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

A few days later, Li Shimin summoned Changsun Wuji, Chu Suiliang, Yu Zhining, and Dai Zhou to a side hall of the Liangyi Hall.

The hall was filled with the fragrance of incense, yet the atmosphere was even more somber than in the imperial court.

Li Shimin stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the rising autumn wind outside. After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger:
"The Crown Prince's return this time has brought him increasing power and prestige, which is a fortunate thing for the country."

"However, a ruler should use both kindness and severity, and maintain a proper balance between leniency and strictness."

He then changed the subject and continued, "Now that the four directions are at peace, what measures do you, my esteemed ministers, believe the court should take to ensure that the Crown Prince is more in line with the ways of the heir apparent?"

He asked the question subtly, but the four people present were all shrewd and could easily understand the implied meaning.
His Majesty feels that the Crown Prince is becoming too prominent and his achievements are threatening the throne, so he wants to curb his power.

Changsun Wuji lowered his eyes, staring at the gold bricks at his feet as if there were flowers on them, and remained silent.

He is the Crown Prince's maternal uncle and a representative of the Guanlong Group. His statement at this moment is extremely sensitive, both in public and private matters.

Chu Suiliang remained silent. Although he was loyal to the Crown Prince, he was also well aware of the emperor's mind and knew that whatever he said at this moment might arouse suspicion.

Li Shimin waited a while, but received no response. He frowned slightly and turned his gaze to Yu Zhining:

"Yu Qing, you have always been outspoken and dare to speak your mind. Tell me your opinion."

Yu Zhining smiled bitterly to himself, knowing he couldn't avoid it, so he had no choice but to step forward and bow, saying, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is a man of great martial prowess, renowned beyond the borders, which is truly a blessing for the Tang Dynasty."

"However, as the ancients said, 'If you can conquer the world on horseback, how can you govern it on horseback?' Now that Goguryeo and Wa have been pacified, and Baekje and Silla have submitted, it is precisely the time to vigorously promote the rule of the king and appease the common people."

"I believe that since Your Highness has already demonstrated your remarkable military prowess, you should take this opportunity to focus on domestic affairs, learn how to govern the newly acquired territories, and how to appease the people. This is also the duty of a crown prince."

His words sounded grand and dignified, but they only conveyed one core meaning.

By shifting the crown prince's focus from military affairs to civilian governance, the essence of the move was to strip him of his military power and remove him from a position where he could directly mobilize large armies.

Changsun Wuji finally couldn't hold back any longer. He looked up at Yu Zhining with displeasure in his eyes, but ultimately did not utter a word in rebuttal.

Chu Suiliang then chimed in, “What the Grand Tutor said makes sense. However, His Highness the Crown Prince has just achieved unparalleled merit. If he were to be suddenly removed from military affairs at this time, it might dampen the morale of the soldiers and have the appearance of ‘putting away the good bow after the birds are all gone,’ which would be detrimental to the reputation of the court.”

His words were a subtle reminder to Li Shimin not to be too obvious, lest it attract criticism.

Li Shimin remained noncommittal, turning his gaze to the ever-silent Dai Zhou:

"Minister Dai, you are in charge of the Ministry of Justice and have also served as acting head of the Court of Judicial Review. You have a deep understanding of the law. What do you think?"

Dai Zhou, with a serious expression, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the words of the Grand Tutor and the remonstrating official Chu are both reasonable."

"However, I believe that the established systems of the state should not be abolished. The Eastern Expeditionary Army previously commanded by His Highness the Crown Prince was originally a temporary authority granted by His Majesty."

"Now that the war is over, the troops should return to their respective garrisons, and the command of the troops should be returned to the Ministry of War and the local governor's offices. This is the usual practice and the proper way."

"As for the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace of His Highness the Crown Prince, they are the foundation of protecting the Eastern Palace. It is appropriate to retain them in accordance with the regulations."

His words were perfectly watertight, attributing the return of most of the military power to 'restoring the normal system,' which both achieved his goal and appeared legitimate.

Li Shimin nodded slightly; Dai Zhou's words struck a chord with him.

He pondered for a moment, then posed an even more pointed question: "The six guards of the Eastern Palace, trained by the Crown Prince, possess extraordinary combat power, especially skilled in the use of firearms. In addition, the newly established navy, with its ships and cannons, all obey the orders of the Eastern Palace."

"While these two practices are in accordance with the established system, their power is too concentrated. What do you, my esteemed ministers, think is the best way for the court to guide them so that they better align with the overall strategy of the court?"

He deliberately avoided using the word 'weaken', but the meaning couldn't be clearer.

Upon hearing this, the hall fell into dead silence once again.

Weakening the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace? Those are the Crown Prince's personal guards; reducing them without cause is tantamount to provocation.

Take over the navy? The navy was created by the crown prince, and its core commanders are all his confidants. How can he take over it?
Issuing the order by force would likely provoke a violent backlash, or even a mutiny.

Changsun Wuji, Chu Suiliang, and Yu Zhining fell silent once again.

This question is too dangerous; no matter how you answer it, you could offend both the emperor and the crown prince.

Dai Zhou also shut his mouth; he could have used the 'system' to suggest taking back command of the Eastern Expeditionary Army.

However, directly targeting the Crown Prince's military strength and the navy of his direct lineage goes beyond the bounds of convention and reason. It is purely a matter of imperial scheming and father-son distrust, and as a subject, he has no right or reason to comment.

Li Shimin looked at the four people who had fallen silent again, a hint of displeasure flashing through his heart, but he also knew that this matter was indeed thorny, and pushing too hard would not be good.

Just then, a palace attendant came to report: "Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Wei requests an audience."

"Let him in."

Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "My dear ministers, please step down for now. What we discussed today will not be disclosed to outsiders."

"I'm waiting to retire."

The four men, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, bowed and withdrew.

As I brushed past the smiling Li Tai outside the palace gate, my heart was filled with indescribable complex emotions.

"My son, I will meet my father."

Li Tai bowed respectfully, his chubby face full of filial piety.

"Qingque has arrived, please sit down."

Li Shimin's expression softened somewhat, and he pointed to the seat next to him: "What brings you here to see me today?"

"Your Majesty, I have heard that you have been busy with state affairs lately, and I am concerned about you, so I have come to pay my respects."

Li Tai asked with concern, then casually added:
"When I came here just now, I seemed to see my uncle and Mr. Chu going out. Their expressions were solemn. Is there something difficult happening in the court?"

Li Shimin glanced at him and said indifferently, "It's nothing more than some political affairs. How do you feel about assisting Chancellor Liu in handling state affairs now?"

"Your subject is of limited talent and learning, but I will do my best to learn and share the burden for Your Majesty."

Li Tai said modestly, then changed the subject, his face showing just the right amount of worry:
"Speaking of which, I have recently heard some rumors about my elder brother in the streets, and I am quite uneasy about it."

"Oh? What rumor?"

Li Shimin picked up his teacup and asked casually.

"That's all nonsense!"

Li Tai quickly waved his hand, but then lowered his voice:
"They said that my elder brother had committed excessive killings in Liaodong and Japan, which was against the natural order."

"And...it's also said that when my elder brother was in Chang'an, he disposed of Brother Ke and Brother Yin without a trial by the Three Judicial Offices."

"Your subject knows this must be a rumor! How could my elder brother, as the crown prince, be so disregardful of the laws of the land?"

"However, gossip is a fearsome thing. I am worried that these rumors will affect my elder brother's reputation. If they reach the ears of those pedantic censors, they will probably petition the emperor again."

Every word he uttered was in defense of Li Chengqian, but in reality, every word he said was a reminder to Li Shimin of Li Chengqian's cruelty and abuse of power, especially the point about "arbitrarily killing a prince," which touched the sore spot of imperial authority.

Li Shimin paused slightly in his teacup, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

Li Tai's words hit the nail on the head regarding his hidden worries.

Li Chengqian's abilities and achievements are beyond doubt, but his style of doing things is increasingly showing signs of becoming uncontrollable. Especially in his handling of Li Ke and Li Yin, although there were extenuating circumstances, he ultimately crossed certain lines.

He put down his teacup and said slowly, "The innocent will remain innocent, and the guilty will remain guilty. Chengqian has his reasons for doing things."

He glanced at Li Tai, then changed the subject: "However, you're right. There are some things we really should ask about clearly."

Li Tai was secretly pleased, knowing that his words had worked, but on the surface he became even more respectful:
“Father, you are wise. My elder brother has just made a great contribution, so he will surely not take these rumors to heart.”

"However, it would be best if brothers could be honest with each other and clear up misunderstandings."

Li Shimin nodded and said nothing more, but he had already made up his mind.

Going in circles and using ministers to give subtle instructions seems to have limited effect.

It's time to have an open and honest conversation with that sharp-tongued son.

Some boundaries must be clearly drawn.

"Alright, I'm getting tired. You may leave now."

"Your Majesty, I take my leave. May Your Majesty take care of your health."

Li Tai bowed and withdrew with satisfaction.

Inside the palace, Li Shimin pondered alone for a long time before finally instructing the eunuch beside him: "Issue an imperial decree that the Crown Prince shall meet me at the Liangyi Hall at 9:00 AM tomorrow."

On the other side, in the warm pavilion of Da'an Palace.

Unlike the turbulent undercurrents in the Liangyi Hall, the scene inside the Da'an Palace was quite different.

The charcoal fire was burning brightly, dispelling the chill of autumn, and the air was filled with the aroma of wine and roasted meat.

Li Yuan, dressed in comfortable casual clothes and beaming with health, was holding Li Chengqian's hand, looking him up and down with a wide grin.

"Good! Good! My beloved grandson is back! He's tanned and thinner, but he looks more energetic! He has more spirit than he did in Jiangling!"

Li Chengqian smiled broadly and personally filled Li Yuan's wine cup: "Grandfather, when I was overseas, what I missed most was your wine and your roasted lamb leg!"

"Those Japanese sakes are so bland, they can't compare to the strong liquor of our Great Tang Dynasty!"

"Hahaha! Well said!"

Li Yuan patted Li Chengqian's shoulder forcefully, picked up a leg of lamb, and took a big bite:
"Tell Grandpa what new and interesting things are happening overseas? I heard you got some ironclad ships that can breathe fire and spew thunder?"

Li Chengqian vividly recounted the naval battle and the customs and culture of Japan, omitting the details of the bloody massacres and only focusing on the interesting and novel aspects.

Li Yuan listened with great interest, occasionally letting out exclamations of surprise and laughter.

"Grandpa, I've brought you a wonderful gift on my return this time!"

Li Chengqian smiled mysteriously, took out a meticulously drawn scroll from his pocket, and slowly unfurled it on the table.

"Oh? What's this?" Li Yuan asked curiously as he leaned closer.

"This is the design of the new palace for you by the top craftsmen of the Academy of Destiny, based on your preferences, combined with some of my ideas, and using the most advanced construction techniques available today—the Daming Palace!"

Li Chengqian pointed to the blueprints and excitedly introduced them:

"Look, the location is at Longshouyuan, a high and open area that overlooks half of Chang'an!"

"The main hall, Hanyuan Hall, is even more magnificent than the current Taiji Hall!"

"Later, the design also includes the Linde Hall, Zichen Hall, and Penglai Hall. The garden will be filled with flowing water to form lakes and earthen mounds to create mountains, offering beautiful scenery in all four seasons."

After speaking, he pointed to some special markings on the drawing:

"Here, my grandson also designed a 'heating' system. In winter, the ground heating dragon will spread heat to all the halls to ensure that it is as warm as spring."

"Here, we'll use the latest fired transparent glass for the windows, making it bright!"

"And here, we specially built a large hot spring pool for you, using water from the hot springs of Mount Li!"

Li Yuan's eyes grew brighter and brighter as he listened, especially when he heard about the hot spring pool and the transparent glass. He was overjoyed and clapped his hands in laughter.

"Good! Good lad! You understand your grandfather best! You're the most filial! This palace sounds amazing!"

"It's much better than this cramped Da'an Palace! When can construction begin?"

Li Chengqian said confidently, "The blueprints, materials, and craftsmen are all ready. We're just waiting for your approval. We'll start construction next month!"

"My grandson will personally oversee the construction, mobilizing the best resources, working day and night, and I guarantee you'll be able to move in within two years at most!"

"Two years? Hahaha! Good! I'll be waiting to live in the new palace my precious grandson built for me!"

Li Yuan was overjoyed, picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. He felt that this grandson was more and more pleasing to the eye, a hundred times better than his rebellious son.

He was laughing for a while, then suddenly something occurred to him. His smile faded, he let out a cold snort, and slammed his wine glass heavily on the table.
"Hmph! My Chengqian is so filial! He knows his grandfather isn't comfortable. Unlike that unfilial son! Since becoming emperor, he's become increasingly ungrateful! And now he's even more... Hmph!"

He seemed to want to say something, but ultimately didn't say it out loud, instead angrily downing another glass of wine.

Li Chengqian picked up the wine pot and slowly refilled Li Yuan's cup, a faint smile on his face, without saying a word.

Just then, the eunuch Wushe quietly entered the warm pavilion and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince, His Majesty has issued an edict summoning His Highness the Crown Prince to the Liangyi Hall for an audience immediately."

The atmosphere in the warm pavilion froze for a moment.

Li Chengqian seemed to have expected this, his expression remained unchanged. He simply put down the wine pot, smiled at Li Yuan, and said, "Grandfather, look, here it comes."

Li Yuan frowned, looking at Li Chengqian with a hint of worry and understanding in his eyes. He lowered his voice and said, "Chengqian, you..."

Li Chengqian, however, stood up nonchalantly, straightened his robes, and said to Li Yuan in a relaxed, even slightly teasing tone:
"Grandfather, don't you think the current situation is somewhat similar to what happened before Xuanwu Gate back then?"

Li Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted, and his hand holding the wine glass trembled slightly as that unbearable memory instantly flooded his mind.

Li Chengqian took a step closer, lowered his voice, and continued to ask with an all-knowing calm:
"Grandson, if I may be so bold as to ask, before my father took action, you weren't as 'relentlessly pressuring' him as he is now with me, were you?"

These words struck Li Yuan like a thunderclap.

He stared blankly at Li Chengqian, at this young, sharp, and powerful grandson who was now being suspected and summoned by his own father. He seemed to see the shadow of his son Li Shimin, who was equally sharp and ultimately ascended the throne on the blood of his brothers.

Is history really going to repeat itself?
Li Yuan opened his mouth, his throat was dry, and in the end, he could only let out a long sigh filled with complex emotions, unable to say anything.

Li Chengqian received a silent answer. He smiled slightly, a smile that carried a chilling and resolute air, and bowed deeply to Li Yuan.
"Grandpa, please drink slowly, and eat the lamb leg while it's hot. Your grandson will be right back."

After saying that, he turned around and strode out of the warm pavilion with Wu She, heading towards the father-son confrontation that was destined to be anything but peaceful.

Inside the warm pavilion, only Li Yuan remained. Facing the table full of wine and dishes, he could no longer muster any interest.

He gazed at the gloomy sky outside the window and muttered to himself, "Erlang, Erlang, what exactly are you trying to do?"

The only sounds in the air were the crackling of burning charcoal and a silent, heavy, suffocating sense of fate. (End of Chapter)