sovbooks Chapter 17 Su Wan: Your Highness, you must take command of the Imperial Guards!
Chapter 17 Su Wan: Your Highness, you must take command of the Imperial Guards!
Li Chengqian was also very surprised when he heard this. He never expected that Qingque would go to such a place of pleasure.
However, it's no wonder that the bluebird develops early and has a thick, black beard.
No one expected Su Wan to be so bold and plan so meticulously, actually managing to subdue the dignified King of Yue.
If it were someone else, even if they sent out hundreds of assassins, they probably wouldn't be able to do anything to Qingque.
Li Chengqian carefully read Qingque's confession three times.
At this moment, his heart was as calm as still water, undisturbed.
Previously, he would have found it difficult to accept this fact.
Su Wan suggested, "Your Highness, if you want to get back at Qingque, just give this confession to your father. I think even if Qingque doesn't die, he'll be badly injured!"
Li Chengqian pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "Those are all things of the past, let them go!"
If Qingque really leaves Chang'an for her fiefdom within three days, we'll have very little contact afterward, and there won't be any more conflicts.
"With this confession, the evidence is irrefutable. This is a great opportunity to bring down the King of Yue. If you are too soft-hearted to let him go this time, it will be much more difficult to deal with him in the future."
You may forgive him, but he might not forgive you.
The reason for letting him leave Chang'an was merely a delaying tactic.
As long as he's alive, it's unlikely he'll give up the idea of vying for the crown prince position.
Li Chengqian understood that Su Wan's analysis made sense. At this moment, he seemed to be able to understand the painful feelings his father had when he launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident.
Non-vegetation, ruthless Practice makes perfect?
To turn against one's own brother is something not everyone can do.
Li Chengqian returned the confession to Su Wan: "Since Qingque has already suffered, let's end this matter here. Don't mention it again in the future."
Let's see if he goes to his fiefdom in three days.
Su Wan knew Li Chengqian was a kind-hearted and loyal person, and shook her head with a sigh: "If you don't listen to my advice, you'll regret it someday!"
"Let's talk about the future later!"
Su Wan thought for a moment and said, "I heard that night, Chang He personally led a thousand imperial guards here to search for the Tongmu man, and you punished him by making him kneel!"
"When he sees me, he kneels and bows; isn't that what he should do?"
Su Wan shook her head: "Generally speaking, that's the logic, but do you know who Chang He is?"
"Isn't he the commander of the Imperial Guards?"
"That's right. Back when your father launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, it was he who opened the Xuanwu Gate and let your father's eight hundred troops in."
If he doesn't agree, it probably won't be so easy for your father to win the Xuanwu Gate Incident!
Therefore, the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards was extremely important.
"Hmm, but what do all this have to do with me?"
Su Wan placed her hands in front of her abdomen, paced back and forth, and looked out the window: "Your Highness, if you think that way, you are very wrong."
If you want to secure your position in the Eastern Palace, you must control a portion of the Imperial Guards. In other words, you must have someone within the Imperial Guards, and that person must be no ordinary person.
Li Chengqian thought there was some truth to what she said!
Training a few loyal henchmen to carry out assassinations and intelligence gathering might be possible, but it would be far too weak to fight against a regular army.
As Su Wan said, to accomplish great things, one must control a portion of the Imperial Guards.
These commanders of the Imperial Guards wielded immense power, and in crucial moments, they could potentially turn the tide of battle.
Thinking of this, Li Chengqian said, "Your idea seems pretty good."
But Chang He, as the commander of the Imperial Guards, is utterly loyal to my father. Would he listen to me?
"Chang He is your father's close friend, so don't try to take advantage of him anymore."
"But you are the Crown Prince; you can send your own people into the Imperial Guards."
Li Chengqian thought Su Wan was quick-witted and a very decisive person.
But then another problem arose: who should be placed in the Imperial Guard?
After much deliberation, Li Chengqian found no suitable candidate. He then asked, "Wan'er, who do you think would be suitable for me to assign to the Imperial Guard?"
Su Wan looked at the Crown Prince with a firm gaze: "Then let my brother Su Gui go."
"Su Gui?"
"Yes, although he is young, he is highly skilled in martial arts and is quick-witted and intelligent."
Li Chengqian looked worried: "Sending Su Gui to work in the Imperial Guard is a very dangerous thing. If anything happens to your brother, how can I face your father and mother?"
"Life and death are predestined, wealth and honor are determined by fate. I believe that once Su Gui joins the Imperial Guard, it won't be long before she gains some power and pledges her loyalty to His Highness!"
"Alright then, have your brother come and talk to me when you have time, and see what he thinks."
"OK."
Su Wan chatted with Li Chengqian for a while longer before leaving the East Palace.
Not long after Su Wan left, Chengxin arrived, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, we have obtained the latest news."
"What news?"
"Li Tai is packing his bags, preparing to go to Yangzhou to take up his new post."
"Yeah?"
Li Chengqian thought to himself that Su Wan's prediction was indeed correct; Qingque was really going to leave Chang'an.
"Yes, this is truly a case of the sun rising in the west."
He had always been reluctant to leave Chang'an, but this time, I don't know what happened.
Li Chengqian rested his chin on his hand and pondered for a moment: "No matter where Li Tai is, we must keep a close eye on his movements."
"Understood."
"Yangzhou is different from other places and is of great importance. Back when Yang Guang was the Prince of Jin, he took root in Yangzhou. It was because he managed Yangzhou well and established his own foundation that he was able to successfully seize the position of Crown Prince later."
If he hadn't run a business in Yangzhou, it would have been almost impossible for him to become the crown prince.
Therefore, Li Tai's decision to leave Chang'an for Yangzhou had both advantages and disadvantages; it all depended on how he managed it.
If he manages things well, he could still make a comeback, so we must not let our guard down.
"Your Highness is absolutely right."
"If I'm not mistaken, he must have made some arrangements before he left."
"You need to find a way to figure out their plan."
"promise!"
Chengxin is very different now than before. On the surface, he is a musician, but in reality, he is the Crown Prince's confidant.
He recruited ten Turks, each with unique skills, to carry out special tasks for the crown prince.
morning.
Military academies and training grounds are off-limits.
Today is a beautiful day with a gentle breeze and bright sunshine.
Li Chengqian watched the warhorses galloping past and sighed in despair!
He used to love riding horses, but because the horses were too wild, he fell off.
The past is too painful to recall; it's all tears!
He stood in front of the target, about 150 paces away.
He nocked an arrow and aimed at the bullseye.
With a "whoosh," the arrow flew like a shooting star and hit the bullseye perfectly.
"Excellent archery!"
When Li Chengqian heard someone praising him, he turned around and saw a young man approaching from not far away. He was tall and strong, with a slender waist and broad back, a ruddy complexion, white teeth and red lips, and a dignified appearance. He also had a heroic air about him.
The man held a large pear blossom spear, carried a precious carved bow on his shoulder, and had a quiver of arrows hanging on his right side, looking quite imposing.
The visitor was none other than Su Gui!
Su Gui approached Li Chengqian and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, Su Gui greets you."
Li Chengqian nodded slightly: "I heard from your sister that you are exceptionally skilled in martial arts. Would you be willing to show me your skills?"
"Can!"
Su Gui did not refuse, and with a flick of her wrist, she began to brandish the spear on the training ground.
It is said that the pear blossom spear in his hand was the same weapon used by Li Guang in the past.
Li Guang fought against the Xiongnu throughout his life, engaging in countless battles and killing countless Xiongnu people, striking fear into the hearts of the Xiongnu.
Although the Xiongnu no longer exist, the Turks still exist and continue to covet the Tang Dynasty.
On the drill ground, Su Gui wielded the large spear with uncanny skill, attracting the attention of many Imperial Guards soldiers.
A soldier reported this to Chang He.
Chang He also arrived at the military training ground.
He first approached Li Chengqian: "Your Highness, I am in armor, please allow me to pay my respects with military salute!"
Li Chengqian glanced at him and noticed that his attitude was much better than before: "No need for formalities!"
"What brings you to the military training ground today?"
"I've been spending all day reviewing memorials, and I'm starting to feel some problems with my cervical spine, so I came here to stretch my legs!"
"I see. I heard that too, Your Highness, your archery skills are superb!"
"That's nothing, just a trivial skill," Li Chengqian paused here, "I heard you're recruiting soldiers."
"Yes, some Imperial Guards soldiers were injured or were getting old and had to retire, so we needed to replenish them with fresh blood."
Because the Imperial Guards are responsible for the security of Chang'an, a weighty responsibility, every soldier we recruit undergoes rigorous testing and screening; we would rather have none than recruit the unqualified.
"You did the right thing."
Chang He pointed at Su Gui, who was practicing his spear on the field, and asked, "Your Highness, do you know who he is?"
"He is Su Gui, the son of Su Dan, the Secretary."
"Oh, I didn't expect Lord Su's son to be so grown up. It seems he's quite skilled in martial arts."
"Let's wait and see."
Su Gui moved with light steps, possessed superb marksmanship, and moved with perfect control.
He shook the pear blossom spear in his hand, making it nod wildly like a golden rooster.
It lunged forward, like a monstrous python turning over;
He retreated, as if a tiger had been released from its cage;
With a flick to the left, it seemed to have the force of an overwhelming mountain;
A sweep to the right, like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves!
"Great marksmanship!"
The imperial guards applauded and cheered from the sidelines.
Chang He was also very surprised when he saw it!
He never expected that Su Gui, at such a young age, would have such remarkable marksmanship!
"Kid, you dance quite well, but I wonder how you'll perform in a real fight," Chang He said.
Upon hearing this, Su Gui put away her spear, her breath coming in short gasps, her expression unchanged: "Anyone who disagrees can come up and try!"
Su Gui spoke with a strong and resonant voice.
Just then, a squad leader of the Imperial Guards named Jing Yao was standing to the side watching.
He is the nephew of General Jing Junhong.
When Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Jing Junhong was killed by Feng Li, a general of the Eastern Palace.
Li Shimin was deeply saddened by this and posthumously granted Jing Junhong the titles of Minister of War and Duke of Jiang.
Chang He winked at Jing Yao.
Jing Yao understood, and strode up to Su Gui: "I, Jing, am not convinced and would like to have a painting contest with you."
Su Gui saw that this man was tall and burly, and looked very fierce.
Chang He had them remove the gun barrels, then wrapped the ends of the gun shafts with cloth and applied white ash to them.
Su Gui and Jing Yao then took their stances, ready to fight.
However, to Chang He's surprise, Jing Yao was knocked down by Su Gui in just one exchange, and Su Gui's spear was pointed directly at Jing Yao's throat.
The outcome was clear.
Everyone present was shocked, thinking that Jing Yao's kung fu was quite good, so how could he be so easily defeated in front of Su Gui?
"Do you submit? If not, come at me again!" Su Gui said.
How could Jingyao possibly have the nerve to fight them again under the watchful eyes of everyone?
"I lost. I'm no match for you!" Jingyao stood up, his face filled with shame.
It's not bad, because it takes a lot of courage to admit that you are not as good as others.
Chang He glared at Jing Yao.
Jingyao shrank back in fright.
"Set up the formation!"
At Chang He's command, eighteen soldiers surrounded Su Gui, trapping her in the center.
They were carrying long spears, but the spearheads had been removed. The formation they were in was called the "Eighteen Arhats Staff Formation".
Seeing this, Li Chengqian also began to worry about Su Gui.
Su Gui sneered, thinking to herself, "What are you doing? Gathering chicken feathers and collecting dusters, trying to win with numbers? I'll play along to the end."
Thinking of this, Su Gui roused herself, gripped her spear tightly with both hands, and stared intently at the crowd.
Chang He shouted the command from the side: "Subdue the dragon and tam the tiger!"
The eighteen soldiers simultaneously raised their spears high and struck at Su Gui, who was positioned in the center.
Su Gui used her gun as a foothold, leaped up, and jumped out of the encirclement.
Everyone's attacks missed, and dust billowed up from the ground.
"Sweep through the enemy ranks!"
Then, the eighteen soldiers crouched down and used their spears to sweep at Su Gui's lower body.
Su Gui dodged left and right, avoiding them one by one.
"Use both hands!"
At this moment, nine soldiers stood in a row, and another nine soldiers jumped up and stood on their shoulders, facing Su Gui.
They gripped both ends of the spear and pulled together, causing the spear to form a bow shape. When they released their grip, the bow shot out, heading straight for Su Gui!
"Su Gui, watch out!" Li Chengqian shouted.
With quick reflexes, Su Gui deflected and parried the long "bows" one by one, some of which were deflected back, disrupting their formation and even hitting some soldiers who fell to the ground.
Su Gui followed and picked randomly. After a while, when she looked at the "Eighteen Arhats" again, they were covered in white and gray spots.
Chang He took one look and exclaimed, "Wow! This kid's got guts!"
He thought to himself that he had lost face big time this time. A mere kid had utterly defeated his Imperial Guards.
"Get the hell out of my way! You're all idiots!" Chang He roared. "Watch me take him on myself!"