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

Inside the Taiji Hall.

The moment Li Chengqian's spirited call to arms rang out, military generals from the Prince of Qin's mansion, such as Cheng Yaojin, stepped forward in unison.

"This humble general requests to fight the Turks!"

"This humble general requests to fight the Turks!"

"Your Majesty, we humbly request that you send troops to the Turks!"

"..."

Seeing this scene, Cui Minshi and other aristocratic officials were all filled with anxiety.

Just now, when so many of us old men were at court requesting to fight the Turks, why didn't any of you grandsons utter a single word?

Now everyone's volunteering again?!

Cui Minshi and others harbored deep resentment.

However, looking at the rapidly changing situation, Cui Minshi and others had not yet thought of how to deal with this change and bring the Wang family of Taiyuan down from that "high platform".

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, who were the strategists of the Prince of Qin's mansion, and Changsun Wuji, who already knew his nephew well, immediately realized what Li Chengqian was about to do.

There was no hesitation at all.

Changsun Wuji immediately stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, the Turks have invaded our borders. There is no reason for our Great Tang not to fight. However, the court is in dire straits and our supplies are insufficient. I am willing to sell half of my family property to fund the army's provisions!"

Upon hearing this, Cui Minshi and the others secretly sensed something was wrong.

And the next moment.

"Your subject, Fang Xuanling, is willing to offer up all of his family's wealth!"

"Your subject, Du Ruhui, is willing to sell all of my family's property to fund the army! Furthermore, I am willing to forgo five years' salary, only wishing for the prosperity of our Great Tang Dynasty for thousands of years to come!"

Cui Minshi and the others were stunned.

Even Wang Ming, the Vice Minister of War who was now being roasted over a fire, stared blankly at the officials of the Prince of Qin's mansion.

When Changsun Wuji first offered to give up half of his family fortune, they were all taken aback.

As a result, you all became crazier and crazier after that, right?

Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling looked down at each other.

Fang Xuanling's eyes widened.

"You fool, do you have to compete in such things?!"

"Go ahead and add more! Just keep adding more now, okay? At worst, you can forgo your salary for ten years."

"..."

While the two were exchanging glances, on the other side, Cheng Yaojin, with his sharp mind and seemingly rough but actually meticulous nature, had already made his hoarse voice resound throughout the main hall.

"Your Majesty, my family doesn't have much wealth. I'll go back and sell it all after court today to buy provisions for our army! Also, I have many sons; let them join me in battle."

Hou Junji stepped forward, looking furious: "Your Majesty, I'm giving up my mansion and all my land. I'll sell them all and fight those damned steppe barbarians!"

Li Daliang gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I will also sell my family property and my wife's family property. I will give up my old face and go to my father-in-law's house as soon as I get off court for the sake of my Great Tang Dynasty!"

Qu Tutong cursed inwardly for his cunning.

"Your Majesty, this humble general is willing to send all my concubines to brothels..."

"Wow!"

Upon hearing this, the entire court was in an uproar. Cheng Yaojin's eyes widened as if he were seeing a monster, and he pointed at Qu Tutong with an absurd expression.

"You old bastard, have you no shame at all?"

Even though Qu Tutong knew he had spoken out of turn, he could only blush and turn red in the face of the strange gazes around him.

"Cheng Yaojin, how dare you be so insolent! This general is doing this for the sake of our Great Tang Dynasty. Do you think I don't feel pain at all?!"

Having said that, this towering man stood there, dumbfounded, as Cheng Yaojin and the others stared at him in disbelief.

Suddenly, he knelt down in front of the person in charge.

"Your Majesty, my heart aches!"

King Li Tai of Yue never expected that on his first day of court, he would encounter such a spectacular scene. His mouth gaped open, and his round head was filled with huge question marks.

As for Li Chengqian, his lips twitched at the moment, and he could only force himself not to laugh out loud.

Faced with the gaze directed at him from above the throne, he could only lower his head and pretend not to see it.

Hahahaha!

Father, I did nothing wrong. It's just that all the uncles in the Prince of Qin's mansion are loyal to you. There's no way they would do this for the sea salt profits you have.

Your son guarantees it!

To deal with the Turks, the court does need to gather a batch of grain and supplies. No one doubts that the Tang Dynasty will be defeated in the Turkic conflict.

The elders of the Qin Prince's Mansion, including Cheng Yaojin, knew that their leader possessed real mountains of gold and silver.

Given their leader's temperament, if they put in a good performance today, their loyal subordinates will reap tenfold or even a hundredfold rewards once the Turks retreat!

Cheng Yaojin got anxious, and suddenly his eyes lit up.

"Your Majesty, I'm willing to vouch for you and sell all of Yuchi's mansions to fund the army! If Yuchi comes back and tries to settle scores, I, Old Cheng, will take the blame!"

Everyone's eyes widened.

Wow, you can do it like this?

Using someone else's flowers to present to Buddha?!

Looking at the crowd in the Qin Prince's mansion at the imperial court, it seemed as if they wished they could even take off their underwear in front of everyone and sell it to demonstrate their loyalty to the Tang Dynasty and Li Shimin.

Officials from prominent families, including Cui Minshi, couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

Sure enough, the time was almost up.

Cheng Yaojin, that shameless fellow, unhesitatingly became the dagger for Li Shimin and his son Li Chengqian.

“I say, Lord Cui, our Cheng family is poor and has little wealth. Your Cui family of Qinghe is a prestigious family in our Great Tang Dynasty. Are you not willing to be generous and righteous for our Great Tang?”

Cui Minshi's eye twitched.

The gazes of Li Shimin and his son Li Chengqian, the emperor and his minister, had already subtly fallen upon him.

"This... Your Majesty, I am willing..."

Before he could even consider how much blood he would have to bleed, she said it.

Li Chengqian's soft voice came from in front of the officials.

"Father, I believe that the deeds of the officials and generals of our Great Tang Dynasty who have contributed to the country should be commemorated with monuments and biographies! Anyone who has contributed to our Great Tang Dynasty's defense against the Turks, no matter how small, even if it is just a piece of silk or an ounce of silver, should be rewarded."

"A monument should be erected in front of the gates of Chang'an, the capital of our Great Tang Dynasty, so that the people of our Great Tang can understand that the officials in the court value the world and the people far more than their own lives and property!"

"Father, this will not only boost the morale of our Tang army, but also stabilize the hearts of the people at this time when the nation is in turmoil!"

Wang Ming's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.

As for Cui Minshi, who had originally only mentioned the amount of grain and fodder, implying that he was willing to bleed a little, he opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word.

A multitude of angry but unspeakable gazes fell upon Li Chengqian.

However, faced with Li Chengqian's open scheme and the full support of the former officials of the Prince of Qin's mansion, even though Cui Minshi and Wang Ming were eloquent, they had now become the ones in the court today.

Li Shimin and Li Chengqian, father and son, were like fish on a chopping board.

On the throne, Li Shimin had a faint smile on his lips. His crown prince's thick skin and ruthless heart were indeed excellent qualities that an emperor should have.

Even Li Shimin himself felt somewhat inferior.

To some extent, it seems that his style of doing things is more like that of an emperor ruling over all.

"Ahem, Your Highness is right. Your actions today, for the sake of the country and its people, deserve to be recorded in history!"

"By imperial decree, after the court session, the Ministry of Rites shall be in charge of this matter and shall record it in detail. I want those Turks, and I want the people of the world, to see just how heroic my court's pillars are!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gongjin, who held the official position of Minister of Rites, immediately accepted the order.

With the conclusion of this court assembly.

Cheng Yaojin immediately approached Zhang Gongjin and began to ramble on about how much of his family property he could sell, with obviously exaggerated figures that drew criticism from Hou Junji and others around him.

Unlike others.

Li Chengqian, on the other hand, stood smiling at the entrance of the Taiji Hall, watching Wang Ming, who looked disheveled and bewildered, walk out with the help of several aristocratic officials.

He immediately smiled, stepped forward, and bowed.

"Lord Wang, the Emperor's decree will be issued soon, and I will also gather the troops of the Eastern Palace as soon as possible. Then, I will join you, Lord Wang, in a decisive battle against those Turkic barbarians!"

Wang Ming cupped his hands, but the smile on his face was even more unsightly than a mournful one.

"Your Highness, I have not been on the battlefield for nearly ten years."

Li Chengqian was greatly shocked: "What?!"

He exclaimed in surprise, "Lord Wang has not drawn his sword to fight for ten years, yet he dares to face those Turkic barbarians head-on. He truly deserves to be a descendant of the prestigious Wang family of Taiyuan!"

"Chengqian admires you!"

Wang Ming opened his mouth, looking at Crown Prince Li Chengqian who was looking at him with an expression of adoration. He felt as if all the strength in his body was about to be drained away at this moment.

Wang Ming looked like he was practically being carried away by the crowd just to leave the palace.

Li Tai couldn't help but feel a little worried.

"Brother, are you really going to the battlefield to fight the Turks? I've heard that the Turkic cavalry are very difficult to deal with."

Li Chengqian turned around.

"Qingque, are you scared?"

Li Tai remained silent, but Li Chengqian smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't feel ashamed. In a place like the battlefield, things can change in an instant, and life and death can be decided in the blink of an eye. No one is unafraid, but Qingque, you must remember this!"

Li Chengqian's tone was resolute.

"My grandfather was a general who rose to power on horseback, and my father was a renowned general. As princes, we must not tarnish the reputation of our royal family when we go to war!"

Seeing the other party's uneasy expression, Li Chengqian suddenly narrowed his eyes.

"Qingque, are you willing to go to the battlefield with your brother and fight against the Turkic barbarians?"

"what?!"

......

In the Cui family mansion in Chang'an.

Just after the court session ended, the leaders of the five surnames and seven clans in Chang'an gathered together.

"Brother Cui, are we really just going to be led by the nose by the royal family in this matter?"

"Those country bumpkins from the Qin Prince's mansion are offering up all their family property right off the bat. Do they expect the Lu family of Fanyang to give up all of my ancestral assets as well?"

"Humph! Don't even think about it!"

The crowd's words were filled with anger.

Wang Ming of the Taiyuan Wang clan, whom Li Chengqian specifically targeted in court today, is not here.

He was clever enough to understand that he was chosen by Emperor Li Shimin and Crown Prince Li Chengqian as a scapegoat. As for the other families, the royal family would only give them a warning and make them bleed a little.

The current leader is clearly preparing to take drastic measures against the Wang family of Taiyuan.

There's no need to attend this kind of gathering anymore.

Cui Minshi's face was gloomy.

"Bleeding is inevitable. In any case, since the Crown Prince and Li Shimin have brought up the matter of erecting a monument, we can only go with the flow. At least, we can still gain some good reputation."

"However... even if we pay such a high price, Li Shimin will still be defeated."

Without waiting for everyone's reaction.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps approached.

Cui Minshi frowned slightly: "Didn't I tell you not to disturb our meeting?"

The servants lowered their heads in alarm.

"Master, Prime Minister Pei has come and says he has important matters to discuss with you and the other officials."

Everyone looked at each other.

When Pei Ji arrived here with the help of his servants, he saw a group of influential figures from prominent families in Chang'an.

His brows furrowed slightly.

"It is I, Cui, who have been impolite to Prime Minister Pei's visit today. Someone, bring tea!"

"No need, I'll just say a few words and then leave."

His gaze fell on Cui Minshi among the group.

Pei Ji took a deep breath.

"The Cui family of Qinghe, the Cui family of Boling, the Lu family of Fanyang, the Zheng family of Xingyang... It seems you families have gathered here to discuss matters of the court today."

"Gentlemen, there is no need to be angry. I am not here to act as a persuader. It is just that my ancestors from the Pei family of Hedong have some connection with you, and I do not want to see you go astray."

Pei Ji looked at the group of people with gloomy faces.

"His Majesty is a wise ruler who can reshape the world. The generals and strategists in the Prince of Qin's mansion are not benevolent either. His Highness the Crown Prince is not one to cherish his own power. Gentlemen, I know what you want to do."

"Whether your intentions are toward the current Emperor Emeritus or the descendants of the Crown Prince, I have only one thing to say."

Pei Ji's expression was solemn, yet it also revealed a hint of helplessness and bewilderment: "There are people who want you to succeed even more than you do..."