Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 396 The Emperor and Father of the World

When everyone saw this scene clearly, they temporarily stopped breathing.

Jinyang City Tower is a tall tower-like building, more than ten stories high and nearly fifty meters tall.

Standing on the top of the tower, you can have a panoramic view of the battlefield in the distance.

So it goes without saying what would happen if you fell from the top of the tower.

There was only a thin decorative wooden fence between the terrace and the fifty-meter-high base of the tower.

Standing here, listening to the whistling wind, I unconsciously felt my legs go weak.

But Li Shimin leaned on the thin fence in a leisurely and casual manner, as if he was admiring the moon, and he supported his paralyzed right half of his body clumsily, which made all the onlookers sweat.

What does he want to do?
Do you want to... jump...

"Father! What are you doing, Father!"

Li Ming shouted anxiously.

Li Shimin said with a relaxed look:

"My son, the new emperor has ascended the throne and the new dynasty has established a new government. I will personally remove the last obstacle for you!"

As he spoke, he leaned back, with most of his body almost sticking out.

"Grandma!"

Before anyone could react, Li Ming rushed forward and hugged Li Shimin's thigh tightly.

There was almost no cooling time, and he burst into tears instantly, sobbing:

"Am I an unfilial person who has no father or king and wants to take the place of my father?

"It is just that the Emperor of Tang was deceived by treacherous officials and acted perversely, causing great suffering to the people of the country.

"I feel sorry for the hardships of the people's lives and I feel sorry for the country and people of my ancestors. That's why I have no choice but to take up arms. It's not for my own selfish reasons!"

He spoke with such righteousness and perfectly portrayed the tragic character who was unable to fulfill both loyalty and filial piety.

All the spectators were moved by Emperor Li Ming's sincere filial piety and his genuine concern for the country and the people, and they knelt on the ground and cried bitterly.

There was only one person in the whole audience who remained indifferent, and that was the mobile recorder, the attendant Chu Suiliang.

He took notes with a poker face, and secretly complained in his heart:

It's like this every time...

"Ahem." Li Shimin whispered in Li Ming's ear:
"Will you also kneel down and suckle and wail for a long time?"

Li Ming shook his head slightly:

"No, that's disgusting. And I didn't chop off my two brothers."

Li Shimin's face darkened:
"Why don't you let me go and kick them out? How can we talk about business with so many people?"

"I know, I know. You are the emperor, and I am also the emperor."

The model father and son, who met again after a long separation, had a heart-to-heart talk before reluctantly parting.

Li Ming cried and said to everyone:
"I have not been able to serve my father for a long time. Today, please let me make up for the countless days and nights I have lost.

"My dear ministers, please go back and rest for a while."

The father and son haven't seen each other for more than a year, so it is natural for them to want to be alone for a while.

No one dared to raise any objection, and even if it was written in history books, it would not cause any conspiracy theories.

Therefore, the guards ignored Chu Suiliang's cold eyes and forced the door closed.

Boom!
The door was closed tightly, but the generals outside did not disperse. They still knelt on the ground and cried hard.

This naturally includes the two "new friends" Li Shiji and Cheng Zhijie.

Cheng Zhijie cried very loudly. He was really moved by the tragic father-son relationship in the imperial family.

But after crying for a while, he became tired.

After all, he had just experienced a life-and-death battle on the front line, while the two Majesties were struggling with the distinction between public and private in the rear!

His crying gradually subsided, and he couldn't help but secretly admire Li Jing, Li Shiji and others.

He usually looks very stern and hard-hearted, but I didn't expect that he was so moved that he couldn't stop crying. He is truly a person of temperament.

I, Old Cheng, can’t do it. Hey, hey, hey, my legs are numb…

Just as Cheng Zhijie was about to stand up, a hand from behind forcefully pushed him back.

It’s Li Shiji.

"Huh?" Cheng Zhijie was very confused and was about to ask a question.

"Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo."

In between crying, Li Shiji winked at his old brother.

Cheng Zhijie looked over.

I saw Ju Lang and reporters from Pingzhou Newspaper holding paper and pen, watching this big news/precious historical material with great interest.

Old Cheng couldn't help but twitch his mouth.

My goodness, I am the only one who is serious and the rest of you are just acting?!
…………

"yawn……"

As soon as the door was closed, Li Ming switched from business mode back to daily mode in a second and yawned deeply.

Li Shimin wiped away the tears remaining in his eyes and teased with a half-smile:
"As a child, you go to bed too late. As a king, you go to bed too early."

Being ridiculed, Li Ming did not respond immediately, but stretched slowly again.

After making himself comfortable, he responded slowly:
"I, your son, will still beat you up, Grandpa."

Although his heart was stabbed, Lao Li was not annoyed. He smiled and said sharply:
"You are a brat, you are not cautious and calm enough, you barged into the enemy camp without clearing the area.

"If I were to ambush five hundred swordsmen and axemen in Jinyang Tower, how many heads would you Ming leaders have to chop off?"

Li Ming remained calm:

"Li Erfeng, if you have the guts, come here. You want to cause chaos in the world and completely destroy the ancestral foundation of my Li family, so you come to plot against me."

Li Shimin: "You brat, do you think I don't dare? What the hell is Li Erfeng? Why is there one more word than last time?"

Li Ming: "You can't even get a single axeman, and you're still bragging? Do you believe I can flatten Shanxi?"

Li Shimin: "Haha, you should do it first before you brag to your father."

Li Ming: "Haha, I'll return your original words."

The two had a cordial and in-depth conversation, pouring out to each other the trash talk that had accumulated over the past year.

Fathers and sons should really be alone for some time, and never involve outsiders.

Otherwise, the image of this famous model father and son in history will collapse.

The battle was very intense. The debaters on both sides exchanged sharp words, but after a fierce fight, they were both exhausted and speechless.

"Huh... I haven't seen you for a long time, how come your quality has become so bad?"

Li Ming's throat was hoarse, and he asked with an unsatisfied tone.

Li Shimin smiled lightly:

"Since my brain was blocked, my thoughts have become much clearer."

"Oh, this..." Li Ming changed his previous cheerful and frivolous attitude and his expression became more serious than ever before.

Although Li Shimin's father looked good, he was obviously much weaker than before in the palace. He was paralyzed on one side, his mouth was crooked, and his speech was not very clear.

"Grandpa, what's wrong with your body?"

"It's okay, I just got a little irritated." Li Shimin smiled bitterly and shook his head:

"I saw it with my own eyes when Li Tai was executed."

Li Ming couldn't help but take a breath.

I always feel that Brother Li Tai has been out of the game for a long time, and his memory is a little fuzzy.

But in fact, it happened just last year, on the battlefield in Shuozhou.

At that time, Li Shimin and Li Chengqian were shamelessly ambushed by Xueyantuo and disappeared in the vast snowy plains of the north for several months...

Damn it, is there really such a coincidence in the world that the two of them actually wandered all the way to Shuozhou?
He also witnessed his second son being killed by his youngest son's troops...

"Hey, why are you suddenly hesitant and becoming mute?" Li Shimin said harshly.

Li Ming was silent for a while, and finally said:

"I was the one who issued the order to execute Li Tai. It had nothing to do with Li Jing and the others who carried it out."

This sentence made Li Shimin stunned for a moment, then he laughed out loud:
"Hahaha! You little rebellious son, you are so interesting! You killed your brother and made your father sick, but your first explanation for this is to absolve your subordinates of responsibility?" "Interesting, interesting! Hahaha!"

He laughed so hard that he fell backwards, as if he had heard the funniest thing in the world.

After a long while, he finally recovered and said with infinite relief:

"You would be a good emperor."

"I know." Li Ming didn't want to be modest with him, and immediately changed the subject and whispered:
"But he may not be a good son."

"Private morality and public morality cannot be confused. Besides, although you give me a headache as a father, you are not unfilial." Li Shimin waved his hand and said in a low voice:

"Unlike a certain King Wei who speaks sweet words but stabs you in the back."

Li Ming was stunned:
"What you mean is... you don't blame me?"

Li Shimin smiled gently and said:
"Now that things have come to this, why should we blame others? Are we the resentful women in the deep palace?
“Besides, Li Tai really deserves his punishment. It was his conspiracy that trapped Cheng Qian and I in Xueyantuo.

"That guy is scheming and power-hungry, but he doesn't have your talent for governing a country. He is largely responsible for the chaos that has befallen the country.

"You brought him to justice, so I should thank you.

"It's just, alas..."

As he spoke, Li Shimin couldn't help but sigh.

"I really can't tell the good from the bad. I give too much care to the snakes who flatter me, but I don't care about the real dragons."

As he spoke, he looked directly at Li Ming and his voice softened.

"I've kept you in the cold palace for so many years. I'm sorry for both of you. Is she... okay?"

In his impression, Yang was still the weak woman who had just left the palace and didn't even dare to speak loudly.

Li Ming nodded quietly:

"It's okay, it's okay."

Facts have proved that Mr. Li not only misjudged his son, but also his wife.

Empress Dowager Yang was so capable. Just by staying in Pingzhou, she was able to suppress the professional bureaucratic group headed by Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji, preventing them from making any waves when Li Ming was away.

Or, it should be the other way around.

It was the professional bureaucratic group headed by Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji who guarded Pingzhou and tried their best to prevent Empress Dowager Yang from abusing her power...

"As long as she is fine, that's good." Li Shimin smiled with relief.

Li Ming raised his eyebrows and asked curiously:

"Don't you want to ask about the current situation of your two legitimate sons? One is the successor you personally designated, and the other is the successor's successor."

Li Shimin shook his head casually:

"They are your prisoners, just like me. You can kill or chop them up as you please. I have no right to interfere."

"Oh, haha." Li Ming smiled.

I was gnashing my teeth in my heart.

A good move of retreating to advance.

Everyone knows that Li Ming is the thinnest person.

After saying this free and nice words, he actually had to consider his face and serve Li Chengqian and Li Zhi well, and could not do anything to them casually.

What's more, he really had no intention of doing anything to his two brothers.

"I have already told you everything I need to tell you. You can walk the rest of the way on your own."

Li Shimin yawned tiredly and slowly sat back on the couch.

He is tired.

It's time to take a break.

Since there's a brat eager to take over his job, just throw all the troubles to him.

Li Ming was solemn, straightened his clothes, and bowed meticulously to the abdicated emperor.

"Thank you."

Li Shimin sighed lightly and smiled a tired yet relieved smile.

"You fought for it with your own fists, not a gift from me. Why thank me? You should thank your soldiers instead."

Li Ming looked ashamed.

Looking back now, the Ming Dynasty relied on much more than just fists to defeat the Tang army.

Excellent equipment, a huge fleet, and new troops that appeared "out of thin air"...

Without the above-mentioned material foundation, it would be impossible for Li Ming to realize his fantastic strategic vision.

It feels a bit like an unfair victory to use all-round material advantages to crush the Tang army, which was short of food and clothing and insufficient in supplies.

Therefore, rather than saying that Li Ming defeated Li Shimin militarily, it would be more accurate to say that the Ming Dynasty killed the Tang Dynasty with money.

This was not a war of equal strength, and any normal person with a clear mind should have surrendered long ago.

For example, the two in Chang'an.

However, Li Shimin was stubborn to the end, which delayed the war for a long time and caused many people to die.

It is really……

"Thank you." Li Ming repeated.

Li Shimin's eyes suddenly became deep, and he said in a low voice:

"The dispute between you and Cheng Qian can be resolved through other means. Use force to force a peace, confront each other face to face, or even send me a letter.

"But you chose war..."

Li Ming answered solemnly:
"Yes, father, this war must be fought. This is not for the throne, but..."

"I know, no need to explain further."

Li Shimin interrupted:

"Don't you just want to step on me to get to the top and make everyone who opposes you shut up?"

"Hehe, there's no need to be so blunt..." Li Ming couldn't help but blush when his grand plan was exposed by such plain words.

As expected of a smart person from the Li family, it is very easy to deal with him.

The father and son seemed to be fighting fiercely on the surface, but in reality, weren't they playing in tacit understanding?
"Now the battle has been fought, and I have already been defeated by you as I wished. Your civil and military achievements have surpassed the Heavenly Khan in all aspects. You can do whatever you want, and no one in the world dares to question your authority."

"Do your best and don't let the sacrifices of so many people go to waste..."

Li Shimin said this quietly and slowly lay down on the couch.

"Of course, whether you will be remembered for centuries or infamous for eternity, that is your business. As your father, I have no right to interfere.

"Go and take care of yourself, but remember to call Eunuch Wang for me when you leave.

"I've been really exhausted these past few days."

Li Ming took a step forward and said earnestly:

"Please let me serve you, Dad."

"No need." Old Li closed his eyes and shook his hand:

"You are not my son, you are the father of the whole world. You have more important things to do. You need to clean up the mess of war, deal with this year's drought, and the Zhenla barbarians who are causing trouble on the border of Lingnan...

"Your children are crying out for food, where do you have the time and energy to be sentimental? Back off."

Li Ming stood alone and suddenly felt endless loneliness.

"To be the emperor of the world, do I have to sever my family ties and be heartless and desireless?"

"You asked for it." Li Shimin was too lazy to even open his eyes.

Li Ming pursed his lips, bowed silently to his father again, and was about to turn around and leave.

Behind him, Li Shimin's faint voice came:
"Do you think it is necessary to change the dynasty and replace the Tang Dynasty?

"You and I have the same ancestors, so there's no need to change our family background, right?"

Li Ming stopped, turned his back to Li Shimin, and said:
"The Ming dynasty has already been launched, and it is hard to take it back."

A sigh came from my father behind me:
"……as you like."

"But..." Li Ming stretched out his tone.

“It’s not like there’s no compromise.”

(End of this chapter)