My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 318 The First Person to Respond to the Prince's Uprising

The eighteenth year of Zhenguan, the beginning of the eleventh month of the lunar calendar.

The city of Anzhou was swept by a biting cold wind. The leaves of the trees in the courtyard of the prefecture had long since fallen off, leaving only bare branches shivering in the wind.

In the study of King Wu Li Ke, the charcoal fire in the charcoal basin was burning brightly.

Even though he was wearing a heavy brocade robe, he still felt cold all over and paced back and forth in the study.

On the desk, a secret letter lay quietly.

"Somebody come!"

Li Ke shouted.

After a while, trusted aide Zhang Song hurried into the study.

"King Wu, are you calling me down here because of the news from Chang'an?"

Zhang Song was the confidant of the King of Wu and also had connections with the previous dynasty.

Li Ke pointed at the secret letter and said, "Zhang Song, the current situation is extremely precarious. The court and the crown prince are in a standoff, and a war could break out at any time. You have followed me for many years and are very thoughtful. Tell me, what decision should I make?"

Zhang Song frowned slightly and said solemnly, "King Wu, this matter is of great importance. If there is any mistake, it may be irreparable. When King Wu secretly joined His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, he valued His Royal Highness's ambition to reform and strengthen the country, and hoped to help His Royal Highness create a new situation for the Tang Dynasty."

"But now, the prince has raised an army, which has become an act of treason, and the situation has become complicated."

King Wu stopped and looked at the gloomy sky outside the window. He sighed and said, "I supported the prince at the beginning and never thought of following him in rebellion."

"In this situation, I am really in a dilemma. Moreover, if the crown prince fails, according to the current situation, it is highly likely that the king of Wei will become the new crown prince."

Zhang Song replied, "What the King of Wu said is absolutely right."

"As a Wu prince, due to his bloodline of the previous Yang family, he is already at a disadvantage in the matter of succession, and it is almost impossible for him to be appointed as the crown prince."

"There has always been a grudge between the King of Wei and the King of Wu. If the King of Wei ascends the throne, the King of Wu's future situation may not be optimistic."

Li Ke's expression became more and more solemn, and he paced back and forth faster. "That's right! The King of Wei is narrow-minded and has opposed me many times before."

"If I don't make my position clear now, he will not let me go easily once he ascends the throne. But if I support the crown prince now, it will be difficult for me to give up my loyalty to my father."

Zhang Song looked embarrassed and carefully considered every word.

Originally, no one thought the prince could win.

But as soon as the artillery was fired, the situation suddenly reversed.

The secret letter contained an introduction to the artillery.

Previously, Thunderbolt had helped the prince unify Liaodong and sweep across the land.

Here comes another cannon.

Li Ke knew that the prince was not an impulsive person. He was very reserved and would act after careful planning.

Since you have started a rebellion, you must have confidence in victory.

The same is true of the contents of the secret letter.

Even Li Jing, the military god of the Tang Dynasty, had to face the prince's artillery, but he had not gained any benefit so far.

The secret letter was more credible as to some of the details of the war.

After all, his mother, Concubine Yang, was somewhat powerful, so it was not difficult for her to find out the information.

It’s not that Su Dingfang, the crown prince’s confidant, had a brilliant strategy, but with the artillery in hand, Li Jing couldn’t gain any advantage.

However, now the court has created the prince's previous thunderbolt, and the situation has become a little confusing again.

Zhang Song naturally knew what King Wu was thinking, and he said slowly: "King Wu, matters in the court have always required a clear position."

"The situation is urgent now. King Wu can no longer afford to be so indecisive. If King Wu is determined to continue to support the Crown Prince, the most urgent thing is to immediately write a letter to express his unwavering support to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. At the same time, secretly deploy the troops of Anzhou and be ready to respond at any time."

In fact, for Li Ke, there is almost no possibility of neutrality.

He has been labeled as the crown prince, and if he remains silent, it would be tantamount to giving up on standing on the crown prince's side.

Of course, even if that is the case, nothing will happen in the end.

But what if the prince wins?

Li Ke sighed and paced back and forth in the study again.

"If I support the Crown Prince, I really don't know how to explain to my father. My father has been so kind to me and raised me. How can I easily betray him?"

After a pause, he continued, "But if I become an enemy of the Crown Prince, not only will the friendship we once had be wasted, but I will also be unable to bear it."

Li Ke could imagine that if the prince won, things would not be easy for him.

Not only did all the efforts he had made go to waste, but he was also ignored by the prince.

At this time, a guard's respectful announcement came from outside the door: "King Wu, the governor of Anzhou wants to see you."

Li Ke's eyes instantly became alert, and he thought to himself, this governor was supposed to help govern Anzhou, but in fact he was sent by his father to monitor him. He came here today, and he might have noticed something. He took a deep breath, tried to organize his thoughts, and said in a deep voice: "Please let him in."

Anzhou Governor Wang Hong wore a smile that seemed warm but concealed deep meaning. He walked quickly into the study, clasped his fists and saluted. His tone was concerned but also slightly cold. "King Wu, there has been a great uproar in Chang'an recently because of the Crown Prince's affairs. The situation is unpredictable. Anzhou has always been stable thanks to King Wu's governance. But at this sensitive time, even the slightest disturbance could affect the entire country."

After a slight pause, Wang Hong stared at King Wu and said meaningfully, "King Wu has always been wise and cautious. At this critical moment, every move must be made with extreme caution. Don't act rashly, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble and affect the people of Anzhou."

In fact, Wang Hong was a member of the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families, and was a branch of the Wang family of Taiyuan.

It was also because of the Five Surnames and Seven Families that he was appointed as the governor of Anzhou.

Although the Five Surnames and Seven Families were not as powerful in Chang'an, they had strong influence in the local areas.

This is also the reason why the power of ministers has always suppressed the power of the emperor.

Because they monopolized education and knowledge, and even almost semi-monopolized the imperial examinations with investment banking papers.

Under such circumstances, eighty to ninety percent of officials are from aristocratic families.

And how can the aristocratic families avoid the Five Surnames and Seven Family Names?

Li Ke nodded slightly, his expression stern, "Governor Wang, I am worried about this matter. The prince's rebellion is undoubtedly an act of treason, and I know this." Wang Hong narrowed his eyes slightly, and a barely perceptible gleam flashed in his eyes. He slowly said, "King Wu saw through the essence at a glance. It's just that the prince has always been prestigious, and it's inevitable that some people will be deceived by him. Under the current situation, the safety of Anzhou is particularly important."

"I heard that the King of Wu has a full complement of troops, but the deployment during wartime could lead to mistakes if we are not careful. I think if we can hand over some of the troops to reliable people for unified deployment, we may be able to better deal with various changes and keep Anzhou peaceful."

He spoke in a calm tone with a faint smile on his face, observing King Wu's expression as he spoke.

Taking away part of the King of Wu's military power was not Wang Hong's own idea, but someone conveyed this idea to him.

Now, in the territory of the Tang Dynasty, almost no one else has responded to the Prince's mercenary in Luoyang.

But this doesn't mean that no one will respond.

It’s just because before, no one thought the prince could win, but now.

The prince's artillery came out.

Many people began to think about it.

Who wouldn't want this achievement of following the dragon?

If someone wants it, there will naturally be someone who wants to stop it.

The King of Wu was once the Crown Prince's man, so he would naturally be supervised.

Li Ke's heart trembled, and he instantly understood Wang Hong's intention. He replied calmly: "The governor Wang's concerns are not unreasonable, but since I am the governor of Anzhou, the soldiers under my command are the backbone of protecting the country and the people. On weekdays, the training and dispatch are all well-organized. Although the situation is tense now, I will control the overall situation and ensure that Anzhou is safe. The deployment of troops still needs to be considered in the long run, and we must not act rashly."

Wang Hong frowned slightly, but still did not give up, and continued: "King Wu, this is an extraordinary time, and extraordinary things should be done. I am also thinking about the people of Anzhou, and it is always good to have more protection. King Wu has many affairs to attend to, and if there are capable people to share the military tasks, it will also allow King Wu to focus more on the overall situation, don't you think?"

Li Ke's expression was firm, and his tone left no room for doubt: "Wang, Governor, I understand your good intentions. But it is my duty to defend my country and Anzhou."

"The soldiers have followed me for many years and trust each other. At this critical moment, they need to be united and under my unified command, so that they can exert their maximum combat power. There is no need to discuss this matter further."

Wang Hong saw this and knew it was difficult to convince the King of Wu, so he stopped insisting and bowed slightly, saying, "In this case, everything is up to the King of Wu. I will also do my best to assist the King of Wu and protect Anzhou."

Li Ke nodded slightly and said, "Governor Wang, you should first start by pacifying the people of Anzhou, strengthening the city's defenses, and being prepared to deal with various emergencies."

After receiving the order, Wang Hong retreated.

Zhang Song was watching all this silently from the side. He couldn't help but whispered, "King Wu, Wang Hong is clearly trying to seize your military power. His intentions are sinister."

Li Ke sighed, his eyes flashing with determination: "How could I not know? But the situation is complicated now. We have to deal with the changing situation in Chang'an, and be wary of the people around us. Zhang Song, you must pay close attention to the situation in Chang'an. Report to me immediately if there is any new news." After Zhang Song agreed, he also withdrew.

Li Ke picked up the secret letter on the table again, his eyes full of solemnity, and read it over and over again, trying to find a way out of the dilemma from the lines. Just when he was full of entanglement and unable to make a decision, the guard's voice came from outside the door again: "King Wu, the palace has sent a handwritten letter from your mother, Concubine Yang."

Li Ke's heart tightened, and he hurriedly said, "Present it quickly!"

I took the letter and quickly unfolded it. I saw that my mother wrote in the letter: My son, the court is changing rapidly. Now that the prince is rebelling, this is a heaven-sent opportunity. You are the blood of the Yang family, and your situation in the court of the Tang Dynasty is already delicate.

If the prince succeeds, our Yang family will have a stable backer, and you can also get rid of the current predicament caused by your background, gain a firm foothold in the court, and achieve great things. Don't miss the opportunity, you must respond to the prince quickly and seek a bright future for our family.

After reading the letter, Li Ke was shocked. He had never thought that his mother would support the prince's rebellion so firmly. In his mind, his mother had always been very righteous and cautious, but she made such a decision this time, which really surprised him.

Li Ke paced in the study again, weighing his mother's advice in his mind.

On the one hand, this is the mother's ardent expectation, and the mother has extraordinary insight and often makes accurate judgments on the situation.

On the other hand, responding to the prince would mean openly becoming an enemy of his father, which went against the loyalty he had always upheld and might also plunge Anzhou into war.

Of course, the most important thing is that if you stand up to support the prince, the risks involved are terrifying and huge.

Once it fails, there is no recovery.

Not only himself, but also his mother would be executed.

After thinking for a long time, Li Ke gradually came up with an idea.

His mother had better vision than he did, and he always admired her insight into the situation in the court.

Furthermore, from the perspective of family interests, what my mother said makes sense.

Thinking of this, Li Ke gritted his teeth and decided to obey his mother's instructions.

Summoning Zhang Song, Li Ke said in a deep voice: "Zhang Song, write a letter to the crown prince immediately to express my willingness to respond to his actions. Then secretly gather the best troops in Anzhou and be ready to go to war at any time. This matter is confidential and no news can be leaked."

Zhang Song was surprised, but seeing the King of Wu's resolute expression, he quickly clasped his fists and accepted the order: "King of Wu is wise! I will definitely take care of this matter."

Li Ke slowly stood up and walked to the window. He looked at the dry branches in the courtyard rustling in the cold wind, his thoughts in a tangled mess.

Although he had decided to respond to the prince, he was still worried that Wang Hong, the governor of Anzhou, was no good. If he knew of his actions, he would definitely try his best to stop him and might even inform the court. By then, not only would his plan fail, but he might also implicate many of the soldiers who followed him.

So he said again: "Wang Hong has noticed our movements, and this man cannot be left alive. I order you to arrange for assassins to sneak into the governor's mansion tonight and kill him. It must be done cleanly and without leaving any traces."

Zhang Song cupped his hands and said, "Yes, King Wu."

That night.

Inside the governor's mansion, Wang Hong was sitting in his study with a frown on his face.

He held a secret letter in his hand, which contained news about the letter from Concubine Yang in Chang'an.

Wang Hong muttered to himself, "Could it be that the King of Wu really wants to respond to the Crown Prince? This matter is of great importance and must be reported to the court as soon as possible."

Just as I was thinking about it, I suddenly heard a slight noise coming from outside the window.

He immediately stood up alertly and was about to shout when a black shadow broke into the window. With a flash of cold light, the sharp blade was against his throat.

Wang Hong opened his eyes wide in horror and wanted to shout for help, but found that his throat was blocked tightly and he could not make any sound.

In King Wu's study, Li Ke was anxiously waiting for news.

After a long time, Zhang Song appeared in the study again and reported: "King Wu, Wang Hong is dead."

Li Ke let out a long sigh and said, "Well done. Let's keep this a secret for now. You can go down first."

Li Ke looked at the empty study and took a deep breath.

Now that the choice has been made, the next step is to stand firmly on the side of the prince.

(End of this chapter)