My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 464 Li Shimin Wants to Abdicate
Wang Cheng looked at the civil and military officials of the Arab Empire and sneered.

He then raised an eyebrow, took out a gilded token from his pocket, and placed it on the council table. "This is the troop mobilization token of the Great Tang Dynasty. If I do not send a letter of peace before sunset today, General Su will immediately lead his army westward."

"If you want war, I will fight to the end. But I wonder if the people of Baghdad are willing to endure artillery bombardment for your so-called dignity?"

The angry shouts in the hall gradually subsided.

The ministers looked at each other, their eyes filled with hesitation and fear.

Abdul looked at the troop mobilization token on the table, then at Umar III, and whispered, "Caliph, the Tang people are determined to make us their vassals. If we don't agree, war may truly be unavoidable..."

Umar III remained silent for a long time before finally speaking slowly, his voice filled with weariness and helplessness: "Fine... just as the envoy requested, add to the treaty 'Arabia will submit to the Tang Dynasty and honor the Tang Dynasty as the Celestial Empire'."

"Caliph!" Khalid exclaimed, his eyes filled with resentment.

Umar III waved his hand, interrupting him: "God teaches us to think of our people. We can only endure the humiliation of submission, rather than the flames of war."

Upon hearing this, Wang Cheng finally showed a hint of satisfaction. He picked up the treaty and handed it to Abdul: "Within three days, make three copies of the revised treaty. Give one to me, keep one in the Baghdad Royal Palace, and have the envoy send one to Chang'an with the tribute. If there is any mishap, I will not tolerate it!"

After speaking, he turned and walked out of the hall, the sound of his gilded scepter striking the ground being particularly clear in the silent council chamber.

The Arab ministers watched his retreating figure, their eyes filled with anger and resentment, but none of them dared to stop him.

The Tigris River flowed quietly, reflecting the lights of the palace, and the alliance agreement bearing the words "submission" finally brought this game that spanned thousands of miles to a close with the dignity of the Tang Dynasty in mind.
-
In the autumn of the twenty-sixth year of the Zhenguan era, after an autumn rain, the air in Chang'an still carried a damp chill, but inside the Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace, it was warm and cozy.

Li Chengqian held the report that had been delivered by fast horse from Baghdad.

The inscription clearly states: "The Arab Caliph Umar III has signed a treaty, agreeing to submit to the Tang Dynasty and recognize it as the Celestial Empire. He will pay tribute annually with two thousand bolts of Persian brocade and two hundred fine Arabian horses. The first batch of tribute has already been escorted by envoys and is traveling eastward along the Silk Road."

"Issue my order!" Li Chengqian stood up abruptly: "Immediately make a hundred copies of this news and send them to the Hall of State Affairs, the Imperial Academy, and the East and West Markets. Order the Chang'an Gazette to print a special edition and publish it in large characters with red ink."

"The Arabs submit and pay tribute, and the Tang Dynasty's power extends to all corners of the world!"

"Furthermore, order the Court of State Ceremonial to prepare ceremonial guards so that when the Arab envoys arrive in Beijing, they can be greeted with the highest honors due to envoys from vassal states!"

The moment the decree was issued, Chang'an was in an uproar.

That afternoon, the special edition of the Chang'an Gazette spread throughout the streets and alleys. Newsboys waved newspapers with still-wet ink, shouting, "The Arabs have submitted to the Tang Dynasty! There is no more war in the Western Regions!" The clinking of copper coins and cheers mingled together, making it even more lively than when the Tibetan Empire was pacified.

Merchants in the East and West markets were the first to respond. The shopkeepers of silk shops ordered their employees to hang up red silk and newly arrived Persian brocade, and temporary stoves were set up under the tavern signs to distribute celebratory rice wine to passersby for free.

"Even the Arabs have submitted!"

An old tea drinker in the tavern held a newspaper, his eyes crinkling into slits with laughter. "Back in the day, Your Majesty, although the Western Regions were vassals, they still rebelled from time to time. Now, His Highness the Crown Prince has pacified Tibet and subdued the Arabs in just a few years. Such achievements would probably even make Emperor Wu of Han admire him!"

The students of the Imperial College were even more excited. They crowded around the bulletin board, reading the report aloud. Some even wrote down the lines "The Celestial Empire, where all nations come to pay homage" on the spot.

"The Arab world is the strongest empire in the Western Regions. Even they have submitted to us, which shows the power of our Tang Dynasty's firearms and the strength of our nation!"

A young scholar clapped his hands in admiration, "With the trade routes to the Western Regions now open, our Tang Dynasty's silk and tea will surely be able to be sold to even more distant western regions!"

The news not only caused a stir in Chang'an, but also quickly spread to the surrounding vassal states and tribes of the Tang Dynasty.

Upon receiving the news, the leader of the Turkic tribe in the northern desert immediately summoned his people, ordered them to prepare fine horses and furs, and personally went to Chang'an to pay tribute.

Although they had outwardly submitted, they had secretly colluded with the tribes of the Western Regions. Now that they saw such a powerful empire as the Arabs bowing down to the Tang Dynasty, they dared not harbor any disloyal thoughts.

The city-states of Kucha and Khotan in the Western Regions were even more proactive, sending people to the Anxi Protectorate to request the Tang Dynasty to establish more official schools in the area and promote Central Plains culture. Even small tribes that used to frequently rob merchant caravans sent their sons to Chang'an as hostages to show their loyalty.

The changes in trade routes are even more significant. Previously, Arab merchants dominated the trade routes in Central Asia and often made things difficult for Tang Dynasty caravans. Now, after the signing of the alliance, the post stations in Arab countries are extremely courteous to Tang Dynasty caravans.

Persian brocade, Indian spices and other goods were continuously transported to Chang'an via the Silk Road, while Tang Dynasty silk, tea and porcelain were exported to Baghdad and even entered Egypt and Europe through Arab caravans.

The Sogdian merchants in Chang'an's West Market were all smiles. One Sogdian merchant, holding a piece of newly arrived porcelain, said to his assistant, "We no longer need to worry about the Arabs causing trouble. With the Tang Dynasty by our side, we can do business to the ends of the earth!"

In the imperial court, the officials all submitted memorials to offer their congratulations.

Changsun Wuji said excitedly, "Your Highness, the submission of Arab nations not only brings stability to the Western Regions, but also spreads the prestige of our Great Tang far and wide overseas. From now on, all nations will come to pay tribute, and no one will dare to violate the borders of our Great Tang! I request that a grand ceremony of tribute from all nations be held on the Lantern Festival next January, so that envoys from all countries can witness the strength of the Great Tang!"

Fang Xuanling added, “The fine horses that Arabia pays tribute to us can enrich our Tang Dynasty’s horse stables and improve the warhorses in Hexi; if the weaving techniques of Persian brocade can be introduced to the Central Plains, it will surely make our Tang Dynasty’s silk even better than before. This is a mutually beneficial move, and Your Highness’s foresight is deeply admired by me.”

Li Chengqian stood on the high platform of the Eastern Palace, gazing at the city lights and cheering crowds, a smile playing on his lips. He knew that the significance of the Arabs' submission and tribute went far beyond the pacification of an empire.

This signifies that the Tang Dynasty's influence has truly extended to the Western Regions, providing the most powerful confirmation of its status as a superior celestial empire. From Chang'an to Baghdad, from the northern deserts to the South China Sea, the Tang Dynasty's prestige served as an invisible barrier, safeguarding the peace of the frontiers and the smooth flow of trade routes.

As night fell, the lights of Chang'an shone even brighter than usual.

The palace lanterns of the Eastern Palace and the Imperial City lit up one after another, illuminating the surging crowds on Zhuque Avenue. Joyful songs of feasting came from the restaurants, the temple bells rang to pray for the prosperity of the era, and even the painted boats on the Qujiang Pool were hung with red lanterns, with the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments drifting far away on the evening breeze.

No one could have imagined that in just a few years, the Tang Dynasty could go from frequent wars in the Western Regions to a golden age where all nations paid tribute to it.

No one could have imagined that the prestige of the Tang Dynasty would make the distant Arab Empire bow down and submit.

Li Chengqian gazed at the western night sky, knowing full well that this was just the beginning. With the widespread adoption of firearms, the opening of trade routes, and the dissemination of culture, the Tang Dynasty's golden age would write an even more glorious chapter amidst the splendor of "its power reaching all corners of the world, and all nations paying tribute."
-
Taiji Side Hall.

The underfloor heating in the warm room was burning brightly, while the autumn rain outside the window pattered softly on the paulownia leaves.

Li Shimin leaned back on the cushioned imperial couch, holding the report from Baghdad in his hands, which he had read three times already.

His beard trembled slightly on his chest, and his eyes held both satisfaction and an inexplicable sense of melancholy. "Your Majesty, the millet porridge has gone cold. Would you like another serving?"

The eunuch Zhang Anan entered quietly and saw Li Shimin repeatedly stroking the edge of the report with his fingertips. In the end, he did not dare to say anything and bowed before leaving.

Before long, Gao Shilian, dressed in a purple court robe, walked into the warm pavilion. The sound of his boots stepping on the carpet was particularly clear in the silence. Seeing Li Shimin's appearance, he had already guessed seven or eight parts of the story. This news of victory in the Western Regions must have stirred up His Majesty's thoughts about the past.

"Please sit down, Lord Gao." Li Shimin raised his hand, his voice slightly hoarse, no longer as cheerful as before.

“Look at Chengqian, he has really brought the Western Regions under control. The Arabs… Back when I sent Hou Junji to conquer Gaochang, I had only heard of them, but now they have bowed down and become my subjects.”

Gao Shilian took the report, his gaze sweeping over phrases like "annual tribute of two thousand bolts of Persian brocade" and "perpetual vassalage." His fingertip paused slightly before he slowly said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince's methods are decisive. First, he used firearms to defeat Tibet, then he sent envoys to pressure the Arabs. Such boldness is indeed rare. However..."

He paused slightly, but finally spoke: "Your Majesty, there must still be some lingering resentment about what happened at Xuanwu Gate back then, right?"

These words were like a pebble thrown into Li Shimin's calm mind.

He remained silent for a long time, then suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly, tapping his knuckles lightly on the armrest of the imperial bed: "A lump? More than a lump. I launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident back then to stop the damage and to prevent the Tang Dynasty from falling into internal strife."

"But he did something else. He broke through the Xuanwu Gate and led a large army to force the palace. When I was in the Taiji Hall, I saw him standing on the steps in full armor. I suddenly felt that this country would eventually be handed over to someone more ruthless."

The air inside the heated room instantly froze, with only the crackling of the floor heating system.

Gao Shilian looked at the complex emotions in Li Shimin's eyes: helplessness at losing power, sighs at his son's reenactment of the coup, and even a hint of secret approval.

He said softly, “Your Majesty, although His Highness the Crown Prince seized power by force, he did not indiscriminately kill meritorious officials or disturb the people. On the contrary, he quelled foreign threats and opened up trade routes, which can be considered as doing justice to the Tang Dynasty. When he first came to power, I was worried that he would act rashly, but now it seems that I was overthinking it.”

"Yes, there was no indiscriminate killing, no disturbance to the people." Li Shimin repeated these words, his gaze fixed on the rain curtain outside the window, as if he were seeing the scene of Chengqian's coup that year.

The armor gleamed blindingly, and the court officials fell silent in fear. The prosperous reign of Zhenguan, which they had personally created, was handed over in that instant, in a way that caught them completely off guard.

Now he is no longer worried that Li Chengqian will kill Qingque and Zhinu.

Even he himself cannot shake the position of the current crown prince.

“Lately I have been feeling tired and I keep thinking about the scene of the coup I staged back then. Now that the Western Regions are pacified and the world is at peace, I think... it would be better to go with the flow and formally abdicate in his favor.”

Li Shimin spoke slowly, his tone tinged with melancholy.

"Your Majesty!" Gao Shilian looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with surprise: "Have you really come to your senses?"

Li Shimin sighed, his tone filled with the wisdom of years: "What if I can't figure it out?"

“He has already taken control of the army and the court. He is the most powerful man in the land. Who doesn’t obey his orders? I, the emperor, have long been a figurehead. It would be better to abdicate voluntarily, which would preserve the face of the royal family and allow us to see where he can lead the Tang Dynasty.”

He picked up the report, his fingertips tracing the words "Arab submission," and his voice suddenly became low: "It took me three years to capture Qaghan Jieli. He pacified Tibet and subjugated the Arabs in just two years."

“I am skilled in civil administration, he is skilled in military affairs; I seek stability, he seeks progress.”

"Perhaps, the Tang Dynasty truly needs a monarch like this to command respect across the land. But..."

Li Shimin changed the subject, a hint of melancholy flashing in his eyes: "I always think of him when he was a child, unable to draw his bow in the Imperial Garden, and insisting that I teach him how to shoot. At that time, there was no murderous intent in his eyes, only pure filial piety."

Gao Shilian felt a pang of sadness and gently comforted him, "Your Majesty, people always change, especially those born into the royal family. His Highness the Crown Prince's ruthlessness now is also for the sake of protecting the Tang Dynasty."

"If you abdicate, you can enjoy your later years in peace and witness him create a golden age that surpasses even the Zhenguan era. Wouldn't that be a good thing?"

Li Shimin remained silent for a long time before finally nodding slowly, his gaze becoming firm again: "You are right. Tomorrow, go to the Hall of State Affairs and tell them that I have decided to abdicate. Let them choose an auspicious day."

The autumn rain outside the warm pavilion gradually subsided, and a ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on the glazed tiles of the Taiji Palace, but it did not dispel the complex emotions in Li Shimin's eyes. Looking at the report in his hand, he suddenly felt that the news of the Arabs' submission was less a testament to Chengqian's achievements and more a way to save face for himself.

A dignified exit from the center of power, watching the Tang Dynasty stride towards a new future.

“Lord Gao,” Li Shimin suddenly spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of solemnity.

"At the abdication ceremony, you tell Chengqian for me that he can seize this empire by force, but he must guard it with his heart. If he fails to guard it well, I will not forgive him even in the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

Gao Shilian bowed deeply, his voice choked with emotion: "Your Majesty, I obey your decree. Rest assured, His Highness the Crown Prince will remember your words."

Li Shimin remained silent, and after watching Gao Shilian's departing figure, a hint of relief flashed in his eyes.

In fact, if Li Chengqian wanted to force his way into power, there was nothing he could do.

It should be noted that back then, at the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he was only the crown prince for a few months before ascending the throne and becoming emperor, honoring his father as the retired emperor.

Originally, it was thought that Li Chengqian would do the same, but unexpectedly, six years have passed and Li Chengqian has not shown any intention of demanding the throne.

It seems he's become addicted to being the crown prince.

In fact, Li Shimin was well aware of Li Chengqian's thoughts. The reason he was not in a hurry to ascend the throne was to prove himself to Li Shimin.

He, the crown prince, is the most outstanding successor of the Tang Dynasty.

Now, he has done it.

(End of this chapter)