My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 383 The Curse of Xuanwu Gate
Yes, Li Chengqian, who seemed to be quiet in Chang'an City, actually never stopped making small moves.

Chang'an City is a huge cage, and Li Chengqian's hands and feet have been tied since he came in.

But at the same time, Chang'an City is the biggest stage, and Li Chengqian, standing in the center of the stage, attracts everyone's attention.

How can ordinary people see so many things?

Therefore, I was attracted by the prince's every move.

Li Chengqian was also happy about this.

How can an army of 30,000 strong rule Chang'an?

Li Shimin had been managing the city of Chang'an for twenty years. Everyone from the ministers to the soldiers and clerks had long been accustomed to his rule.

It is totally impossible to cause chaos in Chang'an City with only 30,000 Shenwu soldiers.

But where is Li Chengqian's foundation?

It’s not Chang’an, nor Luoyang, but Liaodong.

That was Liaodong which completely belonged to Li Chengqian.

The nobles were destroyed, martial arts halls sprang up everywhere, and commerce was vigorously supported. At this time, Liaodong had completely changed its appearance.

Among them, through commercial activities, the soldiers from Liaodong were secretly transported to Luoyang, and then gradually entered Chang'an.

now.

Liaodong.

The north wind, carrying the salty smell of the Bohai Sea, slapped the mottled walls of Xiangping City. The seventeen-year-old Li Xiang stood on the top of the city wall, his black brocade robe rustling in the wind, and the jade pendant with a dragon pattern hanging from his waist shone coldly in the twilight. In the boy's childishness, he had already developed some of Li Chengqian's heroic spirit, but his eyes were deep and incompatible with his age.

"Your Highness, General Helan requests to see you."

The voice of the guard interrupted his thoughts.

When Li Xiang turned around, Helan Chushi, who was in his thirties, was walking quickly up the heavy stone steps.

The current Helan Chushi is completely different from before.

When Hou Junji was imprisoned, Li Chengqian returned to Chang'an and left Helan Chushi in Liaodong.

Standing out from the short ones, Helan Chushi is the tallest one among the old ministers of the Three Kingdoms in Liaodong. After all, he is from the Eastern Palace.

Li Xiang was naturally familiar with Helan Chushi, and there was no one else around him who could be used. After Li Chengqian left, Helan Chushi's good days came.

Now Helan Chushi is already a general commanding tens of thousands of troops.

Once upon a time, he never thought that there would be a day like today.

However, the news from Chang'an that his father-in-law Hou Junji had been released from prison and reinstated made Helan Chushi feel a little uneasy.

He was really worried that the prince would summon him back to Chang'an.

"Your Highness, the seventh batch of soldiers of the Divine Might Army have infiltrated Luoyang."

Helan Chushi went straight to the point, pulled out a secret letter from his sleeve, and tried to make his tone sound normal.

"News came from Chang'an that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince needs more money and food."

Li Xiang took the letter and began to read it.

Naturally, he completed his father's request without any compromise.

Helan Chushi was silent for a moment, then said, "Merchants in Liaodong have been hoarding grain recently."

Li Xiang sneered: "Those businessmen are waiting and watching."

"They are waiting, waiting for my father to gain a firm foothold in Chang'an, or waiting for him to lose power completely."

Helan Chushi felt mixed emotions as he looked at the boy in front of him who was a dozen years younger than him.

"Does Your Highness have any countermeasures?"

He was worried that Li Xiang was young and impetuous and would act erratically, and he was also afraid that the power he had built up in Liaodong would be damaged if he was too submissive to the prince's plans.

Li Xiang turned and walked towards the inner room of the tower. A map of Liaodong was spread out on the sandalwood table, and the trade routes marked with red ropes were as dense as a spider web.

"Tomorrow, call the instructors of the martial arts hall to discuss matters, and have them take some elite soldiers to 'visit' those grain merchants."

The young man's fingertips traced the red dot marking Liaodong City, and his childish voice was filled with unquestionable authority, "Tell them that if they are unwilling to sell the grain at a fair price, they should 'lend' the grain to the court."

Helan Chushi's pupils shrank slightly. He secretly admired Li Xiang's decisiveness, but he was also worried that this move would trigger a backlash from Liaodong merchants.

"Your Highness, if you act rashly, I'm afraid it will cause a lot of dissatisfaction."

As the old nobility passes away, the new nobility will naturally emerge.

The elimination of the Liaodong nobles meant the collapse of the original power structure and a huge gap in social order. In the power vacuum, a new class was needed to fill the power gap and maintain local operations.

The merchants, with their wealth and resources accumulated in commercial activities, became the group most capable of filling this gap. They cooperated with political forces through economic means, gained political discourse power, and gradually infiltrated all levels of local governance, thus replacing the old aristocracy and becoming the new power subject in Liaodong.

Li Chengqian's policy of vigorously supporting commerce provided fertile soil for the rise of the merchant class. After the aristocracy was purged, land and resources were redistributed, and merchants actively participated in commercial activities, opened up trade routes, established chambers of commerce, and accumulated huge wealth.

The prosperity of business not only made their economic strength far superior to other classes, but also enhanced their social influence.

When economic strength was transformed into political capital, the merchant class gained the confidence to compete with the old aristocracy and replace it.

They further consolidated their position by funding local construction and supporting military operations, and occupied a dominant position in Liaodong's economic system.

After the aristocracy was purged, the original aristocratic system and its privileges completely collapsed, and the social class structure faced reorganization. The traditional aristocratic ruling model based on blood relationship and family background was broken, and social mobility was enhanced.

The merchant class seized this opportunity and continued to expand their sphere of influence by relying on their own economic advantages and flexible business strategies.

They absorbed the industries and talents of the former nobles, integrated social resources, and established a new order centered on commercial interests.

Compared with the old aristocracy, the merchant class was better adapted to the new social environment and could meet the needs of all parties through commercial activities, thus standing out in the reorganization of the class structure and becoming the new dominant force in Liaodong.

Li Chengqian's military operations in Chang'an required stable rear support. Liaodong, as an important strategic base, required strong economic support.

The merchant class was able to provide food, fodder, funds and other materials to meet military needs, and therefore received the attention and support of Li Chengqian. Li Xiang and Helan Chushi also needed to cooperate with merchants in the governance of Liaodong to maintain local stability and development. The merchant class took this opportunity to establish close ties with military and political forces and obtain more policy preferences and development opportunities. This interdependent interest relationship has continuously improved the status of the merchant class in Liaodong.

But they forget that no matter how much wealth you have, you must have the strength to keep it.

The establishment of a large number of military academies in Liaodong greatly increased Liaodong's military strength, and 90% of these new soldiers were from the lower-class civilians of the Three Kingdoms of Liaodong.

In addition to the ideological education in the military parade hall, they only have one person to whom they are loyal, and that is the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty who once pacified the entire Liaodong Three Kingdoms.

"General, do you think I'm too reckless?"

Li Xiang picked up the wolf-hair brush on the table and drew a deep line on the map.

"Father is playing games with the ministers in Chang'an. How can we solve the urgent problem in Liaodong if we don't take drastic measures?"

The boy's wrist is still a little slender, but he writes decisively.

As the night deepened, the cold wind slapped the window lattice. Helan Chushi looked at the burning candle on the desk and finally mustered up the courage to speak: "Your Highness, I have something to say but I don't know whether I should say it or not. The Crown Prince entrusted Liaodong to you because he values ​​your ability, but Your Highness..."

He paused, weighing his words, "You are still young. I am worried that those old foxes may not be willing to submit."

In fact, what he was really worried about was that Li Xiang's youthful and impetuous style of doing things would disrupt the balance of power he had worked so hard to build, causing him to lose the position he had worked so hard to establish in Liaodong.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiang's eyes were as sharp as an eagle: "General Helan, are you questioning my methods?" The young man straightened his back, trying to show an aura that was inconsistent with his age.

Helan Chushi changed his appearance, and so did Li Xiang.

Li Xiang used to be docile and gentle, but now he has become more and more powerful.

This stems from the reshaping of power and responsibility. Li Chengqian entrusted Liaodong to Li Xiang, which gave him great power but also brought heavy responsibilities.

Managing Liaodong, preparing money, food and soldiers for his father, and stabilizing the rear, each task is related to the overall situation.

In the process of exercising power, Li Xiang deeply realized that a gentle approach to doing things would be difficult to convince the public, and could not effectively mobilize resources and implement decisions.

He must establish his authority and demonstrate his ability to control the situation in order to convince his generals and the people of Liaodong and ensure the smooth progress of all affairs.

The exercise of power and the assumption of responsibility reshaped his character and made him strong.

Secondly, as a father with a role model, Li Chengqian's actions in Chang'an set an example for Li Xiang.

His father was at the center of the power struggle and responded to challenges from all sides with tough measures. This courage and strength deeply influenced Li Xiang. Li Xiang wanted to be like his father and turn the tide at the critical moment.

In the process of imitating his father's style of doing things, he gradually abandoned his past docility, learned to face problems and make decisions with a tough attitude, and his character became more and more like Li Chengqian.

It was also an awakening of personal growth and self-awareness. In the process of handling Liaodong affairs, Li Xiang constantly faced various difficulties and challenges, which prompted him to grow rapidly. Every time he solved a problem, he had a new understanding of his own abilities and strengthened his self-confidence.

As he gained experience, he was no longer the docile, gentle, and dependent teenager, but grew into a leader who could take charge of his own affairs. The awakening of self-awareness brought about by this growth allowed him to dare to show his strong side and firmly implement his decisions to achieve his goals.

"Don't dare!"

Helan Chushi lowered his head slightly.

When he lowered his head, the strands of hair on his forehead obscured the complex look in his eyes, which showed surprise at Li Xiang's deterrence and an attempt to conceal his own ambitions.

"I am just worried that if I act too aggressively, something unexpected might happen."

Li Xiang reached out and helped Helan Chushi up, and said in a more gentle tone: "So we must kill the chicken to scare the monkey."

The young man's unique voice was firm: "General, you have followed father for many years, you should know father's ambitions. Chang'an is his battlefield, Liaodong is our battlefield. If you can't even do this, how can you live up to father's trust?"

When Helan Chushi stood up, he clenched his hands into fists in his sleeves.

The "trust" in Li Xiang's mouth was like a heavy hammer, hitting his heart. How could he not know the prince's kindness in recognizing him? But the taste of power was too tempting. How could he be willing to give up the freedom and control that the land of Liaodong gave him?
The next morning, Xiangping City was shrouded in a solemn atmosphere.

Helan Chushi, dressed in military uniform and with a long sword hanging from his waist, led a hundred elite soldiers from the martial arts hall and headed straight for Wang's grain store. Li Xiang was stationed in the military camp, deploying troops to block the main road to the dock and arranging secret agents to monitor the movements of other grain merchants.

Faced with the oppression of the army, the grain merchants in Xiangping City had no room for resistance and could only donate their grain obediently.

The news quickly spread throughout Liaodong, and other grain merchants came forward one after another to express their willingness to "support" the court.

The night was as dark as ink, and the biting cold wind from Liaodong seeped into the tent through the gaps in the window lattices.

Helan Chushi recalled Li Xiang's appearance yesterday.

Li Xiang, as the son of Li Chengqian, is following his father's path and moving towards the core of power step by step.

During these days of getting along with Li Xiang, he couldn't help but look sideways at the strength and decisiveness that the young man showed in handling Liaodong affairs.

The ruthless tactics when dealing with merchants, the careful layout when allocating food and grass, and the gradually burning eyes when looking at power.

These scenes intertwined with each other, slowly overlapping with the memory of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince when he was planning.

"Father is fighting in Chang'an, and we are in the rear. We must not hold him back." When Li Xiang said this, his eyes were terrifyingly determined.

Helan Chushi could feel the ambition in the boy's words, which was a desire for power.

And this obsession, in the vortex of power, is likely to evolve into a desire to devour everything.

If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince successfully launches a coup and ascends the throne, can Li Xiang, as the Crown Prince, really be content with the status quo?

Helan Chushi shook his head. The answer was no. The situation in Chang'an was bound to be turbulent, with all parties eyeing it covetously. The prestige and power that Li Xiang had accumulated in Liaodong would become his capital for competing for the throne, but it could also become a catalyst for him to go to extremes.

When Li Xiang stood on the edge of power and looked at his father's throne, would he think of the way his father seized the throne? Would he think that only by using the same means could he ensure the stability of his own position? Helan Chushi did not dare to think about it.

What worried him even more was Li Xiang's understanding of power. His experience in Liaodong had allowed the young man to prematurely experience the feeling of controlling the fate of others. Commanding the army and deciding the life and death of merchants constantly strengthened his dependence on power.

Li Chengqian's upcoming coup would send a dangerous signal to Li Xiang: seizing power by force is feasible and even correct.

Helan Chushi stopped and put his hand on the cold hilt of the sword. He suddenly realized that his concern for Li Xiang was not only due to his judgment of the situation, but also a fear of history repeating itself.

But what can he do?

Persuade? With Li Xiang's current personality, he probably wouldn't listen to him easily.

Stop? He was loyal to Li Chengqian, and Li Xiang was Li Chengqian's son and future successor.

This felt like a curse to him.

(End of this chapter)