My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 330 I'll take you back to Chang'an

That night.

Inside the Luoyang Palace.

Li Chengqian stood in the courtyard, looking at the bright moon in the sky.

In this era, there was no industrial pollution and the night sky was extremely pure.

The bright moonlight shines, and the stars in the sky seem to be right before your eyes.

Even without candlelight, it still doesn't feel dark around me.

"Your Highness."

Crown Princess Su Yuer called softly.

"Yeah yeah."

Little Li Jue came running over, skipping and jumping.

Little Li Jue is now growing up.

"hug."

Li Chengqian smiled and picked up little Li Jue.

"Yeah, yeah, how long are we going to stay here? I miss home."

For little Li Jue, the Luoyang Palace was good, but it was ultimately not as good as the Eastern Palace.

When I first came here, I didn’t feel anything, but after a while, I wanted to go back to the East Palace.

Hearing this, Su Yuer scolded: "Stop messing around, Xiaoqing, take him to play nearby."

Xiao Li Jue is already seven years old.

Even dogs aged seven or eight are disgusted.

Little Li Jue is now at his most mischievous. Even the gentle Su Yuer gets angry with him sometimes.

Especially when it comes to studying, I'm simply going to explode with anger.

It was so easy for me to learn it at the beginning, and it didn't seem complicated at all. So why did Xiao Li Jue feel like a fool and couldn't learn anything?

Even when memorizing a classic, mistakes are often made.

This made Su Yuer doubt for a time whether Xiao Li Jue was her biological son.

Fortunately, Xiao Li Jue looks like Su Yuer.

It’s just that Su Yuer is extremely intelligent, otherwise she wouldn’t have become the Crown Princess.

Not to mention Crown Prince Li Chengqian.

As the saying goes, like father, like mother.

But Xiao Lijue
Su Yuer felt the veins on her forehead throbbing.

"It's okay. We'll be home soon. It won't take long."

Li Chengqian put little Li Jue down and responded with a smile.

"Really? Yeah yeah."

"Of course it's true. Would Yeye lie to you?"

"Great, we're going home."

Little Li Jue happily followed the palace maid Xiao Qing to play.

However, when Su Yuer saw Xiao Li Jue leaving, worry appeared on her face again.

"Your Highness, I heard that there have been changes in Chang'an. Your Majesty is not feeling well, and the King of Wei and the King of Jin want to fight for the right to supervise the country."

This news is not a secret.

Especially the fact that Li Shimin fell ill.

Li Chengqian nodded: "Yes, this is also our opportunity."

Su Yu'er hesitated: "Your Highness, are you planning to return to Chang'an? If you go back now, I'm afraid all your efforts will be wasted."

Su Yuer shouldn't have said this.

She is Li Shimin's daughter-in-law. Now that her father-in-law is sick, she wants to persuade her husband not to go back.

But going to Chang'an at this time would be like walking into a trap.

We have finally achieved the current situation. It would be a pity to give up.

You may have a good reputation, but you will become fish on a sticky board.

Li Chengqian smiled.

"Yu'er, you don't think I want to go back to Chang'an alone."

Su Yuer didn't quite understand, and her clear eyes were filled with confusion.

Li Chengqian looked to the west.

That is the direction of Chang'an.

He said slowly: "I am the crown prince. When I was thirteen years old, I began to supervise the country and became the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty."

"Now that my father is critically ill, I shall be the regent."

Su Yu'er asked doubtfully, "Your Highness, I heard that His Majesty has woken up."

Li Chengqian nodded: "Yes, he is awake."

"But who says that Father won't faint again?"

Su Yuer widened her eyes: "Your Highness, you..."

Li Chengqian shook his head slightly: "What are you thinking? I don't have the ability to do that."

"But my father's condition shouldn't be that simple."

"It all depends on God, if Father faints again."

“That’s our chance.”

Su Yuer frowned and said, "It's just."

Li Chengqian waved his hand, interrupting what Su Yuer was about to say.

He explained: "From Tongguan to Chang'an, there are Pujin and Wuguan."

"Li Jing has returned to Chang'an."

"You said, if the emperor faints again, I, the crown prince, will personally go to Pujin and Wuguan City. Will their guards dare not open the gates?"

"Do they dare to interfere?"

Su Yuer thought for a moment and said, "But it's Chang'an."

The problem is no longer with Puzhou or Wugu Pass, but with Chang'an City.

If Chang'an City does not open its gates, what does it matter even if we arrive at the city?

Li Chengqian was very confident: "The door will be opened, because as long as I arrive, they will have no choice."

"It is the righteousness of the monarch and his subjects. I am the crown prince. My father is ill, so I shall be the regent."

"Who dares to stop it? Who can stop it?"

Restoring Li Chengqian's position as crown prince was only a temporary solution for Li Shimin, but it would become Li Chengqian's trump card.

No one would have thought that Li Shimin would fall ill at this time.

No, Li Chengqian thought of it.

Or rather, I thought of it from the very beginning.

According to historical records, Li Shimin was paralyzed for half a year in this year.

It’s a pity that Li Chengqian had already been deposed and died before this.

So for the past six months, Li Zhi, who was appointed as the new crown prince, has been the regent. Today, things have changed. Li Chengqian is not dead, but alive and well. Logically, Li Shimin is not heartbroken and thus sick.

However, Li Shimin’s illness was not just because of Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian’s death was the fuse.

In himself, Li Shimin had many hidden illnesses when he fought on the battlefield in his early years.

In addition, there are factors such as excessive drinking and sex in old age, and perhaps family genetic diseases.

Now Li Chengqian is not dead, but he is leading his troops in rebellion, which makes Li Shimin very angry.

Li Chengqian once thought that Li Shimin might not get sick again.

But the disease eventually broke out.

Since the disease has occurred, the opportunity has come.

There is no need to talk about being paralyzed for half a year, even just a month or half a month is enough.

Li Chengqian was certain that Li Shimin's illness could not be cured so quickly.

Some things change, but your body doesn't.

No matter how much a person changes, he is still the same person.

"Then I will take you home."

For Su Yuer and Xiao Li Jue, Chang'an is their home.

And Li Chengqian will eventually return to Chang'an.

Enter the East Palace again.

But this time, it was completely different.
-
In the study of the General of the Right Jinwu Guard's Mansion, the flickering candlelight illuminated Li Zhi's solemn face.

Li Yifu took the order and left in a hurry. Soon, he brought Jinwu General Lu Tong into the study.

As soon as Lu Tong entered the room, he knelt on one knee and said in a loud voice: "General Lu Tong, I pay my respects to the King of Jin!"

Li Zhi raised his hand slightly, motioning Lu Tong to stand up. He looked Lu Tong up and down, and said softly, "General Lu, I called you here today because I have something important to discuss. Please sit down first."

Lu Tong got up as he was told and sat aside, his heart full of confusion and anxiety.

As an old subordinate of Crown Prince Li Chengqian, although His Majesty has issued an edict not to pursue the matter, his future is already cast into doubt.

Now that King Jin has suddenly summoned him, I wonder what his intention is.

Li Zhi looked at Lu Tong and spoke slowly: "General Lu, I know that you were once a subordinate of the crown prince. The crown prince's affairs are indeed a misfortune for our Tang Dynasty. But now my father is seriously ill, the situation in the court is turbulent, and various forces are ready to make a move. The Tang Dynasty is in a precarious situation."

Lu Tong's heart trembled, and he hurriedly said: "King Jin is right. Although I am just a warrior, I know the seriousness of the situation. But now..."

He paused slightly, his expression somewhat gloomy.

Li Zhi stared at Lu Tong with sharp eyes: "General Lu, don't be discouraged. I came to you today to give you a chance to prove yourself again. You have been in the Jinwu Guard for many years, and you must know the situation in the army very well. Now that I am the general of the Jinwu Guard, I find that some people in the army don't seem so reliable."

Lu Tong's heart moved. He vaguely guessed what Li Zhi meant, but he still said cautiously: "Prince Jin, the Jinwu Guard shoulders the important task of defending Chang'an and protecting the royal family, and has always been strictly disciplined. However, there are so many people in the army, and I dare not say that I know everyone very well."

Li Zhi sneered: "General Lu, let's be frank. I have heard that many people in the Right Jinwu Guard have dealings with the Prince of Wei's Palace, and even have inextricable ties with the Five Surnames and Seven Families. These people may become a hidden danger to the Tang Dynasty at this critical moment."

When Lu Tong heard this, he was shocked. He didn't expect Li Zhi to know so much about the situation in the army.

After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Prince Jin, some soldiers in the army are indeed connected with various forces. This is no secret in the army. It's just..."

Li Zhi interrupted him and said, "General Lu, I want to ask you, who do you think can be used and who cannot be used in the Right Jinwu Guard? Can I trust you?"

Lu Tong was shocked and finally understood the implication of Li Zhi's words.

This was the King of Jin testing him, but also extending an olive branch to him.

After a little thought, Lu Tong thought about his current situation. The prince has fallen, and if he does not find new support, his future will be dark.

Now that Prince Jin holds the power of the Jinwu Guard and has emerged in the battle for the crown prince, this may be a turning point for him.

Although the prince is very powerful now, he is in Chang'an and is only in charge of the city.

As generals who have followed His Majesty for many years, for most people in the army, even though the prince has a great advantage now, more people still think that the final winner must be His Majesty.

Lu Tong stood up and knelt on one knee again, his expression firm: "Prince Jin, from now on, I will follow your lead! I know a lot of people in the Right Jinwu Guard who are closely related to the Prince of Wei's Palace and the Five Surnames and Seven Families. These people usually rely on the power behind them and are often arrogant in the army. They are actually parasites in the army."

Li Zhi's eyes flashed with satisfaction. "Good! General Lu, I am very pleased that you can understand my intention. Now time is tight, and if these people stay in the army, chaos may occur at any time. I order you to take the initiative and arrest all these people."

Lu Tong was embarrassed: "Prince Jin, these people are soldiers in the army after all. If we arrest them hastily without solid evidence, it will be difficult to convince the public and it is not in line with the law."

He never expected that he would be asked to give a letter of allegiance just after expressing his stance.

Can these people be arrested at random? It’s not that they can’t be caught, it’s that they dare not catch them.

If they were arrested, it would not only offend the King of Wei, but also offend the five surnames and seven clans to death.

For royal nobles like the Crown Prince and the Prince of Jin, suppressing the Five Surnames and Seven Families is normal, and it is impossible for people from these noble families to go against the Crown Prince.

But he, Lu Tong, was just a general with no background. He had worked hard for many years and accumulated military merits to achieve what he has today.

How can I afford to offend you?

Li Zhi's eyes turned cold. "General Lu, my father is seriously ill and the court is unstable. Li Chengqian is eyeing us covetously in Luoyang. At this critical moment, we should put the Tang Dynasty first. If we wait for them to take action first, the consequences will be disastrous. As for the charges, I will arrange them myself. You just need to follow my orders. After the matter is accomplished, I will not treat you unfairly."

This is the final ultimatum. If Lu Tong doesn't dare to do it, what use will Lu Tong be to Li Zhi?

What he wants is to completely control the Jinwu Guards.

It must be able to play a role at the critical moment in the fight for the throne.

More than 20,000 soldiers and horses in Chang'an City are more than just of great use.

Of course, it was not about attacking the palace, but about dealing with the King of Wei, his good fourth brother.

If anything changes and they forcefully surround Prince Wei's mansion, even if Fourth Brother has many connections, what can he do?

In front of the army, power must be put second.

Lu Tong gritted his teeth and made up his mind: "I understand, and I am willing to obey your orders! But this matter is too important for me to handle it alone. I hope your highness can send some capable people to assist me."

Things have come to this point, and Lu Tong knows that he has no choice but to go ahead with it.

Even if the five surnames and seven families have resentment, that is of no use to them.

The King of Jin has said so. If we don’t follow him, we will offend everyone.

On the contrary, if the Prince of Jin ascends the throne, he will also be able to rise with the tide.

The reason why King Jin had to arrange some people was not because he did not have enough brothers under him, but because he had to have someone from King Jin's side to lead the way so that he could share some of the risks.

At least if someone holds me accountable later, I can put the blame on Prince Jin.

He was just following orders.

Li Zhi nodded slightly: "Of course. Li Yifu, you should immediately select some loyal and reliable people to personally assist General Lu in the operation. This matter must be kept secret and no news can be leaked."

Li Yifu bowed and accepted the order: "I will follow the orders of King Jin!"

Hearing that Li Yifu was also following, Lu Tong felt relieved.

Li Yifu is the confidant of Prince Jin. With him as the supporter, the pressure on him will be much less.

After thinking about it, Lu Tong said again: "King Jin, it is easy to arrest these people, but they also have some confidants in the army. Once we take action, it may arouse their vigilance and even cause riots in the army."

Li Zhi pondered for a moment and said, "General Lu is right. So, before the arrest, you should find an excuse to transfer those confidants who might cause trouble from their original positions and disperse them to different places. When the action comes, no one will respond to them easily."

A trace of admiration flashed in Lu Tong's eyes: "Prince Jin is thoughtful, I admire you. I will arrange it right away."

"Wait," Li Zhi stopped Lu Tong, "This operation must be swift and decisive. Once it starts, we must not give them any chance to resist. Also, those who have been arrested must be kept under strict surveillance to prevent them from communicating with each other."

Lu Tong responded heavily: "I understand!"

After Lu Tong and Li Yifu left, Li Zhi paced alone in the study.

Tonight's action is particularly critical. Although it is a preemptive strike, if it fails, not only will his dream of becoming the crown prince be shattered, it may also cause chaos in the Jinwu Guards.

My father will certainly question me then.

If successful, he will have complete control over the Right Golden Guard and will be able to compete with his fourth brother.

(End of this chapter)