My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 444 Hou Junji: Please restore the monarchy, Your Majesty!
In the secret room of Hou Junji's mansion, the candlelight was distorted by the wind, casting distorted shadows.

Wang Fusheng, a trusted general, stood in the shadows, looking at Hou Junji pacing restlessly in the main seat. He finally couldn't help but speak up: "General, if this continues, we will be marginalized by His Highness the Crown Prince sooner or later! We seem to have the military power of the Left Jinwu Guard, but the people from the Supervision Department are watching us every day, and the Ministry of Personnel's power of appointment and dismissal is practically non-existent."

"If we don't move soon, we'll really become meat on the chopping board!"

Hou Junji abruptly stopped, the copper belt buckle striking his armor with a dull thud: "Move? How? Are you trying to rebel like those bandits?"

Although he was resentful, he had not yet lost his mind. The foundation of the Tang Dynasty under Li Chengqian's new policies was already stable, and most of the imperial guards and border troops were loyal to the crown prince. A head-on confrontation would be tantamount to courting death.

Wang Fusheng lowered his voice and said, word by word, "General, have you forgotten someone? Duke of Ying, Li Ji."

"Li Ji?" Hou Junji sneered as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"We've been fighting him for half our lives, and now we're going to cooperate with him? He'd be selling me out!"

Li Ji was a veteran general who served three emperors. He held military power during Li Shimin's reign. Although Li Chengqian did not kill him after seizing power, he was stripped of his military power and given only the honorary title of "Grand Master of the Palace" and left to retire at home.

“Times have changed.” Wang Fusheng stepped forward, his voice even lower.

"Although Li Ji holds a nominal position, his old subordinates are everywhere in the army, and half of the border generals were promoted by him. The Crown Prince took away his military power, how could he be willing to accept it? General, you are a meritorious official who made the decision but have been neglected, and he is a founding father but has been stripped of his power."

“We and he have a common ‘enemy’.”

Hou Junji slowed his pace, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the curved sword at his waist.

He recalled the day Li Jing and Li Ji captured and bound him, locked him in a prison cart, and then the Crown Prince's triumphant feeling as he walked out of the cart.

He recalled Li Ji's expressionless face, yet his clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil. It was the same resentment and frustration he felt at that moment.

"Even if he is unwilling, he may not cooperate with me."

Hou Junji still had reservations: "Besides... if we want to deal with the Crown Prince, can we really depose him?"

Wang Fusheng's voice carried a hint of seduction: "We can't depose the Crown Prince, but we can bring back 'His Majesty'."

"Although His Majesty has retired to Da'an Palace, he has been in charge of the court for twenty years. The people of the world are grateful for the good deeds of the Zhenguan era, and many of the veteran generals in the army were promoted by him."

"Although the Crown Prince's seizure of power was righteous, it lacks legitimacy. If we could invite His Majesty to 'restore the throne' and call upon the people to support the emperor under the pretext that 'the Crown Prince's new policies are too radical and endanger the country,' Li Ji's former subordinates would surely respond. With the General's Golden Guard providing support from within and without, what is there to worry about in achieving such a great undertaking?"

"Please restore the late emperor?" Hou Junji's heart skipped a beat; the thought struck him like a bolt of lightning.

He recalled how, twenty-four years ago, he had followed Li Shimin in setting up an ambush at Xuanwu Gate and seizing power from Li Yuan.

Four years ago, he joined Li Chengqian in forcing Li Shimin to abdicate at Xuanwu Gate, thus seizing power from Li Shimin.

Now he's being asked to turn the tables and help Li Shimin regain power? This cyclical path of power grabs has left him momentarily bewildered.

"General, this is the only way."

Wang Fusheng saw his wavering and pressed his advantage, saying, "The Crown Prince trusts veteran officials like Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji. In his eyes, we 'meritorious officials who seized power' are nothing more than tools. But the late emperor was different. If he were to restore the throne, the first person he would remember when recording merits would be you!"

"At that time, let alone the Minister of Personnel, what difficulty would there be in becoming the Minister of War and holding military power?"

Hou Junji walked to the candlelight and looked at his shadow on the wall. The shadow was twisted like a ghost, just like the two times he fought at Xuanwu Gate.

He recalled Li Chengqian's indifferent remark, "General Hou, just manage the Imperial Guard well," the disdain Fang Xuanling and his group showed when discussing matters, leaving him out in the cold, and the apathy of the people in the West Market taverns who only knew the goodness of the new policies and were unaware of the hardships suffered by meritorious officials.

A surge of resentment welled up from the bottom of my heart.

"But... will His Majesty agree?" Hou Junji's voice was a little hoarse. After Li Shimin retired to Da'an Palace, he had always lived a secluded life and seemed to have accepted the status quo.

This is the most crucial point.

He had actually heard quite a bit about His Majesty. The Crown Prince had not completely placed His Majesty under house arrest, except for replacing the palace guards and imperial guards.

Even His Majesty can still go hunting and have fun.

Although Hou Junji lacked political talent, he was still aware of the current situation of the Tang Dynasty.

He had to admit that under the new policies of the Crown Prince, the Tang Dynasty was becoming increasingly prosperous.

At this point, would His Majesty be willing to restore the monarchy?
"His Majesty may not be willing to accept this."

Wang Fusheng said, "Your Majesty is such an ambitious man, how could you possibly lower yourself to the level of anyone, even your own son?"

"If His Majesty can accept the Tang Dynasty again, the court officials will surely cheer. They are all his old ministers from back then. How much trouble can those newly appointed officials from humble backgrounds cause?"

"In this situation, it is still the Zhenguan era. The Crown Prince has not ascended the throne, and His Majesty has not abdicated. How can he not attend court again?"

Hou Junji remained silent.

The candlelight flickered in his eyes, reflecting a mixture of ambition and hesitation.

He resented Li Chengqian's neglect, complained about the loss of power, and was even more unwilling to see his "meritorious service in formulating policies" become a laughing stock.

Wang Fusheng's words were like a key, unlocking the darkest desires in his heart.

Since he cannot be valued by the new dynasty, he should overthrow it, restore the old ruler to the throne, and reclaim his own glory.

“That old fox Li Ji…” Hou Junji muttered, his hand clenching tightly: “If he dares to play any tricks, my blade, Hou Junji’s blade, is not dull yet!”

A look of delight flashed in Wang Fusheng's eyes: "General, you are wise! As long as you are willing to make the appearance, I will immediately contact Li Ji's men and arrange a meeting!"

"Wait a minute." Hou Junji called out to him, his voice cold and hard as iron. "We can meet, but it has to be on my turf, and you have to bring enough men. Tell Li Ji that I, Hou Junji, want to talk to him about 'the old stories of Xuanwu Gate.' If he knows, he will naturally come."

Wang Fusheng bowed and accepted the order: "I will do it right away!"

The door to the secret room was gently closed, leaving Hou Junji alone by the candlelight.

"Li Shimin... Li Ji..."

Hou Junji murmured the two names, a ruthless smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Back then, I helped you seize power from Li Yuan and Li Chengqian from you. Now, what difficulty is there in helping you take it back?"
-
British government.

Li Ji leaned against the couch, stroking an old jade pendant in his hand.

It was a gift from Li Shimin during the Wude era. The jade was warm and lustrous, yet it reflected the cold light in his eyes.

The eldest son, Li Zhen, sat opposite him, coughed twice, and said with worry on his pale face: "Father, Hou Junji sent someone to tell you that he wants to talk to you about the 'old story of Xuanwu Gate'. It's obvious that he has ill intentions. You must not agree."

Li Ji put down the jade pendant, a faint smile playing on his lips. His laughter carried the wisdom of a veteran official of three dynasties: "Do you think Hou Junji's little schemes can escape my notice? He lost favor with the Crown Prince and now he wants to repeat the events of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, instigating some kind of 'restoration'."

“The more I live, the more I go back.”

Li Zhen picked up the teacup and handed it over, his voice hoarse from coughing: "When I was on duty at the Ministry of Personnel, I saw that the Crown Prince's new policies were being implemented steadily. Taxes from Jiangnan were deposited into the treasury on time every month, and the trade routes in the Western Regions were ten times more prosperous than before. The people only knew about the 'Crown Prince's Decree,' and even His Majesty in the Da'an Palace rarely mentioned it."

"Hou Junji's attempt to harm the Crown Prince is tantamount to courting death." Although he had been recuperating in Chang'an in recent years due to poor health, he was still well aware of the political situation at court.

Although Li Chengqian did not ascend the throne, he extended his power to the prefectures and counties through the Bureau of Funds, the Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Practical Affairs. The stability of his imperial power far surpassed that of the Zhenguan era, breaking the consensus that imperial power did not extend to the countryside. Few dynasties in history could match this.

Li Ji nodded: "You're right. The Crown Prince's power has long since transcended the boundaries of the title 'Heir Apparent'."

“When he took away my military power, he did not touch my noble title; he used the Jinshi degree from the practical examination, but he did not abolish the Ministry of Personnel.”

"He introduced new policies to win over the people, and he did not mistreat the imperial family."

"This method is more sophisticated and more solid than when His Majesty ascended the throne."

"Hou Junji thought that the Crown Prince was neglecting him because his power was unstable? On the contrary, it was because the Crown Prince simply didn't need to rely on 'meritorious officials' to maintain his image."

Li Zhen asked in bewilderment, "Then why does Hou Junji still dare to indulge in such delusional fantasies?"

"Can't he see how solid the Crown Prince's foundation is?"

Li Ji sneered: "Because he can only see his own grievances, but not the situation of the world."

"He felt that since he helped the crown prince seize power, he should have been able to wield great power and appoint and dismiss officials at will."

“But the Crown Prince wants officials who can get things done, not ‘meritorious officials’ who only know how to claim credit.”

"Besides leading troops into battle, does Hou Junji understand agriculture or commerce and taxation? The Crown Prince doesn't use him not because he's ungrateful, but because he's truly useless."

Li Zhen recalled the rumors of Hou Junji's tantrum in the West Market and sighed, "But he dragged you down with him, Father, under the guise of 'requesting His Majesty's restoration.' You were stripped of your military power, and His Majesty retreated to the Da'an Palace. He thought you would stick together..."

"Forming alliances?" Li Ji interrupted him, a sharp glint in his eyes: "If Your Majesty truly wanted to restore the throne, you wouldn't have retreated to Da'an Palace when the Crown Prince forced the emperor to abdicate back then."

"Having spent his life on the battlefield, surely he can see through the Crown Prince's methods?"

As a participant, Li Ji was most familiar with the situation at Xuanwu Gate back then.

Your Majesty had the opportunity to leave, but you did not, for the sake of the stability of the Tang Dynasty.

Thinking of this, Li Ji sighed and said, "Nowadays, all the officials in the court are the Crown Prince's men, the Imperial Guards and border troops obey the Crown Prince's orders, and the people praise the Crown Prince's new policies."

"Even if the restoration succeeds, can His Majesty depose the Crown Prince? If the Crown Prince is deposed, can the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Jin take the throne? Can they control the situation? In the end, won't the country fall into chaos?"

He paused, his tone growing even more somber: "If the Crown Prince is not deposed, what is the point of the restoration? If His Majesty were to return to the Taiji Hall, would he still have to consult the Crown Prince on every matter? What difference would that make from the current Da'an Palace? Hou Junji can't even understand this point, yet he wants to emulate the Xuanwu Gate Incident of yesteryear. He is utterly foolish."

This is the most crucial issue.

Even if His Majesty succeeds in restoring the throne, he cannot depose the Crown Prince now. Otherwise, how would history record this?
The entire Tang Dynasty will become a joke because of Li Shimin.

Not to mention that Li Shimin also wanted to give him the posthumous title of Emperor Wen.

Li Ji had followed Li Shimin for many years and understood Li Shimin's thoughts.

Of course, this is also largely due to the fact that the Crown Prince has never mistreated His Majesty.

Li Zhen breathed a sigh of relief and advised, "Since Father understands this, let's ignore Hou Junji to avoid getting into trouble. Although the Crown Prince has taken away Father's military power, he has always treated you with great courtesy. Last month, he even sent a physician to treat my illness. We cannot betray this kindness."

Historically, Li Zhen, the eldest son of Li Ji, served as the governor of Zizhou in his early years, but died young due to a serious illness.

Li Zhen is currently in Chang'an to recuperate due to illness.

In truth, I owe my survival to Li Chengqian.

Because of the Crown Prince's leg ailment, Chang'an attached great importance to medicine, raising the status of medical officials and doctors, and calling on doctors from all over the country to gather in Chang'an to study medicine and establish medical academies.

Otherwise, Li Zhen would have died long ago.

Li Ji nodded and sat up straight, holding onto the edge of the couch: "Pay attention? Of course we should pay attention, but not collude with him."

He looked at Li Zhen, his eyes already filled with determination, "You draft a secret memorial for me, and write down exactly what Hou Junji wanted to do by inviting me to 'reminisce about the past' and his instigation of a restoration. I want to go to the inner court in person to present it to His Majesty."

Li Zhen was taken aback: "Present to His Majesty?"

“Yes.” Li Ji said firmly, “Although His Majesty has retired to the inner palace, the Crown Prince is still his son.”

"If Hou Junji wants to stir up trouble between father and son, he should let His Majesty know."

"Firstly, it shows that I, Li Ji, am loyal to my master and have no disloyal intentions; secondly, it lets His Majesty see who is stirring up trouble in the court and who is thinking about his 'restoration'—if His Majesty still cares about the overall situation, he will reprimand Hou Junji, and may even tell the Crown Prince about this matter. It can also be considered that I am offering my allegiance to the Crown Prince."

Li Zhen was somewhat puzzled: "Why did Father have to get involved?"

Li Ji sighed, "I'm old and don't have those kinds of thoughts anymore, but at least I still want to leave some inheritance for you and the second son."

"Although I hold a nominal position now, who in the court doesn't know the Crown Prince's attitude? This will have a great impact on your and the Second Prince's careers."

"The Crown Prince doesn't care, but his subordinates won't think that way, so we can use this as a way to pave the way."

At this point, Li Ji smiled and said, "I have to thank Hou Junji for this."

Seeing the clarity in his father's eyes, Li Zhen stood up and bowed, saying, "I will go and draft a detailed memorial right away."

The sunlight in the study gradually slanted westward, illuminating Li Ji's composed face.

He picked up the jade pendant bestowed upon him by Li Shimin and gently stroked it.

Three dynasties' trials and tribulations, or rather, four dynasties' trials.

He had witnessed too many power shifts, and in his eyes, Hou Junji's ambition was nothing more than the struggle of a clown.

What he needs to do is not to get caught up in the vortex, but to use it to stand firmly in the imperial court of this prosperous era for himself, for his son, and for the Li family.

As for Hou Junji's invitation, it had long since become a "pledge of allegiance" that he presented to His Majesty and the Crown Prince.

The fate of this conspiracy, which never even began, was sealed the moment Li Ji decided to report it.

It's laughable that Hou Junji is still dreaming of His Majesty's restoration.

Greed is not enough to swallow an elephant.

Li Ji shook his head slightly.

Hou Junji only saw that the Crown Prince was 'neglecting' him.

But they forgot who rescued him from prison back then.

And who will rescue him from the prison cart again?

(End of this chapter)