The eldest prince, Chen Chuyan, was the first child of Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an, and Empress Liu Shujun, the founding empress of the Tang Dynasty. Although he was young, he already had a certain heroic spirit.
Chen Chuyan's appearance perfectly inherited the best features of Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an and Empress Liu Shujun, with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, and outstanding temperament;
In addition, he was raised as the crown prince from a young age, and was not only proficient in literature and history, but also skilled in horseback riding and archery;
At such a young age, he already possesses the demeanor of a king!
The second prince, Chen Chuqing, was the first child of Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an, and Imperial Noble Consort Yue Qiluo. He was also of school age, only born one incense stick's time later than the first prince, Chen Chuqing.
In terms of appearance and temperament, he possesses both the introverted nature of his Central Plains heritage and the ruggedness of his Western Regions ethnicity. In particular, his high nose bridge makes Chen Chuqing's already handsome facial features appear even more three-dimensional and full.
From a young age, Chen Chuqing studied literature and martial arts in the palace with his elder brother, the emperor Chen Chuyan. This allowed him to not only read extensively but also develop excellent martial arts skills.
It is not difficult to see from this that Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an had been cultivating both Chen Chuyan and Chen Chuqing as heir apparent and talents for governing the world from the very beginning.
Of course, the principle of establishing the eldest son as the crown prince and the legitimate heir has been a rule in the Central Plains dynasties for thousands of years.
Therefore, the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty could only be the eldest son, Chen Chuyan.
As for the arrangements for his son Chen Chuqing, Chen Huai'an had already made plans ten years ago in the first year of Zhaowu. That was to let Chen Chuqing inherit the title of his maternal grandfather, the valiant Khan Moyanchuo, and to confer upon him the title of the Western King of the Great Tang Dynasty, so that he could govern the Western Regions and guard the region on behalf of the Great Tang Dynasty.
Ten years ago, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an personally led an expedition and defeated the 800,000-strong army of the Arab Empire that was conquering the east in the Uyghur Khanate of the Western Regions. After completely annexing the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, he began to implement a new policy of "separation of military and political power" in the Western Regions, and supported several regimes in the Western Regions, all of which were uniformly stationed with troops arranged by the Tang Dynasty.
The current situation in the Western Regions is similar to the system of the United States of America, the world Chen Huai'an came from before his transmigration. Each state is relatively independent in terms of law, system, economy, and culture, while military and diplomatic affairs are handled uniformly by the Central Plains dynasty.
After ten years of implementing and developing new policies, the various systems in the Western Regions have become nearly perfect, and it is time for Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an to let his princes go out and gain experience.
In Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an's next ten-year plan, the Western Regions were just a springboard for his second son, Chen Chuqing. His stage should be in the more expansive Africa and Europe, to govern the vast lands and great rivers and mountains conquered by the frontline soldiers of the Tang Dynasty.
Next, just like the new policies he implemented in the Western Regions, he transformed the Arab Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and even the Charlemagne Empire, which had once had the "Alliance of Nanjing," into places like the United States of America, sending his princes and grandsons to these republics to defend the territory and protect the people of the Tang Dynasty in the Central Plains.
Let's get back to the main topic.
After the two princes in the Golden Palace paid their respects to Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, they respectfully followed the other civil and military officials and stood in the Golden Palace awaiting further instructions from the emperor.
Chen Huai'an waved his hand and instructed Cai He, the old eunuch who had served him for ten years, "Eunuch Cai, announce the decree!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Cai He, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who was already in his sixties, turned around and took the imperial edict that Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an had already drafted from the brocade tray held by a junior eunuch. In front of the entire court, he loudly read it aloud:
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"
"Since my ascension to the throne, I have worked tirelessly day and night, dedicating myself to the prosperity of the nation and the well-being of the people. Now, observing the imperial clan, I find that my eldest son, Chen Chuyan, possesses both excellent character and outstanding talent, deeply winning my favor and the hopes of the court and the people. He is the will of Heaven and the aspiration of the people; he is fit to inherit the weight of the ancestral temple and continue the imperial lineage."
"In strict accordance with ancestral rules and ceremonial rites, the eldest son of the Emperor, Chen Chuyan, is hereby appointed as the Crown Prince of the Great Tang Dynasty, to assume the position of Eastern Palace. It is hoped that he will be able to inherit the great mandate, be diligent in his studies, govern the world with benevolence and virtue, and rule the country with talent and wisdom. The Crown Prince should uphold the Emperor's boundless grace, broaden the path for talent, and take it upon himself to ensure the peace and stability of the nation."
"From the day of investiture, all civil and military officials and people of the land shall obey this edict and participate in this grand event!"
"This proclamation shall be made known both at home and abroad!"
"So be it—"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
In an instant, all the civil and military officials in the Golden Palace shouted in unison, "Your Majesty is wise!"
Chen Chuyan, who had just been named Crown Prince, subconsciously turned his head to look at his younger brother Chen Chuqing beside him.
Almost simultaneously, the Second Prince Chen Chuqing also raised his head and cast his sincere blessing gaze upon his elder brother, Chen Chuyan.
When their eyes met, the two brothers exchanged knowing smiles, everything understood without a word.
At this moment, with the dust settling on the matter of appointing the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, the conspiracy theories about the struggle for the Crown Prince that had been circulating for ten years were refuted.
After officially appointing the Crown Prince, Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an, continued from his throne: "My beloved ministers, now that the Crown Prince has been established, the hearts of the people are with you."
"I have decided to take this opportunity to send the Second Prince, Chu Qing, to the Western Regions for training, so that he can guard the frontier for our Great Tang Dynasty!"
With that, Chen Huai'an waved his hand and said, "Eunuch Cai, announce the imperial decree—"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Immediately, Cai He, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, once again held up the imperial edict with both hands, unfolded it, and read it aloud in a clear and resonant voice: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"
"Hereinafter known is the Second Prince, Chen Chuqing..."
Under the watchful eyes of the entire court, the old eunuch Cai He read out the imperial edict issued by Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, regarding the Second Prince Chen Chuqing's succession to the title of King of the Western Tang Dynasty by his maternal grandfather, the Martial Khan Moyanchuo, in accordance with ancestral rules and laws.
After ten years of diligent governance by Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an and the talent selection through three reforms of the imperial examination system, the old officials left over from the previous dynasty in the Tang Dynasty court have been largely purged. A group of civil officials, led by Liu Huaiyi, the censor of the Censorate, who were the die-hards who opposed the enfeoffment of princes, have long since returned to their hometowns to recuperate.
Therefore, Emperor Zhaowu's decision to allow his second son, Chen Chuqing, to inherit the title of Prince of the West of the Great Tang Dynasty, in accordance with ancestral rules and laws, was not opposed by anyone.
On the contrary, the young officials believed that Emperor Zhaowu's conferment of titles upon the country was entirely beneficial to the nation and its people.
Who can blame them? The Tang Dynasty is now terrifyingly powerful.
Shouldn't we send more princes to the lands trampled by the Tang cavalry to defend the Tang Dynasty and protect its people?
"From the day of investiture, all civil and military officials and people of the land shall obey this edict and participate in this grand event!"
"This proclamation shall be made known both at home and abroad!"
"So be it—"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Inside the Golden Palace, as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial once again read out the contents of the imperial edict, the civil and military officials once again shouted in unison that the Emperor was wise and benevolent.
Crown Prince Chen Chuyan and Prince Chen Chuqing, the two brothers, once again looked at each other and smiled knowingly.
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