Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 274 Cheng Qian, You Actually Don’t Understand the Turks
Chengxin was the one that Li Chengqian had hidden deep in the East Palace... uh, his best male friend.

It’s not uncommon for the royal family to have a niche operating system, but Chengxin, this male best friend, is quite special.

Because he was rather special and touched Li Shimin's sore spot, when his secret was exposed two years ago, he almost caused a bloody disaster.

If it weren't for the fact that earlier that day, little brother Li Ming had caused a big farce in the Liangyi Hall with the question "Father, can I resign?", Li Shimin would have started to reflect a little on his own parenting methods.

The satisfaction has been severed in two, physically.

Of course, it was impossible to stay in the Eastern Palace, so Chengxin was kicked to Yizhou to guard the border.

Unexpectedly, while we were guarding, my brother moved to the bed opposite.

Not only that, he also hooked up with the daughter of Yibi Duolu Khan with his masculine looks that even the crown prince approved of, and became the meritorious son-in-law of the Western Turkic Khanate.

"In the battles with the Western Turkic Nanting, I was lucky enough to make several contributions and was appreciated by Yibi Duolu Khan. I was then given the title of Special Service and granted this land to lead the Turkic people here."

In Chengxin's tent, Chengxin stood at the bottom and reported his legendary experience to His Majesty Li Shimin and His Highness Li Chengqian who were sitting in the main seats.

After two years of wind, frost, snow and rain, this guy is still the same, a taciturn person. After introducing the basic situation, he stood aside without saying a word.

Li Chengqian kept his head down the whole time, concentrating on studying his palm lines.

Li Shimin was sandwiched between the two of them and felt like his brain was about to burst again.

Anyone would have a burst blood vessel.

The situation was clear at a glance. After he threw his eldest son's male best friend to the border, this careless eldest son still secretly corresponded with the other party and had an ongoing relationship with him.

But he couldn't say anything.

If it weren't for their matchmaking, Li Shimin would not have found a way to seek refuge in Western Turkestan.

Li Chengqian's back door was opened in the Western Turkic Khanate.

He was so angry that he couldn't get angry, but he couldn't vent his anger. Li Shimin only hated that his illness was not severe enough. Why did he wake up at this moment? He might as well have just fallen asleep.

"So... when did you betray the Tang Dynasty and join the Western Turkic army?" Li Shimin could only change his angle and vent his anger on the small issue of "treason".

"It started when I was surrounded by the Western Turks and had nowhere to go." Cheng Xin answered truthfully.

Li Shimin's temple throbbed.

He felt that this male best friend was implying something about him, but he had no evidence.

"Next...what are you going to do?" Li Shimin's chest rose and fell violently. He swallowed his breath and said to Li Chengqian in an unclear voice without looking at Chengxin:
"Continue to the Yazhang in Beiting, find Yibi Duolu Khan, tell him your alliance plan, and hope that he will send troops to escort us to Chang'an?"

His originally dull and slow eyes now revealed a sharpness that made Li Chengqian dare not even look up and respond.

Even though this was Li Chengqian's original plan, he felt uneasy when his father said it himself.

The core of this plan was to form an alliance with Yibi Duolu Khan, the ruler of Beiting of the Western Turkic Khaganate.

But along the way, Li Chengqian had heard a lot of information from the Western Turkic tribes themselves.

The planned ally, Yibi Duolu Khan, is extremely unreliable.

He is mean and ungrateful, greedy for money, and difficult to win the support of others.

Not to mention counterattacking the Central Plains, it's a miracle that this guy has not been overthrown by the simple-minded grassland tribesmen until now.

Can't count on it at all.

"The Khan... Yibi Duolu Khan thinks highly of the common people. In addition, the pressure from the Southern Court is increasing day by day. I believe he is willing to form an alliance."

Seeing that the prince was speechless, Chengxin spoke for the first time and defended him:
"If the Khan really does not allow the alliance, I am willing to lead my people and help you!"

Is it a question of whether to form an alliance or not? The question is what is the use of this alliance, whether we can defeat Li Zhi... Li Chengqian secretly rolled his eyes at Chengxin.

Chengxin lowered his head and pretended not to see it.

No one spoke, and the scene fell into an eerie silence.

After a long awkward moment, Li Chengqian couldn't help himself and quietly looked up.

Li Shimin closed his eyes, tilted his head, and snored evenly. He was already fast asleep.

Li Chengqian: "..."

Satisfied: “…”

…………

Anyway, this is the situation. Since Your Majesty has no objection, we will proceed according to the Crown Prince's original plan.

The group of people, led by Qibi Heli, with Ashina She'er as the general and Li Chengqian at the core, surrounded the great treasure, His Majesty Li Shimin, and continued to advance towards the northwest.

Destination: the Beiting Yazhang of Western Turkic Khanate.

Nilitqin, as the envoy of introduction, handed over the tribal affairs to a few confidants and then brought his guards along.

They received sufficient supplies and rest in the Nili Special Forces, and His Majesty Li Shimin also changed his carriage to a newer and more comfortable one. The team galloped across the endless Gobi Desert at a faster speed.

The days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer and more humid.

When spring came, the group came to an oasis with abundant water and grass.

In the middle of the oasis is an endless lake, whose surface has risen dramatically due to the melting of snow upstream.

There are rows of tents by the lake, and cattle, sheep, camels and other livestock are drinking water and eating grass leisurely, with birds flying back and forth among them, creating a scene of vibrant life.

"This place is the tent of Yibi Duolu Khan." Chengxin introduced briefly without saying a word.

"Well, we figured it out." Qibi Heli was used to this brother's style, and raised his right fist:

"stop!"

The huge team had just stopped when several riders suddenly jumped out from behind some tent and rushed towards them.

Knowing that the person came with bad intentions, Qibi Heli immediately drew his bow and arrow in a state of caution, but was dissuaded by Chengxin.

"They are the tax farmers of the Khan. We trampled on the Khan's pastures. According to Beiting's regulations, we must hand over the livestock. They are here to collect taxes."

Qibi Heli thought for a while and felt that it was a bit rude to kill his quasi-ally's men just as they arrived at his territory. He reluctantly put down his bow and arrow, muttering:

“They are quite responsible.”

"Because they are also collecting taxes for themselves." Li Chengqian explained on behalf of the silent special agent:
“After the tax farmers paid the full amount of taxes to the Khan every month, any excess was theirs.”

"Oh, that's awesome..." Qibi Heli expressed his amazement at this unique financial and taxation system.

I thought that Beiting Khan's control over the various tribes was so strong that he could collect taxes under such a strict system.

The result is that tax collection has been "outsourced", which is indeed quite crude.

"Who are you? Your sheep have trampled the Khan's pastures! According to the law, they belong to us..."

The tax farmer had just shouted arrogantly when Qibi Heli glared at him and he immediately shrunk half a head.

Chengxin rode forward and said to the tax farmer:

"I am Nilitqin, these are my people, and I have urgent matters to report to the Khan."

"Nilitqin! Why did you come all this way... Is it because of the urgent war on the border?" The tax farmer's face changed drastically:

"Okay! I'll report to the Khan right away."

They had just taken a few steps on horseback when they turned back:

"Reporting is reporting, but taxes still need to be paid."

Then, in the murderous gazes of the crowd, the tax farmer swaggered away the flock of sheep that had accompanied him all the way.

"Is this kind of insect really worthy of being our ally?"

Ashina She'er muttered disdainfully.

As a good man who did not collect taxes when he was a Turkic royal family and did not harm anyone when he was a general of the Tang Dynasty, he simply looked down on these guys who were crazy about making money.

Qibi Heli patted him on the shoulder:

"The Western Turks are just a bunch of useless jellyfish.

"If they produce a divine monarch, can the Tang Dynasty still rest easy?"

"But now we have to rely on their help." Old She'er was still frowning.

Who is most qualified to compete for the Central Plains? It must be Li Shimin, who is both civil and military!
Li Ming is also very good, the son is very similar to the father.

Although Li Zhi is still young, he has a promising future given time.

Li Chengqian is the eldest and legitimate son.

Li Tai... that's fine too.

Who the hell is Yibi Duolu Khan? !
"There is always a way. Look, His Majesty didn't say anything." Qibi Heli looked back.

His Majesty was still half lying in the temporary dragon chariot, motionless, and it was unclear whether he was asleep or awake.

Ashina She'er's mouth twitched:
"Does he look like he has no objection? Is there a possibility that Tian Khan is unconscious and has no idea of ​​our situation?"

Qibi Heli pondered for a while: "I don't think so..."

Just as the two were arguing, a loud roar suddenly came from the front:
"Nili! My little Nili!"

Following the sound, outside the Khan's tent, a cube-shaped... woman was galloping over, and the horse under her was almost turned into a Bactrian camel by the heavy burden.

The two of them clearly felt that the cool and taciturn "Nili Teqin" was trembling as if facing a powerful enemy.

Chengxin forced an unnatural smile, raised his hand stiffly, waved at the woman in the cube, and shouted those two words in a trembling voice:
"My dear wife."

Oh~ the men understood and were in awe of Nilitqin.

It turned out that the fat woman was the Khan's daughter, his ideal wife and supporter.

The flower language of steel wool is forbearance and wealth.

"You finally came back to see me...who is that woman!"

The Western Turkic princess was shocked to find that there was a woman of unparalleled beauty beside her husband, and she immediately roared.

Li Chengqian explained with a smile:

"Your Highness, you may have misunderstood me. I am a man."

"male?"

The princess heaved a sigh of relief and rode to Chengxin's side like a tiger returning to the forest.

"Father Khan has summoned you. What is it?"

Cheng Xin lowered her voice:
"In order to completely defeat the Southern Court's Yibishabolayahu Khan, I called in a few helpers from the Tang Dynasty."

The Western Turkic princess glanced with disdain at the effeminate bamboo pole next to her, which was too delicate to conform to the Turkic aesthetics, and said with disdain:
"From the Tang Dynasty? Can they match the fierce Turkic warriors? What kind of helpers?"

Cheng Xin: "The Emperor and the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty."

Princess:"???"

…………

The group was soon welcomed to Yibi Duolu Khan's tent.

Although it is called a "tent", it is actually a complex and magnificent nomadic palace built with precious fragrant wood as pillars and precious mink fur as the roof and walls.

"His Majesty."

Qibi Heli came to the temporary dragon chariot and knelt on one knee respectfully:

"The Western Turkic Khan is already in his tent, waiting to see the emperor with great trepidation."

There was no movement in the carriage.

Still unconscious... Qibi Heli frowned.

Although he said "looking forward to seeing you", everyone knew that he was just trying to save face. Now is the time to ask for help, not to show off.

"Your Majesty, I apologize for my impoliteness."

Qibi Heli made up his mind and planned to carry Your Majesty over.

At this time, the car moved.

His Majesty Li Shimin has already gotten out of the car on his own.

"His Majesty!"

Qibi Heli was shocked and rushed over to help.

Li Shimin pushed him away again stubbornly.

"How can the ruler of the Tang Dynasty not be able to stand on his own feet when outside the country? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at by them?"

He dragged his paralyzed right half of his body and walked past Qibi Heli, supporting his shoulder with his left hand.

He took off the dagger from his back and quietly hid it in his thick fur robe.

Qibi Heli paused, moved his throat, and swallowed the question that was almost about to come out of his mouth, without saying anything.

Led by the couple Chengxin and the princess, Li Shimin and Li Chengqian entered the inner chamber of the Western Turkic Khan.

Before entering the tent, I heard a rude and noisy noise coming from inside.

"I said no and it means no! Am I the Khan or are you the Khan?

"I've given those soldiers a chance to serve the Khanate, why should I pay them? Won't they go and grab the spoils themselves?

"If anyone dares to mention the money again, I will beat his ass to pieces!"

After a burst of unbearable curses, a general came out with a dark face. When he saw the special agents and a strange couple outside, he was stunned for a moment, nodded silently, and left.

Li Shimin and Li Chengqian looked at each other and slowly walked in.

"Hey, the Khan of Tang, the little Khan~"

Yibi Duolu Khan, who had just finished training his subordinates, stood up slowly with a big belly and bowed slightly, which was considered a greeting.

The sense of neglect is evident in his words.

Please call him Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince... Li Chengqian was about to get angry but was stopped by Li Shimin with a look.

The four of them sat down. Princess Cube saw the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty standing next to her husband, looking a little like a little bird. She couldn't help but feel jealous and squeezed between the two of them in a domineering manner.

Undoubtedly, this was another extremely rude move in diplomacy.

Li Chengqian moved his mouth but said nothing in the end.

Li Shimin seemed not to see it. He had his eyes half closed and the right corner of his mouth slightly crooked. He was silently enduring the torture of the wind disease.

All this was seen by the Western Turkic Khan.

He felt very satisfied.

In the past, even being allowed to submit a memorial to Chang'an, let alone meet the arrogant Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, was considered a great favor.

Even his title of "Yibi Duolu Khan" had to be conferred by the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

The Tang emperor who used to be so high and mighty as if he lived in the clouds, with the entire grassland trembling at his feet, has now fallen down to earth and appeared before him in a humble manner.

How could he not be happy about this?

Seeing the emperor and the prince sitting down like two lame ducks, the Khan couldn't help laughing and decided to give them another blow.

"I have heard of the great name of the Khan of the Tang Kingdom for a long time. Today I saw with my own eyes that his reputation is well-deserved... Ouch, what's wrong with your leg?"

He made no secret of his sarcasm.

Li Chengqian's face turned red immediately, but Li Shimin still said nothing.

Yibi Duolu Khan rubbed his big belly proudly, thinking that his test was successful. Since the other party could endure such an insult, he must be in trouble and needed his help.

Great, now's your chance to ask for an exorbitant price.

The most embarrassed person in the room was Chengxin, because he was the guarantor for this matter, so he couldn't help but interrupt:
"Great Khan, we are now locked in a fierce battle with the Southern Court. If we can gain the support of the Tang Dynasty..."

The Khan interrupted rudely:

"What can the Khan of Tang do for me?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere suddenly became silent.

Still speaking with satisfaction:
"As long as the Tang army can stand on our side..."

"What I'm asking is what the 'Khan' of the Tang Kingdom can do for me." Yibi Duolu Khan smiled cunningly:

"Does he have an army now? Does he have power? Does the entire Tang Kingdom listen to him now?"

Chengxin was choked and argued.

"As long as we can escort His Majesty back to Chang'an, the Tang Dynasty will..."

"I'm already busy enough with those insects in the South Court. I really don't have the energy to worry about other countries." The Khan glanced at Li Shimin and continued:

“Unless I can be rewarded appropriately.

"For example, if you let me use the entire line from Liangzhou to Shuozhou as pasture, and open the gates of Chang'an so that I can plunder for ten days, then I might consider it."

This is no longer a matter of bargaining, but a naked humiliation.

Chengxin was speechless.

Li Chengqian was trembling all over and his lips were bitten white.

He never expected that the "ally" he chose would be such an ignorant and rude glutton.

"Cheng Qian." Li Shimin finally spoke, speaking Chinese.

"I have never believed that Zhinu would betray me. He would not do anything harmful to you or me."

It was already such a late hour why did Ning suddenly mention Li Zhi... Li Chengqian wondered for a moment if the illness had caused his father's thoughts to jump.

"Li Zhi has always hidden his ambitions. It is hard to believe that he is so cunning at such a young age." He tentatively agreed with his father.

Li Shimin sighed:
"I can't persuade you even if I'm in this state. Since you don't trust Li Zhi, don't want to go back to the Tang Dynasty directly, and want to rely on the Turks, then I'll do as you wish."

Yibi Duolu Khan did not understand the Chinese they were speaking, and slapped the table impatiently:
"What are you two talking about? Don't you want to form an alliance with Western Turkic?"

Li Shimin continued to talk to the confused Li Chengqian, completely ignoring the Western Turkic Khan:

"Cheng Qian, you often dress like a Turk in the palace and speak the Turkic language, as if you have become a Turk yourself.

"But you don't actually understand Turkic. I will teach you."

"Father, what are you talking about?" Li Chengqian was completely confused.

Dad, please don't let your mind get confused at this time...

Then, in his astonished eyes.

Li Shimin quietly took out the dagger he had taken from Qibi Heli, and with his intact left hand, shook his wrist at the talkative Yibi Duolu Khan.

With a whoosh, the dagger flew out like an arrow.

The arrow hit the Khan's throat exactly.

"Ka... Ka..."

Yibi Duolu Khan covered his bloody throat with his hands, his eyes full of disbelief. Apart from the hissing sound of air leaking from his trachea, he could not make any other sound.

He fell down with a loud bang and died.

“This is the correct way to get along with the Turks.”

(End of this chapter)