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

Changsun Wuji's killing of Cui Minshi, the head of the Cui family of Qinghe, caused a great stir among the powerful and influential people in Chang'an.

Although the other party is indeed a prisoner, if anyone dares to openly kill him, even powerful families like the Pei family of Hedong and the Xiao family of Lanling, who are now considered to have risen in status, would not dare to act rashly.

Du Ruhui's residence.

"This Changsun Wuji... he's really becoming more and more daring and reckless. Before, he recklessly bet everything on the Crown Prince, and now... tsk tsk tsk, the old man, he's truly not someone to be underestimated!"

Du Ruhui sighed. He could tell with his own eyes that Changsun Wuji's move would not only avoid punishment from the Crown Prince and the Emperor, but would also solidify his position in the future.

However, Fang Xuanling, who happened to be seeking refuge with Du Ruhui that day to escape the two tigresses in his family, let out a soft snort.

"That's what they say, but would you or I dare to take Cui Minshi's life? Changsun Wuji is a very cunning old fox. Li Xing, the head of the Li family of Zhao County, is dead, and Cui Minshi of the Cui family of Qinghe has been dealt with by him. The only one who can truly keep order among the three clans of Cui, Lu, and Li is Lu Zhaojing, who is terminally ill."

"If we take action, we might end up keeping all three old men in Chang'an. At that time... Goguryeo will be in chaos. This would be counterproductive and would displease the Crown Prince."

He placed the teacup he had just finished drinking on the table and let out a long sigh.

"This matter is very difficult to handle. Only that old scoundrel Changsun Wuji has some ideas."

The following day at the court assembly.

Just as Fang Xuanling and the others had predicted, Changsun Wuji, who had openly and honestly killed Cui Minshi, then brazenly appeared in the court.

Neither the officials of the Censorate nor the Six Ministries stepped forward to impeach him.

The court assembly proceeded quietly and peacefully.

"Summon Grand Chancellor Lu Zhaojing of Goguryeo to the palace!"

With a loud voice relaying the message from the Taiji Hall, Lu Zhaojing, whose face had become increasingly pale, walked in from outside, slightly out of breath.

Supporting his aged body, he kowtowed and bowed to Li Chengqian on the throne.

In the end, Li Shimin simply gave up on being a hands-off manager and handed the matter over to Li Chengqian to handle entirely.

In any case, looking around the court now, everyone is a member of the Crown Prince's faction.

Even when Li Shimin sat there, he still had to consider the mood of his son in many matters.

"Your humble servant Lu Zhaojing greets His Highness the Crown Prince of the Great Tang Dynasty. May Your Highness be well!"

Li Chengqian nodded slightly and raised his hand to signal the other party to rise.

"Today I summoned Prime Minister Lu here for only one thing. Since Goguryeo has submitted to our Great Tang, the people of Goguryeo should also be the people of our Great Tang. However, Goguryeo has been plagued by war for years. The former King Go Geonmu of Goguryeo unfortunately died for his country, and the false King Yeon Taejo also died in the rebellion."

"All that has happened before is now gone. The people of Goguryeo have suffered greatly. Now that they are subjects of my Great Tang, I shall treat them with propriety and law, teach them benevolence, and let Goguryeo recuperate and the people resume production."

Li Chengqian didn't mention Cui Minshi's death at all, as if such a person had never existed.

"Now that Prime Minister Lu is the teacher of Yuan Gaisuwen, and possesses profound family learning and the ability to educate, although he has made mistakes that have caused widespread suffering, I am willing to prioritize the greater good and order you and your three clans to atone for your crimes through meritorious service..."

"I hereby bestow upon you the position of Grand Chancellor of Goguryeo, to oversee the administration and management of the people's livelihood throughout the entire territory of Goguryeo, to cease hostilities, and to allow the people to recuperate and thrive."

Lu Zhaojing listened with utmost deference.

Upon hearing this, he immediately bowed respectfully again, looking extremely grateful.

"Your subject Lu Zhaojing thanks Your Highness the Crown Prince for your magnanimous grace. Although I am a man of lowly status, I will serve the Tang Dynasty and Your Highness with utmost devotion until my dying breath!"

Wang De carried a tray containing a set of official robes, seals, and other items, and walked up to the other party.

After the latter expressed his gratitude profusely, he finally handed the item to the other party.

Lu Zhaojing stood up.

Just then, a voice with a slightly sarcastic tone suddenly came from the side.

But then he saw Changsun Wuji staring at him with a pair of gloomy eyes, holding a scepter and looking like a beast in human clothing, while exchanging polite words with him.

"Lord Lu, from now on we will be serving in the same court again. Although Prime Minister Lu is going to Goguryeo to preside over the political affairs, if he does well, he will surely be able to return to the court. I will be here waiting for Prime Minister Lu."

"The Emperor's ambitions are vast; Prime Minister Lu, you must take good care of your health. If you fall ill..."

Lu Zhaojing's eyes flashed coldly as she instantly interrupted the other person.

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Changsun. I will certainly not fail the Crown Prince's grace!"

Their eyes met, and their murderous intent was almost openly displayed.

This drew the attention of all the officials.

With that, the matter of Goguryeo came to an end.

Yeon Gaesomun, who killed his father and brother to seize the throne, ultimately had no real power except for an empty throne under the oppression of the mighty Tang Dynasty.

The military power was divided in two, with one part being immediately disbanded by Li Chengqian and sent back to farming.

Part of it was managed by Lu Zhaojing, the newly appointed Grand Chancellor of Goguryeo, who was responsible for maintaining stability within Goguryeo territory.

.......

The *Da Tang Xin Bao* reports: "The northern border has been expanded! Following a resolution passed at the Great Tang court assembly in Chang'an, a new 'Liaodong Circuit' has been established, governing the former Liaodong and Pyongyang prefectures of Goguryeo. The former Liaodong city has been renamed Shengjing Prefecture. Wang Qingyun, the former Sima of Bingzhou, has been appointed Prefect, and Zheng Wuyang, the former Commander of the Jinyiwei Tianzhu Zhenfu Division, has been appointed Sima..."

The *Da Tang Daily* reports: "By imperial decree of the Crown Prince of the Great Tang, the Military Advisor of the Yan Prefecture Army is hereby appointed as the Border Guard Commander, leading 3,000 troops to inspect and collect the remains and orphans of soldiers who participated in the previous dynasty's eastern expedition within Liaodong Road and Goguryeo territory, and bring them back to the Great Tang for a grand burial. Wang Qingyun, the Prefect of Shengjing Prefecture, is ordered to expedite the preparations for the Shengjing Prefecture Martyrs' Cemetery upon assuming office..."

"Goguryeo is gone! Goguryeo is destroyed!"

"The wise Crown Prince sits on the dragon throne, and all the civil and military officials work together with one heart."

"The war drums sound on the Liaodong frontier, and the iron cavalry sweeps through the enemy camp like the wind."

"......"

A caravan was traveling on the official road of Hedong Road. As they approached a village, the clear sound of children's rhymes, along with the scent of green wheat fields swaying in the wind, drifted into the carriages.

Lu Zhaojing looked out the car window with a complicated expression.

"The news spread so quickly that even this small village already knows about it..."

His weary gaze lingered on the figures skipping and playing at the village entrance, past a small school bearing the inscription "Shishui Village Private School – Record No. 1821, issued by the Ministry of Rites, Hedong Circuit."

He didn't speak, but during his time in Chang'an, he had already gained a very direct understanding of the various reforms being implemented in the Tang Dynasty.

The inscription behind the plaque meant that the teachers of this private school had been examined and verified by the Ministry of Rites of Hedong Province, and were recorded in the Ministry of Rites, and enjoyed annual subsidies from the state.

And private schools like these could be seen in every village they passed through on their journey.

"Uncle, how are you feeling? Why don't we find a place to rest first..."

Lu Wenhu looked at the other person with some concern.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaojing, who had come to her senses, looked at the junior in front of her, whose silly and goofy appearance she could still see in when he was a child, and her expression was full of complicated emotions.

Who would have thought that the kid they abandoned at Yanmen Pass, whom they treated like a pawn, would now be making something of himself?

But it's a pity... he couldn't understand the hidden meaning like his two sworn brothers.

He sighed inwardly, and for the sake of the family's continuation, he ultimately decided not to tell the other party this cruel truth.

He shook his head slightly.

"No need. Let the convoy speed up; we're not far from our destination..."

Although he already had the answer in his heart, when the convoy reached the small hill from that year, the group of people had to walk up the hill for a while, taking many twists and turns.

Upon seeing a pit that had clearly been abandoned for many years, Lu Zhaojing immediately knelt down on the ground with a thud.

Tears streamed down my face.

"Father! Your son is unfilial! Waaah..."

Changsun Wuji actually dug up the grave of the elder of the Lu clan in Fanyang.

Lu Wenhu, though also furious, dared not argue with Changsun Wuji because of his immense power.

All he could do was clench his fists and stand aside.

"Changsun Wuji!!!"

"I will fight you to the death!!!"

.......

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and thank your cousin, the Crown Prince!"

At the Changsun residence, the two young men, Changsun Chong and Changsun Huan, have been studying in Taiyuan Prefecture for four or five years and have now grown into two spirited young men.

However, they had each received a slap on the head from their own father, one on the left and one on the right.

At this moment, they all hurriedly bowed to Crown Prince Li Chengqian in front of them.

"Alright, alright. I'm not here today as the Crown Prince. I'm just a nephew visiting his uncle. There's no need for so much formality. I'm just giving them a chance to learn. If they don't achieve anything and can't convince people, then I won't favor them."

Li Chengqian waved his hands repeatedly, looking rather helpless.

Changsun Wuji, however, rubbed his hands together, his smile as bright as an old chrysanthemum.

Upon hearing this, he was not annoyed but rather pleased.

"Hahaha, that's for sure. You don't need to tell me, Your Highness. If these two brats were good-for-nothings, useless and incompetent, I would have already arranged a few acres of land for them to cultivate and make a living!"

As he spoke, the smile on his face vanished, and he glared at his two sons with a stern look.

"You two, let me tell you this upfront: the water conservancy project for the Longshou Canal was planned by the Ministry of Works long ago, and all the plans are documented. You are to observe, learn, and ask questions, but not to offer opinions. If I hear the Longshou Canal's chief official say that you two are abusing your power and acting arrogantly... I'll have you walled up in that canal!"

"Did you hear that?!"

Both Changsun Chong and Changsun Huan were instantly jolted awake, quickly straightened their backs, and loudly replied.

"heard it!"

Changsun Wuji nodded in satisfaction, which made Li Chengqian shake his head repeatedly.

Nowadays, the number of aristocratic playboys in Chang'an is extremely rare.

The openness and transparency of the imperial examinations and military examinations, along with the widespread implementation of education, inspired the people of the Tang Dynasty, who had long yearned to achieve success and change their fate, to send their children to private schools or official schools with great effort.

His philosophy as crown prince, which valued officials from humble backgrounds over those from aristocratic families, inevitably drove these nobles to read voraciously.

After leaving Changsun Wuji's residence, Li Chengqian personally paid a visit to the residence of the Duke of Mi, Qututong.

"Old general, are you really going to let all your family's martial arts skills be buried in the dust of history like this?"

"Eighty? So what if you're eighty? I'm sure you, Duke of Mi, will live to be a hundred!"

"Twenty years is a long time. Just think about it. How many outstanding officers and generals can be trained for our Great Tang in twenty years? Of course, I am not forcing you, Duke. If you really do not want to go to the royal military academy as an instructor, I understand."

"Rest assured, I will absolutely not allow anyone to say anything. Your military strategy, Duke of Mi, is utterly incompetent... Hey, hey, hey? Duke, you've misunderstood. How could I have meant that?"

After a short while, Li Chengqian, accompanied by Qu Tutong's sons, emerged from the mansion humming a little tune.

His lips curled into a smug grin.

"Hmph, retirement... I only pay a salary here, not a pension!"