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

Shougong Hall.

Li Chengqian held a small purple clay teapot in one hand, while using a small wooden stick in the other to tease a long-tailed four-happiness bird, a special species from Linyi, which was brought as tribute from that region.

The chirping of birds made the veins on Li Er's forehead throb as he buried himself in the heavy paperwork in front of him.

Looking at his own prince, whose condition was almost identical to his own before.

In the end, he could no longer suppress the resentment in his heart.

"Chengqian, you..."

"Hmm?" Li Chengqian asked, drawing out the last syllable of his voice.

"Secretary Li, what do you call me?"

Li Shimin's face darkened instantly, and his eyes quickly searched the entire Shougong Hall for something convenient, only to be pulled back by Li Gang beside him.

"Your Majesty, are you working for someone else now...?"

Li Shimin laughed in fury: "I am the emperor! You signed some kind of employment contract, what? You really think I'm your employee?!"

Li Chengqian remained unfazed, casually teasing the somewhat listless long-tailed four-happiness bird in his hand.

But he spoke softly.

"Father is right, but I wonder, whose reign title is Zhenguan?"

Li Shimin's face immediately turned red.

"Now that the second year of Zhenguan is approaching, and Father has been on the throne for more than a year, how many of his personal achievements will be recorded in history?"

Li Chengqian turned his head slightly, looking at his father, who was already somewhat embarrassed, with a half-smile.

If you want to escape the miserable days of sitting at your desk, working from dawn till dusk, 365 days a year without a break, the only way is to hope that your father will become a dragon.

"Master Li, how do you think the historians of today should record the events of the first year of the Zhenguan era?"

"When the Turkic leader Jieli invaded the border, His Majesty personally appointed the Crown Prince to lead the expedition. The enemy was routed and a great victory was achieved. The territory of the Eastern Turks was then annexed and designated as the Zhenbei Road, where it was used for education and civilization."

"Or is it that the Tuyuhun Khan Murong Fuyun defied the will of Heaven and repeatedly invaded the border, and His Majesty warned him many times to no avail, so he ordered the Crown Prince to take swift action and then conquer Dafeichuan and Chishuiyuan to build cities and garrison them?"

Li Chengqian was smiling, but Li Shimin's old face was ashen.

During the Zhenguan era, Li Shimin had no achievements that were entirely of his own. Seeing his crown prince's fearless expression, and glancing at the anxious pulling and tugging between Li Gang and Yu Shinan beside him.

Li Shimin finally let out a cold snort.

I sat back down.

"That's right~ Father, you are the dignified General of Heavenly Strategy, the wise ruler who pacified the Central Plains, how could you be so easily angered?"

"If your son does less work and your father does more, won't the merits come naturally?"

"If the Yellow River irrigation project could be completed during the Zhenguan era, Father Emperor's reputation would at least be on par with that of Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han, right?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's expression faltered slightly.

Thinking about all the huge blueprints for the Yellow River water conservancy projects I've seen these past few days, which cover the entire Yellow River and even extend to the Tuyuhun region, I realize that...

If it were truly accomplished during his own Zhenguan reign, it would undoubtedly become an existence that cannot be ignored in the entire history of China.

Furthermore, the reservoirs and dams of the Yellow River water conservancy project can be collectively referred to as "Zhenguan Water Conservancy".

"hiss!!!"

The long-tailed magpie that used to be so annoying with its incessant chirping now seemed to have a much more pleasant voice.

Li Shimin's movements as he reviewed the documents for the second time became much more efficient.

Li Chengqian smiled faintly.

As for cattle and horses, they always need to be given some encouragement. Whether the cake is real or fake, as long as the other party can smell the aroma.

How to motivate himself after that is up to Niu Ma himself.

"Behold the clanging of iron hooves, trampling across thousands of miles of rivers and mountains!"

"I stand at the forefront of the storm, holding fast to the sun and moon as they revolve."

Today, Secretary Li encouraged me to complete the task, and my stamina increased by 999.

Li Chengqian's mood improved even more, and he hummed a tune softly.

Suddenly, Wang De strode over.

"Your Highness, Lord Changsun has arrived."

"Oh? Uncle is finally back? Let him come straight here!" Li Chengqian's eyes lit up.

Teachers Li Gang and Yu Shinan were responsible for the preliminary review of the administrative matters.

Old Master Li Er's secretary was in charge of secondary processing.

The implementation of local government affairs and the daily management of military affairs were also aided by his two fathers-in-law, Wang Ming and Hou Junji.

The money bag was managed by his father-in-law, Duke Ying, a merchant by trade.

In addition, there was Qian Lou, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who was drawn from the simulated world and was watching everyone.

Now, my uncle, who is in charge of this project, has finally returned from Chang'an.

This is a great hand.

"Tsk tsk tsk... My business is finally starting to look decent."

"From now on, all I need to do is raise my younger siblings, and then I can finally relax completely, hahahaha!"

Li Chengqian was secretly pleased with himself.

Changsun Wuji, whose mind was preoccupied with his position as the chief official of the Yellow River water conservancy project, had already arrived at the Shougong Hall under the guidance of Wang De, taking three steps at a time.

As soon as I entered the main hall.

He was about to perform his usual bow when he saw the scene inside the hall, and his expression froze.

Why does that person, who is slumped over the table with Li Gang and Yu Shinan, looking as exhausted as an ox or a horse, seem so familiar?

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this..." Changsun Wuji felt a sudden shrinkage in his cerebellum.

Li Chengqian smiled and waved his hand.

"Uncle, there's no need for such formalities. We're all family here. I thought you'd be back in a month at most after your trip to Chang'an, but it actually took more than three months... which has delayed quite a few things."

Changsun Wuji was still staring blankly in Li Shimin's direction.

"Your Highness, this, His Majesty is..."

"Oh, Uncle, you mean Father? It's alright. Father is considerate of me, the Crown Prince, and doesn't want me to ruin my health with government affairs at such a young age, so he personally came to take charge of these government affairs."

Changsun Wuji: "..."

Watching the palace maid beside him enter the main hall and skillfully refill the empty ginseng tea cups for Li Shimin, Li Gang, and Yu Shinan, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but swallow hard.

I have a feeling that something is not quite right.

His gaze shifted to the long-tailed magpie that was still chirping in its cage.

"Uncle, do you need to rest now that you're back? The Yellow River water conservancy project is still lacking someone who can keep things under control. I was originally planning to send Hou Junji and the others..."

"Your Highness! I will be able to travel to Yanmen County tomorrow!" Upon hearing Hou Junji's name, Changsun Wuji immediately bowed as if by reflex.

Li Chengqian looked hesitant.

"Uncle, aren't you going to rest for a few days? You've had a long and tiring journey..."

Changsun Wuji's expression turned serious: "Your Highness, state affairs cannot be delayed! If Your Highness does not mind my dereliction of duty that day, I am willing to make preparations immediately! I guarantee that the dredging of the three waterways in Yanmen County will be completed before the end of this year!"

As she spoke, she seemed still worried that Li Chengqian might change his mind.

He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and knelt down with a thud.

"Your Highness, I pledge my life! If the three waterways are not completed by the end of the year, I will behead you!"

A look of satisfaction flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes.

They quickly helped the other person up.

"Oh dear, Uncle, aren't we getting a bit distant? I promised you back then that you would be in charge of the Yellow River water conservancy project. Although you were responsible for the Buddhist uprising that day, it was ultimately the work of treacherous people. The timely suppression of the rebellion prevented it from spreading to the surrounding counties and towns. Uncle has made amends for your mistakes."

Li Chengqian's words immediately relieved Changsun Wuji of the great weight that had been hanging over his heart.

Immediately afterwards, his eyes welled up with tears and turned red.

"This old man thanks Your Highness for your trust!"

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and quickly took out a document from his pocket.

"Your Highness, this contains the results of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's investigation into the Buddhist sect in Yuexi County, as well as the results of their investigation into the Wei family of Jingzhao. I have also brought the evidence with me to Taiyuan Prefecture this time..."

Li Shimin, who was reviewing documents, couldn't help but look up.

Li Chengqian casually opened the document.

He skimmed through the text, reading quickly.

“Your Highness, the monk Juexin of Hanshan Temple is indeed as Your Highness said, skilled in some unorthodox illusion techniques. When Wei Ting stayed at Hanshan Temple, he put some drugs in his food and used some other methods.”

"To make the other party mistakenly believe that he is the Crown Prince..."

"However, just based on the fact that the other party was able to write in such a similar handwriting to the Crown Prince, the Buddhist sect in Yuexi County must also be harboring evil intentions. So I ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to focus their investigation on the Buddhist sect there, and sure enough, they discovered a lot of hidden weapons and armor!"

Li Chengqian slammed the document shut.

"Alright, they're just a bunch of clowns. Since the evidence is irrefutable, we should arrest those who should be arrested and not let a single one escape."

As soon as Li Chengqian spoke, thousands more people were destined to suffer a terrible fate.

"Uncle, you can just send these people to the prison on the Yellow River water conservancy side and have them serve their sentences and do hard labor."

Changsun Wuji nodded hurriedly, then glanced cautiously at Emperor Li Shimin at the table not far away.

Ask in a low voice.

"Your Highness, those people from the Wei clan of Jingzhao..."

Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes, and the wooden stick he had just inserted into the birdcage paused.

"How many of those currently imprisoned are involved in this?"

"Well, apart from Wei Ting, only a few other members of the Wei family in Jingzhao were involved in the case. They were all managers of some businesses. The Wei family in Luoyang was more deeply involved, but now they have all been executed by His Highness Prince Wei."

Changsun Wuji hurriedly answered, seemingly somewhat unwilling.

"Your Highness, you must not be so soft-hearted! According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, Wei Ting's crime is a capital offense punishable by the confiscation of his property and the extermination of his entire clan!"

Li Chengqian glanced at him sideways: "Consort Wei is a good person, she is reasonable."

Changsun Wuji: "Actually, the Tang Dynasty law has many unreasonable aspects nowadays. Your Highness is in charge of the new policies, so how the Tang Dynasty law should be judged is up to Your Highness to consider..."

Li Shimin turned his attention back to the document in his hand.

Li Chengqian pondered for a long time.

"Wei Ting and his cronies were all beheaded. The entire Wei clan of Jingzhao was exiled to Yuexi County, and for three generations they were forbidden from stepping outside Yuexi County. The entire clan was to plant rubber trees for the country!"

"Those who are pardoned will not be pardoned!"