My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 323 Are they all going to join the prince?
After the court session, Changsun Wuji returned home with a heavy heart.

His steps were heavy, and his usual energy and efficiency had disappeared without a trace. All the way he was thinking about the various discussions in the court and the upcoming negotiations with the crown prince in Luoyang.

This is not a good thing. If the negotiations fail, I am afraid the situation will change drastically in the future.

Chang Sun Chong saw that his father looked strange, so he hurried forward and asked with concern: "Father, what happened in the court today? You look so worried."

Changsun Wuji sighed, waved his hand, and motioned his son to follow him to the study for a detailed discussion.

After the two of them sat down in the study, Changsun Wuji slowly spoke: "Chong'er, Tongguan has been lost. The prince has a large army and powerful artillery. The situation is now extremely unfavorable to our Tang Dynasty. His Majesty ordered me to negotiate with the prince, but the conditions... really make it difficult for your father to make a decision."

Chang Sun Chong was also shocked when he heard that Tongguan had been lost, and hurriedly asked, "Father, what are the terms of the negotiation?"

Zhang Sun Wuji explained the conditions proposed by Li Shimin one by one. When he talked about the enfeoffment of Liaodong, the demarcation of several counties in the south of the Yangtze River, and the establishment of the position of regent and councilor, Zhang Sun Chong could not help but frowned and said, "Father, the conditions are indeed quite generous, but will the prince easily agree to it?"

"Since he has already raised an army, he must be very ambitious. How could he be satisfied with this?"

Zhang Sun Wuji nodded slightly: "Chong'er, you are right. The prince's development is far beyond our expectations. I originally thought that even if he made some unusual moves, it would only be a minor one. But now he not only occupies Luoyang, but also controls Liaodong, and has conquered Tongguan with artillery. His power cannot be underestimated."

"Although I am his uncle, if the prince is determined not to turn back, my status as his uncle will be insignificant in his eyes."

Changsun Wuji still has some self-awareness.

It's not easy to say this out loud. In Luoyang, the Changsun family has joined forces to lead the conspiracy. The identity of my mother's family is not only useless, but also a hindrance.

Changsun Wuji himself didn't really want to go. He had already been there twice. With the prince's temper, how could he be easily persuaded?

Of course, this time things are a little different. After all, His Majesty has already made concessions. I wonder if the Crown Prince will also take a step back.

Chang Sun Chong heard the hesitation in his father's words and asked tentatively: "Father, in your opinion, how should our Chang Sun family deal with the current situation? If the prince really marches all the way to Chang'an, His Majesty..."

Zhang Sun Wuji's face darkened and he interrupted his son: "Don't talk nonsense! Your Majesty is the ruler of the Great Tang Dynasty. He is wise and powerful. How could he be easily defeated by the crown prince? But now the crown prince is in full swing, and we have to consider the future of the Zhang Sun family."

“Besides, as the prince’s uncle, I should maintain the harmony of the royal bloodline, but the current situation really puts me in a dilemma.

Chang Sun Chong saw that his father seemed to have other ideas, so he moved closer and whispered, "Father, do you have any plans? Why don't you tell me?"

Zhangsun Wuji stood up and paced back and forth in the study room. After a long while, he stopped and said solemnly, "Chong'er, your father listened to the suggestions of the ministers in the court and thought about it carefully. The prince is in an advantageous position now. If he can really succeed, if our Zhangsun family continues to stand on your side, I am afraid it will be difficult to preserve it in the future."

"As his uncle, if I can mediate, maybe I can find a chance for the Changsun family to survive."

Before this, no one thought that the Crown Prince had the ability to truly defeat His Majesty.

Li Shimin founded the Tang Dynasty, and to some extent, he can be considered the founding emperor.

How could he be defeated by his own son?

Not to mention that Li Shimin has many powerful generals and famous ministers under his command, and Your Majesty yourself is also in your prime.

How can the prince win?

However, Tongguan was breached.

The defending general was Li Jing, the true military god of the Tang Dynasty.

The men who attacked the city were merely insignificant generals under the command of the crown prince.

The most important thing is that Su Dingfang captured a strategic pass like Tongguan in just two days without losing a single soldier.

It sounds like a fairy tale, but it is true.

In the past, no one had the idea of ​​investing in the prince, but now, it is different.

Chang Sun Chong was shocked. He didn't expect his father to have such an idea, but he felt that what his father said made sense.

After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Father, your majesty has been so kind to our Changsun family. How can we betray him so easily?"

"Besides, the prince is suspicious by nature. Even if we surrender to him, how can he trust us completely? Although you are his uncle, how much kinship can you have in this situation?"

Zhang Sun Wuji smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Chong'er, you are still young, and you don't see things clearly enough. The current situation cannot be determined by simple loyalty between the monarch and his subjects."

"If the prince succeeds, your majesty's power will inevitably be weakened. As your majesty's confidant, our Changsun family will definitely become a thorn in the prince's side."

"My status as the prince's uncle may give us an opportunity to join him. If the prince can accept us out of consideration for family affection, it will also help him consolidate his power."

At this point, Changsun Wuji sighed again and said, "Back then, I was running the Sushan business and the coal factory with the prince."

"I think the prince will at least remember the old friendship."

Changsun Wuji was not worried about the safety of his own name. He knew very well that Li Chengqian was not the kind of person who killed people indiscriminately. It was just that the emperor changed his ministers according to his will. If the prince ascended the throne and replaced the ministers, he, the current number one meritorious minister in the Lingyan Pavilion, would probably have to stand aside.

Changsun Wuji really doesn't want to experience the feeling of losing power.

Chang Sun Chong still had some concerns: "Father, this is a rebellion after all. Once His Majesty knows about it, our Chang Sun family will be doomed."

"Besides, can the prince really win? Although he has the upper hand now, His Majesty is not without the ability to fight back. As the prince's uncle, it is even more difficult for you to be involved in this matter."

Changsun Wuji sat back in his chair, rubbed his temples, and said, "Chong'er, your father knows the risks involved. But the current situation is like sailing against the current. If you don't move forward, you will fall behind. Your Majesty is really helpless in the face of the prince's artillery."

"As for the Crown Prince, he has a famous general like Su Dingfang to assist him, and he also has a steady supply of troops and supplies. As the situation becomes increasingly unfavorable to us, I will approach the Crown Prince as his uncle, and perhaps I can find out his true thoughts and gain more opportunities for our Changsun family."

Su Dingfang is now also a famous general. This achievement is based on the military god of the Tang Dynasty, Li Jing, and is of great value.

Chang Sun Chong pondered for a moment and asked again: "Father, if we really decide to surrender to the prince, how should we act? Will the prince believe our sincerity?"

Zhang Sun Wuji's eyes became firm, and he said, "Chong'er, your trip to Tongguan this time is an opportunity. I will express our intentions tactfully during the negotiation with the Crown Prince."

"Use emotion and reason to show the Crown Prince the power of our Changsun family in the court and the help we can provide him."

"As long as the prince is not stupid, he should understand that accepting our Changsun family will bring him all benefits and no harm. Moreover, my status as his uncle can make him trust our sincerity a little more."

Chang Sun Chong was still a little worried: "Father, this is too risky. What if the prince rejects us or leaks this matter? In this case, will he become a burden to us?"

This is indeed a problem.

If the prince uses this as a handle, it will be very troublesome.

But Changsun Wuji didn't think so.

He patted his son's shoulder and comforted him: "Don't worry, the prince won't do that."

"The Crown Prince is now alone and no one thought he could win. Concubine Yang is quite smart and was able to quickly determine the current situation and let the King of Wu raise an army to respond to the Crown Prince."

"Your Highness, you need a thousand gold coins to buy horse bones now. You can refuse me, but if you make a sound, you will end your life here."

"As the saying goes, a righteous man has many supporters, while an unrighteous man has few. I think the prince understands this." "Although the cannon is powerful, it still needs someone to control it."

"If it weren't for this, the prince wouldn't have competed with His Majesty for fame."

After hearing what his father said, Chang Sun Chong thought about it carefully and realized that this was true.

Seeing that his father had made up his mind, he stopped trying to dissuade him and said worriedly, "Father, you must be careful. I just hope that our Changsun family can be safe no matter what choice they make."

Changsun Wuji nodded and said, "Chong'er, don't worry. I know what's going on. I will act cautiously when I go to Tongguan this time and try to find a way out for our Changsun family. I will negotiate well between His Majesty and the Crown Prince."
-
At the same time, in a mansion somewhere in Chang'an City.

The core figures of the Five Surnames and Seven Families in Chang'an gathered together.

In addition to Cui Shengyu, the eldest son of the Qinghe Cui family, and Lu Zhijie, the eldest son of the Fanyang Lu family, Zheng Huaiyu of the Xingyang Zheng family, Wang Hongwen of the Taiyuan Wang family, and Li Chongye of the Longxi Li family were also present.

Everyone looked solemn and the atmosphere was so depressing that it was hard to breathe.

The news that Tongguan was breached in two days was truly too horrifying.

Cui Shengyu was the first to break the silence, his tone full of anxiety: "Everyone, Tongguan has been lost, and Crown Prince Li Chengqian is unstoppable. We previously placed our bets on the King of Wei, but now it seems that the King of Wei may not be able to make it."

"The Thunderbolt Fire formula was used by the imperial court but it failed to stop the Crown Prince's artillery. The King of Wei was almost useless in this battle."

"We have been working hard and investing a lot of money to support the King of Wei, but now we are facing such a predicament. It is really worrying."

Zheng Huaiyu frowned and said, "Brother Cui is right. If the prince really ascends the throne, given his determination to reform and get rid of the shackles of the aristocratic families, we, the Five Surnames and Seven Families, will probably bear the brunt and be liquidated."

"Our family has been passed down for hundreds of years. The wealth, connections, and power accumulated by our family may become obstacles to the prince's reforms in his eyes. Once he gains power, he will definitely try every means to weaken us, or even uproot us."

Wang Hongwen shook his head slightly, looking worried: "But we have always had a deep foundation in the Tang Dynasty. Isn't the prince afraid of causing chaos?"

"If he rashly attacks us, it may not be beneficial to his rule. We have many people stationed in various places, controlling many key positions. If the prince forcibly suppresses us, the whole Tang Dynasty will fall into chaos, which is extremely disadvantageous for his governance."

Li Chongye sneered, "Brother Wang, you are too naive. The prince now has a strong army and powerful weapons such as artillery. If he is determined to deal with us, what can we do with the force in his hands?"

"Even if the court is temporarily in chaos, with the Crown Prince's methods, he can gradually clean up, reorganize, and cultivate forces loyal to him. As for us, once we lose the initiative, we will be at the mercy of others."

"Don't forget, the former Goryeo is now Liaodong."

Lu Zhijie coughed lightly and said, "So, the most urgent thing now is to obtain the prince's forgiveness, and it would be best if he could accept our sincerity."

"But the prince has always been dissatisfied with us, so this road is not easy to take."

"In the past, we relied on our family's power to have conflicts with the Crown Prince on many issues. The Crown Prince must have remembered it. It is not easy to ask him to let go of his prejudice now."

Cui Shengyu picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said slowly: "I heard that Zhangsun Wuji is going to Tongguan to negotiate with the prince. He is not only your majesty's confidant, but also the prince's uncle. Given the current situation, maybe he is also making other plans for the future of the Zhangsun family."

"Perhaps we can start with him and use him to express our sincerity to the Crown Prince. Changsun Wuji has great influence in the court. If we can persuade him to say a few good words for us in front of the Crown Prince, even if the Crown Prince has doubts, he will consider it carefully."

Cui Shengyu must be regretting his decision now. He had been secretly on good terms with the prince, but later abandoned him.

Who could have imagined that the situation would change so drastically.

He now only wants to say that there was once an opportunity in front of him, but he did not cherish it, and only regretted it after he lost it. This is the most painful thing in the world, if... Unfortunately, there is no if.

Zheng Huaiyu hesitated: "Changsun Wuji is so smart, will he be willing to help us? Besides, he is now negotiating on behalf of His Majesty. If we contact him rashly, will it anger His Majesty?"

"Your Majesty has always been wary of us Five Surnames and Seven Families. If he knew that we were secretly colluding with Zhangsun Wuji, I'm afraid he would settle all the old and new scores with us, and we would be completely finished."

Lu Zhijie waved his hand disapprovingly: "Brother Zheng, it's already this time, and you still care about His Majesty? Now the situation is stronger than people. As long as Changsun Wuji is not stupid, he should understand that if the prince succeeds, he, as His Majesty's confidant, will not have an easy life."

"If he can help us put in a few good words in front of the Crown Prince, it will not only leave a way out for us, but also strengthen the Crown Prince's power. Why not do it? Changsun Wuji is a thoughtful person, and he must be weighing the pros and cons. If we take the initiative to show our goodwill, it may be just what he wants."

Wang Hongwen pondered for a moment and said, "That being said, we can't put all our hopes on Zhangsun Wuji. We have to find a way to show our favor to the prince."

When Cui Shengyu heard this, his eyes moved slightly and he turned his gaze to Lu Zhijie.

Lu Zhijie was a little confused.

Cui Shengyu reminded him, "Prime Minister Fang is in charge of state affairs in the court and plays a very important role. If I remember correctly, Madam Fang is the legitimate daughter of the Lu family."

Everyone was stunned when they heard this, and then looked thoughtful.

Lu Zhijie hesitated and said, “What does Brother Cui mean?”

Cui Shengyu said frankly: "If we present Fang Xuanling with this great gift, I think the prince will definitely forgive our past mistakes and misunderstandings."

Zheng Huaiyu was the first to react and said, "Cui means to persuade Prime Minister Fang through Madam Fang?"

"But Prime Minister Fang has always been loyal. Will he betray Your Majesty and join the Crown Prince because of your wife?"

Cui Shengyu shook his head slightly: "Brother Zheng, it's not just relying on Madam's persuasion."

"The situation is complicated now, and Prime Minister Fang must be considering his own future and the fate of his family."

"The Crown Prince is now unstoppable. If he succeeds, your Majesty's power will be greatly weakened."

"As your Majesty's confidant, Prime Minister Fang will be in a precarious situation by then."

"We can have the Madam talk to Fang Xuanling about the current situation during their daily interactions, emphasizing the Crown Prince's determination and potential for reform."

"If the prince's reforms are successful, the Tang Dynasty will usher in a new prosperity, and if Fang Xuanling can participate in it, he will surely go down in history."

"However, if he continues to stick to your majesty's side, he will inevitably become the target of the Crown Prince's reckoning."

Wang Hongwen also nodded in agreement: "That's a good idea. Fang Xuanling is in charge of government affairs, so his judgment of the situation must be accurate. It's impossible for him not to see the advantage that the crown prince has now."

"We will promise him again that once he joins the Crown Prince, we, the Five Surnames and Seven Families, will fully support him and provide him with assistance in the court to ensure that his position in the Crown Prince's camp is stable. With Prime Minister Fang's wisdom, he will understand the interests involved."

Li Chongye questioned: "But Fang Xuanling is a cautious person and will not take risks easily. Even if he is shaken, he will not show it easily. How can we be sure that he is willing to surrender to the prince?"

Lu Zhijie smiled confidently and said, “Brother Li doesn’t know that although Mrs. Fang has been married into the Fang family for many years, she still has deep feelings for the family.”

"Moreover, she is also aware of the crisis that the Five Surnames and Seven Families are facing now. If she can find a chance for the family to survive, she will not sit idly by."

Cui Shengyu said: "If this plan succeeds, it will open up a new situation for us."

"But we must act with caution and not let the Prime Minister know of our intentions. Once he finds out that we are plotting behind the scenes, with his methods, we will be in trouble."

Fang's plan is over.

The word "谋" is not that simple.

(End of this chapter)