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

Because the location chosen for the gunpowder canister explosion was far from Chang'an, in the suburbs, and the surrounding area had been inspected by the Eastern Palace guards almost long ago.

Although Xue Wanche and others were shocked by this weapon, which could almost be described as unreasonable on the future battlefield.

That evening, Li Chengqian led his men back to the Eastern Palace.

However, it did not cause much of a stir.

"The production of gunpowder must be kept absolutely secret, Elder Mo. I can trust all of you in this matter, but I don't trust any of you."

East Palace.

Li Chengqian gave the instructions solemnly.

Mo Yi immediately accepted the order.

"Your Highness, rest assured, we will keep this absolutely confidential. We will prepare all the gunpowder flasks you requested within three days at most!"

Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

Watching Mo Yi lead his men away, Li Tai, who had finally recovered somewhat from the terrifying power of the gunpowder canister, finally understood why his elder brother had been so polite and caring towards these craftsmen.

These people are truly precious treasures!

And it was precisely at this moment that Li Tai seemed to have thought of something.

A look of excitement suddenly appeared on his somewhat dazed face.

"Brother, if we manufacture a large number of these gunpowder canisters, wouldn't the Turkic cavalry be routed by us?"

Li Chengqian smiled and nodded.

"Today's method of putting gunpowder into a clay pot and igniting it is just the most basic use of gunpowder. Qingque, what if we could make that gunpowder pot into something similar to a crossbow bolt?"

"Wherever the launch port is pointed, that area will be remotely razed to the ground..."

"hiss!"

With just a few pointers from Li Chengqian, Li Tai, who had witnessed the power of gunpowder, immediately had a general idea in his mind.

He noticed a familiar glint in the other person's eyes, a glint reminiscent of a mad scientist.

Li Chengqian couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

Now that I have become the Crown Prince, my foolish younger brother, you will have to make do and remain a prince forever.

However, according to the original history, his younger brother Li Tai was the author of the "Great Tang Geography Book" "Kuodi Zhi".

If I guide myself properly in this life...

With the support of a large number of talented people in the simulated world, Li Chengqian felt that Li Tai might become a figure that would be remembered by the world.

That night, in Li Chengqian's bedchamber.

"Your Highness, the medicinal bath has been prepared for you."

Qian Yingying had changed into a female official's uniform. Her figure was graceful and slender. Due to her years of martial arts training and the martial arts skills that only existed in Li Chengqian's simulated world, she had a waist that could be grasped in one hand.

Yet it is filled with power enough to snap an enemy's neck in an instant.

However, in this stunningly beautiful woman's eyes now, there is only Li Chengqian.

She stepped forward gently, her pretty face, shy yet expectant, flushed as if with a touch of girlish rouge. She lowered her head slightly and began to remove Li Chengqian's clothes.

"what......"

The bathwater, estimated to be in the forties, had a pungent, mixed smell of Chinese herbs.

The bathtub specially built for the Eastern Palace, large enough to accommodate two or three adults, did not contain the beautiful women one might have imagined; the problem of the Turks' rampage had not yet been resolved.

Li Chengqian had absolutely no interest in engaging in romantic or frivolous pursuits.

"hiss!"

The instantaneous burning sensation throughout his body, accompanied by stinging pain that progressed from mild to severe, made Li Chengqian feel as if he were being treated with acupuncture on all the acupoints of his body by scalding hot silver needles.

Without daring to delay at all, he immediately assumed a wild and primal posture in the bathtub.

One moment it resembles a tiger stretching its back, the next it's like a nimble snake twisting its tendons.

The sound of rushing water accompanied the sweat that poured from Li Chengqian's forehead and body. The medicinal properties of the bathwater seeped into his body through his pores, nourishing his flesh and blood...

The next day.

It was past dawn, no later than 5 AM.

In Chang'an, the families of officials who needed to attend court were only just beginning to light their lamps and get ready.

Li Chengqian, on the other hand, had already begun his day's training early outside the Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace.

"Swish, swish, swish..."

The long spear, wrapped in cloth, was wielded by Li Chengqian.

It was like a silver snake coiled around him.

In front of him, Xue Wanche, Jing Junhong, and Lü Shiheng all looked miserable.

Xue Wanche held a lance, while Jing Junhong and Lü Shiheng each held a sword or a knife.

Amidst the clanging and banging sounds, the three men, while attacking Li Chengqian alone, were still occasionally forced to suffer some losses.

"Snapped!"

For a moment, I lost my strength and was momentarily distracted.

Jing Junhong suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, and the next moment, he was stabbed back several steps by Li Chengqian's spear.

Li Tai, who was still a little groggy from being pulled up early by his older brother, saw this.

His eyes lit up, and he made a stroke on a piece of paper with his brush.

"The Crown Prince's Left Qingdao, along with Military Advisor Jing Junhong, was fatally wounded in the heart and is fined one hundred coins!"

Upon hearing this, Jing Junhong, who had just regained his footing, felt an even greater, more intense pain in his already troubled heart.

"Your Highness, that's all. If you deduct any more, there really won't be any left. My monthly salary is only five strings of cash."

Jing Junhong had a long face, but before he could finish speaking, Xue Wanche and Lü Shiheng, who were under even more pressure now that they had lost one of their helpers, hurriedly started cursing.

"Are you dead or not?! If you're not dead, then you fucking come here!"

"Jing Junhong, you bastard, if I don't have any alcohol this month, you'll see if I don't beat you up with this stick!"

The group's practical combat demonstration lasted only about the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn.

However, whether it was Xue Wanche, or Jing Junhong and Xue Wanche, they all felt as if every second was an eternity, and every moment was so agonizing.

"boom!"

Li Chengqian suddenly swung his spear.

Despite Lü Shiheng's timely sword block, he was still sent flying by Li Chengqian in an instant, leaving Xue Wanche with an open space on his left.

Just when Xue Wanche thought Li Chengqian was about to turn the tables and stab him with his spear.

"Roar!"

It was as if a fierce tiger had suddenly rushed up to his face.

A powerful punch, moving at a speed that was impossible to react to, slammed into Xue Wanche's face in an instant.

"Forehead....."

A heavy blow followed by dizziness struck, and Xue Wanche knew in his heart that something was wrong.

However, when he came to his senses again...

He was already lying on the ground, with the tip of Li Chengqian's long spear, wrapped in cloth, pressed against his throat.

"Xue Wanche, Commander of the Left Guard of the Eastern Palace, was killed by a fatal blow to the throat. He is fined one hundred coins!"

Li Tai shouted loudly, looking excited, showing no trace of the resentment he had when Li Chengqian had dragged him from his bed to the East Palace.

The crown prince confronted and beat up General Zhebu.

Such a thing is unprecedented, both in ancient and modern times.

"Brother, brother, you're absolutely amazing! Those three were like children getting beaten up in front of you..."

Li Tai jogged over with an admiring look on his face, completely ignoring the three people standing to the side who looked like they were in a bind.

He spoke excitedly.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian smiled slightly.

"Hehe, would you like to have the same strength as your elder brother?"

Just as Li Tai was about to nod reflexively, he suddenly remembered something, and his smile immediately began to stiffen.

"Um, brother, the tutor has been giving us quite a lot of homework lately, I think..."

"You will move to the East Palace today. I will have a palace prepared for you. Tomorrow at this time, you will begin to practice with General Xue and the Six Guards of the East Palace!"

"what?!"

Say it.

Ignoring Li Tai's mournful face, which looked as if the sky had fallen, Li Chengqian strode to the front of Xiande Hall.

At this moment, hundreds of people were already lined up neatly here.

Having received approval from his own emperor, Li Chengqian faced virtually no resistance in recruiting the six officials of the Eastern Palace.

In just a few days, the first batch of 6,000 people was assembled.

As for why it's called the first batch...

"Crack!"

Li Chengqian stood on the steps and suddenly kicked.

He kicked over a wooden box at his feet.

With a series of clattering sounds, copper coins, which made Xue Wanche and the others widen their eyes, were scattered all over the ground.

In front of the Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace, the six guards of the Eastern Palace, who had been standing solemnly, suddenly became excited.

"Those...those are copper coins?!"

"Wow, my goodness! It's all money! Is His Highness the Crown Prince going to give us money?"

"What a pipe dream! This is probably just a show for us..."

Amidst the murmurs, Li Chengqian glanced around.

The Six Commanders of the Eastern Palace.

At present, only the Left Guard Commander's Office has a definite leader, Xue Wanche.

The remaining five military commands, which had just been established, had not even completed their basic structure.

For the time being, Xue Wanche has been put in charge of the daily management.

However, in the future, each side will definitely need to select its own military officers.

"I heard that when you were transferred from other military prefectures to serve in my Eastern Palace, you hadn't even settled your military pay yet, was that right?"

Li Chengqian's words caused Xue Wanche and the others standing nearby to slightly change their expressions.

To say something so taboo in such a setting is truly inappropriate.

That was really inappropriate.

however.

Before the six thousand soldiers below could react, Li Chengqian's next sentence ignited the entire scene.

"I will not tell you about the difficulties the court is facing. I hope you can share the hardships with the court, regardless of which of the Twelve Guards you come from, and regardless of whether you are accepted into the Crown Prince's Six Guards in the next few days."

"Your military pay will be paid to you before you leave here!"

moment.

The crowd below immediately erupted in an uproar.

The shouts of "Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince" and "Your Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent" were even heard, and there was a sense of the Eastern Palace's influence.

Li Chengqian remained calm and slightly raised his hand, making a downward pressing motion.

In an instant, the scene fell silent once again.

"So, as you've probably realized, the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace aren't places you can just come to whenever you want. I can tell you that from now on, in addition to the salaries stipulated by the Ministry of War of the Great Tang, the soldiers of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace will also receive additional meal allowances, holiday subsidies, military exercise rewards, and various other benefits."

"Furthermore, the food provided by the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace will certainly be much better than what you were originally served in the military camps!"

"I guarantee, at least one meat dish every two days!"

"What?! That's so good?"

"Good heavens, what did I just hear? Is there something wrong with my ears?"

"One meat dish every two days, goodness..."

A stone stirred up a thousand waves.

Li Chengqian was quite satisfied with everyone's reaction. However, Xue Wanche and the others, who never expected Li Chengqian to do something like this, were terrified.

"Your Highness, you mustn't! This... His Majesty will probably blame us."

Xue Wanche looked anxious and troubled.

The prince's soldiers received higher pay than the emperor's.

This kind of thing would be a death sentence under any circumstances.

Perhaps the crown prince who rebelled with His Majesty will at most be deposed, but the military officers of the Eastern Palace who followed the crown prince will certainly not fare well.

Li Chengqian was naturally aware of their concerns, and waved his hand dismissively, signaling everyone to remain calm.

"Don't be too happy yet. I'm giving you higher pay and better treatment than other garrisons in my Great Tang Dynasty. In return, your contributions and the strength you possess must be commensurate with the treatment I give you!"

As soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, he raised a finger.

"Of those present today, I will leave only one thousand!"

As she spoke, Qian Yingying immediately led a group of palace maids and eunuchs to bring over some wooden spears or swords that had been prepared in advance.

"Next, engage in two-on-one combat. Those who leave five marks on their opponent's body, or one mark on a vital location such as the neck or heart, will advance..."

Li Chengqian paused, then a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Of course, if any of you heroes want to become a general, there are still many vacancies in the six military officers of my Eastern Palace. If you want to become a military officer, come up and fight me."

"If you remain undefeated within three moves of me, you shall be granted the title of Captain! If you remain undefeated within ten moves, you shall be granted the title of Centurion with the rank of Lower Ninth Grade Lieutenant! If you remain undefeated within twenty moves, you shall be granted the rank of Lower Eighth Grade Crown Prince's Guard..."

In an instant, the soldiers who had been discussing military pay and rewards all looked up.

Pairs of burning eyes seemed to want to incinerate Li Chengqian, who was standing on the steps.

He's been granted an official position!?