Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 147: His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is very similar to those two men! [Seeking monthly votes]

"Pei Sikong, something terrible has happened! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has gone on an imperial inspection tour!"

"Yes, Pei Sikong! Do you think His Royal Highness is targeting us? I heard that it was he who came up with the strategy of His Majesty buying grain at a high price!"

"Also! Jiangling's products have begun to affect our business. If we don't restrict them, our business will be over!"

"That's right! I think His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has no good intentions! He might be plotting something big!"

Although Li Shimin intended to conceal Li Chengqian's grand tour, the truth would eventually come out.

Before long, the news spread throughout Chang'an, causing quite a stir.

Especially the new faction headed by Pei Ji, after learning about this, they were all on pins and needles and could not help but run to Pei Ji's mansion.

Pei Ji had obviously known about this for a long time and acted very calmly.

Because no one knew the relationship between Li Chengqian and Li Yuan better than him.

It can be said that Li Chengqian’s rise was facilitated by Li Yuan.

It was this old emperor who used himself as a stepping stone to push his grandson to the throne.

Therefore, the more powerful Li Chengqian became, the happier he was.

After all, he was an old minister of Li Yuan. Li Yuan supported Li Chengqian and received unprecedented rewards, so he could also benefit from it.

As for the five surnames and seven families who cooperated with him, whoever they wanted would do whatever they wanted when the time came.

"Alright, what are you all yelling about? It's just a royal inspection tour, right? His Majesty doesn't care, so why should you care?"

Pei Ji interrupted the official from the Five Surnames and Seven Families in a bad mood: "As for Jiangling's goods, they are nothing but a small profit. The court is the most important thing!"

"What petty profits! Pei Sikong, you don't know that many of our family's businesses are involved in Jiangling. Once the people find out that our products are not as good as those in Jiangling, we will soon be unable to do business!" The official of the Wang family said indignantly.

The Lu family official also echoed with a sad face: "Yes, Pei Sikong, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is obviously coming for us!"

"hehe."

Pei Ji smiled, then picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and then said slowly: "Who among you hasn't received a gift from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had ill intentions towards you, would he have sent someone all the way here to give you a gift?"

"This"

Upon hearing this, the officials from the five surnames and seven families were suddenly speechless.

During the Chinese New Year last year, Pei Xuan and his friends brought quite a few gifts for them.

But it is also true that Jiangling's products are taking away their market.

So, after a moment of silence, the Cui family official still asked with some doubt: "Could it be that they will use courtesy first and then force?"

"Do you have any grudge against His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?" Pei Ji asked indifferently.

All the officials from the five surnames and seven clans shook their heads.

Pei Ji laughed again: "Since there is no grudge between us, why is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince targeting you?"

"If you're worried that Jiang Ling's products will affect your family's business, then ask your family members if they've worked hard over the years. Why can't they produce products like Jiang Ling's? Instead of questioning His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"This"

Upon hearing this, the officials of the Five Surnames and Seven Families were speechless again.

After a while, the Cui family official said thoughtfully, "Although the incident that night has been settled for almost a year, I believe many people have realized who benefited from it in the end!"

"Therefore, we cannot look at His Royal Highness the Crown Prince with ordinary eyes!"

"Well, that makes sense!"

The official from the Wang family nodded in agreement, then looked around at everyone and said, "To be honest, I even suspected that what happened that night was orchestrated by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"How can this be!?"

The Li family official's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief as he said, "No matter how clever His Royal Highness is, he can't possibly defeat His Majesty and those people in the Qin Palace, right?"

"Yes! If His Royal Highness is really that powerful, then it would be terrifying!"

The Lu family official said in astonishment and doubt: "Such a scheming and skillful person at this age is truly a monster!"

"No, the most important thing is not his scheming or tactics, but his ability!"

The Zheng family official said solemnly, "Think about the changes in Jiangling and the unprecedented and unheard-of Jiangling products. Is this something that ordinary people can produce?"

"If you were to say that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the reincarnation of an immortal, I'm sure many people would believe it!"

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but nod.

Obviously, as representatives of a company, they are not stupid people.

Pei Ji, who heard their analysis, also showed a hint of surprise.

Although he had long known how powerful Li Chengqian was, after hearing the analysis of these officials from the Five Surnames and Seven Families, he suddenly realized that his understanding of Li Chengqian's power seemed to be still superficial.

So, he suddenly asked, "According to you, should we join His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

"This"

When everyone heard Pei Ji's question, they couldn't help but feel moved.

However, no one expressed agreement or opposition.

Instead, they all fell into silence.

In fact, they had already thought about this problem before coming here.

But at the same time, this issue is indeed of great importance and may even affect the future development of the family, so they have no choice but to be careful and cautious.

After all, the prince is too young for them.

No genius can be called a genius until he or she grows up.

By the same token, there are variables for any prince before he ascends the throne.

Even if you sit on the throne, there will still be certain variables.

For example, the previous emperor Li Yuan.

Therefore, for the aristocratic families who are accustomed to the changes of dynasties and the rotation of emperors, investing in imperial power requires caution.

What's more, His Majesty Li II had just ascended the throne, and the conflict between them and His Majesty Li II had not yet been completely intensified.

It is unwise to choose a crown prince as a backer so hastily.

As time passed, it was finally the Cui family official who first expressed his opinion: "I admit that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is exceptionally capable, but have you ever considered whether such an exceptionally capable and perfect Crown Prince can really be manipulated by us?"

"If we can't influence this prince, then what's the point of us joining him?"

"That's right!"

Upon hearing what the Cui family official said, the Wang family official also reacted instantly: "As for His Majesty, no matter how powerful he is, we are not afraid, because he is not perfect. He needs to protect his reputation. As long as we grasp this, we can influence him, even check and balance him!"

"But, a perfect and capable prince, think about it, what does this mean? I can even see the shadow of Emperor Wen of Han in him!"

"Oh! If he really is Emperor Wen of Han, that would be great. The key point is, have you forgotten the person who died that night?"

The Lu family official sneered, "He does whatever it takes to achieve his goals! I think he's a bit like the Qin Emperor and Han Wudi!"

"Yes! That's right! It's the Fengtian Patrol! It's so similar!"

The Li family official echoed, "If he were the Qin Emperor or Han Emperor, the good times for us aristocratic families would probably be over! You've all read history books, right? How did those aristocratic families survive under the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor? You should know, right?"

"So, if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince takes the throne, sooner or later he will eat us up without leaving anything behind!" "This..."

When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but look at each other.

When they thought of the royal nobles in history books who were treated like pigs and dogs and tied to the Taimiao by Emperor Qin Shihuang, and then thought of the wealthy nobles who were exploited and stripped of their titles by Emperor Wu of Han, they all shuddered.

At the same time, this is also the reason why Qin Shi Huang and Han Wudi have such a bad reputation in history books.

To the point that he is almost comparable to the king of a fallen country.

If they do not criticize and denounce the monarchs who harmed the interests of these princes, nobles, and aristocratic families, then if there are a few emperors who praise the Qin Shi Huang and Han Wudi, how will these princes, nobles, and aristocratic families have a good life?

If you think about it carefully, these people's routines are really similar. As long as the emperor does not conform to their interests, he will be almost completely slandered.

Zhu Yuanzhang with a stubby face and Yongzheng, the emperor whose nine sons competed for the throne
On the other hand, emperors like Song Renzong and Ming Xiaozong were praised by them as sage kings of all ages.

It's so shameless.

It is precisely because of this that the officials from the five surnames and seven families present at this time are so afraid of Li Chengqian.

Even Pei Ji felt that their analysis made sense.

For those who come from aristocratic families, you can say they are bad, but you can never say they are stupid or ignorant.

In fact, most of the time, according to history books, it was they who influenced the development of history.

Because all signs indicate that the current prince and the current emperor, although father and son, are completely different types of people.

Although they are both capable and ruthless, compared to the domineering and strong Emperor Li II, this prince pays more attention to behind-the-scenes planning.

Thinking about what he had done in Jiangling, the officials from the aristocratic families became more and more frightened. They felt that the foundation of their families was about to be dug up by him. Only then did they react.

What a horror!
It's so scary!
"No! We must not support His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

The Wang family official was the first to express his opinion.

The other officials also nodded in agreement, and then turned their eyes to Pei Ji.

The Li family official's eyes rolled, and then he asked tentatively, "Pei Sikong, do you want to support His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

"I"

Pei Ji hesitated for a moment, then said with a stern face: "I am the emperor's man! If I have to support you, I will support the emperor!"

"Ah!"

The Wang family official sneered and said sarcastically, "Who doesn't know by now that the Emperor Emeritus supports the Crown Prince? Why is Pei Sikong beating around the bush with us?"

"What are you talking about?"

Pei Ji said with some displeasure, "What I said is the truth! You are worried about the prince, so you don't have to support him, but I am not worried about the prince, nor do I support him!"

"So, Pei Sikong intends to remain neutral?" asked the Zheng family official.

"So what if it is? So what if it's not?"

Pei Ji was also a hot-tempered person, and he immediately scolded the Zheng family official: "Who do you think you are? How dare you control me?!"

"you!"

The Zheng family official was so angry that his face turned red and he was about to get angry.

At this time, the Cui family official on the side pulled him back, winked at him repeatedly, and then acted as a peacemaker: "Yes, yes, Pei Sikong is right. This is our business. Pei Sikong doesn't need to get involved. As long as Pei Sikong doesn't oppose us, we are still people in the same boat!"

"Humph!"

Hearing this, Pei Ji snorted coldly but did not deny it.

The official of the Wang family said thoughtfully, "Since we don't support His Royal Highness, who should we support?"

"This"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other and fell silent again.

With Li Chengqian's current performance and his status as the eldest son, his position as crown prince is as stable as Mount Tai.

Unless he launches the Xuanwu Gate Incident like Emperor Li II.

Otherwise, there would be no obstacles for Li Chengqian to inherit the throne.

But think about it, is this possible?

Who would dare to move Li Shimin until he died?

Even if Li Shimin died, could they really launch the Xuanwu Gate Incident with the power of these aristocratic families?
Not everyone is Li Shimin!

So, a coup is obviously not feasible.
Thinking of this, the Cui family official narrowed his eyes slightly, and then said thoughtfully, "Not every crown prince in history succeeded to the throne smoothly! You just mentioned the Qin Emperor and Han Wudi, but have you ever thought about what the fate of their crown princes was like?"

"This"

Everyone was stunned, as if something had suddenly dawned on them.

"Yes! Why didn't I think of it? Qin Shi Huang didn't appoint a crown prince, but his eldest son committed suicide. Although Emperor Wu of Han appointed a crown prince, his crown prince also committed suicide. As long as we..."

Having said that, the Li family official glanced at every official from the aristocratic families present and revealed a meaningful smile.

The officials from the aristocratic families couldn't help but shudder and looked at Pei Ji subconsciously.

Pei Ji's face instantly darkened, and he said coldly, "Although I don't support the Crown Prince, it doesn't mean I will sit idly by and watch you harm him!"

"You better think carefully about what will happen if you harm the crown prince!"

"Uh, this."

When everyone heard Pei Ji's slightly threatening words, they immediately looked embarrassed.

At this time, the Cui family official came out again to smooth things over, saying with a wry smile, "Why is Pei Sikong doing this? We were just casually talking, how could we dare to do such a treasonous act!"

"Yes, yes, how dare we!"

The Li family official also laughed and said, "Even if we had ten thousand guts, we wouldn't dare to harm His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Yes, it's all a joke, just a joke."

"Pei Sikong wouldn't take it seriously, right? Hahaha"

The other officials also echoed and laughed.

But Pei Ji did not laugh with them. Instead, he picked up the teacup and drank it silently.

Seeing this, everyone looked at each other, immediately stood up and said goodbye to Pei Ji.

"Pei Sikong, I hope what I said today will be kept secret!"

"Yes, Pei Sikong, we are in the same boat."

"Oh!"

Pei Ji placed the teacup heavily on the table.

Everyone looked at each other, but did not dare to say anything more. They left Pei Mansion in disappointment.

Pei Ji, who watched them leave, narrowed his eyes slightly.

　[Please give me a monthly ticket, please give me a monthly ticket, please give me a monthly ticket, if you get 1000 monthly tickets, I will update more! ]

　　
　
(End of this chapter)