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In the ninth year of Wu De, on the third day of the New Year, Chang'an City was enveloped in silence. Li Shimin stood in the courtyard of Prince Qin's mansion, gazing up at the deep night sky, his heart heavy with worry. He knew he had fallen into a dilemma.
Recently, Li Shimin had sensed an increasing hostility from Crown Prince Li Jiancheng. At a recent court banquet, Li Jiancheng publicly mocked Li Shimin's military abilities, claiming that he was the true commander on the battlefield. This humiliation left Li Shimin feeling disgraced in front of the officials and ignited a flame of endless anger within him.
Li Shimin pondered his situation repeatedly. His father, Li Yuan, had grown increasingly suspicious of him, as evidenced by the stripping of his power to command troops. Furthermore, under the pretext of preventing internal strife, Li Yuan ordered Li Shimin to reduce the number of guards in his residence. This significantly weakened Li Shimin's influence.
"Second Young Master, you called for me?" Yuwen Shiji's voice came from the doorway.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Li Shimin saw Yuwen Shiji standing at the entrance and replied coolly, "General Yuwen, come in."
Yuwen Shiji entered the room and bowed respectfully. "What can I do for you, Second Young Master?"
Li Shimin gestured for him to sit down and began, "General Yuwen, you have been by my side for a long time, and I am well aware of your loyalty. Now that I find myself in a predicament, I seek your counsel."
Yuwen Shiji felt a chill run through him; he understood what Li Shimin meant by "predicament." The conflict between Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin had reached an irreconcilable point, and Li Yuan's suspicion only made matters worse.
"Second Young Master, the current situation is indeed grim," Yuwen Shiji said solemnly. "The Crown Prince's influence over our father is growing stronger while we face constant suppression. If this continues, even your safety may be at risk."
Li Shimin nodded. "I understand. But the question is, how should we respond?"
After a moment of silence, Yuwen Shiji slowly replied, "Second Young Master, perhaps extraordinary measures are our only way out."
Li Shimin's heart jolted; he understood what Yuwen Shiji meant by "extraordinary measures." He realized there was no turning back now. The situation had reached a critical juncture where his very survival was at stake. If he did not act soon, he could be completely crushed by Li Jiancheng or even lose his life.
"General Yuwen, I understand your meaning," Li Shimin said as he stood up and began pacing the room. "But is this truly feasible? If we fail, we will fall into an irretrievable abyss."
Yuwen Shiji replied firmly, "Second Young Master, we have no other choice now. If we continue to sit idly by, the outcome will only worsen. Only by taking extraordinary measures can we hope to turn the tide."
Li Shimin stopped pacing and looked at Yuwen Shiji with a glint of determination in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Alright! We will take this gamble! But we need a detailed plan on how to proceed."
Yuwen Shiji nodded and assured him, "Rest assured, Second Young Master; I have already begun preparations. We can set an ambush at Xuanwu Gate and strike when the Crown Prince and Prince Qi enter the palace. This way, we can seize control of the situation."
Li Shimin frowned slightly. "Xuanwu Gate? That is a critical point of defense for the palace with heavy security; can our men successfully hide there?"
"You need not worry," Yuwen Shiji replied confidently. "I have already made arrangements. Our men have infiltrated the guards at Xuanwu Gate and are just waiting for the right moment to act."
Li Shimin pondered for a moment before saying, "Very well; we will proceed with this plan. However, before taking action, you must ensure that all arrangements are foolproof. We cannot allow anyone to catch wind of our plans."
Yuwen Shiji clasped his hands together and assured him, "You can rest easy; everything has been arranged meticulously. Now we just need to wait for the right opportunity."
Meanwhile, Li Jiancheng was busy in the Eastern Palace as well. He ordered an increase in the number of guards stationed there and personally inspected all defensive measures. He knew that Li Shimin was cornered and might resort to extreme actions.
"Your Highness, here are the soap and toothbrush you requested," a palace maid entered carrying several freshly made bars of soap and a toothbrush.
"Mm-hmm, just set them down," Li Jiancheng replied without looking up as he reviewed a list concerning the guards at Eastern Palace to ensure every position was adequately filled.
"Your Highness, what are you busy with again?" Zheng Guanyin walked in gracefully and asked softly.
Li Jiancheng looked up at her, a faint smile on his face. "Guanyin, I am reviewing the guard roster for the Eastern Palace. The situation has been tense lately, and we must be cautious."
Zheng Guanyin nodded and approached Li Jiancheng's side. "Husband, I know you are doing this to protect the safety of the Eastern Palace, but please don't overwork yourself. Your health is important."
Li Jiancheng took Zheng Guanyin's hand and said, "I understand, and I will take care of myself. You can rest assured."
Zheng Guanyin smiled gently and said no more. She knew that once Li Jiancheng became busy, he would immerse himself completely and often neglect his own well-being. All she could do was silently support him from the side.
As night fell, Chang'an City was shrouded in darkness. Li Shimin stood in the courtyard of Prince Qin's mansion, gazing up at the starry sky, filled with complex emotions. He knew that the step he was about to take would irrevocably change the course of his life.
"Second Young Master, everything is ready," Yuwen Shiji's voice came from behind him.
Li Shimin turned around to look at Yuwen Shiji and nodded. "Good, then we shall wait for the right moment."
Li Shimin understood that this struggle for survival had reached its final stages. He was fully prepared to fight for victory, regardless of the outcome.
As time passed, the situation in Chang'an City grew increasingly tense. The conflict between Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng had reached an irreconcilable point; both were secretly gathering strength, preparing to deliver a fatal blow to one another at a critical moment.
Li Jiancheng intensified his training of the guards in the Eastern Palace while frequently interacting with ministers in court to garner more support. He knew that his military strength was inferior to Li Shimin's and needed to gain an advantage in court.
Meanwhile, Li Shimin secretly assembled troops in Prince Qin's mansion and reached agreements with certain generals to prepare for rebellion at the right time. He understood that he must gain a military upper hand to have a chance at seizing the position of Crown Prince.
The entire Chang'an City seemed enveloped in an oppressive atmosphere as if a storm was about to break. Everyone was waiting for that moment that would determine their fate.
Li Shimin gathered his trusted confidants in Prince Qin's mansion to discuss the details of the coup. They decided to ambush Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji at Xuanwu Gate when they entered court and eliminate them. Additionally, they arranged for some troops to control Tai Chi Palace and abduct Li Yuan to ensure the coup's success.
"Everyone, success or failure hinges on this one move!" Li Shimin said with piercing eyes. "I have contacted some leaders of the Imperial Guards who will turn against them at a crucial moment. As long as we control Xuanwu Gate, we can dominate the situation."
His confidants responded in unison, their morale high. Li Shimin's meticulous plan gave them hope. Although they knew this action could plunge the world into chaos, they were willing to take the risk for power.
At the same time, Li Jiancheng was urgently discussing countermeasures with his advisors in the Eastern Palace. Intelligence indicated that Li Shimin had been frequently mobilizing troops and had secret contacts with certain leaders of the Imperial Guards, increasing the risk of a coup.
"I have ordered increased security for the Eastern Palace and deployed spies at key intersections," Li Jiancheng said solemnly. "If Li Shimin dares to act recklessly, we will make him pay."
Wei Zheng stepped forward and clasped his hands together. "Your Highness, there is solid evidence of Li Shimin's treachery. I suggest we immediately report this to His Majesty and request troops to capture him before it becomes a future threat."
Li Jiancheng shook his head. "No. Li Yuan still harbors reservations about Li Shimin; without solid evidence, acting rashly will only alert him. Furthermore, mobilizing troops requires an imperial decree and military tokens, which are under His Majesty’s control and not something I can easily initiate."
"What does Your Highness plan to do then?" Xu Shimo asked anxiously.
Li Jiancheng replied confidently, "I have arranged for Jia Jian to act as a decoy; he can confuse matters if necessary. In addition, Hua Ying and Yu Minjie are both highly skilled fighters who can secretly protect Your Highness’s safety."
Hearing this reassured everyone slightly; Feng Li clasped his fists together and said, "Your Highness, the Changlin Army is ready and can serve you at any time."
Li Jiancheng nodded. "Good. You lead the Changlin Army and remain hidden, ready to respond at once if there are any changes."
Feng Li accepted the order and left, while Li Jiancheng continued to deploy his plans. "Wei Zheng, you go quickly to contact the ministers in court, explain the greater good, and seek more support. Zhao Hongzhi, you are responsible for maintaining contact with our informants within the Imperial Guards to keep track of developments."
Wei Zheng and Zhao Hongzhi both acknowledged and hurried away. Li Jiancheng looked around at everyone. "Gentlemen, in these extraordinary times, we must unite against our common enemy. As long as I am here, I will ensure your safety."
The crowd responded with a loud cheer, their morale lifted. Li Jiancheng understood that this power struggle had reached a boiling point; only by acting decisively could they turn danger into safety.
As night fell, Chang'an City was engulfed in darkness. Li Shimin, clad in heavy armor, stood by the Xuanwu Gate, flanked by five hundred carefully selected assassins. They held sharp blades, exuding a murderous aura as they awaited their prey.
Li Shimin's gaze was sharp as an eagle's, scanning the surroundings. He knew that this battle was a matter of life and death; there could be no mistakes. Beside him, Yuwen Shiji reported softly, "Second Young Master, there has been movement towards the Eastern Palace and Prince Qi's Residence; the target is about to enter the court."
Li Shimin nodded slightly, but inside he was tumultuous. He understood that once action commenced, it would lead to rivers of blood; yet for the throne, he had no other choice.
Meanwhile, under the protection of Hua Ying and Yu Minjie, Li Jiancheng quietly approached Xuanwu Gate. He wore a smile on his face, but his heart was as clear as a mirror; he knew of Li Shimin's plot. According to plan, Jia Jian would disguise himself as Li Jiancheng and accompany Li Yuanji to divert attention from the coup.
"Your Highness, we are approaching Xuanwu Gate. I have sensed hostility ahead; should we change our route?" Hua Ying whispered.
Li Jiancheng waved his hand dismissively. "No need. I have my own arrangements; just follow the plan."
He had his own certainty; the powder keg of rebellion had already been lit and awaited a thunderous explosion to trigger monumental change.
In Tai Chi Palace, Li Yuan was anxiously waiting for the morning court session under the service of his trusted eunuchs. He sensed an unusual atmosphere but did not realize that the clouds of rebellion were already looming overhead.
As the time for court approached, the officials gathered outside Tai Chi Hall also noticed something amiss. Some ministers closely allied with Li Jiancheng showed signs of worry, while Li Shimin's confidants concealed their deadly intentions.
The entire Chang'an City seemed to hold its breath, awaiting that moment which would decide their fate. This moment would become a turning point in Tang history, ushering in a new era or plunging them into endless turmoil. The wheels of history were slowly turning, and no one could predict the outcome.
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