Tang Chen: Starting from the Xuanwu Gate Incident

Chapter 4 urging the emperor to take the throne

The footsteps grew closer, and even though Shen Ce had experienced many grand occasions in his previous life, he couldn't help but feel nervous. Facing the Prince of Qin, who was only seven years older than him but had conquered half of the Tang Dynasty, the pressure was unimaginable.

"Raise your head." The voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable authority.

Shen Ce slowly raised his head and saw that the person in front of him was tall and upright with broad eyebrows and a straight body under the dark blue brocade robe.

Li Shimin remained calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, but his sharp gaze fell upon Shen Ce: "Shen Ce, tell me yourself."

Seeing a foreign object in his mouth, he pointed and said, "Let him speak."

The guards quickly stepped forward and pulled the vinegar cloth out of his mouth. Shen Ce took the opportunity to glance at Yuchi Jingde. Their eyes met, and he understood the meaning in Yuchi Jingde's eyes.

Despite being bound, he knelt upright. After catching his breath, he licked his blackened lips and looked directly at the King of Qin, speaking loudly.

"Today, I was asked by the soldiers whether the generals of the Qin Prince's mansion are really going to accompany the Qi Prince to fight the Turks."

Li Shimin lowered his eyes and said coldly, "They are generals of the court, not my troops."

"But...we don't understand why the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi have repeatedly acted arrogantly towards the Prince of Qin's residence."

"Du Ruhui, the military advisor, was humiliated by Consort Yin's servant and had his little finger broken, while His Highness was reprimanded by the Emperor."

"A few days ago, the Crown Prince invited Your Highness to drink, but he returned vomiting blood. However, His Majesty only ordered Your Highness not to drink and did not punish the Crown Prince in the slightest."

"This empire was conquered by Your Highness and your generals; how can you treat Your Highness like this..."

Li Shimin's expression was solemn as he slowly said, "Is this why you spread celestial phenomena?"

Shen Ce paused for a moment, realizing he had no choice but to speak. After organizing his thoughts, he looked directly at Shen Ce and said, "In the first year of Wude, the Battle of Qianshuiyuan resulted in the defeat of Xue Ju and Xue Rengao, and the conquest of Longdong."

"In the second year of Wude, His Highness went without food for two days and without removing his armor for three days, captured Jinyang, defeated Liu Wuzhou and Song Jingang, and recovered Hedong."

"In the third year of Wude, during the battles of Luoyang and Hulao Pass, His Highness defeated 100,000 with only 3,000 men, capturing two kings in one battle. The Emperor bestowed upon him the title of 'General of Heavenly Strategy'."

"In the fourth year of the Wude era, during the Battle of Mingshui, Your Highness quelled Liu Heita's rebellion and recovered Hebei."

As Shen Ce spoke of each battle, his gaze swept over the generals who had participated in that battle, his voice grew louder and louder, and his tone became increasingly sorrowful.

The generals were thrilled upon hearing this, as if they had returned to the era of conquering the world and the clash of swords and the thunder of horses. They had previously thought that this group was just brave and fierce, but they never expected that not only were they literate, but they also spoke with great spirit.

Li Shimin paced back and forth in the room, his expression solemn. Shen Ce's words struck him like a heavy hammer. In those years, he and the generals in his household risked their lives to fight for the Li Tang dynasty. But now that the world was at peace, someone still wanted his head.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"I would like to say that we soldiers all believe that the world was conquered by Your Highness, and it should belong to Your Highness."

"Your Highness, please strike first! The King of Qin will surely rule the world!"

After saying that, Shen Ce slammed his head heavily on the ground. The sudden pain almost made him lose his balance, and the vinegar in his sleeve brought tears to his eyes. Anyone who saw him would think that he was a loyal soldier, speaking out for his superior and for his Prince Qin.

He just mentioned all of the King of Qin's past achievements to make everyone feel resentful, so that when their thoughts are aligned, their actions will be aligned as well.

Silence means agreement, and not speaking means tacit consent; at least, that's what Yuchi Jingde believed.

Seeing that Li Shimin was still hesitating, he knelt on one knee, placed his right hand on his chest, and began to advise him on the grounds that the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi wanted to cut off Li Shimin's arm.

Shen Ce saw, heard, and felt Yuchi Jingde's loyalty to Li Shimin. Loyalty can be transformed into faith, loyalty can be used as weapons, loyalty can be the confidence to move forward without hesitation, and loyalty can even be eaten. But it cannot protect one's family, let alone stop the open and hidden attacks in the court.

At the end of the Sui Dynasty, eighteen rebel kings rose up in rebellion, but where are they now? They have all vanished into the dust and smoke of war.

Then they saw Yuchi Jingde spread his fingers and quietly reach into the armor.

Shen Ce stared wide-eyed, not daring to miss a moment, eager to see how the Tang Dynasty's imperial robe was bestowed upon him.

Sigh, sigh~

A large hand descended from the sky, grabbed his collar, and in an instant, it was outside the door.

He was thrown out by Cheng Zhijie... with one hand, he weighed 200 jin (100 kg) and 3 zhang (10 meters) including his armor. Is he even human?

Shen Ce stood outside the door for a long time, without any resentment on his face. He looked into the room, where the candlelight illuminated the shadowy figures. He could vaguely hear, "Hey, what are you doing? Why are you doing this?"

He was extremely satisfied to have the opportunity to express the soldiers' attitude towards the King of Qin's ascension to the throne.

If we overstep our bounds and say too much, wouldn't that hinder the generals' efforts to persuade us to ascend the throne?

Now they should start discussing the details of tomorrow's Xuanwu Gate Incident. He, who is familiar with history, also wants to participate, but unfortunately, his status is not high enough.

Shen Ce collected his thoughts, looked up at the sky, and realized it was time to return to his unit. His personal guards had arrested him in front of so many people, and his men were probably already making fun of him. He was counting on them for tomorrow, so he couldn't afford to lose face.

At this time, the Qin King's mansion was brightly lit, and the guards had returned to their posts.

Having not eaten all day, Shen Ce was still starving. He first found a well to wash off the vinegar smell from his body, then cleaned the bloodstains from his head. Taking advantage of the cook's absence, he stole two flatbreads before swaggering towards the training ground.

"Oh, Captain Shen, His Highness didn't keep you any longer, letting you suffer a little longer?"

Before they even reached the camp gate, they heard Jiang Guimen, who was also an infantry captain, making jokes. The soldiers dared not laugh out loud, but they covered their mouths and chuckled to themselves.

Shen Ce rolled his eyes at Jiang Gui, then pretended to dust himself off: "Damn it, I'm going to see His Highness in person, stop spouting nonsense and ruining my reputation."

Jiang Gui squinted, using the last rays of the setting sun to look him up and down, his gaze finally settling on his forehead, where a large bruise was visible, with blood seeping out from time to time.

"You really didn't go to beg for mercy?"

What do you think?

Jiang Gui suddenly stood up, his armor clanking loudly: "You, you coward, actually got the first move."

Shen Ce didn't reply; he had important things to do. He waved his hand and headed towards his team.

Not far away, he turned around and saw him giving a speech to the soldiers. Sure enough, there were no fools among those who served under the King of Qin.

As soon as they returned to their territory, the guards swarmed around them, asking all at once, "Boss, what did His Highness say?"

Shen Ce pounded his fist on everyone's chests, lowered his voice, and said excitedly, "It's done. Get ready for battle."

Just as he was about to speak with the soldiers, he heard the sound of hooves growing increasingly urgent, and a dark figure became clearer under the setting sun.

A horse lance stood in front of him. He was tall and robust, with a ruddy complexion and slanted, sword-like eyebrows.

It was General Qin, the Protector of the Army, and all the soldiers of the palace rose and stepped forward.

"Pass on the King of Qin's teachings." Qin Shubao, mounted on his horse, held the yellow hemp paper high above his head, looking down at the crowd.

"You infantrymen, prepare food at the second watch tomorrow and assemble at the third watch. All obey my orders. Anyone who disobeys will be executed. Now, the entire camp is to be silent."

Where is Shen Ce?

Upon hearing this, Shen Ce was overjoyed. Cheng Yaojin was indeed a man of his word, so he immediately stepped forward to sign up.

"I am here; please give your instructions, Commander Qin."

Qin Shubao rode his horse around Shen Ce, the lingering smell of vinegar causing his prized horse to sneeze incessantly.

"Send ten brave men to find Yuchi Jingde."