Chương 243: Li Shimin's conversation with Zhu Di, and his visit to Huangfu Song

Li Shimin spoke first, his tone teasing, "Fourth Prince, why did someone tell me your temple name is Chengzu?"

Zhu Di was taken aback, then waved his hand and said, "Oh dear, Second Brother Feng, my temple name must be Taizong! In every dynasty, wasn't the second emperor who had achieved enough merit always Taizong?"

Li Shimin squinted and said, "Hey, I didn't say that, it was that brat Jiajing who said it."

"Jiajing?" Zhu Di glared and said, "I'll give that bastard a good beating!"

Li Shimin added insult to injury, saying, "He also said that your eldest nephew, Zhu Yunwen, was the second emperor."

Zhu Di exclaimed anxiously, "There's no such thing as Zhu Yunwen! You, you, you misheard! In the thirty-fifth year of Hongwu, my father abdicated the throne to me, and I became Emperor Taizong!"

"Stop making things up, Fourth Prince!" Li Shimin chuckled, "I know everything. Which good family member will inherit my nephew's throne?"

Zhu Di immediately retorted, "You're so arrogant! Go ahead and grant your father the title of Retired Emperor!"

Li Shimin said, "So what! I'm just being filial!"

Zhu Di asked, "Was it you who added four years to my father's lifespan?"

Li Shimin said, "So what! My father is happy to!"

Zhu Daodi said, "You're placing your father under house arrest!"

Li Shimin said, "So what! He tried to depose me first!"

Zhu Di said, "Give your brother a derogatory posthumous title!"

Li Shimin said, "So what! They deserved it!"

Zhu Di said, "Your son will marry your wife!"

Li Shimin's expression changed: "So what! That's... wait, we can't say 'so what'! That's slander! I'll kill whoever made up this rumor!"

Zhu Di pressed his advantage: "Your son is imitating your 'Xuanwu Gate Incident'!"

Li Shimin said, "Ah—stop, stop, stop! I misheard! It was all that Jiajing brat talking nonsense! There's no such person as Zhu Yunwen, you are Emperor Taizong! Is that alright?"

Zhu Di was satisfied and laughed, "That's more like it, Second Brother Feng. But speaking of which, your eldest brother died of acute iron poisoning. You searched for eight hundred people but still couldn't save him. What a pity..."

Li Shimin: "..."

The two looked at each other and suddenly laughed.

They're all ancient foxes, why are they playing at some kind of ghost story?

Little Liu Ce and Little Xiang Yu were laughing so hard they were rolling on the floor.

Knowing when to stop, young Zhu Di leaned closer, put his arm around young Li Shimin's shoulder, and whispered, "By the way, Second Brother Feng, I have a question for you. How should I write my 'Veritable Records of Emperor Taizong of Ming' to make it more truthful?"

Li Shimin said with a serious expression, "Just write it normally. Didn't your father pass the throne to you in the thirty-fifth year of Hongwu?"

Zhu Di's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "Oh, Second Brother, you know our Zhu family's affairs best! So tell me, what should we write about my eldest nephew?"

Li Shimin stroked his chin and said, "You mean that Zhu Yunwen, right? Let me think... Hmm, in the thirty-first year of Hongwu's reign, he altered your succession edict. You led eight hundred troops to quell the rebellion. In the thirty-fifth year of Hongwu's reign, you successfully suppressed the rebellion, and your father passed the throne to you! How about that?"

Zhu Di clapped his hands and said, "That's absolutely right! Second Brother Feng! That's why I say you're the Heavenly Khan! I just love listening to you talk!"

Li Shimin got excited too: "Hey, Fourth Brother, what do you think about my eldest brother... how should we write that?"

Zhu Di feigned ignorance and said, "What elder brother? Second Brother Feng, aren't you the eldest son of the Li family?"

Li Shimin immediately clapped his hands and said, "Oh, right, right! It's because we have common topics to talk about!"

The two men, arms around each other's shoulders, raised wine glasses that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

"Come, let's toast to a real man!"

"Respect to true men!"

Little Liu Ce and Little Xiang Yu were standing nearby, having already finished eating the melon.

Xiao Liu Ce: "These two... have reached an agreement already?"

Young Xiang Yu: "Politics is so complicated. War is much simpler; if you're not convinced, just fight."

......

Later, Liu Ce and Xiang Yu also raised their glasses to join in the fun: "To true men!"

The four little figures clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

The interaction between the four little figures gradually faded, and Liu Ce's consciousness returned.

He sat in his study, shaking his head and chuckling.

Li Shimin plus Zhu Di...

A Heavenly Khan who ushered in the prosperous reign of Zhenguan, and Emperor Yongle who led five campaigns against the Mongols and compiled the Yongle Encyclopedia.

Add to that Xiang Yu's bravery and his own modern mindset.

This combination is unbeatable.

Liu Ce stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the night in Luoyang was deep and dark.

But in his heart, there was only light.

With these templates, with the foundation of Youzhou, and with the identity of the Prince of Yan...

The world is becoming more and more interesting.

"Next..."

"The investiture ceremony will be held, and then we will return to Youzhou."

"Farm, train soldiers, and wait for the world to descend into chaos."

"At that time..."

He smiled, a bright and cheerful smile.

"The title of Prince of Yan might be promoted even further."

"For example... the emperor?"

He quickly shook his head, suppressing the thought.

"Go to sleep."

Blow out the candles and go to bed.

Soon, snoring began.

...

Liu Ce didn't have a moment's rest in the following days.

Since he was going to stay in Luoyang for more than half a month, he couldn't just eat, drink, and have fun—although he really wanted to.

The proper etiquette must be observed, and the people to be visited must be visited.

After all, those who can speak up for him in the court are all "his own people," at least for the time being.

On the first day, he took Dian Wei, Xu Chu, and Zhao Yun to Huangfu Song's residence.

Although Huangfu Song has lost some power (he suffered a defeat in Liangzhou), he still enjoys prestige among the military generals.

At this court hearing, he stood up to strongly support Liu Ce's enfeoffment as a king.

......

"Your Highness, Prince Yan, you've finally arrived!" Huangfu Song patted Liu Ce on the shoulder.

"It's only right that I speak up for you in court! You have no idea how those pedantic scholars turned green with rage when they heard you were to be made a prince!"

Liu Ce smiled and said, "Thank you for speaking up for me, General. If it weren't for your support, Minister Lu, General Zhu, and others, I might not have been able to receive this title of prince."

"That's right!" Huangfu Song twitched his mustache and laughed, "You've rendered such great service, if you're not made a king, who in the land would be willing to risk their lives?"

The two chatted for half an hour, from the tactics of the northern expedition to the situation in the imperial court.

Liu Ce casually mentioned the training methods of Youzhou, which made the old man's eyes light up - although some of the methods sounded strange (such as push-ups, sit-ups, etc.), judging from the battle record of the Youzhou army, they must be useful.

"I must visit Youzhou another day!" Huangfu Song said with great interest.

"You're welcome anytime," Liu Ce said with a smile.

Before leaving, Huangfu Song gave Liu Ce a sword—saying it was one he had used when he was young, and although it was old, it was still sharp.

"Take this, for self-defense," Old Master Huangfu Song said seriously.

"Luoyang may seem peaceful, but who knows how many eyes are watching you in secret."

Liu Ce solemnly accepted it and said, "Thank you, General."

He left behind several jars of strong liquor.

Huangfu Song stroked the wine jar, grinning from ear to ear, and said, "His Highness the Prince of Yan understands me!"

...