My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 402 The Crown Prince's Gunpowder Workshop Was Blown Up
The standoff between the Imperial Guards and the Right Golden Guards did not make Li Shimin nervous.

She simply looked calmly at the Crown Prince.

He didn't know whether the Crown Prince did it intentionally or unintentionally, but he had nothing to worry about.

Before long, Li Chengqian, holding the jade cup, completed the ceremony, allowing the soldiers below to relax.

"Your mother, if she were alive, would be very pleased."

Li Shimin said calmly.

These words have two layers of meaning.

Firstly, it is an acknowledgment of the Crown Prince's achievements. After all, the Crown Prince is truly outstanding, and the curved plow and the three-harvest rice will surely be passed down through the ages, benefiting all people.

Li Shimin knew very well that these two achievements alone would earn Crown Prince Li Chengqian a prominent place in history, not to mention his merits in pacifying Liaodong.

Such a crown prince is truly rare, or rather, unprecedented throughout history.

The second meaning refers to the current situation between the father and son.

The cake of imperial power has always been divided equally between the emperor and the crown prince.

If you have more, he will have less.

If Li Chengqian wanted more power, he could only get it from Li Shimin.

Li Shimin, in his forties and prime of life, was certainly not willing to do so.

This is the root of the conflict between father and son.

"Does Father Emperor think it's meaningful to say this?"

"If the Empress Dowager were here, she would indeed be very pleased."

Li Chengqian didn't hold back either; there were only the two of them on the stage, so they could just say whatever they wanted.

For Li Chengqian now, the throne was already in his grasp, or rather, it was already secured the day he entered Luoyang.

The only difference is how to smoothly transition power.

"Chengqian, do you really not show me any mercy at all?"

"Don't forget, we also need to pay respects to your mother today."

"Do you want your mother to see us, father and son, fighting each other?!"

Li Shimin was slightly angry.

This anger stemmed from Li Chengqian's seemingly indifferent attitude when mentioning his mother.

Li Shimin was not a romantic, but he had a deep affection for Empress Zhangsun, with whom he had been together for many years. This is why he did not appoint another empress after Empress Zhangsun's death.

He only had one empress in his entire life, and that was Guanyinbi.

"If Mother doesn't want to see it, then it doesn't exist?"

"Father, are you deceiving yourself or the Empress Dowager?"

"The Empress Dowager's spirit in heaven has always seen clearly, not just on this day of remembrance."

"I think that if the Empress Dowager were still alive, she might not necessarily stand on the Emperor's side."

What does Father think?

Li Chengqian showed no weakness, staring intently at Li Shimin, with no intention of backing down.

Li Shimin sighed: "Are you in such a hurry?"

At this point, Li Shimin had lost all hope. He knew that the Crown Prince wanted to use the momentum of the three harvests of rice to seize control of the court and force him to abdicate.

The reason for not doing it before was that I did not have enough prestige, which would lead to doubts from the people, dissatisfaction from officials, and turmoil in the country.

But now the time is ripe, and the Crown Prince is about to make his move.

"It's not that I'm in a hurry."

Li Chengqian looked deeply at Li Shimin, and then said, "Father was too hasty."

"I don't want to move forward, but I'm being pushed forward by others."

"If I don't fight, will the King of Wei let me go?"

"Back then, the Wei King's faction held immense power in the court, and my father still wanted to have the Wei King enter the Wude Hall."

"To be honest, Father Emperor thinks the officials will think, will they side with a disfavored crown prince or the favored Prince Wei?"

"Therefore, I must save myself."

"Therefore, the situation we are in today is caused by my father forcing me to do so."

"If that's the case, then what is there for Father to regret?"

When Li Chengqian spoke, he glanced indifferently at the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Jin below.

Li Shimin sighed and said, "I was a bit biased about Qingque, but I have never mistreated you. You should know that in your heart."

Li Chengqian looked at Li Shimin in surprise, and then seemed to realize something.

"Is it because Father Emperor never actually served as Crown Prince, so he doesn't know how difficult it is to be Crown Prince?"

After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Li Shimin served as crown prince for a few months, but that was merely a formality and a way to save face for the Li Tang dynasty.

In fact, Li Shimin went directly from Prince of Qin to Emperor.

Li Chengqian's words were a veiled criticism of Li Shimin: "You've never been the crown prince, how can you know the hardships of being the crown prince?"

Because he had never been the crown prince, when the emperor favored the Prince of Wei, it was tantamount to persecuting the crown prince.

Li Shimin remained silent.

He understood that this frank discussion with the Crown Prince meant that it was the final round of talks.

If things don't go well, it means the Crown Prince will follow his old path again, and we'll see each other at Xuanwu Gate.

But as emperor, how could Li Shimin be willing to concede so easily?

"Chengqian, don't force me."

Li Shimin really didn't want things to come to that.

During this period, ever since the Crown Prince entered Chang'an, Li Shimin had been deliberately making concessions.

While artillery played a role, the primary factor was Li Shimin's personal affection for the crown prince.

He hoped the Crown Prince could be patient and endure for a few more years.

Li Shimin had already thought it through; he didn't need the Crown Prince to endure for too long.

ten years.

Just ten years.

He was willing to abdicate and hand over the throne to the crown prince.

In fact, Li Shimin initially planned for thirteen years.

After all, Li Shimin is only forty-seven years old this year. His father abdicated at the age of sixty during the Xuanwu Gate Incident, so he also wants to remain emperor until he is sixty.

However, the situation changed too quickly, so Li Shimin lowered the time limit in his mind.

However, judging from the current situation, let alone ten years, the Crown Prince can't even wait a year.

"Father, you are joking."

"You're the one who's forcing me."

Li Chengqian remained calm; having come this far, there was nothing more to say.

Li Shimin asked in a deep voice, "Is this really how it should be?"

Li Chengqian shook his head slightly: "Does Father Emperor think I still have a choice?"

offstage.

As the sacrificial music gradually subsided, the officials stood solemnly. Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling stood at the front of the civil officials' ranks, their eyes fixed on His Majesty and the Crown Prince on the altar.

Changsun Wuji pressed his hand against the jade belt, while Fang Xuanling frowned deeply.

"Prime Minister Fang, look at the expressions on His Majesty's and the Crown Prince's faces. Just now, when the Crown Prince was holding the jade cup, the scabbards of the Imperial Guards were almost touching the spearheads of the Right Golden Guards."

Fang Xuanling sighed softly, his gaze still fixed on the stage.

"Why does Minister Situ ask questions he already knows the answer to? The three-crop rice trial has been successful, the curved plow is used all over the country, and the Crown Prince has pacified Liaodong. His reputation is already on par with Your Majesty's."

Changsun Wuji's throat bobbed, his tone hoarse: "He is Guanyinbi's son, and my Changsun family's nephew! But Your Majesty, back then Your Majesty favored the Prince of Wei and wanted to let Qingque enter the Wude Hall, which was like stabbing the Crown Prince in the heart."

"In truth, the Crown Prince was merely protecting himself."

Although he had already sided with the Prince of Jin, the Crown Prince, especially today, was paying respects to his own sister, which made Changsun Wuji feel a little sentimental.

Fang Xuanling turned slightly, his sharp gaze fixed on Changsun Wuji: "Self-preservation? Does the Minister know what lies behind the words 'self-preservation'? It is a fractured court, mutual distrust between father and son, and...another Xuanwu Gate Incident! When His Majesty shot down Jiancheng with an arrow, his temples were not yet white, but if the Crown Prince were to follow His Majesty's example now..."

The two remained silent. On the altar, Li Shimin raised his hand to help Li Chengqian, but the latter slightly avoided it.

In the distance, King Li Tai of Wei looked somewhat distressed.

He had already told his father that the Crown Prince wanted to kill him and the Prince of Jin, so why did his father still do this? Did his father even care about him and the Prince of Jin?

Everyone says that my father favors me, but now it seems that the one who truly favors me is the Crown Prince.

Thinking of this, Prince Wei, Li Tai, turned to look at Li Zhi.

Li Zhi remained calm, seemingly unaffected by the scene.

This made Li Tai even more unhappy.

After thinking for a moment, he said softly with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, "Your servant is unaware that the Crown Prince intends to kill both of us today."

At this point, Li Tai was too lazy to hide anything anymore.

After the ceremony to pay respects to his mother, the Crown Prince will probably take action.

But he had already informed his father of this matter, and the crown prince would certainly not succeed.

But Li Zhi was a different story.

Li Ji, whom he relied on, had long since become the Crown Prince's man.

Li Zhi still thought he was someone to rely on, little did he know that his life was already in the hands of the Crown Prince, and it was just a matter of when the Crown Prince would take it away.

Li Zhi was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

Then, as if remembering something, he smiled faintly and said, "It was Young Master Cui who told Fourth Brother, wasn't it?"

Li Tai's smile froze instantly, his expression hesitant and uncertain, almost questioning, "Zhi Nu, what do you mean by that?"

Why did Li Zhi know about Cui Shengyu's affair, and what does this mean?
Li Tai was immediately afraid to think about it.

If Choi Sung-ok really betrayed him, then were all the things Choi Sung-ok said back then false?

Li Zhi's expression held a hint of disdain: "Even now, Fourth Brother, don't you understand?"

At this point, Li Zhi's expression became somewhat exaggerated: "No way, Fourth Brother wouldn't have told Father Emperor about this, would he?"

"If Father Emperor is truly prepared, but the Crown Prince has no such intention, wouldn't that be a disaster for Fourth Brother?"

"If Father really wins against the Crown Prince, I wonder if he will thank Fourth Brother and make him the Crown Prince?"

Li Zhi betrayed Cui Shengyu without the slightest remorse.

This was also intended to force Qinghe to completely break with the King of Wei.

Although Li Zhi believed that the Prince of Wei was no longer qualified to compete with him for the position of crown prince, the Prince of Wei's faction still held considerable influence, and he did not want too many potential problems.

Or rather, they simply didn't want to follow in the footsteps of the crown prince.

If the crown prince is deposed and he becomes the new crown prince, but the emperor still cares about the Prince of Wei and refuses to appoint him to an official post, then they have come full circle.

Li Zhi had no desire to relive the hardships the Crown Prince had endured or walk the same path the Crown Prince had taken.

He only wanted the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wei to leave Chang'an, leaving him alone.

If the Emperor were to act first and then discover that the Prince of Wei's accusation was unfounded, he would be extremely disappointed and would certainly not allow the Prince of Wei to remain in office.

This is the best outcome that Li Zhi wanted to see.

Li Tai suddenly realized what was happening, his face contorted with rage, and he understood the possibilities he was about to face.

In this situation, regardless of whether the Emperor or the Crown Prince wins, neither will spare him.

If his father wins, he will certainly not make him the crown prince.

That leaves only the Prince of Jin.

"Zhi Nu, you schemed against me!"

Li Tai was grinding his teeth in frustration. He never expected that he had fallen into the trap set by the Prince of Jin.

Li Zhi remained noncommittal, saying calmly, "Likewise, didn't Fourth Brother ever scheme against me?"

"Unfortunately, Fourth Brother is slightly inferior."

Li Tai suddenly became anxious. He wanted to rush onto the stage and tell his father about this.

But now, where would I have the chance to speak to my father alone?

It would be even worse to say these things in front of the Crown Prince.

Looking at Li Tai's anxious expression, Li Zhi found it quite ridiculous.

He used to think he was so great as the fourth brother, but it turns out he's nothing special after all.

After a moment of panic, Li Tai suddenly remembered what he had seen before: his father trying to help the crown prince on the stage.

What he had felt before as jealousy now brought him a sense of peace.

As long as the Crown Prince doesn't act first, the Emperor probably won't strike first.

Perhaps even if I told my father, he didn't really believe me; he was just keeping a backup plan.

This left Li Tai with mixed feelings.

It was because of the emperor's distrust that this disaster could very well have been avoided.

Maybe nothing will happen.

Li Zhi's plan failed, but he still has time and opportunities.

I felt relieved, but also a little uncomfortable.

It turns out that his status in his father's heart has fallen so low.

"It seems your scheme is going to fail, Zhinu."

"Father loves the Crown Prince even more than we thought."

Li Tai felt somewhat at peace knowing that neither he nor Li Zhi had gotten anything good.

Li Zhi, however, said nonchalantly, "Does Fourth Brother think I would put all my eggs in one basket?"

Li Tai was taken aback, and then he thought of Li Ji.

Since Cui Shengyu has already betrayed them, his words are naturally all false.

Therefore, Li Ji never sided with the Crown Prince; he was always a man of the Prince of Jin.

But he clearly found out.

Some of Li Ji's former subordinates have made changes.

Thinking of this, a look of shock flashed in Li Tai's eyes: "What are you going to do!"

Li Zhi chuckled.

"Fourth Brother will find out soon."
-
Daming Palace.

Li Ji led three thousand cavalrymen straight to the gunpowder workshop.

Five thousand infantrymen against three thousand cavalry, and in a surprise attack no less, Li Ji couldn't imagine how he could lose.

Artillery is indeed powerful, but it takes time to prepare and should be used more in direct combat.

Given the speed of cavalry, Li Ji was certain that the Crown Prince's troops would not have enough time to prepare.

As Li Ji had predicted, things turned out just as he had.

The Liaodong soldiers at the gunpowder workshop didn't react until Li Ji charged right up to their faces.

After all, this was the Daming Palace, so the Liaodong soldiers were naturally more relaxed.

Because of the construction, the gates of Daming Palace were frequently opened, and Li Ji took advantage of the gaps in the transportation of materials to launch a surprise attack and break in.

Li Ji's former troops were the most elite cavalry in the Tang Dynasty, and there was simply no time to relay the message from the city gates.

Everything that followed happened exactly as Li Ji had envisioned.

Although the Liaodong soldiers at the gunpowder workshop were also elite, they were unable to organize a resistance under such circumstances. Li Ji took over the gunpowder workshop with almost no effort.

Not long after.

boom! ! !
A tremendous sound shook the entire city of Chang'an.

It could be heard clearly from dozens of miles away.

Li Ji lit all the gunpowder in the gunpowder workshop, and it exploded.

The Altar of Agriculture.

Upon hearing the loud noise, Li Tai instinctively looked in the direction from which the sound came.

That's the direction of Daming Palace.

He looked at Li Zhi with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty in his eyes.

Li Zhi's expression was calm, yet tinged with a hint of joy.

He knew that General Li Ji had succeeded.

The prince's gunpowder was destroyed in an instant.

(End of this chapter)