Chapter 315: Thoughts on Abdication

It was understandable that the emperor was a little willful. After all, he appreciated his ministers because of their literary talent. He did not appoint him to a high position, but just followed the procedure to give him an official position that could only be awarded to those who passed the imperial examination.

Therefore, the ministers naturally would not have any objections, and this was also a way they left for their own children.

It must be said that this is also Li Xiang’s first time to come to Cuiwei Palace.

No wonder Grandpa likes this treasure land. Not only is the scenery pleasant, but the climate is also cool and suitable.

He felt a little regretful now. If he had known that Cuiwei Palace was so cool, he would have come here earlier. Why would he have gone through the trouble of using saltpeter to make ice to cool down in the summer?

"I've told you a long time ago that Cuiwei Palace is good. Last time we wanted to renovate it, that old Xuancheng was against it." Li Shimin gritted his teeth as he spoke, as if he was thinking of Wei Zheng's opposition when they were planning to renovate Cuiwei Palace more than ten years ago.

Hearing this, Changsun Wuji smiled and said, "Your Majesty, this is not right. After all, the Tang Dynasty was in a state of disrepair at that time. The Dubi Rebellion had just been quelled, and there was no money left in the treasury to support the court in repairing Cuiwei Palace."

Look at how good at speaking Changsun Wuji is. Now the Tang Dynasty has become crazy. It no longer talks about suppressing the Eastern Turks, but talks about the "Dubi Rebellion".

Of course, Datang has the capital to be arrogant. In recent years, Datang has just put its hands in its pockets and has no idea what an opponent is.

Besides, now both the Eastern and Western Turks have become history. The Eastern Turks have become the Beiting Protectorate and the Shanyu Protectorate, while the Western Turks have become the Hanhai Protectorate and the Kunling Protectorate.

Kunling Protectorate, the name is the same as that of a certain singer's sister-in-law, but it is indeed called this name. It governed the Chumukun, Shesheti, Turgesh, Shunish, Huluwu, as well as the Karluk, Shatuo and other tribes besides the five Dulu tribes, a total of 15 military governorates.

Still following Li Xiang's previous suggestion, the court set up a military governor's office in each tribe and sent Han officials to participate in government affairs among the tribes to strengthen their political ties with the Tang court.

Naturally, no tribe dared to oppose. Whoever dared to oppose would die and his country would be destroyed.

"Yes, since Xuancheng passed away, I have lost another mirror." Li Shimin sat on the recliner and looked at Zhangsun Wuji with emotion: "So many years have passed in a flash, and we have grown old..."

Zhang Sun Wuji patted his belly with a smile and said, "Your Majesty is still in the prime of life, how can you easily say that you are old?"

"That's right, Grandpa is definitely not old." Li Xiang pouted, "I think Grandpa can give me a few more uncles..."

Before he could finish his words, Li Shimin kicked him.

"You kid, are you always teasing me?"

"I'm not kidding." Li Xiang dodged the second kick with a smile: "But speaking of which, it's good for Aung to come here and recuperate when he has nothing to do now."

"Gao Ming, what do you think?" Li Shimin turned his head to look at Li Chengqian again.

Li Chengqian smiled and replied, "Yes, Aye."

This time when Li Shimin came here from the palace, he also brought Li Chengqian and his two brothers with him.

It was his habit to take his three favorite sons with him whenever he traveled.

On the one hand, it was because he couldn't bear to part with them, and on the other hand, in case anything unexpected happened, he could pass on the throne at any time.

Who taught us this lesson...Yes, it was Mr. Qin Shi Huangdi.

Look, the person accompanying the emperor is Hu Hai. Isn't this good? Someone falsely reported the imperial decree that Hu Hai succeeded to the throne...

Even the most pure Qin fans would hold their noses and say that the First Emperor was confused when faced with this question.

In history, Li Shimin also did the same. When he was resting in Cuiwei Palace in the 23rd year of Zhenguan, he also brought along Li Zhi, who was the crown prince at the time.

After passing the throne on his deathbed, Li Shimin not only entrusted Li Zhi to Zhangsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang, but also entrusted important tasks to his closest comrade-in-arms Cheng Yaojin.

Cheng Yaojin was ordered to lead the Flying Cavalry from Cuiwei Palace to escort Crown Prince Li Zhi back to the throne, and he stayed outside the Zuo Yanming Gate for three consecutive months to prevent historical stories from repeating themselves.

This is also why Cheng Yaojin was implicated in the serious crime of forging an imperial edict in the Anxi Protectorate, but in the end Li Zhi only dismissed him from office but did not strip him of his title.

Not long after, Old Cheng was reinstated as the governor of Qizhou. Cheng Yaojin might have been tired, so he wrote a letter requesting retirement, which was approved.

Li Chengqian's words just now were somewhat perfunctory, and he seemed a little absent-minded.

He was not thinking about Li Shimin's sudden passing away, but about when he could take his two younger brothers out to play.

It was so hot in Chang'an that it was impossible to exercise. I would sweat profusely if I ran.

However, Cuiwei Palace is different. It is located on a high ground and has cool weather, which is perfect for playing football.

Li Shimin took a deep breath and decided not to argue with this stubborn boy.

He looked at him with some disdain: "Forget it, I know you don't want to stay here, go play football with Qingque and Zhinu."

"Father, you have wronged me. It is my honor to be able to accompany you." Li Chengqian immediately said that he would not go, but his words sounded a bit hypocritical.

Everyone can see the excitement on your face. Who are you trying to fool by saying this?

Li Shimin waved his hand: "Go quickly! Qingque and Zhinu are waiting anxiously——"

While speaking, Li Shimin pointed at Li Tai who was holding a ball and shaking his arms at the door.

"Then I will go." Li Chengqian said solemnly, "After all, as the eldest brother, I cannot let my younger brothers down."

Hey, this kid...

Li Shimin couldn't help but wonder, who did he learn this from? A mouthful of high EQ words...

As he thought about it, he looked at Li Xiang with suspicion.

Could it be that you, kid, taught your father to be bad?
Seeing Li Chengqian walk out, Li Xiang turned around and met Li Shimin's suspicious gaze.

"Don't look at me, my father learned this by himself." Of course Li Xiang knew what Li Shimin meant. I won't take the blame for teaching your son badly... It's good enough that I didn't let him lead him astray. Look at what kind of person my father is. He learns from the Turks and plays with little boys and girls. I'm embarrassed to say it!

Hello, my grandson, you have not been led astray, so just be content!
"I haven't said anything yet, but this guy has already admitted it." Li Shimin laughed and pointed at Li Xiang, teasing Zhangsun Wuji: "Look, this is what it means to be a guilty conscience!"

“Hahahaha…” Changsun Wuji didn’t know how to respond, so he just stroked his beard and laughed, then changed the subject: “This old minister does think that the deep brotherly love between the Crown Prince and the King of Wei and the King of Jin is a good thing.”

Hearing this, Li Shimin laughed heartily, and then said: "We are in Cuiwei Palace, not the palace. As their uncle, you don't need to be so formal."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Changsun Wuji laughed.

"Still calling you His Majesty?" Li Shimin picked up the teacup and took a sip, then glanced at Changsun Wuji with a squint.

"Erlang." Changsun Wuji immediately changed his words.

"Alas." Hearing this long-lost name, Li Shimin also put down his teacup with emotion: "Since Guanyin left, no one has called me Erlang anymore..."

Li Xiang knew that Old Li was missing his wife again.

As a well-known husband-loving man in history, Lao Li would never give up any opportunity to miss his wife. Even when he was playing dialogues with Wei Zheng, he would find opportunities to miss her, which led to the incident of destroying the Wang Mausoleum.

The so-called "looking at the mausoleum and destroying the pavilion" refers to the fact that in the tenth year of Zhenguan, Empress Zhangsun passed away and was posthumously named Empress Wende and buried in Zhaoling Mausoleum. Because of the deep love between husband and wife, Old Li often missed her, so he built a very high platform in the Forbidden Garden and often climbed up to look at Zhaoling Mausoleum to relieve his longing.

One day, for some unknown reason, after talking with Wei Zheng about state affairs, he dragged him up to the high platform and took him to see Zhaoling Mausoleum.

Wei Zheng felt that Li Shimin's behavior was inappropriate. His father Li Yuan was buried in Xianling, but he had never expressed his longing for his father. But now that the empress had passed away, he missed her terribly, and even built a platform to look out at her. This was showing that he was being kind to the empress and unkind to his father.

But Wei Zheng was very good at reading people's expressions. In this situation, if he just said that you missed your wife, Li Shimin would obviously gank you in the face. So he changed his mind and deliberately looked at you carefully for a long time, then said to Li, "I am old and my eyes are blurry and I can't see."

So Old Li pointed to the Zhaoling Mausoleum and asked Wei Zheng to look at it. Wei Zheng then found a breakthrough point and hinted indirectly, "I only thought that Your Majesty missed the Emperor Taishang, so you built this pavilion to look at the Xian Mausoleum. If it was the Empress's Zhaoling Mausoleum, I would have seen it long ago."

When Li Shimin heard Wei Zheng talking about Li Yuan, he knew that Wei Zheng was concerned about his face and did not give him direct advice. He was deeply moved and tears came to his eyes again.

Then, realizing his mistake, Old Li ordered the demolition of the pavilion and that the stage be no longer performed. This is the story of the destruction of the Wangling Pavilion.

"If the queen knew in her afterlife that the government is now in order, the Tang Dynasty is thriving, and her three sons are living in harmony, she would surely be happy," Changsun Wuji consoled.

It would have been better if he hadn't said this, but as soon as he said it, Li Shimin started crying.

"How can I take credit for it? This is clearly Xiang'er's achievement. If it weren't for Xiang'er, Gao Ming and Qing Que would have already turned against each other. I don't know what kind of rebellious things they would have done!"

When Li Xiang heard this, his heart tightened.

Hey man, Lao Li, are you a prophet too?
However, he did realize that as the saying goes, those who are involved are often confused, while those who are not involved can see things clearly. Old Li has now broken out of the vicious circle of the struggle between the Crown Prince and the King of Wei. He looks at the problem from a detached perspective and naturally sees things clearly.

"It is a blessing for the Li family and the Tang Dynasty that Erlang has such a holy grandson!" Changsun Wuji immediately followed Li Shimin's words and praised him.

Of course, Changsun Wuji did not say this against his will; he really praised Li Xiang sincerely.

After all, Li Xiang was an extremely filial child. He was very kind to his daughter-in-law Princess Changle and his son Changsun Chong. He even helped his youngest son Changsun Quan join Pei Xingjian's fleet and earned him the title of earl. Changsun Wuji really liked Li Xiang to no end.

It can be said that if there is anyone who most hopes that Li Xiang will not be able to ascend the throne, it is hard to say who would be the first, but one of the top five would definitely be Changsun Wuji.

"Uncle, you are too kind. Uncle, you are also kind." Li Xiang wiped the sweat off his face modestly: "My grandson is just a humble vessel to hold the fruits of Uncle's thoughtful thoughts..."

"Ha..." Li Shimin couldn't hold it back, wiped his tears and kicked Li Xiang.

This grandson...

But Old Li was not angry. This grandson always managed to make a joke at the right time to pull people out of their sad mood.

"I have already made up my mind. I will protect you and your father for a few more years. After I have completed the thirty years of Zhenguan, I will abdicate the throne to your father." Li Shimin said calmly, something that neither Changsun Wuji nor Li Xiang expected.

There was no one else in the room, not even the palace maids and eunuchs who served people, so only the three of them knew what Lao Li said.

"You are in your prime, why do you have such thoughts?" Li Xiang quickly advised: "Look at Emperor Wu of Han, didn't he rule for fifty-four years..."

"Fifty-four years? How many fifty-four years are there in a lifetime?" Li Shimin sighed, "This man is getting more and more confused as he gets older. If Emperor Wu of Han had not been in office for too long, how could such a tragedy as the witchcraft disaster have happened? While I am still young and confused, it is better to pass on the throne as soon as possible."

Changsun Wuji curled up in a heap on his seat. He really didn't dare to respond.

If he agrees, then these words will certainly not allow him to persuade the emperor to abdicate; if he opposes...it will easily offend Li Xiang, so it is better for him to sit there and pretend to enjoy the scenery.

"I also remembered what you said before." Li Shimin looked at Li Xiang again, smiled and rubbed his head, "You said you didn't want Xueqing's first child to be a son because you didn't want him to be the crown prince for sixty years. I have indeed thought about this issue. If you are the crown prince for sixty years, it is indeed a lot of work, so it is better to abdicate early."

Li Xiang: …

What you said, even if you abdicate, won’t I still continue to be the crown prince?
"Aunt, you should stay as emperor for a few more years." Li Xiang advised: "There is a saying that life begins at the age of sixty. You are only in your early fifties and you are already thinking about retirement? How can this be possible?"

While speaking, Li Xiang was thinking in his heart, I have to let you work until you are 65 years old!

"Who do you think I am? An old ox plowing the fields?" Li Shimin glanced at Li Xiang with a helpless look.

Li Xiang thought that this was insulting, you are not an ox or a horse...

"In short, the Tang Dynasty still cannot do without you. Aye and I are both young people, and we still need Aweng as the helmsman to continue to steer the warship of the Tang Dynasty for a few more years." Li Xiang said with a smile: "We are not in a hurry for other things. At least we have to wait until Persia is incorporated into the territory of the Tang Dynasty before we can talk about it, right?"

"You little bastard..." Li Shimin pointed at Li Xiang and asked, "Since we are talking about Persia, do you have any initial thoughts? I think we should send your third uncle to the Western Regions for a few years to gain experience and find out the specific situation there first. What do you think?"

"All is fine." Li Xiang certainly had no objection: "If we want to launch the Persian invasion, we must be fully prepared... Then what excuse does Aung have to let Third Uncle go?"

(End of this chapter)