Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 282: The Return of the Great Tang
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, General Li Shiji has been kneeling at the city gate for an hour."

In the Ganzhou provincial capital, the theoretical new Turkic leader Yibishekui Khan - also known as the royal male bestie Chengxin - acted as a messenger, reporting the situation outside the city gate to His Majesty Li Shimin and His Royal Highness Li Chengqian.

According to His Majesty's instructions, I took the initiative to communicate with the Tang army for the first time and sent the strange letter and the bundle of yak hair as a token of trust.

Li Shiji, commander-in-chief of the Tang army, tied himself up like a dumpling and knelt at the gate of Ganzhou city begging for forgiveness.

This brought great psychological pressure to the Turks, who had been beaten countless times by Li Shiji.

This is more stressful than sending small forces to tease the Tang army in the past few months.

You have to know that the other side has a powerful weapon in their hands - tens of thousands of elite Tang troops.

If a real fallout occurs, the Turks, who are not good at positional warfare, may not be able to stop it.

Chengxin also felt the pressure. Even though he was taciturn, he would report the situation outside the city gate every quarter of an hour.

The implication is, could Your Majesty please show some mercy and invite the old man outside the door to come in? We Turkic barbarians can't afford this...

However, Li Shimin fell into a "tactical" coma at the right time. He just half-closed his eyes lazily and muttered incoherently:
"Don't call me Your Majesty, call me Lord Khan!"

Satisfied: “…”

Li Chengqian: "...Father? How about letting General Li..."

Although the culprit who provoked Li Shimin's suspicion of Li Zhi and Li Shiji was Li Chengqian.

But again, the prince had no intention of killing Li Zhi and the others.

After going through life and death with his father and accompanying his disabled father long enough, he re-established the father-son relationship and regained the position of successor to the Tang Dynasty that belonged to him.

He wanted to stop there and not commit any more murders.

In the future, we will all be his subjects, and we will all be his subjects.

However, Li Shimin did not respond to the prince's words at all. He simply closed his eyes and ignored them.

Li Chengqian was also helpless and shook his head at his best friend.

He was satisfied and ordered his men:
"Just leave him alone."

You Han people are really brave... The Turkic servants retreated in fear.

Chengxin exchanged glances with his friend Li Chengqian and retreated silently.

Two more hours passed like this and it was already noon.

It was early summer and Ganzhou was located in the desert. The scorching sun burned the earth so hard that it was almost smoking.

Li Chengqian couldn't help but persuade:

"Father, how about...let General Li Shiji get up?"

"Which Li Shiji? There is a Xu Shiji in my Qin Palace..." Li Shimin still looked confused.

"..." Li Chengqian still didn't give up and continued to persuade:
“It’s dry and hot outside, Li Shiji will die after kneeling for the whole morning.

"He is a talented person. If he dies, it will cause great losses to the Tang Dynasty!"

After hearing his eldest son's words, Li Shimin finally opened his eyes and looked at him.

The father and son looked at each other and said nothing.

After a long while, Li Shimin said leisurely:
"It's noon, it's time to eat."

"Father!……"

"You just said that Li Shiji came from Liangzhou? He came all the way here, let's invite him to have lunch."

Li Chengqian was stunned when he heard this. He pondered for a moment or two before he was sure of his father's intention. He quickly called Chengxin over:

"Quick! Please invite General Li into the city to rest!"

"Okay!" The Turkic Khan hurriedly went to rescue the God of Death.

At least no one was killed or the situation became irreversible. Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief and asked his father in a low voice:

"Father, do you think Li Shiji and Li Zhi have rebellious intentions and don't trust them, or do you want to punish Li Shiji for not protecting you well?"

Li Shimin looked at him with his drooping right eye and asked:

"Did I say that?"

Li Chengqian was speechless for a moment and shook his head:
"No, Father."

"Remember, Cheng Qian." Li Shimin said earnestly:

“People who rule the country, don’t express your opinions with your mouth, use your hands.”

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and answered respectfully:

"My son, I know."

The Battle of Dayuechuan was a concentrated manifestation of Li Shimin's ability to speak with his fists.

What should I do if I don't know Li Zhi and Li Shiji's true thoughts on welcoming back His Majesty, but I don't want to have a head-on conflict with the Tang army under their command?
In Ganzhou, they openly repaired the plank road, and secretly crossed the Dafei River to attack Chencang. They bypassed the Liangzhou Military Governor's Office and headed directly for Chang'an through the Hehuang Valley.

He said nothing, and yet he said everything.

The suspicion towards Li Zhi, the dissatisfaction towards Li Shiji, and the anger at having been wandering outside for most of the past six months were all condensed in this sharp military attack.

Far more than a thousand words.

Don't let His Majesty guess your thoughts. Open the city gates and reveal your true feelings first.

If you don’t surrender, we will attack you directly.

Li Shiji also understood the words hidden in the sword by His Majesty.

After learning that the strategic junction of Dafeichuan had fallen into the hands of the New Turks, he immediately confirmed that the manipulator behind the scenes was His Majesty himself, and he surrendered in time.

Both sides had enough political wisdom to tacitly avoid a meaningless and bloody civil war.

Although my father has suffered from rheumatism and has suffered severe brain damage, his political skills are still beyond the reach of ordinary people... Li Chengqian couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

What he did not approve of was his father's way of raising children, but he never doubted his political ability.

"You still have a lot to learn. Time is running out. Before you return to ascend the throne, follow me and learn how to be a monarch." Li Shimin spoke slowly.

"Yes, father...?"

Li Chengqian responded casually and suddenly woke up.

What does "return to ascend the throne" mean?
What the emperor meant by this was, could it be that...

"What else could it be? Of course, I'll let you be the emperor."

Looking at his eldest son who was losing his temper, Li Shimin sighed helplessly:

"I can't be an emperor in this state. Not to mention governing the country, if I sit in the Taiji Hall like that, all the officials will laugh at me behind my back.

"Not only will it damage your majesty, but the villains in the court will also think that I am weak and can be bullied, and that I am pretending to obey but actually disobeying you. And I don't have the energy to deal with them one by one."

Li Chengqian quickly expressed his loyalty:

"Father... No, that's not right, Father! You are blessed with great fortune. As long as you return to the capital and let the imperial physician take good care of you, you will naturally recover as before!

"Besides, even if you are slightly ill now, wouldn't it scare the Turks, Tubo, Li Shiji and others..."

Li Shimin shook his hand and interrupted Li Chengqian's auspicious words.

“I know my body well. Not only is my brain power not as good as before, but I don’t know when I am clear-headed and when I am confused.

"But state affairs will not wait until I am awake.

"Time is merciless. It is time for me to abdicate and let others take my place. I will follow the example of the last emperor and live a peaceful and happy life as an emperor."

Li Chengqian's chest rose and fell violently, and he tried his best to suppress his intense emotions:
"But I still have many shortcomings..."

"But who else is there besides you? Alas..."

Li Shimin lamented sadly, and his lazy tone became tragic.

"Li Ming and Li Tai are dead, and Li Zhi has rebelled. Who else can I choose except you?"

In the study of the Ganzhou provincial government, the father and son went through the entire process of three refusals and three declines.

His Majesty Li Shimin has already appointed Li Chengqian as the next Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and he will ascend the throne after returning to Chang'an.

The decision that determines the future of the Tang Dynasty was made in this way.

After saying this, Li Shimin was so tired as if he had reviewed memorials all day, and closed his eyes drowsily.

Little did he know that right in front of him, the successor he had just appointed showed a twisted smile.

Mei Niang, did you see that? Mei Niang, we are done, hahaha…

…………

"His Majesty."

"Your Majesty...Tian Khan, Li Shiji has been brought here."

Accompanied by Anxi Protector General Guo Xiaoke and the new Turkic Khan Chengxin, Li Shiji lowered his head and walked into the room with unsteady steps, coming before His Majesty and the Crown Prince, whom he had not seen for half a year.

Li Shiji refused to untie his bonds and knelt on the ground with a plop. Seeing Li Shimin's half-paralyzed appearance, he could not help but burst into tears:
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, I am guilty!"

Then he cried and explained what crime he had committed.

Objectively speaking, Li Shiji cannot absolve himself of responsibility for the fact that Old Li and Little Li lost contact while drifting in the frontier.

Not to mention that the entire army was attacked but was stolen by the traitors Simo Turks and Shiwei.

After the two nobles lost contact, the rescue operations he launched were also worthy of criticism.

First, due to logistical problems, the army retreated to the border. Then, in order to prevent the 14 traitors from usurping control of the army, the large army was kept in the camp.

Although each has its own reasons, compared with losing two suns, these excuses are not worth refuting.

To be honest, although Li Shiji had no intention of actively betraying Emperor Li Shimin.

However, it is an indisputable fact that Li Zhi's position influenced and interfered with his search and rescue decisions.

If loyalty is not absolute, it is absolutely disloyalty. He deserves to be cut into pieces for the civil unrest he indirectly caused.

"Your Majesty, please chop me into pieces! I only ask Your Majesty to show some mercy and leave a male offspring to continue the family line. I will never forget Your Majesty's kindness even in my grave!"

After saying this, Li Shiji began to kowtow.

The atmosphere at the scene was very tense.

Li Shimin was half lying down, looking contented, with his eyes unclear whether they were open or closed.

The emperor didn't say anything, so Li Shiji continued to kowtow until his head was broken and bleeding.

He knelt for a long time in the desert summer sun. He was already in a disheveled state, and now he looked even more miserable.

"Um...father?"

Li Chengqian couldn't bear to watch any more and whispered:

"I think General Li has no intention of rebelling and can still be educated. Otherwise..."

Li Shimin closed his eyes and ignored him.

Li Chengqian was a little anxious:

"Father, if this continues someone will die."

Only then did Li Shimin slowly open his eyes a crack, glance at his eldest son, and close them again.

It seems to be saying: You are the next emperor, this is your business.

Li Chengqian couldn't bear it any longer. He couldn't let a great general who was both civil and military virtuous die in front of his new emperor. This would go down in history books.

Based on the principle of "don't let my blood splash on me", he limped to his feet, stopped Li Shiji who was trying to commit suicide, and untied him himself.

Li Shiji was already moved to tears:
"I am a sinner whose incompetence has caused His Majesty to fall ill and His Highness to suffer. I cannot bear the punishment..."

"It's nothing, it's nothing. The disease is God's will. How can it be changed by human power? I forgive you for your innocence."

Seeing the new emperor being so magnanimous, Guo Xiaoke and others present were moved to tears.

Li Shiji was so grateful that he was speechless.

Seeing the people around him crying and worshipping him, Li Chengqian suddenly understood.

Father is giving him a chance to win people's hearts...

…………

After Li Shiji returned to the ranks of "respecting the emperor", there is nothing else to say.

A total of 40,000 Tang troops welcomed the two saints, but were surprised to find that it was the Turks who escorted the two saints into Liangzhou.

He was not a surrendered Turkic general like Ashina She'er, but a native Turkic person with left-side lapel and long hair as per the stereotype.

Moreover, after entering the territory of the Tang Dynasty, those tactless Turkic guards still did not leave your Majesty's side and stared at the Tang army.

"This is our Great Tang Emperor. You are the ones who should get out, right?"

"This is our Turkic Khan. You are the ones who should get out, right?"

Amid the warm and friendly greetings from the new colleagues, the two teams set out together to escort the emperor back to Beijing.

"How come there are only 40,000 left? Where are the other 40,000? Where are the deputy general manager Hou Junji and others?" Li Shimin asked as he stuck his head out of the carriage window. "Your Majesty, that..." Li Shiji replied hesitantly:
"Hou Junji, Li Daozon and Xue Wanche defected to Liaodong with another 40,000 people..."

The "Liaodong" he mentioned was no longer limited to the two states of Ping and Ying, but specifically referred to the huge separatist regime left by Li Ming, covering Goguryeo, Xueyantuo, Hebei and parts of the Central Plains and Qi and Lu.

"Defecting to Liaodong..."

Li Shimin repeated it softly and did not ask any further questions.

The group headed south from Liangzhou and headed straight for Chang'an.

On the other hand, the Turkic/Tyuhun troops led by Ashina She'er and Qibi Heli were also not idle. They set out directly from Dayuchuan, advanced eastward along the Huangshui River, entered the territory of the Tang Dynasty at Shancheng (Xining City), and according to the original plan, marched towards Chang'an along the Weishui River.

Two forces, two directions, moving forward in parallel.

This solemn and murderous posture does not seem like going home, but rather like preparing to attack the enemy's capital.

The subtext of the expression is also obvious - if Li Zhi, who usurped the throne and sat in Chang'an, dared to make any moves on Your Majesty's way back to the capital.

The other army led by Ashina She'er would rush to Chang'an as soon as possible and behead the rebellious son.

Of course, Li Shimin received Li Zhi's confession (begging for mercy) letter, and he knew in his heart that although his youngest son was a little confused, he would not cross the bottom line and do stupid things such as being disloyal and unfilial.

We can get some idea from the attitude of his subordinate Li Shiji.

So he chose an armed march rather than letting Ashina She'er dive directly from the plateau.

However, Li Shimin had to make his attitude clear to his son who had caused such a terrible disaster.

The murderous army was like countless knives and pens, writing four huge characters on the paper of "Tang Dynasty" -

I am very angry.

…………

"Father... wuwu... I was wrong, wuwu..."

Outside the gate of Chang'an, Li Zhi had already knelt down to welcome the emperor and cried bitterly.

Behind him, all the illegitimate princes, the entire royal family, and the civil and military officials who remained in Chang'an all knelt down, looking extremely terrified. The welcoming team stretched for several miles.

Li Shimin sat in the carriage, lifted the curtain, and ignored them arrogantly to show that he was very angry.

Lizheng Hall.

After sending away the crying concubines and attendants and returning to his long-lost bedroom, Li Shimin couldn't help feeling dazed.

"Grandpa! What are you doing..."

Li Mingda was just about to come forward with great joy, but when he saw his father looking very sick and frail, his face suddenly turned pale.

Li Shimin dragged the right half of his body, which was not very obedient, and smiled tolerantly:
"Not bad, more obedient than my son."

"Father, wuwu..." Li Zhi cried until his throat was hoarse, and he followed and knelt all the way.

Li Shimin was fed up with listening and pointed at Li Chengqian:

"From now on, your brother will be the one making the decisions. You will listen to him on how to deal with me."

It's all up to my brother the Emperor... Li Zhi was thinking about the meaning of this sentence and found it inexplicably funny.

The brothers fought openly and secretly, and some even lost their lives.

In the end, the crown returned to the eldest son.

All this busy work turned the world upside down, but what was it all for?

"Brother, I, your younger brother..."

Li Zhi didn't even have the energy to defend himself, and said in a low voice:

"I accept the punishment."

“Brother Prince…” Li Mingda clutched his clothes tightly.

"Brother Zhinu is not..."

"Jiulang has committed a serious crime. How can we convince the public if we don't punish him severely?" Li Chengqian interrupted his sister's plea.

Li Zhi lowered his head lower and lower.

Huh... Li Chengqian let out a long breath:
"As a punishment, go to the ancestral temple and kneel for three hours first."

that's it?
Li Zhi looked at his brother in confusion.

Li Chengqian waved his hand impatiently:

“Go quickly!
"Ah Sizi, you go with him. If he faints from kneeling, take care of him."

He used both coaxing and kicking to drive his younger brother and sister out of the study.

"You go out too." Li Shimin said lightly.

Li Chengqian's mouth twitched:
"Me? But father, I have not been with you all this way..."

"I have something to discuss with the ministers first. You should go to the East Palace and have some rest first," said Li Shimin.

Having said this, Li Chengqian couldn't stay any longer and took his leave.

The important officials who remained in the capital were soon summoned to the palace, and everyone was crying bitterly.

When they found out that His Majesty had suffered a stroke, they cried even harder.

If we really trace it back, they are also responsible for this incident. If it were during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, all ten of their clans would have been in trouble.

Li Shimin impatiently swept his left hand:
"Birth, aging, illness and death are natural phenomena. I will not blame you for this."

This made everyone's crying quieter.

Before talking about business, Li Shimin leaned back on the dragon couch and glanced at the visitor.

Among them, the ones with the highest status were Shangshu You Pushe Gao Shilian, Huangmen Shilang Liu Li, and Yushi Doctor Wei Ting. The rest were just Shangshu, Shilang and the like, just to make up the numbers.

These are all the senior officials who remain in Beijing.

"Just you few? Where are the others?" Li Shimin was very confused.

"Your Majesty," Gao Shilian said:
"When your majesty first went to war last year, the Minister of the Left Fang Xuanling and other ministers were transferred to Liaodong by the then regent."

"And then you stayed there and haven't come back until today?" Li Shimin couldn't help but raise his voice.

Gao Shilian shook his head: "Not a single one has returned to Beijing."

"Liaodong, hiss..." Li Shimin smacked his lips playfully.

All the way from Liangzhou, the most information he heard was about "Liaodong".

Around the same time he was integrating the Turks, the government in Liaodong was also busy.

Swallowing up talents, swallowing up land, swallowing up soldiers, swallowing up civilians, swallowing up everything...

Liaodong - or more precisely, the entire northeastern region of the Tang Dynasty - was like a Pixiu that could not go out or in, and it quickly expanded into a powerful separatist force.

There is no doubt that the Chang'an court under Li Zhi could not control the behemoth at all.

The Northeast has essentially become a political entity independent of the Tang Dynasty.

As for who the leader of that entity was, Li Shimin remained in the dark for the time being.

In any case, it couldn't be Li Jing who killed Li Tai.

"Changsun Wuji is not here. Could it be that Changsun Wuji also went to the Northeast?" Li Shimin asked again.

Gao Shilian replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Several months ago, the Duke of Zhao fled from Chang'an at night."

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows in surprise.

This was the most surprising news for him since he returned to the Tang Dynasty.

But he quickly calmed down and brought the topic back to the main topic.

"Let's not talk about Liaodong for now. I summoned you here to discuss an important matter.

"In a few days, I will pass the throne to Crown Prince Li Chengqian. I will follow the example of my predecessor and become the Supreme Emperor."

All the ministers were shocked and immediately shouted that it was not possible.

Your Majesty is just sick, not dead, why would you abdicate in advance?

Besides, does the prince look like a ruler?
However, Li Shimin stretched out his movable left hand and stopped everyone from admonishing him.

"I have made up my mind. Today I am here to inform you, not to discuss it. You don't need to say anything more."

The people present were of low status to begin with, and they had also been suspected of playing two cards in the past six months, so they were naturally humble and did not dare to raise any more fierce objections.

Except for one person.

That was Gao Shilian.

"Your Majesty, from Chang'an to the local areas, a piece of news is spreading everywhere, that is -

"Regent Li Ming did not die, but fled to Liaodong.

"The regime that has annexed Goguryeo and most of Xueyantuo and ruled the northeastern part of the Tang Dynasty is most likely controlled by His Highness Li Ming."

Li Shimin listened quietly and was not surprised at all by the gossip.

This rumor has been heard everywhere since the beginning of the Tang Dynasty.

Because there are so many people flowing into the Northeast, any news cannot be hidden and would have spread everywhere long ago.

Judging from the actual performance, Dongbei's movements are indeed very much in the style of Li Ming.

Including the fact that his soldiers and ministers were "kidnapped"...

"Then what? Shi Lian, what do you want to say?" Li Shimin didn't even frown.

Gao Shilian swallowed nervously, knowing full well the weight of what he was about to say.

“I think that in terms of ability, the regent is far superior to the crown prince.

"The crown prince is of great significance to the long-term stability of the Tang Dynasty, and we must be aware of this.

"If the regent is still alive, then the choice of the crown prince... would Your Majesty like to reconsider it?"

Gao Shilian was Changsun Wuji's uncle, and the uncle of the prince's uncle.

But he stood on the side of Li Ming, who had no blood relationship with him.

Not to mention the uncle the prince who had taken refuge in the flesh.

Even the born princelings are like this. There is no need to say more about what the public opinion is.

In response, Li Shimin just snorted softly:

"Talent... What is talent? Who will assess it? How can we make the princes show their talents? And after the assessment, how can we make the princes accept the result?

"Does it mean that every generation, the princes must fight in the ring? Every generation, chaos must be set off in the world?"

His series of rhetorical questions were more of a refutation of his past self than a refutation of Gao Shilian.

If he hadn't committed suicide by causing four sons to fight for the throne, how could the world be in chaos?
Why didn't he understand that as long as the precious throne was at stake, all forms of competition would eventually escalate into war?

So Li Shimin did not blame anyone, including Li Zhi and Li Shiji. He was the culprit of all the chaos.

"I deserve this, and I don't want my descendants to continue to be in chaos like this.

"To abolish the elder and enthronize the younger is the way to bring about chaos. The ancients were not deceiving me..."

Li Shimin said weakly.

"Since Li Chengqian, the Tang Dynasty has always appointed the eldest son as the heir, not the most capable one."

Yes, it can only be the system of primogeniture.

Only a single objective authority, a standard that excludes all subjective human judgments, can eliminate the factors of civil unrest.

“I intend to abdicate in ten days and establish Cheng Qian as emperor. He will take care of the remnants of the northeast and put an end to this farce.

"Who is in favor and who is against?"

The study was quiet and no one dared to speak.

The succession issue was thus settled.

At the grand court meeting the next day, Li Shimin announced the news to the world in public.

Unless there are any accidents, Li Chengqian will become the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in ten days.

…………

As expected, there were no surprises in the story.

Everything went according to plan, Li Chengqian successfully ascended the throne and was officially crowned emperor.

Li Shimin abdicated and assisted the new emperor in governing the country as the emperor emeritus.

The Tang Dynasty finally ended its half-year-long situation of leaderlessness and rectified the chaos, as if it were reborn.

The newly born Tang Dynasty's territory covered a vast area from the Turkic Empire in the northwest to Danzhou in the south. It dominated the Western Regions and eyed Tibet covetously.

It seemed as if overnight, a huge new Tang Dynasty was born beside Li Ming's bed.

(End of this chapter)