The birth of the legitimate grandson of the emperor is a great joy for the dynasty, and celebrations are indispensable, not to mention that the emperor also decreed that the whole world should celebrate.
Just when everyone's attention was attracted by the emperor and grandson, Li Shimin suddenly announced his big move.
More than ten generals, including Gao Shilian, Yuchi Gong, Zhang Liang, Liu Hongji, Niu Jinda, and Li Daozong, were sent to major military towns and key passes across the country.
Even Li Xiaogong, who had been relegated to the second line in the Zhenguan Dynasty because he was close to Li Jiancheng, was reactivated and went to Qingzhou to take charge and form a navy.
Such a large-scale military deployment naturally frightened the ministers who did not know the actual situation, and they all stood up to oppose it. Among them, Wei Zheng was the most fiercely opposed.
But those who opposed it soon discovered that the big bosses with real power in the DPRK and China were unanimous and all supported the emperor's plan.
At this time, they suddenly remembered what happened a few days ago. The emperor summoned more than thirty ministers without warning. Apparently they reached some consensus at this meeting.
The opponents stopped talking, because everyone knew very well that the decisions made collectively by these people could not be overturned.
Wei Zheng also stepped aside and stopped talking, his face full of loneliness. He couldn't accept that his dignified prime minister was excluded from the inner circle.
When Chen Jingke heard about what happened in the court, he sighed and said, "Prime Minister Wei is a capable minister and a direct remonstrator. It's a pity that he is too close to the nobles."
Li Tai said unconvinced: "What about the prime minister? He was originally from a noble family in Shandong and married a daughter of the Lu family. Why did he gain trust?"
Chen Jingke said: "Because it is impossible for the prime minister to resist the temptation of sealing the country, but Prime Minister Wei can. He would probably rather not seal the country, but also want to disrupt this matter."
Li Tai smiled and said: "Then you mean that the prime minister is not as good as Prime Minister Wei?"
Chen Jingke said bluntly: "In terms of ability, Fang Xiang is naturally better, but in terms of conduct, Wei Xiang can beat him by dozens of blocks."
During the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling had a disagreement. Yuchi Gong took Li Shimin's sword to see them and then 'invited' them to the Prince of Qin's Mansion.
It can be seen that Fang Xuanling is not the kind of person who can die for morality. It is not impossible for him to abandon the nobles for the sake of feudalism.
Wei Zheng was different. Back then, he had always advised Li Jiancheng to kill Li Shimin, otherwise it would cause trouble in the future.
After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he told the incident in front of Li Shimin and said: I only wish that the prince did not listen to me and got rid of you earlier, so that today is the case.
This kind of character and integrity is comparable to that of Fang Xuanling.
It's a pity that he admired the nobles very much and was very close to them, so Li Shimin had to exclude him from this matter.
Don't let him know about it, at least in the early stages of the plan, lest he spoil it.
Even though Li Tai is the legitimate prince, he doesn't know many secrets any more than ordinary people, so he disagrees with Chen Jingke's evaluation.
Chen Jingke didn't explain much, but remembered Changsun Wugou's instructions and said:
"The enfeoffment is coming soon. As a prince, you will definitely have a large feudal state. Have you figured out how to manage it?"
Li Tai glanced at him sideways and said, "Is this how you become a lobbyist?"
Chen Jingke looked a little confused and said angrily: "Just tell me if you want to be comforted by me. If you don't want to, get out."
Li Tai was furious and said: "How dare you talk to me? Do you believe I will punish you for the crime you committed above?"
Chen Jingke said: "Why don't you call Xiao Sizi over and say what you just said again in front of her?"
Li Tai said sarcastically: "Ha... What kind of man do you think you are when you use women as a shield?"
Chen Jingke said proudly: "I just think you are envious."
Li Tai was speechless for a while, and after a while he said: "Thank you, I feel much better."
Chen Jingke shook his head and said: "Actually, I look down on you people very much. To put it bluntly, it's all these things."
"If it weren't for my aunt, I wouldn't even bother to say one more word to you. You don't deserve it."
Li Tai didn't expect that he was really swearing. He was stunned for a moment before he realized it, and then he got angry: "You must make it clear to me today, otherwise we will not be finished."
Chen Jingke said: "You think you are great, don't you? Then tell me, besides being born into the royal family, what else do you have to be proud of?"
Li Taidao: "I have been smart since I was a child. I am familiar with the classics of the three religions. I am familiar with all poems and songs. My calligraphy has been praised by Ouyang Shui..."
"Heh..." Chen Jingke laughed disdainfully.
Li Tai was immediately speechless and his face turned purple with embarrassment. His achievements were completely worth mentioning in front of Chen Jingke.
Chen Jingke still did not let him go, saying: "I can name more than ten people of your age who are better than you in the world. They are a hundred times better than you."
"I don't know how many people envy you when you become the legitimate prince. Now you have not made any achievements, but you can rely on this status to obtain a kingdom that is bigger than everyone else in the future."
"So I don't understand. What do you have to be proud of, and what do you have to be unwilling to accept?"
Li Tai gritted his teeth and said: "What about him? Why does he have it? Why can he do it but I can't?"
Chen Jingke said: "The young slave will also wonder, why can you do it but he can't? Other princes will also wonder, why can you three do it but they can't?"
"Everyone in the world will also wonder, why is it that only your Li family can do it and they can't?"
Li Tai looked at him in shock and said: "You...are treasonous and treasonous. I, the Tang Dynasty, have inherited the destiny..."
Chen Jingke interrupted him again and said, "Okay, have you forgotten what I do? Don't say nonsense like inheriting destiny in front of me."
"The Li family is able to dominate the world because His Majesty is so wise and powerful that he defeated all his opponents."
"Don't you like to compare? His Majesty got to this position by virtue of his strength. Do you have this strength? If you don't have this strength, why can't others take your place?"
Li Tai argued: "To be a king, I only need to know how to use people. No matter how capable people are, they can only be used by me in the end."
Chen Jingke said: "Why should they listen to your command? Wouldn't it be better to rebel and overthrow you and become the monarch yourself?"
Li Tai paused for a moment and then said: "The state has national laws and etiquette to restrain and control them."
Chen Jingke smiled and said: "Oh!!! So you still know the etiquette. Looking at your unwillingness just now, I thought you were the kind of person who despises etiquette."
At this point, he changed the topic and said: "Dalang becoming the prince is the power given to him by etiquette and law. If you abide by etiquette and law, you should not be unwilling. If you don't abide by etiquette and law, then you have no right to ask others to abide by etiquette and law."
Li Tai was left speechless, but he felt that something was wrong. It took him a long time to hold back two words: "quibble."
Chen Jingke did not refute, but stood up and said: "It's not important whether you are quibbling... Come on, let's change into casual clothes, and I will take you somewhere."