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

Chapter 930 Agree to Meet
At critical moments, it is also necessary to appease the people below.

After all, Hou Junji is his old man. He personally sent the bride off and helped him find a new wife. Li Yan should also give him some benefits at the right time.

Compared to Li Shimin, Li Yan's will can undoubtedly determine the future. Hou Junji thought of his grandson, who would become the emperor of the Tang Dynasty in the future. The blood of the Hou family would become the most noble blood in the world, and he was extremely excited.

He immediately stood up and knelt down, saying: "Your Highness has shown great kindness to my family. I am deeply grateful and have no way to repay you. I will go through fire and water and swear to be loyal to Your Highness until my death."

"Father-in-law, please stand up quickly!" Seeing that the emotional communication was effective, Li Yan nodded with satisfaction and pulled Hou Junji to sit down again.

Hou Junji was in a key position between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks. He had a clear understanding of the strategic plans of both sides and was well aware that Li Shimin and Li Yan had huge differences in their plans to conquer the Western Regions. Li Yan wanted Yi Nan to turn the West upside down and use force to push it forward.

However, Li Shimin was a little anxious and wanted to enter the scene early to take over the Western Regions.

Hou Junji: This was of course determined by the age and health of the two people. Li Shimin was over 40 years old and not in good health. He wanted to seize the day and conquer the territory of the Western Regions in the shortest possible time.

The prince is young and has plenty of time in the future, so he naturally wants to wait for a more appropriate time.

So Hou Junji explained the situation, and finally said worriedly: "Your Highness, the Duke of Weiguo agrees with your intention to let the Yi men wreak havoc in the Western Regions, but the emperor is a little anxious."

"I'm afraid that this time, they also want to sign a peace agreement with the Turks as soon as possible, and then withdraw troops to re-develop the Western Regions."

"Haha, don't worry, father-in-law. The emperor won't have this opportunity."

Li Yan smiled and said, "Yinan is not a fool. Compared with the Tang Dynasty and the Turks, his strength is the weakest. With the Tang Dynasty watching closely, how can he be willing to make wedding clothes for others? Even if the agreement is negotiated, I will lead the Turkic army to relocate the Tang Dynasty."

"Only in this way can Yi Nan feel at ease to conquer cities and territories in the Western Regions and work hard for us."

The situation in the world is complicated and ever-changing, and a single move can affect the entire body.

Hou Junji was also unable to judge how the situation would develop next, but fortunately, both Li Shimin and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had now taken the initiative. No matter who would dominate the future, the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty was certain.

"Then Your Highness, this time His Majesty comes, I don't want to see you, or I can find an excuse to turn it down?"

When Li Yan thought about the meeting with Li Shimin, he agreed, "Well, since Father has requested it, we should meet. We haven't seen each other for five or six years. I wonder how Father is doing now?"

"But, Your Highness, if we meet in person, the relationship between father and son cannot be concealed, and your identity will be exposed." Hou Junji knew that Li Yan did not want to reveal his true identity, and asked with some concern.

In fact, after Hou Junji returned to the Tang Dynasty again, Li Yan's true appearance could no longer be hidden.

In Chengqing Hall, based on Hou Junji's dictation, Yan Liben, the greatest painter of the Tang Dynasty, personally drew a rough picture of Li Yan.

However, when Li Yan left Chang'an, he was only thirteen or fourteen years old, his facial features had not yet fully developed, and he still had some childish characteristics.

Later, during the five or six years on the grassland, a person's body and appearance grow rapidly, and both his facial features and voice have changed greatly. The people on the grassland live a rough life, and even young people have beards.

In addition, Li Yan's temperament has changed dramatically as he grew from a young and ignorant boy to a powerful overlord who rules the grassland. Unless someone is very familiar with the prince, he would not be recognized even in person.

Hou Junji deliberately distorted the facts, so that the image he presented to the emperor and his ministers of the Tang Dynasty was naturally a fierce image similar to that of Jie Li.

At this time, Hou Junji said worriedly: "Although the prince's figure, appearance and temperament are like a different person, these can be hidden from ordinary officials, but not from blood relatives. Last year in Liaodong City, I recognized the prince at first sight."

"If I meet you in my true form, I'm afraid I won't be able to hide it from your Majesty."

Li Yan frowned, and after thinking about it, he decided to be cautious. So he went back to the back tent and took out a tiger head mask. "It's not difficult. When the time comes, I will wear this mask to meet my father. Just from my temperament and voice, my father will definitely not recognize me."

Hou Junji was startled, opened his mouth timidly, and said with a strange expression: "As the Right Sage King of the Turkic people, wearing a mask to meet the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty in front of the three armies, I'm afraid this is a bit of a joke, right?"

"What's that?"

Li Yan waved his hands, puffed out his chest, and said with domineering aura: "I am now the actual overlord of the grassland. My status and actual power are not inferior to that of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. It can be said that in the whole world, only my father and I can sit on an equal footing and treat each other equally."

"At our level, we are no longer restricted by any rules."

"We follow our heart and say what we want, and our words and deeds are the standard that everyone looks up to, and no one will raise any objection."

At the end, Li Yan showed a playful expression on his face: "Although my father-in-law has a high status, he is still a minister after all. He must always pay attention to the emperor's attitude in the court, and he cannot ignore the opinions of other important ministers." "He can't understand our invincible feeling of standing on the top of the world and looking down on all the mountains."

Hou Junji was choked and couldn't speak for a long time. He could only point at Li Yan and smile self-deprecatingly: "You are the Right Wise King of the Turkic people. Don't forget that no matter how high your status is, you still have to call me father-in-law. You are also my junior, right?"

"Of course, my dear father-in-law, please accept my greetings." Li Yan, under the influence of alcohol, pretended to tease Hou Junji.

There was a very comfortable and hearty laughter coming from the tent. The atmosphere was extremely harmonious for a while, and Hou Junji's slight depression about sending his son-in-law off also disappeared.

With Hou Junji as the core traitor, Li Yan also knew clearly that the Tang emperor and his ministers had guessed some of their attitudes and intentions towards him. Li Shimin was interested in contacting him, hoping to reach some kind of agreement like he had with Jie Li before the Liaodong Campaign.

To put it bluntly, the two families joined forces to plot against the Western Regions.

In addition to the Hexi region to the west of the Tang Dynasty, there are the Tubo Plateau and the countries in the Western Regions. To the southwest are the small countries in Indochina such as Annan, Jiaozhi, Zhenla, and Pyu.

Especially in the Champa area, the climate is suitable, with four seasons like spring, which is particularly suitable for producing rice. It can be harvested three times a year, with high yield and drought resistance. It is a better granary of the world than Shu. When Li Yan presented the map of the Tang Dynasty, he told Li Shimin about the advantages of this place.

However, the Tang Dynasty’s focus has always been in the north and west, and it has no energy to take care of it.

Next, neither the Tang Dynasty nor the Turks will interfere with Yi Nan's purge of the Western Regions. Li Yan will also use Botie's inside information to guide Yi Nan to carry out a country-annihilating annexation of Tubo, an indigenous force that has existed on the plateau for hundreds of years.

There will be several years of peace. If Li Shimin focuses on internal reforms and devotes some energy to conquering and managing the small states in the southwest, there should be no problem.

So Li Yan and Hou Junji talked in detail about the climate and characteristics of those areas in the Indochina Peninsula, and told Hou Junji that in the next few years, he could use his own power to promote the expansion of the court, completely take over these places, and push the power of the Tang Dynasty to the southern sea area.

Li Yan had been on the expedition for more than half a year and had been in the army all the time, eating and living with the generals, and had never been close to any woman. It was not because Li Yan wanted to show off his style, but because the women on the grassland had been herding horses and sheep since childhood, and they were generally tall and strong, with strong muscles and rough skin.

Coupled with the nomadic lifestyle customs on the grassland, it is difficult for her to have the freshness and elegance of women from the Central Plains.

Li Yan, who had always lived in a wealthy circle and was used to seeing the beautiful women in the Central Plains, really couldn't accept it.

During the years in the grassland, he married two wives, one was Ashina Yun, the daughter of the second Khan Tuli, and the other was Ashina Jing, the daughter of the great Khan Jieli. Although they were from the grassland, they were pampered since childhood and served by many slaves and maids.

Although she is not as slender as the noble ladies from the Central Plains families, she is also pampered and well-mannered, with a slim figure, the generosity and heroism of a prairie girl, and a unique charm of some ethnic customs, which is quite unique.

Li Yan was very excited to marry the empress today.

After sending Hou Junji and his group away, Li Yan came alone to the white tent behind the king's tent, opened the curtain door, and slowly walked in.

Li Yan waved his hand, and the maids in the tent quietly left.

The entire bridal chamber was decorated in a very festive manner. Because Li Yan was from the Central Plains, the way of marriage was completely in accordance with the Central Plains style. The six rituals of accepting the bride's proposal, asking for the bride's name, accepting the good news, accepting the betrothal gifts, asking for the date, and welcoming the bride were performed meticulously.

There were beds, mats, chairs, tables and everything else available; felt mattresses, curtains, quilts and all kinds of other things were available. Bright red "囍" characters could be seen everywhere, and ancient "福" characters were pasted all over the felt walls.

A young girl wearing a phoenix coronet and a bright red veil on her head sat quietly in front of the couch.

Li Yan stepped forward, picked up the golden scale on the table, and used the scale bar to lift the veil, revealing a beautiful face that was both graceful and stunningly beautiful.

Li Yan used to think that Haitang and Ankang were the pinnacle of beauty among the daughters of the Tang Dynasty, but now, the moment he saw the appearance of the empress, Li Yan, who was already accustomed to seeing the most beautiful women in the world, also breathed quickly and his heart beat rapidly twice.

The clouds are like clothes and the flowers are like faces; the spring breeze blows over the threshold and the dew is gorgeous;
If it weren't for Qunyu Shantou, we would meet at Yaotai.

For a moment, he could only think of Li Bai's poem to describe the woman in front of him who was like a blooming divine lotus. No wonder both Li Shimin and his son, two generations of wise emperors, could not match the grace of the empress. At this moment, Li Yan deeply understood them.

Li Yanqing couldn't help but take two steps back, admiring the beauty in front of him from head to toe.

The fourteen-year-old Wu Yuanhua in front of him had skin as white as cream, pearly white teeth, and a beauty that could make fish sink to the bottom of the water and geese fall to the ground, and the moon hide in shame.

Like a banished immortal descending to the mortal world, bright and otherworldly.

(End of this chapter)