The film and television world begins with the battle for the throne in Kowloon

Chapter 1005: Abdication Ceremony (Part )

"There are several major factions in the court today, namely..."

Wei Ting also regarded himself as one of Li Yan's own, and without hesitation introduced to Li Yan the current situation in the court, including the division of power among the three provinces and six ministries and the local governors' offices, the people who would need to be won over in the future, and the forces that should be paid special attention to.

For more than an hour, Wei Ting kept talking about the secrets of the court that were unknown to ordinary people. These were all very valuable information. Li Yan did not interrupt him, but listened carefully, asking questions from time to time, which made Wei Ting feel respected.

Although there is Hou Junji as an insider, Hou Junji is a military general after all, with a rough mind. The front line of the court struggle is still the struggle between civil officials. Wei Ting is a third-rank Imperial Censor, who is in charge of the Censorate and is also a member of the core of the aristocratic family.

His knowledge and experience, including his understanding of the conflicts among various factions in the court, are naturally not comparable to Hou Junji's.

Finally, talking about the government affairs in the court, Wei Ting slowly turned the topic to the proposal submitted by Fang Xuanling more than a month ago that all children of aristocratic families should have inheritance rights.

After a brief introduction, Wei Ting asked inconspicuously: "Your Highness, you will be the emperor of the Tang Dynasty in the future. All major policies of the court must be decided by you. I would like to test you based on my seniority. What do you think of this policy?"

After the two families got married, Wei Ting was tied to Li Chengqian's car. The Wei family might be able to turn around calmly, but if his line was implicated, it would be depressed forever.

Therefore, he really wanted to know Li Chengqian's true opinion, half to test him and half to give him some advice. He didn't want Li Chengqian to suffer a setback in this matter.

He was even more unwilling to see the new Tang emperor and the aristocratic families confront each other again.

So after asking this question, Wei Ting felt very nervous. He squinted his eyes and looked at Li Yan with some uneasiness.

Li Yan knew the seriousness of this matter. If he gave a wrong answer, the old man might even take the note on the table away.

After thinking for a while, Li Yan frowned and pretended to be puzzled, "It is natural for children to separate when they grow up, but this is the people's own business. Every family has different children. Some children do not fight for their own place and cannot bear the responsibility of the family's rise and fall."

"It's natural that some get more points and some get less."

"Lord Fang is really confused. Why would he interfere in these matters? It is not his responsibility, and the court will not benefit from it, and it will not collect any taxes. Why would he bother?"

Wei Ting looked at Li Yan steadily, and when he saw that Li Yan's impatience did not seem fake, he heaved a sigh of relief.

Regardless of whether it was sincere or not, at least His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was not interested in this initiative. With this attitude, he would not oppose the aristocratic families.

Of course, maybe the other party didn't even realize the killer move of the "Enfeoffment Order" hidden in it.

After all, in the third year of Zhenguan, Li Chengqian was only in his teens and had just grown up. Li Shimin had no time to train him before he left Chang'an. In these years, Li Shimin's energy was focused on the three princes Li Tai, Li Ke and Li Zhi.

Without the corresponding training of the crown prince, he naturally would not have any profound insights into the court affairs. He had been among the people for a long time, and in the far west. If he was really doing well, he would not have to come back. I think he was at the bottom.

I’m afraid he doesn’t even know how to be a crown prince, let alone an emperor?

Li Shimin only saw that Li Chengqian was old and hastily pushed him to the throne. Perhaps he had misjudged him. Such a person sat on the throne, knowing nothing and able to only rely on his ministers.

This is good, the aristocratic family can be completely relieved.

After Li Shimin's death, he would use the close relationship between the two families to develop the imperial power, crack down on dissidents, exclude opponents, and then slowly gain control of the government. When his granddaughter gave birth to a legitimate son for Li Xiang, he would support him to ascend the throne.

Perhaps during my lifetime, I can also devote my family to the country like Yang Jian did.

When he thought of this, Wei Ting felt warm in his heart. Looking at Li Chengqian, who seemed to be fascinated by the upcoming throne, he felt extremely satisfied.

When it was almost noon, Wei Ting said goodbye, and Li Yan immediately went into Taiji Palace to visit Li Shimin and informed him of Wei Ting's proposal.

At that time, important ministers such as Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji, Cen Wenben, Xiao Yu, Hou Junji and Li Ji were all present. Faced with the olive branch thrown by this aristocratic family, Fang Xuanling, Xiao Yu and other ministers were very happy and congratulated them.

Although Changsun Wuji was somewhat unhappy, he couldn't say anything in public.

Military generals such as Hou Junji and Li Ji remained silent. Especially Hou Junji, his own daughter had already been chosen as the next queen. Naturally, it was inconvenient for him to express his opinion on the selection of the future crown princess. He couldn't let his family take all the benefits, right?
Seeing that no one objected, Li Shimin sighed silently in his heart, and then instructed Li Yan that he could agree to Wei Ting's request, but the abdication ceremony would be held in half a month, so he should not run around during this half month and should stay in the Eastern Palace.

Everything will be discussed after the succession. Li Yan naturally agreed readily. He knew that this was Li Shimin's love for him. The replacement of the old with the new was more important than anything else. It was most beneficial to stay out of it. He was the crown prince now, and in half a month, he would be the emperor.

After I succeed to the throne, it will be more beneficial to arrange marriages myself.

In the next half month, the East Palace, which was deserted in the past, was bustling with people and carriages came and went continuously. Li Yan was so busy that he didn't even have the chance to reunite with his wife and children. He was greeted with congratulations from all the civil and military officials in the court.

Zhang Xuansu, Sun Yingda, Yu Zhining, Du Zhenglun, Su Dingfang, Liang Jianfang, Chang Sheng and other former officials of the Eastern Palace visited Li Yan one after another. Xue Rengui, Wang Xuance and other middle-level generals who were former Eastern Palace attendants also came to visit one by one.

Ashina Yun naturally moved to the Eastern Palace to live as well, and Ashina Simo, Zhisi Shili, Biheli and other surrendered generals from the grasslands naturally joined Li Yan's army.

Other civil and military officials whom Li Shimin relied on, such as Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji, Cheng Zhijie, Yuchi Gong, Zhangsun Shunde, Xiao Yu, Gao Shilian, Chu Suiliang, Ma Zhou, Linghu Defeng, etc., also came to the East Palace and expressed their close support.

Even the former supporters of the princes Wei, Wu, Qi and Jin, such as Du Chuke, Cen Wenben, Dou Dan, Liu Li, Gao Shilian, Su Xu, Wang Gui, Sun Fujia and other ministers, came to the East Palace and expressed their obedience in a tactful way.

Now that the situation has been determined, Li Yan is no longer an ordinary crown prince, but a new emperor who will soon take the throne. Regardless of the previous relationship, everyone wants to have a good relationship with the new emperor, especially ministers like Du Chuke and Cen Wenben who have always been against Li Yan.

Even if it's not for themselves, they have to be humble for the sake of their families. Moreover, they joined the kings to participate in the fight for the throne, which was driven by their desire for fame and gain.

Ministers like Cen Wenben, after Li Yan appeared, immediately visited Concubine Yang in the palace and asked her to persuade Li Ke to completely give up his fantasies, show goodwill to Li Yan, and be a minister at ease, so that he could protect his life and family when Li Shimin was away.

Not to mention Li Tai, who was directly imprisoned by Li Shimin's order. Li Yan didn't need to do anything, he was already out.

When his brothers Li Ke, Li You, Li Zhi and others came to the Eastern Palace, he was still confined in the mansion. Without Li Shimin's order, he could not even leave the mansion. Ministers such as Xiao Yu, Wang Gui, Cui Renshi and others who were originally from the Wei Wang faction directly pledged allegiance to Li Yan.

Li Yan accepted everyone who came, as if he had forgotten all the minor disagreements from sixteen years ago.

He treated every minister who came to the Eastern Palace equally, regardless of their official rank or distance, and won them over one by one. He communicated with them in a friendly and cordial manner, showing the demeanor of a monarch, which made these middle and high-level officials of the Tang Dynasty recognize Li Yan in a short time.

Half a month passed in a flash
The first day of August in the 19th year of the Zhenguan Period of the Tang Dynasty
The sky was clear and the sun was rising in the east. All officials of the ninth rank and above in the capital, as well as civil and military officials of the fifth rank and above in the local areas, gathered at the Taiji Palace.

With bells and drums ringing and colorful silks fluttering, the majestic and grand Taiji Palace embodies the supreme royal majesty to the fullest.

A grand ceremony was held at the Taiji Square in front of the Taiji Palace. Li Yan, wearing a golden dragon robe embroidered with nine five-clawed golden dragons, went to the Taimiao to worship the ancestors of the Li family under the trembling leadership of Li Shimin.

A grand ceremony to worship the heaven was held.

Finally, after returning to the Taiji Hall and going through the tedious ceremony, Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, panting heavily. He raised his hand and signaled his trusted eunuch Wang De to begin announcing the edict of succession.

"The Emperor proclaimed: Five fortunes have been renewed, three times have been changed, and the people are governed by saints and wise men. They can govern the universe, govern the world, protect the people, and spread great virtues. They have changed obscurity to make it bright, and all generations have followed the same path. All the kings have followed this example."

"I am blessed by the great blessings of heaven and the counsels of the past emperors. I am also favored by the Emperor, who carefully selected talented people to be entrusted with the sacred artifacts. Since I ascended the throne, I have been cautious every day, working day and night, and devoting myself to the work. I truly know how difficult it is to maintain prosperity and how difficult it is to be as cautious as at the beginning."

When Wang De read this, many ministers lowered their heads with strange expressions on their faces. Even Li Yan's mouth twitched unnaturally. He clenched his teeth and tried his best to keep his expression unchanged so as not to attract Li Shimin's attention.

The Zhenguan period lasted only twenty years, and many of the ministers were left over from the Wude period. Even the newly promoted court officials were mostly in their forties and above, and they all knew very well about the Xuanwu Gate Incident, in which Li Shimin slaughtered his brothers and forced Li Yuan to abdicate.

Now he has the audacity to say that Li Yuan particularly loved him and that is why he passed the throne to him. This is really shameless.

However, this is not just a matter for Li Shimin alone, but a matter concerning the reputation of the entire Tang Dynasty. Everyone knows that this is a necessity for the overall situation.

The whole hall was unusually quiet, with only Wang De's voice slowly echoing. After praising Li Shimin for half an hour, when all the ministers were a little drowsy, Wang De's expression perked up, his tone suddenly rose, and he spoke in a sonorous and powerful voice.

".Li Chengqian, the eldest son of the emperor, is a man of noble character and closely resembles me. He will surely be able to inherit the throne and succeed me as emperor!"

"I hereby order."

(End of this chapter)