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

Chapter 184 Li Shimin: What does it mean when he takes out a musket?! [Seeking monthly votes]

Li Shimin was very unhappy.

Because he found that his son was becoming less and less like his own son.

Although this sentence sounds a bit weird, it is indeed Li Shimin's truest feeling at the moment.

Ever since Li Chengqian learned the truth about the Xuanwu Gate incident and fell seriously ill due to shock, he has gradually drifted away from the well-behaved and obedient Li Chengqian of the past.

Especially after he got involved with Li Yuan, he became even more daring and disrespectful to his king and father.

This made Li Shimin suspect that Li Yuan was using his own son to take revenge on him.

But gradually, he discovered that it was not the same thing at all.

Because the abilities demonstrated by Li Chengqian far exceeded his expectations.

If Li Yuan had the ability to teach his son bad things, then did he have the ability to teach his son how to make fire bombs?

It was obvious that no one in the entire Tang Dynasty, let alone Li Yuan, could teach his son.

That's why Li Shimin had this strange feeling that his son was not like his son.

But no matter what, the facts were there, and he had no evidence to prove that the person standing in front of him was not his son.

He could only suppress the anger in his heart, looking at Li Chengqian coldly without saying a word.

Li Chengqian bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, your words are too kind. How dare this son threaten you? I only heard it from someone and wanted to verify it with Your Majesty!"

"Humph!"

Li Shimin snorted coldly and said solemnly, "If I tell you that this is not true, what will you do?"

"hehe."

Li Chengqian smiled, then shrugged and said, "Father is the ruler of a country, the supreme emperor of the Tang Dynasty. If Father says it's not true, then it's not true!"

"What else can I do? I'm desperate too!"

"you!"

Li Shimin did not expect Li Chengqian to answer him like this, and immediately asked angrily, "What do you want to do?"

"Father, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?" Li Chengqian asked with his head tilted.

Li Shimin's face darkened: "Of course it's true!"

"Well, the truth is, Your Majesty, please crown the prince!"

"Bastard thing!"

Li Shimin slammed the table and stood up angrily: "Do you really think I dare not punish you?!"

"Why are you punishing me? Is telling the truth against the law?"

Li Chengqian looked puzzled, then glanced at Dai Zhou beside him, blinking his eyes curiously and asking, "Minister of the Dali Temple, is that so?"

"Uh,"

Dai Zhou's mouth twitched and he turned his head to look at Li Shimin.

Seeing Li Shimin's face turn pale, he was suddenly startled and didn't know how to answer.

At this moment, Fang Xuanling's voice suddenly rang out, asking, "Why is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince so anxious to be crowned?"

"Isn't this the power that the prince should have?" Li Chengqian asked with some amusement.

"However, the prince is not yet of age, and I'm afraid it would be difficult to crown him now."

"Is there any law that states that a crown prince must be of age before he can be crowned? Emperor Zhao of Han ascended the throne at the age of eight, and I'm already nine. What's wrong with being crowned?"

Before Fang Xuanling could finish his words, Li Chengqian interrupted him, then looked around at the ministers and asked, "Or do you think I'm unqualified to be the crown prince?"

"This"

Upon hearing this, the ministers looked at each other, not knowing how to start.

If Crown Prince Li Chengqian was not qualified, they really didn't know which crown prince in history could be considered qualified.

After all, there has never been a prince in history who governed a region at the age of eight, made remarkable achievements, and pacified local separatist forces and defeated foreign armies at the age of nine.

But they also knew in their hearts that Li Shimin did not want to crown the prince at all.

Therefore, they could only remain silent and wait for Li Shimin's decision.

Li Chengqian, seeing their silence, seemed somewhat displeased: "If I, the crown prince, am unqualified, then I shall be deposed."

"Chengqian!"

"His Royal Highness!"

Li Shimin and his ministers were horrified and quickly interrupted Li Chengqian.

Then, Li Shimin stood up again angrily, glaring at him: "What on earth do you want to do!"

"Your Majesty, please crown the prince!" Li Chengqian said lightly.

Li Shimin clenched his fists, veins popping out of his forehead, and gnashed his teeth as he said, "Don't force me!"

"Your Majesty, you are too kind!"

Li Chengqian bowed and said calmly, "I just want to be a real prince!"

"What real prince? You are already the prince now. Is it really that important whether you are crowned or not?"

"It seems that Your Majesty has forgotten again. I have said before that if a Crown Prince is not crowned, he is a half-finished Crown Prince, not a true Crown Prince at all!"

"You're talking nonsense!"

Li Shimin angrily retorted, "No one would question your position as Crown Prince. Why are you not considered the true Crown Prince?!"

"hehe."

Li Chengqian smiled, a smile that was speechless. "No one questions it? Then why didn't Father crown me? Could it be that Father thinks I'm unqualified to be the Crown Prince?"

"This"

Li Shimin was completely confused by Li Chengqian's three soul-searching questions and didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Li Chengqian sighed again and said, "If your father thinks I'm unqualified as the crown prince and unworthy of the throne, I don't need your father to dethrone me. I will publish an announcement to explain to the people of the world that I'm unworthy of the position, incompetent, and unfit for the throne. I'm resigning on my own initiative. Your father and the ministers have nothing to do with this. You didn't force me to do this; I'm doing this of my own accord."

Damn it!
Is this human language? !

What do you mean by trying to cover up one's own guilt?!
All the ministers were speechless and looked at Li Shimin together.

Li Shimin's expression changed suddenly, and he couldn't help but want to kill someone with a knife.

It is obvious that if Li Chengqian really resigned from the position of crown prince in the newspaper, his reputation and that of all the civil and military officials in the court would be ruined.

It seems absurd to say that a prince who has made great contributions to the Tang Dynasty and wants to restore dignity for the people of the Tang Dynasty is not suitable for the position of prince.

Even if he resigned voluntarily, all kinds of conspiracy theories would still emerge.

So, after a period of struggle weighing the pros and cons, Li Shimin took a deep breath, then looked at Li Chengqian with a burning gaze and said word by word, "You came to me today because you are determined to get the crown, right?"

"It's not that I'm determined to win, I just feel that since my father dotes on his younger brothers so much, I, as the older brother, should dote on them as well as he does!"

Li Chengqian spread his hands and said with a smile, "But as the elder brother, I don't seem to be qualified. My younger brothers are now very successful, even more so than me, their elder brother!"

After saying this, he raised his eyebrows at Li Shimin and said with a half-smile, "Twenty-two states, father, right?"

"you!"

Li Shimin was choked by Li Chengqian's words and his old face turned red.

The other ministers sighed upon seeing this.

To be honest, they also felt that Li Shimin's actions were a bit excessive.

The crown prince was so outstanding and had made such great contributions, but he was reluctant to be crowned. What achievements had the King of Yue made to be granted twenty-two states?
Why?
Just because of your Majesty's favor?

This is so unfair!
However, Li Shimin did not think so.

He only said in a deep voice: "You are the crown prince now, and they are your brothers. Can't you give in to them?"

Li Chengqian laughed in anger when he heard this: "Oh, I didn't say I wouldn't give them the throne! I'm giving them the throne, isn't that good enough?"

"Chengqian!"

"Your Majesty, please address me as the Crown Prince—!"

Li Chengqian suddenly roared.

Li Shimin and his ministers were all stunned.

Li Chengqian took out something they had never seen before from his arms, looked directly at Li Shimin with a cold gaze, and asked calmly, "Your Majesty, do you really think I have no temper?"

"you"

Li Shimin was shocked and couldn't help showing a fear he had never felt before.

Because he saw a hint of murderous intent in Li Chengqian's eyes.

Although he didn't know where Li Chengqian got the courage to reveal such murderous intent in front of him, he was too familiar with Li Chengqian's eyes.

It was the same look he had shown to Li Yuan.

At that time, he gained the power to control the military forces of the world.

"His Majesty!"

Seeing that the atmosphere between father and son was becoming increasingly awkward, Fang Xuanling quickly stepped forward and said, "I think there is nothing wrong with crowning the prince!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is talented and virtuous, with outstanding abilities, far surpassing the crown princes of all previous dynasties. Even if he is not yet an adult, he can still be crowned!" Du Ruhui echoed.

The other ministers also echoed: "Your Majesty, we agree to crown the prince!"

Hearing the ministers' advice to him one after another, Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian with lingering fear, as if he was meeting his son for the first time.

After a long pause, he finally said in a deep voice, "The Crown Prince is exceptionally talented, trusted by all officials and the entire world, and he deserves to be crowned."

"But," he said, changing the subject, "the Crown Prince has agreed to pray for rain. Even if I wish to crown him, I must wait until his prayer succeeds. Otherwise, if his prayer fails, how can I face the people of the world and crown him?"

"This"

Upon hearing this, all the ministers couldn't help but look at Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian said expressionlessly, "I promised to pray for rain, and I will definitely do it. I hope that the emperor will also do what he says!"

Having said this, he paused and then said solemnly:

"Also, because of the agreement I made with my father, if I choose Jiangling, I cannot choose the Eastern Palace. Therefore, I plan to continue to abide by this agreement and not live in the Eastern Palace. I will build a Prince's Mansion outside the palace. I hope my father will agree!"

"no!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin directly refused, saying, "You cannot build a prince's mansion outside the palace!"

What a joke!
I called you back because you were causing more and more trouble outside. How could I let you leave the palace again?

Just stay in the palace honestly, like a normal prince, and study hard.

Just stop flirting with me.

However, Li Chengqian would definitely not obey Li Shimin's thoughts.

But Li Chengqian argued again, "The agreement between me and the emperor was made in front of all the civil and military officials in the court. Could it be that the emperor is going to go back on his word?"

"What do you mean by breaking your promise? I have the final say on this matter!"

"What if I insist on moving out of the palace?"

"If you dare to move out of the palace, I won't give it to you."

"His Majesty!"

Before Li Shimin could finish his words, Zuo Pushe Xiao Yu spoke up: "I think it's a good thing that the Crown Prince doesn't live in the East Palace!"

Li Shimin glanced at Xiao Yu coldly: "What do you mean by that, Zuo Pushe?"

Seeing Li Shimin's unfriendly gaze, Xiao Yu shuddered, but having already spoken, he still said, "Your Majesty, I believe you are aware that rumors have been spreading throughout Chang'an recently, saying things like the Crown Prince and the Emperor Retired. However, the court has not yet been able to find out who is behind this."

"If the prince lived outside the palace, perhaps he could lure the snake out of its hole and bring the person behind the plot to justice!"

"What about the prince's safety? He just experienced an assassination attempt!" Li Shimin said with a frown.

But Xiao Yu laughed dumbly: "Your Majesty, you worry too much. This is Chang'an City, under the feet of the emperor. If someone really dared to assassinate the city, the public security of Chang'an City would probably be completely broken!"

"No! Absolutely not!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling immediately retorted, "You are using the Crown Prince as bait. How can this be possible?!"

"I didn't say that I was using the prince as bait. I just think that it's not entirely without benefits for the prince to live outside the palace!" Xiao Yu said helplessly.

"This"

Fang Xuanling was speechless, then his eyes fell on Li Shimin.

Li Shimin hesitated for a moment, then continued to ask Li Chengqian: "Are you sure you want to live outside the palace?"

"As the saying goes, if an enemy comes, we will fight him; if a flood comes, we will block it with earth. If they dare to come, I will make sure they never return!"

After saying this, Li Chengqian raised the musket in his hand and said to Li Shimin with a smile: "Father, do you know what this is?"

"what?"

Li Shimin asked subconsciously, then walked towards Li Chengqian.

From the moment Li Chengqian took out the musket, he noticed this musket, and even had a vague feeling that the hint of murderous intent just now was not revealed in Li Chengqian's eyes, but from this musket.

Li Chengqian smiled and explained, "This thing is called a musket. It's a gunpowder weapon with incredible power and a very fast firing rate. That night, my grandfather and I used muskets to kill two assassins each!"

"What!?"

Li Shimin was shocked when he heard this.

The other ministers also stood up in surprise and came to Li Shimin and his son, looking at the musket in Li Chengqian's hand curiously.

Du Ruhui then asked in disbelief, "Is what the Crown Prince said true? Did you really kill the assassin with this musket? And the Emperor, he can also use this musket!?"

"of course it's true!"

Li Chengqian smiled and held his head high as he said, "My grandfather's marksmanship is even better than mine. We each had two muskets, and when the assassins were about to reach us, we simultaneously shot and killed four highly skilled assassins!"

"If you, my ministers, do not believe me, you can ask the guards who stopped the assassin that night, including my uncle Changsun Wuji and the officers and soldiers of Haozhi County!"

"This"

Upon hearing this, the ministers looked at each other in bewilderment.

But Du Ruhui looked at Li Shimin calmly and gave him a look.

Li Shimin saw this and immediately understood what he meant. Then he asked doubtfully, "Is it really that powerful?"

"Why?" Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows: "Father doesn't believe it?"

Li Shimin said calmly, "Seeing is believing, hearing is not. Since you say this musket is so powerful, why not try it out in front of us?"

"How? Where?"

"Try it here. I'll arrange anything you need!"

"Uh, here?"

Li Chengqian glanced around awkwardly, then estimated the distance and nodded, "Okay, let's try it here!"

After saying this, he walked straight to a table, picked up a teacup, then turned and walked to a bronze oil lamp and placed the teacup on the lamp stand.

Then, he retreated a dozen steps and turned to Li Shimin and others and said, "Father and the ministers, please retreat a little further. It's best to retreat behind me to avoid accidentally hurting you!"

"accidental injury?"

Li Shimin frowned, then asked in confusion, "Is this musket very powerful? Can it shatter a teacup?"

"Father will know whether it is powerful or not once he sees it!"

Li Chengqian smiled calmly, then picked up the rifle and aimed it at the teacup.

Although Li Shimin and others were full of curiosity, they did not dare to be arrogant. They stood behind Li Chengqian honestly and stared at the teacup intently.

After aiming for about four or five breaths, Li Chengqian pulled the trigger instantly.

There was a loud bang and the teacup that was originally placed on the lamp shattered into pieces in an instant.

Li Shimin and others were so frightened that they trembled all over and could not help but retreat repeatedly in fear.

I rub!

Are muskets so powerful?!

No wonder he was able to shoot down those skilled killers!!

I'm afraid no one can withstand the power of this musket! !
Li Shimin and his ministers all thought this. After a while, they came to their senses and looked at Li Chengqian in astonishment.

Li Chengqian said with a smile, "Father, ministers, what do you think of this musket?"

"A divine weapon! Your Highness! This is a divine weapon!"

Minister of War Du Ruhui was the first to react, and said in surprise and delight, "If our Tang Dynasty possessed such a divine weapon, why would we worry about unrest in the world and the submission of the barbarians?!"

"hehe."

Li Chengqian smiled noncommittally, then walked towards Li Shimin, stretched out his hands, respectfully handed the musket to Li Shimin, and said with a smile:

"Father, I have finally made this long journey. Logically, I should bring you some gifts, but after much deliberation, I can't think of a suitable gift. So, I'll use this musket to express my gratitude. I hope you won't mind!"

"This"

Li Shimin was very excited when he saw the musket handed to him by Li Chengqian.

But then I thought again, this is not a gift at all, it is clearly a sword hanging over my head.

He just took out the rifle, what did that mean?!

He really wanted to kill himself?!

How dare he! ?
At this moment, Li Shimin's face flushed instantly.

But not long after, it was as if a basin of cold water was poured on my back, and my entire back was soaked.

Because if Li Shimin thought about it carefully, he would be shocked to find that everything he had done before was exactly the same as what Li Yuan had done.

And Li Chengqian's behavior just now was exactly the same as his own.

There is a kind of despair that comes from being forced into a helpless situation.

Even though he had done so many things in the past, his father repeatedly favored his elder brother and his friends, and even joined forces with them to suppress him.

Now he is using Li Tai and Li Ke to suppress Li Chengqian. What does this mean?
At this moment, Li Shimin felt extremely ashamed.

He couldn't understand why he was so confused with the father he hated the most.

He always felt that everything he did was right, and that he replaced Li Yuan because he was better than Li Yuan.

Looking back now, he felt that he was as much of a bastard as Li Yuan.

Neither of them is a qualified father.

"Cheng Qian."

Li Shimin opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.

Li Chengqian smiled slightly and without saying anything, he stuffed the musket into Li Shimin's hand, then nodded to Fang Xuanling and others, turned and walked out the door.

When he left, all the ministers and Li Shimin felt nervous.

The silence speaks.

　[Please give me a monthly ticket, please give me a monthly ticket, please give me more when the number reaches 1000]

　　
　
(End of this chapter)