Chapter 442: Chapter 19: I Will Command All the Armies of the Realm! (Double Chapter)

He wanted to use this move to show goodwill to Li Shimin.

The situation had completely changed.

The fact that Li Shimin was able to return here again said it all.

Even if he couldn’t maintain his current power, he needed to avoid Li Shimin’s retaliation as much as possible.

This sentence finally brought Li Yuan back to his senses.

He felt as if all his strength had been drained, collapsing weakly on the dragon throne. His bleary eyes scanned Pei Ji, and his Adam’s apple rolled with difficulty. Finally, he tremulously waved his hand.

The moment the old Chancellor brought the yellow hemp paper, his withered fingers grasped the wolf-hair brush, trembling as he began to write.

"Please, Chancellor, go and comfort the troops of the Eastern Palace." Li Shimin’s solemn voice pierced the stagnant air.

The edict in Pei Ji’s hand rustled, and when he looked up, he met Yuchi Jingde’s cold, sharp eyes.

The body of the old minister trembled instantly.

Even he could feel the threat of death.

He hurriedly accepted the order and was about to get up and leave, and Yuchi Jingde followed directly behind him.

As the palace door closed with a crash, the dragon incense mixed with the scent of blood surged within the hall.

Li Yuan watched as Li Shimin, standing before him, suddenly pounded the imperial desk. The bronze candlestick on it shook violently. He roared uncontrollably, "Four sons, and now only you are left. Is this the price of gaining the empire?"

Tears kept rolling from his eyes.

He seemed to be blaming himself and regretting it.

Regretting why he stood by and watched all this in silence.

Li Shimin knelt on one knee, the scabs of blood on his Profound Armor glimmering dark red in the candlelight. His knuckles clenched deeply into his palm, yet he kept his head bowed in silence.

"What more do you want?!" Li Yuan’s emotions suddenly flared up again, staggering down the steps of the imperial throne. His crown tassels struck Li Shimin’s forehead. "The throne is already in your hands, what more do you want?!"

"I want command over the military forces of the world!" Li Shimin suddenly looked up, his eyes red as if ignited by the candle flames in the hall.

He slowly got up and stared straight at Li Yuan, letting the tears continue to fall, his gaze unwavering.

Under Li Yuan’s astonished gaze.

He took a deep breath, his fists clenched tightly, his voice growing louder:

"I want command over the military forces of the world!!!"

"I want..."

"Command over the military forces of the world!"

—Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the sound of thunder echoed again, it was as if he was announcing it to the world.

From today, the skies of Great Tang have completely changed!.....

——————

"On the ninth year, sixth month, Gengshen day, Taizong led Zhangsun Wuji, Yuchi Jingde, Hou Junji, Zhang Gongjin, and others to ambush at Xuanwu Gate.

When dawn was approaching, Jiancheng and Yuan Ji rode together into the palace, realized the change at Lihu Hall, and hurriedly fled.

Taizong mounted his horse and shouted, "The state is in danger, today’s matter rests on all of you!"

Soon, two thousand elite troops from the Eastern Palace and Qi Mansion rushed to attack Xuanwu Gate. At first, the gate was closed, and the defenders fought valiantly.

Arrows fell like rain, nearly decimating King Qin’s Personal Guard.

Suddenly, a burly man with a face full of knife scars led soldiers out. His face was covered with scars, his muscles twisted like a demon, unrecognizable to anyone.

He was armored heavily and wielded a Horse Lance, alone blocking the palace gate, fighting several dozen men.

The Changling Soldiers attacked with spears, but wherever the halberd struck, spears broke and men fell, blood splattering three steps away.

A fierce warrior rushed forward to grab his armor; the scar-faced man shouted angrily, swinging his halberd down. The warrior was split in two with his armor, and the crowd retreated in horror.

From dawn until 7:00 AM, corpses were strewn everywhere, and the defenders were greatly encouraged by his might.

Afterward, officials petitioned to commend this person, but Taizong ignored them.

Some privately inquired among those who fought that day—all replied, "He seemed familiar, but his face was completely different, making it impossible to verify."

—"Tang Book. Taizong Annals"