Datang: Rebirth of Li Chengqian, the beginning of the treason interrogation

Chapter 23 Pei Xingjian, a man of both civil and military talents

Immediately, Li Chengqian allowed these servants to enter the Eastern Palace and asked them to guard all the entrances.

"Your Highness, your words, 'Wait until the eighth day of the ninth month after the fall, when my flower blooms, all other flowers will die', are so domineering. All the scholars today are praising the name of Your Highness the Crown Prince. Your Highness is well-known and deeply loved by students. What can Prince Wei Li Tai use to fight Your Highness now?"

Cheng Chumo said with great admiration that although he came from a general's family, he had also read poetry for several years and had a high level of appreciation.

Even people who have never read poetry will be infected by the heroic spirit contained in them.

Li Chengqian just smiled. He still felt a little ashamed for such praise, after all, it was "taken" from someone else.

"Yes, I will take you to see a real master of poetry."

"What does big shot mean?"

The three of them were stunned, not knowing what it meant.

"What a great guy!" Li Chengqian said again.

"A great person?" The three of them were still full of questions and couldn't keep up with Li Chengqian's train of thought.

"Don't worry about the details, he's just an amazing person."

The group walked through Beiyuan and headed towards Chongwenguan.

There were more students in Chongwenguan at this time, but most of them were from poor families. However, they were all the best among them, otherwise they would not have been kept in Chongwenguan.

Li Chengqian and his companions also watched from afar and did not go forward to disturb the discussion.

Gao Wenmin noticed it immediately, pulled up two students, and hurried to the side hall.

"His Royal Highness!"

As soon as Gao Wenmin arrived, he exchanged greetings with the two students. One of the students was Luo Binwang, while Li Chengqian did not know the other one. However, he believed that Gao Wenmin must have something extraordinary to bring him to his presence.

"No need to be polite, sit down!"

Li Chengqian raised his hand and asked the three to sit on both sides.

"You literati are so timid. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has offered you a seat, so just sit down." Cheng Chumo said carelessly.

"Come here, serve tea!"

As soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, four servants came forward holding tea.

During the Zhenguan period, tea culture had already begun, which was called drinking tea. However, only high-ranking officials and dignitaries could enjoy such a luxury.

Gao Wenmin took a sip of hot tea, then put down the cup and said:

"Your Highness, there are a total of twenty students entering Chongwen Academy today. I have already checked their backgrounds and can employ them."

"This is Pei Xingjian, a student at the Hongwen Academy, who has great literary talent and insight."

Gao Wenmin then introduced another student to Li Chengqian.

"Pei Xingjian, greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." The student immediately stood up and bowed to Li Chengqian.

"Pei Xingjian?" Li Chengqian suddenly stood up in surprise, his heart filled with ripples.

This man was an extraordinary person, a man of both civil and military talents, and he was also listed among the 72 military generals in ancient times. But you have to know that he was only a civil official, yet he was able to enter the Temple of Martial Arts.

He was a famous calligrapher, military strategist, writer and politician in the Tang Dynasty.

This is a real great man, not comparable to Li Dejian and others. He is ranked in the Temple of Martial Arts with his father Li Jing. Pei Xingjian was born in 619 AD. He was from the Pei family in Hedong, a famous family. Because of this, he was able to study in the Hongwen Academy and became a student of the Hongwen Academy.

Hongwenguan is different from Chongwenguan. It is a state-established institution, but it only accepts dozens of students, all of whom are great talents of the time.

When Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, ascended the throne, he established the "Hongwenguan", which was not only a place for the country to store books, but also a place for the emperor to recruit literary people and cultivate talents.

Pei Xingjian once traveled thousands of miles alone to quell the rebellion in the Western Regions and to defeat the Eastern Turks, but he didn't destroy many countries. How could he have the nerve to be on the list of Tang Dynasty military generals?
"Your Highness, do you recognize me?" Pei Xingjian was slightly surprised.

"I've heard of the Pei family in Hedong. It's said that all of them are talented people. I didn't expect that you are also from the Pei family." Li Chengqian replied.

"Your Highness, thank you."

The Pei family is not limited to Hedong, so why is His Highness so sure? Pei Xingjian still had some questions in his mind.

"Just rest assured in the East Palace. I will give advice to His Majesty in a few days."

Pei Xingjian is definitely one of his future team members, so Li Chengqian will naturally not let him go.

Pei Xingjian entered the Hongwenguan and was actually already considered an official. If he was to enter the Eastern Palace, he still had to communicate with the court.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Pei Xingjian was overjoyed. Entering the East Palace was much easier than struggling in the court. It was a shortcut.

"Do you know where Sun Simiao is?" Li Chengqian suddenly changed the subject and looked at several people.

Foot diseases have always been criticized. Why can't they be cured when there are miracle doctors in the world?

"I don't know. This person has been traveling among the people. Your Majesty has issued edicts many times to invite him to join the Imperial Hospital, but he has refused every time. However, he has been heard to be present in any place where there is a major epidemic or disaster."

Gao Wenmin said that Sun Simiao's name was known to everyone in the Tang Dynasty. After all, his medical skills were so superb that even Li Shimin promised him a high position and generous salary and wanted to recruit him into the Imperial Medical Bureau to prevent any accidents.

"If Your Highness needs it, we can ask someone to find out." Li Zhen said, having guessed what Li Chengqian was thinking.

As long as the foot disease is cured, who can complain? That will definitely be what everyone wants.

"Okay, then help me keep an eye on Sun Simiao's whereabouts. Once you get any news, inform me as soon as possible."

It would certainly be extremely difficult to recruit such a person who has no interest in a career in politics by issuing an imperial decree.

However, with the power of the Eastern Palace and the three great dukes' mansions, it wouldn't be too difficult to find him.

"Wenmin, you should also pay attention to Zhang Jianzhi, the student from the Imperial College. It would be best if you could recruit them back into the Eastern Palace. You can tell them that this is my intention."

Li Chengqian should now think about his future path. He has kept his position as crown prince, but after taking the throne, he must control all power in his own hands.

Otherwise, it would be like what happened to Li Zhi, who, after taking power, still had the power of the country in the hands of Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling and others.

If the course of history went well, Li Shimin would not have lived for many more years, maybe five or six years.

"Okay, I have asked the students from Chongwen Hall to go to Taixue to communicate with them. I believe that they will get a reply in no time."

Li Chengqian was very satisfied with Gao Wenmin's approach. With such a counselor around him, his life would be much easier and he wouldn't have to do everything himself.

"Dejian, Chumo, the three of you are to monitor every move of the Prince of Wei's mansion. Everyone's comings and goings must be recorded."

Li Chengqian gave another order, saying that he did not want to become the second hidden prince.

"Yes, we will not only monitor the Prince of Wei's palace, but also monitor the ministers who have close ties with the Prince of Wei."

Li Dejian said that with the Prince of Wei's Palace as the center, a network of relationships has developed that covers the capital and has a huge influence.

(End of this chapter)