Tang Dynasty: Taking the Empress Dowager to a brothel, Father Emperor, what a coincidence!

The officials walked out of the palace in twos and threes.

Li Chengqian deliberately walked behind, pretending to look aggrieved, sighing all the way.

Cui Mingan and several officials from prominent families were walking ahead, but after seeing the Crown Prince's condition, he approached them with concern.

"Your Highness, what's wrong? Are you upset because His Majesty rejected your petition?"

Li Chengqian complained with a dissatisfied expression:

"Lord Cui, do you think Father Emperor is being biased? I suffered in Liaodong for more than half a year, and I finally came back. I haven't even had a few days of peace and quiet, but Father Emperor insists on pinning this wretched job on me."

Cui Mingan nodded repeatedly in agreement:

"Your Highness has suffered. Liaodong is bitterly cold; it's no place for a human to live. His Majesty values ​​Your Highness, which is why he entrusted you with this important task."

Li Chengqian waved his hand:

"What important task? It's clearly just a way to torment people. I've figured it out now. That wretched place is nothing but ice and snow and a bunch of unruly people. The amount of government affairs is enough to drive anyone crazy."

"My father refuses to use the talented men I recommended, and insists on making me suffer instead."

While complaining, Li Chengqian was observing the expressions of Cui Minqian and the others out of the corner of his eye.

Sure enough, these people all had greedy expressions on their faces.

Cui Mingan was overjoyed upon hearing the Crown Prince's words.

Doesn't this just show that the Crown Prince doesn't want to take control of Liaodong?

This doesn't seem like the trap Wang Gui described.

That old man must have become timid after being dealt with last time.

"If Your Highness finds it difficult to be in two places at once..."

Cui Mingan said in a low voice,

"I do have an idea. The Cui family of Qinghe has quite a few shrewd and capable young men."

If Your Highness trusts them, I can arrange for them to go to Liaodong to share some of the government affairs and serve as your deputies.

Your Highness only needs to hold the position of Grand Commander remotely in Chang'an; leave all the hard and tiring work to them.

Li Chengqian immediately feigned a surprised expression:

"Really? Lord Cui is willing to contribute manpower and resources? That's wonderful! I was just worried about not having enough people to do the work..."

Before he could finish speaking, a voice came from the side.

"Pooh!"

A glob of phlegm was spat directly at Cui Minqian's feet.

Cui Min was about to turn around and yell at him when he was met with Cheng Yaojin's dark face.

Cheng Yaojin didn't even glance at Cui Mingan, muttering curses under his breath:

"Pah! A bunch of hypocritical pedants."

Cui Mingan pointed at Cheng Yaojin, his face ashen:

"Cheng, Cheng Zhijie! You uncouth brute, what kind of behavior is this?"

Cheng Yaojin completely ignored him, turned to Li Chengqian and shouted:

"Coward! I risked my life in Liaodong, and you come back and admit defeat."

"I must have been blind to follow you into war."

After finishing his rant, Cheng Yaojin stormed off.

Li Chengqian, looking embarrassed, smiled wryly at Cui Mingan:

"Lord Cui, look at these arrogant and unruly soldiers, I really can't control them."

Cui Mingan watched Cheng Yaojin's retreating figure, inwardly cursing the reckless man for ruining things.

But then I thought, even Cheng Yaojin is dissatisfied with the Crown Prince, which means that the Crown Prince really wants to give up his military power.

The military clique is starting to distance itself from the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, please don't worry."

Cui Minqian said with a smile,

"Military officers are crude and vulgar. Your Highness is of noble birth. Why bother arguing with them?"

As for the matter of going to Liaodong to share the burden, this old minister will draft a list and send it to Your Highness later.

"Very well, then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Cui."

Li Chengqian said with a grateful expression.

After leaving the Taiji Hall Square, Li Chengqian boarded the carriage of the Eastern Palace.

As the carriage arrived at Zhuque Street, Li Chengqian lifted the curtain and looked out. He happened to see several young men dressed in fine clothes, chatting and laughing as they walked towards Pingkangfang.

Li Chengqian recognized them at a glance; these were the people he had recommended in the court. The one leading them was named Cui Wen, a member of a collateral branch of the Cui clan of Qinghe.

"parking."

After the carriage pulled over, Li Chengqian jumped down and stood in front of the several young men from prominent families with a smile.

Cui Min and his companions were on their way to a brothel when they looked up and saw the Crown Prince blocking their path. Startled, they hurriedly bowed and said:

"This humble subject pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian walked slowly around them with his hands behind his back.

"Get up, everyone."

Li Chengqian reached out and patted Cui Wen on the shoulder.

"Cui Wen, is that right? I remember you; you're the first one on the list."

Cui Wen was flattered and said:

"This humble subject is humbled and grateful for Your Highness's kindness!"

Li Chengqian sighed and continued earnestly:

"You are all pillars of the nation."

I recommended you to my father in Liaodong because I value your talents.

Liaodong is a great place; far from the emperor's reach, there's much to be done.

Upon hearing this, the young men from prominent families were overjoyed.

They thought the Crown Prince was going to promote them.

As a result, Li Chengqian changed the subject:

"However, that place presents both opportunities and dangers. First, it's very windy; the wind at night can be deadly."

Secondly, there were too many remnants of Goguryeo, and those people were thinking about how to take revenge every day.

When you get there, make sure you sleep with one eye open.

Cui Wen looked at Li Chengqian in horror and asked:

"Your Highness, is it really that dangerous?"

"you do not say."

Li Chengqian looked like he still had lingering fear.

"When I was in Pyongyang, people would sneak into my tent in the middle of the night to assassinate me."

"If I hadn't been lucky, I would have died there long ago."

Several scions of prominent families were so frightened that they nearly lost their minds.

Li Chengqian pretended not to see their expressions:

"However, I have high hopes for you. When you go, I will have Cheng Chumo personally act as your bodyguard."

"It will definitely protect your safety."

Upon hearing the name Cheng Chumo, several scions of prominent families nearly knelt on the ground.

It's important to know that the elite circles in Chang'an City had distinct hierarchical structures.

Cheng Chumo is in the same circle as the eldest sons of aristocratic families.

For these illegitimate sons or distant legitimate sons, it would be pointless to beat them to death.

The family wouldn't cause trouble for Cheng Chumo on their behalf.

Moreover, Cheng Chumo has already killed no fewer than five illegitimate sons of powerful families in Chang'an.

They're still alive and well, aren't they?

To have him escort them to Liaodong?

Then how the hell are we supposed to be left with a whole corpse?

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

Cui Wen stammered, begging for mercy.

"This humble subject is of limited talent and learning, and I fear I am unfit for such a great responsibility in Liaodong..."

"Hey, don't be modest!"

Li Chengqian grabbed Cui Wen and patted him enthusiastically on the back.

"Go back and prepare well. Once the Emperor's decree arrives, you shall set off immediately. I await your good news in Chang'an."

After saying this, Li Chengqian got into the carriage with satisfaction and drove away.

Several scions of prominent families remained, their faces ashen.

How could they possibly be in the mood for drinking and womanizing right now?

One by one, they turned around and ran home.

That evening, the Cui family of Qinghe.

Cui Mingan sat in his study, plotting which people to send to Liaodong to take over the government affairs so that all the profits could go to the Cui family.

The butler walked in, clutching several letters.

"Master, several families that are affiliated with us have sent us some letters. They...they say..."

"What did you say?"

Cui Mingan snatched the letter, opened it, and read it.

The contents of the letters were all similar, all pleading with Cui Mingan to remove their own sons' names from the Crown Prince's list of nominees.

Some even stated outright that they would rather forgo such immense wealth than go to Liaodong to their deaths.

Cui Mingan slammed his hand on the table in anger:

"These spineless cowards. Liaodong is a gold mine right now, and they don't even want to go? What on earth happened?"

The steward quickly recounted how the Crown Prince had stopped Cui Wen and his group on Zhuque Street.

"The Crown Prince said that Liaodong was dangerous and that he would send Cheng Chumo to be their guard."

Young Master Cui Wen was so frightened when he got back that he fell ill and is still lying in bed talking nonsense.

The other families were terrified when they heard about it and absolutely refused to go.

"Bang!"

Cui Mingan grabbed the Duan inkstone on the table and smashed it on the ground.

"Li Chengqian! You little fox."

Cui Mingan now understands everything.

The Crown Prince's relinquishment of military power and recommendation of aristocratic scions in court were all an act.

He had no intention of giving up Liaodong.

This tactic of feigning retreat was intended to silence His Majesty.

Moreover, Li Chengqian's move directly tore a hole in the internal workings of the aristocratic families.

Those small families that depended on the Cui family have now begun to resist Cui Minqian's arrangements in order to protect the life of their eldest son.

Once the morale of the team is low, it becomes difficult to lead them.