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

"Your Majesty! No! Absolutely not! The fate of the nation and its people, the military strength of our two nations—these are not trivial matters. Your Majesty, what His Highness the Crown Prince has said is utter nonsense!"

......

Pei Ji was terrified by Li Chengqian's outburst; this man truly feared nothing.

As if afraid the world wasn't chaotic enough, they described the war between the two countries in such a simple way that even Li Jing, a top military leader of the Tang Dynasty, was tempted.

How could Pei Ji not be anxious?

What does it mean that the aristocratic families were unfortunately wiped out by the Turkic soldiers? It's understandable that those northern barbarians would take gold and silver, but what kind of nonsense is it that the aristocratic families' treasury books disappeared without a trace?

This crown prince is despicable and ruthless, and he doesn't care about saving face at all.

It was so obvious that they wanted to send people to serve as Turkic soldiers, so that while the Prince of Qin's mansion controlled most of the Tang Dynasty's military power, they could sweep away the powerful families in one fell swoop and seize the country for themselves.

"Chengqian! Please sit down!"

Li Shimin took a deep breath, glared at his eager generals, and pointed irritably at a chair in the Ganlu Hall.

Li Chengqian obediently sat down.

However, he continued to chatter on and on.

“Father, I was not speaking in anger. How could I dare to speak lightly about matters of national importance?”

"If we can truly destroy the Turks and allow the people to recuperate, I also know of ways to increase grain production, as well as several farming tools and crops."

"Your son guarantees with his own head that in the first year after the war ends, the people will certainly curse my father and me."

"But in three years at most, Father, you will surely become the wise and benevolent ruler of our Great Tang Dynasty."

"A truly great emperor throughout history!"

The phrase "a great emperor for all time" almost made Li Er's just-steady mind waver once again.

Pei Ji was really anxious.

At this moment, he also saw through Li Chengqian's initial plan. Seeing that Li Shimin's expression seemed a little off, he hurriedly knelt down and took two steps forward.

"Your Majesty! Not all aristocratic families are heartless and treacherous. People like Cui Minshi, the Minister of Revenue, and Wang Ming, the Vice Minister of War, are ultimately a minority. There are many more aristocratic families who are willing to serve the country with loyalty and righteousness!"

"I implore Your Majesty to allow this old minister to intervene. Within five days at most, I will surely prepare sufficient provisions and supplies for the possible upcoming battle with the Turks!"

Looking at Pei Ji kneeling before him, Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction.

In this light, it seems that old man Pei Ji has truly seen the current situation clearly. Although the aristocratic families are unruly, they are still no match for the Crown Prince, who is even more unruly and always thinks of "killing everyone, regardless of age or gender."

Ultimately, it lacked a certain level of skill.

"Alright, since Prime Minister Pei is willing to step forward and explain my intentions to the powerful families, I am also unwilling to start a war lightly. After all, in the end, it is the common people who suffer the most from the constant fighting over the world."

"Tell them a message: I am not targeting aristocratic families. After all, I myself am of the Li family. Anyone who can bring benefits to the Tang Dynasty and has real talent and learning will be given high-ranking positions and generous salaries, regardless of whether they come from humble or aristocratic families."

"but......"

Li Shimin pondered for a moment, and his imperial aura began to emerge slightly.

"If powerful families possess vast collections of books but still dare not compete fairly with those from humble backgrounds, and instead try to control the court, colluding with each other, then for the sake of all the people under heaven, I will have no choice but to bear some more infamy."

Pei Ji hurriedly kowtowed.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your mercy!"

Seeing that the other party was struggling to get up with Wei Zheng's help.

Li Chengqian pointed to the wooden box in the main hall next to him.

"There are some papers here. Prime Minister Pei can show them to those people. There's no need to force it. My father and I are both very kind people, and we know that forced relationships are never happy."

"For those who are unwilling to serve my Li Tang dynasty, leave behind a stack of papers as a token of my gratitude."

Pei Ji's steps faltered.

This stack of paper left behind, I suppose it was used to make paper money for the dead?

"This old minister will certainly not fail Your Majesty's command!"

......

Watching Pei Ji's departing figure, Cheng Zhijie and several other generals couldn't help but let out a silent sigh of disappointment.

As generals, Cheng Ping and his comrades didn't have many opportunities to gain military merit.

If, as His Highness the Crown Prince said, they were to fight to the death and swallow the Turks whole, then once they succeeded, their achievement would be far more than just simple fame and fortune.

That is a great achievement that will be praised by future generations!

After Pei Ji left, Li Shimin first glared at the group of Qin Prince's generals who looked dejected.

Then he stared wide-eyed at Li Chengqian, who was still sitting in his seat like a well-behaved child.

He pointed to the remaining jars on the table.

"Is this salt also something you're using to deal with the powerful families?"

Li Chengqian nodded, then shook his head.

"Father, this stuff, though called 'blue salt,' is more like snow salt. It was extracted from salt mines at my behest. Our Great Tang mainly uses sea salt and lake salt, and the process is rudimentary, the output is low, and the products are mostly large particles and flawed..."

As Li Chengqian explained, Li Shimin frowned and opened the jar on the table in front of him.

When they saw the fine, white salt grains inside, which seemed to reflect a crystalline luster, even someone as knowledgeable as Li Er couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

"so white!"

Li Er carefully scooped out a pinch of refined salt from the container. When Cheng Zhijie, Fang Xuanling, and the others around him saw it clearly, they all showed expressions of horror.

"You said you had this snow salt made from the mine, but don't you know that people will get poisoned if they eat it?"

Li Chengqian smiled faintly at this question.

"Your Majesty, I had the poison removed, and this will turn those previously unwanted mineral salts into mountains of gold for our Great Tang Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, even though everyone present was still unclear about how to remove the toxins from the mineral salt, they understood the implications.

But in his mind, he could already picture just how terrifying the wealth that Li Chengqian had described as representing the snow salt would be.

Hearing the heavy breathing of the people around him, Li Er glanced at Li Chengqian, who had a faint smile on his lips, and snorted softly.

"Speak, what do you want from me this time?"

"The Crown Prince should take 20% of the profits from the snow salt!"

"impossible!"

Without even thinking, Li Shimin immediately shook his head and refused.

"Twenty percent profit! Do you even know what you're saying? All the expenses of the Crown Prince's palace come from the palace treasury. What do you need so much gold and silver for?"

Li Chengqian tilted his head back and said, "Nothing more than raising an army!"

"Cough cough cough..."

Those around them, including Fang Xuanling, were all quite taken aback by Li Chengqian's audacity.

While each of them wore a wry smile, they hurriedly bowed to Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, since we are of no use here, we shall take our leave..."

Among the crowd, even Changsun Wuji, Li Chengqian's uncle, was shrinking back, looking like he wanted to sneak away with the others like a dog.

however.

"All of you, stand up! Today I want to hear from my good Crown Prince what he intends to do with this army!!"

Li Shimin's voice carried a hint of anger that was hard to discern as genuine.

Everyone immediately became trembling with fear.

All I could do was pray that the prince would not utter any more outrageous or outrageous words.

Li Chengqian frowned: "According to the regulations, the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace can be organized into more than 6,000 men. Now, Father Emperor has only given me 200 men. What's wrong with me recruiting the rest myself?"

Everyone: "..."

Li Shimin breathed heavily, glaring at this rebellious son who could drive him to his death.

Du Ruhui whispered a reminder from the side.

“Your Highness, although the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace are indeed entitled to six thousand positions according to the rites, ... throughout history, even during the reign of the Crown Prince, the full quota has never been recruited. After all, the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace are mainly used to protect Your Highness and to clear the way for Your Highness when you are out in the world.”

"Six thousand soldiers is clearly too many..."

However, upon hearing this, Li Chengqian immediately stood up with a whoosh.

"Lord Du, I don't like hearing that! Who said that the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace can only do these menial tasks!?"

He definitely needs the troops. Now that things have come to this point, as long as he doesn't rebel, his father certainly won't depose him.

Putting aside everything else, his own son, who rebelled with him and was the eldest legitimate son, was deposed as crown prince even though he did not rebel.

Just ask the ministers in the Prince of Qin's palace if they are afraid that one day their merit in supporting the emperor will suddenly disappear?

"The Left and Right Guards of the Eastern Palace, according to the rites, are responsible for the military and ceremonial guards of the Eastern Palace. What are the military and ceremonial guards?"

Li Chengqian chuckled lightly: "I am the Crown Prince, and as the Crown Prince, I represent the face of the new generation of our Great Tang! Father, am I wrong in saying this?"

Li Shimin's lips twitched. Although he knew that his son, whose temperament had changed drastically, was going to cause trouble again, the salt-making method was currently in his son's hands, and he, as the emperor, could not forcibly take it away.

Then you can only listen patiently.

He nodded slightly, sounding annoyed, indicating that he was listening and would continue.

"Since I am the face of the future generation of the Tang Dynasty, then wouldn't my Crown Prince's ceremonial guard be the future face of my Heavenly Might Tang Army?! These soldiers must be elite, right? Elite soldiers not only need to be used in actual combat, but they also need to be treated well. The daily cost must be considerable, right?"

"When traveling alone, they also need fully armed guards by their side, right?"

"Armor, warhorses, and military pay—I can't treat them poorly..."

At this moment, Li Chengqian resembled a woman who was rambling on about how difficult it was to make ends meet at home, with a worried expression and a feigned look of regret.

The expressions on Li Shimin's and his ministers' faces must have been incredibly strange.

"Furthermore, the Left and Right Imperial Guards are there to protect the important people around me. For example, if I often go out to observe the people's conditions, and my younger siblings like Qingque and Lizhi, or even my mother, want to accompany me, wouldn't they need even stricter protection?"

"Their skill and equipment requirements can't be too low..."

Li Shimin gritted his teeth.

"Hmph, then tell me again, where are your left and right street cleaning officers who are supposed to clear the streets? What, does it mean that once you, the Crown Prince, leave the palace, there won't be a single commoner left on the streets of Chang'an?"

"You don't need so many people to control the Qingdao Road, do you?"

Li Chengqian stared wide-eyed, his face a mixture of shock and grievance.

“Father, do you really think of me as such a lowly and vain person? The Left and Right Sweepers of the Eastern Palace are clearing obstacles for me to realize my dream of having all nations of the Tang Dynasty pay tribute! Isn’t that their job?”

Li Shimin and his ministers: "..."

At this moment, even Cheng Yaojin couldn't help but admire the shamelessness of Crown Prince Li Chengqian, and realized that his own ruthless methods against others would be effective in the future.

It seems one really needs to be careful in front of this crown prince.

In the eerie silence, Li Shimin looked at his innocent-looking crown prince and remained calm for a long while before letting out a cold snort.

"Even if I allow you to recruit six thousand, a 20% profit margin is too much. Now that our Great Tang is newly established, although I am not afraid of the Turks causing trouble, we still need money and grain to be allocated. The people affected later will also need the government's help. All of this requires money..."

Seeing that his father was showing signs of softening his stance.

Li Chengqian was overjoyed. Then, under the questioning gazes of Fang Xuanling and others, he quickly came to Li Shimin's side and whispered something in Li Shimin's ear.

"What?! Are you serious?"

Li Shimin was instantly shocked, while Li Chengqian nodded confidently.

"Your Majesty, I will not lie to you. Just as I will not ask for this today behind your back. Whether the method I propose works or not, Your Majesty will know once you try it."

"I will not take a single penny of the profits, but I really need 20% of the profits from this salt and mineral trade..."

After a long pause, Li Shimin finally nodded slightly.

"Very well, since that's the case, I grant your request. However, there are some unpleasant things I must say upfront: any future deployments and actions of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace must be reported to me."

"My son obeys the order!"

That night.

The queen's bedroom.

Li Shimin looked at the scroll that his son had sent over, and saw the contents clearly recorded on it about the method of salt production from seawater. He was so excited that he paced back and forth in front of the Empress.

"Hahaha, what a fine crown prince of mine! Such a miraculous skill! Not only is the cost of salt production extremely low, but it is also extremely easy to operate. My Great Tang will no longer have to worry about salt shortages!"

Empress Zhangsun looked at her husband, who seemed like a child, and was so smug that she couldn't stop thinking about him. She couldn't help but smile helplessly.

Today, when her elder brother Changsun Wuji told her that Chengqian had actually asked the Emperor for 20% of the profits from the salt sales.

Moreover, a full complement of six key personnel is required.

The whole person is not well.

However, it seems that Chengqian does understand some boundaries.

Meanwhile, in Chang'an, at the Wang family residence.

Wang Ming watched the carrier pigeon fly away, looked up at the bright moon in the sky, and a smug smile appeared on his lips.

"Hmph, Li Shimin, Li Shimin, Heaven truly has decreed your demise! In this way, your Tang dynasty will soon be under the control of my aristocratic family again..."