Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

I heard that Your Majesty was going to lead civil and military officials of the fifth rank and above to go 30 miles out of the city to welcome the army.

The expressions of the eunuchs guarding the hall all froze, and soon their faces were filled with shock.

After a few moments of silence, the expressions of the eunuchs quickly returned to normal, and they all bowed to Li Shimin and spoke.

"As ordered!"

After these officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs left Ganlu Hall, Li Shimin stood up with a heavy heart and walked back and forth on the imperial platform with his hands behind his back.

He murmured softly as he walked.

"Who should be appointed as the Minister of the Left?"

"Changsun Wuji? Hou Junji? Or Li Ji?"

Although Fang Xuanling was the most suitable candidate for the position of Shangshu Zuo Pushe, the head of all civil and military officials, Li Shimin did not intend to continue to let him hold the position.

This does not mean that Li Shimin suspected Fang Xuanling, but he simply wanted to rotate the positions of these prime ministers.

Just as Li Shimin was thinking seriously, the eunuch stationed outside the hall bowed and reported.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Jin requests an audience."

When Li Shimin heard that his beloved son Li Zhi was coming to see him, he came back to his senses from his contemplation.

He shouted towards the gate, "Prince Xuanjin, come in."

"promise!"

After the eunuch responded respectfully, not long after, the young and well-behaved Li Zhi walked into the Ganlu Palace.

"My son, I will meet my father."

Li Shimin looked at his well-behaved son whom he had brought up, waved his hand slightly, and said with a smile on his face.

"Chi Nu, aren't you going to visit Du Ping'an at the Imperial Sister's residence?"

"How come you have time to come to Ganlu Palace to see father?"

During this period, Zhinu often went to Princess Chengyang's mansion and came to Ganlu Palace to visit him less frequently.

Because of this, Li Shimin became jealous of his grandson Du Ping'an.

Li Zhi clasped his fists respectfully and said, "Father, my elder sister also went to visit Du Ping'an today, and she refused to let me hold her, so I came back early."

The eldest sister he mentioned was the eldest princess Li Lizhi, who was born to the same mother as him.

Li Zhi both respected and feared this elder sister. He always felt that she could see through his heart.

Therefore, after seeing Li Lizhi, he ran back without staying for long.

"Hahaha!" Li Shimin laughed a few times, then said with a smile: "Du Ping'an was hugged by Li Zhi, and he couldn't bear to let go."

The person who doted on Du Ping'an the most, besides his mother Li Yi, was Li Lizhi.

All the clothes Du Ping'an is wearing now are knitted by Li Lizhi stitch by stitch.

Li Zhi smiled and said, "Father is right."

After chatting for a few words.

Li Shimin stroked his beard and asked, "Zhi Nu, you came to Ganlu Palace to see my father, is there something wrong?"

Li Zhi quickly replied, "Father, you said a few days ago that the Crown Prince would be returning to the capital soon, and that you would lead all the civil and military officials out of the city to welcome the Crown Prince."

"I, your son, also want to see the heroic figures of the Crown Prince and his soldiers. I want to go out of the city with my father to welcome the Crown Prince and the army."

Li Shimin agreed to Li Zhi's small request without any hesitation.

"Zhi Nu, the army will arrive tomorrow morning. You should leave the city with your father."

Li Zhi said excitedly while clasping his fists.

"Thank you, Father!"

Looking at his son who was well-behaved and sensible and attached great importance to the friendship between brothers and sisters, Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction.

How nice it would be if Qingque was as free of ambition as Zhinu!

"Hey!"

Thinking that he hadn't seen Qingque for several months, Li Shimin couldn't help but feel sad.

Li Zhi's clear eyes had been observing his father. He heard his father suddenly sigh heavily and asked hurriedly with concern.

"Father, why are you sighing?"

"If you have any worries, please tell me and I will see if I can help you solve your problems."

Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "Zhi Nu is thoughtful. Father just happened to think of someone and missed him a little."

"The person that Father misses is Fourth Brother?"

"Ok!"

Li Shimin did not hide it.

In his eyes, Zhinu was just a child who had not grown up yet, so he did not hide anything.

A complicated look flashed across Li Zhi's eyes, but he quickly concealed the emotion and made a suggestion.

"Father, when the Yuanzheng period comes, you can call back all the brothers who are in their fiefdoms to Chang'an."

"This way, Father can not only see the fourth brother, but also the other brothers."

According to Tang Dynasty laws, princes who were enfeoffed in foreign vassal states could not return to Chang'an without the emperor's edict, even if they were in their first year of reign.

Li Shimin's expression changed slightly, and he said with relief: "Zhi Nu, your suggestion is very good, father will consider it carefully!"

As expected of a child he raised, Zhinu understood his inner thoughts very well.

Li Zhi said with a smile on his face: "Father, I will not disturb you from reviewing the memorials. I will take my leave now."

"it is good."

Li Shimin smiled and nodded.

...

The next day.

When the mist covered the mountains and fields outside Chang'an City, a huge army was marching on the spacious official road.

They were carrying tens of thousands of carts of gold, silver, valuables and food, and driving livestock that stretched as far as the eye could see. The whole team was filled with laughter and joy.

On the official road ahead, two fast horses holding tokens rushed into the central army quickly.

"Your Highness, His Majesty is bringing all the civil and military officials above the fifth rank to meet us 30 miles outside Chang'an City!"

Hearing Li Shimin's grand welcome to the triumphant army, a smile appeared on Du He's face.

With Li Shimin's advance momentum, Li Chengqian's reputation would probably increase greatly.

When the remains of the former Sui heroes are buried in the monument, Li Chengqian's reputation will reach a peak.

Li Chengqian happily gave the order: "The army advances at full speed, we can't let father wait too long!"

As the news spread that His Majesty was leading civil and military officials to welcome them 30 miles out of the city, the army's marching speed instantly increased by more than %.

An hour later.

The rising sun dispelled the mist.

Li Shimin, standing on the dragon chariot, saw a dense crowd of figures suddenly appearing on the official road ahead, and he said happily.

"Our victorious army is back!"

After hearing what Li Shimin said, all the ministers nearby stood on tiptoe and looked up at the road ahead.

Not long after, Li Chengqian led a large army to Li Shimin and his court officials.

Li Chengqian looked at his father who was right in front of him. He quickly asked his guards to put down the sedan chair and saluted with his fists clasped.

"My son, please see your father!"

"I am unable to walk and pay my respects to you, Father. I hope you will forgive me!"

After Li Chengqian finished his salute, Du He, Hou Junji, Li Ji, Zhang Liang, Li Daozon and others quickly dismounted and bowed in unison.

"See Your Majesty!"

Immediately afterwards, the 100,000 soldiers behind him shouted one after another, with huge waves of noise coming one after another.

Li Shimin looked at the increasingly mature prince and the mighty generals, and he spoke loudly with a dignified expression.

"No need to be so polite, fellow soldiers!"

Then Li Shimin stepped down from the dragon chariot and walked quickly to Li Chengqian.

He stared at Li Chengqian's leg, then asked with concern: "Gao Ming, how is your leg recovering?"

This time, facing his father's kind eyes, Li Chengqian did not feel the slightest bit of disgust in his heart. He said with a smile on his face.

"Father, Doctor Sun said that my son's foot may be able to recover and walk normally!"