My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 422 He Will Not Give Up This Prosperous Era
The smoke of battle had not yet cleared, and the ruins of Xuanwu Gate were outlined in a ferocious shape by the firelight.

Li Chengqian stepped down from the high platform.

He mounted the white horse that had been prepared long ago.

At this moment, the first rays of dawn are gradually spreading across the horizon, and the darkness is rapidly dissipating.

Riding on his white horse, Li Chengqian was spotless, seemingly out of place in the bloody battlefield.

Beside him, Wen Zhong emerged from the shadows, his footsteps as light as a falling leaf. The copper kettle he held in his hands was still steaming, but Li Chengqian raised his hand to stop him as he approached.

"Your Highness, it's time for some ginseng soup."

Wenzhong's voice was very low, and there was still cigarette ash embedded in the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

Li Chengqian did not take the soup pot; his gaze remained fixed on the direction of Xuanwu Gate.

The artillery fired two volleys before ordering a halt. It was Li Chengqian who gave the order. He had already seen from the high platform with his crystal telescope that the morale of the Imperial Guards had completely collapsed.

Then there's no need for unnecessary killing.

These imperial guards will also be his soldiers in the future.

"Wenzhong, how many years have you been following me?"

He suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat scattered by the wind.

Wen Zhong was taken aback, and quickly bowed: "Your Highness, it has been thirteen years since the establishment of the government."

"Thirteen years..."

Li Chengqian chuckled softly, his fingertips tracing an arc on the cold jade pendant: "Enough to watch a child grow into a teenager, and enough to watch... a palace change its masters."

Wen Zhong's Adam's apple bobbed, but he ultimately swallowed back the words, "His Majesty has not yet..." He gripped the soup pot tightly, the heat of the copper walls making his palms numb: "Just now, news came that Li Jing's cavalry has arrived, followed by Li Ji's infantry."

"Hou Junji has been defeated, and now the imperial city is under His Majesty's control."

He paused, a slight tremor creeping into his voice: "Your Majesty, I fear... I fear Your Majesty will leave."

"Leave?" Li Chengqian turned around, the firelight flickering in his pupils. "Where to?"

"Leave Chang'an!" Wen Zhong said urgently.

"What should we do if Your Majesty leaves Chang'an?"

"Although the Imperial Guards have retreated, Li Jing still has 200,000 troops outside the city. If His Majesty gives the order, all the prefectures will rise up and march to defend the emperor..."

"Serving the emperor?" Li Chengqian suddenly interrupted him, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible mockery: "Do you think anyone would dare to serve the emperor now?"

He raised his hand and pointed to the distant artillery positions, where three hundred cannons stood like lurking beasts, the smoke from their muzzles drifting slowly in the evening breeze: "Wenzhong, look closely, those are not lances, not powerful bows, but cannons capable of shattering the walls of Tongguan."

"Which general dares to bring his troops here? Do they want their men to become mincemeat under cannon fire?"

Wen Zhong's face turned pale instantly. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but was silenced by Li Chengqian's gaze.

"You're not worried about the various states rising up in rebellion, you're worried about whether Father Emperor will leave, right?"

Li Chengqian took the soup pot but didn't drink it, only letting the warm steam brush against his cheeks: "Are you afraid that once Father Emperor leaves, Chang'an will become an empty city? Even if we break through Xuanwu Gate, it will be useless, and we will only become a target for the people of the world."

Wen Zhong knelt down with a thud, his forehead pressed against the cold ground: "Your Majesty deserves to die! But Your Majesty is Your Majesty after all. Back when you quelled Liu Heita's rebellion, he led a hundred cavalrymen into battle, turning defeat into victory even in dire straits..."

"This time, that time."

Li Chengqian's voice turned somber as he looked at Wen Zhong's trembling shoulders: "Back then, he charged into battle to conquer the Tang Dynasty. But now, if he wants to leave, he will destroy this empire."

After finishing the ginseng soup, Li Chengqian handed the soup pot to Wenzhong: "You have served in the palace for thirteen years, so you should know better than anyone what Chang'an is like now. There are 50% more foreign merchants in the East and West Markets than ten years ago. Grain ships from Luoyang can reach Taicang in three months. Even lychees from Lingnan can be delivered to Taiji Palace within ten days. This is no longer the chaotic world of the Wude era, Wenzhong. This is the prosperous Zhenguan era."

Wenzhong held the soup pot, his fingers still trembling: "But even a prosperous era can't withstand the ravages of war! Wasn't the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty caused by..."

“That’s why Father Emperor won’t leave.” Li Chengqian’s tone was resolute: “You think he’s reluctant to part with the dragon throne? He’s reluctant to part with this prosperous era.”

Riding on his horse, Li Chengqian looked towards Xuanwu Gate, where everything had become completely quiet.

"In the ninth year of the Wude era, my father killed my eldest uncle and fourth uncle at Xuanwu Gate and forced my grandfather to abdicate. At that time, the world had just been pacified. If he hadn't done that, the Tang Dynasty might have been in chaos for another ten years. But what about now?"

Li Chengqian's voice carried a strange calmness: "If he were to flee Chang'an with his remaining troops, Guanzhong would surely descend into chaos. The troops from Hebei would arrive, the powerful families of Shandong would rebel, the Protectorate of the Western Regions would be too busy to defend itself, and the former Tibetan and Turkic forces would seize the opportunity to move south... This prosperous era would turn into a living hell in less than three years."

Wen Zhong looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock: "His Majesty... he would consider these things?"

“He is Li Shimin.” Li Chengqian chuckled, his laughter tinged with complexity: “He may be ruthless, or suspicious, but first and foremost, he was an emperor.”

"You think what he values ​​most is imperial power?"

"No, he created all of this with his own hands. Just as a craftsman cherishes his work and a farmer cherishes his crops, he would not stand idly by and watch the prosperous Zhenguan era be destroyed in his own hands."

He looked down at Wenzhong, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Have you forgotten the locust plague of that year, when Father Emperor ate locusts alive? Have you forgotten that in order to allow the people to recuperate, he ordered the closure of three hundred post stations? Have you forgotten that he told Fang Xuanling, 'Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.'"

"He is not Emperor Yang of Sui."

Li Chengqian's voice softened: "Yang Guang would flee to Jiangdu to survive, but Li Shimin would not. He spent his whole life struggling with the words 'ruler of a fallen kingdom.' If he really fled Chang'an, he would become the kind of person he despised the most."

Wen Zhong suddenly remembered something and added, "But His Majesty still has Grand Tutor Changsun and Chancellor Fang by his side! What if they try to persuade His Majesty..."

“Changsun Wuji?” Li Chengqian sneered. “He knows better than anyone that once he leaves Chang’an, the foundation of the Guanlong aristocratic families will be gone. Fang Xuanling will not agree either; the Zhenguan Code, which he oversaw the revision of, is precisely for the sake of stability in the world.”

"Of course, they might try to persuade me, but Father will not agree."

At this point, Li Chengqian's tone became somewhat sentimental: "In fact, Father Emperor understands better than anyone else that today's events are no longer a struggle between father and son, but a transition between the old and the new. The empire he conquered with the Xuanjia Army will ultimately be lost to cannons and thunderbolts. This is not his fault, nor is it my fault; it is simply the way of the times."

Wen Zhong finally steadied his hand holding the ginseng soup. He looked at Li Chengqian's young yet unusually composed profile and suddenly remembered that many years ago, when this crown prince was still studying in the Eastern Palace, he had pointed to the chapter in the Records of the Grand Historian about "Tang of Shang destroying Xia" and asked, "Why did the Xia Dynasty perish?"

The gentleman at that time replied, "Because Jie is wicked."

But the crown prince shook his head: "No, it's because Shang Tang had a sharper bronze sword."

It turned out that from that moment on, the prince had seen the key to victory or defeat.

"Then... what will His Majesty do?" Wenzhong's voice trembled slightly.

Li Chengqian gazed at the distant sky, where the sun was about to rise.

After a long silence, he suddenly sighed softly: "He will sit in the Taiji Hall like the retired emperor of yesteryear, watching me ascend the throne."

"He might have a cold face, or he might not say a word, but he won't leave."

"Because he was Li Shimin, the founder of the Zhenguan era. He could lose to his son, but he could not lose to this prosperous era."

The smell of gunpowder in the wind gradually faded, replaced by the chill of the pre-dawn air.

Wenzhong knew that some things had already been settled when the smoke and dust rose from Xuanwu Gate.
-
East Gate of the West Inner Garden.

Li Jing's cavalry had arrived, and with the help of the scattered daylight, they could roughly see the situation at Xuanwu Gate.

The original hustle and bustle has now turned into a deathly silence.

In front of him stood Zhao Jie, two or three thousand elite troops from Liaodong, and hundreds of assassins bound with Thunderbolts.

Li Jing, riding on horseback, could even see the collapsed Xuanwu Gate.

"Duke Wei?"

The deputy general beside him hesitated, because Li Jing had not yet given the order to charge.

Li Jing looked at Zhao Jie not far away, his expression complicated.

"It's too late."

He knew perfectly well what it meant when the cannons stopped firing. Had the Crown Prince's cannons run out of gunpowder?

If that's the case, His Majesty's Imperial Guards have already stormed out of Xuanwu Gate.

If that's not the case, then there's only one possibility.
"Go and ask if His Majesty has sent any imperial edicts."

Li Jing calmly gave the order.

In this situation, there's no need to struggle any further.
-
Inside Xuanwu Gate.

After the artillery fire stopped, the Imperial Guards calmed down.

At this point, even though they were numerous, who among them had any courage left?

They all hung their hands and bowed their heads.

No matter how fearless you are, it's meaningless in the face of artillery.

Tens of thousands of soldiers stood silently.

"Minister Fang, go and summon Qingque and Zhinu to me."

Li Shimin suddenly spoke, his voice slightly shaky from the shock, yet unusually firm.

Fang Xuanling was taken aback: "Your Majesty, at this time?"

“I said, go and fetch them,” Li Shimin interrupted him, speaking again.

Changsun Wuji suddenly understood something, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty intends to..."

"I lost."

Li Shimin spoke calmly, as if he were talking about someone else's affairs.

He gazed at the three hundred cannons that were constantly spitting fire. In the piercing whistles of the cannons, he heard not the call of death, but the clarion call of the transfer of power.

"Back then, I defeated Jiancheng at Xuanwu Gate, and today Chengqian has defeated me at Xuanwu Gate. This is simply the cycle of the Tang Dynasty."

Li Shimin took a deep breath, his expression filled with extremely complex emotions.

"But I cannot let this cycle of reincarnation end."

"Wuji, go and see the Crown Prince."

“Tell him that I can abdicate and become his retired emperor, just like my father did to me back then.”

Fang Xuanling finally couldn't hold back his tears and cried out, "Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty is the emperor who ushered in the prosperous reign of Zhenguan, how could you..."

Li Shimin smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes filled with dust: "The emperor? Even the emperor must accept the mandate of heaven!"

"Wuji, tell Chengqian that I only want to protect Wei Qingque and Zhinu's lives. As for the rest, I will give him whatever he wants."

Changsun Wuji's hands trembled: "What if... what if the Crown Prince doesn't agree?"

He dared not think of the consequences. Back then, all five sons of Jiancheng Yuanji were executed. The imperial blade has always been sharp.

Li Shimin looked towards Xuanwu Gate and could vaguely see a group of people moving slowly forward.

Li Chengqian's figure could be vaguely seen.

He will allow it.

"He imitated my Xuanwu Gate Incident, so naturally he should also imitate my 'benevolence.' If he kills me, he will be a traitor who murders his father."

"Keep me as the retired emperor; he is the new ruler destined by Heaven."

"As for Qingque and Zhinu... if he can't even give them this much face..."

"He knows perfectly well that Qingque Zhinu is no match for him."

"It wasn't like that before, and it's even less so now."
-
Streets outside the imperial city.

Fang Xuanling caught up with Li Ji's entourage on horseback.

Li Ji came forward to greet him.

Seeing Fang Xuanling come alone, he already understood what was going on.

"His Majesty has issued an edict summoning the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Jin to proceed to Xuanwu Gate immediately."

Li Zhi shuddered violently: "Father...Father is at Xuanwu Gate?"

Fang Xuanling nodded: "His Majesty is waiting in front of the ruins of the gate tower."

Li Tai was terrified: "Go to Xuanwu Gate? Li Chengqian's men are there! Does Father Emperor intend to...?"

At this point, Li Tai trembled with fear: "Is Father going to hand us over to the Crown Prince?"

Fang Xuanling sighed: "Prince Wei, do not panic. His Majesty is certainly not asking the Crown Prince to deal with this."

"On the contrary, Your Majesty wants to save the King of Wei and the King of Jin."

Li Zhi suddenly grabbed Li Tai's wrist, the boy's fingertips were icy cold: "Fourth brother, go and see. If Father wanted to kill us, he wouldn't need to go through all this trouble."

He looked at Fang Xuanling: "Prime Minister Fang, if I may be so bold as to ask, is Xuanwu Gate... now calm?"

Fang Xuanling's Adam's apple bobbed: "The Crown Prince's cannons have stopped firing."

“Then let’s go.” Li Zhi straightened his back. “If it’s truly Father’s will, escaping to the ends of the earth won’t help. If not…”

If not, then let the Crown Prince decide.

Now that the storm has passed, those two are nothing but small fry; what waves can they possibly make?

Li Tai was being dragged outside by him, and he shouted, "Zhi Nu, are you crazy?"

“That’s Xuanwu Gate, full of Li Chengqian’s men. He might already be ready to chop off our heads.”

Li Zhi glanced at his trembling fourth brother and sighed, "We don't need to behead our brothers at Xuanwu Gate."

“That’s where my father ascended the throne, and it’s also… the final destination he chose.”

Li Zhi suddenly calmed down and understood the meaning behind his father's summons.

This was to get the crown prince to promise to spare their lives.

Relatively speaking, Li Zhi felt more relaxed.

Because he understood very well that he and Li Tai were not like Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji back then.

Or rather, the two of them were never taken seriously by the Crown Prince.

If the Crown Prince had wanted to step on their heads to ascend to the throne, they wouldn't be standing here unscathed now.

Ironically, Li Zhi only just realized this now.

The day the Crown Prince left Chang'an, he and Li Tai had already lost the right to compete with him.

The one who always played chess with the Crown Prince was his father, the Emperor.

(End of this chapter)