My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 283 King Wei: Father, why haven’t you abolished the crown prince yet?

The night was deep and the city of Luoyang was shrouded in silence. Li Chengqian stood in the palace, looking up in the direction of Chang'an with a deep and complex gaze.

The breeze blew gently, ruffling his sleeves. Li Chengqian knew clearly that his series of actions in Luoyang had already broken the original power structure in Chang'an, and he had no intention of returning to Chang'an.

At the same time, in Chang'an City, the atmosphere in the mansion of Wei Wang Li Tai was depressing and suffocating.

In the study, Li Tai was pacing back and forth anxiously, his face full of anger and unwillingness.

After painstakingly planning for a long time, he thought that after Crown Prince Li Chengqian was recalled to Chang'an, the situation would develop in a direction favorable to him and he would be able to take the opportunity to ascend to the throne. However, now that the crown prince has established a firm foothold in Luoyang, all his previous plans have come to nothing.

"King Wei, calm down."

Chai Lingwu advised cautiously that as Li Tai's trusted adviser and having followed Li Tai for many years, he knew Li Tai's thoughts very well.

"How can I calm down!"

Li Tai suddenly stopped and slammed his fist on the table, causing the tea set on the table to shake.

"What about Li Chengqian? He is just a man with a disabled leg, but he still sits firmly on the throne of the crown prince. Why does father still protect him so much and delay the matter of deposing the crown prince?"

Chai Lingwu frowned slightly, thought for a moment and then said slowly: "King Wei, this matter is complicated. Your Majesty's tolerance of the prince is not just out of father-son affection. The thunderbolt in the prince's hand is the key."

"Humph, how could I not know the power of this Thunderbolt!"

Li Tai sneered, a trace of resentment flashed in his eyes: "In the Liaodong battlefield, the power of the Thunderbolt Fire shocked the world. The Liaodong City, which the Sui Dynasty's million-strong army failed to conquer, was easily conquered by it. How could I not know how powerful it is!"

Speaking of this, Li Tai recalled his shameful escape from Liaodong.

Although the prince might consider his reputation and not take action against him, Li Tai dared not take the risk.

We finally had the chance before, but now the prince has fled to Luoyang and is not taking any action.

Chai Lingwu nodded and said solemnly: "Since the King of Wei is well aware of its power, he should understand your majesty's concerns."

"Your Majesty, as a horse-riding emperor, has an extraordinary keen sense of the strength of military forces."

"Your Majesty knows that if the Crown Prince rebels, with this Thunderbolt in hand, even he and General Li Jing will not be able to win easily."

"Even if we can achieve the final victory, the Tang Dynasty will be devastated."

There is one more thing Chai Lingwu didn't say. If that time really comes, Your Majesty and the Crown Prince will both be sinners for all eternity.

Even the Tang Dynasty followed the previous dynasty and perished in the second generation.

Your Majesty doesn't dare to gamble, and the Crown Prince obviously doesn't dare to gamble either, so the situation is at a stalemate.

Li Tai's face became increasingly gloomy. He walked to the window, looked at the dark night outside, and remained silent for a long time.

After a long while, he finally asked, "Tell me, is there really no way to deal with this Thunderbolt?"

"It's not that there is no solution, but we need to think long-term."

Chai Lingwu said: "Your Majesty established the Gunpowder Department and summoned many Taoists just to imitate the Thunderbolt Fire in order to suppress the Crown Prince."

"However, the Gunpowder Department's research and development has not been going smoothly. As far as I know, although they have initially mastered the method of gunpowder, it is far less powerful than the prince's thunderbolt."

Chai Lingwu has been paying attention to the news about the Gunpowder Bureau, including the development of Thunderbolt Fire.

Even Chai Lingwu knows it better than Your Majesty.

Because once the drug is successfully developed and the formula is obtained, the King of Wei can seize the throne again.

"Why is this so?"

Li Tai turned around and stared at Chai Lingwu with a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

Chai Lingwu explained: "The production method of the prince's thunderbolt is extremely complicated. The proportion of gunpowder, the temperature and time of production all have strict requirements. If there is a slight deviation, the power will be greatly reduced."

"Moreover, according to the Taoist priests of the Gunpowder Department, the prince's thunderbolt may have other auxiliary items to enhance its power, but they have not yet found out."

"Your Majesty has personally seen the gunpowder developed by the Gunpowder Department. Compared with the prince's Thunderbolt Fire, there is a world of difference."

Li Tai snorted coldly: "Humph, it seems that the prince really has some tricks. However, just based on this thunderbolt, father doesn't dare to depose him?"

Li Tai didn't care about the suffering of the people. He just wanted his father and the prince to fight.

As long as the war breaks out, the crown prince's position will undoubtedly be abolished, and he will be able to legitimately inherit the crown prince's throne.

As for the life and death of soldiers and the suffering of the people, what does it have to do with him?

In Li Tai's heart, there has never been such a thing as the common people.

Chai Lingwu bowed slightly and said, "King Wei, this is only one aspect."

"The prince's reputation among the people should not be underestimated."

"It is said that Luoyang opened a textile factory, developed a new textile machine, and planted a large amount of cotton in preparation for making cotton cloth."

"Once successful, the price of cloth will surely drop, and people all over the world will be able to wear new clothes."

"Such achievements have won the hearts of the people. If Your Majesty rashly deposes the Crown Prince, it may cause dissatisfaction among the people of the world."

Because of the Quyuan Plow, the prince had been conferred the title of Prince Nongze Shengrui.

If the cotton planting and cotton cloth weaving this time are really true as the news from Luoyang says, it will be a greater achievement than the curved plow.

Chai Lingwu didn't dare to say anything, one was for food and the other for clothes.

If it were in ancient times, such an achievement would be enough to make one a saint, comparable to Confucius and Mencius.

It is hard to say now. After all, the prince has offended almost all the noble families in the Tang Dynasty, and they all intend to suppress the prince's reputation.

Otherwise, His Majesty will not know how to deal with the Crown Prince.

Li Tai's face became increasingly ugly. He paced back and forth in the room, the anger in his heart growing more and more intense.

"Am I just going to watch Li Chengqian continue to sit firmly on the throne of the crown prince?"

Li Tai said through gritted teeth.

Chai Lingwu pondered for a moment and said, "King Wei, we cannot act rashly now. The prince has the Thunderbolt in his hands and is deeply loved by the people. We must take a long-term view."

"Take a long-term view? How to take a long-term view?" Li Tai asked impatiently.

Chai Lingwu thought for a moment and said, "If I can get the formula of Thunderbolt Fire from the Crown Prince, it will be worth it even if it costs a huge price."

"When the time comes, the King of Wei will present this recipe to Your Majesty, which will surely make Your Majesty very happy."

Wei Wang Li Tai frowned and said, "It is said that the prince hid the place where the gunpowder was made deep among the army. How could he get it?"

It's not that I haven't thought about this. Ever since the Thunderbolt Fire resounded through the Liaodong sky on the Liaodong battlefield, many people have been eyeing the Thunderbolt Fire.

Without saying anything else, Li Tai knew that his father had sent people into the East Palace many times to search for clues.

Unfortunately, to no avail so far.

On the prince's side, Thunderbolts appeared everywhere, but there was no news about their production, and it was completely impossible to start.

Chai Lingwu reminded: "King Wei, do you remember the ghostwriter on King Jin's side?"

Li Tai replied impatiently: "They are just some gangsters, what abilities can they have?"

Chai Lingwu said: "King Wei should not underestimate these people from the Jianghu. They always have some skills that are better than others. Previously, King Jin relied on these people from the Jianghu to deal with the files in Chang'an."

"It's just a matter of spending some money. As long as the money is enough, there are many people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for it."

"It's impossible that the Crown Prince's wall is completely impenetrable."

"Besides, even if they fail, the King of Wei won't lose anything."

Li Tai nodded. There was nothing he could do about it.

It's a solution after all.

After thinking for a while, he asked, "How much do you think is appropriate?"

Chai Lingwu hesitated for a moment and then asked, "One hundred gold coins?"

Li Tai's face turned cold, and he said, "Just one hundred gold coins, plus a thousand acres of good farmland."

"As long as you can bring me the formula for the Human Torch, a little money doesn't matter."

"Tell those people in the martial arts world that in addition to this, within the scope of my ability, I can also agree to one more condition from them." Upon hearing this, Chai Lingwu echoed, "With such a reward offered by the King of Wei, I think a lot of people in the martial arts world will go through fire and water to find the secret recipe for the King of Wei."

Li Tai nodded: "I hope so. Compared to the position of crown prince, this is nothing."
-

The news that King Wei offered a reward for the formula of Thunderbolt Fire spread like a gust of wind, quickly causing a huge wave in the martial arts world.

Of course, Li Tai naturally did not dare to blatantly offer a reward for the formula of Thunderbolt Fire in the prince's hands.

The reward is to invite talented people from the public to develop the formula of Thunderbolt Fire.

Pingkang Square.

All major pubs.

The news spread quickly.

Chai Lingwu naturally did not simply spread the news. For such matters, the Five Surnames and Seven Families would naturally be happy to lend a hand.

"Have you heard? The King of Wei offered a reward of 100 gold and 1,000 acres of good farmland, and also promised to meet one condition after the success, just to get the prince's thunderbolt formula!"

A big bearded man took a sip of wine and spoke loudly.

"Don't talk nonsense, that's the prince."

Someone immediately objected.

The big man quickly apologized: "I made a mistake, sorry, sorry."

Changing the subject, "The reward is real. Whoever has the recipe will receive a hundred gold coins and a thousand acres of good farmland. Not only in this life, but also in the next."

Gold ingots and silver ingots are both large-denomination currencies.

Someone who didn't understand asked, "How much is a hundred gold coins?"

Someone immediately explained: "My goodness, that's 500,000 coins, not to mention a thousand acres of good farmland."

Someone chuckled and said, "There is also the promise of the King of Wei. I also know if the King of Wei can give me a young lady if I ask him for one."

Others sneered, "How dare you be so timid even in your dreams?"

"Let alone one, I'd give you ten young ladies. I wonder if your small body can handle it."

Someone laughed out loud: "With 500,000 coins and a thousand acres of good land, there is no shortage of young ladies to be found. Right here in Pingkangfang, you can enter the bridal chamber every day and be the bridegroom every night."

The pub instantly exploded, and the already noisy pub became even noisier.

Everyone was talking about it, some were eager to try it, while others were hesitant.

The words may be spoken unintentionally, but the listener may take it seriously.

Such a reward is indeed too horrifying.

Anyone with a little bit of common sense knows that Thunderbolt Fire is not so easy to develop.

What the King of Wei meant was nothing more than secretly offering a reward to anyone who stole the prince's thunderbolt formula.

Most people just listened and didn't take it seriously.

After all, he is the prince.

Even if you steal the formula of Thunderbolt, you have to be alive to get it, not alive to spend it.

The future of the Tang Dynasty will belong to the prince.

As the old saying goes, people die for money and birds die for food.

There are always some desperate people who have ideas.

In secret, the waves were surging.
-

The news from Chang'an soon reached the palace.

After listening to this, Li Shimin did not express any opinion.

Of course he knew that Qingque was going to send someone to steal the prince's recipe, but if they could really get it, it would be much easier for Li Shimin.

After all, Qingque is different from the prince. If Qingque gets the recipe, he can only present it to himself.

The Gunpowder Bureau's research and development was too slow, and it was unclear when they would be able to develop the prince's thunderbolt.

Besides, Qingque’s bounty did not explicitly mention the prince.

Naturally, there was no need for Li Shimin to scold or stop them.

Obviously, when Chai Lingwu said this, he also guessed what His Majesty was thinking.

It is impossible to say that Your Majesty is not afraid of the Prince's Thunderbolt Fire, otherwise you would not have set up the Gunpowder Bureau.

the other side.

Prince of Jin Li Zhi naturally also got the news.

After hearing this, he quickly found an excuse to go see his father.

In fact, he went to Wu Zhao to discuss countermeasures.

In the palace courtyard.

The wind rustled the flowers, plants and trees.

Prince of Jin Li Zhi came hurriedly and saw Mei Niang already waiting in the pavilion, with a trace of anxiety on his face.

"Mei Niang must have heard about it."

"This reward offered by the King of Wei really worries me."

Li Zhi walked quickly to Wu Zhao with a frown on his face.

"Why is King Jin so flustered? Sit down first and talk slowly."

Wu Zhao had a reassuring smile on her face.

After Li Zhi sat down, he calmed down and said, "You also know that if the formula of Thunderbolt Fire is obtained by the King of Wei and presented to my father, his status will be greatly improved. How should I deal with it?"

Wu Zhao shook her head slightly: "What the King of Wei said is absolutely true."

"But the King of Wei's move may seem clever, but it is actually reckless. How could the Crown Prince not be prepared?"

"How can a few people from Jianghu do anything to the prince?"

The Luoyang Imperial Palace was surrounded by high walls and was heavily guarded. It was simply unrealistic to sneak in and steal.

The military camp is an important place. If you get close to it, you will die.

Do you really think that scouts are vegetarians?

"That being said, what if they really succeed?"

Li Zhi was still a little worried.

Wu Zhao comforted him, "Prince Jin, don't forget that although His Majesty has not expressed his opinion, he must be weighing the pros and cons in his heart."

"The thunderbolt in the crown prince's hand is a double-edged sword. Your Majesty is afraid of its power, but also needs it for the Tang Dynasty."

"Then in your opinion, how should we deal with it?" Li Zhi looked at Mei Niang and asked.

Wu Zhao thought for a moment and said, "Don't worry about the gunpowder issue. Even if the King of Wei succeeds, what will happen? Will Your Majesty definitely depose the Crown Prince?"

"The Crown Prince will not surrender just because Your Majesty has the formula for Thunderbolt Fire."

"Luoyang's defense is not that simple."

"Perhaps the King of Jin should pay more attention to what the Crown Prince is doing in Luoyang."

Prince of Jin Li Zhi was also a smart man. After being reminded, he immediately realized what was going on.

"Mei Niang, you mean the textile factory?"

(End of this chapter)