Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 255: The Emperor's Journey to the East, Father and Son's Sadness (Part )
Mount Song is vast and the Luo River is quiet.

On the bank of Luo River, the emperor stood on the altar and bowed gently to the incense burner in front of him.

The smoke rose straight into the sky.

Turning around, the emperor looked at the countless soldiers behind the altar, raised his wine jug high, and shouted, "All troops, first obey the temple's strategy, then lead the way, kill the enemy, and finally bring peace."

"Kill the enemies and bring peace to the country!" Countless soldiers raised their swords and spears, shouting in unison. The sound shook the whole area and everyone was filled with awe.

Li Chengqian stood at the front of the generals, and behind him were Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Gao Shilian, Yang Shidao, Xiao Yu, Cen Wenben, Liu Li, Yu Zhining, Cheng Zhijie, Yuchi Jingde, Li Ji, Li Daliang, Zhang Shigui, Qiu Xinggong, Zhishisili, Qibi Heli and others, all of whom stood with their heads bowed.

The emperor poured the wine from his cup into the Luo River at his feet, then turned around and shouted coldly, "Let's go!"

Amidst the loud bang, countless soldiers turned around and strode towards the east.

The emperor walked down from the altar, then climbed onto his horse, and everyone mounted their horses together.

The emperor took the lead and everyone followed immediately.

No one spoke, everyone followed silently.

The same is true for Li Chengqian.

Everything that needs to be explained has been explained in advance, and there is no need to say anything more now.

Large ships came from the direction of the palace, and then followed the large group.

The ship was almost entirely filled with food, weapons, bedding, and a large number of craftsmen and other non-combatants.
Further behind were countless civilians.

It is not too bad to get from Luoyang to Youzhou as there is a water route, but it still requires a large number of laborers, but the laborers are not tired.

Although it is November now, the river has not yet frozen.

The emperor also deliberately trained the soldiers and civilians.

Once we arrive in Liaodong, it will be February next year and the weather will be the same, or even worse.

The weather is freezing cold and is the Tang Dynasty's biggest enemy.

……

The mouth of the Yiluo River, where the Yi River and the Luo River meet.

When the two waters merge, the river suddenly becomes wider.

More ships came from the Yi River, and many infantrymen began to board the ships.

Under the flag, the emperor raised his right hand high.

The huge four-masted royal ship stopped at the shore.

The emperor turned around and looked at the ministers behind him, especially Li Chengqian who was at the front.

Li Chengqian immediately stepped forward, bowed and said, "Father!"

"Yes!" Li Shimin nodded slowly, looked at Li Chengqian, and said seriously: "I will temporarily leave the world in your hands. Don't let me down."

"Your son obeys your command!" Li Chengqian looked extremely heavy.

The world is so big and vast. Only when he faced it personally did he realize how heavy the pressure the emperor once carried was.

Looking at Li Chengqian like this, Li Shimin smiled gently.

Only the prince who realizes the difficulties of the world is the prince he can trust the most.

"You must pay attention to what's going on outside the palace, and don't forget what's going on inside the palace." Li Shimin looked towards Chang'an and said with some sadness, "Jinyang and Xincheng are still young. While you're supervising the country in Wude Hall, you and the Crown Princess can often visit Lizheng Hall. Jinyang and Xincheng can also go to the Eastern Palace more often."

After a brief pause, Li Shimin turned to look at Li Chengqian and said seriously, "Take good care of them."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will definitely live up to your trust." Li Chengqian bowed solemnly.

Li Shimin looked at Fang Xuanling, who was among the ministers, and said, "Prime Minister Fang, I leave the Crown Prince to you."

"Yes!" Fang Xuanling also bowed seriously.

"Okay." Li Shimin turned around and walked towards the imperial boat. Chang He stepped forward and pulled the warhorse towards the rear.

Zhangsun Wuji, Cen Wenben, Liu Li and others boarded the ship with the emperor.

Others including Li Ji, Cheng Zhijie, Li Daliang, Zhang Shigui, Zhishisili, Qibi Heli and others returned to their respective armies.

The emperor stood at the bow of the ship and waved his hand at Li Chengqian and others on the shore, saying, "Go back."

Li Chengqian, Fang Xuanling, Gao Shilian, Yang Shidao, Xiao Yu, Yu Zhining, Yuchi Jingde, Qiu Xinggong and others all bowed their hands and said, "I wish Your Majesty a successful start and the pacification of Liaodong."

Li Shimin smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Let's go!"

The sails were hoisted, the northwest wind blew strongly, and the royal ship started to move slowly.

The Luo River flows eastward, and large ships sail eastward.

Li Chengqian stood on the shore, watching the imperial ship gradually move away. For some unknown reason, his mind became confused.

Unable to bear it any longer, he gently urged his horse on and chased in the direction of the imperial ship.

Fang Xuanling subconsciously wanted to stop him, but Gao Shilian beside him grabbed his arm and shook his head gently.

"Go!" Xiao Yu didn't even look at Fang Xuanling and chased after him.

Yang Shidao, Yu Zhining, Yuchi Jingde, Qiu Xinggong, Liu Dewei and others all followed closely.

Fang Xuanling sighed lightly, then chased after him with Gao Shilian.

The emperor watched this scene from the boat, especially the one that fell on Li Chengqian, who was constantly urging his horse to follow. He felt a surge of emotion in his heart, waved his hand, and said loudly: "Chengqian, go back, go back."

Li Chengqian kept chasing until a small river appeared in front of him and he had to stop. Looking at the emperor on the boat, his eyes were inexplicably moist.

Shaking his head and blinking sideways, Li Chengqian turned around this time and shouted to the emperor on the boat: "Father, Father, don't be too stubborn on this trip. If there is anything, you must listen to your uncle's advice, you must listen..."

Li Shimin stood on the boat and heard the slight sob in the voice, and his eyes couldn't help but turn red.

"Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji whispered to persuade him.

Li Shimin sighed deeply and said, "The most difficult things in life are separations between loved ones and those who die. I've been away from the capital for such a long time, I'm afraid it's something the Crown Prince has never experienced before. It's no wonder he lost his composure... But it's all good. I'm relieved."

After saying that, the emperor turned around and walked into the cabin.

Changsun Wuji stood by the boat, glanced at Li Chengqian in the distance, and sighed as well.

The emperor's eastern expedition was certainly a big test for the emperor and the Tang Dynasty, but it was also a big test for the crown prince.

If the prince can pass this test, then his path to succession will be completely unobstructed.

……

Not until the imperial ship completely disappeared from his sight did Li Chengqian lower his head, wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and sigh.

"Your Highness!" Gao Shilian stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty has fought many battles, and you have Li Ji, Li Daliang, Zhang Shigui, Zhishishili, Qibi Heli, and other formidable generals by your side. You will also have Wu Ji, Cen Wenben, and Liu Li as your advisors. This journey will not be difficult."

"I know. I'm not worried about the war on the front line. I'm just worried about my father's health. It's bitterly cold in Liaodong. I hope nothing happens to him!" Li Chengqian couldn't help but lower his head, and his eyes became moist again.

Fang Xuanling couldn't help but frown. What the prince said sounded fine.

As a son, there's nothing wrong with caring about my father's health.

But for some reason, Fang Xuanling felt something strange.

Li Chengqian looked up at Fang Xuanling and asked, "Prime Minister Fang, our father has just left. We need to sort out the affairs in Luoyang one by one before we can return to Chang'an. How long do you think this will take?"

Fang Xuanling hesitated slightly and said, "At the fastest, it will take seven days, and at the slowest, it will not exceed ten days."

"Okay, that's it." Li Chengqian looked at Gao Shilian and said, "My uncle will leave for Chang'an in three days. Prime Minister Yang, Prime Minister Xiao, and Duke of E will leave for Chang'an in six days. I, Prime Minister Fang, Prime Minister Yu, and Duke of Pengcheng will leave for Chang'an in ten days."

"Yes!" Everyone bowed in agreement without even looking at Fang Xuanling.

Even Fang Xuanling didn't think much about it, because the prince's arrangement was very appropriate.

Li Chengqian turned around, looked at the vast army in the distance, and said softly, "Father, this trip must go smoothly!"

All the ministers bowed.

……

In the blink of an eye, it was already six days later.

Under the cover of night, Li Chengqian returned to the East Palace somewhat exhausted.

Today he sent Yang Shidao, Xiao Yu and Yuchi Jingde away, and then he inspected the transportation of grain and grass with Fang Xuanling and Qiu Xinggong.

I didn't feel relieved until everything went well.

However, things in Luoyang did not calm down so quickly.

Since the emperor arrived in Luoyang in February this year, although he went north to Dingzhou for several months, he returned soon after that and never returned to Chang'an.

This time, nearly five thousand young and strong men from Luoyang followed the emperor on the eastern expedition.

Suddenly, there were 5,000 young and strong men missing from the city, and many things started to go wrong. Even some ruffians who were unwilling to go to the battlefield could not help but come out to cause trouble.

At this time, with the support of Li Chengqian, Fang Xuanling and Liu Dewei, Qiu Xinggong decisively arrested all the restless people and put them in prison, and then sent them to serve in the army.

Of course, those who are sent to serve in the army here are still civilian laborers.

And even if they were laborers, they were among those doing the hardest and most tiring work.

Of course, a few bloody heads were used to intimidate the locals.

With the assistance of Fang Xuanling and others, food, clothing, even herbs and wood transported from all over Luozhou and various states in Shannan began to be sent to the army in a steady stream.

At the same time, news from the army also reached Luoyang.

With a creaky sound, the door of Chengze Palace was opened.

Wang Youlan, who was sitting in the hall, stood up immediately, and the maids on both sides also came forward to help Li Chengqian take off his coat.

Li Chengqian calmed down for a while before walking to the main couch and sitting down.

Wang Youlan stepped forward and brought a cup of lotus seed soup to Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian tasted a few bites, then nodded in satisfaction and said, "It tastes good. Thank you for your hard work, my beloved concubine."

Wang Youlan immediately smiled happily.

Li Chengqian smiled gently, put the lotus seed soup in his hand on the table, then reached out and hugged Wang Youlan in his arms.

"Your Highness, there is someone else." Wang Youlan's face suddenly turned red with shame.

"I won't do anything, my beloved, just lean on me like this." Li Chengqian sighed softly, then hugged Wang Youlan tightly in his arms.

Their hearts were connected and he could clearly feel her heartbeat.

This also calmed Li Chengqian, who had been feeling uneasy these days due to the emperor's departure.

He quietly placed a secret book on the table.

(End of this chapter)