The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 230: The Gaochang Prince Confesses

As soon as the sky began to brighten, a troop of soldiers arrived outside Chang'an. The horses snorted nervously. The sky was still gray at this time.

At this moment, no one can be seen on the city wall, only the closed city gate in front of me.

Soon, the city gate slowly opened a gap wide enough for one person to pass through. Li Daoyan walked out of the city gate and saluted, saying, "General Zhang Shigui."

Zhang Shigui dismounted and said in a clear voice, "That's right."

Li Daoyan looked at the soldiers in the rear and said loudly, "His Majesty is waiting. General, please go and see His Majesty. I will take care of these matters."

"Okay!" Zhang Shigui responded loudly and walked quickly into Chang'an City alone.

Li Daoyan held the general's horse and ordered, "And him."

Hearing this, Zhang Shigui looked at the Gaochang Prince Qu Zhisheng behind him.

The current Qu Zhisheng is no longer the man who was dressed in luxurious clothes and wore gold and silver as he did when he came to Chang'an. He is no longer the prince of Gaochang who spent money lavishly, and it is impossible for him to spend money like water like before.

Now he is a prisoner of the Tang Dynasty. He wears tattered clothes and a pair of good boots, which proves his noble birth.

Qu Zhisheng slowly raised his head and looked at the tall walls of Chang'an. He didn't know what he would face next, but he felt dizzy at the moment.

Chang'an City is still the same city, but he is no longer the Prince of Gaochang.

Zhang Shigui said: "Prince Gaochang, follow me into the palace to meet His Majesty."

It was autumn in Guanzhong, and it was very cold at this time, with white frost on the ground.

Kou Zhisheng exhaled a breath of hot air and shivered in the cold wind.

It was not yet time for the morning court in Chang'an City. Zhuque Street was still quiet, and there were no court officials standing in front of the Zhuque Gate. The fact that they did not enter the city in public was considered a face-giving to the Prince of Gaochang.

Zhang Shigui walked into the Suzaku Gate and followed the palace guards all the way to the Chengtian Gate, with Qu Zhisheng following beside him.

Qu Zhisheng thought to himself that it seemed like Gaochang’s defeat happened just yesterday.

The imperial palace in Chang'an City was very quiet, almost eerily quiet.

He had never thought that the Tang Dynasty's imperial palace could be so cold.

Zhang Shigui walked in from Chengtian Gate and led Qu Zhisheng to Wude.

Candles were still lit in the Wude Hall, and Zhang Shigui was standing in front of the hall.

When another guard came and said loudly, "General, enter the palace."

Zhang Shigui walked up the steps of the Wude Hall and entered the hall.

Qu Zhisheng stood outside the palace, the cold wind blowing his thin robe. He could only shiver in the cold wind, not knowing how the Khan would deal with him. He might even die.

In the Wude Hall, Li Shimin listened to Zhang Shigui's story and asked, "Did the Prince of Gaochang tell you all this?"

"Your Majesty, what Qu Zhisheng said was all about what Hou Junji did in Gaochang City."

Li Shimin looked calm and said, "It is exactly the same as the report I saw."

Zhang Shigui stood there with his body bowed, and said nothing more.

At this hour, some smoke was just rising from the East Palace, as people were preparing breakfast. The children in the East Palace all got up very early, and very few of them were still asleep when the sky was fully light.

Outside the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian was jogging in the morning, with Li Zhi and Li Shen beside him, and his two younger brothers running one step behind him.

They ran three laps and then they couldn't run anymore, so they sat on the ground and breathed hard.

Li Chengqian said: "I have made progress. I actually ran three laps this time."

Li Zhi sat there dejectedly, wanting to open his mouth to speak, but he only had the strength left to breathe.

Li Shen wasn't in much better condition either, his nostrils were flared and he didn't want to move at all.

Li Chengqian handed them coats and said, "Don't catch a cold."

When the East Palace was having breakfast, the Suzaku Gate opened and the ministers walked into the palace in twos and threes to attend the morning court in the Taiji Hall.

Li Chengqian was eating a bowl of wontons and toasted buns.

Li Zhi and Li Shen sat on two lower stools, holding their bowls, and first drank the wonton soup. The salty soup could replenish the physical strength they lost after morning jogging.

Only then will you have an appetite to enjoy the meal.

Li Chengqian had breakfast and Li Yuan had just woken up. His grandfather's hair and beard were messy and he was too annoyed to let the eunuch tidy them up for him.

Now he lives a very casual life with his hair and beard disheveled.

Seeing his uncle walking towards the East Palace, Li Chengqian asked, "Uncle, have you eaten yet?"

Changsun Wuji waved his hand and said, "No need."

Li Chengqian handed over the remaining two steamed buns and said, "These steamed buns are best eaten while they are hot."

Chang Sun Wuji ate two baked buns filled with mutton.

"Zhang Shigui is back."

"Ah."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, took the court robe handed to him by Ning'er, and put it on.

Chang Sun Wuji continued, "Zhang Shigui has gone to see His Majesty, and he brought Qu Zhisheng with him."

Hearing this, Li Chengqian's expression froze. After putting on his court robes, the sunlight from the east was already shining into the palace. Li Chengqian turned his head and saw his two younger brothers sitting crookedly.

Feeling the emperor's gaze, the two brothers immediately sat up straight.

Li Chengqian put on his hair crown, straightened his clothes, and followed his uncle all the way to the Taiji Hall.

I knew that General Zhang Shigui had returned, but I didn't expect that he had already met my father, and alone.

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and said, "Thank you, uncle, for telling me."

Chang Sun Wuji said: "I just heard about it when I came here."

When he arrived in front of the Taiji Hall, Qu Zhisheng knelt beside the door outside the Taiji Hall. He looked blankly at the officials in court robes who walked into the Taiji Hall one by one, waiting for the Khan to order him to die.

Li Chengqian walked up to him.

Qu Zhisheng slowly raised his head, looked at the person in front of him, opened his dry mouth slightly and said: "Your Highness the Crown Prince..."

"Who told you to kneel here?"

Qu Zhisheng did not dare to look directly at the prince, but slowly lowered his head and said: "No one asked me to kneel here. Gaochang is guilty, and I should kneel."

There was cheerful laughter coming from the Taiji Hall. That was because General Zhang Shigui had returned and a group of generals were talking.

Li Chengqian stopped looking at Qu Zhisheng and walked into the Taiji Hall.

Originally, the Tang Dynasty's attack on the Western Regions and the capture of Gaochang was a beautiful and just war to recover the Western Regions, and it was also a heroic feat for the people of the Tang Dynasty.

Compared with the Tang Dynasty's war against Tuyuhun, the attack on Gaochang fully demonstrated the bravery and fighting ability of the Tang army.

Facts have proved that the bravery of the Tang army was not limited to the Central Plains, either by taking Yinshan or capturing Jie Li alive.

The current victory demonstrates that even in the Western Regions, the Tang army’s combat effectiveness is still strong.

The ministers have become accustomed to the fact that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince always arrives at the court at the last minute before the morning court session begins, followed by His Majesty.

This has almost become a tacit understanding. As long as the prince comes to Taiji Hall during the morning court session, His Majesty will soon arrive. Therefore, the discussion of the ministers has also been reduced a lot, and they are ready to keep their mouths shut at any time. Li Shimin walked straight to the throne, faced the civil and military officials of the court, sat down slowly, and followed Fang Xiang to stand out of the court to report on this year's autumn harvest. The morning court session began.

Li Chengqian stood silently aside until the end of the morning court session, and his father showed no intention of summoning Qu Zhisheng.

This morning court session was surprisingly quiet. My father did not mention anything about the Western Regions at this time, as if the Gaochang Prince had not been brought to Chang'an.

He simply instructed the Crown Prince to be in charge of distributing wages to the soldiers and appointed Zhang Shigui as the commander-in-chief of the Longyou Road army. Thus, the morning court ended.

If you always think that the emperor's mind is unpredictable, you will always fall into internal friction. Don't try to guess the emperor's thoughts.

There are many things that the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace cannot touch.

When Li Chengqian left Taiji Hall, he did not see Qu Zhisheng kneeling there, and thought that he had probably been taken away.

Just like after Fuyun Khan of Tuyuhun died, the Tang Dynasty still allowed Fuyun's son to live, and he became the current Murong Shun, and he still operates in the Western Regions.

Li Baiyao stood in front of the Taiji Hall, waited for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to come out, and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, please follow me to the Ministry of Rites."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Was Qu Zhisheng taken away by the Ministry of Rites?"

"That's right." Li Baiyao added, "And General Zhang is already in the Ministry of Rites."

Li Chengqian nodded and followed him all the way to the Ministry of Rites.

The floor in the palace was still very clean. In the distance, there were a few eunuchs carrying buckets. They poured water on the ground and then swept away the sand and dust on the ground.

Seeing His Royal Highness the Crown Prince passing by, they bowed their heads and saluted.

Walking into Chengtian Gate, you will see the imperial city where officials from the six ministries are busy. There are quite a few officials standing in front of the Ministry of Rites, some of them are from the Imperial College, and there are even one or two eunuchs.

Li Baiyao said, "His Majesty has ordered His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to deal with the Gaochang Prince."

The emperor had not yet decided on how to deal with Qu Zhisheng, but he asked his prince to do it on his behalf.

Since the war in Gaochang ended this summer, things surrounding Gaochang have been happening one after another.

Li Chengqian asked Li Baiyao beside him, "I heard that a lot of treasures were transported from Khan Futu City this time."

Li Baiyao replied: "Everything has been arranged, waiting for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to make his decision."

When I walked into the Ministry of Rites, Qu Zhisheng was still kneeling there.

Zhang Shigui bowed and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"The general has traveled a long way to the Western Regions and must have been exhausted. I will catch up with him after this matter is resolved."

"Here."

Li Chengqian first sat down and looked at the Gaochang prince in front of him. He was very thin and must have lost weight recently.

"Do you hate it?"

Qu Zhisheng bowed and said, "Gaochang is guilty, and I dare not hate you."

There were civil servants nearby who recorded these words.

Li Chengqian folded his hands and said, "Do you think the Tang Dynasty should attack you in this battle?"

Qu Zhisheng bowed to the ground and said, "Gaochang and Yugu have set up a blockade against the trade route, preventing the Western Regions from paying tribute to the Tang Dynasty. This is an unforgivable crime."

The Gaochang prince's words were trembling.

Li Chengqian continued: "Why do we need to unite with Yugushe?"

Qu Zhisheng whispered, "It was because Gaochang wanted more wealth, and I, the guilty minister, hated Yu Gushe, because he betrayed us."

"You mean if Yu Gushe hadn't betrayed Gaochang and fled west in fear, our Tang Dynasty might not have been able to conquer your Gaochang, right?"

"I have absolutely no such intention!" Qu Zhisheng shouted loudly, tears of fear streaming down his face as he spoke.

He thought, "It is my father who is arrogant."

Li Chengqian said calmly: "First of all, this war is for you Gaochang to block the trade route, block the tribute route of the Western Regions, and also threaten Yanqi, is that right or not?"

"Yes... yes..." Kou Zhisheng replied tremblingly.

"I'll ask you again, the Yanqi envoy ordered Gaochang not to block the trade route, but the King of Gaochang turned a deaf ear to it, is that right or not?"

"Yes..." Kou Ji-sung's tears kept falling to the ground.

"Yu Gushe joined forces with horse thieves in the Western Regions to plunder the Western Regions. In order to please Yu Gushe, the King of Gaochang offered hundreds of kilograms of gold and silver, and assisted Yu Gushe in oppressing the Western Regions. He beat many good people into being sold as Hu concubines. Is this true?"

Qu Zhisheng replied again: "Yes!"

Several officials standing by were holding pens and writing down these words.

Li Chengqian lowered his voice and asked, "The Heavenly Khan issued an order that the King of Gaochang should not unite with Yugushe to block the trade route, nor should he bully the countries in the Western Regions. He also ordered the King of Gaochang to come to the court to repent, but the King of Gaochang Qu Wentai disobeyed the order and continued to offer treasures to Yugushe. Is this true?"

"Have……"

After saying this with difficulty, Qu Zhisheng added: "I know that Gaochang deserves the punishment for its crimes. I tried to persuade him several times, but my father insisted on his own way..."

Li Chengqian took the record from the clerk beside him. These were all the crimes of the King of Gaochang. He then ordered: "Take Qu Zhisheng to the Sifang Pavilion and wait for his fate."

"Here."

Two guards walked into the Ministry of Rites and were about to leave taking Qu Zhisheng away.

Li Chengqian added: "Give him some food, don't let him starve to death."

"Here."

The man was taken away just like that. Li Baiyao followed the prince's instructions and learned that the man was taken to Sifang Pavilion, which meant that Qu Zhisheng was not going to die.

Of course, looking at the crimes before him, it would not be excessive even to kill Kou Zhisheng.

Li Baiyao whispered, "Your Highness, how should we arrange for this person in the future? The Ministry of Rites... should make preparations early."

Li Chengqian looked through the records of the Ministry of Rites and said, "It is useful. This person is very familiar with the Western Regions and even has dealings with Persian merchants. He will be very useful in building the Western Regions or managing trade. However, he needs to be disciplined before he can be used."

Looking at Li Baiyao, whose hair and beard were almost gray, Li Chengqian said, "Let the Ministry of Rites take care of disciplining him."

There are deep wrinkles on Li Baiyao's face when he smiles. If he hadn't kept his hair and beard neat, he would have looked even older.

"I accept your order."

Li Chengqian stood up and said, "It's not complicated. After we have sorted it out, we will report it to our father. Also... until Qu Zhisheng's value is fully utilized, keep him alive. Our father will not be hard on him. After all, he is not qualified."

"Here."

Walking outside the Ministry of Rites, Li Chengqian said to the general standing beside him, "The Secretariat has already prepared the money and pensions for the soldiers going on this expedition. Come with me."

"Yes." Zhang Shigui replied in a deep voice.

As they walked along, Li Chengqian asked the general about the situation in the Western Regions, such as the current situation in the Western Regions. He listened to the general's story that there were rivers and a large grassland for raising horses at the foot of the Altai Mountains.

Even outside Gaochang City, there are many poplar forests and streams.

The current environment in the Western Region is better than expected.

Not to mention that the Hexi Corridor still has abundant aquatic plants.

(End of this chapter)