I transmigrated to the second year of the Zhenguan era and became the bandit chief of Black Wind Stronghold.
To stay alive, I led my men to rob the richest group of "merchants" down the mountain.
Then I found a gold seal engraved with "Zhenguan" on their leader, "Second Brother Qin."
I'd kidnapped Li Shimin.
The court was furious, and an army closed in. I stormed into Chang'an alone, holding a blade to Fang Xuanling's neck.
"If you don't want to star in a second Treaty of the Wei River, you'd better send a hundred thousand shi of grain to ransom him!"
The entire court thought I'd lost my mind.
Then I casually tossed out three sacks:
One held the art of steelmaking, enough to make the Tang army's sabers unmatched.
One held a recipe for gunpowder, enough to blow the Turkic cavalry to smithereens.
The last held the ultimate statecraft: a way to eradicate the great clans for good and send the Tang Dynasty's power soaring.
I lit it in front of Li Shimin.
"This is my ransom: the art of toppling dragons!"
"Your Majesty, are you paying up or not?"
