Lu Chen’s meaning was actually very clear. Li Zhuo could run away if he wanted to, and the ministers could run away if they wanted to.
But before you run away, please make Li Xiang the crown prince.
In this way, Li Xiang could legitimately command the army and civilians to defend the city in the capital.
Lu Chen chose the right time. Those civil and military officials who were willing to follow Li Xiang to stay and fight were naturally on Li Xiang's side. They were the standard supporters of Li Xiang. Even if they were not members of the faction before, they would be members in the future after this experience of fighting the enemy together.
As for those ministers who wanted to escape, they might be royalists, or from the eldest prince's family, or from other princes' families, it didn't matter.
The important thing is that as long as they want to escape, they must choose Li Xiang as the crown prince, otherwise Lu Chen will never let them go.
As a result, the entire court was unanimous in their opinion that Li Xiang should and must become the crown prince.
Li Zhuo decided on the spot to make Li Xiang the crown prince without saying a word.
However, after doing so, Li Zhuo did not continue to discuss with the ministers where to escape. Instead, he spoke excitedly: "My dear ministers, I have decided to stay in this battle. The emperor is right. The emperor guards the country's borders, and the king dies for the country! I am the emperor of Da Qi, I cannot run away!"
He stood up excitedly, looked at all the civil and military officials present, and said, "I know you all say behind my back that I'm soft-hearted and unfit to be an emperor. Today I'll show you that I can be tough sometimes!"
Li Zhuode's words moved countless people below.
It is generally acknowledged that Li Zhuo has a soft personality, which is reflected in many aspects, such as his vacillation on many policies.
He had just heard about the defeat of Bazhou City, and he was the most worried.
No one expected that Li Zhuo could say such words now. He was actually brave!
Those people from the eldest prince's faction, those who wanted to escape, were completely broken-hearted at this moment.
Damn it, if we had known you decided to stay, we would never have agreed to let Li Xiang become the crown prince!
But now that the matter is done, what's the point of saying anything else?
Lu Chen also looked at Li Zhuo with some surprise. To be honest, after some things that happened during this period, Lu Chen also realized that Li Zhuo was really not suitable to be an emperor.
Lu Chen wants to completely change Da Qi, wants to put Da Qi on the fast track of development, and wants Da Qi to become a great power. Therefore, the person sitting on the throne must be an emperor who can fully support him.
This is why Lu Chen asked Li Zhuo to make Li Xiang the crown prince.
Lu Chen was confident that he could defend the capital. If Li Zhuo really ran away like a stray dog, then he would never have to think about returning to the capital in the future.
Lu Chen will try every means to keep him in the south. By then, Li Xiang will be the crown prince in name, but in reality he will exercise the power of the emperor.
Li Zhuo suddenly got hard, which surprised Lu Chen, but also made him feel a little relieved.
Although this emperor was quite ordinary, he was at least not confused about major issues of right and wrong.
Forget it. It turns out that things like seeking the world's treasure cannot be accomplished overnight. We still need to plan for the long term.
Lu Chen then stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, there is no need to be so pessimistic. They are just a bunch of Liao and Jin people. I have a foolproof plan. If they dare to come, they will be defeated."
The civil and military officials of the Great Qi Dynasty still believed Lu Chen's words. Li Zhuo immediately asked excitedly, "Then what should I do next?"
"Your Majesty, all you need to do is issue an order to mobilize troops from other regions to come to your aid. It would be best if you could dispatch a strong force to wait halfway and block the enemy's retreat. If you can seize this opportunity to recapture Bazhou City, that would be even better."
Now that Lu Chen had become Li Zhuo's backbone, he immediately nodded and said, "Okay, I'll issue the order right away!"
Lu Chen bowed again and said, "Also, Your Majesty, please give the Crown Prince the authority to mobilize the troops in the capital. From now on, the Crown Prince will be stationed on the city wall and fight the enemy together with the people of the capital."
Upon hearing this, not only Li Xiang's supporters, but even the neutral faction's expressions changed drastically. "Absolutely not! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is of noble status. How can he personally go up the city wall? What if he encounters a stray arrow or something goes wrong?"
Even Li Zhuo hesitated and said, "Master, Xiang'er is still young after all. Isn't it a bit too much to ask him to go to the top of the city? Otherwise, I should go there myself!"
Lu Chen's attitude on this matter was extremely firm.
He shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, since he is the crown prince of Great Qi, he can no longer use his youth as an excuse. He must shoulder the responsibilities that belong to him. If he was truly injured by a stray arrow, then we can only say that he was not destined for this fate."
"We can protect him for a while, but can we protect him forever?"
"This world belongs to us, and it also belongs to them, but in the end it still belongs to them, doesn't it?"
"A prince who grew up in the flames of war is more worthy of being entrusted with the country!"
Li Xiang's blood boiled after hearing Lu Chen's words.
He immediately knelt on the ground and said, "Father, I beg you to go up to the city wall!"
Li Zhuo also looked at Li Xiang with a moving expression. After a while, he nodded and said with emotion, "Okay!"
The people around had different expressions after hearing this. Some were shocked, some sneered, some were excited, some were relieved, and some felt that it was a blessing for Li Xiang to be able to worship Lu Chen as her master.
Lu Chen's actions seemed to put Li Xiang in danger, but in fact they eliminated the last hidden danger of Li Xiang becoming the crown prince.
If there was suspicion that Li Xiang's position as crown prince was obtained by forcing Li Zhuo and the civil and military officials before, then now that he has personally gone to the top of the city wall and led the soldiers and people of the capital to fight against the enemy, his position as crown prince is secure, and he has fought for it with his life.
The other princes are dissatisfied? What were you doing when the army besieged the city?
If you have the ability, go up the city wall!
Once Li Xiang can really come down from the city wall safely and the capital can be defended, then Li Xiang's position as the crown prince will not only be popular choice, but destiny!
What's more, Lu Chen also said that a prince who grew up in war is too important to the current Da Qi.
Such a prince will not be a king who maintains the status quo in the future, but a king who expands the territory!
As for the qualification of personally going to the top of the city wall and leading soldiers and civilians to fight against the enemy in times of crisis, no other prince has it. How can others compare with him or compete with him?
Besides, would Li Xiang really have an accident?
With Lu Chen guarding her, how could he let Li Xiang get hurt by stray arrows!
These were all discussed before coming here, so after leaving the hall, Li Xiang said excitedly: "Master, what should we do next?"
Lu Chen touched his head and said, "Go back and pick out a set of armor that suits you, and then show us all our wealth!"
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