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

Chapter 68: Li Yuanchang, who persuaded the rebels, and Li Ke, who was accused of rebellion

In the Chongde Hall of the Eastern Palace, the door was open and cold air seeped in silently.

The continuously burning stove quickly dispelled the cold air.

But even so, Li Chengqian, sitting on the couch in the main hall, was still wearing a thick cloak.

The cup of hot tea on the table in front of him had already been drunk by Li Chengqian, but the cup on the low table beside him was still full, with only a little steam left.

"Your Highness, the King of Han is here." Li Anyan's figure appeared at the palace gate.

Li Chengqian looked up and saw Li Yuanchang, the King of Han, who was about the same age as him and looked somewhat similar to him, wearing a purple python robe, entering the hall.

"Your Majesty, I, Prince Yuanchang of Han, pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Li Yuanchang instantly restrained his expression and bowed solemnly.

"Uncle Wang is here, please sit down!" Li Chengqian raised his hand tiredly, his expression still gentle.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Li Yuanchang walked to the low table on the left and sat down. Looking at the teacup in front of him, he asked curiously, "Your Highness, was there anyone here just now?"

"It's Prince Jiang." Li Chengqian smiled and said, "He replaced Prince Wu as the governor of Anzhou. Because it's far away, he set off earlier, so he will return earlier."

Prince Jiang Li Hun, Li Chengqian's seventh brother, was sixteen years old. Last year, he replaced Li Ke as the governor of Anzhou.

He was a cowardly child who was later falsely accused of treason and committed suicide. His son Li Wei was close to Li Xian and was later implicated and exiled to death.

Li Chengqian collected his thoughts and looked at Li Yuanchang and said, "I was going to welcome you personally, but you know that many members of the royal family have returned from their hometowns in recent days. After paying their respects to my father, they have come to visit me. The King of Jing and the King of Han have already come."

By the end of the year, at least a hundred local officials will return to Chang'an to report on their work to the emperor and also come to pay a visit to the crown prince Li Chengqian.

Especially those members of the royal family who served in local positions would come to pay a visit to Li Chengqian after asking the emperor for permission.

Similarly, the emperor would allow it.

Because there are many things they would not tell Li Shimin, but would tell the crown prince Li Chengqian.

The emperor would also convey some words through Li Chengqian.

……

"Your Highness, you have worked hard." Li Yuanchang couldn't help but laugh twice. Then he looked at Li Chengqian and bowed, saying, "I should have left earlier, but before leaving, I suddenly had an inspiration, so I painted a picture, and I happened to send it to Your Highness today."

As he spoke, Li Yuanchang took out a scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Li Chengqian.

When Li Chengqian took it, Li Anyan had already poured tea for Li Yuanchang...

The scroll slowly unfolded in front of Li Chengqian, and a wonderful picture of galloping horses appeared in front of Li Chengqian.

The composition is rigorous, the brushwork is calm, and the lines are smooth.

The horses in the paintings are either fat and strong with a serene look, or neighing with their heads raised, hooving their hooves and ready to gallop with an arrogant look.

"Since the founding of the nation, the most exquisite paintings of saddled horses belong to the virtuous kings of the Han Dynasty." Li Chengqian nodded in amazement and looked at Li Yuanchang and said, "Uncle Wang, why don't you present this painting to our father?"

"Your Highness, you know that His Majesty always likes to hold on to people's minor mistakes." Li Yuanchang looked somewhat helpless.

Li Yuanchang was only twenty years old. When he was serving as a local governor, he acted too casually and actually harmed the interests of the people and local families.

When the news reached Chang'an, the emperor naturally would never tolerate him.

It was common to issue an imperial edict to reprimand.

"In my opinion, Uncle Wang should either resign from his post as governor and return to Beijing to work in the Imperial College or any idle position in the Chongwen Academy, or stay away from Yizhou, Jingzhou, Yangzhou, or Jizhou. After all, Longzhou is closer." Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly with a serious expression.

The so-called small stick will make you walk away with a big stick.

Later, Li Yuanchang was the first one to persuade Li Chengqian to rebel, which may be one of the reasons for the current events.

Li Chengqian should have distanced himself from this person immediately, but he still couldn't figure out whether there was someone manipulating Li Yuanchang behind the scenes.

When Li Yuanchang persuaded Li Chengqian to rebel, the only condition he had was that the emperor had a pipa girl by his side.

Li Chengqian once checked whether this Pipa girl had any relationship with Li Yuanchang?
But his main focus was elsewhere at the time, so he didn't investigate carefully, and in the end he found nothing.

Looking back now, he always feels that there is something strange.

……

"Your Highness is right." Li Yuanchang nodded seriously and complained bitterly, "I have submitted petitions more than once, but Your Majesty has refused. Longzhou is a place with barren mountains and poor culture. There is not even anyone who can speak seriously."

"Uncle Wang." Li Chengqian became slightly more serious, then said, "Jiangnan is a region of flourishing literary talent. Your personality might be more suitable for serving as an official there. However, I believe it would be best for you to temporarily curb your temper, truly understand the suffering of the people, learn the art of governance, and achieve results. Only then will you be suitable for a transfer south."

Li Yuanchang was slightly stunned.

Why do Li Chengqian's words sound so similar to the emperor's, yet there seem to be some differences, and there seems to be some truth to them.

"Uncle Wang, choose between temporary suffering and future enjoyment." Li Chengqian shook his head and said sincerely, "If not, Uncle Wang's life will probably become increasingly difficult."

Li Yuanchang fell into complete silence and even fell into deep thought.

After a moment, Li Yuanchang bowed earnestly and said, "Thank you for your teachings, Your Highness. I will keep them in mind." Li Yuanchang found it difficult to listen to the emperor's reprimanding teachings, but he was able to listen to Li Chengqian's serious and sincere exhortations.

After all, the emperor and the prince have the same idea, and everyone should consider it seriously.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Today I would like to chat with Uncle Wang for a while... An Yan, who is outside now?"

"Your Highness, it's the King of Wu." Li Anyan bowed.

"The King of Wu is here, so I will take my leave first." Li Yuanchang subconsciously stood up.

Prince Wu Li Ke was the emperor's third son. His mother was Consort Yang, the daughter of Emperor Yang Guang of Sui. His status was second only to that of the legitimate heirs.

"No need, no need. Sanlang is here, how can we let Uncle Wang go? We are all family." Li Chengqian looked at Li Anyan and raised his hand and said, "Please ask King Wu to come. It just so happens that Uncle Wang has encountered the same problem before. It's a good opportunity to discuss it."

Li Yuanchang raised his eyebrows slightly, then slowly sat down and said, "Yes!"

……

King Wu Li Ke, wearing a purple robe and a Jinxian crown on his head, walked in from outside the hall with a gentle temperament.

Li Ke stood tall and straight, then bowed earnestly and said, "Your humble servant, King Wu Ke, pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Sanlang, please don't be polite." Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly and said, "Sanlang greets Uncle Han Wang."

"Hello, Uncle Wang." Li Ke saluted again.

"King Wu!" Li Yuanchang bowed in return.

"Alright, Sanlang, please sit down." Li Chengqian gestured for Li Ke to sit at the top right, then he said, "I was just talking to Uncle Wang about the sufferings of the people."

Li Ke's expression became serious.

Three years ago, he was impeached by the censor for excessive hunting and damage to crops, and was eventually removed from his post as governor of Anzhou.

"I was thinking that every prince who serves as a local governor has his own official fields. I just wondered if the Imperial Clan Temple could intervene in the assessment of the princes' personal cultivation of their official fields. After all, even my father has to go to the Xiannong Temple every year to personally cultivate one acre and three mu of land.

The kings don't need to do too much, just cultivate three acres of land yourself. This way, they will understand the hard work of the people and act more cautiously."

After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said seriously: "Among the princes of the royal family, there are some who are older, and there are even more who are younger. It is easy to learn by studying, but it is difficult to do it yourself. Only when you experience difficulty can you understand hardship, and only when you understand hardship can you understand sympathy."

Li Ke and Li Yuanchang exchanged a look of surprise, then both bowed and said, "Your Highness, we will faithfully follow your instructions."

"Okay, An Yan, inform Master Yu to write a memorial and have Uncle Wang and San Lang sign it together... after the New Year, submit it from the Secretariat. It's just right that all the kings will still be here after the New Year." Li Chengqian glanced at Li Anyan, who immediately bowed and turned away.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Li Ke and Li Yuanchang bowed solemnly at the same time, but when they lowered their heads, there was a lot of doubt in their eyes.

……

"This is the Unshakable Longevity Man, a puppet I adapted from the Drunken Immortal. It has eighteen different poses, but most of them are for presentation to the Emperor, so I can only give one to the princes." Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Uncle Wang and Sanlang, take them back and give them away or keep them. It's my best wish for you."

The unshakable old man of longevity.

Don’t overthrow the prince!

Li Ke looked at Li Chengqian deeply, then bowed and said, "I thank your Highness the Crown Prince."

"Sanlang and Uncle Wang, take care. I can't see you off because I have difficulty walking." Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

"We shall take our leave." Li Ke and Li Yuanchang bowed solemnly at the same time. Li Chengqian looked at Li Anyan and said, "See me off."

"Yes!" Li Anyan bowed, then led Li Ke and Li Yuanchang towards Chongde Gate.

Only after the three figures disappeared did Li Chengqian lower his head to look at the memorial on the table.

"Royal family!" Li Chengqian's expression became serious.

Among the royal family members in the world, not to mention other side branches, starting from grandfather Li Yuan, there are more than ten sons who are now serving as provincial governors in the world.

Even his father, Li Shimin, had six or seven sons serving as provincial governors.

Not to mention the royal families and descendants such as Li Boyi, Prince of Longxi, Li Fengci, Prince of Bohai, Li Shentong, Prince of Huainan, Li Xiaogong, Prince of Hejian, and Li Daozon, Prince of Jiangxia.

There are thirty or forty local provincial and county governors.

There are also their maternal families, wives' families, friends, teachers, and hundreds of provincial governors across the country.

If he could get the recognition of even some of them, it would be very helpful for Li Chengqian to consolidate his position.

The royal family, the powerful families, and the central government officials.

If even one-third of these people recognized Li Chengqian's wisdom, and even if the emperor wanted to depose him, he would have to carefully consider the consequences.

Think about it and decide whether it is worthwhile to depose this prince with injured legs and feet.

(End of this chapter)