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

"Chengqian, listen to me, I'm not joking."

"Didn't that Ashina Nishu run back to the Western Turks? You just let him go like that? He caused you a lot of trouble with the Eastern Turks back then."

"I will take care of him for you... Most of the Western Turks' main force has gone on a westward expedition. If we act now, we are sure to achieve a great victory..."

The Li family finally had a rare reunion.

However, the scene of this family dinner looked rather chaotic no matter how you looked at it.

Originally, it should have been a scene where the emperor, the retired emperor, and the crown prince sat at one table, the empress and Consort Yang and other concubines sat at another, and then the princes and princesses sat at yet another.

Now, however, it was after Li Shimin joined Li Ke's table.

Things got chaotic.

Emperor Emeritus Li Yuan seized the opportunity and once again approached Crown Prince Li Chengqian, muttering things like "I can still fight," which made Li Chengqian smile wryly.

Meanwhile, Empress Zhangsun and the others were having a heated discussion about the marriage of Crown Prince Li Chengqian.

Even some of Li Yuan's concubines got involved, offering their suggestions.

"Ke'er, I don't want much, and I won't make things difficult for you. Just raise this amount for me and help me overcome the financial deficit of the court."

Li Shimin placed a large hand on Li Ke's shoulder, his arm like a vise, leaving Li Ke with no chance to struggle or escape.

Watching helplessly as his younger brothers scattered like birds and beasts, he couldn't help but feel bitter.

"Father, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that... I have no money!"

Li Shimin glared, his mouth opening slightly, reeking of alcohol.

"Don't try to fool me! You were saying earlier today that you had so much money in Dengzhou that you couldn't spend it all! You asked me to give you some!"

Li Ke shook his head: "No! Father, that's not my money, it's my elder brother's money. It's for building ports, constructing warships, and training the navy. I can't give it to you."

Li Shimin was immediately enraged.

"You're such a stubborn idiot!"

He glanced back nervously at his own crown prince, and seeing that the prince was being held by the retired emperor, who was probably showing him concern, he felt much more at ease.

Lower your voice and open one palm.

"Five million strings of cash! You give me five million strings of cash, and I'll make up the difference a year from now..."

Li Ke shook his head decisively again.

“Father, this money was borrowed by my elder brother. It’s a national bond, and it has a 30% interest rate.”

Li Shimin took another deep breath, feeling that the current situation was quite similar to when his family raised an army in Jinyang and they went to the surrounding powerful families to win them over and ask for their support.

Even he, the emperor, couldn't help but sigh inwardly at this moment.

Money is hard to earn, and life is tough!

"I don't want it all; I just need you to help me with some funds. You heard what Chancellor Fang and the others said today; the court simply doesn't have the money right now..."

Li Ke: "Didn't Father Emperor use his own salt funds to pay for it?"

Li Shimin: "...Not enough!"

Li Ke put down his chopsticks and spread his hands: "No money!"

Li Shimin: "......"

On the other side, Li Chengqian listened with a smile as his imperial grandfather recounted how brave and valiant he was in his youth, how he initially only got a civil official position, and how his superb archery skills earned him a place on the imperial examination.

He married a virtuous wife named Dou, and so on.

In short, my dear grandson, although I'm old, I'm still quite capable!

Li Chengqian smiled as he looked at his grandfather, whose mouth was getting dry from talking so much, and thoughtfully handed him a cup of tea.

But he spoke softly.

“Grandpa, if you want to go out and play, or even leave Chang’an, these are all minor matters to me. Even if Father is not happy, I will find a way to let you leave the city. However... leading troops into battle.”

Li Chengqian shook his head at the end.

It was obvious that he was not very willing to let his own grandfather go to the battlefield.

However, seeing his reaction, Li Yuan immediately became anxious.

"Chengqian, do you think I'm no longer as brave and valiant as I used to be?!"

His eyes widened, scanning the surroundings, as if he were about to perform a "Retired Emperor's strength to uproot mountains and his aura to overwhelm the world" for his elder brother if there were a giant cauldron in front of him...

Li Chengqian quickly waved his hand and pulled the other person back.

“Grandpa, even if you are the commander of the army, you are the marshal. Going into battle to kill the enemy is the business of generals and soldiers. Not to mention that I believe you are still as brave as ever, but... war is not child's play.”

Li Chengqian shook his head: "Grandfather, war requires money! Do you have any? War also requires a large army. Given the current situation of the court, do you think Chancellor Fang and the others can provide the provisions and pay for the expedition?"

Li Yuan smiled and leaned closer, affectionately taking Li Chengqian's hand.

"My dear grandson, your imperial grandfather has treated you well, hasn't he? He gave you all of those five million strings of cash back then... Give me one million strings of cash and a large army. When I launch a northern expedition against the Western Turks, all the territories I conquer will be under your control!"

Li Chengqian was helpless; it turned out that his grandfather really wanted to experience the thrill of a northern expedition.

He couldn't help but ponder for a moment...

Upon seeing that Li Chengqian was actually seriously considering it, Li Yuan immediately poured him a cup of tea with anticipation and carefully handed it to him.

They didn't urge them, just waited quietly.

Their appearance was truly cautious...

After a while.

"Actually... my grandson did have plans to wage war against other countries this year."

Li Chengqian stroked his chin, and what he said made Li Yuan's eyes light up.

however.

Before he could say anything, a loud voice suddenly came from beside him.

"What?! War against foreign powers?! Chengqian! I'll help you fight! Who do you want to fight?!"

It turned out that the one who had suffered a setback with Prince Li Ke of Han had come over at some point while Li Yuan was distracted, and happened to hear his own crown prince say such a thing.

"Go away! What business is it of yours here! You, the emperor, just abandoned state affairs and let this old man do the work for you for half a year, and I haven't even settled accounts with you yet. What? You've only been back for a few days, and you're already leaving Chang'an again?"

Li Yuan was instantly furious!

He stood up and rudely shoved the other person aside.

Li Shimin struggled, "I heard everything! Chengqian wants to wage war against foreign powers. What's wrong with me, the emperor, and his father, helping him?!"

Li Yuan glared and pushed even harder.

"You're talking nonsense! As the emperor, you should be the one staying in Chang'an!"

Li Shimin: "I will personally lead the army!"

"So you want me to continue handling the affairs of Chang'an? Then you might as well abdicate and continue being the Prince of Qin, the General of Heavenly Strategy. I'll appoint you as the First General under the Crown Prince!" Upon hearing this, Li Yuan was so angry that his nose almost twisted.

He pointed at the other person and started cursing.

However, he had long been fed up with these days of running around trying to cover the court's fiscal deficit.

Now that he heard there was such a good thing as a war, how could Li Shimin let it go?

"Father, don't push me! I heard everything! Chengqian wants to go to war, and the money is coming from my own private treasury..."

"You're talking nonsense! That's Chengqian's own money! It was given to him by me!"

Li Shimin glared at him: "That came from my private treasury!"

Li Yuan sneered: "Your private treasury? The emperor is no longer in Chang'an, so how can the private treasury still belong to the emperor? Since you've left, the private treasury belongs to me, the retired emperor! That money was given to my beloved grandson from my own private treasury!"

"Father, you're talking nonsense..."

"Please call the Emperor Emeritus!!!"

Li Yuan's shout immediately drew everyone's attention to this side.

Not far away, Empress Zhangsun and others, who had been chattering about how to prepare for the Crown Prince's wedding, suddenly saw a father and son fighting over something inexplicable.

They were all taken aback.

In the past, it was always His Majesty and the Crown Prince who were at odds.

Why have they now become the Retired Emperor and His Majesty?

Empress Zhangsun hurried over.

"Father, what are you doing? The family has finally reunited, why are you arguing again..."

Empress Zhangsun hurriedly stepped forward to support the retired Emperor Li Yuan, and then quickly gave Emperor Li Shimin, who was also quite angry, a meaningful look.

Li Yuan pointed at Li Shimin and snorted angrily.

"Guanyinbi, this is your husband! It is I, as his father, who have failed in raising him! He has only been back in Chang'an for a few days, and he is already thinking of going out to run wild again, abandoning the court..."

"What?!" Empress Zhangsun exclaimed in surprise.

Turning her head, she saw her husband's face flushed red, his eyes darting around, yet he was trying to make excuses.

"I, I am personally leading the expedition!"

Li Yuan sneered and snorted angrily: "The imperial court is in financial deficit, the Ministry of Revenue is short of silver and grain, and you, the emperor, still want to waste the people's resources by personally leading a military campaign?"

Li Shimin stared wide-eyed, finding it hard to believe that this old Bi Deng would actually turn around and bite back.

"The Crown Prince will pay for it!"

However, as soon as he finished speaking, Li Chengqian, who was sitting to the side, waved his hand at lightning speed.

"Father, please don't talk nonsense. I was just speaking off the cuff. I haven't even decided who to lead the expedition yet. How did it come to the point of the Emperor personally leading the expedition?"

Empress Zhangsun was somewhat confused about these three generations of grandfather, grandfather, and grandson.

Exhausted, she could only temporarily pull her angry and frustrated emperor aside.

Taking advantage of this time, Li Yuan approached again.

"Chengqian, my beloved grandson, I..."

Li Chengqian hurriedly interrupted, "Grandfather, this war is no small matter. Even if I provide the money, weapons, and troops... how will you command them? This war is not a one-man show."

However, Li Yuan's eyes lit up when he heard these words.

"You mean if I had generals under my command, you would let me personally lead the army?"