The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

As Chen Huai'an ate, his gaze swept over the people in the hall, listening to their conversation, and he felt that it was extremely strange.

I've attended quite a few banquets in the past two years, whether I brought my family or not; none of them were ever a waste of time.

All banquets can be categorized into two types.

Either it's a banquet completely devoid of political affairs, just a place for eating and drinking, where everyone can maintain good relationships, since there have been many disputes in the court.

The second category is the actual imperial court.

To date, many policies of the Tang Dynasty were not decided at small or large court assemblies, but at banquets like this.

Today's banquet gave him a strange feeling, like the first type, yet not pure.

It's not really the second category, it's just rambling on and on about things that don't really mean anything.

Chen Huai'an turned his head slightly to look at Wei Zheng, whose expression was calm, but whose eyes were quite strange.

Clearly, the other party had also noticed.

The two then looked at Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling opposite them, who were also somewhat silent and rarely spoke.

This also applies to Xiao Yu.

Their eyes met briefly before quickly looking away, but everyone sensed something unusual about today's banquet.

They still couldn't figure out what was unusual about it.

Chen Huai'an glanced almost imperceptibly at Empress Zhangsun's belly. If he remembered correctly, she should be giving birth this month, before the fifteenth.

Given how much Li Shimin valued Empress Zhangsun, he would never have allowed her to attend any welcoming banquet at this time unless it was a major event.

"Gentlemen," Li Shimin said after chatting with Feng Ang for a while, gradually changing the subject, "Yesterday, I heard something very interesting."

"It comes from Pei Qiantong, the Prefect of Chenzhou and Baron of Changshe County."

"He said that he eliminated the Sui Dynasty to establish the Tang Dynasty, and he said it more than once, boasting about it everywhere."

"What do you think I should do with Pei Qiantong?"

Everyone frowned, and even Chen Huai'an put down the roast chicken in his hand.

Who is Pei Qiantong?

Pei Qiantong was from Hedong. When Emperor Yang of Sui was still the Prince of Jin, he was Yang Guang's confidant and followed Yang Guang all the way from the Prince of Jin to the Crown Prince to the Emperor.

After Yang Guang ascended the throne, Pei Qiantong was promoted to the positions of Jianmen Zhige and Tongyi Dafu, serving as a bodyguard for Emperor Yang of Sui.

In the Jiangdu Incident of the fourteenth year of the Daye era, Pei Qiantong was one of the masterminds. He personally led troops into the palace, captured Emperor Yang of Sui in the West Pavilion, and later defected to the Tang Dynasty.

The meaning of the phrase "to eliminate the Sui dynasty and establish the Tang dynasty" is easy to understand.

It's basically saying, "I overthrew the Sui Dynasty, and that's how the Tang Dynasty came to be!"

Not only was Li Shimin uncomfortable with what he heard, but many of the ministers present were also uncomfortable.

Many of you here today have fought alongside Li Shimin and personally gone to the battlefield.

After the country was pacified, they have been governing it ever since.

What kind of person is Pei Qiantong, a traitor who sells out his master for personal gain?

Without you, there would be no Tang Dynasty?

"Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji said in a deep voice, "Did Pei Qiantong really say that?"

"Of course." Li Shimin nodded. "He has mentioned it to others more than once, and the news has reached my desk. It seems he is dissatisfied that I only granted him the title of Prefect of Chenzhou and the title of Baron of Chenzhou."

"Hmph!" Changsun Wuji sneered, "A traitor who sells out his master for personal gain dares to spout such nonsense?"

"He disregards even the fundamental duties of a ruler and his subject; who would dare to give him an important position? His Majesty has already been merciful enough by granting him the post of governor of a prefecture; what more does he want?"

"To dare utter such words is utterly rebellious!"

"Your Majesty, I request that Pei Qiantong be executed!"

Li Shimin did not agree immediately, but looked at Du Ruhui and asked, "Kemin, what do you think?"

Du Ruhui's eyes flickered slightly. He had already discerned something from the fact that Li Shimin had not rejected Changsun Wuji's proposal.

Don't forget how Li Shimin rose to power.

On the fourth day of the sixth month of the ninth year of Wude, Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, killing Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince Li Yuanji, and not even sparing their five sons.

This forced Li Yuan to abdicate.

In Confucianism, killing one's brother, murdering one's nephew, forcing one's father to abdicate, and usurping the throne are considered the four original sins.

He must uphold his legitimacy and the proper roles of ruler and subject.

If Pei Qiantong, the regicide, can go unpunished and enjoy official positions and wealth, it would be tantamount to acknowledging the logic that if a ruler is tyrannical, his subjects can kill him.

Once this logic holds true, Li Shimin's legitimacy collapses.

During the Wude era, the Tang Dynasty was still engaged in a war of unification. Li Yuan needed to win over various forces, and the Tang Dynasty needed to win over all forces that could be won over.

Now that the Tang Dynasty has stabilized, Shuofang has been pacified, the Lingnan canal transport has been opened up, and even two of the five surnames and seven clans have been overthrown and returned to their ancestral lands with their remaining clansmen in disgrace. What are you, Pei Qiantong, now?

We've already shown you mercy by keeping you around, yet you still dare to spout nonsense and complain about your dissatisfaction everywhere?

Du Ruhui cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I also believe that Pei Qiantong should be executed!"

"The remnants of the Sui dynasty still hold considerable power, and this is a year of famine. Keeping these treacherous individuals around will likely lead to disaster in the future!"

"It would be better to execute him!"

Li Shimin's lips curled up slightly, clearly satisfied with Du Ruhui's answer.

Changsun Wuji only mentioned killing Pei Qiantong, but Du Ruhui had clearly thought things through more deeply and directly pointed out the remnants of the Sui Dynasty.

In other words, not only Pei Qiantong was killed, but also others like him.

For example, Niu Fangyu, the prefect of Laizhou, and Xue Shiliang, the prefect of Jiangzhou, were among those who participated in the Jiangdu Incident and murdered Emperor Yang of Sui.

However, Li Shimin still did not agree, and instead asked Feng Ang, "Minister Feng, what do you think I should do?"

While everyone else's expressions remained unchanged, Feng Ang instantly became alert.

Why ask him this question of all?

Who is he?

The overlord of Lingnan, grandson of Lady Xian, controlled eight prefectures and commanded tens of thousands of armored soldiers. Although he had submitted to the Tang Dynasty and the canal transport between the two regions had been opened up, he was still a semi-independent power.

As mentioned earlier, Pei Qiantong was a confidant of Emperor Yang of Sui and participated in the assassination of Emperor Yang. Later, he surrendered to the Tang Dynasty and became the governor of Chenzhou.

Niu Fangyu and Xue Shiliang were the same.

These people have one thing in common: they are either local warlords who surrendered and then rebelled again, or they have a criminal record.

When Li Shimin asked him this question, it was a blatant act of deception, and also a subtle warning.

Why is it called an open conspiracy?

Because Feng Ang's suggestion of severe punishment was tantamount to publicly siding with Li Shimin and distancing himself from all the surrendered generals.

If he were to be lenient, it would be tantamount to sympathizing with the rebels. Wouldn't Li Shimin suspect that he had ulterior motives?

As for avoiding answering questions... would Li Shimin give him the opportunity to evade them?

Feng Ang was no fool. He firmly stated, "Pei Qian, as a subject, committed regicide and treason. This is an act that Heaven and Earth cannot tolerate. The suggestions made by the Duke of Qi and the Duke of Cai were too lenient. I believe he should be executed along with his entire clan!"

"..."