My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 365 This is not what I want

Li Chengqian knows better than anyone what his foundation is.

It’s not the illusory imperial power, but one’s own team.

From a military perspective, once he chooses to take advantage of the situation, the soldiers trained at the Military Academy will inevitably become ideologically shaken.

These soldiers were carefully selected and personally taught by him, and they were educated with the ideology of "defending the country, being loyal and just".

If he himself behaves in a treacherous manner, the soldiers will doubt his leadership and waver in their beliefs. The army's morale will be unstable, and the army's combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced, and it may even lead to civil unrest.

From a political perspective, his behavior would be despised by the people of the world. Even if he succeeded in ascending the throne, it would be difficult to convince the people.

Not to mention touching the fundamental interests of the family again, that would be tantamount to cutting oneself off from the world.

What kind of fighting power can a team with firm beliefs unleash?

In this era, no one knows this better than Li Chengqian.

That is the flame that can burn the entire era.

"Pass the order."

"Dispatch 20,000 Shenwu troops to secretly take over the defense of Chang'an."

"Move in another 200 guns and hide them on the towers."

"Send someone to closely monitor the movements of the Prince of Wei's Palace and the Five Surnames and Seven Families. If any unusual movements are discovered, report them immediately."

Li Chengqian made a decision.

Even if I was destined to go through Xuanwu Gate, it wouldn't be at this time.
-
Tai Chi Palace.

Zhang Ananda, who was closely following the prince's movements, soon got the news.

When Zhang Ananda hurriedly stepped into the hall, he saw His Majesty holding a yellowed clan history in his hand. The remaining pages of Li Chengqian's childhood calligraphy between the pages were trembling slightly.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has received orders. The Shenwu Army will reinforce the city defenses overnight and deploy artillery to the Chang'an city gate."

Zhang Ananda bowed and saw out of the corner of his eye a pile of memorials on the table, impeaching the prince for occupying the Daming Palace and violating the etiquette.

Li Shimin's Adam's apple rolled twice, and his voice was as hoarse as sandpaper rubbing against a brick: "Did he say anything else?"

Zhang Ananda shook his head slightly: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince did not say much."

The hall suddenly fell into silence, with only the sound of dripping water from the copper leak being clearly audible.

Li Shimin slowly stood up and looked at the dim lights in the direction of the Daming Palace in the distance. He recalled the scene of watching the stars at Xuanwu Gate with Cheng Qian in his arms more than ten years ago. The child at that time clutched his fingers and said in a baby voice that he wanted to be "a hero more powerful than his father."

Li Shimin's voice suddenly choked up: "Ananda, you say..."

"Have I never really understood him?"

Zhang Ananda quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has the Tang Dynasty in his heart. He was once the regent, and the people all said that you are benevolent."

Li Shimin smiled bitterly, with a hint of desolation in his voice.

"But why is he unwilling to be a prince? He has to go against me!"

"I have never had the intention to depose or enthrone anyone."

"He wanted military power, I gave it to him. He wanted to march east, I also agreed to his request."

"I will give him all the soldiers, food and fodder."

"But why is he on guard against me?"

"Isn't what I gave him enough?"

Zhang Ananda didn't dare to agree.

In fact, the current situation is caused by Your Majesty's own failure to see things clearly.

At that time, Empress Changsun passed away and the prince broke his leg.

Rumor has it that the prince has a leg disease and cannot be a saint.

It happened that Your Majesty favored the King of Wei, and the Crown Prince was often reprimanded and had not been to the Eastern Palace for many years. He often let the King of Wei stay overnight in the palace. If it were not for the dissuasion of the ministers, he would even have rewarded the King of Wei with the Wude Hall.

In that situation, if His Majesty said that he had no intention of deposing or enthroning the emperor, would the Crown Prince believe it? Would the Crown Prince dare to believe it?

Of course, Zhang Ananda didn't dare to say these words directly.

If that's the case, then it's all your Majesty's fault.

After thinking for a while, Zhang Ananda comforted him, "Because the prince wants to prove himself, just like your majesty did in the past."

This argument is quite good.

Zhang Ananda was really worried about the harmony between His Majesty and the Crown Prince.

Li Shimin murmured to himself: "But I never thought of wanting him to be like me."

"I only hope that he is safe and can maintain his throne."

At this point, Li Shimin paused for a moment, thinking of some things that happened in the past, and then said, "Tell me, did I do something wrong in the beginning?"

Zhang Ananda consoled him, "Your Majesty is certainly not wrong, but there are some misunderstandings between you and the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince has not been able to appreciate your Majesty's good intentions."

Li Shimin waved his hand and interrupted Zhang Ananda.

He naturally knew that Zhang Ananda's words were mostly flattering.

Thinking back carefully to what happened back then, it was easy for the prince to misunderstand.

"I favor Qingque and presumptuously reward him, but I have never deducted anything from the Crown Prince, and even opened up the treasury for the Crown Prince to use as he pleases."

"I have invited a famous teacher from this world to teach the prince. After the prince's leg was injured, I have issued an edict to the world that anyone who can heal the prince's leg will be rewarded handsomely."

"I heard that there was a miraculous medicine in India, so I formed an envoy and went to India to find medicine for the prince."

"The Crown Prince wants to protect Rome. Although I don't want to, I haven't threatened to stop him."

"The Crown Prince wants to open a military academy. I know what he wants to do, to train his own direct lineage, but can I stop him?"

"They all say that I overstepped my authority to reward Qingque, but the prince did so many things, and I let him do whatever he wanted, didn't I?"

"Even though I knew about the Crown Prince's rebellion, I never really wanted to do anything about it."

"Because I know that the prince is afraid, I indulge him so that he can feel that he has the capital to protect himself."

Over the years, Li Shimin was certainly unaware of some of the prince's actions and thoughts.

At that time, the crown prince was still young and inexperienced, and Li Shimin actually had many opportunities and means to suppress him.

But he did not do so, because in Li Shimin's heart, the future of the Tang Dynasty would be handed over to the crown prince.

Li Shimin was very disappointed to see the crown prince become corrupt and keep young musicians.

Until now, even though the relationship between him and the crown prince was as hostile as fire and water, Li Shimin was very grateful. He ordered the death of the prince's kept musician and gave him five horsewhips.

Although those five beatings marked the beginning of the prince's rebellion, Li Shimin would still whip him if it happened again.

Li Shimin kept the horse whip carefully. There was the prince's blood on it, and it was also the beginning of the prince's awakening.

Zhang Ananda said at the right time: "The prince will eventually realize your majesty's good intentions."

Li Shimin sighed slightly, after all it was difficult to go back to the past.

However, the prince's obedience this time still made Li Shimin feel somewhat relieved.

At least, the prince is not so foolish that he only has imperial power in his eyes.

On the contrary, Qingque made Li Shimin very disappointed.

"Ananda, King Wei, do you think I have raised an ungrateful wolf?"

Li Shimin really couldn't understand how Qingque could do this and how dare she do this.

Li Shimin didn't care much about some things that happened in the past.

He also understood Qingque's thoughts.

The conflict between the King of Wei and the Crown Prince was a necessity to balance the Crown Prince, and also a test and suppression of the Crown Prince. However, in Li Shimin's heart, he always had a sense of propriety.

He believed that the King of Wei should also understand this measure.

Although he gave him some hope, Li Shimin himself had no real intention of replacing the crown prince.

With the help of King Wei, deal with the five surnames and seven families at the same time and drag them into the whirlpool.

Therefore, Li Shimin felt somewhat guilty towards the King of Wei, and coupled with the fact that he had been adopted before, he showed favoritism and acted presumptuously.

In fact, Li Shimin also thought about passing the throne to the crown prince when he was old.

Qingque will be a vassal state here, and he will not be treated unfairly.

Although the prince will definitely take some actions against Qingque after he ascends the throne, in Li Shimin's view, as a supporter of the Five Surnames and Seven Aristocrats, the King of Wei will still get the support of the Five Surnames and Seven Aristocrats after he becomes a vassal.

Even if the crown prince ascended the throne, it would be difficult for him to really kill the King of Wei.

Moreover, the court never allows one family to dominate. As long as the prince understands this principle, he will not kill the King of Wei even if he ascends the throne after his death.

Li Shimin had thought everything through long ago, but reality did not go as he had imagined.

Li Shimin could never have imagined that King Li Tai of Wei would collude with the Turks and let them enter the pass.

Zhang Ananda hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, calm down. The King of Wei must have been deceived by a traitor."

Speaking to the King of Wei does not mean that Zhang Ananda stands on the King of Wei's side, but that he does not want His Majesty to be sad.

Li Shimin sneered: "If you are really deceived, I will be relieved."

"He is blinded by greed, has evil ambitions, and is collaborating with the enemy and committing treason!"

"Even his own confidants could not stand what he did, allowing foreign enemies to trample on his own subjects."

"Don't mention the humiliation I suffered in the past. Doesn't he know what will happen to the people if the Turks enter the pass?"

"How many families will be destroyed, how many people will be torn apart, and how many people will die tragically under the Turkish cavalry."

"Doesn't he have any compassion for the people of the Tang Dynasty?"

"He still wants to be the emperor. If he becomes the emperor, will he care about the lives of the people of the Tang Dynasty?"

"I really didn't expect that Qingque, my beloved child, would come to this point."

"He has wasted my careful cultivation of him and his mother's care for him."

Li Shimin was so angry that his teeth itched.

In fact, Li Shimin's preference for Prince of Wei was not only due to personal reasons, but also because of Empress Changsun.

Cheng Qian, Qing Que and Zhi Nu were all children born after Empress Chang Sun carried her for ten months.

Empress Changsun naturally loved all of her children and it was not the case that she only favored Cheng Qian.

Not only Li Shimin, but also Empress Changsun felt guilty about Qingque.

Back then, when Li Yuan adopted Li Tai, Li Shimin was upset, and so was Empress Zhangsun.

Taking back Qingque was not only Li Shimin's wish, but also Empress Changsun's plea.

What kind of mother doesn't love her own children?

However, Empress Changsun also understood the importance of the system of primogeniture, so she always insisted that the crown prince should inherit the throne.

Even if the prince has a leg disease.

Before his death, he was also worried that Li Shimin might depose the crown prince, so he asked Li Shimin to be cautious in deposing and enthroning the crown prince.

"If her mother knew about this, she would be as disappointed in Qingque as I am."

Li Shimin felt a little tired.

At this moment, he suddenly felt that he was not a good father.

Li Shimin murmured to himself: "Everything has changed since Guanyin left."

He remembered that before the queen died, she held his hand, her eyes full of worry: "Your Majesty, Cheng Qian is the eldest son. Although he has a leg disease, he has a pure character. I hope Your Majesty will not easily depose him. Qingque and Zhinu are still young. You need to teach them more and let them live in harmony..."

But now, not only did he fail to make the children live in harmony, but he personally pushed them into the abyss of confrontation.

Li Shimin fell down on the dragon throne, staring blankly outside the hall.

It was as if I saw the scene when Empress Changsun was still alive.

At that time, the three children, Cheng Qian, Qing Que and Zhi Nu, always loved to gather around her. Cheng Qian imitated the teacher to teach his younger brothers how to read, Qing Que jumped around to share the new toys, and Zhi Nu snuggled obediently in her mother's arms, letting out crisp laughter from time to time.

The hall is always filled with laughter and joy.

The memory suddenly rewinds uncontrollably.

In the midsummer of the ninth year of Zhenguan, the lotus flowers in the Taiji Palace were in full bloom. Empress Changsun was leaning against the red railing, with her three children surrounding her like young swallows.

The laughter at that time penetrated the nine palace walls and startled a pond of egrets.

On the day of the queen's burial, the three children cried heart-wrenchingly.

Cheng Qian struggled to protect his two younger brothers despite his illness.

Qingque clutched the corner of his clothes tightly and called for his mother.

Zhinu cried so much that she fainted.

At that time, he thought the children had a deep bond and could support each other even without their mother. However, he did not expect that as they grew older, power and ambition would be like poisonous snakes, eroding their hearts little by little.

"I was wrong."

Li Shimin's tone was full of regret.

"I thought that giving them a comfortable life and endless love was good for them. But I forgot that when the queen was alive, what she valued most was their character and brotherhood."

Thinking of his preference for Li Tai and giving him rewards beyond the rules of etiquette, he made Li Tai develop ambitions that he should not have.

Is it really necessary to use brothers to balance the prince's power?

In the past, Li Shimin thought that doing so was right.

But only today did we realize that the result of this would only lead to brothers turning against each other and fighting to the death.

"Ananda, you said..."

Li Shimin raised his head, his eyes full of confusion.

"If the queen were still alive, would Cheng Qian and Qing Que have come to this point today?"

Without waiting for Zhang Ananda to answer, he continued, "When the queen was around, she could always resolve the little conflicts between the children. She would patiently teach Chengqian how to be a good brother, gently remind Qingque to respect his brother, and tell Zhinu to respect and love both brothers."

"Under her guidance, the children never compete for favor, but only think about how to make each other happy..."

Tears slid down Li Shimin's cheeks and dripped onto his dragon robe.

He seemed to see again the queen's busy figure in the palace, mending clothes for the children, telling them stories, and teaching them the principles of life.

The palace at that time was a real home.

But now, all that remains is the cold power struggle.

There is no family warmth at all.

Is it necessary to use the King of Wei to balance the Crown Prince? Is it necessary to use the King of Wei to attract the Five Surnames and Seven Affiliations?

If the brothers were in harmony, would they be unable to deal with the Five Surnames and Seven Families?

"I'm sorry Queen..."

Li Shimin closed his eyes and his voice choked.

"She entrusted her three children to me, but I turned them against each other. If she knew about this, she would be so disappointed..."

(End of this chapter)