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

Chapter 168: Three consecutive imperial edicts were issued to summon the prince back to Chang'an! [Seeking monthly votes]

"Sun Fujia! Look at what you've done!!"

Watching Li Shimin being carried down from the Taiji Hall, Fang Xuanling angrily got up from the ground and glared at Sun Fujia.

The other ministers looked at Sun Fujia with complicated expressions, not knowing whether to scold him or praise him.

Yes, they did know how Li Chengqian won the victory, and they also believed that the news of victory from Shuofang was true.

After all, Li Chengqian values ​​dignity more than his life. As the saying goes, leaders lead by example. If the prince acts like this, how can the soldiers under him still give in?

When an army has unimaginable willpower, it will be unbeatable.

Although many generals in the hall, even those who have been through hundreds of battles, could not explain clearly what was going on, they knew one thing clearly that could indeed enable the army to exert strong combat effectiveness.

That's morale.

Sometimes, morale is not always available.

So generals are needed to boost the morale of the soldiers.

Li Chengqian's approach seems to be similar to that of generals in boosting morale, but the core is very different.

If morale is a kind of spirit, then dignity is the glue that perfectly combines the spirit with the body.

It elevates power to the level of a national culture.

Just like what people in later generations often say, I’m sorry to my wife, I’m sorry to my children, but if I were asked to open a single page in the family tree, I would fight for my life.

This is the power of national culture.

When a person says, "Our ancestors are above us," it means that he is about to make a big move.

And the ancestors are actually a kind of cultural heritage.

Because we identify with this heritage, we can inspire fearless power.

When Li Chengqian told the Liang surrendered soldiers who had suffered humiliation from Liang Shidu and the Turks that they were Han people from the Central Plains and that they also had dignity, he was actually acknowledging their blood connection with the Tang Dynasty and their identity as a fellow clan.

And it is this recognition that awakens unimaginable power in them.

Even though their military strength is several times weaker than that of the enemy, they still dare to charge and kill.

Even if he died, they believed that Li Chengqian would bring honor to their family.

Because the Tang Dynasty was a country with dignity, the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty had dignity, and the people of the Tang Dynasty also had dignity.

It is an honor to die fighting for such a country.

"call"

When all the ministers thought of this, they all breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but admire the nine-year-old Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty.

"No cession of territory, no compensation, no tribute, no marriage alliance, the crown prince guards the national border, the king dies for the country"

"Blood for blood, tooth for tooth. Those who offend the Tang Dynasty will be punished, no matter how far away they are."

"Old Yuchi, are we really old?"

After a long time, Cheng Yaojin slowly released his hand that was pressing on Yuchi Gong and said with emotion.

But Yuchi Gong said angrily: "You are old, but I am not old! I still have to follow the prince to fight the Turks! I am full of energy!"

After saying this, he did a backflip in front of all the civil and military officials in the court and jumped up from the ground.

"hehe."

Cheng Yaojin grinned and said with emotion, "It's really amazing. After seeing the prince's oath-taking speech, I suddenly felt a lot younger!"

"What do you mean?"

Yuchi Gong was slightly stunned: "Aren't you fucking illiterate?!"

"Hahaha!"

Cheng Yaojin laughed out loud, then rushed out of the Taiji Hall without saying a word.

Seeing this, Yuchi Gong quickly chased after him: "Old Cheng! How dare you play tricks on me! I'll kill you!"

Having said that, he rushed out of the palace door, leaving the ministers in the hall looking at each other in bewilderment.

Sun Fujia, without even a glance at Fang Xuanling, walked straight up to his immediate superior, Wang Gui, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, removed his fish token, and said solemnly, "Sir Wang, although I was just promoted to the position of Counselor by Your Majesty today, I know I've made a serious mistake, so there's no need for Your Majesty to dismiss me!"

After saying this, he handed the fish token in his hand to Wang Gui, then turned around to look at the ministers and said calmly: "If Your Majesty wants to hold me accountable, I will wait at home. Whether it is death or exile, I have no complaints."

"This"

Wang Gui hesitated for a moment, then quickly said, "Lord Sun, don't be so impulsive. His Majesty doesn't have that intention either. You..."

"Well, I hope all the ministers take care!"

Before Wang Gui could finish his words, Sun Fujia interrupted him, bowed to the ministers, turned around and left the hall.

Upon seeing this, all the ministers could not help but look at Fang Xuanling, with a hint of contempt in their eyes.

Pei Ji, in particular, mocked him coldly: "Our Zhongshu Ling is so bold! Not only does he dare to lie to the emperor in person, he even dares to threaten the ministers to resign!"

"Pei Sikong, I don't have any."

Fang Xuanling's face was full of grievance. He had no intention of driving Sun Fujia out of the court. He was just a little indignant about Sun Fujia's behavior just now.

However, Pei Ji had no intention of listening to his argument. He sneered and left the Taiji Hall with a group of old officials of Wude.

Then, the officials from the Five Surnames and Seven Families looked at him with a half-smile and left.

Only the officials from the Qin Palace and the Tian Ce Palace stood in the hall at a loss.

After a long while, Du Ruhui finally sighed and said, "Don't worry about it for now, go see His Majesty first!"

"Yes! Let's go see His Majesty first. I still have something to report to His Majesty!" Zuo Pushe Xiao Yu echoed.

Fang Xuanling looked at him, then looked at the people behind him, nodded sullenly, and then led everyone to Ganlu Palace.

At the same time, on the bed in Ganlu Palace, Li Shimin looked at Empress Changsun with a bitter face, and seemed to want to say something but stopped himself several times.

Empress Changsun acted as if nothing had happened. She fed Li Shimin medicine and wiped the corners of his mouth with a soft towel.

Only after Li Shimin had drunk all the medicine in the bowl did he finally say to her, "Guanyin, do you think Cheng Qian really hates me as his father?"

"Why did your Majesty say this?"

Empress Changsun put down the medicine bowl and looked at Li Shimin with a puzzled look on her face.

Li Shimin sighed and said, "Listen to what he said. No cession of territory, no compensation, no tribute, no marriage alliance. Isn't this a mockery of me? Do you think I want to pay compensation or tribute? Do you think I want the Weishui Alliance? Do you think I don't want blood for blood, tooth for tooth?"

"But you know the situation in the Tang Dynasty at that time. Everyone wants dignity, but is it worth it to destroy the country and the family for the sake of that dignity?"

"I really don't understand what I did wrong. I'm so confused! Why can't he understand me?"

As he spoke, His Majesty Li Er became angrier and angrier, and more and more aggrieved. Finally, his eyes reddened and tears flowed uncontrollably. "On one side is the dignity of the country, and on the other side is the destruction of the country and the family. I'm caught in the middle and can't be blamed for this? What he said is that the prince guards the country's borders and the king dies for the country. Is he trying to force me to die to succeed the throne? Wuuwuwu..."

"Ugh!"

Hearing Li Shimin's aggrieved cry, Empress Changsun sighed helplessly and didn't know what to say for a moment.

She really felt powerless to help this pair of "enemies" - father and son.

The original Li Chengqian was well-behaved, sensible, obedient, and very filial.

Ever since Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he has completely changed, and even her, his mother, hardly recognizes him.

Although Li Chengqian was still very filial to her as his mother, she somehow felt that Li Chengqian was becoming less and less like her son.

Especially after Li Chengqian became close to Li Yuan, he became more and more distant from Li Shimin. He knew that the former Li Chengqian might never return.

But can we blame Li Yuan for leading Li Chengqian astray?
In the entire Xuanwu Gate Incident, although Li Yuan was not the biggest victim, he was definitely one of the people who was hurt the most.

Did he really want to use Li Chengqian to take revenge on Li Shimin?
In Empress Changsun's view, this was not necessarily the case, because if he really wanted to take revenge on Li Shimin, he would not have handed over the throne to Li Shimin smoothly.

So, what exactly is his purpose?

Empress Changsun thought about what had happened recently and what Li Chengqian had said today. She felt that she seemed to understand Li Yuan's purpose a little.

But she couldn't tell Li Shimin about this purpose.

Because Li Shimin would never allow such a thing to happen, even if it was his own son, he would defend his power.

So, facing Li Shimin's sobbing, she could only sigh and comfort him: "Your Majesty, don't think too much. Times are different now. The Turks have just suffered a great defeat, which is a good thing for our Tang Dynasty. Your Majesty can take this opportunity to enhance the prestige of our Tang Dynasty!"

Having said that, he smiled gently, raised his hand to adjust Li Shimin's quilt, and continued, "Isn't there a saying that goes, 'A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even ten years?' It's only been less than three years, and the Tang Dynasty can take revenge. Don't you agree?"

"This"

Li Shimin reacted and stopped crying immediately. He widened his eyes and asked, "Does Guanyinbi mean that she agrees with me attacking the Turks?"

"hehe."

Empress Changsun smiled and said, "I do not interfere in state affairs, but I would like to remind Your Majesty that the Crown Prince has already spread the word. Can you not hit him? Even if you don't hit him, the civil and military officials cannot afford to lose face."

"Moreover, this concerns the dignity of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty!"

"Wow!"

Hearing this, Li Shimin suddenly sat up from the bed as if he was dying, and looked at Empress Changsun in disbelief.

After a long while, he reached out and hugged Empress Changsun, and said excitedly: "You are right! Guanyin! You are right! I have to fight this battle even if I don't want to! It is about my dignity and the dignity of the Tang Dynasty!" "Oh, Your Majesty, you hurt me!"

Empress Changsun struggled a bit with a coquettish look.

"Oh oh oh, I'm sorry, Guanyinbi, I, I was not careful"

"Pfft!"

Seeing Li Shimin let go of her in panic, Empress Zhangsun suddenly laughed, then took the initiative to throw herself into his arms, and said tenderly: "Your Majesty, Cheng Qian is our eldest son and the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty. You should be happy that he can say these words."

"The future of our Tang Dynasty is destined to be handed over to him, isn't it?"

"This"

Li Shimin hesitated, not knowing what to say. However, facing his affectionate wife, he did not want her to feel sad for him and their son, so he nodded and said, "Guanyinbi is right. The future belongs to Chengqian."

"His Majesty."

"What's wrong, Guanyinbi?"

"I think"

"Uh, I just fainted."

"But the doctor said you're fine."

Swish!
Li Shimin's old face turned red in an instant.

Yes, he was totally fine.

The reason why he fainted in the Taiji Hall was that he felt embarrassed by his son's remarks, so he pretended to faint.

But this is not the point. The point is that Empress Changsun is now almost seven months old.

"Guanyin, it's not that I don't want to, it's your belly," Li Shimin said with some embarrassment.

But then Empress Changsun said in a resentful tone, "Why, Your Majesty can be with Little Yang, but not with me?"

"what?!"

Li Shimin was taken aback and was at a loss: "I, I don't have any..."

He never imagined that Empress Changsun even knew this.

However, Empress Changsun ignored his excuses and climbed directly onto the bed, ready to force the ball into the goal.

At this moment, a voice suddenly came from outside: "Your Majesty, the Minister of the Central Secretariat Fang Xuanling, the Minister of War Du Ruhui, the Minister of the Left Xiao Yu, and the Minister of Rites Tang Jian are requesting an audience outside the palace!"

"Got it. Let them wait in the side hall! I'll be there later!"

Li Shimin quickly gave the order, then said with a wry smile: "Guanyin, look at this..."

"Humph!"

Empress Zhangsun snorted, but did not embarrass Li Shimin. Instead, she carefully instructed him: "Don't forget to let Wushe help you over!"

"Ah!"

Li Shimin smiled and said: "Guanyinbi is the most considerate."

As he said this, he shouted to Wushe outside the door, "Wushe, come in and help me!"

"promise!"

Wushe, who was outside the door, responded and soon supported Li Shimin and went to the side hall of Ganlu Palace.

At this time, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Xiao Yu and Tang Jian were sitting on both sides, quietly waiting for Li Shimin's arrival.

"His Majesty."

Seeing Li Shimin stumbling into the side hall, the four men hurriedly stood up and saluted, but were quickly interrupted by Li Shimin's weak voice: "No need to be polite, everyone."

"Your Majesty, are you okay?" Fang Xuanling asked with concern.

Li Shimin looked at him with a wry smile, then shook his head and sat on the throne.

"The imperial physician said it was caused by overwork and that he would be fine after a few days of rest."

"Your Majesty has been working hard for the country. It is us, the ministers, who have failed in our duty!"

Du Ruhui said with a look of self-blame on his face.

Li Shimin forced a smile and did not continue the conversation. Instead, he asked about the situation in Taiji Hall: "Has the court meeting ended?"

The four of them exchanged a glance, and then Zuo Pushe Xiao Yu was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, it has been dispersed. However, Sun Fujia has offered to resign and will remain at home to await Your Majesty's decision!"

"Oh! He's so free and easy!"

Li Shimin smiled and said, "In that case, let him wait at home!"

"This"

The four of them looked at each other.

But then Li Shimin said solemnly: "What do you think about the Crown Prince's affairs?"

"Your Majesty, I was just about to report this matter to you, but I'm a little worried."

"Why, are you worried that I can't bear the blow from the Crown Prince?"

Before Xiao Yu could finish his words, Li Shimin interrupted him coldly.

"I dare not!"

Xiao Yu looked terrified and said quickly, "Actually, it wasn't me who reported this to Your Majesty. It was Duke Huo who sent someone to report this. Your Majesty, please investigate!"

"Duke Huo?"

Li Shimin was slightly startled, then frowned and asked, "What did he report to the Crown Prince?"

"Your Majesty, Duke Huo has sent a report that the Jingzhou troops disobeyed the imperial court's orders and marched to Shuofang without authorization. Fortunately, he discovered this in time and intervened, preventing them from making a serious mistake. However, Su Lie, commander of the Black Armor Guard, one of the Six Eastern Palace Commanders, forcibly broke through his obstruction and headed for Shuofang, claiming that the Six Eastern Palace Commanders were obeying the Crown Prince's orders. Duke Huo believes that this act constitutes treason under Tang law. Your Majesty, please make a decision!"

"This"

The other three were stunned when they heard Xiao Yu's report.

Is Duke Huo crazy?

At this time, you still dare to impeach the prince!

Does he know that by doing this, he is pushing himself into an abyss of no return?

Doesn't this completely offend the Crown Prince?!
However, when Li Shimin heard Xiao Yu's report, he had different ideas.

He said indifferently, "So, the evidence is solid that the Crown Prince used the troops of Jingzhou to form his own guard?"

"what?"

The four of them were surprised, as if they had not expected Li Shimin to say that.

But what Li Shimin said next surprised them even more.

"Since it is true that the Crown Prince has abused my military power, I must recall him and hold him accountable!"

"What!?"

The four looked at Li Shimin in disbelief.

Li Shimin then calmly said, "Minister of the Secretariat, pass on my decree. The Crown Prince has worked hard and made great contributions, raising the dignity of the country. I am deeply pleased. I grant him twenty carts of money and silk, a fief of 20,000 households, and the title of General Protector of the Nation. On the day you receive this decree, return to Chang'an immediately. No delay!"

"This"

When Fang Xuanling heard Li Shimin's order, he was completely stunned.

Didn’t they say that they would summon the prince back to Chang’an for accountability?
Why is it being rewarded?

What is this operation?
Just when Fang Xuanling was puzzled, Li Shimin continued:
"Also, I have issued an order. For his meritorious service in pacifying Liang Shidu and defeating the Turks, Zhangsun Wuji is to return to Chang'an with all his meritorious officials, including those from the Eastern Palace, the guards, and the five thousand surrendered soldiers, to receive their titles and rewards. All other matters will be handled by Duke Huo!"

"This, this, this"

Fang Xuanling was even more confused and turned to look at Du Ruhui and the other two.

They just looked at each other, as if they didn't understand what Li Shimin was doing.

However, based on their many years of experience as monarchs and ministers, they were still able to glimpse some of their majesty's thoughts.

It is obvious that these two decrees are definitely not as simple as rewards.

"minister"

"Wait a minute!"

Just as Fang Xuanling was about to respond, Li Shimin suddenly raised his hand to interrupt him: "Finally, pass on my decree. The Supreme Emperor is old and should not stay abroad for a long time. He should return to Chang'an as soon as possible to retire and reunite with his children and grandchildren!"

Upon hearing this decree, Fang Xuanling and others understood it instantly.

This isn't an imperial decree; it's clearly an invitation to the Hongmen Banquet!

It seems that His Majesty is going to get serious with the Crown Prince and the Emperor.

　[Please give me a monthly ticket, please give me a monthly ticket, please give me more when I get 1000! Thanks to 2024105527-ac book friend for the 100 reward]

　　
　
(End of this chapter)