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

Chapter 48 Li Shimin: The Tang Dynasty will always belong to me! [Please read more]

The huge shock and astonishment made Li Shimin lose his composure in front of his ministers, which was rare.

This was so unexpected.

He even thought he heard wrongly.

Then, he looked towards Changsun Wuji.

Although the two didn't say anything, they just looked at each other as if they understood everything.

Zhangsun Wuji stood up decisively and said to Li Shimin, "Your Majesty, I have a very important matter to discuss with you in private. Please allow me to do so!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the ministers' hearts were in their throats.

Especially Pei Ji, his mind suddenly changed, he immediately stood up and said:

"Your Majesty, I suggest that the court meeting be adjourned temporarily until Duke Wu brings Prince Yi'an to the Taiji Hall before continuing!"

"I second the proposal!"

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui also noticed that something was wrong and quickly stood up to agree.

However, Li Shimin's mind was blank.

His intuition told him.

Something very serious and terrible must have happened.

It was not until Zhangsun Wuji came to him and supported him that Li Shimin came to his senses.

He used up all his strength and said in a deep voice, "Yunduan! Guard the Taiji Palace. No one is allowed to leave the Taiji Palace without my order, and don't let anyone in!"

"As ordered!"

Yunduan immediately stood up and respectfully accepted the order.

Soon, Li Shimin left the Taiji Hall amid the astonished and doubtful gazes of his ministers.

"Your Majesty, has something big happened?"

The first thing Changsun Wuji and Li Shimin asked him when they arrived at the side hall.

Although Li Shimin tried hard to show the majesty of an emperor, he clearly heard the trembling in his own voice.

He didn't know whether the trembling came from shock and anger, or from fear of an ominous sign.

You know, everything he is doing now is to prove one thing to his father Li Yuan, that is, Li Yuan was wrong.

It was me who initiated the Xuanwu Gate Incident, that’s right.

But now, less than a year after he came to power, the Xuanwu Gate Incident happened again.

what is this?
The reincarnation of fate?
Have you followed Li Yuan's old path?

He couldn't understand why it turned out like this.

In fact, it is meaningless to ask all this now.

Even if you can get an accurate answer, won’t it only add to your sadness and helplessness?
He set a bad example!

Li Shimin felt a splitting headache.

He had to face such a painful reality.

In fact, from the moment he launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, the fate of the Tang Dynasty took a different path.

Li Shimin smiled bitterly in his heart.

For a moment, the smiles of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji appeared before him very clearly.

However, this illusion is fleeting.

Li Shimin came back to his senses and with difficulty shifted his gaze to Zhangsun Wuji. He sighed and said, "Yuan Hongshan and Liu Deyu have rebelled. They have taken control of Xuanwu Gate and captured Qin Qiong and Chang He alive!"

"What!?"

Changsun Wuji was startled and couldn't help but ask, "How could this be? How could they be a match for Qin Qiong and Chang He?" "Yes! This is also what I can't understand. I arranged for Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui to adjust the order of duty a long time ago. How could Yuan Hongshan and Liu Deyu succeed?"

As he spoke, Li Shimin suddenly narrowed his eyes and continued, "Do you think the rebellion of Li Xiaochang, Li Youliang, Yuan Hongshan, and Liu Deyu is a bit strange?"

"This"

Changsun Wuji pondered for a moment and said, "If Your Majesty hadn't told me, I wouldn't have noticed. Their rebellions happened one after another, as if they were deliberately planned!"

"That's right! First, Li Youliang's smuggling incident aroused our vigilance and drew the court's attention. We thought Li Youliang would rebel, so we ignored Li Xiaochang and let him collect three years' worth of taxes from his fiefdom at once.

Then, news of Li Youliang's rebellion spread, mobilizing the capital's military forces, allowing Li Xiaochang to take advantage of the situation. Finally, the spread of leaflets announcing "Cleansing the Imperial Court" drew our attention to the internal and external collusion, rallying the court officials and enfeoffed kings.

Such a well-designed plan has kept both you and me in the dark! This person is incredibly meticulous, truly terrifying!

"Your Majesty, are you saying that there is another master behind this matter?"

"Oh, it's not that I look down on Li Xiaochang and others, but with their limited abilities, can they achieve this?" Li Shimin smiled coldly.

Zhang Sun Wuji frowned: "What about Xuanwu Gate?"

"You think I'm not on guard?"

Li Shimin looked at Zhangsun Wuji with some amusement and said calmly, "We fought our way out of Xuanwu Gate!"

"This"

Changsun Wuji was speechless.

But Li Shimin said solemnly: "I lost my composure just now because I didn't expect that someone would follow my old path."

"I'm afraid you still have suspicions about the person behind this?" Changsun Wuji couldn't help but interject.

Li Shimin glanced at him and said without comment: "The most important issue now is to recapture Xuanwu Gate!"

"What's your majesty's order?"

"After they took control of Xuanwu Gate, they didn't force the emperor to abdicate immediately. What does this mean? It means they are waiting for Li Xiaochang! Then, this is our chance!"

Li Shimin pondered for a moment before adding, "But the fact that they were able to capture Qin Qiong and Chang He indicates two things. First, they knew in advance about my adjustment of the order of duty. Second, they had some means in their hands that could quickly defeat Qin Qiong and Chang He!"

"The first point is not difficult to guess. This matter threatens your life. I have brought your family into the palace and will definitely adjust the order of duty to prevent them from colluding with others and harming you and your family!"

"The most crucial point is the second one. What on earth could have caused Qin Qiong and Chang He to be defeated so quickly?"

"Could it be some secret weapon?" Changsun Wuji asked thoughtfully.

Li Shimin nodded and said, "That's what I'm worried about. If they really have some secret weapon, then this matter will be a bit tricky!"

"but."

He then changed the subject and continued, "No secret weapon can change the overall situation; it can only temporarily change the situation! This imperial city still belongs to me!"

"Then your Majesty means..."

"Immediately notify Hou Junji and have him lead the imperial guards I have trained, cooperate with Li Shiji outside the palace, and use catapults to smash down the Xuanwu Gate for me!"

"Ah? This"

Zhang Sun Wuji was shocked for a moment and couldn't help but ask: "If so, wouldn't it make too much noise? What if the people of Chang'an..."

"Humph!"

Li Shimin interrupted Changsun Wuji with a cold snort and said in a deep voice, "What the people of Chang'an need is a stable Tang Dynasty. I have quelled the rebellion and brought stability to the world. What complaints do they have? This Tang Dynasty is already mine! No one can take it back from me!"

When these words came out, Changsun Wuji felt a chill in his heart.

He secretly said that it was true.

Your Majesty indeed suspected that the person behind this was the Emperor!

However, before Changsun Wuji could accept the order, a report came from outside the door.

"Your Majesty, Duke Wu has arrived outside the Taiji Hall after holding a discussion with Prince Yi'an!"

(End of this chapter)