Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

"This was really written by Chengqian?!"

Li Shimin was naturally filled with pride, but he was also shocked and bewildered by his eldest son.

On the day his son captured Xue Wanche, Feng Li, and Xie Shufang, three generals of the Eastern Palace, outside Xuanwu Gate, Hou Junji told him about it, and he already found it outrageous.

As a result, his most capable advisors, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, told him today.

Chengqian's ambitions are unprecedented in history.

Upon seeing the two nod, Li Shimin couldn't help but gasp.

After a brief silence, he finally picked up the scroll again, not bothering to unfold the contents.

He repeatedly read his son's "last will and testament".

"The aristocratic families are like bookworms to the country, and cannot be trusted or relied upon. The common people are like rivers and lakes that irrigate all life, and cannot be abandoned or hated... Chengqian's dislike for the aristocratic families is indeed quite true."

"If my son and I were to die at Xuanwu Gate, Qingque would truly need to win over the hearts of the people if he wanted to make a comeback. However, how difficult that would be!"

The Li family was a prominent clan, but they belonged to the Guanzhong region.

He was born into a powerful family during the Sui Dynasty.

He was naturally very clear about the aristocratic families, but it was precisely because of this that Li Shimin couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. The idea of ​​winning over the hearts of the people was good, but given the aristocratic families' control over public opinion and the people, it was a challenge.

Winning the hearts and minds of the people from them is harder than climbing to heaven.

Li Shimin shook his head and sighed, but he didn't see that Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, who were sitting below him, had rather strange expressions.

"Build high walls, store up grain, and delay declaring yourself king... That's quite insightful. If Chengqian had been as powerful as me during the rebellion of the previous dynasty, he could have truly achieved great things..."

Suddenly, Li Shimin frowned.

"Opening trade routes while neglecting agriculture? What does this mean? Is it to encourage commerce to quickly amass wealth and then seize power? Foolish!"

"Merchants prioritize profit, and there are even more greedy and insatiable individuals who encourage merchants. What's the difference between this and sucking the people's blood and sweat?! And they even talk about neglecting the farmers' burden? It seems that Chengqian still doesn't understand the suffering of the world."

"Don't you know that merchants' wealth all comes from farmers? What's the difference between this and a disguised form of extortion?"

Li Shimin immediately began to shake his head vigorously.

There was even a sense of regret and sorrow that the idea of ​​his own son writing this tarnished the two famous quotes on governance in those "last words."

however.

Seeing Li Shimin's reaction, Fang Xuanling hurriedly came out to explain.

“Your Highness, His Highness the Prince should be aware of these things. Some time ago, I heard that when the guards of Xuanwu Gate went to the Prince of Qin’s mansion to receive their reward, His Highness the Prince talked with them for a long time.”

"His Highness the Prince inquired a great deal about the future arrangements for these soldiers, as well as their families, especially those soldiers who were wounded in battle, whom His Highness asked in great detail."

"Your Highness has never heard of any absurd remarks about not eating meat porridge."

Li Shimin frowned.

Seeing this, Changsun Wuji hurriedly spoke up.

"Your Highness, perhaps we could have His Highness the Prince of the County come and inquire about this?"

Upon receiving the message from the Prince of Qin's personal guards, Li Chengqian rushed to the Eastern Palace.

As he looked at the Eastern Palace guarded by the Prince of Qin's personal guards, and the large number of eunuchs and maids who had been replaced, he frowned slightly.

"Are these the original eunuchs and palace maids of the Crown Prince's Palace?"

Upon hearing this, Wang De, who had previously served in the Prince of Qin's residence and was now the chief eunuch of the Eastern Palace, was taken aback.

"Yes, Your Highness. All the eunuchs in the Eastern Palace have now been replaced by our people. With this old servant here, Your Highness can rest assured."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly; clearly, Wang De had misunderstood him.

He thought he was worried that there were still remnants of the hidden crown prince among these people.

However, Li Chengqian thought that most of the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace were literate, and it would be a pity to kill them.

As long as there are no problems with the person, they can still be employed.

During the Tang Dynasty, the country had just experienced the chaos of the late Sui Dynasty, resulting in a sharp decline in population. Among them, those who were truly literate were even fewer.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty!"

Li Shimin looked at his eldest son, who had changed into a plain brocade robe.

For some reason, the clothes looked strangely noble on her son at that moment.

He subtly withdrew his gaze and gestured with his hand toward the scroll in his hand.

"Did you write this?"

Li Chengqian nodded, thinking to himself that he wondered why Li Tai hadn't returned the scroll to him these past two days; it turned out it had ended up with Li Er.

Li Shimin frowned: "You said here that opening up trade routes and reducing the burden on farmers is indeed a benevolent idea, but do you know where the wealth in the hands of these merchants comes from?"

Li Chengqian was taken aback.

I don't understand what my father means.

"This money naturally comes from business profits..."

"Hmph! That's all the people's hard-earned money!" Li Shimin snorted angrily and slammed the scroll in his hand onto the table with a loud bang.

"It's a good thing that you're willing to take on the burden of agriculture, but you completely misunderstand the key point. Encouraging merchants—how could you even think of that! Haven't you heard of the corrupt collusion between officials and businessmen?"

Li Shimin was so angry that he stood up from his bed.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were about to step forward to comfort him, but unexpectedly, Li Chengqian frowned slightly when faced with Li Shimin's expression.

Take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

The impatience in his eyes made Li Shimin's brow twitch.

"Father, have you not finished reading the rest of my scroll?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin was taken aback, but Changsun Wuji quickly stepped forward to help him unroll the scroll.

then.

"hiss!!!"

With just a fleeting glance, Changsun Wuji's expression instantly turned horrified, and he gasped sharply.

He quickly lowered his head and stepped aside.

However, the sweat that quickly appeared on his forehead surprised Cheng Yaojin and the other generals who had remained silent until now.

Li Chengqian frowned, watching Li Er's expression gradually change from confusion to stunned, shocked, and then ecstatic as he looked down at the scroll.

"Father, I suppose Grandfather will abdicate soon. Shouldn't I address you as Your Majesty?"

Li Shimin looked up.

Li Chengqian frowned even more deeply.

"I urge Father not to be so easily angered in the future. In everything you do, you should know how to be prudent!"

Everyone: "..."