Chapter 525 Inquiry
Li Chengqian finally returned to Chang'an after a long journey.
As soon as he returned to the palace, he summoned Li Ke and others to inquire about the prince's regent period.
He learned how the prince handled government affairs during his regent period, what he did during this period, and listened to Li Ke and others' evaluation of Li Jue's regent period.
In general, Li Jue's regent period was quite impressive. Although he was not a pioneering monarch, he was qualified as a conservative monarch.
After Li Jue learned that Li Chengqian had returned, he immediately went to ask for an audience, but was told that Li Chengqian was tired and did not want to see the prince, so he sent Li Jue back to the East Palace.
This made Li Jue wonder if Li Ke and others had said something bad about him in front of Li Chengqian, and the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt.
The next day, Li Chengqian washed up and put on his regular clothes under the service of the palace maids.
"Everyone! Breakfast is ready! Do you want to serve it?" Wang Quan asked.
"What do you want for breakfast?" Li Chengqian asked.
"According to your instructions, today's breakfast will be light. I asked the Shangshi Bureau to cook some white porridge and prepare a few side dishes." Wang Quan said.
"Then serve the breakfast! I didn't eat much after returning last night, and now I feel hungry." Li Chengqian said.
"Yes!" Wang Quan took the order and asked someone to go to the Shangshi Bureau to pass the message to serve the emperor's breakfast.
"What was the reaction of the prince when he didn't see me last night?" Li Chengqian asked.
"A little bit of anxiety, but in the end, I couldn't see you, and I was more disappointed." Wang Quan said.
The Shangshi Bureau delivered the emperor's breakfast.
"Apart from these, is there anything else?" Li Chengqian asked.
"No! But after the prince left, the queen came again and asked to see everyone, but was turned away by me." Wang Quan said as she scooped porridge for Li Chengqian.
"Hmph! You are such a child who never grows up. You are so old now, and you still have to go to your mother to cry for such a small matter."
"The Queen is the same. She always spoils him. With him like this, how can I rest assured to hand over the Tang Dynasty to the prince in the future?"
"The prince grew up in the palace and doesn't know the suffering of the people. He always runs to the Queen when he encounters problems. How can he protect the country of the Tang Dynasty in the future?"
"Li Ke, Li Jingxuan, Liu Rengui and others still praise the prince. Does a prince like this still need their praise? It's ridiculous!" Li Chengqian said angrily.
He was annoyed that the prince was not ambitious and was a giant baby who had not been weaned. He was annoyed that the Queen was too doting on him and had to worry about everything for the prince.
Li Chengqian took the porridge from Wang Quan, drank a few mouthfuls, and became angrier the more he thought about it.
"Tell the prince to come and see me!" Li Chengqian said after breakfast.
"Yes!" Wang Quan replied, and while ordering someone to clean up the table, he sent someone to the East Palace to call the prince to come and see the emperor.
East Palace.
"Your Highness! His Majesty has sent someone!" An eunuch ran in and reported to Li Jue.
"Where is the person?" Li Jue asked hurriedly.
As soon as Li Jue finished speaking, before the eunuch had time to answer, there was a sound of footsteps, and then an eunuch walked in. "
I pay my respects to His Highness the Prince!" The person saluted Li Jue.
"No need to be so polite, eunuch! I came to my East Palace, but what does His Majesty want?" Li Jue said.
"His Majesty summoned Your Highness to meet him!" said the eunuch.
"Besides these, did His Majesty say anything else?" Li Jue asked.
"I was just ordered to come and deliver the message, and I know nothing else." said the eunuch.
Li Jue winked at the eunuch beside him, and the other party immediately understood and quietly stuffed some money into the eunuch who came to deliver the message.
"Think about it again, His Majesty really didn't say anything else except summoning me?" Li Jue asked again.
"No! His Majesty is still waiting for me to go back! I'll take my leave!" said the eunuch. Indeed, the emperor didn't say anything else.
Li Jue packed up and went to the Daming Palace to meet the emperor.
"Your son greets the emperor!" Li Jue saluted to Li Chengqian.
"I have heard that all the ministers praised your performance during my southern tour and said that you will be an emperor who can defend the country in the future."
"I have also seen the government affairs you have handled. Although I don't have any special feelings, they are also well-behaved and there is nothing out of the ordinary. You are doing well." Li Chengqian said.
Li Chengqian still recognized Li Jue's ability to handle government affairs.
"These are all within the responsibility of the son and minister. It is the duty of the son and minister to share the worries of the father." Li Jue said.
"Don't talk while standing, sit down! Go and move a chair for the prince." Li Chengqian said.
"Thank you, father!" Li Jue thanked him.
"I heard that you plan to disband the Heyuan Army and recall Hei Chi Changzhi and others back to Chang'an?" Li Chengqian asked.
Li Ke and others had already reported to Li Chengqian that Li Jue wanted to disband the Heyuan Army. Li Chengqian felt uncomfortable after hearing this, thinking that Li Jue was overreaching.
He wondered what Li Jue wanted to do. You have to know that the Li Tang Dynasty had a special tradition, and the late emperor had set an example for future generations.
Crown Prince Li Jue reached out to the military, and Li Chengqian was the first to disbelieve that he had no intention.
In fact, Li Jue's suggestion to disband the Heyuan Army was nothing, but the main thing was that he took the initiative and did not want to report to Li Chengqian, the emperor, first.
He wanted to get this done without asking for suggestions during his period of regency, which would only make the emperor suspicious.
You can disband the Heyuan Army today, but who knows what you will do tomorrow. It would be strange if the emperor didn't speculate on you.
"Yes! I think the Heyuan Army is too bloated, but the commander of the Heyuan Army has been leading troops outside all year round, so it is inevitable that there will be a situation where the tail is too big to be removed."
"Once Hei Chi Chang Zhi has a rebellious heart, he can command his own troops. At that time, he will become a major threat to the Tang Dynasty."
"This must be prevented. I beg the emperor to issue an edict to disband the Heyuan Army and recall Hei Chi Chang Zhi to Chang'an for retention." Li Jue said, and stood up to salute. "
The Heyuan Army was set up for the peace and security of the northwest border. How can it be disbanded casually? If there is a war in the west, who can resist the invasion of foreign tribes?" Li Chengqian asked.
"Now, Tubo has submitted to the Tang Dynasty, and Tuyuhun has become strong under the strong support of the Tang Dynasty. The Anxi Protectorate General and the Anxi Four Towns guard the Western Regions, and the Persian Governor's Office guards Central Asia."
"Now, the Heyuan Army has completed their mission. I think there is no need to keep the Heyuan Army and it should be completely abolished."
"Except for those who stay to cultivate land and grow food, the other soldiers should be transferred back and sent back to their hometowns to prevent them from making changes." Li Jue said.
In Li Jue's view, now that Tubo has submitted and the Western Regions are under the control of the Tang Dynasty, the Heyuan Army has lost its role in guarding the border. Who dares to resist the Tang Dynasty?