My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 313: Thunderbolt of the Imperial Court
Tai Chi Palace.

Ganlu Temple.

Inside the hall, Li Shimin was looking at the map of Luoyang.

The war with Li Chengqian has now reached the point where Li Shimin may have to lead the army in person.

Under the threat of artillery, Li Jing seemed to be finding it difficult to resist.

At this time, the eunuch Zhang Ananda said softly: "Your Majesty, the King of Wei wants to see you."

Li Shimin came back to his senses and nodded slightly: "Announce."

Soon, Li Tai entered the palace.

"Qingque pays respect to Father."

Li Shimin ordered: "No need to be polite, please take a seat."

"Thank you, Father."

Li Tai glanced at the map of Luoyang hanging behind the desk and said, "I heard that the war in Luoyang is getting intense, and Qingque is having trouble sleeping and eating."

It is indeed uneasy.

If I lose this, I will lose my life.

Li Shimin sighed: "He can actually create a firearm more powerful than Thunderbolt Fire. This is something I didn't expect, and perhaps I should have thought of it earlier."

Actually, I kind of regret it.

If I had known earlier that Li Chengqian was capable of making such firearms and expanding territory, it would have been a piece of cake. Even if I had given him some power, what would have mattered?

He is the crown prince to begin with, and the future of the Tang Dynasty will be given to him.

At the same time, he also felt some hatred towards Li Chengqian.

It's going to be given to you eventually, so why are you so impatient?
He chose to take the path of rebellion.

As he spoke, Li Shimin waved his hand.

The eunuch Zhang Ananda took the report sent by Li Jing on the table to the King of Wei.

Li Tai unfolded the document and read it, his eyelids twitching.

"This firearm can actually sink a warship?"

The artillery did not bombard the warship, but Li Jing wrote clearly that it caused continuous waves on the water surface. If the artillery had fallen on the warship, the warship would have sunk.

"Exactly."

Li Shimin stood up and put his hands behind his back: "Li Weigong said that the firearm can reach more than a mile, and the bullets fall to the ground like meteorites falling into the river."

Li Tai was a little panicked.

Previously, he thought that the rumors about the prince's firearms were exaggerated, but he didn't expect that the rumors were actually conservative.

This is the report submitted by Li Jing, so it is naturally the most true.

Li Tai thought for a moment and said, "Father, Qingque believes that the most urgent task is to crack the secret of firearms."

This firearm made Li Tai feel very depressed.

If there had been no Thunderbolt, how could the prince have conquered Liaodong City, and how could he have annexed Goryeo, Silla, and Baekje and occupied one side.

Without this new firearm, the prince would have been trapped in Luoyang and would have begged for mercy.

Li Shimin was silent for a moment, then said, "As for the Gunpowder Department, I may have been too indulgent to them."

After a pause, he looked at the eunuch Zhang Ananda and said in a deep voice: "This matter is handed over to you. I must see something within fifteen days."

"anyway."

The meaning of these words was very clear. The eunuch Zhang Ananda nodded solemnly and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

If there really is no improvement at all, then there is no need for this Gunpowder Bureau to exist.

Li Shimin was not a person who killed people indiscriminately, but when things had come to this point, he had no choice but to do so.

At this time, Li Tai hesitated a little and said: "Father, Qingque heard that someone observed the sky at night and saw Mars guarding the heart. This is..."

"Enough!" Li Shimin shouted, "I won't listen to the evil words!"

Li Tang was not completely without enemies.

It has only been twenty-six years since the founding of the Tang Dynasty.

There are always some remnants of former enemies.

Not to mention the foreign forces who are eyeing us covetously.

Seeing the father and son fighting each other in the Tang Dynasty, he was so happy that he would be happy to fish in troubled waters, or add fuel to the fire to make the scene more lively.

Therefore, ever since Li Chengqian established his army in Luoyang and Li Shimin issued the edict to depose the crown prince, all kinds of rumors have been circulating.

The most famous of these is the prophecy that the Tang Dynasty would perish in the third generation.

So in reality, the pressure on Li Shimin came from all sides.

Li Tai was so scared that he fell to his knees: "Qingque knows his mistake, but..."

"Qingque is willing to share the worries of the emperor, even if it is just to transport food and grass."

"Nonsense!"

Li Shimin reprimanded: "I have already said that you just need to concentrate on your studies."

Li Tai secretly hated it in his heart, but he still looked respectful: "Yes, father."

After hesitating for a moment, he continued, "Father, I heard that my elder brother opened the granary in Luoyang to distribute grain."

"This is a scheme to win people's hearts." Li Shimin sneered: "I have announced it to the world and exposed his crimes."

Suddenly, Li Shimin turned to look at Li Tai and said, "It seems that you are very free. In this case, you should also take charge of the Gunpowder Bureau. Recruit more talented people. I don't care how you do it, just make the Thunderbolt Fire."

Li Tai was a little embarrassed and didn't know whether he should agree or not.

If it were possible to create the Human Torch, it would have been created long ago.

It's clearly a mess now.

"What? No confidence?"

"Your elder brother was able to build it with the help of only two Taoist priests. Why can't you?"

Li Shimin also put pressure on him.

There is another meaning in this statement.

If you want to be a prince, you have to show that you are capable of being a prince.

The prince at that time could create thunderbolt.

If you can make it now, you will be the new prince.

It wasn't said explicitly, but Li Tai could understand it.

"Yes, Father."

"Qingque will definitely not let Father down."

Li Tai replied through gritted teeth.

At this point, refusal would be tantamount to refusal of the crown prince position.

I had no choice but to accept it.

"Okay, step back."

Li Shimin said a little tiredly.

Li Tai bowed and said, "Yes, Father."
-
Prince Wei's Mansion.

Li Tai frowned.

He feels a lot of pressure.

The Gunpowder Department has been trying to make it for so long but hasn’t been able to do it yet. What’s the point of him going there?

But if he fails to produce it, wouldn't he be far inferior to his elder brother in his father's eyes?

Don’t let yourself be unable to get the position of crown prince by then.

After listening to the situation of King Wei in the palace, Chai Lingwu, as the military strategist, quickly came up with an idea.

"King Wei, ever since the crown prince showed the Thunderbolt Fire in Liaodong, not only your Majesty's Gunpowder Department, but also the Five Surnames and Seven Families, and even the major noble families, have been secretly studying the secret of the Thunderbolt Fire."

"The King of Wei can persuade Master Cui to take the lead and unite the Five Surnames and Seven Families or even more aristocratic families. Let's put aside our sectarian prejudices and stop being selfish. Let's discuss together, and maybe there will be some miraculous results."

I have to say that Chai Lingwu, the military strategist, is actually competent in most cases.

Always able to come up with some unique ideas.

This is also the reason why Li Tai has always attached great importance to Chai Lingwu.

"Then quickly contact the people of the Five Surnames and Seven Families to discuss this matter."

Li Tai made a decision quickly.

The next day, in a secret manor, Li Tai sat opposite several representatives of the Five Surnames and Seven Families. The teacups were steaming, but the atmosphere was heavy and depressing.

Li Tai spoke first: "Everyone, the war in Luoyang is tense right now. The prince's firearms make the court very wary. His Majesty has ordered me to create the Thunderbolt Fire within half a month. This matter concerns the survival of the Tang Dynasty, and also the rise and fall of your families."

An old man from the Cui clan of Boling frowned slightly and said, "Your Highness, King Wei, although we have dabbled in the matter of gunpowder, it is not easy to make a breakthrough in such a short time."

The research of Thunderbolt Fire did not go as planned by the various noble families. If it was so easy to research, the Gunpowder Department would have worked in vain.

At this time, Cui Shengyu, the eldest son of the Qinghe Cui family, looked calm and spoke slowly: "Your Highness, although the art of gunpowder is complicated and mysterious, it is not without traces. In the past, our Qinghe Cui family has also sponsored some talented people who delved into this matter, and perhaps we can find some ideas from them."

The words were rather tactful, and Cui Shengyu understood what the King of Wei meant, which was to ask all the major families to send people to fill the Gunpowder Department.

After all, three cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang.

With so many talented people researching Thunderbolt gathered together, perhaps they could really develop it quickly.

With Qinghe Cui taking the lead, everyone naturally stopped talking.

In fact, some families want to take advantage of this opportunity to gain some benefits.

However, Cui Shengyu understood that now was not the time for internal strife. If the prince won, all the benefits would be lost.

Cui Shengyu no longer counts on the prince.

Judging from the prince's current style of doing things, even if they win, it is estimated that the Qinghe Cui family will not gain any benefits in the end.
-
East Palace.

Li Tai is moving.

Zhang Ananda was also looking for an opportunity.

He felt sorry for the prince, but in terms of stance, Zhang Ananda always stood firmly on the side of His Majesty.

Now that the prince has rebelled, although it is a bit regrettable, Zhang Ananda naturally wants His Majesty to win.

"Eunuch Zhang is here!"

Liu, the eunuch in charge of the workshop, trotted over to meet him.

"Today's bamboo paper has been sent to the History Museum. This is the income account book for this month."

"Please ask Eunuch Zhang to check it out."

After that, he smiled and said, "Why bother Eunuch Zhang to come here in person for such a small matter? Just give me the order and I will deliver it to him right away."

Zhang Ananda took the account book and just flipped through it casually.

Of course he didn't come because of the account books.

Ever since the Crown Prince left, or rather, since the Crown Prince rose to power in Liaodong, these workshops that used to be in the Eastern Palace have become the private property of His Majesty's inner treasury.

After all, although the workshops built by Li Chengqian are not large in scale, the income of each workshop is very considerable.

In the early days, the Crown Princess was in charge, but later on, His Majesty simply incorporated these workshops of the Eastern Palace into the Inner Treasury.

"I'm not here to look at the account books."

"Where is Yang Qifan, the Temple Secretary? Ask him to come see me as soon as possible."

Zhang Ananda ordered.

He came here this time for gunpowder.

But after stepping into the East Palace, I felt a little dazed.

At the beginning, as a messenger between His Majesty and the Crown Prince, Zhang Ananda often went to the East Palace.

However, he has never been here since the prince went on the eastern expedition.

In a blink of an eye, two or three years had passed.

After two or three years, Zhang Ananda stepped into the Eastern Palace again. The familiar scenes and unfamiliar people made him sigh.

Now the East Palace has changed.

Not long after.

Yang Qifan, the temple secretary, came hurriedly.

"I've met Eunuch Zhang."

Yang Qifan, the temple secretary, bowed respectfully.

This is Zhang Ananda.

The only people around Your Majesty are eunuchs and servants.

But outside, it was the famous Right General of the Imperial Guard, Eunuch Zhang.

"Let me ask you, if I remember correctly, the crown prince once transferred one of his men to be a scholar at the Chongwen Academy, and he was highly regarded by the crown prince."

"This person is now in the East Palace."

Zhang Ananda asked in a deep voice.

Yang Qifan, the secretary of the Imperial Household Department, immediately replied: "You must be talking about Li Chunfeng, the scholar."

Hearing this name, Zhang Ananda nodded and said, "Yes, it's him. Is he still alive?"

Yang Qifan, the temple secretary, replied, "Yes, yes."

"As Ever Too"

At this point, Yang Qifan, the Temple Secretary, was a little stuck.

Logically speaking, Li Chengqian had been deposed as the crown prince, so naturally he could no longer be called the crown prince.

But Yang Qifan admired Li Chengqian and was once valued by the prince.

I don't want to call him by his name, as it might offend you.

"What do you want, Prince?"

Zhang Ananda did not have so many concerns. As the emperor's eunuch, he understood the emperor's feelings for the prince.

Even if the crown prince was deposed, in His Majesty's heart, Li Chengqian was the crown prince most qualified to be the heir to the throne.

Even now the prince has started a rebellion.

Yang Qifan heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this, and continued, "According to the instructions of the Crown Prince, Li Xueshi has been in charge of the renovation of the equipment in the workshops in the East Palace. At this time, Li Xueshi should be in the textile workshop."

Zhang Ananda nodded: "Take me to see him."

East Palace, textile workshop.

This workshop was established later and did not exist originally.

There were not too many strict restrictions on textile machines in Luoyang, so Li Shimin set up a textile workshop.

After much deliberation, it was finally set up in the East Palace.

"Eunuch Zhang is here!" Eunuch Liu trotted to lead the way.

Hearing the sound, the craftsmen in the workshop stopped to greet them.

"Where is Li Chunfeng, the scholar?"

Zhang Ananda glanced over and asked loudly.

His eyes quickly locked onto a middle-aged man in a bachelor's robe.

Li Chunfeng was a little confused when he heard this, so he bowed and said, "I am Li Chunfeng, nice to meet you, Eunuch Zhang."

Everyone in the court and the country knew the name of the eunuch Zhang Ananda.

"Mr. Li, I want to invite Mr. Li to join the Gunpowder Department."

Zhang Ananda went straight to the point.

Li Chunfeng was a little puzzled: "Eunuch Zhang may not know that I have never come into contact with the Prince's Thunderbolt Fire."

"I just dabbled in papermaking, printing, weaving, and farm tools."

Zhang Ananda didn't say much, but looked at the loom and asked, "This is the loom that the prince has."

When asked about professional issues, Li Chunfeng spoke much more fluently.

"Yes, this is the loom made by the prince. It is truly exquisite."

Li Chunfeng gently stroked the bronze gears of the twelve-spindle spinning wheel, his eyes sparkling with wonder: "Eunuch Zhang, please take a look. This machine uses the foot-operated three-spindle method improved by the prince. The female worker only needs to step on the pedal to spin three strands of silk at the same time."

Zhang Ananda agreed: "The prince's design is indeed ingenious."

At this point, he changed the subject: "However, I came here this time to ask Li Xueshi to go to the Gunpowder Department to develop the formula for Thunderbolt Fire."

Li Chunfeng shook his head: "I only know how to improve agricultural tools and firearms."

Zhang Ananda had a different view: "I know that Li Xueshi has never come into contact with firearms, but all paths in the world lead to the same destination."

"The Gunpowder Department has hit a bottleneck and is unable to make any progress. Perhaps if Li Xueshi were to go there, he would have a different perspective."

After a pause, Zhang Ananda added: "Your Majesty has issued an edict ordering the Gunpowder Bureau to make a breakthrough within 15 days, regardless of the consequences."

"I think Master Li should understand what I mean."

Li Chunfeng naturally understood.

If he disagrees, Zhang Ananda has plenty of ways to make him agree.

But that wouldn't be very decent.

In the world of the Tang Dynasty, except for the Crown Prince, who can disobey His Majesty's will?

Li Chunfeng would naturally not go against Your Majesty.

"I understand. I am willing to join the Gunpowder Department to help your majesty."

(End of this chapter)