Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

Yesterday, after Su Liya gave birth to her fourth baby boy, Cui Shenji, Wang Jingzhi, and Xiao Kai were overjoyed, just like magic.

Li Chengqian not only showered him with gold and silver but also bestowed various titles upon his sons, so he probably made a considerable amount of money.

Even if it's not 10 strings of cash, it's at least 8.

After the morning assembly began.

Li Chengqian said loudly, "My dear ministers, there are seven days left before His Majesty inspects the army, and only eight days left before I hold my enthronement ceremony."

"Is everything ready?"

The most important matters of the court now are the enthronement and the inspection of the army; as for other political affairs, they are all discussed and completed privately by the heads of the three provinces.

Li Jing, who was in charge of the enthronement ceremony, was the first to stand up and report.

Li Jing announced loudly, "Your Highness, all the items and procedures required for the enthronement ceremony have been prepared!"

"Now we're just waiting for the day of the coronation ceremony!"

The enthronement ceremony follows a set procedure, and with thousands of people working together to prepare, everything can be completed in just a few days.

After Li Jing sat down.

Du He also stood up and reported: "Your Highness, the army of over 30 has completed its formation training and can be brought before Your Majesty for inspection."

"Fireworks are also being made at a rapid pace, and the people of Chang'an will see a sky full of colorful lights at your coronation banquet."

After hearing what Li Jing and Du He said, Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction.

Not bad!

Having capable ministers to do things gives people peace of mind.

Li Chengqian praised, "The Duke of Wei and the Duke of Han have done a good job; I am very satisfied!"

He then inquired about the procedures for the coronation ceremony and the arrangements for the military review, and only stopped the topic after he had understood the details.

After the heads of each department finished reporting on their political affairs.

Li Chengqian asked Hou Junji, "Hou Junji, has the Prince of Jiangxia sent someone to reply?"

"Will they be able to get back in the next few days?"

Among the generals who led the campaign against the four kingdoms of the Southern Frontier were Su Dingfang and Wang Jun'e. These two core generals could not miss their own coronation ceremony.

Therefore, he issued a special decree ordering Su Dingfang and Wang Jun'e to return to Chang'an first.

After his coronation ceremony, these two generals will be sent out.

Hou Junji stood up and replied, "Your Highness, I just received a reply from the Prince of Jiangxia last night. He has already sent Su Dingfang and Wang Jun'e back at full speed."

"According to their instructions, we should be able to return to Chang'an by the fourteenth day of the first lunar month."

There was a pause.

Hou Junji then reported: "At present, the King of Jiangxia has led his troops to conquer Linyi, Zhenla and Pyu, and only Srivijaya, which is across the sea, has not yet been conquered."

"After Your Highness ascends the throne, the four kingdoms of the Southern Frontier will become part of the Tang Dynasty."

The four kingdoms in southern Xinjiang are generally weak, and the reason they haven't been conquered yet is because there are too many mountains in southern Xinjiang.

Those soldiers from the southern border who were good at climbing mountains would sneak into the mountains, making it difficult for the main army to find them.

"it is good!"

Li Chengqian exclaimed "Good!" with satisfaction, then stood up and said, "The court session ends here today. Court is adjourned."

All the civil and military officials stood up and bowed.

"Farewell to His Highness the Crown Prince."

After the meeting.

Du He intended to go to the East Palace, but before he could even stand up, a group of ministers including Hou Junji, Yuchi Gong, Cheng Yaojin, Lu Chengqing, Zhang Jian, and Tang Jian immediately surrounded him.

What followed was the group's resentful words.

"Lord Han, you are so disappointing! How could you have given birth to four more sons!"

"Couldn't you have two daughters?"

"Everyone says daughters resemble their fathers. You're so handsome, why don't you have a couple more daughters!"

"You've really screwed us over!"

"..."

The other lower-ranking officials dared not approach to complain, but they also looked at Du He with pained expressions, and many of them slapped their thighs in regret.

After the group of people quieted down.

Du He then pretended to know nothing and asked, "Everyone, what's going on here?"

"Whether I have sons or daughters, how could it possibly involve you?"

The group paused for a moment, then confessed the truth, followed by how much money they had lost.

Unexpectedly, the person who lost the most was Zhang Jian, the Duke of Wancheng who had a son late in life, who lost a full 3000 strings of cash.

Not only did he lose all the rewards he had received over the years, but he also sold off a considerable amount of his land.

After listening.

Du He laughed and scolded, "You are all officials of the imperial court, yet you still get involved in this kind of thing. You deserve to lose."

"Go find a quiet corner and cry for a while, but don't let anyone see you and laugh at you."

After Du He finished speaking, he ignored them and strode away from the Taiji Hall.

The officials asked each other a few questions, and when they learned that a group of dukes and prefects had lost over a thousand strings of cash, the officials who had only lost a few dozen strings of cash were immediately delighted.

East Palace.

Mingde Hall.

Du He asked Li Chengqian, "Your Highness, how much did you win this time?"

Li Chengqian chuckled and said, "Not much, just a mere 50 strings of cash."

What?

He won 50 strings of cash?

Du He rubbed his hands together and said, "Your Highness, you've won so much money thanks to me, shouldn't you give me 100,000 or 200,000 strings of cash?"

Li Chengqian curled his lip: "Get lost. I've given you quite a lot of rewards during this time. It's at least eight thousand strings of cash, if not ten thousand."

at this time.

Qin Huaidao strode in and reported, "Duke of Han, His Majesty requests your presence at Yuhua Palace now."

Hearing that they had serious business to attend to, Du He and Li Chengqian stopped fooling around.

Du He bowed to Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness, I will go to Yuhua Palace first."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Okay."

...

An hour and a half later.

Yuhua Palace.

Inside the Ziwei Palace.

Li Shimin pointed at Du He, who had just arrived, and laughed and scolded, "Du He, you rascal, you've returned to Chang'an and haven't even come to see me."

"Could it be that I am about to abdicate, and therefore not worthy of your presence?"

Looking at Li Shimin's smiling face, Du He knew that he was eager to abdicate. It seemed that practicing Taoism could really change Li Shimin's mind.

Moreover, Li Shimin looked quite well, so he probably could live a few more years.

Du He smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, without your summons, how dare I come to Yuhua Palace?"

"I came here at your summons, as fast as I could."

Li Shimin laughed and pointed at Du He, saying, "You rascal, you're so glib."

After some pleasantries.

Li Shimin then got down to business: "Du He, how are the preparations for the army review going?"

Du He said solemnly, "Your Majesty, rest assured, everything is ready and will surely satisfy you!"

Upon hearing Du He's words, Li Shimin nodded slightly.

For the next few hours, Du He and Li Shimin chatted, discussing not only the course of the great battle but also the reign title chosen by Li Chengqian and the plan to expand into the Western Regions.

Du He did not leave Yuhua Palace until the sun was setting in the west.

...

A few days passed in the blink of an eye, and the Lantern Festival arrived.

The people of Chang'an did not visit the markets or temple fairs; instead, they flocked to Zhuque Avenue, which was already packed with people as soon as the sun rose.

"It's said that 30 troops will be reviewed today; what a magnificent sight!"

"His Majesty will abdicate after inspecting the army, and His Highness the Crown Prince will ascend the throne tomorrow!"

"I didn't expect the Zhenguan era to end so quickly. I really miss it."

"Hey~"

A small platform was erected on the city wall of Zhuque Gate.

Li Shimin, Li Chengqian, Du He, princes and princesses, and high-ranking officials of the third rank and above filled the spacious city walls.

Even the seriously ill Fang Xuanling was carried over.

Xue Rengui ran up the city wall and reported, "Your Majesty, the army is ready and may now be inspected!"

Li Shimin said loudly, "Let's begin!"