Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 223 Li Shimin: Please call me Your Majesty! [Seeking monthly votes]

Yanjia Hall on the banks of the Jinshui River.

The glazed tiles glowed coldly in the twilight, and the bronze animal furnace emitted wisps of smoke.

Li Shimin stroked the jade ring in his sleeve, his expression showing no emotion.

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui and Zhangsun Wuji knelt on the steps, their eyes looking at their noses and their noses looking at their hearts, without saying a word.

Until a report came from outside the door.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is meeting you outside the palace!"

"Xuan!"

Li Shimin said one word in a light tone.

Soon, Li Chengqian, led by Yunduan, slowly came to the main hall.

Li Chengqian bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you, Father!"

"When discussing serious matters, the Crown Prince should address you as Your Majesty!"

Li Shimin's expression straightened and he reminded solemnly.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling and others looked at each other in surprise.

Li Chengqian was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

But no matter how funny it was, he would not laugh, so he bowed respectfully again and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you, Your Majesty!"

"Well, come here, give the prince a seat!"

"promise!"

A palace attendant agreed.

A cushion was quickly brought over and Li Chengqian was asked to kneel down and answer.

Although Li Chengqian had invented chairs long ago, and Li Shimin and his ministers also liked to sit on chairs, Tang Dynasty clothing, especially official uniforms, included a type of trousers called "hakama." When standing, they looked no different from ordinary trousers. However, when sitting, they looked like black stockings with suspenders, which was extremely unsightly.

Therefore, in general formal occasions, everyone kneels down to answer.

"Prince, do you know why I summoned you?" Li Shimin looked up at Li Chengqian. The candlelight cast shadows in the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and the atmosphere instantly became a little colder.

But Li Chengqian said slowly, "I am a foolish child. I hope Your Majesty will explain it to me."

"Three days ago, Li Jing sent news that our army had defeated the Turks and captured Jie Li alive. I thought it was Li Jing who captured Jie Li, but I didn't expect it was your people who did it."

Li Shimin continued indifferently, "I would like to ask you, Prince, have I ever given you an order or decree to have your people participate in the war against the Turks?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the chirping of cicadas outside the window suddenly quieted down.

Changsun Wuji, who was standing by, also held his breath at this time because he was afraid that Li Chengqian would involve him in this matter.

After all, when he was in Shuofang, he was the commander-in-chief of the army and he could make decisions on the war against the Turks.

However, Li Chengqian didn't even look at him, and directly asked Li Shimin: "May I ask, Your Majesty, who do you mean by my people?"

"What? Prince, are you planning to deny your guilt? Don't tell me you didn't know that Yu Gushe captured Jie Li alive!"

"Oh, Yugu She!"

Li Chengqian nodded suddenly, then looked at Li Shimin with a puzzled look: "Who said he is my man?"

"Humph!"

Li Shimin snorted coldly, then stood up from the throne and said condescendingly, "I don't have time to beat around the bush with you. Tell me your conditions. What do you want in exchange for Jie Li being handed over to me?"

"Ah!"

Li Chengqian smiled. "Your Majesty is quite forthright, but I really don't know anything about this matter. How about I go and ask what's going on, and then report back to Your Majesty?"

"Prince!"

The cross muscles on Li Shimin's forehead bulged out, and he could hardly suppress his inner anger.

At this moment, Fang Xuanling, who had been silent until then, quickly said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Please allow me to discuss a few words with the Crown Prince."

After saying this, seeing that Li Shimin didn't refuse him, he turned to look at Li Chengqian and said with a smile, "Your Highness, the Double Ninth Festival will be held in a few days. His Majesty has invited envoys from all countries to witness Jie Li's surrender to the Tang Dynasty. If Jie Li is not here by then, the Tang Dynasty will lose face. Please consider the country for your sake."

"The Minister of the Central Secretariat is serious. The reputation of the Tang Dynasty cannot be maintained by a barbarian leader!"

Li Chengqian calmly replied to Fang Xuanling, then looked up at Li Shimin and continued, "May I ask Your Majesty, can Emperor Wu of Han be considered an illustrious ruler?"

"Ok?"

Li Shimin was slightly taken aback, then he exchanged glances with Fang Xuanling, frowning and saying, "If we talk about civil and military achievements, Emperor Wu of Han is undoubtedly an outstanding ruler."

"Then why is Emperor Wu of Han so mixed in history, with some critics even criticizing him more than praising him?"

"This"

Li Shimin was speechless.

But then Li Chengqian added, "In my opinion, there are five main reasons why Emperor Wu of Han received mixed reviews."

"First, the frequent use of force has cost the people money and exhausted the national treasury."

"Second, they are eager for quick success and instant benefits, fond of extravagance and ostentation, constantly holding grand celebrations, wantonly bestowing rewards, often with huge sums of money, and squandering national funds without restraint."

"Third, although he was tolerant of criticism from loyal ministers, he remained impulsive, fond of flattery, and favored corrupt officials, thus destroying the foundation of the country."

"Fourth, he was obsessed with women and alienated the dignified and virtuous Wei Zifu, who was lenient with others but strict with herself. As a result, his personal affection for Lady Gou Ge led to the witchcraft disaster."

"Fifth, superstitious belief in sorcerers and the art of immortality, seeking immortality, delaying state affairs and damaging one's own health."

"The above five points, combined with Emperor Wu of Han's expansion of territory and his promotion of Han culture to its peak, are the reasons why he has received mixed reviews."

"This"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin and others looked at each other in surprise.

They had heard many historical figures' evaluations and summaries of Emperor Wu of Han, but it seemed that this was the first time they had heard such insightful remarks as Li Chengqian's.

Each of them was enlightened as if their eyes had been opened to something.

Because this view not only has historical value, but is also very meaningful for learning from the past and understanding the present.

It is of particular significance to Li Shimin, who wanted to create the most prosperous era in ancient and modern times.

Li Shimin said thoughtfully, "The Crown Prince has such insights. It seems that his studies with the Crown Prince's Junior Tutor were not in vain."

After saying this, he turned to look at Fang Xuanling and said, "From now on, the Crown Prince can go to the Secretariat to borrow government files. It will be beneficial to learn about government affairs early."

"Yes!"

Fang Xuanling responded respectfully and was about to show goodwill to Li Chengqian.

But Li Chengqian ignored him and continued to talk to himself: "Your Majesty has misunderstood. I said this not because I want to learn about political affairs, but to remind Your Majesty that you are now following the old path of Emperor Wu of Han!"

"What did you say?"

Li Shimin's face darkened: "Why am I following the same path as Emperor Wu of Han?"

"May I ask, Your Majesty, which of these five reasons given by Emperor Wu of Han do you not account for?"

"Asshole! Which one did I take? Tell me!"

"Alright! If nothing else, let's just talk about your ostentation. Didn't your father take advantage of that? Just because a barbarian leader surrendered, you invited envoys from all over the world and held a grand banquet for all the ministers. Does that mean that every time we conquer a barbarian leader, will the Tang Dynasty do the same?"

"If so, Your Majesty, are you worthy of the people in the disaster-stricken areas who are starving and suffering from the ravages of war?"

"This"

When Li Shimin heard what Li Chengqian said, he was speechless again.

But then Li Chengqian added, "Your Majesty often says, 'The ruler is the boat, and the people are the water. Water can carry the boat, but it can also capsize it.' May I ask, Your Majesty, do you truly care about your people?"

"presumptuous!"

Li Shimin suddenly became angry and said: "Whether I care about my people or not is none of your business! I don't even need you to teach me how to do things!"

After saying this, he walked towards Li Chengqian step by step and said in a cold tone: "I have been tolerant of you again and again, not because I am really afraid of you, but because you are my son. You feel that I am unfair to you brothers, so I will give you justice."

"but."

As he spoke, he changed the subject and continued, "Don't take my tolerance towards you as a license to be presumptuous. You are the crown prince, but you are also a subject!"

"I'm not afraid to tell you the truth, nor am I afraid of so-called infamy. I was able to launch the Xuanwu Gate Incident, so I'm not afraid of being scolded. You said that right and wrong, merits and demerits should be judged by future generations. I have also figured it out. I will do whatever I want to do, even if it means deposing the crown prince again!"

Wow!
As soon as this statement came out, the whole place was in an uproar.

Including Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji and Du Ruhui, they were all stunned with shock.

But when Li Chengqian heard this, he was very calm.

This is the real Li Shimin.

It would be strange if a person who dares to defy the world was really restricted by the so-called etiquette and laws.

As for some people saying that if he had violated the rites and laws, the world after the Li Tang Dynasty would have been doomed to be bloody.

In fact, after he launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, the world after the Li Tang Dynasty was destined to be bloody and violent, and it had little to do with whether he obeyed the rites and laws.

Even though he repeatedly emphasized the importance of etiquette and laws in history, it was still useless.

Because what his descendants saw was his success, his success in destroying the rites and laws.

Therefore, there are only zero times and countless times to break etiquette.

An emperor like Li Shimin could not have been unaware of this. Everything he did, apart from establishing his reputation as a wise ruler, was basically in vain.

Just like Sima Yi's oath at Luoshui, the Sima family was destined to become a tragedy.

"His Majesty."

Changsun Wuji couldn't help but want to say a few words.

Li Shimin glanced at him coldly and he immediately shut up.

Li Chengqian slowly stood up from his seat, looked at Li Shimin, and said calmly and indifferently, "Your Majesty just said that you want to negotiate terms with me?"

"Ok?"

Li Shimin frowned, then asked coldly: "What do you want to say?"

"I can negotiate terms with Your Majesty. As long as Your Majesty agrees to my terms, I will hand Jie Li over to Your Majesty!"

"Okay! Then you tell me!"

When Li Shimin heard that Li Chengqian was willing to negotiate terms, he was immediately shocked.

Li Chengqian then calmly said, "I have two conditions. One is that Ma Zhou be appointed Minister of Revenue, and the other is that I host the Chongyang Banquet. Your Majesty is not allowed to interfere."

"no!"

When Li Shimin heard Li Chengqian's conditions, he refused without hesitation: "I will not agree to these two conditions!"

Li Chengqian spread his hands and said, "Then I have nothing to say!"

"you!"

Li Shimin was so angry that he raised his finger and pointed, gritting his teeth and said, "Don't force me!"

"Your Majesty, you are joking. You are the supreme emperor, and I am your subject. How can a subject dare to force the emperor? And I don't want to rebel!"

"Good good!"

Li Shimin laughed in anger: "Come here! Bring me a horse whip!!"

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" Fang Xuanling and the others saw that the father and son were about to get serious, and hurriedly advised Li Shimin: "The Crown Prince was only impulsive. Your Majesty, please calm down!"

"I'm not acting on impulse, I'm telling the truth."

"Rebellion! Rebellion! Come! Throw the prince into jail!"

"His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, you can't!"

Seeing Yunduan rushing in with the imperial guards, Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling were extremely anxious. At this moment, Du Ruhui, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up, "Your Majesty! The Crown Prince has committed insubordination and deserves to be punished!"

"Keming, you!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji looked at Du Ruhui in surprise.

But Du Ruhui ignored them.

He then changed the subject: "But if the Crown Prince commits a crime, it should be handled by the Imperial Clan Affairs Office, not the Ministry of Justice or the Supreme Court. Therefore, Your Majesty should not throw the Crown Prince into prison!"

"This"

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, as if he didn't expect Du Ruhui to say that.

But he was so angry right now that he didn't care who to hand it over to. He just waved his hand and said, "Then take the prince to the Zongzheng Mansion and hand him over to the Zongzhengqing for strict discipline!"

"Yes!"

Yunduan responded and immediately took Li Chengqian away.

At the same time, in a woods outside the Yanjia Palace, a young palace servant who was secretly paying attention to the Yanjia Palace saw Li Chengqian being taken out of the palace by the imperial guards, and hurriedly lowered his head, pretending to clean up.

After Li Chengqian and several imperial guards walked towards the Zongzheng Mansion, he stopped cleaning, looked around, and found that no one was paying attention to him. He ran out of the woods and came to the depths of a water pavilion.

At this time, Li Tai was discussing scriptures and papers with Wang Gui in the waterside pavilion.

But Li Tai sighed and said, "I have done so many things, but I am still not as good as the prince!"

"Your Highness's literary talent is well-known in Chang'an. Now, your Highness's ability is gradually being recognized by the ministers. Your Highness should not underestimate yourself!" Wang Gui complimented with a smile.

Li Tai's eyebrows suddenly lit up with joy, and he asked curiously, "Is it just famous in Chang'an? What else did they say about me?"

"Besides Chang'an, everyone around our family is spreading the virtues of the King of Yue, saying that he is not only unparalleled in talent, but also kind-hearted and ambitious."

"Hahaha, really? Did they really say that?"

"Yes!"

Wang Gui smiled and nodded, then changed the subject: "But, this alone is not enough!"

"Uh,"

Li Tai's smile froze, and he couldn't help but ask with embarrassment: "What's not enough?"

"Your Highness, the most important thing is the impact on His Majesty!"

Wang Gui bowed and said, "The reason why the Crown Prince has become increasingly stable is mainly due to his influence on Your Majesty. If the King of Yue wants to replace the Crown Prince, he must first influence Your Majesty!"

"This"

Li Tai reacted for a moment, then smiled wryly and asked, "Do you have any solution?"

Wang Gui heard this and pondered for a moment before saying:

"I have thought carefully about this. Your Majesty's literary museum played a significant role in his victory back then. And the current Crown Prince has also built a Prince's Mansion outside the palace. Therefore, I believe that the King of Yue should also build a literary museum."

"But the prince didn't build a literary museum. What's the point of this literary museum?"

"King Yue, you don't know that although the Crown Prince didn't build a literary museum, the Crown Prince's Mansion can recruit talented people, just like a newspaper recruits reporters. There are many talented people there!"

"The King of Yue's establishment of a literary academy can, firstly, attract Your Majesty's attention, secondly, recruit a group of talented people, and thirdly, expand the King of Yue's influence!"

"Oh?"

Li Tai's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but say excitedly, "Since building a literature museum has so many benefits, then I will build one!"

"No! This matter is not that simple!"

Wang Gui shook his head and said, "Your Majesty must feel it is necessary to establish a literary museum!"

"Hahaha, isn't that easy? We just need to find a reason for him!"

Li Tai suddenly burst into laughter.

At this moment, the young palace attendant who had been eavesdropping outside the Yanjia Palace hurried over and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has offended His Majesty in the Yanjia Palace and has been imprisoned in the Zongzheng Mansion!"

"What!?"

Li Tai's laughter stopped abruptly.

Wang Gui, who was standing by, was also surprised and couldn't help but ask the young palace attendant: "Do you know what happened?"

"Your Majesty, I don't know what happened. I only heard His Majesty roaring in anger in the palace, and then I saw the imperial guards rush in and bring the prince out!"

"This"

Upon hearing this, Li Tai and Wang Gui looked at each other in surprise.

After a moment, Li Tai excitedly asked, "Did the Crown Prince anger my father and is he going to be deposed by him?"

"The King of Yue must not speak nonsense!"

Wang Gui was startled and quickly spoke to stop Li Tai. Then, looking around and seeing no one passing by, he breathed a sigh of relief and said in a low voice, "Even if the King of Yue has the ambition to rule the world, he must know how to conceal his weaknesses. Just like Your Majesty back then, before he was fully prepared, he knew how to endure the attacks of the former Crown Prince and the former King of Qi. Only in this way can he achieve great things!"

"Yes, yes, Master Wang is right. I was too impatient!"

Li Tai seemed to have realized what was happening and nodded repeatedly. Then, with a turn of his eyes, he couldn't help but ask excitedly, "Then, according to Master Wang, what should I do?"

"This"

Wang Gui glanced at Li Tai, then at the young palace attendant, and said thoughtfully, "To be honest with the King of Yue, in my opinion, you should wait and see what happens!"

"Ah? Why is this?"

"To the King of Yue, there are three reasons. First, Your Majesty is likely still furious. If the King of Yue were to take advantage of the situation, it would only displease Your Majesty. Second, the Crown Prince has a strong foundation and will not be easily deposed. The King of Yue should exploit the conflict between the Crown Prince and Your Majesty to profit for himself, rather than harming the Crown Prince. Third, I have discussed with the members of the aristocratic families and they will fully support the King of Yue. There is no need for the King of Yue to intervene in such a situation; others will take action."

"Yup!"

When Li Tai heard Wang Gui's words, he slapped his forehead and said as if he had realized something: "If Master Wang hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. With you aristocratic families helping me, why would I need to come forward?"

After saying this, he could not help but bow respectfully towards Wang Gui: "Thank you, Master Wang, for your guidance!"

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter."

Wang Gui smiled and waved his hand, then stroked his beard and said, "Your Majesty asked me to teach Your Highness, which is my duty. And I am willing to help Your Highness because I am impressed by your determination and do it from the bottom of my heart!"

"hehe."

Li Tai smiled and said, "Master Wang, you are too kind."

As he spoke, he picked up the book in his hand, stopped laughing, and said in a very mature tone:

"This king's ambition is actually due to my brother, the Crown Prince. It was he who inspired my interest in compiling books. With a book, I can understand the general situation of mountains and rivers, as well as understand historical allusions. It's like holding the world in my hands!"

"Your Highness is wise!"

　[Seeking monthly tickets, seeking monthly tickets, last day]

　　
　
(End of this chapter)