Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

In the sixth year of Zhenguan, Pei Ji died of illness.

Li Shimin restored his reputation in memory of his past merits.

He was posthumously awarded the titles of Governor of Xiangzhou, Minister of Works, and Duke of Hedong County.

Pei Ji made great contributions to the founding of the Tang Dynasty and was also the first prime minister of the Tang Dynasty. He should have been posthumously awarded the title of Duke, but he was only awarded the title of Duke of Hedong County.

Moreover, there are no high-ranking officials from the Pei family in the current court.

From this we can see Li Shimin's attitude towards Pei Ji and the Pei family behind him.

Think about it for a moment.

Du He smiled and said, "Your Highness, Hedong County Duke Pei Ji has been dead for more than ten years. Your Majesty may have forgotten this grudge a long time ago."

"Moreover, the Pei family made great contributions to the founding of the Tang Dynasty."

"This meritorious family of theirs is now exempt from taxes and labor service. So why not employ their children?"

"It only takes a few official positions to get their strong support, so why not do it?"

When Li Yuan started his rebellion, Pei Ji, then deputy supervisor of Jinyang Palace, gave Li Yuan 90,000 hu of grain and fodder, 50,000 pieces of silk, and 400,000 pieces of armor in the Jinyang Palace for military use.

After the founding of the country, Pei Ji was not only appointed as the first prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, but also the only minister who could sit during court sessions.

Their family also became more and more prominent because of Pei Ji's successful investment.

If grassroots people like Xue Rengui and Xi Junmai successfully support Li Chengqian to ascend the throne, they will become a new super meritorious family.

At that time, they will be exempt from taxes and labor like other big families.

The aristocratic families will never be destroyed, they will just be replaced by a group of people, or a few more or less people.

Then the benefits were redistributed among these new and old families, and ordinary people still lived a miserable life.

As the crown prince, Li Chengqian has handled government affairs for so many years, so he naturally understands this principle.

My only worry is that my father will be unhappy.

What Du He said made sense. His father was a magnanimous man, and Pei Ji had been dead for so long that all of the emperor's followers had been purged.

Perhaps the grudges have long disappeared in time.

Du He's analysis made sense, and Li Chengqian also agreed with him.

There was a pause.

Li Chengqian said with a puzzled look on his face: "But I have no contact with Pei Xingjian. Is Pei willing to support me?"

The children of big families are not like grassroots people like Xue Rengui.

The king chooses his ministers, and the ministers choose their king.

They are smart.

Du He explained with a smile: "Although Pei Xingjian was born into the large Hedong Pei family, he is not a direct descendant, so he is not as valued as imagined."

Pei Xingjian is Cui Shenji's good friend. Two years ago, they had eaten and drank together, and even went to Baihua Tower to listen to music together.

While drinking and chatting, Pei Xingjian said that he had passed the Mingjing examination and was ready to serve as an official in the court with the help of his ancestors' knowledge.

Only two years had passed, and he had yet to enter officialdom. This showed the huge gap in status between the direct and collateral branches of a large family.

The direct descendants of a large family like Choi Sun-ki started out as Censors.

Li Chengqian asked again in confusion: "Is Pei Xingjian really as good as you say?"

"He is a talented person who is well-read and has great potential."

Du He was deeply impressed by him.

While everyone was talking about the music and commenting on the courtesan's graceful dance, Pei Xingjian, however, had a gentlemanly expression on his face and was drinking by himself.

He not only has excellent handwriting, but also has excellent conversation and elegant manners.

At that time, Du He didn't like Pei Xingjian because he thought he was too pretentious and didn't fit in with them.

How can a gentleman play with these people?

Thinking about it now, Du He's old face felt a little hot.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Okay, then write a letter to Gu Xiu and see if he is willing to come to Chang'an."

"Don't worry, Your Highness. He will definitely agree."

Du He is very confident.

Pei Xingjian was trying his best to become an official in the court, but he just had no connections.

Now that the prince, this towering tree, has extended an olive branch to him, there is no reason for him to refuse.

At that time, the selection of officials included not only the imperial examination, but also the selection of filial and honest officials and the selection of young officials to enter the officialdom.

For someone like Pei Xingjian who came from a big family, if he was a direct descendant, he would not need to take the imperial examination at all and could easily become an eighth-rank official in the local area.

With the support of his family, he will be able to achieve outstanding political achievements and will be quickly promoted within a few years.

But he is just a side branch.

He needs to work hard to become an official in the court.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Du He, let's go back. They should have eaten enough after being out for so long."

On the way back to the palace, Du He asked with concern, "Your Highness, where will Xue Rengui and his wife live? Do you need me to buy them a house outside the palace?"

Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "No, Xue Rengui is now responsible for protecting my safety, so let them live in the East Palace."

"So good."

Hearing that Li Chengqian had already made arrangements, Du He stopped asking questions.

...

Three days later.

Xi Junmai and Qin Huaidao, with 100 carefully selected Eastern Palace guards, headed straight for Jiangzhou.

And Xue Rengui naturally took over the responsibility of protecting Li Chengqian.

When there was nearly an hour left before the end of his shift, Du He walked out of the Secretariat and headed towards the East Palace.

"Prince Du."

The gatekeepers and guards greeted Du He one after another.

Du He waved at them and walked straight in.

The door of the main hall.

Xue Rengui was wearing soft armor, with a Qianniu sword on his waist and a brand new Fang Tian Huaji in his hand, standing there majestically.

"With the replacement of a handsome man, the entrance to the hall looks much better."

It was Xi Junmai who was on guard before. His rough face gave people a completely different feeling compared to Xue Rengui.

When Xue Rengui saw Du He approaching, he quickly bowed and said hello in a low voice: "Greetings, Prince Consort Du."

Du He smiled and nodded at Xue Rengui, then looked inside the hall.

I saw Han Wang Li Yuanchang sitting at the bottom, dancing and talking excitedly.

Li Chengqian, the chief seat, had a helpless look on his face.

Du He took a glance and didn't go in.

He waved to Xue Rengui and said, "Rengui, let's go for a walk outside."

Xue Rengui nodded and said, "Okay, Prince Consort Du."

After the two walked for a while.

Du He said softly, "Rengui, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and I see that you are extremely brave, and we want to cultivate your ability in military strategy."

"I'm planning to find an old general to be your teacher. What do you think?"

How could Xue Rengui refuse such a great opportunity?

Xue Rengui clasped his fists towards Du He in surprise and said, "It is my great honor to learn the art of war from a general who has experienced many battles."

"I thank His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prince Consort Du for their careful training. I will repay them with my own death."

Could the general master introduced by Prince Consort Du be an ordinary person?

In addition to being able to learn military tactics, there is another huge benefit to taking an old general as a teacher: you can expand your network in the military.

"Okay." Du He nodded with a smile, and then said, "There is no time to lose, go back and say hello to the prince and then set off."