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

"Not allowed, Your Highness!"

Hou Junji, that old codger, was the first to react, stepping forward and kneeling on the ground with a thud.

"Your Highness, please reconsider! This is a mountain of silver that produces three million taels annually. If... if it were handed over to the Prince of Wei, what would become of it in the future..."

Everyone present knew perfectly well what Hou Junji wanted to say but dared not say.

Even Changsun Wuji, who had just returned from the Yellow River water conservancy project in Longyou to report on his work, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to object.

He's much more direct when he speaks.

Although both Li Chengqian and Li Tai are his own nephews, if he had to choose, he would still choose Li Chengqian without hesitation.

"Your Highness, this is unacceptable! I know Your Highness loves all the princes, but if a mountain of silver is handed over to Prince Wei for his own use, Prince Wei will certainly not fail Your Highness's kindness. However... there will inevitably be some wicked people in Prince Wei's mansion who will try to take advantage of it."

"Now His Highness the Prince of Wei is in Chang'an, and he has three thousand personal guards and musketeers under his command. This already exceeds the regulations of previous dynasties. His Highness has allowed him to establish the Tiangong Bureau to gather talents from all over the world who are skilled in science and technology, and has also allowed him to set up workshops and factories."

"To bestow upon him another mountain of silver is truly inappropriate!"

"Your Highness, please rescind your order!"

As soon as Changsun Wuji stepped forward, the civil and military officials present, who had been anxiously waiting, immediately stepped forward in unison, loudly echoing his sentiments.

"Your Highness, please rescind your order!"

The earliest collective opposition to the Crown Prince's orders came when the five clans and seven powerful families joined forces to force Li Shimin to abdicate.

Now, in front of Li Chengqian, the court officials are opposing him.

This shows the strong resistance people have to this matter.

Even Li Chengqian hadn't expected that he, the crown prince who had killed his own uncle, would be so protected by the entire court.

Once he came to his senses, Li Tai quickly stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable! I understand Your Majesty’s intentions, but what Lord Changsun and the Duke of Lu said is all reasonable. Your Majesty has already given me such great authority, allowing me to set up a workshop, so the matter of flying should naturally be handled by me.”

Li Chengqian sneered: "If you create flying objects in the future, will they belong to my Great Tang Dynasty or to your Prince Wei's Mansion?"

Before Li Tai could say anything, Li Chengqian waved his hand.

"You have the heart to investigate things and innovate, and you also have the talent for this, plus you are my younger brother. If I don't trust you, why should I trust someone else?"

"If you are truly sincere, then accept this mountain of silver honestly and work hard to promote the study of things in our dynasty, so that the banner of our Great Tang army can fly to the heavens."

The courtiers immediately became extremely anxious.

Changsun Wuji quickly looked at Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui.

Fang Xuanling pondered for a moment: "Your Highness, I have something to say!"

Li Chengqian glared at him: "If you have any objections, then don't say them..."

"Your Highness's plan is supported..." Everyone looked at him, and Fang Xuanling took a deep breath.

"Your Highness, we misunderstood you just now. We thought that Your Highness bestowed this great benefit of the country upon Prince Wei simply out of love for your younger brother. Your Highness just said that the gift of the silver mountain was only to hope that Prince Wei would not be distracted by money and could devote all his energy to the work of the Imperial Crafts Bureau."

"I am ashamed..."

Seeing Fang Xuanling bow, Li Chengqian's expression softened slightly.

However, Fang Xuanling spoke again shortly afterward.

"However, money can corrupt people's hearts. When Your Highness implemented the new policies in Taiyuan Prefecture, how many officials who had just taken office were corrupted by money? Your Highness knows this well. The Prince of Wei's mansion now has no mistress and the management of the accounts is inadequate... Why not have the Ministry of Revenue send people to establish a special management office to manage the income from the silver mines, and set up separate accounts? In the future, all the needs of the Tiangong Division or the Prince of Wei's mansion will be allocated by the Ministry of Revenue?"

"What does Your Highness think?"

The officials breathed a sigh of relief and turned their expectant gazes toward the Crown Prince.

Li Chengqian frowned: "But didn't you say before that the Ministry of Revenue was short-staffed?"

Feng Deyi quickly cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, this year the Ministry of Revenue has promoted some young officials. This matter can be handled by sending an old minister to oversee it, and then letting the newly appointed officials handle it. It is not a difficult matter."

"What do you think, Fourth Brother?"

What can Lee Tae-neng say?

Even his own uncle looked at him with a wary and stern gaze. How could he dare to say no today?

I'm afraid my own father will soon receive an impeachment memorial regarding Prince Wei, Li Tai, scheming to become the crown prince!

"Your Majesty, I am willing! Thank you, Your Majesty. I will certainly build the Heavenly Crafts Bureau soon and accomplish the great feat of flying for our Great Tang!"

The meeting is over.

The officials left the court.

Li Tai walked out of the Taiji Hall, when someone called him from behind. When he turned around, he saw his uncle, Changsun Wuji, looking at him with a complicated expression.

"Qingque, I hope you can understand that even people like the King of Yan and the King of Chu can take these mountains of gold and silver, but you and your brother Zhinu must never touch them."

To the side, Duke Hou Junji of Luguo gave him a cold look and left.

You can faintly hear what sounds like a cold snort from the other party.

Li Tai said helplessly, "Uncle, do you also think that I will rebel against my brother in the future? I didn't know about today's events beforehand, do you believe me?"

Changsun Wuji gave him a deep look and nodded slightly.

"Of course I don't believe that you, Qingque, would quarrel with the Crown Prince and his brothers, but... some things must be viewed a hundred years from now. The Ministry of Works has clearly investigated and found that the Ishimi Silver Mine can be mined for over a hundred years with ease."

"You may be loyal to the Crown Prince and your brothers may be of one mind, but what about the relationship between your children and the Imperial Grandson in the future?"

Li Tai: "......."

No way! I don't even have a princess consort yet, and you old fogies are already thinking about the crown prince?!

He was speechless, but could only nod to indicate that he understood.

However, he then asked with some doubt: "What do you mean that the fifth and seventh princes can touch mountains of gold and silver, but I and Zhinu can't? What, my own brother's son can rebel, but Li Yun and Li You's sons won't in the future?"

Changsun Wuji sneered and cupped his hands in greeting.

"By then, I and the Prime Minister will surely be nothing but dust, but... I will have Chong'er and Huan'er, as well as their future offspring, keep an eye on things. If the illegitimate son wants to have his house closed, he should ask His Highness the Crown Prince's ministers if they will allow it!"

No sooner had Changsun Wuji left than Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Pei Ji, Wang Gui, Xiao Yu, and other veteran officials from both the Zhenguan and Wude eras came to him subtly to give him a heads-up.

Even Li Tai couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement as he watched these guys leave.

rebel?

Is this rebellion against my royal brother?

He probably didn't even have time to raise his banner before his men tied him up and brought him to the palace.

He shook his head, somewhat pleased but also speechless, and headed out of the palace. Meanwhile, the officials who had just left turned around after exiting the Taiji Hall and headed towards the Ganlu Hall.

Upon hearing Wang Delai's report about Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling and a dozen or so other high-ranking officials of the first and second ranks of the court collectively requested an audience.

Li Chengqian, who had just sat down and hadn't even warmed his seat yet, couldn't help but sigh and shake his head.

Wang De led the person in.

"I say to you gentlemen, if you have so much energy to ponder this and guard against that, why don't you spend that time cultivating talent for me and governing the region?"

Seeing the Crown Prince's expression, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

After exchanging glances, Du Ruhui was chosen by the crowd.

"Your Highness, several new gold mines have appeared in Guannei Province of our Great Tang Dynasty, and in Japan, four more gold and silver mines in Sado have begun development and mining. In addition, paper currency will be introduced next year, giving us another opportunity to reap profits from various countries..."

"This is a very large sum of money. Doesn't Your Highness have any plans to do anything about it?"

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow: "A lot of money?"

Feng Deyi reported: "I estimate that there will be at least 12 million strings of cash left over, which is equivalent to 120 million Tang Yuan in paper money."

Li Chengqian stroked his chin. One coin could be exchanged for one Tang fen, and one hundred coins for one Tang yuan.

The expectant looks from everyone left Li Chengqian somewhat bewildered.

"It's only 120 million? A little railway construction, some ships and ports, and it'll be gone in no time..."

He shook his head.

Hou Junji became anxious.

"Your Highness, haven't you ever considered building a new palace?"

"Huh?" Li Chengqian seemed to doubt his ears, and suddenly looked at Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui.

"Ahem, Your Highness, you have worked so hard for the Tang Dynasty for so many years. It's not unreasonable to build a new palace... You have brought a good life to every household in the Tang Dynasty. You yourself can live a more luxurious life."

Li Chengqian: "......"

Am I still half asleep?