My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 293: When it comes to rebellion, can there be any hesitation?
Li Chengqian knew it very well.

Some things cannot be resolved by simple political games.

And this battle with Chang'an will have to be fought sooner or later.

There is no way to avoid it.

Because the proud Emperor Taizong of Tang would not bow to his son like that.

And it was impossible for Li Chengqian to admit defeat.

To admit defeat means to hand over the rest of your life to Li Shimin.

This is definitely unreliable.

After operating for so long, they have accumulated so much manpower, energy, money, food, and armaments.

If you give up at this time, you might as well commit suicide to save yourself the trouble.

In the military camp.

Morale is high.

Most of the soldiers looked excited.

Li Chengqian was very satisfied.

Because most of these soldiers are not Han Chinese.

The average age is around 22 years old, which is the peak of the body and the most impulsive time.

Since its establishment, the Shenwu Army has recruited the most powerful soldiers in the army.

There is meat at every meal and you can eat your fill.

Strict discipline and the best armaments.

Now that he is in the interior of the Tang Dynasty, in a foreign land, he cannot be persuaded by anyone and will only obey the orders of the prince.

The reason for this is that Li Chengqian was worried about the situation of father and son fighting together.

After all, if there is a civil war, the soldiers under his command and the soldiers in Chang'an are likely to be relatives of the same clan.

If an imperial edict comes over there, they might surrender.

If that's the case, it would be really embarrassing.

In this era, the emperor's face is as important as the sky.

Especially Li Shimin.

If Li Shimin led the army in person.

Li Chengqian led the Tang Dynasty's soldiers and they all knelt on the ground before the battle even started. How could he talk about clearing the court?

But now, the situation is completely different.

Almost all of the previous Tang soldiers were assigned to the Public Security Department to patrol the city.

Even the personal guard battalion had their identities investigated.

Anyone who has a close relationship with Chang'an will basically be arranged separately.

Li Chengqian didn't dare to gamble.

Because once you lose the bet, you really have nothing.

What he lost was not only the position of crown prince, but also his own life.

Of course, in addition to this, Li Chengqian also left himself a way out.

Although the data on paper seems stable, what if something unexpected happens?

You have to know that in history, when Qin II died, there was an army of 100,000 besieging the city, and Hu Hai only found out about it.

Who says that absolute advantage can guarantee victory?

If we lose, that will be another deep mark in the history books.

Therefore, Li Chengqian has also prepared thousands of elite troops.

If something really went wrong in Luoyang, he would immediately return to Liaodong by boat, wait for Li Shimin to die, and then head south to capture the dragon.

In Luoyang City, the night was as dark as ink, shrouding the entire city in silence and mystery.

Li Dejian sat alone in the study. The letter from his father Li Jing in his hand had been stroked by him repeatedly, and the letter paper was slightly wrinkled, as if carrying his complicated and tangled mood at the moment.

Li Jing's letter was written with earnest words, and every word struck Li Dejian's heart like a heavy hammer.

"My son, the Crown Prince is now plotting rebellion. This is an act of great treason and will surely be despised by the people of the world."

"The foundation of the Tang Dynasty was not easy to come by. Your Majesty is wise and benevolent. As the crown prince's confidant, you must not be stubborn and go astray. You should abandon darkness and join the light to protect the honor of your family. Don't let your momentary stupidity bring you disaster..."

His father's words kept echoing in his mind. Li Dejian frowned tightly, his eyes full of pain and struggle.

He recalled his many years of friendship with Li Chengqian, the prince's trust and reliance on him, and his brother-like care for him.

At the beginning, Li Chengqian recruited him under his command without any restrictions and entrusted him with important tasks, giving him the opportunity to display his talents in this ever-changing court.

During those days of joint planning, they discussed ways to govern the country and worked together to realize their ambitions.

He saw Li Chengqian's great talent and strategy, and admired him in his heart.

Now, the prince is about to raise an army, how can he betray at the critical moment?
However, his father's words were like a sharp knife, piercing his conscience.

Rebellion is against the will of heaven. Once it fails, not only will your life be in danger, but your entire family will also be implicated.

Li Jing was the god of war of the Tang Dynasty. He made great military achievements for the Tang Dynasty throughout his life. His teachings were like a towering mountain, weighing on Li Dejian's heart.

He couldn't let his father down, and couldn't let the Li family's century-old reputation be ruined.

"The prince has been very kind to me, but my father's words are also reasonable. What should I do?"

Li Dejian muttered to himself, and his voice echoed in the silent study, sounding particularly desolate.

He stood up and paced back and forth, his steps heavy and slow, and every step seemed to be stepping on his heart.

Outside the window, the moonlight is like water, sprinkling on the flowers and plants in the courtyard, casting mottled shadows.

Li Dejian looked out the window, his thoughts drifting away.

He recalled that when he was a child, his father took him to ride horses and shoot arrows, and taught him the principles of life. At that time, his heart was full of respect and dependence on his father.

But now, his father stood against him, which made him feel extremely painful.

The prince wants to meet your majesty in battle.

He is not like this.

Can the arrow on the bow be shot at one's own father?

"If I betray the prince, how can I face him in the future? But if I insist on following the prince, how can I face my father and the accusations of the world?"

Li Dejian was torn between conscience and decision making.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, but he was unaware of it.

Just when I was falling into endless pain and entanglement, I heard a slight sound of footsteps outside the door.

Li Dejian was startled, quickly hid the letter in his arms, straightened his clothes, and asked, "Who?"

"Mr. Li, it's me."

A low voice came from outside the door, and Li Dejian recognized it as the guard beside the prince.

He took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and said, "Come in."

The guard walked into the study, knelt on one knee, and said respectfully: "Mr. Li, the prince wants to see you."

Li Dejian's heart tightened, and after hesitating for a moment, he said, "I understand. You can leave first. I will be there later."

After the guards left, Li Dejian fell into deep thought again.

He understood that the prince's summons meant that he had to make a decision as soon as possible.

If he chooses to follow the prince, he will embark on a bloody and dangerous road, becoming the enemy of his father and the people of the world.

But if he chooses to listen to his father and turn to the light, he will betray the prince's trust and become a traitor who is despised by everyone.

"Forget it, let's go see the prince first."

Li Dejian sighed deeply and decided in his heart to listen to the prince's thoughts first before making any plans.

He calmed himself down, strode out of the study, and headed towards the Luoyang Palace.

In the palace hall, the candlelight flickered, the light and shadow danced on the wall, and Li Chengqian looked calm.

After a long pause, he asked softly, "Wen Zhong, what do you think De Jian will decide?"

Wen Zhong, the prince's eunuch, is usually smart and clever, but at this moment he is stumped by this problem.

He was well aware of the deep friendship between Li Dejian and the prince, but he also understood the weight of Li Jing's letter.

After a slight hesitation, he reluctantly replied, "Mr. Li is definitely loyal to Your Highness."

Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes slightly, as if thinking about something, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, but there was no warmth in his smile: "It's just that, since ancient times, it has been difficult to be both loyal and filial."

"Dejian is a man of great loyalty and righteousness, so I trust him."

"But how could his father, Li Jing, tolerate his son following me on a path that is considered treason by the world?"

Wen Zhong lowered his head, not daring to respond easily, but just listened quietly to the prince's words.

Li Chengqian stood up and slowly walked to the window. Looking at the dark night outside, he continued, "I already knew that Li Jing sent someone to deliver a letter to Dejian. Although I don't know what the letter said, I can roughly guess it. Li Jing must be persuading Dejian to abandon me and return to the court to protect the reputation of his Li family."

Wen Zhong was startled and looked up, his eyes full of surprise: "Your Highness, since you knew about this, why didn't you take some measures in advance? If Master Li really listened to his father..."

Li Chengqian waved his hand and interrupted Wen Zhong: "If I forcibly stop him, Dejian will be dissatisfied. Besides, I also want to see what choice he will make. Dejian has followed me for many years, and I know him well. If he really wants to leave, I will not force him to stay."

Wen Zhong nodded slightly, secretly admiring the prince's magnanimity.

Li Chengqian turned around, his eyes fell on Wen Zhong, and asked, "Tell me, if Dejian really chooses to leave, how should I deal with him?"

Wen Zhong's heart tightened, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Your Highness, Master Li has a deep friendship with you. Even if he chooses to leave, he will not do anything that is detrimental to Your Highness. If he really leaves, it would be better to let him go, which can also show Your Highness's benevolence."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly and fell silent again. After a while, he said, "Wenzhong, go prepare some wine and food. When Dejian comes, I want to have a good chat with him."

Wen Zhong responded and turned to prepare wine and food.

Soon, Li Dejian arrived at the hall.

When he walked into the hall, he saw Li Chengqian standing by the window with his back to him, and he couldn't help feeling a little nervous.

He calmed himself down, took a few steps forward, knelt on one knee, and said, "Your Highness, Dejian comes to see you."

Li Chengqian slowly turned around, with a faint smile on his face, and said, "Dejian, get up. I didn't ask you to come here today for anything important. I just wanted to have a few drinks with you and chat."

Li Dejian stood up, feeling somewhat puzzled, but still said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

The two men walked to the table and sat down. After Wen Zhong placed the wine and food in the table, he retreated.

Li Eunuch Wen Zhong picked up the wine jug and filled it for Li Dejian and the prince.

Li Chengqian raised his glass and said, "Dejian, this glass of wine is for our many years of friendship."

Li Dejian felt mixed emotions. He raised his glass and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

After that, drink it all in one gulp.

Li Chengqian looked at Li Dejian and said with a smile: "Dejian, I know your father wrote to you."

Li Dejian was startled, the wine glass in his hand trembled slightly, and a trace of panic appeared on his face: "Your Highness, you..."

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Don't be nervous. I know about this, but I don't want to blame you. I just want to hear your thoughts. What choice do you plan to make?"

Li Dejian put down his wine glass, was silent for a moment, and said: "Your Highness, you have been very kind to me, and I will never forget it. But my father's words have put me in a dilemma."

"The rebellion is considered as a great rebellion by the people of the world. If I follow His Highness, I will be the enemy of the world and will also bring trouble to the family. But if I listen to my father and abandon His Highness, it will be difficult for me to give up the friendship with His Highness."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly and said, "I understand your difficulty. Since ancient times, it has been difficult to be both loyal and filial. This is indeed a difficult choice. But I want to ask you, why do you think I want to start an army?"

Li Dejian raised his head, looked at Li Chengqian's determined eyes, and said, "Your Highness is doing this to protect yourself and to realize your ambitions. His Majesty is suspicious of you. If you don't start a rebellion, you may not be able to stay in the future."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "That's right. I'm not greedy for the throne. It's just that the current situation forces me to find a way to survive. If I fail, not only will my life be in danger, but my wife and children will also be implicated."

"Dejian, I hope you can understand my difficulties."

Li Dejian felt a pain in his heart and said, "Your Highness, I understand. However, this matter is of great importance. Please allow me to think about it again."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Okay, I'll give you some time to think about it."

Watching Li Dejian’s back as he left.

Li Chengqian sighed softly.

He knew that Li Dejian was no longer useful.

Things like rebellion still need to be considered, which is equivalent to having already made a decision.

"Wen Zhong."

"The minister is here."

Li Chengqian ordered: "Pass the order down, cut off Li Dejian's relevant official duties, remove all powers, and confine him to the palace. Without my order, he is not allowed to contact anyone."

After that, he paused for a moment and said, "I'll let him down for a while."

"Since he can't make a decision, I'll help him."

If a person is not ruthless, he cannot stand firm.

When it comes to rebellion, which involves risking one's life, there is no room for hesitation.

Moreover, doing so might be a relief for Li Dejian.

At least, he doesn't have to decide for himself anymore.

Win or lose.

It has nothing to do with him anymore.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Li Dejian returned to his mansion with a heavy heart, and kept thinking about his conversation with Li Chengqian in his mind.

His heart was still filled with pain and confusion, and he didn't know how to choose between the prince's kindness and his father's teachings.

He walked into the study with heavy steps, sat on the chair, and looked ahead with empty eyes, as if he had lost all his strength.

At this moment, there was a sudden burst of noisy footsteps and the sound of weapons colliding outside the mansion.

Li Dejian was startled and stood up instinctively, looking towards the door vigilantly.

Then, someone shouted loudly: "According to the order of the Crown Prince, this palace is sealed off and no one is allowed to enter or leave!"

Li Dejian's heart sank, he understood that the prince had taken action against him.

A moment later, several generals of the Royal Guards walked into the study. They were wearing armor, holding sharp blades, and had serious expressions.

The leading general said in a loud voice: "Mr. Li, the Crown Prince has ordered that all your official duties be terminated, all your powers be revoked, and you be imprisoned in the palace. Without the Crown Prince's order, you are not allowed to have contact with anyone."

Li Dejian felt mixed emotions; he did not expect the prince to act so quickly.

Looking at the general of the Imperial Guard in front of him, a feeling of sadness welled up in his heart.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end no sound came out.

Seeing that Li Dejian did not respond, the general said again: "Mr. Li, please do not embarrass us. This is the order of the Crown Prince, and we are also following his orders."

Li Dejian nodded slightly and said bitterly: "I understand, just follow the order."

The commander of the Royal Guards stood up and waved his hand. The Royal Guards retreated and set up sentries at the door and other important locations.

"My prince, my prince, why are you doing this?"

Li Dejian murmured. He knew that the prince did this to prevent him from betraying him, but he still found it hard to accept in his heart.

He thought he just needed some time to think, but he didn't expect the prince to act so decisively.

Time passed minute by minute, and Li Dejian sat in his study, with a lot of thoughts in his mind.

He thought of his former ambitions and his experiences under the Crown Prince.

I once thought that I could show my talents by the side of the prince and contribute to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, but now I am in such a predicament.

"Father, you asked me to turn from evil to good, but the prince has been so kind to me, how could I betray him so easily?"

Li Dejian thought to himself that he felt as if he was torn into two halves, one half was loyalty to the prince, and the other half was filial piety to his father and responsibility to his family.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew, making the window paper rustle. Li Dejian shuddered, stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the dark night sky.

The stars dotted the night sky, as if mocking his helplessness and struggle.

"Perhaps, the prince is right. Rebellion does not allow for any hesitation. My hesitation has indeed disappointed the prince."

Li Dejian thought to himself and began to reflect on his own behavior.

(End of this chapter)