A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 2 Eight hundred people, that's all.

The age of forty?

"I'm only seven years old!"

Liu Ju looked himself over. He was six feet tall, which was taller and more imposing than his peers, but he was indeed still quite young.

Damn it, the system came on too early?

Looking at the lines of white text on the panel, Liu Ju was not surprised, but he finally stopped at the line: Emperor Taizong System... At the age of forty... A life-changing reversal?

Having lived two lives, Liu Ju's greatest lament, besides that the emperors Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Taizong of Tang, and Emperor Taizu of Song could not find a crown prince to inherit the throne in a normal way, was that most of the emperors in history, such as Emperor Taizong, did not inherit the throne in a normal way.

When people talk about the temple name Taizong, many people may first think of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, and the Xuanwu Gate Incident. But in fact, Li Shimin can be said to be one of the emperors with the most normal source of his throne among all the Taizong emperors.

Although the crimes of forcing his father, killing his brothers, slaughtering his younger brothers, and taking his sister-in-law hostage cannot be absolved, Li Shimin at least gave the retired Emperor Li Yuan some dignity.

Leaving aside other examples, take Emperor Wen of Han, the most virtuous ruler after the third generation, and Liu Heng, the great-grandfather of Liu Ju, as an example. He was enthroned by his relatives and officials after ministers such as Zhou Bo, Chen Ping, Guan Ying, and Zhang Cang, and Liu Ze, the Prince of Langya, quelled the Lü clan. He was not the successor designated by Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang. Furthermore, the first thing Emperor Wen of Han did on the night he entered the palace in Chang'an was to kill all four sons of Emperor Hui.

How can such cruel methods be considered normal succession?

Compared to emperors like Sun Xiu (Emperor Taizong of Wu), Sima Yu (Emperor Taizong of Jin), Fu Deng (Emperor Taizong of Former Qin), Liu Yu (Emperor Taizong of Liu Song), and Xiao Gang (Emperor Taizong of Southern Liang), the lineage of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, seems quite normal.

"wrong."

Liu Ju suddenly realized something: there was already an Emperor Taizong and Emperor Wen of Han in this dynasty. If he wanted to rise up and become emperor, then his father would have to become "ancestor".

With the founding emperor Taizu, why can't there be a founding emperor Chengzu?

This isn't some kind of comeback system, it's clearly a rebellion system!

Me and Emperor Wu of Han were locked in a battle?
Without hesitation, Liu Ju immediately chose the "yes" option over the vaguely emerging "no" option.

Without the system, he would have had to fight against his emperor father; with the system, he's even more determined to make a big splash.

The panel vibrated with a buzz, all the white text shattered, and new lines of white text appeared.

[The game "Emperor Taizong's Counterattack" has finished loading.]

[Host: Liu Ju]

【Sex: Male】

Age: 37

[Your rebellion failed, your mother hanged herself, and gazing upon your wife and children, living in constant fear, you stood at the crossroads of life and death in your forties. You cried out, "Can there be a crown prince for thirty years?" and then turned and left.]

[Escape Chang'an alive. Reward: Elite Soldier Military Training Manual.]

Liu Ju raised his head and gazed at the three seal characters "Luocheng Gate" on the plaque above the approaching northern city gate of Chang'an, and fell into deep thought.

The prince's carriage was unstoppable and no one dared to investigate. After a brief period of darkness, it rumbled through the city gate and headed straight for the Northern Army, watched by the guards.

Break through the imperial army's blockade and escape Chang'an alive. Reward: Elite Soldier Military Training Manual (Completed).

Ok?
Liu Ju's mind went blank for a moment, and in a daze, he suddenly gained a lot of knowledge about military affairs and matters.

The panel then shattered and reappeared: [At thirty-seven, you have nothing. Your status and wealth were stripped away by your emperor father after your failed rebellion. A massive manhunt has begun, all for high office and wealth.]

[Build your first army. Reward: Wealth Handbook.]

……

As dusk settled, the entire river stretched into a vast expanse of desolation.

In the midst of endless warfare, at this time of night when bugles sounded and smoke rose from cooking fires, the Imperial Guards, the Northern Army, on the banks of the Wei River north of Chang'an City, reopened their camp gates.

A troop of armored warriors marched in with heavy, orderly steps to the camp gate, their ranks resounding, their armor gleaming, and their spears flashing.

As the armored soldiers finished lining up, another series of heavy, rapid footsteps sounded. Wei Qing, the supreme commander of the Han Dynasty and Grand Marshal, led two rows of sword-wielding generals out. With a wave of his hand, Wei Qing's fully armored generals stood solemnly in two rows behind the camp gate, each with their hands on their swords, standing silently upright. These generals, whose names and deeds are recorded in history, at this moment resembled two rows of stone-carved warriors.

Wei Qing looked into the distance. In the vast twilight, a group of armored knights bearing the banner of the Crown Prince of Han and a golden chariot were crossing mountains and speeding across plains. Under the hazy moonlight, they crossed the Wei River at Duyu Ferry, reached the north bank, and came under the moonlight and starlight.

Battle flags fluttered, military lanterns stood tall, and the bugle calls echoed.

The imperial carriage slowly entered the camp. The camp gate was quiet as usual. Wei Qing, who was standing at the main gate of the camp, bowed and said in a high voice: "All generals, please stand in formation and await His Majesty's decree."

Dressed impeccably and wearing a crown, Liu Ju was helped down from the carriage by the old eunuch Jiang Bo. He then took a roll of silk from a copper tray held by a young eunuch, unfurled it, and read aloud: "Soldiers of the Northern Army, I have succeeded to the throne for more than ten years without an heir. By the grace of Heaven, I have found an heir in the second month of the first year of the new year. Therefore, I hereby establish my eldest son, Liu Ju, as the Crown Prince and appoint him as the heir apparent."

All ministers and officials, including Wei Qing, must do their utmost to assist and teach military affairs. Anyone who harbors disloyal intentions must be executed.

On the day of Gengchen in the fifth month of summer in the first year of the Yuanshou era.

As Jiang Bo recited the incantation, Liu Ju's identity and status were formally announced to the three armies. The generals bowed even more deeply, and Wei Qing's resounding voice echoed throughout the camp gates: "Welcome the Crown Prince into the camp!"

Two rows of generals shouted in unison, "Welcome the Crown Prince to the camp! Long live the Crown Prince!"

Wei Qing stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said in a resounding voice, "Please, Your Highness, announce the military strategy."

Liu Ju stood in the center of the camp gate, calm and composed, without any unease or panic. He spoke clearly and calmly: "Generals, today I have been suddenly appointed as the Crown Prince. I hereby declare the following in the military: First, all generals in the army shall perform their respective duties."

Secondly, Grand Marshal Wei Qing had rendered meritorious service, and military and political affairs were still under his control.

Thirdly, all soldiers of the three armies, from the rank of Right Chancellor downwards, shall be granted a rank of nobility.

One strategy to reassure the army.

The second strategy is to stabilize morale.

Three strategies to win the hearts and minds of the army.

This was certainly not Liu Ju's idea, but rather something the court had prepared in advance for the Crown Prince. The first two policies were in accordance with precedent, while the third policy was a supplement to the "general amnesty and the issuance of an edict to grant the eleventh rank of Right Grand Master to officials in the court with a salary of two thousand piculs of grain, and to grant a first-rank title to the people who become heads of households" reward for the establishment of the Crown Prince.

The ranks of nobility are divided into twenty grades, each grade representing a vast realm. The use of these ranks is related to every aspect of an individual's life and that of their family. From the Right Chancellor down, the entire army is promoted, and all soldiers must praise the Crown Prince's virtues.

The armored warriors immediately shouted, "Support the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince!"

Upon hearing the reward from the messenger, the soldiers in the entire camp immediately prostrated themselves in unison and shouted, "Long live the Crown Prince!"

The generals took a deep breath and shouted in unison, "We obey the Crown Prince's order!"

The formalities of greeting and bestowing favors have been completed.

Wei Qing looked around at the generals and instructed them: "All other matters shall be handled according to established procedures. Dismissed."

"As ordered."

The generals dispersed.

Wei Qing accompanied Liu Ju into the camp.

"Your Highness..."

"Uncle, outside the palace gates, we only exchange kinship ties."

"Ju'er?"

"Ugh."

Liu Ju ignored Wei Qing's surprise and replied, "Uncle, let's talk about military matters first. How many of the Crown Prince's personal guards can I personally select?"

"Eight hundred men!"

(End of this chapter)