Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

The morning mist is just beginning to dissipate at Dengzhou Port.

As the silhouette of the massive fleet, resembling a floating city, slowly approached, the entire port fell into an almost frozen silence.

Especially those five ironclad behemoths, their dark hulls gleaming with a cold, hard luster in the morning light, like primordial beasts awakening from the deep sea, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.

"The Tang Dynasty is victorious!"

Someone shouted first, and then the entire port erupted in deafening cheers.

People spontaneously flocked to the dock, eagerly awaiting their arrival.

Local officials were already lined up to wait, their expressions showing both awe and a hint of barely concealed fear.

The Dingyuan slowly docked.

When Li Chengqian's familiar yet unfamiliar figure in black appeared on the ship's side, the cheers reached their peak.

"Long live Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is mighty!"

"His Royal Highness..."

Amidst enthusiastic cheers, Li Chengqian slowly walked out.

He looked thinner than when he left, his skin slightly darker from his long life at sea, but his eyes were even more profound and sharp, as if they could see right through people's hearts.

He simply stood there, his gaze calmly sweeping across the crowd, and an invisible pressure instantly silenced the noisy port.

Instead of immediately disembarking, he first looked at the Prefect of Dengzhou, his voice calm and even:
"The Japanese Island Governor-General's Office has been established, and Su Dingfang is in charge of its administration. Subsequent matters concerning immigration and the transfer of supplies shall be handled in accordance with this regulation."

A thick document was handed out.

"I...I obey your order!"

The governor of Dengzhou hurriedly bowed and accepted the gift with both hands, his forehead already beaded with sweat.

Only after finishing his most urgent official business did Li Chengqian slowly set foot on the land of the Tang Dynasty.

His steps were steady, each step making a clear sound on the wooden planks of the dock, each step seeming to strike the hearts of everyone present.

He did not linger, nor did he accept the welcoming banquet prepared by the local officials. He simply ordered, "Prepare the horses. I must return to the capital immediately."

……

A few days later.

Chang'an, Taiji Hall
The news of Li Chengqian's return swept through Chang'an like a hurricane.

The atmosphere in the imperial court was strange.

Li Shimin sat upright on the dragon throne, his face calm and expressionless.

King Li Tai of Wei stood at the head of the officials, his face still bearing a gentle smile, but his hands unconsciously clenched in his sleeves.

Liu Ji, Dai Zhou, Chu Suiliang, and others had shifty eyes, seemingly plotting something.

"Report! His Highness the Crown Prince's carriage has crossed Ba Bridge!"

A guard's loud report came from outside the hall.

Many officials subconsciously straightened their clothes and held their breath.

The nobles, including Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong, wore complex expressions, showing both recognition of the Crown Prince's military achievements and an undeniable sense of estrangement stemming from the grief of losing their son.

Finally, clear footsteps came from outside the hall, unhurried yet with a peculiar rhythm, as if stepping on everyone's heartbeat.

A figure in black appeared at the entrance of the palace, backlit, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

When he stepped over the high threshold and entered the main hall, the air in the entire Taiji Hall seemed to freeze.

Despite their travel-worn appearance, they couldn't conceal the chilling killing intent and undeniable authority forged in the crucible of blood and fire.

His gaze calmly swept over Emperor Taizong of Tang on the throne, over the officials with their varied expressions, and finally paused briefly on Prince Wei, Li Tai.

In that instant, the smile on Li Tai's face almost froze, and a chill rose from the soles of his feet.

Li Chengqian walked down the steps and bowed in accordance with etiquette:
"Your subject, Li Chengqian, the Crown Prince of the Great Tang Dynasty and the Envoy for the Expedition to the East and the Pacification of the Barbarians, has been ordered to pacify Goguryeo and Japan. Now he returns to the capital to report to His Majesty!"

The voice was clear and resonant, echoing in the silent hall.

Li Shimin looked at his eldest son below the steps with a complex expression.

This son has gone further and become more difficult to control than he imagined.

"Your Highness...you've worked hard."

Li Shimin spoke slowly, his voice revealing little emotion: "You have pacified two countries and expanded our territory by thousands of miles; your contributions are invaluable to the nation."

"This is my duty, and it is also thanks to the Emperor's divine might that the soldiers are willing to fight."

Li Chengqian's answer was watertight.

However, beneath this seemingly harmonious father-son conversation lies a turbulent undercurrent.

Liu Ji suddenly stepped forward and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince has rendered great service and is truly a blessing to the Tang Dynasty. However..."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone seemingly respectful but actually sharp:
"I have heard that Japan is now nearly deserted, with silver mining rampant, excessive conscription, and countless dead... Your Highness, do you have any explanation for this?"

Wow!
As soon as these words came out, the whole place was in an uproar!

Many civil officials perked up their ears.

Are they going to launch an attack on the Crown Prince's 'cruelty' so soon?!
Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian didn't even look at Liu Ji, his gaze remaining level with the throne, but his voice turned colder: "Is Minister Liu questioning my handling of the matter?"

"minister……"

"Barbarians fear power but do not cherish virtue!"

Before Liu Ji could answer, Li Chengqian continued, "The Japanese are fickle. They promised to surrender, but then plotted to assassinate me. If I hadn't been prepared, I might have met with disaster."

"To show them mercy would be irresponsible to the lives of the Tang soldiers and the Tang people who will govern this place in the future!"

"Silver mines are urgently needed by the Tang Dynasty. What's wrong with conscripting laborers to provide relief through work?"

"As for casualties... in war, how can there be no death? Governing this desolate land, how can there be no price to pay?" He paused, then finally turned to look at Liu Ji, his gaze sharp as a knife.

"If Minister Liu finds my methods too cruel, why not go to the Japanese islands yourself and try to influence those Japanese who have just experienced 'Gyokusai' with benevolence and virtue? Let's see if they will be grateful or raise their swords again?"

Liu Ji was so choked up that his face turned red, and he was speechless.

Li Chengqian's words silenced his doubts and implied that he was talking without understanding the situation.

"His Majesty--!"

Wei Zheng stepped forward at this moment, his voice steady: "In my opinion, Your Highness's policy toward Japan, though swift and decisive, is an extraordinary measure taken in an extraordinary time."

"The Japanese territory has just been pacified, and only force can deter them. Moreover, the silver Your Highness brought back will greatly benefit the national treasury. As for the specific details of governance, we can gradually work on them and make improvements later."

He affirmed Li Chengqian's general direction while leaving room for maneuver, thus demonstrating his support.

Fang Xuanling nodded slightly, his attitude clear even though he did not speak directly.

Li Chengqian then nodded slightly in the direction of Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling.

Li Shimin observed all of this, his mind racing with thoughts.

He could see that his son's prestige in the army and even among some civil officials had increased, and that he had become sharper and more difficult to control than before.

“What the Crown Prince said is not without reason.”

Li Shimin finally spoke, setting the tone: "Since the matter of Japan has been entrusted to the Crown Prince for full handling, we shall follow the Crown Prince's plan."

"As for the details... they will be adjusted as appropriate in future correspondence between the Cabinet and the Government-General of Japan."

After saying this, he skillfully changed the subject:

"Your Highness is weary from your long campaign; please return to the Eastern Palace and rest well. Three days later, I will host a banquet in the Taiji Hall to celebrate your victory!"

"My son, thank you father."

Li Chengqian bowed.

The morning assembly ended in a delicate atmosphere.

Li Chengqian was the first to walk out of the Taiji Hall, followed closely by Pei Xingjian.

The sunlight outside the palace was blinding, and he squinted slightly as he looked at this familiar yet unfamiliar imperial city.

"Your Highness, shall we go straight back to the Crown Prince's residence?" Pei Xingjian asked in a low voice.

"No!"

Li Chengqian's lips curled into a cold smile. "Go to Lizheng Palace first. I should go and pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."

He knew that the real storm had just begun.

His return was like a boulder thrown into this deep pool.

However, there's no need to rush anything; let's let the dust settle first.

When Li Chengqian arrived at Lizheng Palace, Empress Zhangsun was facing away from him, staring blankly at the twin lotus flowers outside the window.

Hearing footsteps, she slowly turned around, her eyes filled with barely concealed excitement and complex emotions.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian bowed respectfully, his voice much softer than in the court, but the sharp edges forged in the crucible of battle could not be completely concealed.

"Chengqian! My son!"

Empress Zhangsun hurried forward, took his arms in her hands, and carefully examined him. Tears welled up instantly in her eyes.

"You've lost weight and gotten tanned. You must have suffered a lot while fighting abroad."

She choked back tears, gently stroking his cheek, as if to confirm that this was not a dream.

Li Chengqian allowed his mother to touch him, and a rare hint of tenderness appeared in his usually cold and hard eyes: "I am well, Mother. I am sorry to have troubled you."

The mother and son took their seats, and after the eunuchs served them tea and snacks, they were dismissed.

After a brief moment of warmth, the atmosphere inside the hall gradually became somewhat stagnant.

Empress Zhangsun looked at her son, hesitated, and finally couldn't help but speak:
"Chengqian, I've heard about your affairs abroad, including those with Goguryeo and Japan. You've done very well, expanding the territory of the Tang Dynasty and enhancing our national prestige. But... but..."

She paused, then lowered her voice:
"Ke'er and Yin'er are still your younger brothers. And weren't your methods a bit too cruel for the children from the Cheng and Yuchi families? There are quite a few dissenting voices against you in court now."

Li Chengqian picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and looked calmly at his mother: "Mother, what do you think I should have done in that situation?"

"Should we allow Li Ke and Li Yin to wreak havoc in Chang'an and imprison you and your sister-in-law? Or should we turn a blind eye to those noble sons who followed them in their rebellion, whose hands are stained with the blood of innocents, and wait for them to retaliate again in the future?"

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable coldness:

"To be merciful to the enemy is to be cruel to one's own people. I learned this lesson on the battlefield. As for the criticisms in the court..."

A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips:
"They're just a bunch of fools who only see their own interests and can't see the bigger picture. I don't care."

"But it's Chengqian!"

Empress Zhangsun said urgently, "Your father... he's now with Qingque..."

"Mother."

Li Chengqian interrupted her, his gaze sharp as he looked towards the palace gate, as if he could see through the doors and into everything outside:
"Your Majesty knows what you are thinking and what Qingque is doing. I have not returned to beg for your mercy, nor to compete with Qingque for your favor."

He put down his teacup, stood up, and the sleeves of his dark robe brushed against the table, carrying an air of resolute determination.
"What the Tang Dynasty needs is a powerful ruler who can expand its territory and subdue the barbarians, not a weak and benevolent monarch who only hides in Chang'an and plays power games."

"Your path is paved with the bones of your enemies, and that will never change."

He walked up to Empress Zhangsun and bowed deeply:
"Your Majesty need not worry about me. I know what to do. I only hope that Your Majesty will take care of your health and not trouble yourself too much because of my affairs."

Having said that, he didn't linger, turned around and strode away from Lizheng Palace.

Empress Zhangsun was left alone, watching his departing figure, her eyes filled with endless worry.

She sensed that her son had completely transformed into a cold and powerful imperial crown prince whom she almost no longer recognized. (End of Chapter)