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

Li Shimin is here!?

And they brought a lot of people with them?

As if by reflex, Li Ke placed one hand on the hilt of the Embroidered Spring Blade at his waist, his expression cold and stern.

The first thing that came to mind was a few days ago when his elder brother had angered their father with some of his words.

"Your Majesty, the Eastern Palace currently has about three hundred Imperial Guards, plus the thousand men stationed there from the six divisions, so there shouldn't be any major problems..."

Li Chengqian naturally understood what he meant.

He frowned slightly, finding it hard to believe that Li Shimin, an emperor in history who had never killed his sons when they rebelled, would side with him today.

"No rush, let's go out and take a look first..."

When Li Chengqian led Li Ke out of Xiande Hall.

The two were taken aback when they saw the scene outside.

Li Shimin had a smile on his face, followed by dozens of young women dressed in uniform palace attire, all of them young and beautiful.

"Hahaha, the Crown Prince is indeed diligent in his duties. I came directly to Xiande Hall and found you..."

Li Shimin is smiling.

The brothers Li Chengqian and Li Ke, however, remained expressionless.

"Why is this, Father? Sending concubines from the harem here to me is surely against propriety."

Li Chengqian's words immediately froze the smile on Li Shimin's face.

This unfilial son, why is he so unpleasant to speak to me?

It seems that sons are only somewhat popular when they're young...

"What do you mean by that, Your Highness? Have you forgotten what I promised you some time ago? These women were all selected by me after rigorous screening. They are all proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

"There are quite a few people who are good at arithmetic and also knowledgeable in governance..."

Li Chengqian crossed his arms over his chest and looked at these girls, whose average age was about fifteen or sixteen, and the older ones didn't seem to be girls over eighteen.

With his amazing memory, he immediately recognized several familiar faces.

Aren't they the daughters of ministers who were asked by Li Shimin to perform at the grand court assembly a while ago?

Seeing the other party's appearance, it's clear what's going on.

The real purpose of sending these people here.

"Yingying, these people are under your management. Those who are disobedient should be sent away immediately. Not a single grain of food in the Eastern Palace is left for idle people..."

There was no curiosity as I had imagined, nor did the Crown Prince come over to ask me questions one by one as I had expected.

Not only Li Shimin didn't expect this.

Even these dozens of girls, each from a prestigious family, couldn't help but feel secretly saddened.

Li Chengqian casually gave a brief instruction.

They immediately took Li Ke and headed out of the palace.

"Your Highness, what are you going to do?" Li Shimin called out anxiously.

His only response was a curt "raise money."

Suddenly, he thought of his own son, who had asked for a shortfall of ten million strings of cash that day.

This wise and powerful Emperor Li Shimin originally wanted to use his strength to salvage his dignity as the emperor, just as Empress Zhangsun had suggested.

In the end, he silently stopped his attempt to catch up.

Ten million strings of cash—you couldn't get that much money even if you sold him...

Meanwhile, Li Shimin returned to the Ganlu Palace.

All the way there, they still couldn't figure out where their crown prince was going to get so much money.

Outside Chang'an City.

The vast temple complex, named Zhengxin Temple, located on a mountain, was now completely surrounded by the six guards of the Eastern Palace, and the secret Imperial Guards had already controlled all the main roads leading down the mountain.

"Your Majesty, I instructed the Imperial Guards to follow your directions and start their investigation on those wanted criminals with bounties on their heads. Sure enough, just two days ago, they discovered the hiding place of these thieves."

"These guys shaved their heads, put on monk's robes, and openly started their business of saving all living beings right under the emperor's nose in Chang'an!"

When Li Ke spoke of saving all living beings, his face showed undisguised disgust and anger.

The Li Tang imperial family has always maintained a friendly attitude towards Buddhism. In fact, there were several Buddhist halls in the palace, where incense burned continuously.

Empress Zhangsun's given name is now Guanyinbi.

The flourishing of Buddhism had already begun to emerge during the reign of Emperor Yang Jian of the previous dynasty.

When they reached Yang Guang's area, the years of war made it impossible for many people to survive. These people hid in temples and became tenant farmers in these temples.

As Li Ke spoke, a commander of the Imperial Guards strode over.

"Your subordinate Cui Xiaoguo greets Your Highness the Crown Prince and the Commander!"

Li Chengqian turned his gaze to the burly man in front of him, with a square face and the appearance of a standard iron-blooded soldier. Li Chengqian could not even see the coldness in his eyes other than when he was carrying out military orders.

I can't see anything else besides that.

Nod slightly.

"My brother has already told me about your situation. He is a loyal and brave man. He can serve in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for now. When the military academy is built in Bingzhou next year, I will find a way to have famous generals like General Li Jing serve as his teachers."

"When you enroll, and after you've mastered your skills, you too can expand the territory of our Great Tang Dynasty..."

Li Chengqian never liked to make empty promises to others, especially to those who were loyal and willing to serve him.

Even if it's not possible right now, I'll make it clear to people when I can give them something.

now.

Cui Xiaoguo was surprised that His Highness the Crown Prince was so direct, and a smile of excitement appeared on his face as he bowed.

"Your Highness, I thank you! Whether in the Embroidered Uniform Guard or on the battlefield, I have always been loyal to the country, and I have no complaints about it!"

Li Chengqian nodded slightly and then gestured for the other party to lead the way.

Throughout the journey, Cui Xiaoguo maintained a cold expression and spoke with ruthless decisiveness.

"Your Highness, we, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, discovered five days ago that this so-called Zhengxin Temple is actually a den of iniquity. We secretly infiltrated the temple and were shocked by what we found!"

One of his men handed Li Chengqian a ledger that was clearly stolen from it.

"To avoid alerting the enemy, we dared not investigate further. However, the contents of this account book alone have already exceeded the world's understanding of the pure land of Buddhism."

"The land under the name of Zhengxin Temple alone amounts to a terrifying three thousand hectares, distributed throughout Lantian County and Chang'an County. In addition, there are more than thirty other property-collecting businesses such as cloth shops, grain shops, and incense halls."

"This is just one account book. We have found at least thirty similar account books in the temple!"

"Your Highness, these bald monks claim to be saving all sentient beings, but there are more than fifty criminals hiding their identities and forging Buddhist identities in the temples. They are truly a cancer on the nation!"

Cui Xiaoguo's expression was full of indignation.

The situation at Zhengxin Temple is certainly not unique.

Nowadays, Buddhist communities lack official management and deterrence. They use the banner of monastic life as if they are truly free from worldly desires and have no conflicts with the world.

"Hmph! It's alright. Have you prepared everything I asked you to?"

Hear the words.

A rare smile appeared on Cui Xiaoguo's face as he bowed.

"Your Highness, the items have been carried up the mountain, and we await Your Highness's judgment to uphold justice!"

Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction, looked up at the temple that appeared tranquil and peaceful in the morning sunlight.

He gave a cold laugh.

"Let's go, we'll escort these enlightened monks to the Western Paradise!"

......

The faint sound of chanting could be heard coming from the temple.

Li Chengqian was certain that it was only because there was no recording technology in this day and age that the chanting and sutra recitation in the temples could be completely eliminated.

All of them are digital versions, and they even have 3D surround sound and Dolby audio...

When Li Chengqian and his group arrived, there were several people dressed as monks looking around at the temple entrance, seemingly wondering why there were no devout men and women coming to burn incense and worship Buddha at this hour.

Upon seeing Li Chengqian and his group of men, who were clearly dressed in casual clothes, the group was about to approach them.

Immediately afterwards, you can see the stone steps on both sides behind you.

Suddenly, with a whoosh, figures emerged from the bushes or behind the trees.

Immediately, everyone's expression changed.

One of them seemed to be trying to run back to report the news, but a junior officer of the Imperial Guard spotted him in time and drew his crossbow from his waist.

"call out!"

"Pfft!"

A precise shot pierced the man's throat in an instant.

Without even giving the other person a chance to cry out, he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"what!!!"

Terrified screams erupted from the mouths of the group.

Li Chengqian smiled slightly.

Is your host inside?

Seeing the others nod, Li Chengqian acted as if he were entering someone else's home and needed to greet the host, showing his knowledge of etiquette.

then.

Just as Li Chengqian passed by the monks and entered the temple,

Behind them, several sharp, slicing sounds of knives piercing flesh suddenly rang out.

Several monks lay dead, their eyes wide open, staring into the distance.

The moment Li Chengqian and his companions entered the temple, the fully armed soldiers of the Eastern Palace and the Imperial Guards surged into the temple.

"who?!"

"You, you all, why are you trespassing on my Zhengxin Temple!"

Amidst the panicked sounds, the monks throughout Zhengxin Temple were all alarmed.

Li Chengqian smiled coldly as he watched the group of monks, who had gathered in the blink of an eye and were now armed with sticks and other weapons. His gaze fell on the old man dressed as an abbot at the front.

Smiling, he put his hands together in a Buddhist gesture of respect to the other person.

"Amitabha Buddha, I don't know why you brought soldiers to break into my Zhengxin Temple, and why you want to slaughter and kill people in my temple?"

"Our Buddhist monastery is a place of purity, and we have always been at peace with the world. Do you perhaps think that the laws of our Great Tang Dynasty no longer exist?"

Li Chengqian was amused by the other party's words.

"Hahaha, this abbot, you claim to be a place of purity, yet you insist on the protection of the Tang Dynasty's laws. Tsk tsk tsk, why don't you pay taxes and grain for my Tang Dynasty?"

"Our Great Tang laws are currently investigating the concealment of land and people throughout the country. Why is it that when this law comes to your Buddhist sanctuary, it is treated as a separate matter?"

Li Chengqian shook his head, and Li Ke immediately stepped forward from behind.

He raised a token in his hand.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is here! Everyone in Zhengxin Temple, surrender immediately! Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy!"

"Stab!"

The six guards of the Eastern Palace and the men of the Embroidered Uniform Guard all drew their swords instantly.

Upon hearing the name "Jinyiwei" (Imperial Guards), everyone present turned pale.

Previously, when they were in Chang'an, they did not know the specific makeup of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

However, the "Datang Xinbao" newspaper from Bingzhou Road also received a lot of news about the things the Embroidered Uniform Guard had done in Bingzhou Road and Hedong Road.

To say I'm not afraid.

That is absolutely impossible.

The abbot, who was in the lead, couldn't help but gasp and exchanged glances with the monks behind him.

"May I ask, is this young master His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Li Chengqian scoffed, shook his head, and didn't bother with any more words.

Raise your hand.

"Give me a search!"

In an instant, the six elite soldiers of the Eastern Palace rushed into the Buddhist halls and quiet rooms.

Li Chengqian sat quietly on a stone bench, looking at the exquisitely built temple, and nodded with a smile.

"Not bad, not bad..."

Li Chengqian genuinely admired the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty.

So much so that even though they knew that Zhengxin Temple was a den of iniquity, they still did not issue any absurd orders to raze it to the ground.

The guilty ones are these bald monks who outwardly practice vegetarianism and chant Buddhist prayers, but in reality, they are thieves and prostitutes.

These are fake monks who have no official documents whatsoever.

Even if Zhengxin Temple is destroyed in the future, it can still be transformed into a nursing home, an orphanage, or a school, and it will still be able to contribute to the Tang Dynasty.

Just like these bald monks, each one of them is fat and strong.

They're used for road construction and mining, and people don't even care if they die.

"Ah, third brother, do you know why Father dares to cause me trouble again and again, and why those corrupt officials in Bingzhou repeatedly disobey my orders?"

Li Ke lowered his head and listened quietly.

"Ha! It's nothing more than because I'm too kind. As the saying goes, a kind person is bullied, and a good horse is ridden."

That's exactly the point!

As she spoke, she ignored her younger brother's strange expression.

Li Chengqian smiled and looked up at the abbot of Zhengxin Temple, who was trembling with fear and being stopped by the Imperial Guards.

“Master, what do you say? Just like you drink alcohol and eat meat, oppress the people, and hide your wealth, you are still monks who are pure of heart and yearn for the Pure Land.”

"Although I ordered people to be beheaded and skinned alive, regardless of age or gender, I still believe I am a kind person. After all... I made sure they were reunited with their families over there, didn't I?"

The monks instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

The abbot, who was in charge, opened his mouth, but the Buddhist scriptures he used to use to deceive the worshippers were now impossible to utter.

Especially when several members of the Imperial Guards carried a golden Buddha head guillotine, which was entirely golden and engraved with Sanskrit characters.

When he came before the crowd.

Some people even felt their legs go weak, realizing the outcome of today's events.

And at this time.

Suddenly, an angry roar came from behind the temple.

"Beast!!!"

He once fought Li Chengqian for more than thirty rounds with just a shield and a sword, and was promoted to officer.

In another battle against the Turks on the grasslands, Liu Xi beheaded more than ten people and was promoted to the rank of commander of a thousand households.

Suddenly, it seemed as if he was holding something in his arms.

They rushed out from behind the temple.

bristle.

"Your Highness! These bald monks are simply inhuman!!!"

When everyone saw clearly what he was carrying, their faces suddenly turned ashen.

Even Li Chengqian, who originally wanted to play cat and mouse with these bald monks, had his face contorted with anger the moment he saw what the other party was holding.

He clenched his teeth and practically squeezed out the words.

"Gathering fresh branches..."