Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

"Your Majesty, why don't we surrender..."

In his panic, a voice trembled noticeably as it came from the mouth of a tribal chief before him. To Xueyantuo Yinan, it sounded absurd and laughable.

He was so angry that he laughed, and he hurled a scroll from the table at the man.

"Surrender?! When have we ever betrayed the Tang Dynasty!"

Although the rumbling explosions had stopped, Yi Nan felt as if the sounds were still faintly echoing in his ears, thinking of Princess Gaoyang of the Tang Dynasty, who arrogantly led her people to conduct some kind of exercise around his tribe.

The noise was deafening, and many of their tribes' cattle and sheep were thrown into chaos.

This has caused widespread anxiety within the tribe.

He was angry but dared not speak out.

“We have long since submitted to the Tang Dynasty and paid tribute to them. Every year we have sent tribute and generous gifts to the Tang. I have also personally written letters to flatter the princes and crown prince of the Tang Dynasty more than once. I sent them congratulations on their weddings and gifts when they had children. What more do you want from me?!”

"Ah! Tell me! Tell me!"

The angry and frantic shouts silenced everyone.

However, many people inside the tent kept glancing at a group of people who looked and dressed no differently from them. However, they were not actually members of the Tiele tribe, but rather remnants of the Eastern Turks who had been absorbed by the Xueyantuo.

In other words, the remnants of the Turkic people...

Yi Nan's eyes twitched; he was already aware of everyone's attitude.

However, this piece of fat meat, which he had absorbed years ago, was diseased and had caused the Xueyantuo people unbearable abdominal pain over the years. Now, it was impossible for them to vomit it out.

The Turks in the Tang Dynasty were mostly small and medium-sized tribes and ordinary herders. Because of the Tang Dynasty's victory, they were given a large number of cattle, sheep and livestock.

Their loyalty today is even more terrifying than that of the Tang people of the Tang Dynasty.

The Turks he recruited were former nobles and chieftains of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

These people had a deep-seated hatred for the Tang Dynasty, and many of their relatives had worked themselves to death in the Tang Dynasty mining and road construction, leaving no trace of their remains.

If he were to hand these people over to the Tang Dynasty now, only the Xueyantuo would die...

The atmosphere inside the tent fell into an eerie silence. However, the booming of cannons that had been echoing around the area today not only shattered the ground where the cannonballs landed, but also shattered the Tiele and Turkic tribes that Yinan had worked so hard to gradually integrate over the years.

The atmosphere was deathly still, eerie and heavy.

This instilled in the barbarian men a sense of dread, as if they were surrounded by enemies.

Just then, a series of anxious footsteps came from outside.

"Father! Father! The Tang people have sent someone!"

That impetuous voice—wasn't it his good-for-nothing foolish son, Dadu She, who had once lost his temper and offended Princess Gaoyang?

Da Du rushed into the tent, and Yi Nan glared at him. Fortunately, this interruption dispelled the tense atmosphere.

Yinan straightened up: "Quickly bring the envoy here, no, I will personally go to welcome him!"

He walked quickly outside.

Upon arriving outside the camp, they saw a dozen or so figures dressed as Chinese people and quickly bowed to the leader.

"Young Wang Yinan greets Your Excellency..."

Wei Shuyu smiled and returned the greeting, while Dou Mingzhong beside him tilted his head slightly and returned the greeting with an arrogant casualness.

"This is the son of Duke Wei, the governor of Baikal County of our Great Tang Dynasty."

Yi Nan's pupils contracted, and even the leaders of the Xueyantuo tribes behind him hurriedly bowed again.

Wei Shuyu smiled and waved his hand, "There's no need for that, esteemed leaders..."

He appeared humble and gentle, but Dou Mingzhong behind him was extremely arrogant.

After noticing that everyone's eyes were on him, he raised his head slightly and said, "I am Dou Mingzhong, from the Dou family of Luoyang. My father is Cheng Dou Cai, the Prefect of Luoyang and concurrently the Registrar of the Imperial Works Department!"

Although Luoyang is far more prosperous than Baikal County, in terms of the current policy direction of the Tang Dynasty court...

Wei Zheng, the governor of Baikal Commandery, actually held a higher position than the governor of Luoyang.

Yi Nan respectfully led everyone into the tent, and even dared to humbly place Wei Shuyu in the leader's seat, which was originally reserved for him, and bowed repeatedly.

"Lord Wei, Lord Dou, we Xueyantuo have absolutely no intention of being disloyal to the Tang Dynasty. If we have offended the princess in any way, we are willing to plead guilty and beg the princess to forgive our sins!"

His pitiful appearance, and even his kneeling before Wei Shuyu and the others, showed no sign of what a leader of the Xueyantuo should be like.

however.

Neither Dou Mingzhong, who was arrogant and domineering from the start, nor Wei Shuyu, who seemed gentle and refined, paid any attention to their attitudes.

"Chief Yinan's words have left us scratching our heads... Could it be that Yinan believes that the exercise my princess led today was aimed at Xueyantuo?"

Wei Shuyu stepped forward to help him up, saying something as she did so.

Yinan's son, Dadushe, and the dozen or so tribal leaders present all stared wide-eyed.

The cannonballs were about to hit our tribe's cattle and sheep, and the frightened animals scattered. If that's not considered targeted, then would it also be considered targeted if you let your cavalry charge along the perimeter of our Xueyantuo grasslands?

Does it mean that only when your knives are actually aimed at our necks can it be called targeting us?!

Dou Mingzhong stared at Dadu She and the others with a half-smile.

That arrogant yet expectant gaze sent a chill down the spines of the angry crowd.

They all lowered their heads in nervousness and fear.

Yi Nan opened his mouth, bewildered and frustrated as Wei Shuyu helped him sit down in his seat, not even knowing how to respond to what she was saying.

"This this......"

"Chief Yinan, the Xueyantuo are the strongest and have the most fertile grasslands among the Tiele tribes. Moreover, the strength of one of them is comparable to the combined strength of the other tribes. Before our princess came to Baikal County to take up her fief, there were more than a few memorials from the court saying that you, Yinan, have rebellious intentions against the Tang Dynasty..."

"This is utter nonsense! Envoy, Lord Wei, this is a frame-up!!!"

Yinan was so startled that he stood up instantly.

He anxiously tried to explain, but Wei Shuyu patted him on the shoulder with a smile. Even though he was Lian Yinan's son, Dadu She, who was several years older than him, he acted as if he were on the same generation as Lian Yinan himself.

"Hehe, Chief, there's no need to worry. You have sent people to Chang'an many times to deliver generous gifts and pay tribute every year. Both the Crown Prince and Princess Gaoyang know of your loyalty."

Yinan nodded nervously, while Wei Shuyu sighed again.

"However, Yinan probably knows that the true Khan has a grand ambition to be friendly with all tribes, to make all tribes as brothers, and for all to live a good life. However... not everyone can have the same magnanimity as the true Khan!"

He looked heartbroken and pointed south towards Chang'an.

"My lord, there are too many people who have written to you accusing you of disloyalty. Although we all know that they have ulterior motives, many things must be taken seriously when they are considered from the perspective of the fate of the nation."

"That is why Princess Gaoyang, our Crown Prince's most beloved princess, came to Baikal County to take up her fiefdom ahead of schedule."

"The purpose is to clear you, Chief Yinan, of suspicion!"

"Today's military exercise was not aimed at you, Chief, but to tell the world and those treacherous officials in the court that the Tiele tribes are living in peace on the grasslands and are as close as brothers."

Yi Nan's eyes twitched. Looking at Wei Shuyu, who appeared gentle, he felt as if the other party had gotten close and pressed a dagger against his throat.

Wei Shuyu smiled, his face was like jade, but his figure could only be described as thin.

At this moment, facing the burly Xueyantuo Yinan, he steadily suppressed his opponent with his aura.

"Clap clap clap..."

He gently patted the other person's shoulder.

Wei Shuyu smiled and said, "Today, Chief Yinan was able to restrain his troops and prevent any misunderstandings during this military exercise. In the eyes of the court, this is a testament to your loyalty, Yinan!"