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Li Shimin, though forced to surrender the military token of Prince Qin's mansion, would not easily resign himself to fate. Upon returning to his residence, he immediately summoned Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui (who, despite being demoted, still maintained secret contact with Li Shimin), Zhangsun Wuji, Wei Chi Gong, and other trusted confidants to discuss countermeasures in a hidden chamber. The atmosphere was tense; the flickering candlelight cast shadows on the worried and unwilling faces of those present.
"Now that the military token has been surrendered, our advantage in military matters has significantly diminished. Does anyone have a way to turn the situation around?" Li Shimin asked anxiously, scanning the faces of his companions.
Fang Xuanling pondered for a moment before speaking first. "Your Highness, while we cannot openly expand our military forces, we can act in secret. We can utilize your old subordinates in the army to make covert contact with them, allowing them to secretly gather troops and wait for the right moment."
Du Ruhui nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Your Highness holds great prestige among the troops; those old subordinates are fiercely loyal to you. Once we give the order, they will certainly respond. Additionally, we can secretly hide private soldiers in places like Zhongnan Mountain for emergencies."
After listening, Li Shimin slightly nodded. "This plan is feasible, but we must proceed with caution. We cannot let Li Jiancheng or Father suspect anything. If word gets out, we will all be doomed."
Thus, Li Shimin immediately set about making arrangements. He tasked Zhangsun Wuji with contacting the old subordinates in the army to inform them of the current situation and relay his orders: they should publicly comply with the court's commands while secretly training soldiers and stockpiling supplies and weapons. These loyal old subordinates expressed their willingness to follow his arrangements and were ready to serve him at any moment.
Meanwhile, Wei Chi Gong led a group of trusted aides to Zhongnan Mountain. They found a secluded valley deep within the mountains, where the terrain was treacherous and easy to defend. Wei Chi Gong directed the soldiers to set up camp there, hiding weapons and supplies while also beginning secret training of private soldiers. To avoid drawing attention, they chose to conduct their operations at night and minimized personnel movement.
While secretly preparing military strength, Li Shimin did not neglect the political situation at court. He understood that relying solely on military power was insufficient; he also needed to garner more political support. Therefore, he dispatched some eloquent confidants to reach out to ministers dissatisfied with Li Jiancheng. These ministers were either discontented with Li Jiancheng's arrogance or worried about their own positions should he ascend the throne. Upon learning of Li Shimin's intentions, they expressed their willingness to support him in secret.
However, Li Shimin's actions did not go unnoticed. Li Jiancheng had many spies at court who were constantly monitoring Prince Qin's mansion's every move. Soon enough, someone reported back to Li Jiancheng about Li Shimin possibly contacting old subordinates and hiding private soldiers.
Upon hearing this news, Li Jiancheng felt a twinge of surprise; after all, it seemed that history had no record of Li Shimin stationed at Zhongnan Mountain—perhaps it was simply not documented! He immediately conferred with Li Yuanji. "Li Shimin is indeed unwilling to accept defeat; he dares to take such actions in secret. If we do not stop him promptly, he will become a significant threat in the future."
"Brother, we cannot let Li Shimin get away with such boldness. We should inform Father so that he can order a thorough investigation," Li Yuanji said fiercely.
Li Jiancheng shook his head. "No. Currently, we lack solid evidence; if we report this based solely on rumors, Father may not believe us and might think we are trying to frame him instead. We must first gather sufficient evidence before confronting Father."
Consequently, Li Jiancheng intensified surveillance over Prince Qin's mansion by sending more spies to gather intelligence while also deciding to take another approach to further weaken Li Shimin's influence. He allied with some supportive ministers at court and initiated another round of impeachment against Li Shimin’s confidants in an attempt to drive them all out of court and leave Li Shimin isolated.
Under Li Jiancheng's pressure, Li Shimin found his position at court increasingly precarious. Some of his confidants were impeached and imprisoned while others were forced to resign and return home. Yet, Li Shimin did not lose heart; he knew this was a long and arduous struggle that he must persevere through.
At this time, Li Yuan also sensed the undercurrents at court. Although he did not know the specifics of what was being plotted between Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng, he could feel that a greater storm was approaching. To stabilize the situation, he decided to strengthen defenses in Chang'an City. He ordered the Imperial Guards to increase patrols and strictly inspect people and vehicles entering and leaving the city while also bolstering security around the palace.
"I will not allow the Tang dynasty’s realm to fall into chaos; whoever dares to rebel shall face my wrath," Li Yuan declared sternly in court.
Upon learning of Li Yuan’s reinforcement of city defenses, Li Shimin understood that his actions must be even more cautious. He and his strategists discussed day and night, continuously refining their plans while waiting for an opportunity that could turn the tide.
Meanwhile, Li Jiancheng was also biding his time for that moment. On the surface, he sought to seize evidence against Li Shimin in order to completely eliminate him; in reality, he was forcing Li Shimin into a desperate situation.
This power struggle grew increasingly intense as both sides engaged in covert maneuvers. However, Li Jiancheng believed that ultimate victory would belong to him—and that the fate of the Tang dynasty rested firmly in his hands.
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