Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

Li Chengqian was wearing a dragon robe and sitting upright on the armchair, but his furrowed brows revealed his inner conflict.

Below the stage, cabinet members stood on both sides, some with serious expressions and some with worried looks.

Ever since Li Chengqian proposed the bold idea of ​​reforming his thinking, the hall has been plunged into heated discussions.

From the calm and steady Wang Gui to the quick-thinking Ma Zhou, every minister expressed his opposition in sincere words.

Their words intertwined, tightly binding Li Chengqian's thoughts.

Li Chengqian felt mixed emotions.

Their concerns are not without reason, as the road to innovation is always paved with thorns.

He slowly scanned the crowd, seeing faces filled with worry.

After a long time, he sighed slightly, and the persistence and impulse in his heart gradually subsided, replaced by calmness.

"Well, this isn't something that can be accomplished overnight. Since it's difficult to implement now, let's put it aside for now."

Changing one's thinking requires endurance and perseverance, not a sudden burst of energy."

Li Chengqian's voice was somewhat helpless.

"In that case, we might as well take a long-term view and slowly incorporate these new ideas into the school's textbooks."

"Children are the hope for the future of our Tang Dynasty."

"Starting with them and gradually cultivating new concepts may help us overcome difficulties with softness and achieve success naturally."

As soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, the hall fell into a brief silence.

Then, the ministers looked at each other and nodded slightly, as if to express their approval of the emperor's decision.

Then, everyone bowed their hands and shouted in unison: "Your Majesty is wise!"

It also puts an end to this temporarily settled dispute.

However, after this moment of silence, the shrill voice of the young eunuch suddenly came from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, Commander Zhang requests an audience."

This sudden announcement broke the tranquility that had just been restored in the hall. Everyone's eyes turned to the hall door, and a hint of doubt arose in their hearts.

"Come in." Li Chengqian sat up slightly.

Zhang Xianhuai walked into the hall in a hurry.

"Your Majesty, this is an urgent report from Xianyang, specially sent by the Emperor."

Zhang Xianhuai, still gasping for breath, handed over an expedited document.

When Li Chengqian heard this, his heart suddenly tightened and he frowned subconsciously.

My father's later years were always peaceful and tranquil. What happened that required such urgent reporting?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, and an ominous premonition came over him.

"Could it be...that something happened at the sanatorium?"

Li Chengqian's heartbeat suddenly quickened and his breathing became rapid.

"Come, give it to me."

Li Chengqian's speech speed unconsciously quickened, and he stretched out his hand.

Zhang Xianhuai hurried forward and respectfully handed the urgent report to Li Chengqian with both hands.

Li Chengqian took the urgent report and scanned the words on the paper eagerly. For a moment, his eyes froze and the urgent report in his hand trembled slightly.

Upon seeing this, the ministers in the hall looked at each other in confusion.

They saw that the emperor's face turned pale in an instant, his eyes were filled with loss, and his usual majestic aura disappeared at this moment.

Wang Gui couldn't help but step forward and asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, what is the urgent matter in this report? Could it be that the Emperor is not feeling well?"

Li Chengqian shook his head slowly.

He gently placed the urgent report on the table, then he slowly leaned back in the armchair, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply.

"Wei Zheng is gone."

These four short words instantly shocked everyone.

"Wei Zheng? Gone?"

When Wang Gui heard the news, he couldn't help but widen his eyes and shouted loudly.

Yes, this is Wei Zheng!

Among the officials of the Tang Dynasty, if we were to ask whose reputation was most widely spread among the people, it would undoubtedly be Wei Zheng.

He was the minister who dared to face the emperor and give frank advice. In the eyes of the people, he was a tough guy who was not afraid of the powerful and was upright.

Every time he made a suggestion, it was like a sharp sword, piercing the malpractices and injustices in the court.

Every word of his loyal advice illuminated the emperor's path in governing the country.

In the hearts of the people, Wei Zheng is the embodiment of fearlessness of power and a role model in their hearts.

Such a person was deeply respected by the people, but now he has passed away suddenly. How can we not feel regretful?

When everyone heard the news of Wei Zheng's death, they all showed complex expressions in their eyes, including emotion, sadness, and sighs about the passage of time and the changes in things and people.

Wei Zheng’s so-called “friends” were probably just colleagues who worked with him in the court.

They experienced countless storms together in the court and worked hard together for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.

As time goes by and we work together for a long time, friendship naturally grows.

Now, as the older generation gradually grows older and the people around them leave one by one, the era they once were familiar with will eventually drift away from them, leaving only memories floating in the wind.

What they mourned was not only Wei Zheng's departure, but also the disappearance of their era.

If Wei Zheng really had a close friend, it might be Li Shimin.

Li Chengqian closed his eyes quietly and did not open them for a long time.

"I am heartbroken over Wei Zheng's departure and find it difficult to contain myself. Please pass on my decree that court will be suspended for three days starting tomorrow as a token of my condolences."

Li Chengqian's voice sounded a little tired.

"It happens that you are all here, Grand Tutor Qi, so I'll trouble you to write for me."

Li Chengqian slowly opened his eyes and looked at Mr. Qi.

Mr. Qi bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

After saying that, he walked steadily to the table, gently spread out the rice paper, picked up the brush, and dipped it in the ink he had just ground.

"Your Majesty." Mr. Qi called softly, with a questioning look in his eyes.

"Yeah." Li Chengqian responded.

"Wei Zheng was posthumously awarded the titles of Sikong (Minister of Works) and Governor of Xiangzhou, and given the posthumous title of 'Wenzhen'."

"Wei Zheng once said he wanted a simple funeral, but how could I treat such a meritorious official of the Tang Dynasty so unfairly?"

"I will definitely hold a grand funeral for him and give him the honors he deserves."

"Order all officials of the ninth rank and above in Chang'an to attend Wei Zheng's funeral, grant him feathered banners and drums, and bury him in Zhaoling Mausoleum according to the Emperor's decree."

"I will personally write the calligraphy for Wei Zheng's tombstone."

At this sad moment, Li Chengqian wanted to use the highest courtesy to send this Tang Dynasty's minister of remonstration on his final journey.

……

Recorded by historians.

In the sixth year of Qianwu, the Shang Dynasty first came, and the emperor held a funeral for Wei Zheng with grand ceremonies.

Officials above the ninth rank in Chang'an and Xianyang gathered together, all dressed in plain clothes, and went to the funeral site together.

The emperor used red silk to decorate the funeral ceremony. This was not an ordinary move. It was in accordance with the emperor's lifelong integrity and loyalty, to preserve his bright virtue after death, and also to show his intention of honoring and mourning.

The emperor personally wrote the inscription for Zheng's tombstone and inscribed it in red ink. The words were sincere and the brushwork was powerful. It fully expressed the affection between the monarch and his subject, and also commemorated Zheng's life-long achievements.

At that time, the retired emperor came to the palace upon hearing of the death. When he saw this scene, he thought of Zheng's past loyalty and outspokenness, and burst into tears.

Then the Supreme Lord improvised, "If one uses copper as a mirror, one can correct one's attire and appearance; if one uses history as a mirror, one can understand the reasons for rise and fall; if one uses people as a mirror, one can understand the principles of gain and loss."

When everyone heard this, they all nodded in agreement. They all thought of the virtue of Duke Wei and felt his importance to the country. His virtue was so great that he should be a model for future generations.