"Report—"
"Your Majesty, Tang Ziyi, the Vice Admiral of the Tang Dynasty's Navy and Earl of Jingyuan, reports that the naval fleet is engaged in a fierce battle with the 'Anti-Japanese' warship, carried by His Highness Prince Jin, in the waters near Jiangyin."
"The Tang Dynasty's naval fleet, consisting of more than ten warships, was at a significant disadvantage in terms of tonnage and firepower. Despite their valiant efforts, they ultimately failed to capitalize on the opportunity to intercept Prince Jin and bring him back to the capital."
"We had no choice but to watch the ship that was about to destroy the Japanese invaders sail along the river and cross the East China Sea from the mouth of the Yangtze River!"
brush!
Inside the imperial study, during the recess of the court assembly, Emperor Zhaowu of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Huai'an, received a message from the front-line naval officers and soldiers, informing him of the latest situation of his younger brother, Chen Longxiang.
Overwhelmed by concern, Chen Huai'an couldn't help but jump up from his chair, only to sit back down.
He forced himself to maintain a blank expression, not wanting his attendants to figure out his thoughts.
To be fair, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an's sentimental idea was that his younger brother Chen Longxiang could escape the interception of the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet and from then on, he could fly freely in the sky and leap freely in the sea.
However, from the rational perspective of the founder and founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he hoped that the naval fleet led by Earl of Jingyuan, Tang Ziyi, could bring his lost younger brother, Chen Longxiang, back to Jinling City, so that he, as the older brother, could have an opportunity to educate his younger brother in person.
Ultimately, the news from the naval fleet was that after a fierce battle, the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet fought tirelessly and could only watch helplessly as Prince Chen Longxiang's warship, the "Destroy the Japanese Pirates," escaped.
While Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an breathed a sigh of relief, his heart was once again in suspense.
This means that from this day forward, his younger brother Chen Longxiang will be completely labeled as a rebel, and any future encounters between him, the emperor, and his younger brother Chen Longxiang will be one of irreconcilable hostility.
Unexpectedly, the scene of brothers turning against each other and fighting amongst themselves, which I had never wanted to see the most, still happened.
Eh—
Inside the Imperial Study, Chen Huai'an, who had been sitting listlessly in his chair, finally couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
At today's court assembly, dozens of civil officials, led by Liu Huaiyi, a censor of the Censorate, collectively submitted a memorial requesting that his younger brother, Chen Longxiang, be punished for treason.
However, a group of military generals led by Chen Qingzhi, the Duke of Han, tried their best to keep the matter within the bounds of the Prince of Jin's capriciousness and temper, striving to minimize the impact of the incident.
Therefore, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an delayed in reaching a conclusion on the matter amidst the dispute between the civil and military factions in the court.
But now, when the front-line battle reports from the pursuing Tang Dynasty naval fleet reach the court;
In the future, there is also the possibility that the news that the former empress Su Wan'er is actually a "concubine" of the first prince of the new dynasty will be leaked.
As the reigning emperor, Chen Huai'an, no matter how unwilling he was to face this matter, had no choice but to bring it to the forefront and deal with it.
Rather than letting a group of civil officials in the court use this as an excuse to cause trouble;
It would be better to announce in court that Prince Chen Longxiang's actions constituted treason and that everything should be dealt with according to the "Great Tang Code".
Fortunately, I was able to have some peace and quiet.
As for his mother, Xu Ruoyun, I'm sure she can understand him.
call--
Thinking of this, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, who was in the imperial study, finally let out a long sigh of relief.
Since things have come to this, let's just handle it this way!
As an emperor, and the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he should have set aside all personal feelings and made decisions based on the long-term stability and prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.
Chen Huai'an resolved that the imperial court should issue an edict to punish Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin for treason.
If we can capture him alive, we should put him under house arrest and confinement.
If not, then that is Chen Longxiang's fate.
"Report—"
"Your Majesty, the time for recess has come; it is time to resume court!"
At this moment, the voice of Cai He, the chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, came from outside the Imperial Study.
Um--
Inside the imperial study, Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an, nodded.
After taking another deep breath and calming himself down, he got up and left the Imperial Study, heading towards the Golden Palace.
At the same time.
Inside the Golden Palace, all the civil and military officials of the court had already taken their positions, waiting for Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an, to arrive so that they could continue the agenda that had been suspended before the adjournment.
During the recess, a group of civil officials, led by Liu Huaiyi, an imperial censor, reiterated their positions: today's court meeting must achieve the goal of punishing Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin and opposing the emperor's conferment of a princeship.
At least one of these two goals must be achieved.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
When the announcement came from outside the Golden Palace by Cai He, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Liu Huaiyi, the Censor of the Censorate inside the Golden Palace, filled with a sense of certainty, began to join the other civil and military officials in kneeling before Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an, who had just taken his seat on the dragon throne in the Golden Palace.
They just waited for the phrase "I have something to report" before reiterating their attitude and views by quoting classical texts once again.
Unexpectedly, this time Liu Huaiyi, the censor of the Censorate, failed in his plan.
Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an, who sat on the dragon throne in the Golden Palace, did not give Liu Huaiyi a chance to speak. He directly stated his attitude in front of all the civil and military officials.
Chen Huai'an said, "My esteemed ministers, I have just received a report from Tang Ziyi, the Vice Admiral of the Tang Navy, regarding the Tang Navy's warship 'Anti-Japanese War' commanded by Prince Chen Longxiang."
"On the Yangtze River waterway near Jiangyin, disregarding the court's advice and my imperial decree, they openly bombarded my Great Tang naval fleet;"
"This act can be considered an open rebellion!"
After a pause, Chen Huai'an continued, "I have decided that Prince Jin, Chen Longxiang's massacre in Jinling City and his bombardment of the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet are considered acts of rebellion, and he shall be executed according to the law!"
Wow!
When Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an uttered these words, the vast Golden Palace erupted in uproar, and all the civil and military officials were shocked.
Led by Liu Huaiyi, a censor of the Censorate, a group of civil officials were prepared to "argue with reason and remonstrate with their lives." During the recess, they pooled their wisdom and wrote a "strategy for suppressing the rebellion" that was over 10,000 words long.
The purpose was to coerce Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, thereby increasing the voice of the civil official group in the Tang Dynasty court.
Since the founding of the Xin Dynasty, the monarchs of all the dynasties in the Central Plains have adopted a policy of "emphasizing military affairs and neglecting civil affairs," which has greatly weakened the voice of the civil officials in the court.
Now, the civil officials who had been lying low for "two dynasties and four emperors" finally saw an opportunity to confront the imperial power directly, so how could they let it go?
Even if it means death, I will strive to secure a place for future civil officials in the imperial court.
However, just as Liu Huaiyi, the censor of the Censorate, was preparing to face the emperor's wrath and was about to advise the emperor to execute his younger brother Chen Longxiang for treason and to take this as a lesson to never again grant the title of king.
Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, sitting on the dragon throne, surprisingly preemptively made a conclusion on the matter of "Prince Jin's rebellion";
This left Liu Huaiyi and his group of civil officials feeling powerless, as if they were punching cotton. Their "Strategy for Suppressing the Rebellion," which was tens of thousands of words long, was now in a dilemma—whether to take it or not.
It felt like there was a fishbone stuck in my throat, I couldn't swallow it or spit it out.
Compared to the "helplessness" of the civil officials in the court, the military group led by the five founding dukes of the Tang Dynasty could not help but sigh when they heard Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an's decision, but they could not find a legitimate reason to advise the emperor to rescind the order.
All the generals knew that this time, the Tang Dynasty was about to face the most severe test since its founding. Countless soldiers of the Tang Dynasty would die on the battlefield, but not on the battlefield where they had made contributions to the Tang Dynasty and expanded the territory of the Han people.
Instead, they died in battle during dynastic strife and internal strife.
This would weaken the military strength and defense capabilities of the Tang Dynasty. If things went wrong, the Arab Empire outside the Western Regions might also take this opportunity to launch another large-scale eastward invasion and attack the borders of the Tang Dynasty.
What worried the Tang generals even more was that Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin was naturally brave and had the strength that even the Four Elephants could not defeat. In addition, he had gained experience and growth in the army during the eastern expedition against Goguryeo.
The Prince of Jin, Chen Longxiang, is no longer the simple-minded boy with a pointed mouth and thinning cheeks. He has grown into a fierce general through the baptism of war.
Looking at the military generals of the Tang Dynasty, including the "five dukes, nine marquises, and twenty-seven earls," it seems that not a single one could rival them on the battlefield.
Even though the emperor, upholding righteousness, ordered the suppression of the rebellion and the execution of Prince Jin;
But, in this vast Tang Dynasty, who could possibly be the commander-in-chief?
For a time, the civil and military officials in the court, each with their own thoughts and ulterior motives, surprisingly remained silent.
On the dragon throne in the Golden Palace, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an looked at the silent civil and military officials in the court and couldn't help but frown slightly.
Ultimately, however, they had no choice but to continue with this resolution.
Chen Huai'an said, "My beloved ministers, Prince Jin, Chen Longxiang, has now raised an army in rebellion, disregarding the imperial family, the nation, and the state. Whether in public or private matters, and in terms of reason and emotion, he has placed himself on the opposite side of the Tang Dynasty."
"Therefore, my dear ministers need not feel any psychological burden regarding the matter of quelling the Prince of Jin's rebellion!"
After a pause, Chen Huai'an began to address Li directly, saying, "Lord Li, you are the Minister of War. This matter of suppressing the Prince of Jin's rebellion should rightfully be led by your Ministry of War, with the other ministries of the court responsible for coordination."
"I am giving your Ministry of War three days to produce a concrete plan for suppressing the rebellion, specifying who will lead the troops, when the expedition will take place, and how long it will take to quell the rebellion. Every detail must be meticulously detailed, and there must be no ambiguous answers."
"I await your Ministry of War's report!"
After speaking, Chen Huai'an waved his hand and continued, "Regarding the Prince of Jin's rebellion, do any of you ministers have any other opinions to present?"
Inside the Golden Palace, there was an eerie silence, not a sound to be heard.
Chen Huai'an said, "In that case, let's adjourn the court!"
"Court adjourned—"
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