Tang Dynasty: The Holy Prince, the Dragon that Reigns Over the World

On the 9th day of the 8th month of the 9th year of Wude, Crown Prince Li Shimin ascended the throne in Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace and became Emperor Taizong of Tang. He also issued a general amnesty. It was decided to change the reign title to Zhenguan next year, honor Li Yuan as the Supreme Emperor, and make Li Chengqian the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was also allowed to bring a sword to court as a reward for Li Chengqian's Xuanwu Gate Incident.

On August 24, the 9th year of Wude, Li Shimin was in a court meeting. Suddenly, someone outside the door shouted an urgent military report. Li Shimin hurriedly summoned him into the palace.

"Reporting to the emperor. Eastern Turkic Khan Jie Li ordered 2 cavalrymen from the Bayegu and Tongluo tribes to besiege Wucheng. Jie Li Khan, together with his nephew Tuli Khan and Tiele leader Qibi Heli, led an army of 20, claiming to be one million, to attack Jingzhou in the south and advance to Wugong, which has now been lost. The Turkic troops set out from Gaoling."

As soon as these words came out, the whole palace was shocked and the ministers discussed it. Li Shimin looked at the battle report and frowned in thought.

Li Chengqian stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking at the chaotic situation in the hall, when suddenly the system voice rang out.

"Brother Qian, the system has issued the main task: Assist Li Shimin in repelling the invasion of the Turks. If the task is successful, the host will be rewarded with 100 million system coins. If the task fails, the host will die. A branch task has been detected: In this battle, the host and his soldiers will be rewarded with 1 system coins for every 1 enemies killed or captured. If the host and his soldiers kill or capture enemies, the host will not receive any reward. If this branch task fails, there will be no penalty. Do you accept the above task?" "Accept it."

Zhang Sun Wuji, who was standing next to him, looked at Li Chengqian who was deep in thought and asked, "Qian'er, what are you thinking about?"

"Uncle, the Turks came so quickly, and the timing they chose was very coincidental. My father had just ascended the throne after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, and my uncle's old subordinates had not been gathered together, and the regime was not stable. Are the Turks' intelligence gathering capabilities so strong?" Li Chengqian frowned.

"Hehe, it's not that the intelligence gathering ability is strong. It's just that someone is using the Turks." Fang Xuanling came over and said.

"Asshole, using foreigners to bring chaos to the Central Plains. His heart is despicable, and his actions are abominable. He is truly a traitor." Changsun Wuji said angrily. Li Chengqian nodded in agreement.

Li Shimin looked up at the messy hall and frowned in dissatisfaction.

"Gentlemen, please be quiet. It is unbecoming for the hall to be in such a state of panic." Li Shimin shouted. Instantly, the hall was quiet.

"Report, Your Majesty, the Turkic envoy Zhishishili is asking to see you outside the city gate." An eunuch entered the palace to report.

"Announce." Li Shimin said.

After a while, Zhishishili followed the eunuch into the palace. Zhishishili was arrogant and did not kneel when he saw Li Shimin. He just punched his chest with his right fist as a greeting. All the important officials present were indignant. Zhishishili glanced at him with contempt and spoke.

"The envoy of the Eastern Turkic Khan Jie Li, Zhishisili, has come to see the Great Tang Emperor. Today, the two Khans of the Turkic Khanate have a total of one million soldiers, and are only 40 miles away from Chang'an. My Khan sent this envoy to say something to the Great Tang Emperor: Today, there are one million Turkic lions, and they want to hunt with the Great Tang Emperor under the city of Chang'an. My Khan is kind-hearted. If the Great Tang Emperor opens the gates and surrenders, my Khan will not increase the killing in vain. As long as you surrender, I will spare your life. Otherwise, when the city is broken, no one will be left alive.

My Khan has another word: your Li family can take over the Yang family and patrol on behalf of the emperor, and my Ashina family can also take over the Li family. "

"Oh? Jie Li Khan has such a noble taste and such great ambition. My Li family is blessed by heaven and has the support of the people. How can a small barbarian like you replace us? Are you dreaming in broad daylight?" Li Chengqian smiled and walked towards Zhishisili. When he got close to him, he suddenly pulled out Qingshuang and put it around his neck.

"Who gave you the courage to disrespect the emperor and his ministers and speak rudely in the court of my Tang Dynasty? You did not kneel before the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, the ruler of the world. Do you think that because you are a Turkic envoy, no one dares to kill you?" Li Chengqian said angrily.

"Who are you? Your emperor hasn't spoken yet, how can you be so rude?" Zhishisili said in a trembling voice as he looked at the sword on his neck.

"Disrespectful? You Turks tore up the treaty and brazenly invaded our Tang Dynasty. Now you are threatening our Tang Emperor in the palace. Who is disrespectful? As the old saying goes, a minister's king worries and his minister works hard. If the king insults his minister, he will die. I am the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty. I am both a minister and a son. You insulted my king and father, so what if I kill you? Kneel down!" Li Chengqian shouted sternly, and at the same time, he added some strength to his hands. Zhishishili knelt down helplessly. The ministers in the court cheered loudly, and Li Shimin smiled and stroked his beard.

"Dalang, the barbarians from foreign countries do not know etiquette. I don't blame them, so why should you be angry? After all, you are an envoy, so you shouldn't do this." Li Shimin said with a smile.

"Yes, father." Li Chengqian sheathed his sword and walked back.

"Zhishishili, you go down and wait for news." Li Shimin waved his hand and asked someone to take Zhishishili down.

"The Turks are coming. What good plans do you have to repel them?"

"Your Majesty, the Turkic power is strong now, so we should avoid their attack for the time being. I earnestly request Your Majesty to move to the south of the Yangtze River, avoid their attack, and take our plans slowly." A counselor stepped out and said.

"Your Majesty, in the past, the Han Dynasty had the precedent of marriage alliance and tribute. Your Majesty, now the Turkic army is at its peak and Chang'an is poorly guarded. Your Majesty can bribe them with money and lure them with marriage alliance. I predict that the Turkic army will withdraw." A director of the Imperial Academy stepped out and said.

Li Chengqian was resting with his eyes closed, but when he heard this, he opened his eyes in shock. He remembered a sentence from the previous life, "Measure the material resources of China and win the favor of other countries." He couldn't help but feel angry.

"Hehe, what a good move to the south of the Yangtze River, what a good marriage and tribute. Do you want my Li family to surrender? Now that foreign enemies are invading, you don't want to kill the enemies and serve the country, but want me, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, to bow to the foreign enemies?

Our Tang Dynasty was founded on military power, and we have never fled without fighting. Marrying and paying tribute? Only foreign countries offer women to our dynasty, and our dynasty never offers women to anyone else. You are all well-read people who have read the books of sages. Have the sages ever taught you to kneel down and serve the enemy, and exchange women and national treasury for peace? Sir, did the sages ever say that? "Li Chengqian looked at Kong Yingda.

“Your Highness, the saints have never said such disrespectful remarks to the father and the king.” Old man Kong was so angry that he blew his beard and glared.

"Now, I have something to say to you all: My Li family wants to conquer the world, and we have abandoned the rich and safe land to build our capital in Chang'an. Why? The king dies for the country, and the emperor guards the national border. My Li royal family is here to guard the national border, to keep the world peaceful, and to ensure the safety of all the people." Li Chengqian said loudly.

"What a king who dies for his country, and the emperor who guards the national border. What a king who guards the world peace and the people's well-being. Dalang's words are very much in line with my heart. Someone, please carve the prince's words on the hall to show it to future kings. I have made up my mind to fight the Turks. After the court is dismissed, the prince, Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Yuchi Jingde, Qin Qiongxing, and Hou Jun will see you in Jiqing Hall." Li Shimin stood up and said loudly.

Inside Xingqing Hall.

"Your Majesty, the Turkic enemy is invading now. Jie Li ordered 2 cavalrymen from the Bayegu and Tongluo tribes to besiege Wucheng. The purpose of this is to contain the main forces of our army led by Cheng Zhijie, Xu Shiji, Chai Shao and Qu Tutong. I think that Li Xiaogong should be appointed as the Jiedushi of Jiangnan Road (the Jiedushi of the Tang Dynasty was originally a kind of military officer, who was mainly in charge of military affairs and defense against foreign enemies, but had no responsibility for managing the civil affairs of prefectures and counties), and lead the troops of Jiangnan Road to Beijing as soon as possible to defend the king. Li Daozon should be appointed as the governor of Lingzhou, and he should stay in Lingzhou to guard against the Turks. The enemy is now advancing into Gaoling. Gaoling City is small and may not be able to be defended. We should send a general to Jingyang as soon as possible to wait for an opportunity to fight." said Fang Xuanling, the Minister of War.

"Xuanling, how many troops are left in Chang'an?" Li Shimin asked.

"There are 30,000 defenders." Fang Xuanling said.

"Alas, it's still too little." Li Shimin sighed.

"Your Majesty, Xuanling was talking about the defenders. He didn't count the 2 soldiers under Qian'er's command." Changsun Wuji said with a smile.

"Yes, Dalang, can the men under your command fight?" Li Shimin asked expectantly.

"Don't worry, father. The soldiers under my command are well trained and can fight." Li Chengqian said with a smile.

"Well, in this way, the pressure on Chang'an will be much less. Today, what the prince said in the palace was thought-provoking. I wonder what plan the prince has to repel the enemy." Qin Qiong said.

"Uncle Qin, what Uncle Du said just now is very appropriate. Qian'er thinks that the Jieli tribe has 15 troops, the Tuli tribe has 5 troops, the Qibi Heli tribe has 5 troops, and the Bayegu and Tongluo tribes have 2 troops. The combined forces of the various tribes have 22 troops, which may seem like a large number, but in fact, they all have their own agenda.

The Qibi Heli, Bayegu and Tongluo tribes were held hostage by Jie Li and sent out troops. Tuli lost the Khanate because of his young age. Although he is now the second Khan of the Eastern Turks, how can he be willing to do so? I think the four tribes will not be willing to fight to the utmost to preserve their own strength. Therefore, we should focus on dealing with Jie Li. I think we can order Cheng Zhijie, Xu Shiji, Chai Shao and Qu Tutong to seize the opportunity to fight with the Bayegu and Tongluo tribes. We don't seek to annihilate them completely, but to inflict heavy damage. The two tribes will definitely flee.

Select another general to rush to Jingzhou, attack their left wing, and shake their morale. In Liangzhou, there is Dao Zong Wang Shu, and my 5000 Xuanwu troops can also rush to Yinshan overnight to block their retreat.

Father, you can write two letters to Qibi Heli and Tuli, explaining the benefits and disadvantages. Tell them that at that time, my 5000 flying winged archers can play a trick with the two tribes. As long as the two tribes do not work hard to maintain their strength, it will be fine.

When Jie Li arrives, I will lead 1 Flying Dragon Heavy Armored Cavalry to meet Jie Li. I want to test the strength of the Turkic cavalry. At the same time, I will deploy more decoy troops to disrupt their deployment. As long as we delay until the reinforcements arrive, the Turkic will retreat. "Li Chengqian said.

"What the prince said is very true, except for one thing that is not right." Du Ruhui said.

"Keming, what's wrong?" Li Shimin asked.

"The prince is the foundation of the country and cannot go to meet the enemy personally." Du Ruhui said.

"Uncle Du, I am the commander of the Flying Dragon Heavy Armored Cavalry. If I don't go to the battlefield, who will command me?" Besides, it's a reward. Li Chengqian spread his hands.

"Da Lang, when Jie Li arrives, your father will go with you, and we, father and son, will face the national crisis together. Prince Zhao, Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Gao Shilian, and Zhou Fanchi will accompany you. Hou Junji will lead his troops to cooperate with the Flying Wing Archer Cavalry. Jingde, you should go to Jingzhou as soon as possible. I order you to be the commander-in-chief of the Jingzhou Road. Jingde, the left wing is handed over to you. Shubao, the defense of the capital is handed over to you." Li Shimin said.

"Your Majesty, we will not fail in our mission." Qin Qiong and Yuchi Jingde bowed.

"Gentlemen, this battle is a battle for the destiny of our Tang Dynasty. I'm counting on you." Li Shimin bowed.

"We dare not disobey your orders and die in service." Everyone present knelt down in unison.

As soon as the meeting was over, Li Chengqian ordered Xue Wanche to lead the Xuanwu Army to Yinshan (after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Li Chengqian subdued Xue Wanche and appointed him as the commander of the Xuanwu Army, and Deng Xiaohu was changed to the deputy commander of the Feilong Army.), and ordered him to avoid the eyes and ears of the Turks all the way and wait in Yinshan.

Li Shimin wrote two letters and sent them secretly to Khitan Heli and Tuli. After reading the letters, the two did not show any expression, but had different thoughts in their hearts.