My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 57 Fang Xuanling comes to help the King of Wei
"Your Highness is a little anxious."

East Palace, rear hall.

Du He, who heard the news from the court, rushed over immediately.

He did not approve of the prince being so prominent in the court, as it would have an impact on the big event they were preparing.

"Your Highness is so outstanding that he has attracted the support of the generals in the army and the court. It seems that he is the most popular at the moment. However, these generals do not necessarily have much contact with the Crown Prince in private, which will instead arouse the suspicion of His Majesty."

"The Crown Prince should keep a low profile in the court and contact the generals in private. Only in this way can things be accomplished."

"Although I have gained fame, I have not gained any benefit at all."

Facing Du He's earnest persuasion, Li Chengqian replied calmly: "However, if it is not like this, how can we obtain the power to command the troops?"

"If a war breaks out, your majesty will definitely not hand over the military power to me. There are many generals in the court who can lead troops to fight, and there are many brave generals. How can I be worthy of leading a large army?"

"I have not made any achievements in military affairs. The battle against Goryeo is no small matter. This is the only way to achieve success."

Hearing this, Du He immediately calmed down.

He forgot one thing, which was the prince's own achievements.

Can you command troops if you are good at martial arts?

This is not necessarily the case.

War is about coordinating the overall situation. There is no reason for a general to meet the enemy at the front line.

There are so many famous generals in the court who have led armies to victory. If we rank them by seniority, they would all be ranked outside the Taiji Hall.

Don't stand out. If you ask for permission at that time, not only will His Majesty oppose it, but all the civil and military officials in the court will also oppose it.

Only then did Du He understand the prince's good intentions.

"It's me, Meng Lang. I thought that His Highness is the Crown Prince, so..."

Li Chengqian took over the conversation: "So, if Your Majesty leads the army in person, the Crown Prince will be the regent."

Du He nodded helplessly.

At least according to the current trend, it will be difficult for the prince to take the field if the Goryeo War breaks out.

"Your Highness, there is one more thing."

"Yesterday I was drinking and chatting with my friends, and I heard that the Wei Wang party has been very close to Cui Shi recently."

"The King of Wei even specially held a banquet in Pingkangfang to entertain the Cui clan members."

"Although the King of Wei was supported by the Five Clans and Seven Families, he also paid attention to the impact and did not do it this frequently."

"It seems that the King of Wei may be planning something, and it is probably targeting Your Highness."

Du He is considered one of the top aristocrats in the second-generation circle in Chang'an.

As the son of Prime Minister Du and also the imperial concubine's commander, he is highly regarded by His Majesty and has many people trying to curry favor with him.

Some gossip is naturally easy to hear.

Li Chengqian said: "What is the thing that the King of Wei is most afraid of me now?"

Du He thought for a moment and said, "Ice-making technique. The King of Wei is most afraid of your ice-making technique."

"Changsun Situ is close to Your Highness because of his ice-making skills. If Your Highness uses this to win over other court officials, the King of Wei will surely be furious."

Li Chengqian nodded.

In fact, according to the saltpeter stored in the East Palace now, more ice can be made, at least enough to supply a few more ice shops.

But Li Chengqian did not use this to win over court officials.

This kind of thing could not be hidden from Li Shimin. If he really did that, it would be too fearful and not a good thing.

Maybe Li Shimin would take action himself and seize the ice-making method.

This balance is just right at the moment.

Li Chengqian replied: "Yes, they have certainly noticed my ice making technique a long time ago."

Du He said: "The ice-making place in the East Palace is heavily guarded. They will not succeed."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Even if they were given a hundred courages, they would not dare to attack the East Palace by force."

"If the force fails, then we can just use our wits to take it, which is nothing more than stealing." "My East Palace is leaky from all sides, and I don't know how many of those East Palace guards have hidden intentions."

"It's a good opportunity to clean up."

At this point, Li Chengqian asked Chen Yunchao, the left leader who was pushing the wheelchair, "How is the work I assigned you to do now?"

Chen Yunchao replied: "I have selected 200 people with clean backgrounds, arranged them separately, and secretly guarded them day and night."

Li Chengqian said to Du He, "Most of these two hundred people are from the imperial guards, with a few from poor families, and they have no connection with the aristocratic families."

"With them here, this ice-making method will definitely be safe."

Du He came to his senses and said, "It turns out that His Highness had already made arrangements. I was overthinking."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "There's no need to worry too much. King Wei has many people who can give advice and suggestions. It's always a good idea to be careful and cautious."
-
Chang'an City, Wubenfang.

Fang Xuanling sat at the top with a frown on his face.

The eldest son Fang Yizhi and the second son Fang Yiai were on his left and right.

Fang Yiai brought over the words of King Wei.

After hearing this, Fang Xuanling remained silent.

Although Fang Yiai was simple-minded, he was very afraid of his father since he was a child.

It was Fang Yizhi who put forward his own opinion.

"Father, now that His Majesty has appointed you as the Grand Secretary of the Academy of Literature, it is clear that he wants you to support the King of Wei."

"Even if father keeps his distance, does the prince think that father has nothing to do with the King of Wei?"

"In the eyes of the Guanlong aristocratic families, my Qinghe Fang family is not one of their own. No matter what, we will never be able to integrate into the family."

"Why don't you help the King of Wei with some plans, so that others won't look down on you."

At this point, Fang Yizhi paused for a moment and said, "Perhaps this is also what Your Majesty meant."

Fang Yiai quickly echoed and persuaded: "Yes, father, His Majesty also wants you to help the King of Wei."

Fang Xuanling looked at his second son and shouted, "Shut up, idiot."

Fang Yiai didn't dare to say anything anymore.

What the two said seemed to mean the same thing, but upon closer inspection they were completely different.

Fang Yizheng advised his father not to completely ignore the matter, while Fang Yiai wanted Fang Xuanling to directly stand on the side of King Wei.

This is Fang Xuanling’s weakness.

Fang's plan is over.

Fang Xuanling was very planful, but in many things, he was not as decisive as Du Ruhui.

After thinking for a long time, Fang Xuanling sighed.

Decided to help King Wei a little.

After all, the eldest son was right. This was also the intention of His Majesty. He didn't want the crown prince to go too far.

"Tell the King of Wei that in the Eastern Palace, Helan Chushi, the son-in-law of Hou Junji, is the easiest to target."

"If you want to plan something, you can use this as a breakthrough and make a feint to the east and attack in the west."

Fang Yiai obviously didn't understand and asked, "Father, what does this mean?"

Fang Xuanling also knew that his second son was not smart enough, so he ordered: "Just take your father's original words to the King of Wei. With his intelligence, the King of Wei will naturally understand."

Fang Yiai didn't dare to ask more questions and immediately set off for the Prince of Wei's Palace.

When Li Tai heard what Fang Yiai said, he thought about it for a moment and then his face turned very happy.

He couldn't help but say, "As expected, it's still Prime Minister Fang. He hit the vital point with just a little effort."

At the same time, he felt a little impressed in his heart that Fang Xuanling was indeed powerful. He had already guessed that he would attack the East Palace's ice-making method.

Then he said to Chai Lingwu: "You have heard what Prime Minister Fang said. Let Cui do it."

"Then I will lend them a helping hand."

(End of this chapter)