Chapter 153: One Country, Two Crown Princes! The Frustrated Emperor Qing! (23)

A few days later, Emperor Qing received Li Changan's letter.

There were only eight words on the memorial: "With treacherous officials in power, I dare not return to Beijing"!
The news of Li Changan's assassination attempt has spread in Kyoto, and Emperor Qing also knows that Li Changan has killed Gong Dian and Qin Yi.

Emperor Qing was very dissatisfied, especially because Li Changan beheaded Gong Dian, which was obviously a slap in the face of Emperor Qing.

Based on the intelligence from the Inspection Institute, Li Changan dispatched his two most elite warrior cavalry units to fight the Western Hu again.

Li Changan stayed in Yangguan to thoroughly reorganize the Dingzhou army.

It can be said that Li Changan was showing an attitude, an attitude of distrust towards the Crown Prince and Emperor Qing.

Li Changan's family are all in Kyoto, and they show no signs of leaving. Emperor Qing judges that he will not rebel.

Because, with Li Changan's current merits, it is very likely that he will legally become the crown prince of Qing.

So Emperor Qing personally issued an edict to comfort Li Changan and allow him to return to the capital.

Then Li Changan wrote another letter, saying that the Western Hu were too bullying and he must destroy the Western Hu royal court.

He even said that if he had enough troops, he could completely wipe out the Western Hu.

After several twists and turns, Emperor Qing found that the situation had completely reversed.

When sending Li Changan out, Emperor Qing wanted Li Changan to stay outside for a few more years.

But more than half a year has passed, and Emperor Qing is always looking forward to Li Changan's early return.

Li Changan commands a large army and is very powerful, so Emperor Qing is really worried.

If Li Changan really raised the flag of rebellion, then the Qing Kingdom would be divided in an instant.

Moreover, with Li Changan's military strength, Emperor Qing had no chance of suppressing the rebellion in a short period of time.

Northern Qi, Imperial Palace.

Queen Dowager Wei finally received Li Changan's reply.

Upon receiving the news that Li Changan had stopped returning to Kyoto, Queen Dowager Wei immediately sent a letter to Li Changan.

The meaning is very clear, please ask Li Changan to establish himself as the emperor of Western Qin and control Western Qin and the northwest of Qing.

Northern Qi will fully support the confrontation between Western Qin and Southern Qing, and is even willing to persuade the Grand Master to come forward to help.

Queen Dowager Wei wrote several pages of earnest words, but Li Changan only replied with five words.

After seeing this, Queen Mother Wei fell silent for a moment.

Obviously, Li Changan didn't consider her thoughts at all.

"What on earth is Li Changan thinking? Is he going to go back to Nanqing Kyoto to be a bullied prince?"

"With his achievements, he should either be made the crown prince, or die!"

"I was very open with him, but he didn't take it seriously at all!"

The Queen Mother Wei became angrier and angrier as she thought about it. She put the paper on the candle and was about to burn it, but then she regretted it.

"Forget it, I won't burn it. The handwriting is very beautiful."

There were only five words written on the piece of paper in a casual and elegant manner.

"Ma'am, did you miss me?"

At about the same time, the little emperor Zhan Doudou also received a reply from Li Changan.

The meaning of the letter she wrote to Li Changan was similar to that of Queen Dowager Wei.

However, the words reveal that if Li Changan established himself as Western Qin, the relationship between the two would be closer.

While explaining the overall situation, there is a hint of friendship in it, and the sense of proportion is very well grasped.

Li Changan's reply was equally concise, "Don't worry, my beauty, the day we meet is not far away."

Zhan Doudou gritted his teeth, wondering what Li Changan meant.

Thinking of a military newspaper she had read some time ago, she quickly figured it out.

Han Xin has moved 100,000 troops to the Qin-Qi border and is ready to attack Northern Qi at any time.

Although 100,000 troops could not destroy Northern Qi, it also illustrates the attitude of Western Qin and Li Changan.

"Li Changan, you really don't know how to appreciate a good person!"

"You are surrounded by dangers in the court of Nanqing, and you are in danger yourself, but you are completely unaware!"

"Besides, Great Qi has Imperial Master Ku He. Even if we have millions of soldiers, we can never destroy Qi!"

More than two months later, Ye Wan and Shangshan Hu returned to Dingzhou.

The royal court of the Golden Tent of the Western Hu and the royal courts of the left and right wise kings were all destroyed in one fell swoop.

The two men captured Subida Chanyu alive, beheaded all the wise kings on the left and right and exterminated their clans, and seized countless cattle, sheep and horses.

Li Changan is stronger and has higher prestige in the northwest!
His martial arts achievements were unprecedented in the history of the Central Plains.

Nanqing.

In the imperial study, Chen Pingping and Emperor Qing sat opposite each other and had just reported the latest intelligence.

Li Changan destroyed Western Qin and the royal courts of the Northern Barbarians and Western Hu, and Emperor Qing was puzzled.

"Dean Chen, how do you think Li Changan did it?"

"It took 40,000 elite cavalry to destroy the Northern Barbarians' court, but it only took 20,000 to destroy the Western Barbarians' Golden Tent!"

Chen Pingping replied, "The barbarians in the snowy regions and the Hu people in the grasslands all practice the tribal system.

The royal courts where the Khan and Chanyu are located are just larger tribes.”

"Unless they gather their troops to plunder the Central Plains, they are all scattered in tribes and their troops will not gather."

"If our cavalry is strong enough, we can indeed fight to support our war and destroy the tribes one by one."

“It’s not the quantity of soldiers that counts, but their quality. To enter the snowy areas and grasslands, we need elite soldiers who have fought in many battles.

Too many people will only increase the burden and will not be conducive to supporting the war through war.”

Emperor Qing nodded. This was basically a consensus among the Northern Wei, Northern Qi, and Southern Qing.

Chen Pingping went on to say, “It’s easier said than done.”

"Firstly, the foreign royal court is constantly moving around, and the snowy grasslands are more than ten thousand miles wide, so it's impossible to find the tribe or the royal court."

"If you get lost in the snow and grassland, many people will just wait to die."

"Secondly, no matter how strong our cavalry is, we are not sure of victory when encountering foreign cavalry."

"All the foreign cavalry are soldiers. They have been fighting since they were young and are extremely fierce."

Emperor Qing said in a deep voice, "The first problem requires accurate intelligence and guidance, and the second problem is to raise a cavalry that has fought hundreds of battles."

"Dean Chen, I don't think these two things can be accomplished in just half a year. I always feel that Li Changan has been planning this for a long time."

"But he had never been involved in military affairs before, nor had he made friends with generals."

Chen Pingping said, “I think the key to this matter lies in Xi Qin.

Xi Qin has been preparing for intelligence and military support for many years. "

Emperor Qing slapped his thigh and said, "I thought so too, which makes me feel even more strange."

"Western Qin should be much stronger than it appears, but why did they work so hard for Li Changan after falling into his hands?"

Chen Pingping cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I am investigating, but there is no clue yet."

"Your Majesty, now is the time to invite His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin back to Kyoto. We cannot let Daqing fall into division."

Ye Chong was sidelined in the capital of Western Qin State, and the Dingzhou Army is now controlled by Li Changan's people, and can establish its own territory at any time.

Emperor Qing's face was somewhat gloomy. "There are already voices in the court calling for a new crown prince, but how can we depose the crown prince so easily when he is innocent?"

Emperor Qing's thoughts on the throne have never changed. Of course, it would be best if he could live forever.

If that doesn't work, I will definitely pass it on to my son.

If the crown prince is not capable, there are other sons.

Although Li Changan has made great contributions, Emperor Qing believes that he can control the situation.

After all, he has a hidden trump card, he is a grandmaster! He has a plan in his heart, he can get rid of Si Gu Jian and Ku He, and wipe out all the unstable factors in the country.

These unstable factors include Li Yunrui, the Qin family, Li Changan, and even Chen Pingping.

Therefore, Emperor Qing knew that the most sensible thing to do now was to stabilize Li Changan and invite him back.

As long as Li Changan returned to Kyoto, Emperor Qing believed that he could weaken Li Changan's power step by step.

Then, he gradually incorporated the Western Qin State into the territory of the Qing State and brought it under his own rule.

"The prince cannot be abolished!"

"But I'm afraid that apart from the position of crown prince, there are no other conditions that can satisfy Li Changan."

Chen Pingping said calmly, "Your Majesty, do you remember that there was a precedent in Daqing where a prince ascended the throne directly?"

"At that time, there were two princes competing for the throne. One was the crown prince, and the other was a prince who also served as the governor of Kyoto. The chances of the two succeeding to the throne were almost equal."

In the history of Nanqing, the fact that a prince concurrently served as the governor of Kyoto had special significance.

The time Chen Pingping was talking about was the prince's final succession to the throne.

"It's not enough to just serve as the governor of Kyoto. We must also give him special treatment and make him treated equally with the crown prince."

Emperor Qing began to grit his teeth as he listened to Chen Pingping's words.

He was a great master and the emperor of the most powerful country in the world, yet he had to make such a humiliating concession!
However, as a power animal, Emperor Qing is terrifyingly rational.

He knew that he had to maximize his own interests.

He had to plan every step to firmly control the land conquered by Li Changan in his own hands.

Then, plan to uproot Li Changan and his forces, which is the safest way.

So, you still have to be patient!
After more than 20 years on the throne, this is the first time I feel suffocated!

"President Chen, just do as you say."

Chen Pingping bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

"In the current situation, everything is most important to stabilize Li Changan!"

Emperor Qing's expression returned to calmness, "We should also start collecting evidence of Li Changan's ill intentions."

"I hope that this time, the Inspection Bureau will not let me down again!"

The main reason why Li Changan grew into such a giant was the dereliction of duty of the Inspection Institute.

Because of the wrong intelligence from Western Qin, Emperor Qing made a wrong judgment and sent Li Changan to the border army.

A few days later, in Hulong Villa.

Fan Ruoruo, Zhan Pianpian, and Ye Ling'er were playing mahjong with Lin Wan'er.

The area in front of Lin Wan'er was already filled with small change and banknotes.

Fan Ruoruo held a card in her hand and hesitated for a long time, not daring to play it.

Lin Wan'er smiled slightly, "Princess Qin, why are you asking me to hurry you up again?"

Fan Ruoruo gave a bitter smile and put away the cards in his hand, "Two tubes!"

Lin Wan'er, who had already heard the cards, didn't say anything, and Fan Ruoruo breathed a sigh of relief.

After a round of cards, Ye Ling'er happily played a two-tube.

"Hehe! This is what my sister said. Wan'er, you shouldn't be foolish, right?"

Lin Wan'er looked at Ye Ling'er coldly, "If you want to call me Princess, you have already lost the right to call me Wan'er!"

Ye Ling'er's eyes were empty. She had lost everything and had even lost her etiquette and titles.

"Okay, okay, Princess~"

Lin Wan'er raised her lips slightly and pushed the cards in front of her down, "Win! Your two bamboos are what I'm waiting for!"

Ye Linger immediately refused to give in, "My sister also played two bamboos just now! Why didn't you play hers?"

In order to win over Ye Ling'er, Lin Wan'er made this rule specifically, letting Fan Ruoruo go and letting Ye Ling'er take the lead.

"Ye Ling'er, what's the matter? You can't afford to lose!"

"From this round on, call me Princess Yichen!"

Ye Ling'er didn't know why Lin Wan'er always targeted her from time to time.

After thinking about it, she decided that it must be because she got married first that Lin Wan'er was unhappy!

Ye Ling'er begged for mercy, "Let Qingwen beat me. I don't want to play anymore. I don't want to play anymore."

Lin Wan'er said sternly, "If you get killed, I will cut off Li Changan and Ye Zhong's food supplies!"

Lin Wan'er was in charge of the inner treasury, but Li Changan's food and fodder were supplied by the Ministry of Revenue, and Li Changan never counted on food and fodder from the capital.

But Ye Ling'er didn't know that her husband, father, and brother were all in the northwest, and she didn't dare to offend Lin Wan'er at all.

Ye Ling'er and Zhan Pianpian have never won since Lin Wan'er came to the table.

Unable to defeat the opponent, and unable to retreat, Ye Ling'er was really in a dilemma.

Fortunately, at this time, Gao Wu Niang walked in quickly and reported the news to Lin Wan'er, thus rescuing Ye Ling'er.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has issued an order."

"Order His Royal Highness Prince Qin to serve as the prefect of Kyoto. The former prefect of Kyoto, Mei Zhili, will be demoted to the position of prefect of Kyoto."

"I grant His Majesty the King of Qin the right to enter the palace with a sword and shoes, to enter the court without bowing, to pay respects without naming, and to grant all kinds of special honors, to the Crown Prince Gao, a rank above him!"

"I will also reward His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin with three times the salary of a prince, 100,000 taels of silver, and 10,000 taels of gold..."

Hearing the news, Lin Wan'er smiled with relief.

"Your Majesty is bringing up the ancient rituals. Salaries and gold and silver are just a facade and are not worth anything."

"The title of Prince is given to the governor of Kyoto, and he is given a higher honor than the crown prince. This is the most important thing."

The three princesses all knew that Lin Wan'er was Li Changan's best friend and knew even more than they did.

Therefore, there is nothing taboo about discussing these things in Huolong Villa.

Fan Ruoruo said slowly, "In other words, Daqing Kingdom now has two crown princes?"

Zhan Pianpian blinked her clear eyes, "Your prince has no merits, no talents, why doesn't your Majesty just depose him!"

The clever Lin Wan'er had already guessed that Li Changan would be back soon.

"My three princesses, I have something important to attend to today, so I will take my leave now."

After the three princesses respectfully saw Lin Wan'er off, Lin Wan'er turned around and patted Ye Ling'er on the butt.

"Ye Ling'er, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let you go for now."

After saying this, Lin Wan'er smiled and walked away.

Zhan Pianpian asked cautiously, "Ling'er, how did you offend Her Royal Highness the Princess?"

Ye Ling'er said with a sad face, "How should I know!"

Fan Ruoruo chuckled, as if she had discovered a secret clue.

Half a month later, Li Changan returned to the outskirts of Kyoto with two groups of dragon cavalry.

The Crown Prince, the eldest prince, the third prince and important civil and military officials went out of the city ten miles to welcome him.

Li Changan saw from afar that there were flags covering the sky ahead and music was deafening, it was a very lively scene.

When Li Changan rode his horse closer, the prince bowed respectfully, and everyone else knelt on the ground.

"Welcome to the triumphant return of His Royal Highness Prince Qin!"

Li Changan dismounted from his horse and glanced at the kneeling crowd and the waving flags.

Then, he couldn't help but look gloomy.

The flags are wrong, and the music is wrong too!

(End of this chapter)