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

"Go together?"

At this, Li Shimin and the others, who had been laughing and joking, were all stunned.

Meanwhile, Cheng Chumo, Li Dejian, Qin Huaidao, and others exchanged bewildered glances, their faces showing distress, while their eyes also revealed a hint of anger.

If it weren't for the fact that everyone present today was their elder, and that Emperor Li Shimin wasn't even there, making it a completely inappropriate place for them to interrupt, Li Chengqian's words would have made them want to curse.

Having finally recovered and just gotten up from the ground, Cheng Chumo's face was now gloomy.

"Your Highness, I was careless just now. Let's try again!"

Li Chengqian smiled faintly and said nothing more.

With a loud roar, Cheng Chumo charged forward once again.

A punch, more powerful than before but not as unrestrained, suddenly blasted out.

Just when Cheng Chumo thought that he would not have such an obvious flaw this time.

Li Chengqian's feet suddenly flashed.

Cheng Chumo felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, and the next moment a sharp, tingling sensation shot through his elbow.

As a tremendous force suddenly slammed into his chest, he felt his body fly up into the air.

"thump....."

Cheng Chuliang stared blankly, clearly out of breath from Li Chengqian's elbow strike, curled up on the ground like a shrimp suffocating from lack of oxygen, while his elder brother Cheng Chumo was also curled up on the ground.

It felt as if everything that had just happened was still happening incredibly fast.

My own elder brother couldn't even withstand a single move from His Highness the Crown Prince?

He was knocked to the ground in a single exchange?

however.

The onlookers, however, were about to see something more.

Although Cheng Yaojin's face was not looking good, when he looked at Li Chengqian, who was calm and composed at the moment, his eyes were clearly full of solemnity.

Li Chengqian undoubtedly held back.

You could even say that he used at most half his strength.

Otherwise, that precise strike to Cheng Chumo's chest just now would have been enough to make him cough up blood and suffer serious injuries on the spot.

Even more so, if Li Chengqian accurately strikes the Zhongting acupoint on Cheng Chumo's chest.

It's enough to kill the other person instantly.

"This..." Cheng Yaojin really didn't dare to loudly call out to his son anymore.

Li Jing, on the other hand, squinted and scrutinized Li Chengqian for a while before suddenly bowing to Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, why not do as His Highness the Crown Prince suggests and let all these lads come at once? I am truly curious to see just how strong His Highness is."

Li Shimin nodded.

With the emperor's approval, the sons of the various families present, whether apprehensive or nervous, had no choice but to grit their teeth and walk onto the stage.

"Your Highness, I... I don't know any martial arts. Please don't make me lose too badly later..."

As Li Dejian approached, he nervously whispered a reminder.

Beside him.

Fang Xuanling's second son, Fang Yi'ai; Du Ruhui's eldest son, Du He; Qin Shubao's eldest son, Qin Huaidao; Yuchi Jingde's eldest son, Yuchi Baolin; plus Cheng Chumo, who was defeated twice by Li Chengqian, and the two brothers Cheng Chuliang.

Six people came up on stage and immediately surrounded Li Chengqian.

Du He stood a little behind the others, looking uneasy. He felt like crying inside. He couldn't understand why his father wanted him to fight the Crown Prince when he had never practiced martial arts.

Just as everyone was preparing to start the fight.

Amidst the sound of footsteps, another eunuch hurried over.

"Your Majesty, Pei Lawyer, eldest son of the Duke of Wei, and Xiao Rui, eldest son of the Duke of Song, have arrived."

Upon hearing who it was, Li Shimin couldn't help but look at Pei Ji, the Duke of Wei, among the court officials. Xiao Yu, the Duke of Song, had recently been recuperating at home due to illness.

Pei Ji cupped his hands, his face displaying a fawning expression that drew utter disdain from the aristocratic families behind him, including Cui Minshi.

"Your Majesty, my son is also skilled in martial arts and has read many ancient texts. I would like to humbly suggest that he try to catch the eye of His Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Shimin nodded and looked at Xiao Rui, the former Wude Prime Minister before Pei Ji.

The Xiao family was the clan of the former empress, so their status was naturally extremely noble. In addition, Xiao Yu had a good relationship with the current retired emperor. To some extent, Li Shimin and Xiao Rui were also related.

"This humble subject, Xiao Rui, greets Your Majesty. My father sent me here in the hope that I may gain the favor of His Highness the Crown Prince."

Seeing this, Li Shimin said nothing more.

The Eastern Palace is, in a sense, a miniature version of the imperial court, with the sons and descendants of the Prince of Qin's officials and the descendants of the veteran officials of the Wude era. Now, however, it lacks people from the five surnames and seven noble families.

Li Shimin glanced at Cui Minshi and the others without leaving a trace.

Seeing that the others did not react, he did not say anything more.

On the stage.

The newly arrived Xiao Rui and lawyer Pei respectfully bowed to Li Chengqian.

"Your Highness, we apologize for our offense!"

Although they didn't know what had just happened, since His Majesty was watching and allowed so many of the Qin Prince's sons and generals to besiege His Highness the Crown Prince, they would just obediently do as he said.

Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

With a shout from Xue Wanche, "Begin!"

Cheng Chumo, who had been easily defeated twice by Li Chengqian, roared first and launched a fierce attack on Li Chengqian with a stubborn spirit.

And behind Li Chengqian.

Having already witnessed his strength, Yuchi Baolin and Qin Huaidao no longer cared about the unseemly nature of a sneak attack from behind.

With a whooshing sound, the group charged toward Li Chengqian in an instant.

Upon seeing this, Li Shimin and the others widened their eyes, eagerly anticipating Li Chengqian's next reaction.

however.

Just when Li Shimin was thinking that his son was going to suffer some losses.

But then Li Chengqian suddenly stomped his foot, and in that instant, with his cold brows furrowed and his arms outstretched in a fighting stance, he...

A terrifying aura, like that of a fierce tiger, suddenly emanated from him.

"Roar!"

The gust of wind from the punch, as if still lingering in his ears, struck Qin Huaidao beside him the moment Li Chengqian dodged a kick from Yuchi Baolin behind him.

The latter had no chance to react and was instantly sent flying backward.

"Smack!" He blocked Cheng Chumo's angry punch with both arms.

Li Chengqian's feet seemed to be rooted to the ground.

His arms suddenly parted, one hand grabbing the other's wrist, the other slapping Cheng Chumo's lower ribs.

A heaven-shaking seal!

As Li Chengqian exerted force with both arms, Cheng Chumo's expression suddenly changed drastically, but it was already too late.

The force that gripped his wrist like an iron clamp prevented him from breaking free, and the blow to his ribs caused him to hunch over in excruciating pain in that instant.

His body, which was two or three heads taller than Li Chengqian's, was suddenly lifted up by Li Chengqian.

Yuchi Baolin, who had turned to the side to prepare for an attack, slammed the object down hard.

"oops!"

Amidst a scream that made Cheng Yaojin clutch his forehead in agony, the encirclement was broken through by Li Chengqian in the blink of an eye.

Li Jing shook his head helplessly.

"Apart from the two young men from the Cheng family who have some real skills, the rest of the families are basically all all talk and no action."

He didn't deliberately avoid the topic, but his comment about his own son, Li Dejian, who didn't even dare to get close to Li Chengqian, made the faces of all the military officers present look rather unpleasant.

Of course, Li Shimin couldn't help but smile at that moment.

In less than five minutes.

Facing an attack from eight people, Li Chengqian easily took down everyone around him, making Li Tai's face flush with excitement.

"Your Highness is so valiant, I cannot wait!"

Xiao Rui and Attorney Pei struggled to their feet, their bodies throbbing with pain from the falls. But remembering the instructions their father had given them, they quickly and respectfully bowed to Li Chengqian.

As the sons of current and former prime ministers, both Attorney Pei and Xiao Rui...

Both of them were clearly much better at controlling the situation than Du He and the other old ministers and descendants of the Prince of Qin.

No sooner had Xiao Rui finished speaking than he immediately volunteered himself.

"Your Highness, although I am not skilled in martial arts, I have received much instruction from my father in the classics, history, philosophy, and literature, as well as in the discussion of governing the people. My martial arts skills are not good, but I beg Your Highness to give me an opportunity to demonstrate my abilities in other areas."

Attorney Pei, who was standing nearby, immediately spoke up as well.

"Your Highness, my father was ordered by the Emperor Emeritus to participate in and be responsible for revising the current 'Wu De Code' of our Great Tang Dynasty. I am not talented, but I have learned a lot under my father's guidance and influence. I humbly request Your Highness to grant me a position in the Eastern Palace!"

Although both of their fathers were already dukes granted by Li Yuan, for the two of them...

In the absence of official rank or additional rewards, the title of lord is not granted.

At this moment, he could only refer to himself as a commoner in front of Li Chengqian.

Just as the two were talking, Li Shimin, looking smug, strode over with a group of ministers behind him.

He waved his hand, indicating that Xue Wanche and the others who were bowing around him could dispense with the formalities.

Li Shimin's satisfied gaze immediately fell on his own son, the crown prince.

He stepped forward and patted Li Chengqian on the shoulder. After feeling the truly strong muscles, his face showed even more satisfaction.

"Such martial arts skills, he truly deserves to be my good crown prince."

Such direct praise coming from Li Shimin's mouth at this moment shows how much face Li Chengqian had gained by sweeping away the second generation of nobles.

Li Shimin then changed the subject.

He pointed to Lawyer Pei and Xiao Rui, who were respectfully bowing to the side, as well as Du He, son of Du Ruhui, and Li Dejian, son of Li Jing, and several others.

"However, it's not enough for your subordinates to be skilled in martial arts alone. With the affairs of state being so busy, I haven't had time to arrange for ministers to teach you in the Eastern Palace. So it would be good to keep Du He and the others in the Eastern Palace to serve you."

Du Ruhui and the others around him all smiled as they looked at Li Chengqian.

Li Shimin's attitude at this moment was undeniably amiable. He said he wanted Du He and the others to stay, but his tone implied that he was leaving his son no choice.

Li Chengqian nodded slightly and looked at the group.

"In that case, I will keep them in the Eastern Palace for a trial period. It just so happens that I do have some matters that require manpower to handle recently."

Immediately, everyone present except Cheng Chumo, who had been knocked to the ground three times by Li Chengqian, was grimacing in pain all over his body.

Li Shimin and the others all showed satisfied smiles.

Only then did Li Shimin turn his attention to the soldiers who were fighting each other with wooden weapons in front of the Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace.

"Chengqian, are you selecting elite soldiers?"

Li Chengqian nodded.

"Your subject plans to select one thousand men from these six thousand to keep, and pay the rest their wages and send them back to their original units. Then we will recruit again and continue the selection process until we have six thousand elite soldiers."

"However, even if the quota is full, I will conduct internal screening and competition from time to time in the future. Those who do not perform well will have their military pay returned and will be replaced by other military guards."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's lips twitched involuntarily.

I gave you the authority to recruit the full number of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace, and you showed no respect whatsoever.

In the future, the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace will likely become a formidable force in the vicinity of Chang'an.

Cheng Yaojin and the others subtly observed the changes in Li Shimin's expression.

Seeing that the other party's expression was normal and that they did not seem to think there was a problem, I was still a little unsure.

Throughout history, it has never been seen before that a crown prince in the imperial capital possessed such a powerful army. Yet His Highness the Crown Prince is going to select and train all six thousand soldiers into truly formidable warriors.

If it were any other emperor, they wouldn't even be able to sleep at night.

Even during the day, I'm filled with fear.

Li Shimin observed for a while.

"It's ultimately inappropriate for soldiers to conduct military exercises within the palace. In case of any incidents, let's begin training at the Eastern Palace's outskirts starting tomorrow."

"Your subject obeys the decree."

Li Shimin and his entourage stayed briefly at the East Palace before returning to the Taiji Hall.

Along the way, Cheng Yaojin and the other former officials of the Qin Prince's mansion exchanged glances and knowing looks.

Several veteran officials of the Wude clan had unknowingly gathered around Pei Ji.

Following them were officials from prominent families, led by the Five Clans and Seven Families, including Cui Minshi and others.

After witnessing how much power Emperor Li Shimin was giving to the Crown Prince, everyone inevitably began to have their own ulterior motives.

This Crown Prince had his younger relatives befriend him beforehand, and even had them serve in the Eastern Palace.

That seems like a good arrangement.

I wonder if this Crown Prince, with all this fanfare, is planning something earth-shattering in the future...

Just as everyone returned to the Taiji Hall, preparing to continue their discussion about the great victory over the Turkic cavalry, a sharp, urgent sound, accompanied by the sound of horses' hooves, suddenly came from outside the Taiji Hall.

"Good news! General Yuchi has decisively defeated 10,000 Turkic cavalry at Jingyang!"

As the eunuch Wang De hurriedly led the messenger into the main hall, the latter, covered in dust from his journey, excitedly held up the report of victory.

"Your Majesty!"

"The Turkic army attacked Gaoling. Commander Yuchi led his troops in a fierce battle against ten thousand Turkic cavalry, capturing the enemy general Ashide Wumochuo alive and killing over a thousand Turkic cavalrymen!!!"