My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 205 Prince of Jin: If the crown prince rebels, does that mean I can also seize the throne?

Beauty is nothing to Li Chengqian.

Of course, appropriate enjoyment is called combining work and rest.

If there are more benefits to the cooperation, it will be a win-win situation.

The next day, Li Chengqian continued to lead the army.

I have no intention of getting involved with Changle Feng just because I slept with Feng Huiyin.

The entire Feng family in Changle was very happy.

The crown prince comes to visit her. If Feng Huiyin can get pregnant with the crown prince's child, the child will be a prince.

Even if he is born out of wedlock, it doesn’t matter. When the prince becomes emperor, he will still be made a king.

The Feng family of Changle will surely rise again because of this.

The threat posed by the Zhaojun Li family will also disappear.

July 25th.

The cement floor of Chang'an Zhuque Street has been completed.

The cement floor, which looked like stone bricks, immediately attracted the admiration of the people of the Tang Dynasty.

Such a clean and tidy ground, especially when it is ten miles long and 150 meters wide, gives people a great visual shock.

In this day and age, such ground is unparalleled and unique.

On the day of completion, Li Shimin went out of the palace to experience the dragon chariot.

He immediately ordered the renovation of all the city walls of Chang'an with cement.

From today's perspective, Chang'an City looks like it is made of mud. The original color of rammed earth is similar to loess, and Chang'an City looks more like a mud city.

But if it is all paved with cement, it will become a stone city.

Not only the city walls, but also the ground, Li Shimin planned to paint all the high walls with cement.

By then, envoys and merchants from all countries will be shocked by Chang'an.

This is a truly civilized place.

The reason why he was so generous was that Li Shimin learned about the cost of cement.

The production of rammed earth is very complicated and time-consuming.

Layer, cultivate the soil and compact it.

Especially in the compaction process, it is very labor-intensive.

It’s not like cement floors, which you can just pour after mixing and cure for a few days.

Chang'an is dusty in the summer because all the high walls are made of rammed earth.

After some thought, Li Shimin decided to open a few more factories.

This part of the expenditure will be temporarily paid from its own internal treasury.

The national treasury is now stretched to the limit due to the eastern expedition to Goryeo.

The mobilization of 700,000 people was a huge expenditure on the national treasury, and several years of reserves were exhausted.

This is also the reason why many civil servants did not recommend attacking Goryeo.

Once a natural disaster occurs and the national treasury is unable to provide food, it will be a huge burden for the people.

Moreover, even now, it will have a great impact on this year's harvest.

There are more than 400,000 civilians, all of whom are laborers.

If they were not doing corvee labor, they would be at home harvesting wheat.

When the main labor force in the family leaves, the burden falls on women, the elderly and children.

Moreover, if a conscripted laborer dies, there is basically no guarantee for pension.

The families of the laborers may be given a certain amount of money, food or cloth as compensation, but the amount of such compensation is usually not much and is just a symbolic consolation.

More importantly, the families of deceased civilians were exempted from taxes and labor service for a certain period of time.

This can, to a certain extent, alleviate the economic burden faced by the families of civilians due to the loss of labor force, allowing their families to make a living relatively easily for a certain period of time.

In fact, behind every war, there are a large number of broken families.

There is no such thing as death in war.

Chongrenfang, Changsun Mansion.

In the hall, Changsun Wuji's expression was uncertain.

Today, at the imperial government office, the Shangshu Province official residence.

He got the news from Xu Jingzong, the Imperial Secretary.

Your Majesty is indeed arranging for Zhang Ananda to conduct a secret investigation.

As for what the investigation is about, it is unknown.

In his early years, Xu Jingzong joined the Wagang Army and served as Li Mi's secretary, managing documents together with Wei Zheng.

He has a very loud reputation in the literary world and was formerly a scholar in the Qin Palace.

At the beginning of this year, he completed the writing of "Wude Shilu" and "Zhenguan Shilu", and was granted the title of Gaoyang County Man and served as the Inspector of the Yellow Gate Minister.

The official position of Huangmen Shilang is to serve the emperor.

Responsible for conveying the emperor's edicts, answering the emperor's inquiries, participating in important decision-making processes of the court, and coordinating government affairs with the Secretariat, the Chancellery and other institutions.

It is equivalent to the concept of a personal secretary in later generations.

Therefore, some of Zhang Ananda's movements can be easily known.

Historically, Changsun Wuji was framed and exiled to Qianzhou. The person who framed him was Xu Jingzong.

Later, under the pressure of Xu Jingzong's followers, Changsun Wuji hanged himself in Qianzhou.

However, at this point in time, Xu Jingzong had not yet developed. Li Shimin was in power, the political situation was clear, there were many wise ministers in the court, and there was strict control over forming factions and pursuing personal interests.

Although Xu Jingzong had some followers, they were only a small group and did not have much influence in the court.

Later, he was promoted by Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, and his career continued to rise.

Xu Jingzong had a characteristic, which was greed for money.

Changsun Wuji spent some money and confirmed from Xu Jingzong that His Majesty was investigating the Crown Prince's rebellion.

"Master, the eldest son is here." The servant reported.

"Let him come over."

"Yes, Master."

Changsun Chong is the eldest son of Changsun Wuji, but he is very different from Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji was a member of the Xianbei tribe and wore Hu clothing for a long time.

But Chang Sun Chong preferred the round-necked robe of scholars.

"Father."

Chang Sun Chong bowed and saluted.

Changsun Wuji frowned and asked, "How are you getting along with the King of Jin recently?"

Chang Sun Chong felt helpless. He guessed that his father was looking for him because of this matter.

There were many rumors about him and Prince of Jin in Chang'an, which led to misunderstandings.

"Prince Jin is Changle's younger brother. Changle loved Prince Jin the most when he was alive, so he has become closer to him recently. There is no other intention."

"If my father thinks it is inappropriate, I will be more careful in the future."

Chang Sun Chong knew that his father was a member of the prince's party. He made a lot of money from the Bingshopu business and also invested in the prince's coal mine, but his father's shares were withdrawn by His Majesty.

In Chang Sun Chong's view, his father wanted him to avoid suspicion.

"Do not."

Changsun Wuji shook his head slightly.

"I called you here to tell you that you should get closer to King Jin."

Chang Sun Chong was shocked: "Father, why is this happening?"

I was shocked because my father's words "ha" had a strong political connotation.

Princess Changle had a good relationship with Li Zhi before, and it was not because of her death that Changsun Chong got to know Li Zhi.

But before that, I deliberately avoided it.

This is also because the Prince of Jin was exiled to a fiefdom.

Because of their longing for Princess Changle, Changsun Chong and Li Zhi felt a sense of sympathy for each other, and they would often recall the past of Princess Changle together.

But taking the initiative to get close to others has a very different meaning.

Zhang Sun Chong subconsciously guessed, "Could it be that something happened to the Crown Prince?"

Chang Sun Wuji did not answer directly, but shook his head slightly: "Some things are still uncertain, and you don't need to know them. Knowing too much is not good for you."

"Don't worry about the rumors. Just make friends with King Jin."

Zhang Sun Wuji was a man of great insight. He seemed to be a staunch supporter of the prince's party, but in fact he was not personally involved in the struggle between the prince and the king of Wei for the throne. He did not tell Zhang Sun Chong because he did not want his son to be involved.

But advance preparation is still necessary.

Chang Sun Chong hesitated for a moment, but said, "Father, the prince's reputation is at its peak. Even if there are some mistakes, it will not change."

Changsun Wuji didn't want to say more: "Don't ask so many questions, just do as I say."

Although he had some ideas, he had not yet reached the point where he supported Prince Jin in his bid for the throne.

The most crucial thing here is your Majesty's attitude.

The prince is so powerful and controls the military power. Isn't Your Majesty afraid of him?

What if he had made great achievements on the Liaodong battlefield?

Although no one thought that the prince could make much contribution in the eastern expedition to Goryeo.

"Yes, father."

Chang Sun Chong felt that his father might have been deceived by a villain.

How could the prince be deposed?

The Prince of Jin is very powerful now, but all this power means nothing to the Crown Prince.

For example, the current Right Jinwu General Lu Tong is a member of the Prince's Party.

The King of Jin could only let it go and could not suppress it.

Although General Su Dingfang of the Left Jinwu Guard is gone, his official position remains.

Although the Prince of Jin seems to be in control of the Left and Right Jinwu Guards, he is actually still under the power of the Crown Prince.

Among the four Jinwu generals, two are the prince's men, which means that half of the real power has been taken away.

Chang Sun Chong was not optimistic about Prince Jin.
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Li Zhi actually didn't think highly of himself.

But after the crown prince and King Wei left Chang'an, he became the only legitimate son in Chang'an.

Li Zhi's status was indeed greatly improved.

Li Shimin couldn't say that he didn't like his son, Li Zhi was also very well-behaved and sensible.

It’s just that my preference for King Wei is a little lacking.

But now Li Zhi is the only legitimate son around him, so naturally he pays more attention to him.

Li Zhi also wanted to seize the throne.

At least I thought about it secretly at night.

But he knew that his current glory was based on the fact that the Crown Prince and the King of Wei did not return to Chang'an.

Once the Crown Prince and the King of Wei come back, he will still be forced into a corner.

As the left and right Jinwu Guards, Li Zhi is vigorously promoting the methods previously used to deal with old cases in Wannian County.

In a short period of time, a large number of criminals were arrested and the cases were closed.

It also greatly enhanced Li Zhi's reputation in Chang'an.

Taiji Palace, in a courtyard.

Wu Zhao snuggled in Li Zhi's arms.

Frequent meetings made their relationship heat up quickly, and they felt quite lovey-dovey.

As the saying goes, domestic flowers are not as fragrant as wild flowers.

This feeling of adultery gave Li Zhi a different kind of excitement.

"It would be fun to go hunting with you."

Wu Zhao said softly.

This made Li Zhi look forward to the scene of the two of them riding on the same horse.

But then his face darkened again.

Because he knew that this was impossible to do.

"Prince Jin, the time has come."

Wu Zhao was not surprised that she didn't hear a reply. She glanced at the incense on the incense burner and spoke after coming out of Li Zhi's arms.

The departure of the person in his arms made Li Zhi feel a sense of loss.

But he also understood that the time had come.

In order to better control time and reduce the risk of exposure, Wu Zhao proposed a stick of incense.

That is, every time they meet, they light a stick of incense first, and when the incense stick is burned out, they separate.

Wu Zhao was not a psychologist, and it is impossible for her to say that she had studied the content of later psychology.

But the ability to control a man like this is something she was born with.

The specific time would make Li Zhi cherish every breath with her even more. He would always look at the incense on the incense burner involuntarily, calculating how long it would take before he left.

How could an inexperienced young man like Li Zhi resist such means?

Li Zhi had come into contact with many women, all of them were beautiful women.

But his experience in dating is completely blank. After all, he doesn't need to date anyone.

This feeling of being loved but not being able to get it always worries him.

What you can't get will always be in turmoil.

"When Prince Jin comes next time, the matter should be resolved." Wu Zhao suddenly said before leaving.

Li Zhi was stunned for a moment, then he remembered: "You mean about Eunuch Zhang."

"He conducts secret investigations."

Wu Zhao replied: "Yes, this is definitely a big deal."

Li Zhi actually didn't feel very interested.

After all, although the affairs in the palace are big, what can they have to do with him?

At most, it's just some gossip and curiosity.

Wu Zhao noticed Li Zhi's expression and said, "This matter may be related to the prince."

"Eunuch Zhang is investigating people related to the Eastern Palace."

Li Zhi was shocked when he heard this and couldn't help but say, "How dare Eunuch Zhang do this?"

Li Zhi had no information channels.

Although many people knew about the Crown Prince's intention to rebel last time, Li Zhi was not among them.

He has no news channels of his own.

In other words, Li Zhi had no idea that the crown prince might be plotting a rebellion.

Li Zhi also participated in the ancestral temple sacrifices, but in his eyes, it was just a manifestation of his father's love for the prince.

What he heard was that the prince was ill and his father had sent people to visit him many times.

"Of course Eunuch Zhang doesn't dare to do that. This is authorized by His Majesty."

"Without your majesty's consent, even three heads of Eunuch Zhang would not be enough to chop off."

Wu Zhao said calmly, with a very affirmative tone.

Li Zhi was puzzled: "Why would Father suddenly want to investigate the Crown Prince? Hasn't the Crown Prince already gone on the Eastern Expedition?"

Wu Zhao explained: "It is easier to investigate because the prince is not in Chang'an."

"Your Majesty, check the Crown Prince. This may have something to do with the King of Wei."

"It may even involve Fang Xuanling, who is the Grand Secretary of the Wei Wang Academy of Literature."

Hearing that even Fang Xuanling was involved, Li Zhi couldn't help but hold his breath.

This must be a huge deal.

He murmured, "What on earth did the prince do to make His Majesty suddenly investigate him?"

Wu Zhao rolled her eyes and said, "What do you think the prince should do to arouse His Majesty's fear?"

After saying this, Wu Zhao stood up and left.

After waiting for a while, Li Zhi left.

The two are still very cautious and will not appear together or leave together.

On the way back, Li Zhi couldn't help thinking.

What exactly did the prince do?

After such deep thought, a possibility gradually emerged in King Jin's mind.

His face was filled with shock.

Could it be that the prince is plotting a rebellion?
Thinking of this possibility, something called ambition suddenly arose in Li Zhi's heart.

(End of this chapter)