Sky Curtain: A Review of Historical Foes and the Secrets of Ministers

Zhu Biao quickly and gently analyzed, "Father, please calm down. I believe it is not that Emperor Taizong of Tang has risen from the dead. Since this canopy can transcend time and appear in our Great Ming Dynasty, I'm afraid... at this very moment during the Zhenguan era, Li Shimin is also sitting alive, looking at the same canopy as us."

Zhu Yuanzhang paused, his eyes widening like copper bells.

"You mean... this sky is a grand marketplace spanning all dynasties? We in the Ming Dynasty can see it, and so can the Tang Dynasty?!"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly realized what was happening, and then became even more furious. "So, this Li Er is alive and well, and is showing off to us, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, from afar?"

"Regarding this reward, Tianmu is probably after rare items," Zhu Biao added, forcing a smile. "Tianmu has reportedly acquired the original copy of the 'Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion'... After all, it's a unique, surviving copy..."

"Nonsense! Can a rare book be eaten? Can it be worn as clothing? Can it pay the soldiers on the front lines?" Zhu Yuanzhang flung his sleeves, his anger still simmering.

Despite his complaints, Old Zhu was immediately delighted when he saw the image of the Xuanwu Gate succession appear on the sky.

"Hahahaha!" Zhu Yuanzhang pointed at the sky, laughing so hard his beard trembled. "We originally thought this sky had received a bribe from that Li Lao Er, and we were going to sing his praises."

"Li Lao Er (Li Er) probably produced a unique, timeless book and was eagerly waiting for the Heavenly Curtain to review his reign of Zhenguan so he could show off his former glory as Khan in front of me. Who would have thought that the Heavenly Curtain would expose his most shameful secret right away?"

Just imagining Li Shimin looking at the sky over there, his face probably turning a deep purplish-red, made Zhu Yuanzhang feel incredibly comfortable.

Zhu Yuanzhang knew Li Shimin too well. What was Li Er's biggest fear in his life? It was that he hadn't obtained the throne legitimately.

"Hmph, the Heavenly Khan? He may be skilled in warfare, but his throne was obtained in a dirty and filthy way!" Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, turning to his ministers. "He killed his brothers and forced his own father to abdicate! What is this? This is worse than a beast! This is unfilial and disrespectful!"

The ministers and generals below were all shrewd and capable; how could they possibly let go of this golden opportunity to fawn over the emperor and the crown prince?

Xu Da immediately stepped forward, his loud voice booming, "Your Majesty is wise. No matter how capable Li Shimin was, he still killed his own flesh and blood and his ascension to the throne was illegitimate. Unlike our Great Ming, Your Majesty drove out the Tartars and restored China. That was a righteous and just conquest of the country."

The civil officials, not to be outdone, quickly chimed in, "That's exactly right. The Tang Dynasty broke its rules at its core, which led to the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Look at our Great Ming Dynasty, His Majesty established a Crown Prince early on, and His Highness is benevolent, filial, and kind."

"With the Crown Prince in power, the position of the Ming Dynasty's heir apparent is as secure as a rock. This demonstrates His Majesty's far-sightedness, far surpassing that of Emperor Taizong of Tang!"

What did Zhu Yuanzhang value most? It was ethical principles and the primogeniture system.

He knew that without an ironclad rule of succession, the princes would turn on each other like poisonous insects.

These words from his ministers struck a chord with Zhu Yuanzhang, making him feel completely relaxed and extremely pleased.

He turned to look at Zhu Biao, his eyes full of tenderness, patted his son's shoulder, and proudly raised his chin, "Biao'er, look, this is the consequence of not establishing the eldest son or the legitimate heir. No matter how high Li Lao Er's literary and military achievements are, when it comes to teaching his son to set rules, he's not even worthy of carrying our shoes."

"In our Great Ming Dynasty, you are the Crown Prince, and this empire will belong to you from now on. Anyone who dares to harbor any ill intentions will be skinned alive."

"Xuanwu Gate...it's Xuanwu Gate again..." Li Shimin stared intently at the sky.

He devoted himself to governing the country, creating the prosperous Zhenguan era where all nations paid tribute, all to prove that his killing of his brother and forcing his father to abdicate was ordained by Heaven.

As it turned out, the title of the article even included "Xuanwu Gate".

"Please calm your anger, sage!"

Upon seeing this, a group of veteran officials from the Tian Ce Mansion stepped forward to offer their condolences.

"Your Majesty! The Xuanwu Gate incident was caused by the former Crown Prince's excessive pressure! Your Majesty is acting in accordance with Heaven's will to save the Tang Dynasty from disaster!" Changsun Wuji shouted.

Li Shimin took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.

Just then, a burst of rousing background music came from the sky.

[You guys keep saying online that Li Shimin was the heir to the Xuanwu Gate, that his ascension to the throne was illegitimate, and that he was a ruthless person.]

But is this fair to Emperor Taizong of Tang? Absolutely not!

Today, we'll take Li Shimin's perspective and give a thorough look at just how much injustice he suffered!

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin was startled and stood up abruptly.

"This person of later generations, this person of later generations actually understands my heart?" Tears welled up in Li Shimin's eyes. "A confidant, this is my confidant."

Without a doubt, historically, Li Er was a very emotional old man.

The scene on the screen shifted, revealing a heroic and extraordinary figure of Li Shimin.

He was clad in gleaming armor and held a lance, but his eyes revealed a hint of grievance and helplessness.

In the scene, Li Erma turned his spear and pointed at the screen, asking a question.

Do you know what it means to have achievements that overshadow one's master? Hmm?

[Back when the uprising broke out in Taiyuan, who persuaded my indecisive father to rebel? It was me!]

[When the uprising failed and my father was surrounded by enemy troops, who personally led elite cavalry to charge into the enemy lines and successfully rescue him from the midst of thousands of soldiers? It was me!]

Hearing this soul-searching question, Li Shimin roared inwardly, "Yes, it was me. If it weren't for my desperate rescue back then, the Tang Dynasty would have perished before it was even established."

The sound came from the sky again.

When we first raised the army, my father held my hand and vowed, "Second Prince, if we succeed, I will make you the crown prince!"

[And the result? The empire was conquered, and he declared he would establish the eldest son as heir! What? Can the position of crown prince be sold twice?]

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, "That old bastard Li Yuan, he's so dishonest! He promised the Second Prince, how could he go back on his word? If it were us, we'd set the price from the start, and anyone who dared to try and steal it would be skinned alive!"

"Peeling off" was Old Zhu's catchphrase.

Zhu Biao wiped away his cold sweat and nodded in agreement.

Ying Zheng frowned and disdainfully commented, "Indecisiveness and unclear rewards and punishments are the greatest taboos for an emperor! This Li Yuan is nothing but an opportunist in a chaotic world; does he even deserve to be called emperor?"

The criticisms of Tianmu continue, and are becoming increasingly scathing.

Some people are saying, "Father compensated me, didn't he appoint me as a General of the Heavenly Strategy?"

【Pah! I don't even want to mention the title of General of the Heavenly Strategy! It's the most meaningless title I, Li Shimin, have ever held in my life, you know?】

[I could pick any title at random—Grand Commandant, Minister of Works, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat of Shaanxi East Circuit, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat of Yizhou Circuit…aren't any of my titles more prestigious than this?]

[The title "General of Heavenly Strategy" sounds impressive and imposing, but do you know what it's used for? Hmm?]

That's because Lao Tzu has already held every official position he could, and there's nothing left to reward or appoint, so he just created this title out of thin air! Besides being able to establish his own government and recruit people, it has absolutely no real power!

Upon hearing this, everyone gasped in shock.

Ying Zheng's eyes widened suddenly as he stared intently at the sky, asking Li Si, word by word, "There's nothing left to reward... nothing left to bestow titles upon? Just how great were Li Shimin's military achievements that forced the current emperor to create an official position for him?"

Li Si swallowed hard, his voice trembling, "Your Majesty, if a subject reaches the point where there are no more rewards to give, the usual practice throughout history has been..."

"Give him death." Wang Jian added in a low voice, his back already soaked with sweat.

When he destroyed Chu, he desperately asked Ying Zheng for land and houses in order to protect himself, because he was afraid that Ying Zheng would think that he had nothing left to reward him with.

How did Li Shimin manage to survive despite having such merits?