Li Chengqian hesitated for a long time, and finally made up his mind under the persuasion of Fang Jun and Yu Zhining.
He has always faced the battle for the throne with a peaceful attitude. Even if he is so anxious that he almost collapses, he still obeys like a good baby and lets his father do whatever he wants.
But now he also understands that blindly being submissive and cowardly will not only fail to make his father feel more compassionate in his heart, but will actually make his father feel that he has no opinion and is not strong, which further reduces his trust in his father's mind.
weight.
You have to fight when you have to fight.
However, although the truth was clear, the fear of his father that he had cultivated since childhood made Li Chengqian's heart beat...
Fang Jun and Yu Zhining gave them some more encouragement before resigning and leaving.
Li Chengqian took a shower and changed clothes alone, and sat in the hall for a long time. He took a few deep breaths and clenched his fists to cheer himself up. Then he mustered up the courage to get up and walk out of Li Zheng Hall and go to Tai Chi Palace.
It was still close to evening at this time, and thick dark clouds gathered heavily above the head, blocking the sky into darkness, which only added to the depression in my heart.
A gust of wind blew by, and the snowflakes once fell flutteringly.
Li Chengqian was walking on the path of Taiji Palace, feeling the coolness of the snowflakes falling on his face, and couldn't help but worry about the fleet heading to Liaodong.
It is true that the Ministry of War was late in transporting ordnance, which led to the imminent ice freeze in the north. Especially in the bitter cold climate of Liaodong, once snow fell, the transportation of ordnance would be put on hold and could only wait for the next spring. In this way, all the responsibilities fell on the King of Jin
To shoulder such a huge mistake would be an almost fatal blow to King Jin's reputation.
However, Li Chengqian was unwilling to use this method to stabilize his reserve position, because this meant that there were flaws in the preparations of the Liaodong army, which would inevitably affect the Eastern Expedition in the coming spring.
In the eastward expedition to Goguryeo, my father will personally lead the expedition. This is a national war.
The main reason for the fall of the former Sui Dynasty, apart from the excessive conquests of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty and the destabilization of the country, was that he mobilized the entire country to conquer Goguryeo.
It completely destroyed the emperor's prestige.
If the Eastern Expedition of the Tang Dynasty fails, even if it does not fall apart and disappear in an instant like the Sui Dynasty, the national power accumulated by countless courtiers and people since the founding of the country will be wasted. If you want to restore it to what it is today, I don't know how long it will take.
It takes a long time and requires the efforts of several generations.
It is even questionable whether the country can be restored to its current state...
Although the reserve position is important and related to his wealth and life, Li Chengqian is not willing to exchange it for the fortune of the country.
With a heavy heart, he stepped into the Dragon Palace.
A fire dragon was lit underground, and the floor was covered with a Western carpet with gorgeous patterns. It was soft, warm, thick, and very comfortable to step on.
His Majesty Li Er was sitting at the desk in front of the window, writing and reviewing memorials. Outside the glass window, the courtyard was quiet and snowy powder was flying. More than ten candles were burning on the bronze candlesticks beside the wall, illuminating the imperial study room brightly.
"The prince is here."
His Majesty Li Er raised his head and glanced at his son, then lowered his head and wrote a few words on the memorial. Then he closed the memorial, put down the brush, stood up, stretched, rubbed his sore waist, and said with a smile: "It happens that the East China Sea
Some crabs were sent over there, the prince is in a good mood, and he will enjoy them with his father later."
"Here."
Li Chengqian agreed. When he saw His Majesty Li Er kneeling and sitting in front of the table in front of the window on the other side, he quickly went forward and knelt down beside the table, holding a pot and pouring tea.
After thinking about it, I poured myself a glass.
His Majesty Li Er raised his head, took a deep look at the prince, raised the corners of his lips slightly, picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea.
Putting down the tea cup, he saw the prince also took a sip, then looked at the falling snow outside the window, and sighed softly: "It has not been long since winter started, and it has not yet reached the 39th day, and it has already snowed heavily. Guanzhong is afraid of this winter."
It’s not easy.”
Li Chengqian said: "Father, there is no need to worry. The auspicious snow heralds a good harvest. Next year there will be a bright spring and good weather. The people will be able to have a good harvest. The country's taxation will be improved to a higher level. My father will be invincible in his own expeditions. As for this winter, there are
Jingzhao Prefecture cooperates with various counties, and the disaster relief and emergency yamen coordinates various ministries, which is enough to ensure that people can spend the winter safely."
"Yes, the times are different now. In the past, there were snowstorms in winter, droughts and floods in summer. Each disaster was enough to shake the country. Yes, the people were in dire straits. However, now the imperial court not only has abundant treasury, but also can unite as one.
, I am afraid that only the rule of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors can be like this. Speaking of which, this disaster relief and emergency yamen is really a stroke of genius, and Fang Jun deserves the most credit."
His Majesty Li Er said with emotion.
Li Chengqian naturally spared no effort in praising Fang Jun and said with a smile: "The Duke of Yue is a genius. He always has countless incredible ways to deal with any difficult situation. When we first meet him, he may seem confused, but he can always achieve results."
Feiran, it is not an exaggeration to say that he is an unparalleled scholar in the country."
His Majesty Li Er nodded in agreement, and looked up at the prince again. He felt that this son was a little different today than before, but he couldn't figure out what the specific difference was.
After thinking for a while, he asked directly: "The prince is here, but is there something wrong?"
Li Chengqian's heart suddenly tightened, and the kind of pressure that was like facing a mountain and an abyss suddenly came over him, but when the matter came to a close, no matter how awe-inspiring he was, he could not shrink back.
Taking a deep breath, he said: "Exactly."
His Majesty Li Er sipped the tea and said casually: "Tell me and listen."
Li Chengqian mustered up his courage, sat upright, and said: "Father, Emperor Mingjian, since the ninth year of Wude, Father Emperor appointed his son as the crown prince. It has been seventeen years now. During this period, although my son and I have been single-minded,
He studied physiognomy and worked hard to do everything a prince should do, but there were times when he was unfilial and unfilial, which made his father angry and disappointed. Now he has awakened and devoted himself to learning the ways of governing the country, just to be able to help his father handle the affairs of the country.
, to share the worries of the father. However, the laws of heaven are constant and the world has rules, so that the five elements can operate and the outline is always orderly. Therefore, I sincerely ask the father to allow me to reorganize the six commanders of the East Palace to serve as the foundation of the empire and protect the order of the country."
After saying that, he knelt down on the ground, his heart beating like a drum.
His Majesty Li Er narrowed his tiger eyes slightly and stopped holding the tea cup.
There was silence in the Imperial Study Room, as if even the dark clouds outside the window were pouring into the room, weighing heavily on people's hearts...
Li Chengqian, who was kneeling on the ground, had a dry mouth and tried his best to suppress his body from trembling.
Ever since he was a child, he had always wanted what his father gave him, and he didn't dare to say a word about what his father took away. For the first time in his life, he took the initiative to make a request to strengthen the power of the East Palace, which was a disguised form of forcing his father to recognize his status as the crown prince.
For Qian Gang's arbitrary father, this is no different than plucking hair from a tiger's mouth...
Time slipped away silently. Li Chengqian lowered his head, sweat appeared on his forehead, and the awe and fear in his heart could not be increased. He felt that nothing in his life was more frightening than waiting at this moment.
After a long time, I heard a calm and deep reply: "Yes!"
Li Chengqian felt as if he was listening to celestial music, and the joy in his heart almost burst into tears. He tried his best to suppress his excitement, but his tone could not suppress a slight trembling: "Thank you, Father, for your grace!"
His Majesty Li Er knelt down behind the desk, with his back straight, looking down at his eldest son kneeling in front of him. The emotions in his eyes changed, and finally turned into a smile.
"Get up and talk. There are only you and me, father and son, here. Why do we need to use these courtesy of monarchs and ministers?"
"Here."
Li Chengqian slowly stood up.
His Majesty Li Er looked at the blushing on the prince's face, and suddenly felt a little funny and a little regretful. This is also my biological son, and he was forced to look like this...
He stroked his beard and said, "Pour some tea."
"well."
Li Chengqian quickly poured the tea from the pot, then put the teapot aside, lifted the kettle on the small stove and filled the teapot with water.
With this relief, the agitated mood slowly calmed down.
His Majesty Li Er stroked his beard with one hand, picked up the tea cup with the other, brought it to his lips and took a sip. He closed his eyes slightly to feel the sweetness of the tea, and suddenly asked: "This is your own idea. Or was it Fang Jun’s idea?”
Li Chengqian's calm state of mind suddenly became tense.
This question is difficult to answer...
As a prince, his behavior is controlled by his subordinates. This is very disrespectful. His father has always been dissatisfied with his weak character, which is why. But if he said that this idea was his own, he would not believe it. .
You definitely can't lie. Your modest deeds are not enough in the eyes of your father. He can easily see through your disguise. But if you tell the truth, your father may not only be disappointed with you, but may also be angry with Fang Jun. .
Encouraging the prince to fight for power with the emperor is treason...