My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 290 Father is the eternal sinner
The textile mills stopped working.

Because the cotton has run out.

Cotton is harvested once a year, which means that new cotton can only be picked in September next year.

Nowadays, cotton-padded jackets have been sold at sky-high prices.

You should know that an ordinary silk robe nowadays costs only about 600 Wen.

But nowadays, a cotton-padded jacket costs up to three guan, or three thousand wen.

That's it, there's still a price but no market.

"Your Highness, don't you need to stop it?"

In the Imperial City of Luoyang, Wen Zhong reported the news after receiving it, and then asked.

Li Chengqian shook his head: "No need, let them speculate, the higher the price the better, don't worry about it."

Li Chengqian has always stopped speculation and profiteering, especially those grain merchants who hoarded goods and made fortunes from disasters, and he cracked down on them severely.

Wen Zhong also understood the prince's thoughts, so he asked this question.

But this time, Li Chengqian had no intention of intervening deliberately.

It is also because of the lack of action that many merchants have become bolder and the prices of cotton-padded clothes have been raised layer by layer.

There will always be such people in any era.

It existed in the past, it exists now, and it will exist in the future.

The reason for not intervening is that cotton clothes are expensive, which is a good thing from more aspects.

The promotion of cotton planting has not been very smooth from a macro perspective.

From the perspective of ordinary people, cotton is not a traditional major crop, and they lack sufficient understanding and experience in its planting, cultivation, management and other technologies. In contrast, they are more familiar with the planting rules of traditional crops such as wheat and rice. For unfamiliar cotton planting, they are worried that the yield will be poor due to inadequate technology, thus suffering economic losses.

In addition, growing cotton requires certain costs, including seed purchase, land reclamation, fertilizer use, irrigation, etc.

The growth cycle of cotton is relatively long, and it takes a long time from sowing to harvesting. During this period, it faces various natural risks, such as drought, floods, pests and diseases, etc. If there is a natural disaster or an outbreak of pests and diseases, cotton production may be reduced or even completely lost.

However, ordinary people often cannot bear such risks. They prefer to plant crops with short growth cycles and relatively low risks to ensure basic living needs.

In addition, the land and energy are limited. If cotton is planted, there will be no way to plant grain. Naturally, priority will be given to planting crops that meet their own food needs.

Even if the prince is there to back it up, the people will naturally be unwilling if it is not enforced.

But now it is different. The price of cotton clothes is so high, so the price of cotton will naturally rise as well. In this way, planting cotton has become a low-cost, high-return crop.

There is even a high possibility that you will become rich overnight.

Under such circumstances, people will naturally be willing to grow cotton, which is the same as changing rice to mulberry.

Time quickly came to October.

It was then that the three-month deadline set by Li Shimin’s edict arrived.

Li Chengqian didn't go to Chang'an before because the three-month deadline had not yet arrived, but what about now?

Changsun Wuji has been in Luoyang City, helping to handle Luoyang's government affairs.

this day.

Arrived at the palace.

"Your Highness, the three-month deadline has come. Please ask the Crown Prince to return to Chang'an."

Changsun Wuji bowed and spoke in a sincere tone.

As a member of the prince's party, Changsun Wuji hoped that the prince could inherit the throne smoothly rather than by rebelling.

Li Chengqian was silent for a moment.

The hall was eerily quiet.

a long time.

Li Chengqian said calmly: "What if I want to say no."

Zhang Sun Wuji sighed and said, "Your Highness, why is it so?"

"I know what your Highness is worried about. Although your Majesty has known about your rebellion, your Majesty has no intention of pursuing your Highness."

"Your Highness has made great contributions and presented a coal factory to Your Majesty to fill the treasury. Your Majesty is proud of Your Highness, so how could he harm Your Highness?"

"Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs. Your Majesty is a man of character, so he will not embarrass the Crown Prince for this."

"When your highness returns to Chang'an, apologize to His Majesty, and the crown prince will still be the crown prince."

At this point, there was no need for Changsun Wuji to play tricks any more, so he just came straight to the point and spoke frankly.

Hearing this, Li Chengqian smiled faintly and said, "When did I present the coal mine to my father? Didn't he just snatch it away while I was on the Eastern Expedition?"

"Besides, even you, my uncle, know about the rebellion. Who in the court and the country doesn't know about my rebellion?"

"Let's not talk about what the emperor thinks for now. If I return to Chang'an, the King of Wei will fan the flames and make the rebellion known to everyone."

"What should Father do then?"

Changsun Wuji was silent for a moment.

He also knew that what the prince said was the truth.

"Your Highness, because you believe in His Majesty."

"After all, he is your father."

"I can vouch for your majesty."

Changsun Wuji persuaded.

"Hahaha!!!"

Li Chengqian, who had been calm, suddenly burst into laughter.

"guarantee?"

"Uncle, what guarantee can you give?"

Li Chengqian stood up, limped down, and came to Changsun Wuji.

"Since ancient times, the fight for the throne has always been ruthless."

"Fathers and sons killing each other, and brothers killing each other, how common it is."

"Uncle, you must know why our father favors the King of Wei, right? Is it just because Qingque was adopted by our fourth uncle?"

"Just because of this matter, Qingque was allowed to leave his post, usurp the throne and receive more rewards than me, the crown prince?"

"No, it's not just that. It's because my father is worried that his power will be affected, so he pushed Qingque up to challenge me."

"So, if I return to Chang'an, what should father do?"

"Let me tell you, uncle."

"First, my father will reward me with money, fame, and even grant amnesty to the whole world, so that everyone will think that he loves me, the crown prince, the most."

"But my military power and the money I got from Liaodong will be taken away."

"The new policy in Liaodong will be stopped and placed under the jurisdiction of the imperial court."

"Oh, the most important thing is of course the Thunderbolt Fire. The formula must be handed over. How could my father be willing to let me keep such an important thing?"

"I should submit to my father, be a prince and wait for his arrangements. If so, I may be able to wait until the day my father dies and inherit the throne."

"But, can we really wait?" "Perhaps in a few years, my father will remember my rebellion, especially when he is old, ten or even dozens of years later, and weak and sick, he will worry about me and rebel again."

"Haha, who knows what will happen."

"Uncle, do you think I should go back?"

Facing the prince's questioning, Changsun Wuji said with some difficulty: "Your Majesty would not do this."

"This is just your highness's speculation."

Changsun Wuji looked at Li Chengqian, his eyes full of worry and anxiety. He knew that the prince's concerns were not unreasonable, but he still held a glimmer of hope, hoping to persuade Li Chengqian to return to Chang'an to maintain the prince's position and the stability of the Tang Dynasty.

"Your Highness, His Majesty's love for you comes from the bottom of his heart. Even if there are some misunderstandings and conflicts, they are by no means unsolvable."

"Occupying Luoyang, raising troops and confronting Your Majesty is not a long-term solution. Once a war really breaks out, the people will suffer, and the foundation of the Tang Dynasty will be shaken."

Changsun Wuji advised earnestly.

Li Chengqian sneered and paced slowly: "Uncle, you always say that my father loves me, but these years, I have been walking on thin ice as a prince. The King of Wei is watching covetously, and my father favors him. How can I feel at ease? Now I have a large army and a weapon like Thunderbolt Fire. If I go back to Chang'an, wouldn't it be a trap for me?"

Zhang Sun Wuji frowned slightly, thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty's favor to the King of Wei over the years may be due to the consideration of balancing the court, but his expectations for you have never changed. The Crown Prince has made great contributions in the Eastern Expedition, and His Majesty also appreciates it. As long as you can put aside your prejudices, return to Chang'an, and be honest with His Majesty, everything can still be turned around."

Li Chengqian stopped and stared at Changsun Wuji sharply: "Uncle, you keep saying that my father will not do anything to me, but if I go back, my military power will be taken away, and Liaodong's hard work will be wasted. How can I protect myself then? If the King of Wei takes the opportunity to attack me again, how should I respond?"

"You say I'm plotting a rebellion, but I'm the crown prince and I follow tradition. The future of the Tang Dynasty will be mine."

"Why did I rebel?"

"I rebelled to save myself."

"Now, I have escaped from the cage, the sky is high and the birds fly freely, the sea is wide and the fish jump freely."

"You want me to go there now and live in fear and fear every day?"

"Now, I will disobey your order and wait and see what the emperor will do."

At this point, Changsun Wuji also knew that the prince had made up his mind.

But I still have to keep persuading you.

"Your Majesty, although he has some favor towards the King of Wei, it is also a helpless move. The forces of various parties in the court are complicated and intricate. Your Majesty needs to balance all parties in order to maintain the stability of the Tang Dynasty."

"And Your Highness is the true crown prince in His Majesty's heart."

Li Chengqian raised his head and looked at Changsun Wuji coldly: "Uncle, please stop wasting your breath. I have made up my mind and will not return to Chang'an."

Zhang Sun Wuji took a step forward and said anxiously: "Your Highness, think about those ministers who support you. They all hope that the prince can inherit the throne in an orthodox way."

"If the prince disobeys the order and confronts Your Majesty, they will also be in a dilemma."

"Moreover, although the fifty thousand elite troops coming from Liaodong are brave, how long can they last compared to your Majesty's army?"

"Uncle, you don't have to threaten me with these." Li Chengqian sneered, "The thunderbolt in my hand is enough to scare any enemy who comes to attack."

"Your Highness, you are playing with fire and getting burned!" Zhang Sun Wuji said with great sorrow, "Once the war breaks out, all lives will be lost and the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty will be destroyed. Does the prince want to become a sinner for all eternity?"

Li Chengqian sneered: "It was my father who started the war, so how come I have become the eternal sinner?"

"As the old saying goes, if a son is not taught well, it is the fault of his father."

"If it really comes to that, uncle, how do you think the history books should write about it? Should it be about the fault of me, the Shengrui Crown Prince of Nongze, or the fault of my father who imprisoned his father, murdered his brother, and even wanted to exterminate his son?"

Changsun Wuji was choked by Li Chengqian's words and was speechless for a moment.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has absolutely no intention of killing his son. How can the Crown Prince speculate about His Majesty in this way?"

"Your Majesty has fought all his life and conquered this vast territory for the Tang Dynasty. All he wants is a stable country and prosperity for his descendants. The Crown Prince is your Majesty's eldest son and the heir to the throne of the Tang Dynasty. Your Majesty has high hopes for the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian disagreed. He turned his back and said coldly, "High hopes? If you really have high hopes for me, why would you suppress me everywhere and favor the King of Wei?"

"Uncle, please don't make excuses for my father anymore. I have made up my mind."

"From today on, Luoyang will be my base. I will accumulate strength here. If my father insists on forcing me, then we will fight."

Changsun Wuji felt sad to see Li Chengqian so determined, but he also knew that it would be useless to say more at this moment.

He let out a long sigh, bowed deeply to Li Chengqian's back, then turned and left, his steps heavy as if he was carrying a thousand-pound burden.

The prince is stubborn.

But how can Your Majesty give in?

After Changsun Wuji left.

Wen Zhong asked carefully, "Your Highness, are you going to let Changsun Situ leave like this?"

Li Chengqian said: "Let him go, this day will come eventually."

After speaking, there was a pause.

"I want to inspect the Gunpowder Department."

Wen Zhong bowed and said, "Yes, Your Highness."

Li Chengqian knew very well that given Li Shimin's personality, he would never allow him to occupy Luoyang so easily.

A war is inevitable.

The only question is whether to fight one battle or many battles.

Li Chengqian had already made preparations for this when he was in Liaodong.

Why was Liaodong Tongzhi Bank established? Was it just to issue paper money?

No, there is another crucial link.

That's copper, lots of copper.

Because according to today's technological standards, the best and safest material for artillery is still copper.

Iron cannons are naturally not something that can be made because they corrode too quickly and have a high scrap rate.

As for refined iron, there is no way to build so many blast furnaces in a short period of time. Moreover, the production cost of refined iron is too high, and it is more important to forge it to make armor.

Taking all factors into consideration, copper cannon is the most cost-effective method.

Since we already have granular gunpowder, the production of copper cannons is naturally not difficult.

The reason why cannons were not made before was because Li Chengqian was in the Eastern Palace at the time and could not get so much copper.

Moreover, the production of artillery is too expensive and cannot be hidden from others.

But now, the time is right.

No one knew that in the military camp, in addition to the development of gunpowder, a large number of craftsmen were secretly arranged to make cannons.

Large quantities of copper coins were melted down, with the furnaces fuelled by high quality coal.

One artillery piece after another is already under production.

The delay of these two months was to produce a sufficient number of artillery pieces.

When the war.

There was a barrage of artillery fire.

At that time, no matter how elite Li Shimin's army was, what could they use to resist?

Li Chengqian would not give Li Shimin the opportunity to besiege Luoyang.

(End of this chapter)