Chapter 58: Pig Teammate

"Hehe!"

Li Chengqian sneered: "Father, as the monarch of a country, you go back on your word. Do you still want your face?"

"When did I promise you?"

"The day you beat me, you clearly said you wouldn't care about us three brothers. What about now?"

"Are you determined to push Qingque to the top, so you don't care about your face and don't care about destroying my plan?"

Li Shimin looked at the anger contained in Li Chengqian's eyes, his brows furrowing slightly:

"Are you questioning your father? If you could inherit my governing philosophy, why would I have to do this?"

"Governing philosophy?"

Li Chengqian laughed out of anger: "Governing the world doesn't have one way. Father doesn't even understand this point?"

"The drawbacks of the Fubing System, Equal-Field System, and Rent-Tax-Labor System—don't you know? The drawbacks of the Buddhist official system—don't you know?"

"The entire Great Tang is like a pool of stagnant water; the bottom cannot go up, and the top has never gone down. How much longer can Great Tang last?"

"Although Qingque doesn't have your talent, he can make Great Tang stable. I cannot take the risk."

"Then teach Qingque!"

Li Chengqian roared: "Is an Emperor without military power still an Emperor? Staying in the Literature Pavilion every day and not contacting a single military general—what is that supposed to mean?"

"If it really doesn't work, you take him on the expedition this time. Why keep him in the Ministry of Revenue?"

Speaking of this, Li Chengqian mocked: "I know now. You are afraid!"

"You are afraid your son will learn from you, so you don't dare let Qingque control military power."

"Bang!"

Li Shimin slapped the desk heavily: "Presumptuous! Is this how you talk to me?"

"Don't forget, I can strip you easily now. Without the Crown Prince position, what else do you have?"

Li Chengqian was not afraid at all: "If you strip this son now, I will still respect you as a hero!"

"I can also guarantee you that from now on, I will eat, drink, and wait for death, and will never care about court matters again."

"Come on, strip me! If you have the ability, strip me!"

"Do you think I dare not?"

"Do you dare? Do you dare?"

"You..."

Li Shimin truly didn't dare to strip the Crown Prince at this time. Stripping the Crown Prince was easy, but he couldn't bear the consequences.

Who would supervise the state? Give it to Li Tai, and Zhangsun Wuji and the others would spare no effort.

Give it to Li Zhi, and the aristocratic clans behind Li Tai would spare no effort to stir up court strife; he couldn't necessarily suppress it.

He hadn't finished arranging everything; he couldn't strip Li Chengqian at this time. Only with Li Chengqian could balance be maintained, and he could arrange things calmly.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin sighed, his tone softening:

"Don't talk about the book compilation matter; I won't let Qingque compile books."

"I'm afraid it's not up to you to decide!"

Li Chengqian sneered: "Qingque won't give up compiling books, and Su Xu won't give up either."

"If this son is not mistaken, the Literature Pavilion is already agitated, and soon the court will know that the Prince of Wei has researched bamboo paper for book compilation."

"Before long, the court officials will come."

"What did you say to Qingque?"

Li Chengqian grinned: "'Wude Encyclopedia'. This son shed a tear in front of Qingque, and I believe Qingque will follow suit under Su Xu's suggestion."

"Compiling books for Grandfather, shedding tears in front of the civil and military officials of the court, and he researched the bamboo paper himself."

"Qingque's filial piety moves heaven and earth; Grandfather's spirit in heaven will definitely be comforted."

"Father, you say, besides Qingque, who else is qualified to compile this book?"

"..."

Li Shimin completely collapsed, his face extremely ugly:

"You even use your Grandfather; are you still human?"

"The original naming was 'Wude Encyclopedia' or 'Zhenguan Encyclopedia'; now it's just letting the court officials know."

"Good! Good! Good! Worthy of being the Crown Prince of Great Tang, using any means necessary for the throne."

"If one day I strip you, are you going to raise an army and rebel!"

Li Chengqian looked at Li Shimin firmly:

"Father, you have your ideas, and I have my ambitions. You can find ways to strip me, but you cannot blame me for fighting back."

As soon as the voice fell, a eunuch hurried in:

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Wei, Duke of Zhao, Duke of Liang, Libationer Kong, Special Advancement Xiao, and others request an audience."

"Let them in!"

Li Chengqian smiled slightly: "What a coincidence, Uncle and Fang Gong are both here."

"Father, let this son see how you are going to give the right to compile books to Zhinu."

"Shut up!"

Li Shimin now wished he could hang Li Chengqian up and beat him again:

"How could I not understand your painstaking efforts."

"Father, watch carefully. After today, you will never see this son's actions again."

"From now on, Father and son, each according to their own ability!"

Li Shimin opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Zhangsun Wuji and the others, he instantly closed his mouth.

"Why did you all come?"

Zhangsun Wuji spoke first: "We met on the road. Fang Gong and I came for the eastern expedition."

"Is that so!"

Li Shimin nodded slightly: "Since that is the case, Qingque, you retire first and come back later."

Li Chengqian almost couldn't help but curse. He still wanted to delay time; he was truly incorrigible.

The idea was good, but Kong Yingda didn't give Li Shimin a chance:

"Your Majesty, the eastern expedition is imminent; the book compilation matter cannot be delayed any longer!"

As soon as this was said, Xiao Jin and others also echoed:

"For the sake of court stability, please make a decision early, Your Majesty."

"We second the motion!"

Li Shimin moved his gaze to Li Tai, his eyes revealing a warning:

"Qingque, what do you think?"

Li Tai gritted his teeth, took out the bamboo paper from his bosom, then raised it with both hands and knelt down:

"This is the bamboo paper I researched; the production cost is half that of rattan paper. Please, Father, give the right to compile books to me."

"I plan to name this book 'Wude Encyclopedia', and in this book, I will list a volume specifically to record Grandfather's deeds, so that future generations will know Grandfather."

"Have you thought about the consequences of compiling books? Or do you think Father will harm you?"

"This son knows Father is worried about the situation in the court after the eastern expedition. This son can guarantee to Father that during the eastern expedition, I will try my best to assist Eldest Brother and cooperate with Zhinu to stabilize the court situation."

Li Shimin was stunned, then glared fiercely at Li Chengqian. He didn't expect Li Chengqian to have considered even this.

He was originally full of confidence, wanting to remind Li Tai through the book compilation matter that he didn't let him compile books for his own good, and also to remind Li Tai to be careful of Li Chengqian.

Now that Li Chengqian used court stability as a reason, Li Tai would believe it, Su Xu would believe it, and Zhangsun Wuji and the others would also believe it.

"Qingque, book compilation is a major matter. You must consider it carefully. Once you accept it, it won't be easy if you want to regret it."

Li Tai bowed down: "Father, this son has been by Grandfather's side since childhood. Now that Grandfather is gone, this son wants to show some filial piety, and this is the only way."

Speaking of this, Li Tai's voice began to choke, and when he raised his head, his eye sockets were already full of tears.

Li Shimin had black lines all over his head. He felt that his sons were all from a theater troupe; tears flowed as soon as they wanted to, even more powerful than him.

Seeing Li Shimin silent for a long time, Su Xu stepped forward:

"The Prince of Wei has a heart of filial piety; why can't His Majesty satisfy it? Could it be that practicing filial piety in this world is also considered a mistake?"

*'A bunch of pigs! Truly a bunch of pigs!'*

Li Shimin couldn't help but complain in his heart. I gave you a chance, but you didn't use it; others just say two sentences, and you rush to jump into the pit.

Li Shimin still held a fluke mentality at this moment, raising his head to look at Zhangsun Wuji:

"Wuji, what do you think?"

Zhangsun Wuji was also speechless. What could he do? Snatch it back with the same trick? But when Li Yuan died, Li Zhi was only eight years old, and he had been taken by Li Shimin since childhood.

Sighing inwardly, Zhangsun Wuji felt he still had to fight for it; after all, Li Shimin was on his side:

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Wei at least served Grandfather before his death."

"And the Prince of Jin never had this opportunity. It's better to hand the book compilation matter to the Prince of Jin." ===== CHAPTER 59 =====

"But His Highness the Prince of Jin has never had this opportunity; why not hand the matter of compiling the book to the Prince of Jin?"