My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 353 As long as I am here, you will always be the prince
Close hand?

"How does Father want me to stop?"

"Disband the Shenwu Army and hand over the artillery, is that right?"

Li Chengqian asked back with a calm expression.

Li Shimin's expression froze, and he frowned slightly, saying, "You are the crown prince, and you will inherit the throne in the future."

"The Shenwu Army does not need to be disbanded, but artillery is a powerful weapon for the country, and the Tang army should be expanded."

"With the help of artillery, how can other countries outside the region compete with us?"

"Wait a hundred years from now, won't the Tang army still be under your control?"

Li Shimin felt that his idea was correct. If such a powerful weapon as artillery was used in the Tang army, the northern Turks would be easily defeated.

It was a piece of cake for the Tang Dynasty to expand its territory.

Li Chengqian replied: "Father is right. If you agree to one condition, I will agree to your request."

Li Shimin was shocked. He originally thought that the prince would not agree to hand over the artillery, but he did not expect that the prince would actually agree to do so. He immediately boasted, "Not to mention one, even ten will do."

Li Chengqian smiled coldly and said, "Father, please let me finish speaking before you say anything else."

Li Shimin said confidently: "Just what you said."

Li Chengqian said word by word: "I want Qingque Zhinu to be exiled to a distant land and never return to Chang'an."

"Father, can you agree?"

Li Shimin's face suddenly froze.

Zhinu is okay, but Qingque is...

He really couldn't bear to leave.

What's more, he would never return to Chang'an.

Does that mean I will never see Qingque again?
Li Shimin was silent.

He considered more than just the father-son relationship between him and Qingque.

If Qingque and Zhinu both leave Chang'an, then he and the prince will be the only ones left in the city.

The powers of the emperor and the crown prince overlap.

When one side is strong, the other side is weak.

If anything happens in the future, there will be one less buffer between us and the prince, which means we will be in a direct confrontation.

This is what Li Shimin doesn't want to see.

Moreover, with the prince's current strength, future conflicts are bound to be unavoidable.

"Except for this, I can promise you everything else."

After a long while, Li Shimin replied slowly.

Li Chengqian laughed: "Besides this, Your Majesty, do you think I need anything else?"

"What does father want to do by leaving Qingque and Zhinu in Chang'an? Is it because he misses Qingque?"

"If Qingque doesn't come back, Your Majesty can go and see him. Your Majesty likes hunting, so why not give Qingque a good hunting spot? This way, Your Majesty can go there every year. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"

Li Chengqian's words made it difficult for Li Shimin to answer, and he reluctantly said, "Chengqian, that's not the case. You should know in your heart that Qingque will not and cannot compete with you for the throne."

"In my heart, you are the most important prince of the Tang Dynasty. You know this, right?"

"How about this? I will forgive you for your previous rebellion, your gathering of troops in Luoyang, and your attack on Tongguan. Let's go back to the way we were before."

Li Chengqian's eyes flickered, and he asked, "Like before?"

"Why did I rebel? Father, don't you know? I did it to protect myself."

"Am I going to watch Qingque crushing a prince like me?"

"Hibiscus Garden, Wude Hall, ridiculous, ridiculous."

"Your Majesty really treats me like a child."

"But I've grown up. I'm no longer that child who can be easily fooled."

Seeing this, Li Shimin said carefully: "Cheng Qian, it's not what you think. The affairs of the court are not that simple."

"The so-called way of the emperor is balance."

"Yes, I do love Qingque very much, but I have never been stingy with you, Chengqian."

"No matter who the ministers are, they must not dominate alone. If one dominates alone, even the most loyal ministers will become treacherous."

"Sima Yi once fought for Cao Wei and risked his life. How could he be disloyal? Why did he become disloyal later? It was because he was too powerful."

"The five surnames and seven families, the Guanlong clans, it is impossible for them to be too biased towards just one family."

"The Five Surnames and Seven Noble Clans are too powerful. The Guanlong clan headed by your uncle is naturally inferior to them, so they support the Guanlong clan and suppress the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Clans."

"But if the Five Surnames and Seven Aristocrats are gone, will the Guanlong clans be the next Five Surnames and Seven Aristocrats?"

"The way of the emperor is balance."

Li Shimin spoke earnestly, hoping that the prince would understand his difficulties.

How could Li Shimin, who controlled the city of Chang'an, not know about the affairs of Prince of Wei Li Tai? However, Li Shimin had his own considerations in many aspects.

In fact, Li Shimin didn't want the prince to grow up too smoothly.

The sharpness of a sword comes from sharpening, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold.

the Rainbow comes after the storm.

The prince will have to shoulder the entire Tang Dynasty in the future, and only after some polishing can he become a rough jade.

Speaking of which, Li Shimin felt that he was not wrong.

After all, as far as the current situation is concerned, the prince has finally been tempered and has become a qualified prince.

This shows that my decision was right.

The only error is that it was a little early.

In Li Shimin's opinion, the crown prince should be just the right age for him.

Li Shimin did not intend to occupy the throne forever. When he reached the same age as his father, he could give up the throne.

After all, it is still a little early now, so I can only inconvenience Cheng Qian a little.

"balance?"

Li Chengqian asked back, "Your Majesty, this is quite light-hearted."

"Back then, when Furong Garden gave banquets and Wude Hall held court, Qingque's popularity had already surpassed that of me, the crown prince. What kind of balance is this?"

"Is it because I am the crown prince that Your Majesty has to constantly promote Qingque to compete with me?"

"Your Majesty, can't you see that all the civil and military officials in the court flatter him when they see him?"

"Do you know what those ministers said? They said the Crown Prince was cowardly and incompetent, and that the King of Wei was the true crown prince in His Majesty's heart!"

"Is this the balance your majesty wants?"

"I should just be a coward and wait to inherit the throne."

"Your Majesty, if I had not gone to Liaodong, without gunpowder and artillery, do you think I could have really waited until that day?"

Li Shimin's face suddenly darkened: "Cheng Qian, you are the crown prince, the heir to the throne of the Tang Dynasty. Instead of thinking about how to govern the country and maintain peace, you are here fussing over these empty names!"

"I promoted Qingque because of what happened back then, and it would also give you more experience. When did you ever have the intention to depose me?"

"As long as I am here, you will always be the crown prince. Can't you even bear some rumors? If you can't even bear these, how can you bear the weight of the country?"

At this point, Li Shimin's voice became low: "The five surnames and seven families are intertwined, and the Guanlong clans have their own thoughts."

"When I first ascended the throne, these aristocratic families bowed to me on the surface, but they kept making small moves behind my back. Although your uncle Zhangsun Wuji is loyal, once the power of the Guanlong clan grows, it will also threaten the imperial power."

"I support Qingque because I want all forces to check and balance each other, so that no one side will dominate."

"You should understand that no matter how powerful the Wei Wang Party is, it cannot influence the court's decision-making."

"It's just a loud thunder. You've experienced it yourself."

Li Shimin was not wrong. The Wei Wang Party was extremely powerful, but this power was only relative to the ministers and the people.

It is completely useless for a prince like Li Chengqian.

As long as he was a little tougher, the King of Wei would be helpless. This was indeed true.

Before leaving Chang'an City, Li Chengqian just made a slight move and the King of Wei suffered a series of setbacks.

Apart from going to his father to complain, Li Tai really had no other way to deal with the prince.

To some extent, compared with Li Chengqian, Li Tai is more like a paper tiger.

"The Five Surnames and Seven Families control the imperial examinations, and the old Guanlong clans monopolize the government troops."

Li Shimin's voice gradually became more emotional: "Cheng Qian, do you think that I favor the King of Wei just to make him compete with you?"

"Your uncle Changsun Wuji is in charge of all the officials and has the merit of following the emperor. If he had not supported the Wei Wang Party to check and balance the government, the whole court would have long been dominated by the Guanlong clan!"

In response, Li Chengqian sneered: "The East Palace stables don't even have 300 war horses, but the King of Wei has 300 cavalrymen."

"Does your Majesty think that if I continue to endure until the day I ascend the throne, Qingque will be willing to watch me ascend the throne, or will he learn from what my father did and become the second son of Xuanwu Gate to seize the throne?"

Hearing about Xuanwu Gate, Li Shimin frowned: "Qingque won't do this."

Li Chengqian laughed: "Could Grandfather have thought that Your Majesty would do this? If Your Majesty can do it, why can't Qingque do it?"

"Your Majesty had 800 men back then, and I only have a few men in the Eastern Palace. When the second son fights for the throne, what can I rely on to stop him?"

"Relying on my title as the crown prince?"

Li Shimin retorted: "Your uncle, Changsun Wuji, will not allow it."

Li Chengqian laughed and said, "So, my life as a prince still needs to rely on others' charity?"

Li Shimin explained: "That's not the case, Cheng Qian."

"I will arrange everything myself."

"You're just too impatient."

Li Chengqian shook his head slightly: "But I don't see any hope."

“Having come this far, is this what I want?”

Li Shimin frowned, he felt the prince's firm thoughts.

But of course he couldn't agree to let Qingque and Zhinu go out to serve as fiefs.

There was silence between the father and son, and both sides could not find a suitable balance.

Li Shimin needed balance, but Li Chengqian needed security.

Today, there is no way to turn back, as all the soldiers under his command have followed him into Chang'an.

This is not a game of house. Once the military power and artillery are handed over, it will really be like Erfeng said.

Li Chengqian naturally would not do such a stupid thing.

Even if Li Shimin really sent the King of Wei and the King of Jin to remote fiefdoms, it would be impossible for Li Chengqian to hand over his military power and artillery.

This is his trump card, his guarantee.

At this stalemate, there was a sudden commotion outside the door.

"Your Highness."

It was Su Dingfang's voice.

At this time, Su Dingfang requested a meeting, and it was obvious that something had happened.

Glancing at Li Shimin, Li Chengqian replied, "Come in."

The door opened and Su Dingfang walked in.

Without even glancing at His Majesty, he bowed to Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness, there are people attacking at the west gate of Laitingfang. There are about several thousand soldiers and horses, all of them are Jinwu Guards, shouting for help."

"We have also discovered that there are many imperial guards stationed around Laitingfang, led by Lord Li Wei."

Li Chengqian's eyes flashed: "Li Jing led his troops to surround Lai Ting Fang?"

Then he turned to look at Er Feng: "Is this what your majesty said, that everything has been arranged and that I should not worry?"

"Should you not be anxious even when my head is hung under the Xuanwu Gate?"

Li Shimin suddenly felt that he had been slapped in the face.

He immediately shouted, "Who gave Li Jing the courage to mobilize the imperial guards without my order?"

"Zhang Ananda!"

Zhang Ananda came in hurriedly from outside the door: "Your Majesty."

Li Shimin ordered: "Pass on my edict and order Li Jing to withdraw his troops immediately."

Zhang Ananda bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Lai Tingfang West Gate.

The one who took action was naturally Prince of Jin, Li Zhi.

This time, Li Zhi did not lead the group, but quietly hid behind.

"Yifu, these five surnames and seven families really cannot be underestimated."

"I couldn't mobilize so many people before, but now with just one word, so many Jinwu Guards are moving."

"This is even more impressive than before."

Li Zhi looked at the crowded Jinwu Guards in front of him and said to Li Yifu beside him.

It's really just a name. These Jinwu Guards were all mobilized by the Five Surnames and Seven Clans.

Even though Li Zhi had already cleaned it up once before through Lu Tong, the foundation of the Five Surnames and Seven Families was too deep.

This made Li Zhi feel emotional but also a little wary.

Li Yifu nodded and said, "Prince Jin must be more careful. Cui Shengyu may seem sincere, but he actually has other plans. If you are not careful, you will fall into their trap."

Li Yifu had no good feelings towards the Five Surnames and Seven Families. He considered himself to be the most trusted confidant of the King of Jin.

If Cui Shengyu steals all the credit, how will I be able to improve in the future?

Li Zhi nodded and looked at the situation ahead.

The gate is not as strong as the city gate, and it is not difficult to break through. The sudden attack of the Jinwu Guards has already gained a lot of advantages.

But it is not that easy to score in a short time.

After waiting for a while, Li Zhi still didn't get any news and felt a little annoyed.

"Go ask Li Weigong why there is no movement yet."

Li Zhi just wanted to make a start, but if he really wanted to take action, he still had to look at Li Jing's side.

The imperial guards of the imperial court and the prince's Shenwu Army started fighting. From now on, things will be easier to deal with.

My father is in Lai Ting Fang.

Li Yifu replied: "I'll go ask right away."

the other side.

The news that the west gate of Lai Tingfang was attacked soon reached Li Jing's ears.

"Who dares to act on his own?"

Li Jing immediately asked.

His deputy general replied: "Lord Wei, they are not our men. There are thousands of Jinwu Guards at the west gate of Laitingfang."

After a pause, the deputy general said, "Brothers, look, it's the Right Jinwu Guard."

Right Jin Wuwei?

After hearing this, Li Jing understood clearly that the Prince of Jin was adding fuel to the fire.

Li Jing immediately ordered: "Take people there quickly to stop the Jinwu Guards. They must not act recklessly."

"Your Majesty is still in Laitingfang."

However, before the deputy general left the house, more news arrived.

"Reporting to the general, the imperial guards attacked the east gate of Laitingfang without authorization."

(End of this chapter)