gate, Li Ji got off his horse, took the strong bow that Bu Qu handed over, looked down at the strong bow for a moment, and smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth.

Then Li Ji straightened his clothes, showing a solemn and dignified demeanor, holding a strong bow in both hands, knelt outside the palace gate, and said in a deep voice: "Veteran Li Ji, I beg you to offer a sharp weapon to the country!"

The sound reverberated outside the empty palace gate, like a great bell, unstoppable for a long time.

After an hour of incense sticks, the closed palace gate opened a thread, and an eunuch walked out slowly, and said proudly: "By order, the emperor has summoned the Duke of England."

Li Ji stood up, still keeping his head bowed respectfully, first handed the strong bow in his hand to the eunuch, and the eunuch handed it to the generals of the palace guards to escort him to the Mingtang of the Son of Heaven.

Following the eunuch into the palace gate slowly, his gait is dignified, and every step he takes is steadfast.

As far as the Duke of the state, the number one general in the military, the official rank is already the top of the people and ministers.

However, in front of this huge and majestic palace, Li Ji still maintained a posture of walking on thin ice, and he did not have the might of a mountainous tiger who decisively ordered the soldiers to kill in front of the army.

An hour later, Li Ji walked out of the Taiji Palace empty-handed, his face still expressionless, his eyes calm and unwavering.

In the Tai Chi Palace just now, Li Ji presented Li Qinzai's original strong bow with both hands.

Emperor Li Zhizheng and Empress Wu were enjoying a hundred operas, singing and dancing in the Chengqing Palace. After Li Ji entered the palace, the two Tian family husband and wife specially ordered the singing and dancing to be stopped as a show of respect.

Li Ji presented a strong bow after entering the palace, and explained it to the two in detail, emphasizing that the range of this bow is twice that of bows and arrows in the army today.

Although Li Zhi was not the emperor on horseback, he grew up beside Li Shimin and was familiar with many famous generals during the Zhenguan period, so he was no stranger to military affairs.

He knew very well how important it was for Datang to have an extra long-range weapon that doubled its range, for the future wars against barbarians in all directions.

After Li Ji's explanation, Li Zhi couldn't help being overjoyed, and ordered a test shooting outside the hall with great interest.

Two hundred steps away, the general of the Imperial Guard held a strong bow and shot the bull's-eye impartially. Li Zhi was shocked and couldn't help laughing.

After the excitement, Li Zhi excitedly asked who created the new strong bow.

Only then did Li Ji calmly say that it was his grandson Li Qinzai who created it originally, and asked the military supervisor craftsman to make it.

When Li Zhi heard Li Qinzai's name, his expression suddenly became strange, and he quickly exchanged a glance with Empress Wu who was next to him.

Li Ji didn't wait for Li Zhi to speak, but suddenly knelt down and begged.

Contrary to everyone's expectations, Li Ji didn't commit crimes for his grandson Li Qinzai, but asked the emperor not to change his life.

It is true that Li Qinzai made a strong bow, but it is also a great crime for him to steal what was bestowed by Emperor Taizong.

Merits are rewarded, sins cannot be forgiven.The criminal Li Qinzai still has to emigrate to Lingnan and cannot be released, otherwise it will be difficult to hide the court's discussion, and it will also damage the imperial prestige of the Tian family and shame the meritorious family of the Li family.

Hearing Li Ji's solemn request, the emperor and empress were a little surprised.

I thought Li Ji was here to intercede with his grandson, but unexpectedly he gave his grandson a backstab...

Li Zhi's eyes flickered, and instead of answering Li Ji face to face, he chatted with this famous general of three dynasties.

After a chat, Li Zhi accepted the new strong bow, and the emperor and empress politely sent Li Ji out of the palace.

The palace gate was slowly closed, and Li Ji's back disappeared outside the palace gate.

Li Zhi, who is in his thirties and is in high spirits, lowered his head and stared at the strong bow in his hand, wondering what he was thinking.

Empress Wu and Li Zhi beside her have been husband and wife for many years, and they are four years older than Li Zhi.

Li Zhi is now in his prime, and the husband and wife have just got rid of Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang, revived the Li family's imperial power, and the people of the world are gradually returning to their hearts.

At this time, Empress Wu has not yet given birth to a mind-shattering thought. No matter life or career, the husband and wife are in a sweet honeymoon period.

Seeing Li Zhi bowed his head in thought, Empress Wu blinked her eyes and said softly: "Your Majesty, the gift from the British Lord is extraordinary. If it is equipped in the Tang army, it will definitely increase the chances of winning the war. Obviously, it can be used to atone for his grandson. Why..."

Li Zhi was silent for a long time, then suddenly smiled, his eyes narrowed, and he said in a low voice: "The old fox has a lot of thoughts, some things can only be said by me, if he says it, he won't take it for granted."

Empress Wu is of course also a mature woman, she understood what Li Ji meant a long time ago, but she still covered her mouth and said with a smile: "Your Majesty is extremely intelligent, if His Majesty hadn't pointed it out, I would have thought that he was really planning to kill relatives righteously."

Li Zhi was very comfortable being praised, his eyes were still fixed on the strong bow in his hand.

Empress Wu also looked at the strong bow in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and said: "Your Majesty, this thing...could it be really created by the grandson of the British Duke? I heard that the reputation of the fifth grandson of the British Duke is..."

Li Zhi said indifferently: "Whether it is true or not, I already understand the meaning of the Duke of England."

Empress Wu smiled lightly and said, "Your Majesty wants to release this son?"

Li Zhi said with a smile: "He dares to sell the things bestowed by the late emperor. This son is an extraordinary person. Although I can't compare with the late emperor's literary and martial arts, my broad-mindedness is still not inferior to the late emperor. The left and right are just objects. Just throw it away."

Empress Wu also said with a smile: "Since your Majesty has decided, I would like to draft the decree on behalf of Your Majesty and release it to Li Qinzai."

An hour later, a fast horse galloped out from the Tai Chi Palace, chasing Li Qinzai in the direction where he left Beijing.

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(End of this chapter)