The film and television world begins with the battle for the throne in Kowloon

Chapter 929 The Empress Gets Married
Suddenly thinking of what his daughter had asked him to do yesterday, Hou Junji said tentatively: "Your Majesty, I heard that the national treasury is not well-off now. The Dou family in Chang'an has a big grain business. Why not let them provide the one million dan of grain?"

“This will also reduce the pressure on the national treasury.”

As soon as the Dou family was mentioned, Li Shimin knew that Hou Junji was pleading for Ankang.

After mobilizing two powerful departments under his command to investigate, the truth of the matter soon came before Li Shimin.

More than a month ago, after Ankang got the imperial edict from Haitang, he found Mu Yikuan and wanted to make the matter a fait accompli.

But Ankang was Li Shimin's most beloved princess after all, and Mu Yikuan would not dare to blaspheme the royal family even if he had the courage to do so. Finally, Ankang came up with a plan. She got Mu Yikuan drunk with wine, gave her some aphrodisiac drugs, and forced the meal to be cooked.

Afterwards, Mu Yikuan was frightened out of his wits.

At this point, and under Ankang's threat, the matter was concealed until Ankang developed health problems and Empress Changsun called the imperial physician to investigate the condition.

Although Li Shimin was extremely angry about this, after all, it was his daughter who planned the matter and the people of the Dou family were also victims. In addition, after Empress Zhangsun's persuasion, Li Shimin decided to follow Ankang's wishes.

"Humph, it's only because you, Jun Ji, beg for mercy. Otherwise, I will never let this matter go. I will do it for Jun Ji's sake."

Li Shimin took advantage of the situation and said after thinking for a while: "This young man from the Mu family is not bad. I will recruit him as my son-in-law and let them pay the one million shi of grain and grass."

"Well, one million rolls of silk is equivalent to one million dan of grain. Grain has been cheap in recent years, so let them pay the one million rolls of silk as well."

Hou Junji and Fang Xuanling looked at each other. This emperor wanted to get something for free.

If this is the case, all the materials needed for the peace talks were laid out, even the daughters to be married off were recognized by outsiders, and the gold was provided by the noble families. It can be said that Li Shimin did not pay a single cent, and the Right Wise King really did not take anything this time!
"Also, Jun Ji, please go and negotiate. I want to meet the Right Wise King in person and have a face-to-face meeting with him."

"what?"

Hou Junji's face changed drastically, and his heart suddenly jumped: "No, Your Majesty, you are worth a lot of money, and the Right Wise King is just a hero on the grassland. How can you go to see him? Besides, the front line is dangerous and fierce. If you go, what if the Turks have evil intentions, the Tang Dynasty will be in trouble."

"Yes, Your Majesty, a son of a wealthy family should not sit in the hall, not to mention that you are the emperor. I will never agree that Your Majesty would put himself in danger." Fang Xuanling also tried his best to dissuade him.

"I understand your Majesty's desire to meet this man."

Li Jing also advised: "As a Han Chinese, he has become the most powerful person on the grassland within ten years. In the meantime, he has helped our Tang Dynasty to recover the Liaodong Peninsula. Such a brilliant person, why don't we want to meet him?"

"It's just that anyone in the court can go, except the emperor."

"Originally, the Turks had no intention of attacking the Tang Dynasty, but the emperor's appearance at the front line at this time may cause a huge change in the situation."

Unexpectedly, Li Shimin showed unprecedented stubbornness and waved his hand: "I am not a pampered person. I am a general who fought in the battlefield and a man who waded through the blood and fire of Xuanwu Gate. Haven't I gone through enough dangers in my life?"

"Brother Jing just said that the Right Wise King may not deliberately target our Tang Dynasty. If that's the case, what do I have to fear?"

Seeing that the three ministers were still trying to object, Li Shimin said decisively: "In fact, I have been thinking about going to the front line in person to command this war. Fengzhou is nearly 2,000 miles away from the Tang Dynasty. Any action by the Turks will cause the soldiers at the front to be at a loss."

"If the war with the Turks is really confirmed, I only need to entrust Brother Jing to command this battle."

"But the Turkic people's actions were beyond the bottom line of the Tang Dynasty. They did not touch our fundamental interests, so there was still a possibility of peace talks. The competition between the two sides was also going on around the war, but there was no fighting."

"If this is the case, the soldiers at the front will not be able to make the decision. Even Brother Jing may be in a difficult situation. If we are so uncertain, it is very easy to cause irreversible consequences."

"I will go to the frontline in person, of course I will not make a big fuss, but will travel light and incognito, staying at Jiuyuan, letting Jun Ji come forward to negotiate with the Right Wise King, so that if there are any changes on the frontline, we can make decisions on the spot."

"When the time is right and the Turks are about to withdraw their troops, I will take the opportunity to meet with the Right Sage King to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Fang Xuanling, Li Jing and the other two tried to dissuade him for a while, but seeing that Li Shimin had made up his mind, they had no choice but to agree and began to discuss various matters.

Half a month later, Fengzhou City.

Amid the blast of firecrackers and the sound of gongs and drums, Hou Junji personally led the wedding procession, which was decorated with red and colorful ribbons, and a large amount of dowry. They formed a long dragon and marched out of the city gate in a mighty manner, heading towards the direction of the Turkic camp at the foot of the Yinshan Mountains not far to the north.

Li Ji and the hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the entire Yellow River defense line sincerely let go of the pressure that was hanging in their hearts.

The people of the entire Tang Dynasty breathed a sigh of relief. God knows, the Tang Dynasty has been living on the edge of a cliff for the past month. Everyone's eyes are on the Fengzhou front and Hou Junji's negotiations. After more than ten days of intensive negotiations, the Tang Dynasty and the Turks finally reached an agreement. The two sides admired their neighbors, did not invade each other, and became relatives.

The sun is shining brightly and the wind is gentle.

Walking on the grassland, the sky and the earth seem to be seamlessly connected as far as the eye can see, forming a spectacular scene of heaven and earth being one color. Under the blue sky and white clouds, the green grassland stretches into the distance until it merges with the horizon.

This boundless feeling makes people open-minded and feel the vastness of nature.

After traveling 20 miles north, Hou Junji's wedding procession arrived at the camp of the Turkic army. Here, Gu Rentu had already brought a large group of subordinates, all dressed in festive clothes, and welcomed Hou Junji and his party in amidst the joyous music played by the Fengzhou City music band.

Before arriving at the king's tent, Li Yan was there to greet him with a smile on his face.

"Hahaha, congratulations to the Right Wise King. From now on, you and the Tang Dynasty will become one family."

Hou Junji was in an especially good mood, and the wrinkles on his face were stretched out with a smile: "You and I have stopped fighting and made peace, which has achieved the friendship between Qin and Jin, and also avoided the suffering of the people. Countless people have benefited from this, which is really a great merit!"

"This is all thanks to General Hou's mediation!"

In front of the crowd, there were not only soldiers from the Tang Dynasty, but also many high-ranking leaders of the Turkic people. Li Yan also spoke generously and festively: "I have prepared a banquet in the tent. Please move over, General Hou, so that we can celebrate at noon."

After saying that, Li Yan waved his hand, and the servants and maids in the royal tent arranged by Gu Rentu came forward to welcome the newlyweds into the white tent that had been set up in advance. This place was considered the bridal chamber.

The people below had their own corresponding personnel to entertain them. Li Yan invited Hou Junji and twelve Turkic leaders, who were at the level of captains of ten thousand men, into the tent.

After a while, Gu Rentu also rushed over.

Slaves and maids continuously brought various delicacies and drinks, and the big tent was full of joy and laughter. After many exchanges, Hou Junji and these great leaders were also very familiar with each other, and everyone also knew that the Right Wise King had a very good relationship with this Tang Dynasty general.

Everyone clinked glasses, complimented each other, and immersed themselves in the atmosphere of universal celebration.

After thirty glasses of wine and five dishes, when all the leaders had left, the banquets in the tent were removed one by one and replaced with hangover tea.

When only Hou Junji and Li Yan were left in the tent, Hou Junji introduced the various situations in the court and finally told Li Shimin's plan: "Your Highness, the new people have been sent here, and the food, grass, and cloth have also been handed over."

"The one million taels of gold will be collected gradually and will be sent to Fengzhou soon."

"But before the handover, His Majesty wants to come to Fengzhou in person to meet with you to discuss the details of opening up trade at the border, as well as the relationship between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks in the next few years."

Li Yan asked in surprise: "What, Father wants to come in person, how can this be?"

Hou Junji then repeated the speculations and judgments made by Li Jing and Fang Xuanling, and asked inquiringly: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Fang, and Duke Wei all think that the Turkic army is hanging under the city of Fengzhou, but is not ready to attack, dragging the Tang army to gather inside the pass. I'm afraid this is to buy time for Yi Nan to take action in the Western Regions?"

"Hahaha, Li Jing is worthy of being the military god of the Tang Dynasty. He is really amazing."

Li Yan readily admitted this and said frankly: "Yes, the core purpose of this trip south is to promote the Western Region strategy, not to take the opportunity to extort some money from the Tang Dynasty. I didn't intend to hide this from my father-in-law."

"It's just that this idea was only in my mind. I wasn't sure whether it could weaken Xueyantuo before, so I didn't say it in advance, and no one in the entire Turkic world knew about it."

After expressing some apologies, Li Yan explained: "I have already said the specific reasons before. The current national strength of the Tang Dynasty cannot swallow up the entire Western Regions, and that kind of loose tribute method is not what I want."

"I am the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, the future emperor of the Tang Dynasty. The rise and fall, honor and disgrace of the entire Tang Dynasty, and its eternal inheritance all rest on my shoulders. How can I not consider the future?"

"I will completely annex the Western Regions and bring Tubo, Tuyuhun, Gaochang and other countries into the territory of the Tang Dynasty."

Afterwards, Li Yan stared at Hou Junji with sparkling eyes and said in a resounding voice: "I only have one legitimate son, Li Xiang, born to Haitang. Ashina Yun and Ashina Jing also gave birth to children for me, including the current daughter of Wu. I will have many children in the future."

"My future crown prince will definitely be Xiang'er."

"But I will conquer an unprecedentedly vast territory, and truly achieve the goal of all the land under heaven being the king's, and all the people under heaven being his subjects. I will appoint other children to guard the grasslands and the Western Regions, to assist my eldest brother Xiang'er, and to protect the Tang Dynasty."

(End of this chapter)