Tang Dynasty: The poisonous scholar in the Eastern Palace, please abdicate and let the wise one take

Chapter 308: Dethroning the Crown Prince? I'll be waiting at my mother's grave!

There was silence in the hall.

All eyes were on Wang Xuance, wanting to get an answer that would satisfy or disappoint them.

"Who said the Ministry of Industry doesn't have new weapons?"

The person who spoke was Duan Lun from the Ministry of Works.

Du Chuke frowned and said unhappily, "Master Duan, what do you mean by that?"

Facing Du Chuke's question, Duan Lun said cheerfully, "In fact, my Ministry of Industry has already been researching new weapons, but because of confidentiality, it has not been publicized."

Du Chuke pointed at Wang Xuance and said, "You mean, the muskets and bombs he had were provided to him by your Ministry of Industry?"

"If so, why didn't the Ministry of Industry report it? Why haven't we seen any records of this matter?"

Duan Lun waved his hand and said under everyone's puzzled gaze: "Our Ministry of Industry is indeed researching new weapons, and their power is approaching that of explosives..."

Du Chuke interrupted Duan Lun and said, "Just tell me whether you provided it or not."

"Master Duan, you have to think it over carefully. This is in front of His Majesty. If you conceal something or show partiality, it would be a crime of deceiving the emperor!"

After facing such a big accusation, Duan Lun, who was still thinking about making a joke, subconsciously looked at Li Shimin.

Seeing Li Shimin's expressionless face, Duan Lun coughed and said, "Well, I have to go back and check it out."

Du Chuke sneered, "Master Duan Lun, I think there is no need to investigate this matter, right?"

"Because of the Crown Prince, your Ministry of Industry has been very popular recently. I can understand that you want to favor the Crown Prince, but what we need now is the truth."

"What the hell..."

Duan Lun muttered with disdain.

"Ha ha……"

Dai Zhou and others who were closer to Duan Lun couldn't help but laugh when they heard this familiar greeting.

Du Chuke had sharp ears and also heard his greeting, "Duan Lun, what did you say?!"

Duan Lun spread his hands and said, "Did I speak?"

Du Chuke glared at Duan Lun, and seeing the innocent look on his face, he clenched his fists.

Can't let him interrupt the rhythm.

"Wang Xuance!"

Du Chuke suddenly turned around, looked at Wang Xuance and asked, "Think carefully about where those weapons came from!"

Wang Xuance looked calm, "We built it ourselves."

Du Chuke immediately laughed and pressed again, "Make it yourself? Do you have the ability to make new weapons?"

"I forged the weapons and trained the men by order of the Crown Prince."

Wang Xuance remained calm, "The reason we brought these weapons with us to Persia this time is to verify their power and to test the results of our training over this period of time."

"Everyone already knows the result. The results are remarkable. Not only are the weapons extremely powerful, but those eight hundred people are also one against a hundred. It's no problem."

Hear the words.

Many officials sighed inwardly.

Wang Xuance confessed and was given leniency, and the fact that the prince had privately trained soldiers and forged weapons was completely confirmed.

very good!

very good!
After receiving Wang Xuance's answer, Du Chuke bowed and said, "Your Majesty, you heard it. Wang Xuance and others are the people trained privately by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and they are also privately forging weapons among the people!"

Li Shimin remained calm and said, "I ask you, why did the prince ask you to train soldiers and forge weapons?"

Wang Xuance: "Your Majesty, the reason why we are forging weapons and training soldiers is because the Crown Prince feels that the Fubing system has flaws."

"Is there a flaw?"

"Yes, this was already reflected when we sent troops to Songzhou."

Wang Xuance said in a deep voice: "When the Tang Dynasty was strong, the people could bring their own food and transport their own food and grass. But once the country weakened, the change of the government soldiers system would greatly consume the enthusiasm of the people."

"So, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince borrowed 300,000 taels of silver from Su Chen to deal with the 50,000 Tubo troops stationed outside Songzhou."

"go on."

"Once the elite troops are trained and equipped with new weapons, their combat effectiveness will be greater than any elite troops now."

Wang Xuance continued, "By then, there will no longer be a need for the Fubing system, nor will the people be required to farm in their spare time and serve as soldiers in times of war."

Li Shimin pondered and looked at Li Chengqian, "Prince."

"My son is here."

Li Chengqian slowly opened his eyes.

Li Shimin: "Is what he said true?"

Li Chengqian: “Yes.”

Li Shimin: "If that's the case, why didn't you make a detailed plan and send it to me for review?"

Li Chengqian: "Your Majesty once said that the Crown Prince is the regent and all government affairs are to be handled by the Crown Prince."

Li Shimin: "..."

Damn it!

You are trying to shut me up with my words?

Li Tai frowned, something was not right!
Why did the Crown Prince commit such a mistake, but his father seemed to be so lenient with him?
Li You also noticed this problem and gave Yin Hongzhi a wink.

Yin Hongzhi understood and said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has been training troops and forging weapons in private. This is proven to be true and he should be severely punished."

Wei Xiyuan: "I second the motion!"

Du Chuke: "The Crown Prince has been training his troops and forging weapons long before he became Regent!"

"Is the Crown Prince just trying to use your Majesty's order to cover up his own mistakes?"

The officials from the Ministry of Rites followed suit and said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's actions are against the rules of etiquette and should be severely punished to serve as a warning to others."

"If not, wouldn't all the princes follow suit?"

Li Shimin looked at the official of the Ministry of Rites coldly and said slowly, "Lord Zhou, how do you think we should punish the crown prince?"

Lord Zhou said in a deep voice: "I think that the Crown Prince should be ordered to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors, and all those involved in this matter should be thrown into prison for strict interrogation. The Crown Prince must not be allowed to have too much contact with these people, so as not to mislead the Crown Prince!"

"Master Zhou is right!"

"I second the proposal!"

Everyone was talking about it for a while.

If one looks carefully, one can find that most of those who expressed their approval were those who tended to support the King of Wei and the King of Qi.

Seeing that Li Shimin did not express his opinion, Du Chuke shouted again, "Your Majesty, please punish the prince severely to serve as a warning to others!"

With Du Chuke taking the lead, a group of people shouted, "Your Majesty, please punish the prince severely!"

"quiet!"

With a cold shout, the hall quickly fell silent.

Li Shimin turned his gaze to Li Tai and Li You, and said slowly: "Prince of Yongzhou, Prince of Qi, what do you two think I should do with the crown prince?" Li Tai seemed to have expected that Li Shimin would throw this question to him. Facing Li Shimin's question, Li Tai stepped out of the line and said with a tangled face: "Father, what the crown prince did was for the people of the world. Maybe the means were a little radical, but the crown prince's original intention was good."

"I think that the Crown Prince's fault is nothing more than training soldiers and forging weapons. He should be punished for this. Otherwise, everyone will follow suit and it will be difficult to stop him."

Li Tai's words were like a peacemaker, which made Li You feel disgusted.

Now that we've fallen out, we're going to kill each other, and yet you're still thinking of showing some mercy?
However, he had no idea that Li Tai had already seen some clues from Li Shimin's attitude.

Li You stepped out and said, "Father, I think the Crown Prince's behavior is undoubtedly an act of treason. If he is not severely punished, it will surely breed unhealthy trends, and it will be difficult to correct them by then."

OK OK.

One is a soft-spoken person with a sharp tongue, and the other is willing to sacrifice his own family for the sake of justice.

You two can really do this.

Li Shimin retracted his gaze and asked slowly, "Does the prince have anything to say?"

Li Chengqian: "Nothing to say."

Li Shimin frowned and looked at Li Chengqian. Li Chengqian's calmness made him feel a little bit uncomfortable.

"In that case, the Crown Prince is ordered to hand over the weapon casting blueprints and reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors for three months!"

Reflect on your mistakes for three months and hand over the casting drawings?
What kind of punishment is this?
It’s almost nothing!

Li Tai's eyes gradually turned cold. He had been under house arrest for half a year!

Li Tai immediately gave Du Chuke a look and asked him to increase his efforts!

"His Majesty!"

"How can such a punishment convince the people of the world?"

Du Chuke understood what Li Tai meant and immediately retorted, "Whether it is training troops or forging weapons, this is an act of treason. I beg Your Majesty to punish them severely!"

"I beg your majesty to punish me severely!"

"I beg your majesty to punish me severely!"

Just for a moment.

Led by Du Chuke, the officials knelt on the ground one after another, calling for severe punishment for the prince.

At a glance, there were no less than thirty officials!

Li Shimin's face darkened. "What are you going to do? Force the emperor to abdicate?"

"I dare not!"

Du Chuke raised his head and said, "I am only following the laws of the Tang Dynasty. I ask Your Majesty to enforce the law. Otherwise, wouldn't the laws of the Tang Dynasty become a joke?!"

Beautifully done.

Li Tai had a smile on his face. He was in a good mood. He glanced at Li Chengqian out of the corner of his eye, only to find that Li Chengqian was looking at him with a smile. His eyes were so sharp that people dared not look directly at him.

What does the prince want to do?
What else can you do now?!

Li Tai remained unmoved.

Li Shimin stood up from the dragon throne with a gloomy face and said coldly: "Du Chuke, what do you mean by this?"

Even though everyone knew that Li Shimin intentionally favored the crown prince, they pretended to be ignorant, but they could only cooperate with Li Shimin and continue acting.

Du Chuke: "According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, anyone who privately trains more than 50 soldiers, privately stores more than five sets of armor, or privately forges weapons shall be punished for treason."

"The prince is the heir to the throne, but he knowingly committed the crime, so his crime is even more serious."

Du Chuke took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, please depose the crown prince!"

hiss!
As soon as Du Chuke uttered this life-threatening remark, all the civil and military officials changed color.

They thought about severely punishing the prince, but they never thought about directly deposing him!
Du Chuke's actions undoubtedly brought all those who followed him into the fire pit.

"Hahaha……"

"Depose the prince?"

Li Chengqian laughed and stepped out, "Master Du, you said so much just to dethrone me as the crown prince?"

Du Chuke said in a deep voice: "The prince's behavior is absurd. He does not respect the law or etiquette. He should accept the punishment!"

Li Chengqian suddenly turned his gaze towards Li Tai and the other two, "Prince of Yongzhou, Prince of Qi, what do you two think of deposing my crown prince?"

Of course.

Li Tai and the other man agreed in their hearts at the same time.

But, these words cannot be said.

Li Tai: "Master Du, don't say that!"

Li You: "The matter of deposing the crown prince concerns the country and the people. How dare I interfere? It is up to the emperor, the father, to make the final decision."

OK OK.

You are wearing the same pair of pants after all.

Li Chengqian pointed at the officials who were kneeling on the ground and saying that they would severely punish him, and said in a cold voice: "I have been working diligently and conscientiously since I became regent."

"For the Songzhou battle, I raised 300,000 taels of silver, just to ensure the stability of people's livelihood."

"For the Mid-Autumn Festival, and so that you can have a good time, I accepted Roshan's gold, silver and jewelry, but didn't they all go into your pockets?"

"In order to prepare for the cold winter, which of your families did I not send warm cotton clothes? A heating stove?"

"Now they are joining forces to depose this prince?"

Yin Hongzhi: "The Crown Prince associates with merchants, pursues fame and fortune, and is unworthy of his position. Now he is roaring in the Taiji Palace. I think the Crown Prince is not worthy of a monarch!"

"Your Majesty, I request that the Crown Prince be deposed!"

"Your Majesty, please depose the Crown Prince!"

As soon as Yin Hongzhi opened his mouth, more than a dozen vassals and Li You's officials all spoke in agreement.

Li Shimin clenched his fists and said, "You bastards, you are so brave!"

Just when Li Shimin was extremely angry, Li Chengqian suddenly said slowly: "Father, are you going to depose the crown prince too?"

Li Shimin frowned and looked over. Li Chengqian said calmly, "From the beginning, Father felt that Qingque was far better than me, right?"

Li Shimin really wanted to tell Li Chengqian that he didn't think so.

just.

Because he was the crown prince and Li Tai was a prince, he showed some favoritism and made up for Li Tai's shortcomings in other aspects.

But he didn't know how to say this.

"I understand."

Li Chengqian smiled carefreely, looked around, and said, "I will kneel in front of my mother's grave right now. Aren't you going to depose the crown prince?"

"In my opinion, there is no need to go to so much trouble."

"Whether it's three feet of white silk or poisoned wine, I will be waiting at my mother's grave!"

(End of this chapter)