My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 44: Goryeo wants to shoot one of my eyes blind
"Last night, His Majesty asked the King of Wei to stay at the Taiji Palace."

"You saw that Night-Shine Jade Lion, right? Your Majesty was originally going to give it to the King of Wei as a reward."

"But the King of Wei said that I had a leg disease and needed a good horse, so your majesty gave it to me as a reward."

"Is your majesty really just partial to the King of Wei? No, your majesty is forcing me."

"Everyone knows that I have a leg disease, and everyone knows that horses are my legs, but Your Majesty, please give the best horse sent from the Western Regions to the King of Wei as a reward."

"After Your Majesty launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, did grandfather really have no ability to resist at all?"

"It's only because grandfather had no other choice that he made Your Majesty the crown prince."

"If we want to accomplish great things, we must control military power."

"Waging war is the best way."

"Only in this way can Your Majesty live in Daming Palace like your grandfather did in his old age."

Li Chengqian had already embarked on the path of rebellion and there was no turning back.

Killing King Wei is a very simple thing for Li Chengqian now.

Bend the bow and shoot the arrow, that's all.

But if he killed the King of Wei, his position as crown prince would probably be over.

Li Shimin still has many choices.

Of course, if Li Chengqian could kill all the other princes, great things would naturally be accomplished.

But this matter is not simple.

Because most of the princes have been sent to fiefdoms outside the capital. For example, Prince Jin Li Zhi is no longer in Chang'an City, but in his fiefdom Bingzhou.

There is also King Wu Li Ke, who is in Anzhou.

Historically, Li Shimin also considered making Prince of Wu Li Ke the crown prince.

King Wu Li Ke was a very capable man. He had blood from two major royal families of the Sui Dynasty. He was both civil and military, and had both good moral character.

If we really talk about ability, he ranks first among Li Shimin's many sons.

Even the teacher once praised Wu Wang Li Ke as a "hero" and felt sorry that Li Shimin did not make Li Ke the crown prince.

If Li Chengqian had the ability to kill all the princes at the same time, he wouldn't have to care about Li Shimin.

After listening to the prince's story, Du He was in deep thought for a moment.

This meeting with the prince had a great impact on him.

Although there is a plan to launch a coup and imprison His Majesty, it is the last resort.

It is a plan that will only be implemented when there is absolutely no hope.

Otherwise, they would not have waited until Hegan Chengji was exposed before implementing it.

"Goryeo is very strong, Your Highness, are you sure?"

After a long time, Du He asked.

Hearing this, Li Chengqian knew that Du He agreed with his plan.

"I can't say I'm 100% sure of destroying Goryeo or the Sui Dynasty, even they couldn't do it."

"But we don't need to destroy Goryeo, but to defeat Goryeo, which is much simpler."

"As long as I can lead the troops, I will be able to gain military authority, and the soldiers who follow me will also be promoted because of their military merits. This is enough."

Li Chengqian was actually a bit modest when he said this.

After all, he really intended to destroy Goryeo.

Nowadays, saltpeter is collected on a large scale in preparation for the production of gunpowder.

Why was Goryeo so difficult to conquer? Because many of its cities were built in dangerous valleys and checkpoints.

It seems like one man is guarding the pass and ten thousand men are unable to break through.

With thousands of soldiers guarding the city, they are not worried about attacks from more than 100,000 people, but only a few thousand people can go up each time.

But with gunpowder packs, these problems are not a big deal.

Li Chengqian did not make cannons because the cost was too high. It would be better to use the money to make explosives.

At that time, all you will need is a crossbow or a simple catapult.

"Du He will certainly help Your Highness make this happen."

Without thinking too much, Du He agreed.

Because the prince has made the decision and is implementing it.

He can make suggestions, but whether they are adopted or not depends on the crown prince.

However, considering many aspects, Du He also felt that the prince's plan was still very reliable. There were two key points.

The first is to lead the troops.

The second is combat.

Whether Your Majesty can allow the Crown Prince to lead the troops to war requires some negotiation and planning.

At least the King of Wei would definitely try to obstruct it and would not want the Crown Prince to lead the troops to the war.

Whether you can defeat Goryeo after leading the troops is also crucial.

If we suffer a crushing defeat, that would be counterproductive.

The outcome of a war is not determined by individual strength; what is more important is the ability of the commander.

No matter how strong the prince's martial arts are, he cannot turn the tide of the battle by himself.

However, for now, leading troops to war is very beneficial for forming a team of military generals for the prince.

Du He had just returned to Chang'an. Although he had heard about how powerful the prince's martial arts were, he was still a little skeptical in his heart.

In Du He's opinion, the prince's martial arts skills were indeed good, but it was probably not as exaggerated as the rumors said. It was probably that the prince had someone spread the news deliberately.

Naturally, he would not question the prince's martial arts in front of him.

But if he saw it with his own eyes, he might not think so.

Li Chengqian didn't say that he wanted to show it. There was still a long time to come. Du He went to the East Palace frequently, so there would always be a chance to see it.

If you try to say it deliberately, you will end up looking inferior.
-
Tai Chi Palace, Liang Yi Palace.

The meeting between the king and his ministers had just ended.

Officials in the Tang Dynasty had a relatively easy life. Li Shimin was not as arrogant as Zhu Yuanzhang of later generations.

Officials have a day off every ten days, three days a month, and also on holidays.

The morning court session was not held every day, but once every five days.

If the weather is bad, such as when there is heavy snow in winter, there will also be a holiday.

However, for many of Li Shimin's confidants, such as Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, and Chu Suiliang, they needed to attend the meetings between the emperor and his ministers in the Liangyi Hall every day.

Even if there is nothing important, it is their job to meet the emperor and chat with him.

Of course, being able to see the emperor every day is also considered a great favor from the emperor.

"Sikong Fang is in charge of government affairs and has always been cautious in his words and deeds. Although he has been suspected of being biased towards the King of Wei, he has never made any statement."

"Your Majesty has appointed Fang Sikong as the Grand Secretary of the Wei Wang Academy of Literature. The Crown Prince may be suspicious."

Zhang Ananda advised.

Although he was a eunuch, he was also a founding hero, and as Li Shimin's confidant, he had a special status.

He would also express his opinions on many matters concerning state affairs.

At the meeting just now, Li Shimin cancelled Fang Xuanling's title of Prince's Secretary and instead appointed him as the Grand Secretary of Wei Wang's Academy of Literature.

This is somewhat equivalent to supporting the King of Wei.

Strangely, this time Wei Zheng did not give any advice, and no one else said anything either.

The resolution was passed peacefully.

Fang Xuanling himself did not raise any objection.

Li Shimin replied: "Prince, do you still care about these suspicions now?"

"His next step is to reach out to my military power."

"At that time, you decide whether I will agree or not."

"Ananda, did you see just now? I appointed Xuanling as the Grand Secretary of the Wei Wang Academy of Literature, and even Wei Zheng kept silent."

"Because they know that Xuanling has always been on the side of the King of Wei. I am just giving him a title."

At this point, Li Shimin sighed slightly and said, "There's news from the East Palace that the prince asked the eunuchs to go to Chang'an City to spread rumors about Goryeo."

"The Crown Prince's eunuchs were incompetent and failed to accomplish the task. The Crown Prince personally summoned the Chang'an County Bad Commander to the East Palace."

"A few days ago, Wannian County's bad commander also went to the East Palace, and then brought people with the Crown Prince's order and was on his way to Yingzhou."

Having said that, Li Shimin took out a letter from the table and showed it to Zhang Anan.

"Look, this is the rumor the prince is going to spread."

"Just look at the one at the bottom. It says, if I dare to attack Goryeo, Goryeo will shoot one of my eyes out."

(End of this chapter)