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

"Your Highness, wasn't it supposed to be tofu soup? Why does it smell like chicken soup to me?"

Changsun Chong's words made Li Chengqian's already stiff expression even more interesting.

He turned his head, still smiling, but his back teeth were practically grinding to powder as he glared at Chu Dahai, who had messed up at the crucial moment.

Take a deep breath and force a smile.

"Hehe, my cousin probably traveled all the way from Chang'an and suffered a lot. He's probably craving chicken. This is clearly just tofu soup..."

Li Chengqian smiled, but this smile looked rather ugly and glaring when he looked at the bowl of Wensi Tofu in front of him, which was obviously made with exquisite knife skills.

I've been busy all day dealing with and trying to lull this debt collector sent by the emperor himself into a false sense of security.

Li Chengqian thought that today was the day he had accomplished his mission.

Unexpectedly, he stumbled on his favorite chef.

In his confused state, he even did the absurd thing of "calling a deer a horse".

Changsun Wuji was puzzled as to why the Crown Prince was behaving so strangely today.

I assumed that the other party was in a very bad mood because of all the troublesome official business during the day.

During the banquet, he, as the uncle, immediately comforted the family with a smile.

"Hehe, Your Highness, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. His Majesty and the officials in the court all know that Your Highness wants to achieve something great."

"But you should know that haste makes waste. Your Highness is the Crown Prince, but he is still a young man. He should arrange some leisure time to ride horses freely in the countryside or find a quiet river to fish."

Li Chengqian: "..."

Li Tai, who was holding a small bowl of rice, paused and looked at his older brother with a serious expression.

"Your Majesty, what does this old scoundrel mean? Does he not only want money, but also want to take away the management rights of our workshops?!"

Li Ke took a deep breath and looked hesitantly at his older brother.

"Brother, what should we do? Father has become so shameless!"

Li Chengqian gestured to the two men to remain calm.

He chuckled.

While gesturing for Changsun Wuji and the others to eat as they pleased, he sighed under his breath.

"I'm not in a hurry. With my status, even if I'm not the crown prince, I'm still a prince. I'll naturally enjoy a life of luxury. However... alas, my father and I are now completely severed from the ranks of the aristocratic families."

"If you want to sit on the throne in peace, you must take the people's heart as your own and their thoughts as your own."

"Be the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures."

Li Tai and Li Ke gaped. The Emperor was indeed the Emperor. Since Father sent his uncle to play the emotional card, then the Emperor would play the emotional card against Father!

high! It’s really high!

Li Chengqian continues to contribute.

"I have only been in charge of the Crown Prince for a few months, yet since I arrived in Bingzhou, I have been reviewing the archives of the court reports of this entire province, and I am drenched in sweat!"

"Leaving aside the Wang family of Taiyuan for the time being, there are hundreds of prominent families, large and small, in Bingzhou, some of whom have their names recorded in Chang'an, while others are deeply rooted in the local area!"

"A complex web of connections, with officials protecting each other—it's truly terrifying!"

"Our Great Tang Dynasty inherited the divine regalia of the previous dynasty and has been established for nine years. With the great cause just beginning to be established, it should be a time when everything is in ruins and we need to rebuild our country. However, we never expected that the corruption in the local areas would reach such an alarming level."

"Like a giant tree that is outwardly alive but inwardly dead!"

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, his eyes glistening with tears of regret. His excellent acting skills left his two younger brothers beside him completely dumbfounded.

In a daze, I even had the feeling that these were all my brother's true feelings.

Changsun Wuji was also stunned. His Highness the Crown Prince had become so concerned about the country and its people. If this continued, he might develop a heart condition.

Li Chengqian looked at his uncle with sorrow and helplessness. With a sigh, the rice bowl he had just picked up seemed to lose its appetite in that instant.

Put it on the table.

"In this day and age, the problems cannot be solved simply by policies of rest and recuperation. We must employ both benevolence and severity to eradicate the nation's ills, remove the shackles from the people, share the sweet nectar of new policies with the common people, and enrich the people."

"I do not seek the glory of a great dynasty, but only wish for the well-being of my country and its people to be as stable as Mount Tai."

"Even if future generations condemn the reigns of my father and me for usurping the throne, they should still retain some respect for us in the hope of the people's well-being..."

There was complete silence before the round table in the side hall.

Everyone looked at the Crown Prince, who was weeping uncontrollably, with complicated expressions.

Changsun Wuji never expected that Li Chengqian's thoughts were so complicated.

Just thinking about how, before he left Chang'an, his brother-in-law, the emperor, summoned him in the imperial garden and teased Princess Chang Le, trying to get the latest pastries from Le Tian Fang for free from his precious daughter...

There is absolutely no sense that fathers are like mountains and should protect their children's self-awareness.

Compared to his nephew, the Crown Prince, who was now standing before him, looking sorrowful and worried, Changsun Wuji felt a strong urge to tell him something.

"Your Highness, you are overthinking it. His Majesty enjoys himself quite a bit in the Chang'an Palace every day. Apart from discussing matters during court assemblies, all government affairs are basically being implemented gradually according to the path you left behind when you passed away."

"He seized the throne and sat on it without even feeling the heat!"

Seeing that Changsun Wuji seemed to have fallen silent for a moment, Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief.

Forcing a smile.

He hastily wiped his eyes and gestured for everyone to start their meal.

Instead, he comforted everyone.

"Alright, alright, I lost my composure. Perhaps it's true that I've been short of money lately, which has made me anxious and burdened. Eat your food, Uncle, come and eat quickly!"

Seeing this, Qian Yingying hurriedly stepped forward and began to arrange for the palace maids to serve the dishes.

however.

Just as Li Chengqian was subtly expressing his poverty,

"Wow!"

A chicken soup aroma, even more fragrant than the previous Wensi Tofu, suddenly wafted out the moment Qian Yingying lifted the lid of the "cabbage soup" bowl.

It instantly rushed into the nasal cavity of everyone present.

Li Chengqian's expression, which was just moments before displaying superb acting skills, froze on the spot.

He stiffly turned his head to look in the direction of Chu Dahai, who was already calling out to the imperial chefs and about to leave.

Opened his mouth.

Didn't I tell you beforehand that this dish is called "Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth"?!

Why did you lie and say it was "cabbage soup"?!

"Wow, Your Highness, this chicken soup smells amazing!"

Changsun Huan also exclaimed in surprise. Unlike Li Chengqian and the other two brothers, who had many thoughts, they had spent the whole day with their father in the Shougong Hall.

During this time, aside from eating some pastries that Qian Yingying had sent over,

I haven't eaten anything else since.

Already starving, they couldn't resist the tempting aroma.

"Hehe, it's alright, eat if you want, there aren't so many rules here... Third brother, fourth brother, let's eat, let's eat, haha!"

Li Chengqian was so embarrassed he wished he could just run into a car and die on the spot.

Fortunately, Changsun Wuji didn't seem to think much of it.

Amidst an atmosphere that made the three Li brothers quite nervous and uneasy, the dinner was clearly delicious and very enjoyable.

The two boys, Changsun Chong and Changsun Huan, ate until their bellies were bulging.

Li Chengqian and the other two remained silent, exchanging glances as they discussed their next course of action.

at last.

As dinner ended.

The palace maids and eunuchs cleared away the belongings, and the three Li brothers finally took a deep breath and sat up straight.

"Uncle, did Father send you to Bingzhou with any imperial decree?"

Changsun Wuji nodded, then shook his head.

"It's not really an imperial decree, after all, we're family..."

Geek!

Li Tai and Li Ke's expressions changed instantly, and they couldn't help but look nervously at their elder brother, the Emperor.

The main event is about to begin! Hang in there, Your Majesty!

Changsun Wuji sighed.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is currently busy with affairs in Bingzhou and has not been paying attention to the situation in Chang'an, so he may not be aware of it."

"About half a month ago, Your Highness carried out a large-scale land reform in Bingzhou, forcibly seizing the land of many landlords and powerful families and distributing it to the common people. This has caused the five surnames and seven clans of other provinces, as well as powerful families, to become nervous."

"It's amazing that the news from Your Highness's side reached Chang'an on the very night it arrived."

"A joint coup!"

Li Chengqian's eyes turned cold instantly.

"They impeached me?"

Changsun Wuji nodded: "It's not just impeachment; Cui Minshi and his ilk are extremely audacious, even attempting to demand that His Majesty depose the Crown Prince..."

"presumptuous!!!"

Upon hearing this, Li Tai was instantly enraged and slammed his fist on the table.

Li Ke frowned: "So, Minister Shang's visit this time is at Father Emperor's behest? Father Emperor is planning to depose my elder brother?"

Before Changsun Wuji could answer, Li Tai, who had already decided that his elder brother was the one most deserving to be the crown prince and the emperor, glared at him instantly.

"He dares!"

"If Father dares to depose the Crown Prince, I... I will no longer be a prince! I will wander the world with my elder brother!"

Changsun Wuji broke out in a cold sweat instantly.

He hurriedly waved his hand to signal Li Tai to calm down.

"Ahem, Your Highness, please refrain from such nonsense in the future! His Highness the Crown Prince is wise and capable, as we all have witnessed. His Majesty is not a foolish ruler, so how could he possibly depose the Crown Prince?"

Li Chengqian looked at Changsun Wuji, waiting for him to continue.

"Sigh... Your Majesty has completely broken ties with the powerful officials..."

As he spoke, Changsun Wuji immediately recounted in detail what had happened in the Taiji Hall that day.

When Li Chengqian heard this, he was surprised to find that Du Ruhui was so supportive of him.

I couldn't help but feel a little touched.

"Now that Father has expelled aristocratic officials from the court, the operation of the court must be facing considerable obstacles, right?"

"In our great Tang Dynasty today, aristocratic officials still make up the majority."

Changsun Wuji nodded helplessly, but showed no sign of discouragement or cowardice.

Upon hearing Li Chengqian's words, instead of being worried, he suddenly stood up with a smile.

"Haha, Your Highness, do not be anxious. Although the current situation may cause chaos, crises have always coexisted. If the noble families rebel, we will have a reason and opportunity to wipe them out in one fell swoop."

Changsun Wuji thought of this.

His whole body trembled with excitement.

Just as he was about to say that he wanted to arrange for his two sons to be cared for by Li Chengqian in Bingzhou.

Li Chengqian, who was sitting in his seat, suddenly widened his eyes.

"So, Father Emperor sent you here to ask for money this time not for anything else, but to slaughter the noble clans?!"

"Forehead?"

Changsun Wuji was bewildered.

You need money? What kind of money?

Did I ever mention that I came here to ask for money?

"Your Highness, you are overthinking it. How could His Majesty possibly accept your money? Besides, I have seen your predicament today; it is not appropriate..."

Changsun Wuji waved his hands repeatedly.

While talking about the calamity of aristocratic families, he said that they should deal with it slowly and gradually.

However, Li Chengqian became anxious.

"Fight! Why don't we fight? If they don't rebel, can't we force them to rebel?!"

Li Chengqian stood up abruptly.

"Now that the autumn harvest has just been completed, the imperial court has ample grain reserves. They secretly transferred the grain from the granaries of the aristocratic families in various places, and then began to forcibly install our people step by step."

"In this way, the noble clans will be thrown into panic and will surely rebel! Wouldn't that be the time for us to make our mark?"

Changsun Wuji was taken aback: "Your Highness, how can this be so simple? Please have a seat..."

Li Chengqian's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had thought of something.

He lowered his body slightly and approached Changsun Wuji.

"But is Father's army and weapons insufficient?"

"That's easy! When you go back this time, Uncle, I'll arrange for you to have 50,000 sets of complete iron armor and standard longswords."

"In addition, 5000 crossbows, plus 100,000 arrows!"

"I have ordered the Bingzhou garrison to escort it directly to Chang'an. It has soldiers, provisions, and elite equipment. Uncle, do not worry. The calamity of the aristocratic clans will at most be a temporary disturbance!"

Changsun Wuji was completely dumbfounded.

"Your Highness, where did you get so many soldiers and armor? Fifty thousand sets, and they're all made of fine iron?!"

He never expected that his casual mention of the aristocratic families' attempt to force the emperor to abdicate would lead to such a pleasant surprise from the Crown Prince.

Li Chengqian smiled faintly, his deliberate attempt to appear poor and his restrained demeanor evident.

From that moment on, as he slowly sat down, an aura emanated from him, even those around him who had been worried that Changsun Wuji was acting on their father's orders.

Li Tai and Li Ke, who had come to seize their properties in Bingzhou by trickery and force, finally relaxed at this moment.

Each of them exuded the aura of a prince.

"Hehe, Uncle, you don't know, my brother has improved the iron smelting technology of our Great Tang. Now, the refined iron produced in Jingle County alone is enough to make 30,000 sets of armor in a month."

"This is because the forge is short-handed and is currently improving the water-powered forging hammer. In addition, the Emperor is promoting the replacement of iron farm tools and implements throughout Bingzhou Province."

"Otherwise, if all this refined iron were used to produce armor and weapons... heh heh~"

"Selling 100,000 units a month! That's not impossible!"

"hiss!!!"

Changsun Wuji's hand, which was stroking his beard, began to tremble violently at this moment.

100,000 sets a month?!

What kind of outrageous nonsense is this?

That's battle armor, fine iron battle armor!

It would take at least one or two months for Tang Dynasty craftsmen to forge just one suit of armor.

This is why, to this day, apart from some elite garrisons in Chang'an who are equipped with fine iron armor, most of the garrison troops in other parts of the Tang Dynasty, except for the border areas, still mainly wear leather armor.

However, Changsun Wuji had no idea that under Li Chengqian's assembly line work method and the policy of one worker and five apprentices,

Although hydraulic forging hammers in the Fenhe River and other river basins are being modified and erected.

But the output of the forge was actually quite high.

Seeing that Changsun Wuji seemed somewhat hesitant, Li Chengqian frowned slightly.

"Uncle, is there still some difficulty?"

Changsun Wuji opened his mouth, hesitated for a long time, and only managed to squeeze out a sentence: "After the great battle, there will likely be a large number of displaced people left behind, which will make the imperial treasury difficult to manage..."

The words "it's hard to maintain" haven't been spoken yet.

Li Chengqian suddenly gritted his teeth.

"In this way, I will still have a gold mine! I will give half of the output to Father Emperor, and I will also prepare some glass beads, so that Father Emperor can send people with these things to Lin Yi and other places to buy grain!"

"In that case, Father Emperor, you can rest assured, right?"

Changsun Wuji: “???”

He stared at Li Chengqian, who was now incredibly wealthy and powerful, talking about tens of thousands of sets of fine iron armor or half a gold mine, as if he were a monster. Suddenly, he swallowed hard.

An immature idea began to form in his mind...

Just what if!

I'm just saying, hypothetically!

If His Highness could really allow him to bring back such a large batch of military equipment and supplies, wouldn't it be possible for His Majesty to simply exterminate these aristocratic families...?

hiss! ! !