Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 143 Surrender to the Tang Dynasty
In late May, the weather was getting hotter and hotter, and the chirping of cicadas could be heard among the trees.

Duke Zhao's mansion has been very lively recently.

A while ago, Changsun Wuji sent out invitations to many famous scholars from various counties and prefectures to come to Chang'an to discuss academic matters and examine historical records. It seemed that he was completely focused on writing books.

That afternoon, Changsun Wuji was discussing the history of the late Jin Dynasty with several old scholars when a servant came to report that Changsun Chong wanted to see him and was waiting in the study.

Changsun Wuji frowned and bowed to several old scholars, saying, "Excuse me, gentlemen."

Several people bowed and said with a smile: "Mr. Changsun, please do as you please."

Changsun Wuji came to the study and saw Changsun Chong walking around the room with an excited expression. He said in a deep voice, "A mind as calm as still water, neither anxious nor impatient, is the highest state of virtue. Why are you always so panicked when something happens?"

Chang Sun Chong smiled and said, "Father, I am not panicked, but surprised."

Zhang Sun Wuji walked to the table and sat down, saying calmly, "What's the surprise?"

Chang Sun Chong laughed and said, "Without your restraint, those generals are all ready to make moves. Look, they are openly opposing the Saint."

Changsun Wuji glanced at him and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Li Ji and his men are definitely not stupid. How could they go against Your Majesty?"

Chang Sun Chong said anxiously, "It's true. The Western Turks won a victory. Su Dingfang proposed to establish two major protectorates in the former territories of the ten Turkic clans. Ashina Mishe and Ashina Daozhen would serve as protectorates respectively, and each would lead the five clans."

Changsun Wuji hummed and said, "This arrangement is not bad."

Chang Sun Chong laughed and said, "The Saint also agrees with this arrangement, but Li Ji, Yuchi Gong, and Cheng Zhijie strongly oppose it!"

"Oh, what are they objecting to?" Changsun Wuji's expression became more serious.

"That bunch of warriors simply don't understand the importance of stabilizing the overall situation. They actually proposed relocating the Western Turks to the west of Suiye City. Oh, right, Suiye City is..."

"I know where Suiye City is." Changsun Wuji raised his hand to interrupt.

Chang Sun Chong asked, "Do you think Li Ji and his men are crazy? Will the Turks agree to relocate them so far away?"

Zhang Sun Wuji pondered for a moment and said, "What did your Majesty say?"

Chang Sun Chong said, "Your Majesty, under the persuasion of Ashina Buzhen, originally agreed to Su Dingfang's memorial. Who knew that Li Ji and the others would come to the Saint and dissuade him from doing so?"

Changsun Wuji asked curiously, "Did they really do that?"

Chang Sun Chong laughed and said, "Isn't it? It's like forcing the emperor to abdicate. The Saint should be regretting letting you retire in the first place."

Changsun Wuji picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and pondered in silence.

Chang Sun Chong said with a smile, "I have discussed this with Prime Minister Han. The military commanders are now too powerful for the sage to suppress. We have no choice but to ask you to come out of seclusion."

Changsun Wuji asked calmly, "What's Liu Rengui, Li Yifu's reaction?"

"Li Yifu has been dismissed from his position as prime minister, and now Li Jingxuan has taken his place." Chang Sun Chong laughed and said, "These civil servants have all become dumb and are completely useless."

Changsun Wuji glanced at him and said, "Do you think you are smarter than Liu Rengui and Li Ji?"

Chang Sun Chong was stunned for a moment and said, "Father, you mean..."

Changsun Wuji said slowly, "Although I don't understand the full story, judging by the attitudes of Li Ji and Liu Rengui, this matter is definitely not as simple as it appears on the surface."

Chang Sun Chong frowned and asked, "Then why do they oppose the Saint?"

Zhang Sun Wuji said in a deep voice, "Do you know why His Majesty wants to use Yuchi Gong?"

"To suppress our clan."

Zhang Sun Wuji shook his head and said, "You think too simply. Your Majesty has many people available to him. Why did he choose Yuchi Gong alone?"

Without waiting for Chang Sun Chong to reply, he continued, "Because Yuchi Gong has a bad temper and doesn't get along with anyone in the court, whether civil or military, we can't trust him. Do you believe he will join forces with Li Ji to fight against Your Majesty?"

Chang Sun Chong said, "Yuchi Gong is a rough man, and he advocates a tough stance against the Hu people, so it's possible that he has joined forces with Li Ji!"

Changsun Wuji shook his head and said, "If Yuchi Gong was really just a reckless man, he wouldn't be alive today."

"You mean, this wasn't Yuchi Gong's idea? Then why did he do that?"

Zhang Sun Wuji closed his eyes and remained silent. After a long pause, he said, "Your Majesty, are there any other moves?"

Chang Sun Chong said, "In order to appease the Turks, His Majesty has issued an edict to confer titles upon all the Turkic chieftains of the ten surnames."

Zhang Sun Wuji was stunned for a moment, then sighed and said, "I see. This is a tactic to sow discord. It must be Li Ji's strategy."

Chang Sun Chong was surprised and asked, "Father, what is this alienation plot?"

Changsun Wuji looked west and said slowly, "Just keep your eyes on the west for now. Something big will happen soon."

……

Western Regions, Shuanghe.

The most important reason why Helu chose Shuanghe as the location of his royal tent was that the area had abundant grass and water, making it the most suitable place for garrisoning troops.

After Su Dingfang's army defeated Helu's main force, they retreated to Shuanghe and joined forces with Xue Rengui's army.

On this day, Su Dingfang ordered people to invite Xue Rengui, Yuan Shouli, Pei Xingjian and others to the big tent.

"An urgent order has come from the Ministry of War. Please take a look." He handed an official letter to Xue Rengui.

After reading it, Xue Rengui looked thoughtful and handed it to Yuan Shouli.

After reading it, Yuan Shouli was surprised and handed it to Pei Xingjian.

After reading it, Pei Xingjian had a strange expression on his face and passed it to other generals.

"If you have any opinions or questions, you can tell me now. I will give the order later. I don't want to hear any more objections." Su Dingfang said after everyone finished reading.

One general said, "General, if we pass on the news, the Turks will immediately turn hostile and attack us."

The ten Turkic tribes have now reunited and are stationed on the west bank of the Yili River.

Su Dingfang said: "That's right, that's why the order tells us to prepare for battle."

Another general asked, "Excuse me, General Su, is this what the saint meant?"

Su Dingfang said: "Unnecessary question, next one."

The official document from the Ministry of War had Li Zhi's seal on it, so it was assumed that the emperor had agreed.

However, many soldiers believed that the emperor was always kind and benevolent, so they doubted whether this letter had been approved by the emperor.

Xue Rengui said: "Since there is an order, just follow it."

After the battle of Yancheng, his prestige in the army soared. When everyone heard him say this, they all expressed their agreement.

Su Dingfang said: "Okay, the discussion ends here, now everyone listen to my orders."

As military orders were issued one after another, the entire Tang army camp began to move.

……

Throughout June, the Tang Dynasty court was still in a state of wrangling. The Ashina brothers and Li Ji and others were arguing constantly over the resettlement of the Turks.

Li Zhi stood on the side of the Ashina brothers, constantly appeased the Turks, and continuously rewarded the leaders of the ten surnames with money and beautiful women.

It’s a pity that Li Ji and others were too tough and refused to make concessions. The emperor negotiated with them several times but failed to reach an agreement.

In late June, a rider rushed into Chang'an with shocking news: the Turks had rebelled again, with ten tribes joining forces to raid the Tang army camp.

However, the Tang army fought back tenaciously and wiped out the main force of the invading Turks.

At the same time, Turks from ten tribes came to Chang'an, found the chiefs of each tribe, and told them an even more shocking news.

The Turkic tribes not only rebelled against the Tang Dynasty, but also rebelled against these chiefs.

When Wuzhile heard the news, he was shocked and angry.

"What did you say? They deposed me as chief?"

"Yes, Chief, not only you were dismissed, but the other nine chiefs were also dismissed." The answer came from one of Uzhile's confidants.

Wu Zhile asked angrily, "Why is this?"

The close friend said, "Since the end of May, the tribe has been spreading the news that the Tang emperor wants to drive us west of Suiye City, and that you all agreed."

Wuzhile said angrily: "Bullshit, when did we agree to this? We are trying to persuade the Khan to change his mind!"

The close friend said, "But you have been gone for so long and have never returned, yet you have received titles and so many rewards. How can the tribesmen trust you?"

Wu Zhile's face changed color and he asked, "How do you know so clearly?"

The close friend said, "I don't know where the news came from, but all the tribes have sent people to Chang'an to inquire about it, and they say it's true!"

Wu Zhile felt a chill on his back and vaguely realized that something was wrong.

He gritted his teeth and said, "So they elected a new leader and attacked the Tang army again?"

The confidant said, "Yes, everyone is thinking that if we resist the Tang Dynasty, we will have to fight them sooner or later. It is better to take the initiative and attack them by surprise to have a chance of victory. It just so happens that the Tang army has been very slack recently, without training, and its defenses are extremely lax."

Wu Zhile said coldly: "But you lost the fight!"

The confidant smiled bitterly and said, "The Tang people reacted too quickly. As soon as we launched a surprise attack, they surrounded us."

Wu Zhile cursed: "It's not that I'm quick to react, this is their conspiracy!"

The confidant was stunned and asked, "What conspiracy?"

Wuzhile was too lazy to explain to him and stood up and said, "There is no time to lose. I want to return to the Turks immediately!"

The confidant said, "Why don't you go ask Prince Bu Zhen first?"

Wu Zhile said coldly: "It's useless to look for him now. I must regain the position of chief first."

Not everyone's reaction was as sharp as Wuzhile's.

After Shatuo and others heard the news, they were all furious and came to Bu Zhen's mansion, but the guards would not let them in.

"Bu Zhen, you Turkic traitor, get out here! How dare you deceive us!"

After cursing for a while, Bu Zhen walked out from behind the door, looked at the people below the stairs, and said in a deep voice: "How did I deceive you?"

Shatuo shouted, "It was you who deceived us and kept us in Chang'an, causing us to be expelled by our tribe!"

Bu Zhen snorted, "You only stayed in Chang'an for a few more days, and your people rebelled. This proves that they are not truly surrendering!"

Shatuo said angrily, "You deliberately kept us in Chang'an, and the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty also deliberately rewarded us in order to alienate us, right?"

This was exactly Li Ji's plan. By playing a double game, he made the ten Turkic chiefs stay in Chang'an and gave them more rewards.

Then they sent people to spread rumors, saying that they agreed to move west to Suiye City and betray their own tribe.

In this case, the Turkic tribes would certainly expel them and re-establish a chief.

At the same time, he deliberately let Su Dingfang's army appear slack, luring the Turks to launch a sneak attack and then severely damaging their main force.

However, Bu Zhen didn't know about this plan.

Having said that, Bu Zhen didn't dare to say anything more.

He could not become the Khan of Western Turkestan, so he could only be content to be the general of the Tang Dynasty. At this moment, he had to make his position clear.

"Shatuo, you are so bold to disrespect the emperor!" Bu Zhen said angrily.

Shatuo said, "He didn't keep his word and cheated us!"

Bu Zhen said, "Let me ask you, was it the Tang army that attacked the Turks, or was it the Turks that attacked the Tang army?"

Shatuo was stunned and didn't know how to answer for a moment.

The Tang army really did nothing, but their defense was a little lax, so the Turks attacked.

No matter how one looks at it, the Turks were treacherous.

Bu Zhen said, "You came here to beg for surrender. The Tang Dynasty only offered one condition. Even if it was harsh, you should have rejected it. Why did you launch a surprise attack?"

Shatuo hesitated for a moment and said, "This matter has nothing to do with us." His tone softened a lot.

Bu Zhen said, "You'd better recognize your position. It was you who were defeated and then attacked the Tang army. What qualifications do you have to question this general?"

The Shatuo people looked at each other and kept silent.

They suddenly realized that they had been expelled from the tribe, and if they wanted to regain the position of chief, they would probably have to rely on the help of the Tang Dynasty.

"Prince Buzhen, I was a little harsh in tone just now, please don't mind." Shatuo forced a smile.

Bu Zhen snorted coldly, "Be careful with your words when you serve as an official in the Tang Dynasty." He turned around and went back to his house, ordering people to close the door.

In this last attack, the Tang army beheaded more than 60,000 Western Turks, severely damaging their vitality.

Under the pursuit of Su Dingfang's army, the remaining tribes were forced to flee westward.

Su Dingfang's army took advantage of the situation and entered Suiye City.

From then on, there were no more large Turkic tribes east of Suiye City, and all the small tribes submitted to the Tang Dynasty.

Less than half a month later, the ten tribes of the Western Turkic Khaganate again sent envoys to surrender and express their willingness to submit to the Tang Dynasty.

This is a helpless move.

They have been driven to the west of Suiye City. If they do not surrender, they will be attacked by the Tang army and the countries in the Western Regions.

So we can only accept reality.

After Li Zhi received the news, he immediately issued an order to establish the Mengchi Protectorate to the west of Suiye City, with Ashina Mishe as the protector and Buzhen as the deputy protector.

As for the area east of Suiye City, it was all incorporated into the Anxi Protectorate, and Yuan Lichen took over as the Protector.

In July of the seventh year of Yonghui, the war against the Western Turks, which had lasted for more than a year, was finally declared over.

The Tang Dynasty eliminated the Western Turks and regained control of the Western Regions.

For a time, the Western Regions were shaken, and merchants gathered caravans and headed towards Chang'an.

The kings of various countries were also busy making preparations in advance for the grand tribute at the end of the year.

(End of this chapter)