Transmigrated into Li Chengqian, he effortlessly ascended the throne and became emperor.

Once the wheels of history begin to turn, they will never stop.

Half a month later, at the Taiji Palace martial arts arena, the early autumn wind blew, and the banners fluttered with a chilling aura.

Li Shimin was dressed in military attire, but instead of wearing the bright yellow crown of the crown prince, he had changed back into the Mingguang armor of the General of Heavenly Strategy who had swept across the six kingdoms.

The armor plates reflected a cold, sharp light in the sunlight. Li Shimin stood on the command platform, with his valiant generals who had risked their lives for him standing below.

"Yuchi Jingde!" Li Shimin shouted in a deep voice.

"Your subject is here!" Yuchi Jingde strode forward.

Li Shimin took out a heavy tiger tally from the tray, his eyes blazing: "From this day forward, I hereby appoint you as the Right Martial Marquis General, in charge of the palace guards."

Yuchi Jingde knelt on one knee, raised his hands above his head, and accepted the tiger tally symbolizing the power of life and death. His tiger-like eyes were filled with tears: "Your subject swears to protect Your Highness with his life!"

Next up was Qin Qiong.

This war god, who could take the head of a general from the midst of a vast army as easily as taking something out of a bag, was pale at this moment, but his back was still straight as a spear.

"Shubao," Li Shimin's voice softened, revealing undisguised respect, "You have fought alongside me for many years and shed the most blood. Today I appoint you as the Left General of the Martial Guard and bestow upon you a thousand taels of gold. Your body is a vital asset to the nation and you need to rest and recuperate well, but only you can carry the banner of the Left Martial Guard."

Qin Qiong trembled as he accepted the seal, his eyes slightly red.

Subsequently, Cheng Yaojin was appointed Left General of the Imperial Guard, and Zhang Gongjin was appointed Right General of the Imperial Guard...

The positions of the twelve generals of the guards were bestowed upon them in a flowing manner, and without exception, they were all former generals of the Tian Ce Mansion.

Li Chengqian, hiding in a corner of the training ground corridor, silently watched this scene.

He was still holding a half-cold pastry in his hand, but his heart was already filled with turbulent emotions.

These are the reserve guards for the Lingyan Pavilion of the Tang Dynasty...

Seeing these figures, whom we could only see in comic books and door gods in later generations, standing vividly before us now, and feeling their loyalty and bravery forged in mountains of corpses and seas of blood, the visual impact is more shocking than any 3D movie.

Li Chengqian sighed subtly.

From then on, Chang'an City was as impregnable as a fortress.

……

Military generals pacify the interior, while civil officials govern the country.

The study in the Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace was brightly lit by candlelight, illuminating several faces that would change the course of history.

Li Shimin sat upright behind his desk, his fingertips lightly tapping the tabletop, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound.

"Auxiliary machine." He looked at Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Your subject is here."

"You are meticulous and understand my intentions best. You will concurrently serve as the Minister of Personnel. In addition, I intend to bestow upon you the title of Duke of Qi. You must oversee the personnel transfers in the court for me, and leave no mediocre or disloyal individuals untouched."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Changsun Wuji's eyes sharpened, and he withdrew after receiving the order.

Li Shimin turned his head and looked at the two figures standing side by side—Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui.

"Xuanling, Ruhui."

"Your Majesty, we are here," the two replied in unison.

"The empire has just been established, and everything needs to be rebuilt. Laws and decrees need to be revised, punishments need to be reduced, and the people need to rest and recuperate." Li Shimin stood up, walked to the two men, and spoke earnestly, "Xuanling is good at planning, and Ruhui is good at making decisions. I appoint Fang Xuanling as the Grand Secretary, in charge of the Secretariat, and responsible for drafting imperial edicts; I appoint Du Ruhui as the Minister of War, to participate in the administration of the court."

At this point, Li Shimin paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "The two of you are my right and left hands. From this day forward, I will ensure that the decrees of the Tang Dynasty are carried out without hindrance!"

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui exchanged a glance, bowed deeply, and remained deeply prostrate, saying, "We will devote ourselves wholeheartedly to the cause, even unto death!"

Subsequently, Gao Shilian was appointed acting as the Grand Councilor.

This series of appointments, like precise gears, quickly meshed into the massive machine of the Tang Dynasty.

Although Pei Ji and other former officials of Emperor Gaozu still held high positions, their real power had been quietly stripped away.

Outside the study, Li Chengqian was obediently carrying a bowl of ginseng soup, which Empress Zhangsun had asked him to bring.

He listened to the conversation inside, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji... This is a super-luxury team from the Zhenguan era.

Watching the harmonious relationship between the ruler and his ministers, one can almost see the grand picture of a prosperous era where all nations pay tribute to the emperor slowly unfolding.

Time flies like an arrow, and a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

On the eighth day of the eighth lunar month, autumn was in full swing, and the fallen leaves of the sycamore trees in the courtyard covered the ground, giving off a desolate feeling.

Li Yuan sat alone in the pavilion by the lake, holding the Imperial Seal of the State in his hand.

The imperial seal was cold, just like his current state of mind.

Over the past two months, he watched Li Shimin swiftly and decisively rectify the court, and saw that the army and ministers who once obeyed him now bowed down to Erlang. He knew that the tide had turned.

The Erlang who once fawned over him is now a fully-fledged dragon, and the pool in the Taiji Palace can no longer contain him.

As long as he doesn't abdicate, there will be hidden dangers in the court, and there will be a terrifying barrier between father and son.

"That's enough...that's enough..."

Li Yuan sighed deeply, as if a tremendous burden had been lifted from his shoulders, or as if he had lost all his energy and spirit.

He summoned his personal eunuch, his voice hoarse yet resolute: "Issue the decree. I am old and weary of state affairs. Crown Prince Shimin is benevolent, filial, and brave, closely resembling me, and is fit to inherit the throne. From this day forward, I abdicate in favor of the Crown Prince, and will call myself the Retired Emperor, moving to the Da'an Palace."

The moment the imperial edict was issued, the entire city of Chang'an seemed to freeze for a moment.

What followed was a dramatic and overwhelming reshuffling.

The ninth day of the eighth lunar month, a Jiazi day.

As dawn broke, the area in front of the Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace was already packed with people.

Unlike the usual hustle and bustle, today in the square, several civil and military officials and imperial guards stood silently, their breathing seemingly suppressed, with only the sound of the morning breeze rustling their clothes.

The auspicious time has arrived.

The heavy palace gates slowly opened, and accompanied by the solemn and ancient music of chime bells, Li Shimin's figure appeared at the highest point of the hall.

Wearing a black robe and a crimson skirt, with the sun, moon and stars embroidered on the shoulders and back, and mountains, dragons and pheasants painted on the sleeves.

Li Shimin wore a twelve-tasseled flat crown, with five-colored jade beads hanging in front of him, which obscured his deep and sharp eyes, but could not hide his aura of dominance over the world.

Upon reaching the dragon throne, Li Shimin suddenly turned around, waved his sleeves, and sat down steadily.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The civil and military officials knelt down like a tidal wave, their shouts rising higher and higher, reaching the sky and scattering the clouds.

Li Shimin looked down upon his subjects and the vast land below.

His gaze swept across the crowd, as if searching for something.

At the very front of all the officials, that small figure—Li Chengqian, now the Crown Prince—was looking up at him with clear, bright eyes.

Father and son looked at each other, and the sternness in Li Shimin's eyes softened slightly for a moment.

The official in charge of ceremonies loudly proclaimed the edict of accession, his melodious voice echoing across the square.

"...I have received the mandate of Heaven to inherit the throne. Thinking of the people under Heaven, I must strive to govern diligently, not only to maintain the status quo but also to create something new. From next year onwards, the reign title shall be changed—"

At this point, the master of ceremonies' voice suddenly rose, filled with a sense of sacredness.

"The Zhenguan Era!"

The moment those two words were uttered, it was as if an invisible thunderclap exploded in everyone's hearts.

Standing at the front of the crowd, Li Chengqian felt his blood boil upon hearing those two words.

The most dazzling, inclusive, and captivating era in Chinese history officially began at this moment.

From then on, heaven and earth took this as their boundary, and the sun and moon took this as their name.

Li Shimin sat upright on the dragon throne and slightly raised his hand: "All of you, rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

As the officials rose, the rising sun shone over the eaves of the main hall, casting golden sunlight upon Li Shimin, enveloping him in a dazzling halo, as if a god had descended.

Amidst dazzling light, a new era has begun.