My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 334: Seizing the Gate of Chang'an
Under Chang'an City.

Tens of thousands of troops lined up in a row.

The city gate is closed.

The last time such a situation occurred was in the fourth year of Zhenguan, when the Eastern Turks invaded.

Since the Eastern Turks were completely defeated and Jie Li Khan was captured and brought to Chang'an City.

Everyone felt that something like this would never happen again.

Who would have thought that it would appear again in just fifteen years.

Of course, things are different this time.

You who are under the city, you are the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty.

"Attend the city gates! I am the Crown Prince Li Chengqian. My father is seriously ill, and I have the power to supervise the country. Open the city gates immediately and welcome you into the city!"

Li Chengqian, riding on a horse, shouted loudly at the city gate.

The soldiers on the city gate, not only did they draw their bows and draw arrows, they even quickly put away all their crossbows.

This is the prince.

If that person accidentally shoots the crossbow due to a tremor in his hand, not to mention injuring the prince, even scaring him would be a serious crime.

On the city wall, the defending general Wang Meng looked panicked, with beads of sweat the size of beans rolling down his forehead.

He tightly gripped the railing on the city wall, his knuckles turning white, his heart filled with confusion and fear.

He knew very well that the prince was of noble status and now commanded a large number of troops. However, the gate of Chang'an City was related to the safety of the entire capital. If he opened it without authorization and made the slightest mistake, his life would be in danger and even his family would be implicated.

After hesitating for a long time, he gritted his teeth. Although his voice was trembling slightly due to nervousness, he tried to remain respectful and responded loudly: "Your Highness, it is not that I disobey your orders, but this matter is of great importance and I dare not make decisions on my own. The situation in the city is complicated and the ministers in the court have not yet reached a conclusion. I hope Your Highness will wait for a while and allow me to consult the court immediately and make a decision."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian's face darkened instantly, a trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes, and he said in a cold voice: "How dare you! I am the regent of the country, which is set by the ancestral system, and it is legitimate. Now my father is seriously ill and bedridden, and the people of Chang'an are in panic, and the situation is precarious."

"I came here to stabilize the situation and save the country and the people from the dire situation. But you are delaying here. Are you being instructed by someone to disobey the Crown Prince's order and commit treason?"

Wang Meng was so frightened that his legs went weak and he almost collapsed to the ground. He fell to his knees with a plop and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, please forgive me! I am loyal to Your Highness and have absolutely no intention of treason."

"However, the situation in the court is changing rapidly. I am only a small guard and dare not act rashly. I beg Your Highness to give me some time. Once I receive the court's precise instructions, I will open the city gate for Your Highness as soon as possible."

Li Chengqian snorted coldly and was about to say something else.

At this time, there was some commotion on the city wall, as if someone had arrived.

After a while, the city gate slowly opened a crack.

A man came out on horseback.

It's Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng came to Li Chengqian, dismounted, and bowed: "Your Highness, I, your humble servant Wei Zheng, am honored to meet you."

Li Chengqian was slightly startled when he saw Wei Zheng, and asked, "Mr. Wei, what are you doing here?"

Wei Zheng looked solemn and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince is the regent, which is the ancestral system. His Majesty has restored your position as the Crown Prince. It is reasonable for your Highness to enter the city to regent."

"It's just that there is no reason for the army led by Your Highness to enter the city. The situation in Chang'an City is delicate now. If a large army enters the city, it will inevitably cause panic and will not be conducive to stabilizing the situation. In my opinion, Your Highness can bring a thousand soldiers into the city. This will not only maintain the dignity of the Crown Prince, but also appease the people in the city. I hope Your Highness will think twice."

Li Chengqian raised his lips slightly, revealing a hint of sneer, and said: "Duke Wei, what you said is somewhat reasonable, but if I only bring a thousand soldiers into the city, how can I ensure my own safety? How can I deter those who have evil intentions and smoothly exercise my power as regent? The forces of all parties in Chang'an are complicated. If I am alone and weak, won't I be at the mercy of others?"

Wei Zheng replied: "Your Highness, I know that you are worried. But now that His Majesty is seriously ill, the people in the court are in a panic, and the people in the city are even more terrified."

"If a large army enters the city at this time, it will inevitably cause riots and Chang'an will be in danger. Your Highness has the world in mind and should put the overall situation first. Although a thousand soldiers are few, as long as they are deployed properly, they can protect Your Highness. And after Your Highness enters the city, if you can show the majesty and kindness of the prince, appease all parties, and stabilize the situation, why worry about not being able to control the situation?"

Li Chengqian was silent for a moment, then said, "I'll give you my reply tomorrow."

Wei Zheng cupped his hands: "Yes, Your Highness."

Return to the camp.

Li Chengqian immediately summoned generals such as Su Dingfang and Pei Xingjian, as well as the eunuch Wen Zhong, to discuss the matter. Wen Zhong spoke first: "Your Highness, you must not trust them. This is obviously a trap. They only let Your Highness enter the city with a thousand soldiers. When the time comes, they can do whatever they want to Your Highness. Isn't Your Highness a turtle in a jar, at the mercy of others?"

Su Dingfang also said solemnly: "What the eunuch Wen said is very true, Your Highness. The situation in Chang'an City is complicated now, and the forces of all parties are intertwined. Zhangsun Wuji, Chu Suiliang and others have always been suspicious of Your Highness. They must have bad intentions when they put forward such conditions. Although our army has 30,000 elite soldiers, if Your Highness only brings 1,000 people into the city, once something unexpected happens, it will be difficult for us to rescue them quickly outside the city."

Pei Xingjian pondered and said, "Your Highness, this matter is indeed thorny. On the surface, this condition is reasonable. It can not only maintain your status as the crown prince and regent, but also appease the forces in the city that oppose your Highness."

"But the risks behind this cannot be ignored. However, if Your Highness flatly refuses, I am afraid that the ministers in the court will seize the opportunity to accuse Your Highness of disregarding the overall situation and intending to rebel, and thus prevent Your Highness from entering the city."

Li Chengqian nodded: "No hurry, let's talk about it tomorrow."
-
That night.

On Zhuque Street, a plain carriage slowly moved forward on the empty street. Sitting in the carriage was Du He, the former confidant of the crown prince who had disappeared for a long time.

No one knew that Du He had secretly returned to Chang'an a long time ago.

In fact, Du He has always been in charge of Li Chengqian's intelligence organization in Chang'an.

The carriage stopped at the side door of the Jinwu General's Mansion. Du He took a deep breath, waited for the driver to stop the carriage, then pushed open the door and got out. He looked up at the towering courtyard wall, straightened his clothes, and walked steadily towards the side door. The guard at the door held a spear and looked alert. When he saw someone approaching, he immediately stepped forward to stop them: "This is the Jinwu General's Mansion, no outsiders are allowed to approach!"

Du He took out a token from his bosom without any hurry, and flashed it in front of the guards: "I am Du He, I have an important matter to ask to see General Lu, please pass it on." The guards saw the token clearly, and their faces changed slightly. This was the token that the prince had given to his confidants, so they naturally recognized it. Although they had doubts in their hearts, they did not dare to neglect it. A guard hurriedly ran into the mansion to report.

Soon, the guard returned and said respectfully, "Prince Consort Du, please follow me." Du He followed the guard through the winding corridor and came to a quiet courtyard. In the courtyard, Lu Tong was wearing casual clothes, with his hands behind his back, waiting with a serious face. Seeing Du He come in, Lu Tong waved his hand and signaled the guard to leave. When the guard walked away, Lu Tong frowned and said, "Prince Consort Du, you are taking a great risk by coming to my house at this time. What is the reason?"

Du He stepped forward and bowed, saying, "General Lu, at this point, I can no longer care about much. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is now at the gates of the city, and the situation in Chang'an is precarious. As the Crown Prince's old subordinates, how can we sit back and watch?"

Lu Tong's expression froze, he looked around vigilantly, and said in a deep voice: "Prince Consort Du, be careful with your words! The Crown Prince's raising of an army is considered a great rebellion in the court. Although His Majesty is seriously ill, his influence is still there. I have now surrendered to His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin, so it is really inappropriate for me to have too much involvement with the Crown Prince, otherwise I may be exterminated."

Du He said, "General Lu, you are really wrong. The Crown Prince raised an army not for personal gain, but to save the Tang Dynasty. Now in the court, the King of Wei and the King of Jin are fighting for power and making the court a mess. Your Majesty is seriously ill, but they don't think about stabilizing the situation, but instead fight each other and fight each other."

Lu Tong snorted coldly: "Prince Consort Du, I'm afraid even you can't believe what you said."

Du He replied in a deep voice: "If that's the case, then I won't beat around the bush."

"General Lu has now surrendered to the King of Jin. Have you ever thought that the King of Jin would really regard you, a former subordinate of the Crown Prince, as his confidant? He is just using your military power temporarily. Once the situation stabilizes, how much do you think you will have a foothold?"

Lu Tong frowned, seeming to want to say something but stopping himself, obviously Du He hit the nail on the head.

Du He continued, "But if you help His Royal Highness the Crown Prince enter the city and take control of the situation, then the meaning will be completely different. This is a real merit of following the emperor! After His Royal Highness the Crown Prince takes power, he will definitely entrust you with important tasks. Not to mention wealth and honor, you will also have a pivotal position in the court, and your name will be recorded in history in no time."

Lu Tong paced slowly, looking troubled, and whispered: "Prince Consort Du, although what you said makes sense, the risk is too great. If we fail, my whole family will be in jeopardy..."

Du He said: "General Lu, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has been planning this for a long time, and everything is ready, so there is a great chance of success. Moreover, His Royal Highness has always valued friendship and loyalty, and he will definitely protect you even if something unexpected happens. Think about it again, if you miss this opportunity, when the King of Jin takes over the throne, you will always be an outsider and be restricted in every way. But if you help the Crown Prince, you will be a founding hero, and the future of the Tang Dynasty will also have a significant impact on you."

"Besides, as long as the prince can enter the city, given the current situation in Chang'an, do you think the prince will lose, General Lu?"

Lu Tong was in deep thought.

Your Majesty is seriously ill.

If the prince leads his army into the city, he will certainly be able to take control of the situation at court.

Thinking of this, Lu Tong hesitated for a few seconds, but finally agreed.
-
In a secret mansion in Chang'an, Wei Wang Li Tai was pacing back and forth anxiously. Hearing that Crown Prince Li Chengqian was approaching the city, his face became even gloomier, and he thought to himself: This Crown Prince is coming with such a strong momentum, if he is allowed to take control of the situation, wouldn't all the hard work he has put in for so many years be wasted?
At this time, his confidant Chai Lingwu hurried into the hall. Seeing Li Tai's worried face, he quickly stepped forward and said, "King Wei, the situation is critical now. Crown Prince Li Chengqian's army is approaching. We must think of a countermeasure."

Li Tai stopped, frowned, and asked, "Lingwu, do you have any good ideas? I really don't want to watch Li Chengqian succeed like this."

Chai Lingwu pondered for a moment and said slowly: "King of Wei, in my opinion, we are outnumbered now, and the crown prince has a large army. It is difficult to win against him head-on. It would be better to..."

He paused slightly, his eyes flickering, "Temporarily unite with King Jin."

"Alliance with King Jin?"

Li Tai was surprised: "Do you know what you are talking about? Zhinu and I have always been at odds with each other. We usually fight for power openly and secretly. How can I join forces with him now?"

Chai Lingwu quickly explained, "King of Wei, this is a different time. Now the Crown Prince is our common enemy. King Jin is the general of the Right Jinwu Guard and has military power. If we can join hands with him, we will have the confidence to compete with the Crown Prince. Moreover, if the Crown Prince really agrees to bring only one thousand soldiers into the city, this will be our perfect opportunity. As long as we unite with King Jin and take down the Crown Prince when he enters the city, who in the court can compete with you, King of Wei?"

Li Tai lowered his head in deep thought, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. After a long while, he slowly spoke: "Although your idea is risky, it is also a solution. But will Zhinu agree to join forces with me? I'm afraid he has his own plans."

Chai Lingwu said confidently, "Don't worry, King Wei. I will take care of this matter. I have some connections with people around King Jin, so I can go and test his attitude first. Besides, King Jin will not sit idly by with the threat from the crown prince. As long as we are sincere and the conditions we put forward are reasonable, he should consider joining forces with us."

Li Tai nodded slightly and said solemnly: "Okay, then let's do as you say. This matter is of great importance, you must be careful and cautious, and don't let any news leak out. If you can successfully unite with the King of Jin, the King will definitely reward you handsomely."

Chai Lingwu bowed and saluted, "Don't worry, King Wei, I will do my best."

After saying that, he turned around and left in a hurry, heading towards the residence of Jin Wang Li Zhi.

At the same time, in the residence of Jin Wang Li Zhi, Li Zhi was discussing countermeasures with his advisers. A guard hurried in and reported: "Jin Wang, Chai Lingwu wants to see you."

Li Zhi frowned slightly, wondering in his heart: Why did Chai Lingwu come here at this time?
He and Li Tai have always been inseparable. Could it be that Li Tai sent him?

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Let him in."

Chai Lingwu stepped into the hall and saw Li Zhi sitting in the main seat. He hurried forward and saluted respectfully: "Prince Jin, Chai Lingwu greets you."

Li Zhi raised his hand slightly, indicating that he didn't need to be polite, and then asked: "Brother Chai, what are you doing here today?" Chai Lingwu looked around and saw that everyone in the hall was Li Zhi's confidant, so he said bluntly: "Prince Jin, now the crown prince Li Chengqian is at the gates of the city, and the situation is critical. My king of Wei knows that the prince of Jin has a large army and is concerned about the safety of the court, so he specially ordered me to come and discuss the matter of alliance with Your Highness."

Li Zhi was shocked, but he remained calm and asked, "Alliance? How? What is Fourth Brother's plan?"

Chai Lingwu was delighted to see that Li Zhi did not directly refuse, and quickly said, "Prince Jin, if the prince only brings a thousand soldiers into the city, this will be our chance."

"My King of Wei proposes that King Dianjin lead the Right Jinwu Guard to coordinate with my King of Wei's men inside and outside the city to capture the Crown Prince when he enters the city. This way, we can both resolve the crisis in Chang'an and keep the court stable."

(End of this chapter)