My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 43 Du He: Goryeo is not easy to defeat

Fang's plan is over.

Fang Xuanling's two sons, including Du Ruhui's eldest son, failed to inherit their father's wisdom.

However, Du He, Du Ruhui's second son, truly inherited his father's decisiveness and wisdom.

Du He even started doing Fang Xuanling's former job.

Fang Xuanling's contribution came from the fact that he had recruited many talented and brave generals for Li Shimin.

The same is true for Du He now.

Li Chengqian learned from his memory that many of those who were willing to follow him in rebellion were recruited by Du He.

As the crown prince, Li Chengqian was not able to show up in public most of the time.

For example, it was impossible for Li Chengqian to have contact with a guard commander like Li Anyan, as their identities were too sensitive.

The reason they were able to get in touch was because Du He and Shang Cheng were Fengyu, both of them served under the emperor, so naturally they had many opportunities to meet.

It was precisely because Du He had sufficient understanding of him and took the initiative to contact him that he persuaded Li Anyan to join.

The situation on Hou Junji's side is similar.

There is also Princess Changguang's son Zhao Jie, who also has a good relationship with Du He. Through Du He as a link, he joined the prince's side.

Doesn’t the prince have any confidants of his own?
Not really.

Because he had been regent for a very early time, most of the people Li Chengqian dealt with in his early years were important officials of the court. In other words, he continued to use the team of Li Shimin and did not have his own team.

After all, I was only a teenager at the time.

Later, the King of Wei was favored, and Li Shimin sent these important ministers to take turns to advise the prince.

Therefore, the number of people belonging to the prince himself is pitifully small.

Du He became the biggest support.

But strictly speaking, Du He was the reason for both her success and failure.

"Brother-in-law, you have worked hard on this journey. I will ask someone to prepare the meal so that we can eat and chat."

Li Chengqian did not directly respond to Du He's words.

There are changes in the celestial phenomena, but who can tell exactly what kind of changes they are?

The Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty was exposed for his rebellion and was deposed. Isn't this also a change in the celestial phenomena?

In ancient times, divination and fortune-telling can be explained from both sides.

"Your Highness has really changed a lot. I heard the princess talk about it at home this morning, but I didn't feel much."

"Now that I see His Highness, I truly feel it."

Du He sighed.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "People always change. Brother-in-law, do you think I am doing this well or badly?"

Du He immediately said: "Of course it's a good thing."

"It's just that His Highness is so good at hiding his martial arts skills that even I was able to hide them from him."

Li Chengqian smiled and did not answer.

As for matters concerning martial arts, let others think about them on their own.

Du He added: "Your Highness should have shown it earlier. This will be very helpful for Your Highness to win over the generals in the army."

Li Chengqian replied: "It's not too late now."

Du He smiled and agreed: "Your Highness is right, it's not too late now."

Li Chengqian asked the Prince's servants to prepare a sumptuous banquet.

At the same time, Su Yuer and Li Xiang were also called over.

Sushan is also prepared.

Li Chengqian and Du He had known each other since childhood. Because of Princess Chengyang, the two had private relationships with various officials in the court, and Li Shimin knew about it.

Many people felt that after the prince ascended the throne, Du He would definitely be appointed as prime minister.

After the banquet, Li Chengqian took Du He to the study room for a private chat. "It seems that the relationship between His Highness and the Crown Princess is back to normal."

When Li Chengqian fell in love with Le Tong earlier, Du He actually advised him not to neglect the Crown Princess, including bringing the Su family into the relationship.

However, Li Chengqian thought that Su Tan held a low-ranking official position and that the Su family had no important officials in the court, so he did not take it seriously.

"I asked my uncle to help, and he promoted my father-in-law to the position of Junior Official of the Dali Temple."

"Speaking of which, my father-in-law told me two days ago that he had won over Su Dingfang, the General of the Left, and was willing to pledge his loyalty to me."

"You'll see him then."

Du He said happily: "I have heard of Su Dingfang. He is a general who is always on the front line. He is a good fighter and has more than 200 brothers following him."

"He was the first to ascend the Jie Li Khan's tent, and he was very impressive. If he can help Your Highness, he will be of great use in major events."

The key to launching a coup is to have a reliable army that can break through quickly.

Looking at all the successful coups throughout history, the key is to quickly control the palace, the center of power.

Su Dingfang fits the bill very well, and he also has a record of being the first to ascend the battlefield.

Moreover, Du He also has to consider that after the prince ascends the throne, control of the army cannot rely entirely on Hou Junji.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Su Dingfang is indeed worthy of being promoted. The position of General of the Central Army does not match his merits. I plan to promote him to General of the Jinwu Guard."

In the Tang Dynasty's imperial guard organization, the highest officer was the general, under whom were two generals. Under the general was the lieutenant general, who was in charge of the troops of a prefecture.

Du He frowned and said, "Your Highness, could it be that such an obvious promotion can really win over Su Dingfang? However, if you interfere with the military power, I am afraid that His Majesty will be wary."

"If Your Highness wants to promote Su Dingfang, why not transfer him to the Shilue Mansion?"

The Eastern Palace has its own military organization, and the Sixteen Guards are directly under the emperor.

It was obviously too obvious that the Crown Prince arranged for the promotion of the generals of the Sixteen Guards.

Li Chengqian said: "The Jinwu Guards are in charge of Chang'an City and will not enter the Imperial Palace. Your Majesty will not think too much about it."

"The King of Wei is the governor of Yongzhou. The two county magistrates of Chang'an Wannian are both his men, and they are from the Five Surnames and Seven Famous Clan. They are not easy to move."

"If Su Dingfang joins the Jinwu Guard, many things will become more convenient for us in Chang'an City."

The Jinwu Guard in the early Tang Dynasty was usually called Wuhou.

The scope of duties is very similar to that of the police in later generations, and they are only responsible for public security, patrols, and curfew.

This also includes tasks such as firefighting, which are also the responsibility of the Jinwu Guards.

There are 108 wards in Chang'an City, and there is a Wuhou shop in each ward.

Wuhoupu serves as a police station.

After curfew, every Wuhou shop will patrol the public security in the area under its jurisdiction.

The staff of Wuhoupu is generally 20 people, and there are about 5 people in charge of the small Wuhoupu in the block.

Dawuhoupu, which was responsible for the main streets of Chang'an City, was staffed by a hundred people.

There are numerous Wuhou shops of all sizes scattered throughout the entire city of Changan, forming an important force in the city's public security management system.

If Su Dingfang was promoted to General of the Jinwu Guard, the entire Chang'an City's public security would be under the control of Li Chengqian.

"Having said that, just"

Du He disagreed with this, because the Jinwu Guards could not enter the palace, which would not be of much help to them in their rebellion and coup.

Li Chengqian interrupted what Du He was about to say and expressed his own thoughts instead.

By launching a war against Goryeo, he expanded his influence over the army and gained control of military power.

Du He never expected that the prince actually wanted to start a war.

He even led the army to attack Goryeo himself.

This risk is too great.

Is Goryeo so easy to defeat?

(End of this chapter)