I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 503 Liu Ju returns, Chang'an never sleeps!
"Father, please be patient."

Liu Ju stood up and bowed to Liu Che, then turned around and nodded to Su Wen who was serving beside him.

"Minister Su, it's time. Please pass on the order."

"promise."

Su Wen, who participated in the advance arrangements, was naturally very curious and immediately agreed to go and pass on the order.

Liu Ju then turned around and said to everyone:
"Please ask Father and Mother to step outside the palace and have a look. Yishuo, Han Ling, Dilibaier, and Fuling, please come out and appreciate the gift I present to Father."

So everyone stood up.

Liu Che and Wei Zifu were in front, and the others followed behind. Accompanied by Liu Ju, they came to the outside of the Greenhouse Palace together, stood at the door of the palace and looked at the slightly empty space in front of the palace.

Unlike the ubiquitous street lamps in later generations, in this era, after the sun sets, even in the Weiyang Palace where the emperor resides, even though there are often guards patrolling the palace with torches, and even though there are braziers used to illuminate from time to time, it is still impossible to completely dispel the darkness. All that is in front of the eyes is a dim darkness with blurred shadows.

"call--"

The late autumn wind brings a hint of chill.

Liu Che couldn't help but tighten his clothes, but his curiosity and anticipation became even stronger.

"..."

However, Wei Zifu looked at Liu Ju worriedly.

Liu Ju knew that preparing a gift for Liu Che was a good thing, but if it was so mysterious and could not really surprise Liu Che, things would not be so wonderful.

Besides, no matter what Liu Ju planned to do, he should first inform his mother, the queen.

Since she knew Liu Che better, she could also make a judgment on Liu Ju's "surprise" and then decide whether to change the gift temporarily to avoid making things worse.

This is the mentality of a mother.

Although Liu Ju had grown up and was about to have a second child and had already killed many people in the Western Regions, in the eyes of his mother Wei Zifu, he was still a child who would do something wrong and make Liu Che angry if he was not careful.

"Gentleman, what exactly is the surprise you have prepared for our father?"

Dilibaier couldn't help but secretly pull Liu Ju and ask in a low voice.

"Just watch. When has a gentleman ever disappointed anyone?"

Han Ling pulled Dilibai'er back and winked at her, warning her who came from the Western Regions not to be rude in front of Liu Che and Wei Zifu.

"..."

Yi Shuo held Liu Fuling, who was now seven years old, and stood behind him, quietly looking at Liu Ju, whom she missed day and night.

Although she had already taught Liu Fuling how to behave in front of his father Liu Ju when she learned that Liu Ju was about to return, today when he saw Liu Ju for the first time since he could remember, Liu Fuling still seemed a little awkward and unfamiliar, just like Liu Ju when he met Liu Che before he traveled through time.

She did not blame Liu Ju, but felt that she was ashamed of Liu Ju for not being able to teach her son well when Liu Ju was away, so Liu Fuling behaved like this.

Liu Ju seemed to know what she was thinking. He turned around and shook her hand. Then he took Liu Fuling from her, gently lifted him up and placed him on the back of his neck.

"You can see far only if you stand high enough. Take a good look at the gift that your father has prepared for your father."

"Juer!" "Gentleman!"

Wei Zifu and Yi Shuo were startled and could not help but scream, but only Wei Zifu could say the words to reprimand Liu Ju.

"Er, you must not be rude in front of your father. Fuling, why don't you come down quickly? It's so disrespectful!"

When she was young, Wei Zifu often scolded Liu Ju like this, and she still does the same to her grandson Liu Fuling.

After Liu Ju went to the Western Regions, Yi Shuo stayed in the Pepper Room to keep Wei Zifu company. As their personalities were very similar, she was influenced by him and naturally became a replica of Wei Zifu.

"It's okay. There are no outsiders here. I haven't seen Fuling for many years. It's normal for father and son to play and have fun together."

Compared with Wei Zifu and Yi Shuo, Liu Che seemed more reasonable. He just smiled as he looked at Liu Ju and Liu Fuling who was riding on Liu Ju's neck.

"Mother, my father has said it's okay."

Liu Ju also spoke confidently. While speaking, he saw a flash of fire in the darkness in the distance, and immediately raised his voice to remind,
"Father, a surprise is coming!"

next moment.

"Chirp—"

Along with a sharp sound, an arrow of light suddenly rose from the ground and instantly shot into the dark night sky.

Then there was a "pop" sound, and a huge green firework bloomed in the night, instantly illuminating everyone's faces.

"!!!"

Liu Che opened his eyes wide instantly, but his pupils contracted due to the light.

This was a scene he had never seen before, not even in his dreams.

Magnificent! Gorgeous! Brilliant!

When the fireworks bloom, it is like the work of nature, decorating the dark night into a poetic and picturesque scene, so stunning that it makes people feel like they are in a fairyland!

"!!!"

Wei Zifu's beautiful eyes instantly opened wide, and her mouth was so shocked that she couldn't close it for a long time.

With just one glance, she knew that Liu Ju's gift was the right one. This was truly a huge surprise for Liu Che, enough to overshadow all the surprises Liu Che had received in most of his life.

This is simply a miracle that is hard to find in the world and a good omen that only appears once in a thousand years!

This is really suitable for use in the Fengshan Ceremony. Aren't there already many foreign envoys gathered in Chang'an, and with the permission of Emperor Liu Che, they will go to Mount Tai to watch the ceremony?

Such a stunning gift would be enough to shock those foreign envoys for a hundred years!

This time she was relieved, completely relieved!
At this moment, she finally realized that her son had grown up and was beyond her understanding. Perhaps she should really let go and stop interfering in his affairs...

"!!!"

Yi Shuo, Han Ling, and Dilibaier were even more excited in the center of the fireworks, unable to calm down for a long time. When the fireworks dimmed a little, when they looked at Liu Ju again, their eyes were filled with admiration.

Their gentleman is indeed the best person in the world at creating surprises.

How can anyone in the world be compared with him?

"Father, father! Is there any more? It's so funny. I want to see more. I want to see more!"

Liu Fuling, who was riding on Liu Ju's neck, was the most excited person. Just this one move put away all his awkwardness and unfamiliarity and he shouted excitedly.

Children of this age are at their most innocent.

Those adult rules, etiquette, and all kinds of shackles that bind him are no match for a fun toy, an interesting magic trick, or a wonderful performance. The people who provide the toys, magic tricks, and performances will instantly become closer to them and become their idols.

Liu Fuling liked this father and liked the surprises this father brought.

This father is the most powerful person in the world.

"Of course there is more. Sit tight and watch carefully." Liu Ju laughed and said loudly.

This is the fireworks he made himself using black powder.

When he captured the Kingdom of Gushi, he discovered a large amount of natural saltpeter mines in the Turpan Basin where the Kingdom of Gushi was located.

When he arrived in Kucha and established the NATO headquarters there, he discovered a large amount of natural sulfur in the volcanic ruins within the territory of Kucha.

One nitre, two sulphur and three charcoal.

With these two natural minerals, plus the ubiquitous charcoal, black powder was almost right in front of him.

However, he was not in a hurry to produce the black gunpowder and invest it in the current war, and he never mentioned it to anyone, including Han Ling, who was closest to him.

This is a powerful weapon that is far ahead of its time!
Even the strongest city can withstand the impact of a battering ram, but it cannot withstand the blast of black powder.

Even the most sophisticated armor can withstand the sharpness of arrows and swords, but it is absolutely unable to withstand the impact of black gunpowder.

This will definitely become his biggest trump card!
Whether it is continuing to expand in the Western Regions in the future or fighting against Liu Che at a critical moment, this thing will play an unimaginable role.

The saltpeter mines in the Turpan Basin and the natural sulfur in the territory of Qiuci can ensure the large-scale production and supply of black powder for a long time in the future.

Even in this era, it is still impossible to smelt qualified steel and create precise and practical guns and cannons.

Black gunpowder is still a strategic weapon that is far ahead of its time. It is absolutely invincible and the absolute justice in the era of cold weapons!
The best state of strategic-level weapons is strategic deterrence.

That is the state of "having but not using" or "using it selectively".

This kind of deterrence can be applied not only externally but also internally.

Externally, whether it is conquering the enemy without fighting, implementing economic hegemony, or becoming a rule maker, it will be successful in every way.

Internally, whether it is to maintain political stability or to safeguard one's own status, as long as the red line is drawn, no one dares to cross the red line!
Liu Ju estimated that as long as he and the descendants of the Liu family of the Han Dynasty could guard this strategic weapon.

At least this deterrence could be maintained until the end of the Tang Dynasty in history, which was nearly a thousand years later. After all, gunpowder was first used in military purposes during the reign of Emperor Aizong of Tang, the last emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

Before that, the formula of black powder was not perfect and its use was only for ornamental fireworks.

For this reason, Liu Ju did not mind showing fireworks in front of Liu Che.

Even if Liu Che saw the fireworks, for a long time afterwards, he would probably treat them only as a prop to create a spectacle rather than a weapon, just like all the previous emperors of the Tang Dynasty.

However, Liu Ju did not plan to hide for too long.

Now that Liu Che was about to hold the Fengshan Ceremony, various small countries sent envoys to congratulate him.

In this era of limited information dissemination speed, this is a rare opportunity to implement strategic deterrence. These messengers will bring this deterrence to all directions and thousands of miles away, so that the reputation of the Han Dynasty will quickly spread to half the world!
At the same time, isn't this also a deterrent to Liu Che and those treacherous villains?

Liu Che will suddenly find that he can no longer see through Liu Ju's depth, and he doesn't even dare to test him easily.

However, those treacherous villains were ultimately cowards who only loved life and feared death. How could they dare to take advantage of Liu Che's Alzheimer's disease and alienate the father-son relationship between him and Liu Che right under his noses?
So what if the "witchcraft disaster" happens again?

If such a Liu Ju raised an army, who would dare to compete with him? He only needed to kill the treacherous villains and continue to be a loyal and filial son. After taking care of Liu Che in his old age and seeing him to his death, he could still succeed to the throne smoothly.

Of course, some balancing act is required.

Especially the balance between him and Liu Che.

……

"Ahhh!"

The brilliant fireworks that suddenly exploded in the sky frightened the experienced Su Wen so much that he jumped up and down while screaming.

Fortunately, he was currently delivering orders at the scene of setting off fireworks, and did not misbehave in front of Liu Che.

However, the surrounding warriors, palace attendants and attendants did not pay any attention to this.

Their attention was all focused on the fireworks exploding in the sky, they stared at them, dumbfounded and speechless.

For them, this was also a miracle and auspicious sign that they would rarely see in their lifetime. Moreover, in the minds of people of that era, such a scene that was beyond human power inevitably took on some mythological color.

Even though they lit the fireworks themselves, they couldn't understand them...

next moment.

"Boo-boo-boo-"

Because they were not completely synchronized, the fireworks that were ignited a step later in other directions flew into the night sky with light and shadows.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

Brilliant fireworks exploded in the night sky, and the man, who used to fall into a long and quiet night quickly after dark, was awakened by the noise.

First, there were the palace maids, eunuchs, and guards in the Weiyang Palace.

Next came the concubines, court ladies, and officials of the Ye Ting, the officials and servants of the Prime Minister's Office, the guards and palace maids of the Changle Palace, the Jianzhang Cavalry of the Shanglin Garden, and the officials of the three ministries.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

Then there were the various marquisates, merchants, common people, and the overcrowded post stations surrounding the Weiyang Palace, with envoys from various countries.

This era did not have the skyscrapers of later generations. Even the tallest building, Bailiangtai, in the Weiyang Palace was only ten zhang high, with a total height of no more than fifty meters.

Therefore, no building can block the brilliance of the fireworks.

Even if people are more than ten miles away, they don’t need to climb high to see the distant view. They only need to walk out of the room and open the window to see the fireworks blooming over the Weiyang Palace.

"What exactly is that?"

"Is there something wrong in the palace?"

"I heard that the Crown Prince just returned to Chang'an today. There was such a strange phenomenon in Weiyang Palace that night. Could it be related to him?"

People who don't know the inside story would not regard the fireworks as a miracle or a good omen. On the contrary, many people became uneasy, worried that something big and unknown had happened in the Weiyang Palace.

Some officials in important positions quickly dressed up and ordered their men to prepare horses to rush to the Weiyang Palace, for fear of being charged with dereliction of duty or missing out on a major event that could lead to a change of dynasty.

More powerful people immediately ordered their trusted confidants to go out and gather information, and also called all the servants in the mansion to be on high alert just in case.

Those who were not directly involved ordered people to check whether the gates of the courtyard were fastened.

When faced with major events, they are like ants that go with the flow. If they are not careful, they will end up being crushed to pieces.

Tonight, because of Liu Ju’s return, Chang’an never sleeps!

(End of this chapter)