The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 9 What if the Emperor forcibly deposes and installs a new emperor?
Li Yichen did not directly answer the Crown Prince's question, but instead asked in return, "Your Highness, do you know from reading history books how many different situations there have been in which Crown Princes were deposed or died unnatural deaths?"

Li Chengqian was taken aback by the question, and after thinking for a moment, he replied: "Perhaps it is because of a lack of virtue, or because he was framed by a villain, or... as you said yesterday, it is simply because he became the crown prince and got in the way of others."

“Generally correct.” Li Yichen nodded. “But we can divide it into more specific categories. The first type is those who are incompetent and morally deficient, who deliberately make mistakes, giving others a handle to use against them, and are ultimately deposed, such as Emperor Liu He of the Han Dynasty.”

"The second type is those who have no major faults and are even quite virtuous, but are deposed because their mothers have fallen out of favor or their maternal relatives have become too powerful, which arouses the emperor's suspicion. For example, Liu Rong, the crown prince of Emperor Jing of Han."

"The third type is when a brother covets the throne and meticulously frames the son, and the emperor, either by listening to one side or to balance power, deposes him, such as Yang Yong, the crown prince of Emperor Wen of Sui."

“The fourth one,” Li Yichen paused, looking sharply at Li Chengqian, “is also the most dangerous one, which is when the Crown Prince himself feels threatened and tries to take the initiative to attack, using force to force the Crown Prince to rebel, but ultimately fails.”

Li Chengqian's breath hitched slightly, his eyes flickered, and he did not immediately respond.

Li Yichen seemed oblivious to his unusual behavior and continued calmly, “As for the fourth situation, throughout history, there are very few who succeed, but many who fail, and the consequences of failure are the most tragic—not only do they lose their own lives, but they often bring misfortune upon their wives, children, maternal relatives, and officials of the Crown Prince’s palace, none of whom are spared.”

"Why?" Li Yichen asked. "Because using force to force the emperor to abdicate is a blatant challenge to imperial authority, a bottom line that the emperor absolutely cannot tolerate. Once that step is taken, there will be no turning back; it's either you die or I die."

"The Crown Prince resides deep within the palace. Although he has some guards, compared to the emperor's control over the entire army and the imperial guards of the capital, it is like throwing an egg against a rock. Unless one can strike decisively and quickly control the emperor and the central government, any delay will be enough for the external troops to arrive and bring annihilation in an instant."

Li Yichen's voice was not loud, but every word was like a cold pebble thrown into water, clear and heavy.

"Moreover, the emperor is heavily guarded: can the message be transmitted accurately? Can the operation be kept absolutely secret? Can the people involved be fully trusted? These are all variables. If any link goes wrong, the whole thing will be lost."

Li Chengqian's face paled slightly. He subconsciously avoided Li Yichen's gaze, and his fingers curled up unconsciously.

Li Yichen knew that Li Chengqian's rebellion plan in history was extremely crude.

He colluded with Prince Li Yuanchang, Imperial Son-in-Law Du He, and Left Guard General Li Anyan, among others, in an attempt to emulate the Xuanwu Gate Incident. However, the plot was exposed before it could even begin, resulting in a complete defeat.

Now, Du He and Li Anyan are in the East Palace. Perhaps at this moment, Li Chengqian has already begun to have that dangerous thought in his heart, or at least he has been bewitched and incited by the people around him.

It must be nipped in the bud.

“Your Highness,” Li Yichen said, his tone becoming more serious.

"In the present Tang Dynasty, under His Majesty's control, there is absolutely no chance of seizing the throne by force. His Majesty has spent his life on the battlefield, with many famous generals under his command. The defenses of Chang'an are as solid as a rock, and the Xuanwu Gate Imperial Guards are under His Majesty's absolute trust and control."

"If Your Highness takes such a risky move, it will be tantamount to courting death, and it will confirm all the accusations of disobedience against Your Highness, leaving you with no chance of redemption."

Li Chengqian suddenly looked up, his lips moved as if he wanted to refute, but in the end he only asked in a hoarse voice: "Then... in your opinion, am I just supposed to sit and wait for death? Just watch Qingque... watch others covet my position? My father is increasingly dissatisfied with me. If I don't take any action, won't I still be doomed?"

“Action is not the same as rebellion,” Li Yichen said decisively.

"Your Highness, the most brilliant strategy is never to take the initiative, but to plan carefully before acting. It is to accurately predict the opponent's actions, and then strike first after being attacked later. It is to meet force with force and water with earth."

"What Your Highness needs to do now is not to think about how to overthrow His Majesty—that's wishful thinking." "What Your Highness needs to think about is how to be a good Crown Prince, how to make His Majesty unable to find a reason to depose you, and even... how to make His Majesty need you as the Crown Prince."

"To make Father Emperor need me?"

Li Chengqian was puzzled.

"My father... he'd love to depose me..."

“That was said in anger, and also as a test,” Li Yichen said.

"His Majesty is the emperor; his primary concern is the stability of the Tang Dynasty. The position of crown prince is crucial to the foundation of the nation; how can it be easily shaken?"

"Deposing the eldest son in favor of the younger one has always been a path to chaos. Your Majesty is a man of great talent and ambition, how could you not know this? His favor towards the Prince of Wei may be genuine, but it is also a form of encouragement and checks and balances for His Highness."

"What His Majesty truly desires is not a perfect son, but a sensible, controllable heir who will not threaten his imperial power, yet is capable of inheriting the throne in the future."

"Your Highness's actions yesterday, though radical, inadvertently proved to be a stroke of luck. They showed His Majesty that Your Highness is not entirely ignorant and has begun to consider the rules of power. This will, in turn, make His Majesty wary and treat you more cautiously. This is your opportunity."

Li Chengqian listened intently, his body unconsciously leaning forward.

"Chance?"

“That’s right.” Li Yichen nodded.

"His Majesty will definitely continue to test and observe His Highness. He will use various methods to confirm whether His Highness's changes are real or fake, to find His Highness's flaws, and even... he may deliberately provoke His Highness and induce His Highness to make mistakes."

"Your Highness's approach is to remain steadfast and respond to all changes with constancy. Do not provoke, do not complain, do not whine, and do not reveal any weaknesses."

"Focus on your studies and contemplate the ways of governing the country. Treat His Majesty with the respect and distance due to a crown prince. Treat your brothers with the magnanimity and vigilance of an elder brother. Treat your subjects with the demeanor befitting a future monarch."

“As long as Your Highness does not make any major mistakes, His Majesty will find it difficult to find an excuse to depose you. And the longer it drags on, the more firmly the ministers in the court who support the eldest son's succession will stand behind Your Highness. As one side gains and the other loses, Your Highness's position will become more and more secure.”

"What if Qingque keeps pressing us? What if Father Emperor forcibly deposes him?" Li Chengqian pressed, his eyes still showing worry.

“That will be the time when the enemy comes.” Li Yichen’s gaze was calm. “At that time, we will need to defend against them. But the method of defense will not be to use force, but to use rules, etiquette, the power of the court officials, and the power of public opinion.”

"The Tang Dynasty governs the country with filial piety and establishes the state with rites. The abolition of the eldest son in favor of the youngest son is contrary to the rites and will inevitably attract many remonstrances. Your Majesty must also have some concerns."

"What Your Highness needs to do is to stand on the side of etiquette and rules, so that all those who oppose the deposition can speak up for Your Highness with a clear conscience."

"But Your Majesty, if you insist on doing this, you will have to bear the historical risk of violating the law and shaking the foundation of the country. Your Majesty is a wise ruler, and he will weigh the pros and cons."

(End of this chapter)