My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 198 Li Shimin: Is the prince crazy?
To be fair, Li Chengqian does not want to rebel now.

Once the army is launched.

The first thing was to give up the eastern expedition to Goryeo.

The army that has already headed for Goryeo must turn back immediately.

Hou Junji would definitely defect if Fang Xuanling already knew about Hou Junji's affairs.

Then Erfeng would arrange several other armies to encircle and suppress Hou Junji.

The entire Hedong region will be transformed into a battlefield.

After Li Chengqian seized the King of Wei's troops, he was about to go to Luoyang.

Strengthen the city defenses, recruit soldiers, and countless Tang Dynasty men will be involved in this war between father and son.

Regardless of winning or losing, the current prosperity will surely vanish into thin air.

A large number of laborers were withdrawn, resulting in no one to harvest the farmland and broken families.

In order to support the huge expenses of the war, heavy taxes and corvee labor were imposed, and the days of slight hope came to an end.

If it is delayed until the next year and no one takes care of the natural disaster, it will inevitably lead to famine due to the involvement of this year's war.

Business is stagnant, society is in turmoil, laws do not exist, thieves are rampant, and people are worse than dogs.

No matter who wins, the first thing they will face is this devastated and broken country.

Moreover, once the civil war breaks out in the Tang Dynasty, the surrounding countries will certainly wait for an opportunity to take action.

The first is Goryeo.

Goryeo has already prepared for war and will certainly take this opportunity to ally with Baekje and divide Silla while moving south to enter the pass. The Tang Dynasty in Liaodong is simply unable to resist.

The Western Turkic, Xueyantuo, and Tiele tribes will certainly take advantage of the opportunity to invade the Central Plains.

Khitan, Japan, Tubo and other countries, who doesn't want to bite off a piece of meat from the Tang Dynasty.

It would not be difficult for Li Chengqian to hold out for two years, and there was even a possibility of counterattacking Chang'an.

But what about two years later?

The Han population, which originally numbered only tens of millions, will be reduced drastically, and millions of people may die in the chaos.

Just like the Anshi Rebellion, the Battle of Xiangji Temple wiped out all the elite troops of the Tang Dynasty.

Who loses?

Who wins?

Why didn't Fang Xuanling dare to inform on the king at this time and even wanted to stop him?

It was because he could foresee how much damage would be caused to the Tang Dynasty, which had finally gotten a little angry, once the prince launched an uprising.

To commit treason, only eight hundred people are needed.

Rebellion is a war in which hundreds of thousands or even millions of people participate.

This is also the reason why even at this point, Li Chengqian still pretended to be sick instead of rebelling directly.

It was almost sunset.

The eunuch couldn't wait any longer, he had to go back and report before curfew.

Just as he was about to walk out of the tent, he was stopped by the guards at the door.

Su Dingfang came over after hearing the noise and asked, "Why is the angel so panicked?"

The eunuch asked, "Is His Royal Highness awake?"

Su Dingfang shook his head slightly: "The prince has taken medicine and is resting. I don't know how long it will take."

The eunuch hesitated and said, "I have to go back and report first. The three doctors will stay here and wait for the prince to wake up."

"Then I will trouble you, General, to escort them back to the palace."

Su Dingfang was silent for a moment. In fact, he wanted to force the eunuch to stay as well.

If we delay it until night, the prince will have an excuse not to attend the sacrifice tomorrow.

But if we force him to stay now, the intention will be too obvious.

I can't explain this to His Majesty either.

"Wait a moment Angel, I will discuss this with the other two generals."

Go ahead and say it. Su Dingfang signaled the eunuch to go back to the tent and wait for news.

At this time, the eunuchs had actually realized that something was wrong. They were now trapped like prisoners.

Su Dingfang didn't care what they thought. After seeing them enter the tent, he walked towards the big tent.

In the big tent, except Chen Yunchao who was at Baqiao Posthouse, the others had all arrived.

"The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict said he had to go back first to report, and asked the three doctors to stay."

"Your Highness, will you let this man go?"

Su Dingfang was also a little unsure.

After all, the current situation is too delicate and every move must be made with caution.

"You can't let it go. Keep it locked up first."

"In another hour, the city gates will be closed. They have no reason to go back, so they can only stay here overnight."

"Your Majesty may have doubts, but he won't be too vigilant until he hears the news. Once the sacrifice is over, everything will be fine."

Helan Chushi suggested.

In his heart, he was actually looking forward to the prince's rebellion.

Because once the prince rebels, his father-in-law Hou Junji will be the prince's greatest contributor. If the prince can succeed in his rebellion or resist the offensive of Your Majesty, his status will inevitably rise.

"Not right. If the angel doesn't return to the palace on time, His Majesty will definitely notice it."

"According to the current situation, Fang Xuanling probably did not file a complaint. If Your Majesty becomes suspicious first, wouldn't that be a handle for King Wei, Fang Xuanling, to succeed?"

Li Dejian shook his head slightly. If he was forced into a desperate situation, the only option he had was to start a rebellion.

But judging from the current situation, His Majesty directly sent three imperial doctors to visit the prince, and it is obvious that he took the prince's illness seriously.

Otherwise, the eunuch who came would not be the one delivering the imperial eunuch's orders.

Li Chengqian's gaze fell on Su Dingfang.

This is not an established historical route. Foreknowledge and foresight will have no effect. Different choices will mean different situations.

Within his limited perspective, Li Chengqian also needs to consider the impact of various factors and the possible consequences.

Feeling the prince's gaze, Su Dingfang said, "If you don't release him, His Majesty will definitely send someone to investigate."

"If you release him, then His Majesty may send someone to investigate."

"So I think it's better to let him go."

Li Chengqian nodded.

The impact of not releasing the person would indeed be greater and more likely to arouse Erfeng's suspicion.

"Then let him go."

The prince made the decision, and Su Dingfang came forward to send away the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict and let several imperial doctors stay alone.

The few imperial doctors were relatively calm. They had been in the palace for a long time, from the previous dynasty to the present.

Naturally, I understand that there is something fishy going on here.

But this has little to do with them. If they are allowed to watch, they watch. If they are not allowed to watch, they don’t watch.

Just follow orders.

Suzaku Avenue.

King Wei Li Tai is already waiting here.

He wanted to meet the three imperial physicians and understand the prince's condition before they entered the palace.

"Here comes the carriage."

"Stop them."

"Yes, King Wei."

The eunuch was somewhat shocked and angry. This was in the city of Chang'an, and there were actually people who dared to block the angel carriage.

Are you going to die?

"That bastard is so brave."

The eunuch got off the carriage angrily.

Originally he didn't need to get off the car, but he was feeling so aggrieved at the prince's side that he had no place to vent his grievances, and this ignorant person happened to come.

This is just the right way to be used as a punching bag.

"It's this bastard, the king."

Wei Wang Li Tai replied with a gloomy expression.

The eunuch looked carefully and immediately had a bitter look on his face.

"King Wei, I am here to return to the palace under the order of His Majesty."

Li Tai said coldly: "How dare you, my father, come to pressure me?"

"I heard it clearly. You, a slave, dared to insult me." "I am a bastard. What is my father in your eyes?"

Li Tai knew that blocking the carriage frame was definitely breaking the rules, but he didn't expect that the eunuch just gave him a reason, so he naturally grabbed it.

"King Wei, please spare my life. King Wei, please spare my life."

The eunuch was so frightened that he immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

"Alright, I'll ask you a few questions. If you can answer me well, I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said."

Faced with this proposal, the eunuch naturally agreed immediately.

It is not easy to make a living in the palace. If you can get the position of an angel, you must be familiar with many things.

When the matter of blocking the carriage was reported to His Majesty, the worst that happened was that the King of Wei was reprimanded.

But calling the King of Wei a bastard could really put your life in danger.

He still knows what is more important and what is less important.

"Your Majesty, please ask me anything you want. I will tell you everything I know."

At this time, Chai Lingwu came over and whispered in his ear: "King Wei, the carriage behind is empty."

Li Tai raised his eyebrows: "Where is the imperial physician who went with you?"

The eunuch replied, "King Wei, they are staying in the prince's camp."

Li Tai frowned and asked, "What's going on? Why did they stay? Is the prince really infected with a serious disease?"

"Tell me the details in detail, without missing anything."

At this point, the eunuchs naturally had nothing to hide.

This is easy to say, after all, they haven't even seen the prince.

After listening to the eunuch's story, Li Tai's brows immediately relaxed.

Well, the prince is indeed pretending to be sick.

He even refused to see the imperial physician and locked up the eunuchs and others in the tent. If this isn't a sign of guilty conscience, what could it be?

"Alright, I will let bygones be bygones for what happened just now."

"But when you return to the palace, you must explain the situation to your father truthfully."

Li Tai immediately relaxed, with a slight smile on his face.

Although there was no plan to target the imperial physician, the prince's behavior was just an attempt to cover up his own faults.

The eunuch said with a bitter face: "Yes, yes, I will obey the King of Wei."

Li Tai was a little unhappy when he heard this: "What do you mean by listen to me? I didn't tell you what to do. Just tell me what you see and report it truthfully."

After that, Li Tai added: "Remember, I have never been here, and you have never called me a bastard."

"But you understand?"

The eunuch nodded repeatedly: "I understand, I understand. I did not meet anyone on the way back."

Only then did Li Tai leave with satisfaction.

Tai Chi Palace, Liang Yi Palace.

After listening to the eunuch's story, Li Shimin's expression became somewhat uncertain.

By now, it was impossible for him to find any clues.

The prince's behavior is simply too obvious.

"What on earth does the prince want to do?"

"Does he think that he can do whatever he wants just because he has 5,000 cavalry?!"

Li Shimin was very angry and he had a premonition that something very bad might happen.

At the same time, he was also a little confused, wondering why the prince suddenly had such an idea at this time.

"Ananda, take my imperial edict and go to the prince's camp."

"I want to see what the prince is going to do."

"Also, check the situation in the military camp."

Li Shimin suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice.

The way things had developed to this point made him, who had been emperor for more than a decade, feel nervous.

It wasn’t because of the prince, but something very critical seemed to have happened in a corner that he couldn’t see.

The prince was not a fool. He would not have such a rebellious idea when he was in charge of 5,000 cavalry.

It is now obvious that the prince is afraid of something, so he dare not return to the palace.

So, what is the prince afraid of?

The reason why Zhang Ananda was allowed to go was to serve as an ultimatum to the prince.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Ride on, fast horse."

Li Shimin gave the order with a grim expression.

If we hurry up, many people will be caught off guard. Even if someone tips off the situation, they won't be as fast as Zhang Ananda.

Zhang Ananda's expression also turned solemn.

The curfew was about to begin, and this time Zhang Ananda did not take a carriage. Instead, he led thirty palace guards from the palace and headed straight out of the city.

As soon as the Chengtian Gate opened, the Ti cavalry led by Zhang Ananda galloped at full speed, rushing all the way towards the prince's military camp outside the city.

This speed is already faster than the person who delivers the message.

Before Li Chengqian received the news, he heard that Zhang Ananda had come to the military camp with the emperor's imperial edict.

"Stop him." Li Chengqian ordered in a deep voice.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Su Dingfang and several others, along with dozens of guards, blocked the outside of the tent.

At the same time, orders were given one after another, and a small number of guards in the military camp gathered at the big tent.

Outside the military camp, Zhang Ananda dismounted from his horse and observed the situation in the camp as he walked.

He discovered that in the military camp, all the soldiers had their armor intact, and from a distance he could see the reflection of the setting sun on the armor.

This made him a little nervous.

How is acting this way different from preparing for war?

Outside the big tent, Su Dingfang, Li Dejian, and Helan Chushi were blocking the way.

"Step aside."

"I am following His Majesty's orders. Are you going to disobey His Majesty?"

Zhang Ananda was very imposing and could not be compared with the previous eunuch. After all, he was the General of the Right Guard.

Whether he was the emperor's eunuch or the Right General of the Imperial Guard, he was above Su Dingfang and others.

"Your Highness has already gone to bed. He has instructed before going to bed that no one should disturb him."

"Eunuch Zhang, please go back."

Su Dingfang said firmly.

At the same time, the armored soldiers behind him stood in rows at the entrance of the tent.

Seeing that he couldn't suppress it anymore, Zhang Ananda said in a deep voice: "Do you know what you are doing?"

The implication of the words is very clear.

Su Dingfang did not hesitate and replied: "I am following the order of the Crown Prince. Your Highness has just started to feel better. You will be fine after a night's rest."

Zhang Ananda looked at Su Dingfang with a gloomy expression, and then glanced at Li Dejian and Helan Chushi.

After a moment's silence, he said, "If you disobey your majesty's order, I will hold you accountable."

Su Dingfang replied: "When His Royal Highness wakes up, I will apologize to His Royal Highness and will also return to Chang'an to apologize to His Majesty."

He knew that the prince could not see Zhang Ananda.

If we meet, there will be no room for maneuver at all.

Zhang Ananda remained in a stalemate for a while, then asked again, "What if I insist on seeing the prince?"

Su Dingfang bowed and said, "Forgive me for the offense."

Hearing this, Zhang Ananda turned around and left without any hesitation.

The palace cavalry followed closely.

Come and go in a hurry.

Inside the big tent, I saw several people coming back.

Li Chengqian sighed softly: "Gone?"

Su Dingfang nodded: "Let's go."

Li Chengqian ordered: "Father is unrivaled in military affairs. Keep a close eye on the movements of the city gates and do not remove half of your armor."

(End of this chapter)