My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 465 Giving Li Shimin a Final Glory
Yongningfang.

Prince Wei's Mansion.

When the news that "His Majesty has decided to abdicate in favor of the Crown Prince" spread into the mansion, Li Tai was holding a volume of the Book of Han, but his fingers unconsciously crumpled the pages.

He had been living a leisurely life in Chang'an for several years, and had long since lost the sharpness he had shown when vying for the throne. However, the words "abdication" were like a dull knife, still cutting open the old wounds in his heart that had never healed.

Over the years, he appeared to be living a peaceful life, but in reality, he was walking on thin ice. He wanted to leave the capital to avoid trouble, but he was afraid of being accused of "fleeing out of fear of punishment." He wanted to stay in Chang'an, but he was constantly held back by his status as a "deposed prince." Even the officials who used to be loyal to him now avoided him like the plague.

"Your Highness," the attendant suddenly remembered something and whispered, "I heard a few days ago that Chai Lingwu has been living in seclusion at home recently. Would you... like to discuss this with him?"

Li Tai's body stiffened abruptly.

Chai Lingwu, his close friend who plotted with him to seize the throne, was stripped of his official position and lived in seclusion in Chang'an after the Xuanwu Gate Incident because he was involved in it.

In recent years, although the two lived in the same city, they had never dared to meet, fearing that the Crown Prince's people would find fault with them. But now, even His Majesty was about to abdicate, what "touch" could they possibly have? He remained silent for a long time, then finally gritted his teeth and said, "Prepare the carriage, let's go to the Chai residence."

At this moment, in the Chai residence, Chai Lingwu was staring blankly at an old bow.

Upon hearing that "the King of Wei has sent an envoy to request an audience," the bow in his hand clattered to the ground, his face full of hesitation.

"The King of Wei is now a prince inactive; if you were to meet him, I fear..."

The butler advised with concern.

Chai Lingwu shook his head, gazing at the bleak autumn scenery outside the window, and said softly, "It's alright. After the Crown Prince's new policies, even the old subordinates who participated in the struggle for the throne have been pardoned. It's no big deal for me to meet with him."

But when he actually reached the gate of the mansion and saw that familiar green-canopied carriage, he couldn't help but clench his sleeves tightly.

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing Li Tai dressed in a plain brocade robe. He was a few pounds heavier than before, but the desolation in his eyes was undeniable.

The moment their eyes met, they both froze on the spot, as images of riding side by side through the streets of Chang'an and plotting strategies in a secret room flooded their minds.

“Ji Yang…” Li Tai spoke first, his voice slightly hoarse.

“King Wei!” Chai Lingwu’s eyes instantly reddened, and he quickly stepped forward to grasp his hand.

The two entered the study, dismissed everyone around them, and as soon as they sat down, tears began to fall uncontrollably.

"Back then in the Prince's mansion, they talked about plotting to seize the throne, but now..."

Chai Lingwu wiped away his tears, his voice choked with emotion: "I became an idle official without a title, you became a powerless prince, but the crown prince gained the throne."

Li Tai picked up his teacup, but his hand trembled so much that he spilled half the tea: "Who says otherwise? Back then, during the Xuanwu Gate Incident, I thought he wouldn't amount to anything, but not only did he succeed, he also pacified Tibet, conquered the Arabs, and even His Majesty wanted to abdicate in his favor. For the past few years, I've been hoping that His Majesty would remember our father-son relationship and give me a chance, but now..."

He choked up and couldn't continue speaking before he could finish.

"You came to me, what do you want to do?" Chai Lingwu composed himself and asked. He knew that Li Tai was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, but he also understood that the current situation was beyond their control.

Li Tai raised his head, a glimmer of hope in his eyes: "I think... I should submit a memorial requesting my father to let me serve in the Anxi army. Even as an ordinary general, it would be better than sitting here in Chang'an waiting to die."

"how do you feel?"

Chai Lingwu remained silent for a long time, then gently shook his head: "King Wei, you're confused! The Crown Prince values ​​the Western Regions most now, and the Anxi Army is all Su Dingfang's men. If you go there, wouldn't you be walking into a trap?"

"Besides, His Majesty is determined to abdicate. He may not even read your memorial. Even if he does, he will only hand it over to the Crown Prince for disposal. Do you think the Crown Prince would let you command troops in the army?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing Li Tai's last hope, and he slumped into his chair.

"so what should I do?"

“Ji Yang, you’ve heard too? His Majesty is going to abdicate in favor of Chengqian. These past few years in Chang’an have seemed peaceful on the surface, but in reality, I’ve been walking on thin ice. Now that he’s going to ascend the throne, I’m afraid…”

Before he could finish speaking, Li Tai looked somewhat flustered.

Chai Lingwu nodded, got up and walked to the window. After confirming that no one was outside, he said in a low voice, "I know what you're worried about. But put your mind at ease. Although Chengqian seized power by force, he is not a man of indiscriminate killing. Look at the old subordinates who participated in the struggle for the throne back then. Apart from a few who resisted to the death, the rest were just stripped of their power and left to live in seclusion. Even I, who was stripped of my official position, can now live a peaceful life in the mansion, can't I?"

"He showed some leniency to the imperial clan, after all, he still needed them to keep the local area in check, so he wouldn't harm his own brothers."

Li Tai said anxiously, "I can spare some face, but I'm still an eyesore in Chang'an!"

"He now commands respect across the land, even the Arabs submit to him, and the court is full of his men. If I stay in Chang'an, what if one day he remembers what happened back then..."

Chai Lingwu interrupted him, his tone resolute: "So you can't stay in Chang'an."

"But you absolutely cannot go to the Western Regions, and you must not mention 'joining the army to serve.' The Crown Prince values ​​the Western Regions the most, and Su Dingfang's Anxi Army is his heart and soul. If you go there, wouldn't you be walking into a trap? If he suspects that you 'have meddled in military power,' it will only cause trouble."

Li Tai was stunned: "Then where can I go? Jiangnan? I wanted to go there back then, but I've never heard from anyone..."

Chai Lingwu shook his head, walked to the table, spread out a map of the Tang Dynasty, and pointed to the southeast coast. “Look here. Now, the Crown Prince’s new policies value the trade routes to the Western Regions and the southeast coast the most. Last year, he sent a fleet to Southeast Asia and brought back spices and ivory. He also set up Maritime Trade Offices in Quanzhou and Mingzhou to manage overseas trade.”

"This year, an order was issued to dredge the Jiangnan Canal, so that grain and silk from the southeast could be transported to the north by sea. This southeast region is in dire need of manpower."

Chai Lingwu paused, his eyes brightening slightly: "You are a prince of the imperial family. If you take the initiative to request permission to go to the southeast, such as Annam or Yuezhou, to help manage the Maritime Trade Office and appease the coastal tribes, the Crown Prince will surely be happy to do so."

“Firstly, you’re far away from Chang’an, a place rife with trouble, so he’s at ease. Secondly, the southeast is newly developed territory that needs members of the imperial clan to maintain order. If you go there, you can avoid suspicion and have a real position to hold. Isn’t that better than being a prince without real power in Chang’an?”

Li Tai stared at the southeastern sea area on the map, his brow still furrowed: "But I don't understand maritime affairs, and I've never been involved in trade. What can I do there? What if I mess it up? Wouldn't that be even worse?"

Chai Lingwu explained, "You don't need to understand maritime affairs, nor do you need to worry about specific trade."

"The Maritime Trade Office has special officials in charge of trade. When you go there, you only need to sit in the office as a prince, coordinate the relationship between local officials and maritime merchants, and appease the She and Yue ethnic groups along the coast."

"Over the years you've lived in seclusion in Chang'an, you've read a lot of history books. You understand the principles of handling tribal relations better than those officials who only know how to calculate accounts."

"Besides, the southeast is far from the central government, so the crown prince won't keep an eye on you all the time. You can stay there, build up your own merits, and he won't treat you badly even if he ascends the throne in the future."

Seeing that Li Tai was still hesitant, he added, "Think about it. Now that the Western Regions are settled, Chengqian will definitely expand the coastal areas next. The southeast is his 'new source of wealth.' If you go and help him stabilize this area, he will be grateful to you. Why would he cause you any more trouble?"

“On the other hand, if you stay in Chang’an, you’ll be under his watchful eye every day. Even if you do nothing, people will inevitably gossip about you, which could be dangerous.” Li Tai remained silent for a long time, then gently tapped the Annam Protectorate on the map with his fingertip, and his eyes gradually lit up.

He recalled hearing last year that the merchants from the Western Regions in Chang'an's West Market had made a fortune due to the smooth trade routes to the Western Regions. If the Southeast Sea Route could truly prosper, he might be able to make something of himself there instead of living a muddled life in Chang'an.

"But... will the Crown Prince agree?" Li Tai still had doubts.

Chai Lingwu affirmed, "He will agree. Your initiative to request to go to the southeast not only shows that you have no desire for power, but also helps him share his burdens. He has no reason to refuse."

"Besides, His Majesty will help you, after all..."

Chai Lingwu didn't say much, but Li Tai understood.

The Emperor did not want the Crown Prince to kill his brother, so staying away from Chang'an was the best option.

As long as the Emperor is alive, the Crown Prince will not act rashly.

Of course, most importantly, in the eyes of the current Crown Prince, he and Zhi Nu are nothing more than ants.

In comparison, the reputation of killing one's brother is more important.

The autumn wind outside the window gradually subsided, and the setting sun shone through the window paper, casting a warm glow on the southeastern sea area on the map.

Looking at the unfamiliar land, Li Tai suddenly felt that this might be his only way out of his predicament. He raised his head and looked at Chai Lingwu, the panic in his eyes fading and replaced by determination: "Ji Yang, do as you say."

Chai Lingwu breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the now-cold teacup: "That's right."

“King Wei, the reason we couldn’t win against Chengqian back then wasn’t because of our lack of intelligence, but because he understood the general trend of the world better than we did.”

"Now that he wants to expand the sea frontier, if you follow his path, you can not only secure your place but also secure your future. It's better than sitting in Chang'an waiting to die."

Li Tai nodded in deep agreement.
-
East Palace.

Outside the window of Xiande Hall, the last sycamore leaf was swept away by the autumn wind.

Li Chengqian held the secret report sent from Taiji Palace, his fingertips gently stroking the words "His Majesty has decided to abdicate." The hall was so quiet that only the dripping of the water clock could be heard.

The eunuch Wenzhong brought in freshly warmed tea. Seeing the Crown Prince staring intently at the secret report, he gently placed the teacup on the table, not daring to disturb him.

"Wenzhong, how many years have you been following me?" Li Chengqian suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of remoteness, but his gaze never left the secret report.

"Your Highness, it has been more than twenty years since you took over the reins of government in the Eastern Palace," Wenzhong replied, bowing.

“More than twenty years…” Li Chengqian chuckled, placed the secret report on the table, got up and walked to the map of the Tang Dynasty hanging in the hall, his fingertip tracing the location of Chang’an.

"Back then, when I broke through Xuanwu Gate, I led the iron cavalry transferred from Liaodong and relied on the support of military generals like Su Dingfang. But after entering the Eastern Palace, I didn't touch a single civil official in the court. Do you know why?"

Wen Zhong paused for a moment, then carefully replied, "Your Highness is merciful, remembering the hard work of your old ministers?"

Li Chengqian shook his head, his tone becoming more serious: "Compassion is one aspect, but more importantly, it's about being clear-headed."

"During the twenty years of my father's reign, the civil officials in the court—Fang Xuanling's strategic thinking, Changsun Wuji's decisiveness, Wei Zheng's integrity, and Chu Suiliang's writing skills—were all honed through the prosperous Zhenguan era?"

"I seized power by force, but I can still govern the country, and I rely on these people. If I had forcibly ascended the throne as soon as I broke through Xuanwu Gate and replaced all these people, it would be strange if the court hadn't been in chaos."

He turned around, his gaze falling on the memorials piled on the table. The signatures on those memorials included veteran officials like Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling, as well as officials like Chu Suiliang who had once supported Prince Wei, Li Tai.

“Look at Chu Suiliang. Back then, he always protected Li Tai and even impeached my policies when I was regent in court.”

“But after I came to power, did I touch him? No. He was in charge of the Secretariat and responsible for reviewing imperial edicts, and I still let him do it freely.”

"Because I know that although he was once a member of the Wei King's faction, he is even more a loyal minister of the Tang Dynasty, and his pen can uphold the law for the court."

Wen Zhong then understood that the Crown Prince, despite seemingly holding military power all these years, had never forcibly ascended the throne; there was a deeper reason behind it all. "Is Your Highness afraid of disturbing the old officials and disrupting the court?"

“Not only that.” Li Chengqian walked to the window and looked at the autumn leaves that covered the courtyard. “Back then, we broke through Xuanwu Gate because of the circumstances.”

“But if I rush to ascend the throne after I have taken power, it will only make the people of the world think that I am a tyrant who ‘killed my father and seized power’, and it will also make those civil officials who depend on my father feel disheartened.”

He paused, his tone tinged with emotion: "In these past few years, I have pacified Tibet and conquered the Arabs, relying on Su Dingfang's troops, but behind the scenes, there was Fang Xuanling's coordination of the grain and supplies, Changsun Wuji's coordination of the imperial clan, and Chu Suiliang's drafting of the documents."

"Without these people, I wouldn't be able to accomplish anything even if I had a lot of firearms. Besides, the imperial family and old officials will only feel at ease if the court structure remains unchanged."

“Look at Li Tai, although he lives in seclusion in Chang’an, he has not dared to cause any more trouble; those officials who supported him in the past, seeing that I have not purged them, have all done their best to serve the court.”

Wenzhong couldn't help but ask, "Then why does Your Highness feel sentimental now that you hear His Majesty intends to abdicate?"

Li Chengqian's eyes flickered slightly: "Because I have been waiting for this day for six years, not by forcibly demanding it, but by relying on real achievements to put the Emperor at ease and gain the court's approval."

"When I broke through Xuanwu Gate, I thought that I could do whatever I wanted after I took power. But I realized that power is not obtained by swords and spears, but by the hearts of the people."

"The fact that my father has taken the initiative to abdicate shows that he approves of my governance, and it also shows that the court can truly be handed over to me smoothly."

He picked up the secret report on the table, unfolded it again, and traced the words "choose an auspicious time to hold the abdication ceremony" with his fingertips, a relieved smile appearing on his lips.

"There's no need to rush. I'm still young, and the Tang Dynasty hasn't reached its peak yet."

"Wenzhong, go and deliver a message: I'm not in a hurry. The matter of abdication can be discussed after all nations have paid tribute."

The submission of the Arabs was seen by most as the pinnacle of the Tang Dynasty.

However, Li Chengqian did not think so.

Since Li Shimin is sensible, it is perfectly acceptable to give him one last wave of glory.

(End of this chapter)