Tang Dynasty Swordsman

So he ordered Jia Huai and the others, "Put down your bows." He then ordered Ma Meng to translate, "You all put down your bows too, otherwise it would be bad if you hurt the people I have captured. If what you say is true, wait for the clan chief to come and we will deal with the consequences."

The herdsmen looked at each other in bewilderment before finally slowly drawing their bows, but they still gestured to Li Ji, refusing to lower their bows and put away the arrows that were already nocked.

About half an hour later, a cloud of dust suddenly rose in the distance, and more than a hundred riders galloped towards them. Most of the Tang people were terrified, but Li Ji remained calm—he was certainly taking a risk, of course, but since learning that the man he had captured was the chieftain's son, he had become much more at ease. "Even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs," and besides, this chieftain wasn't Li Heng; surely he could get a chance to talk to him.

At the head of the hundred riders was a burly man with a thick beard and a wrinkled face, making it impossible to tell his age. He galloped forward and shouted, "Since you are guests from afar, you should naturally abide by the customs of my people. Why are you not allowed to enter the tribe and instead arrest my son? Everyone says that the Tang people value etiquette the most. Are you all imposters from the Tang people?!" He spoke in Chinese.

Li Ji sized up the man—presumably the clan leader—and then glanced behind him before suddenly sneering, "It's midday, and the weather is hot. Why are you so bundled up? Could you be someone we know?"

It turned out that the chieftain was riding behind a rider who wore a hooded cloak over his fur robe. When he was about an arrow's length away, he saw Li Ji in the distance and suddenly pulled up his cloak, covering half of his face. Li Ji thought to himself, "Are you taking advantage of my poor eyesight? You should be able to tell who I am by now, but I haven't even seen your face yet—covering your face as soon as you see me, acting all mysterious, could it be someone I know? Who could it be?"

The first thought that popped into my mind was that it was either a traitor or an envoy from Tibet who had come to communicate with the Uyghurs... But upon further reflection, it seemed that I didn't know many of the important figures from these two countries, or I had only seen them from afar—for example, Zhou Zhi—and there was no reason for them to avoid me.

Besides, with so many of you, you could easily disregard the safety of the hostages and swarm us to kill us to silence us. Why bother covering your faces?

He tried to ask. Upon hearing this, the clan chief turned and whispered a few words to the mysterious man, who replied in return. Then the clan chief faced Li Ji, placed his hand on his chest in a gesture of respect, and said, "Please release my son for now and let him follow this gentleman behind me..."

Li Ji frowned: "Do you think I'm stupid?!"

The clan chief said, “No one else would dare to do this, but if it were Li Ji, a brave warrior of the Tang Dynasty, what would he not dare to do? I promise that as long as the child is spared, I will not harm you or any other Tang people.”

Li Ji thought to himself, "Indeed, it's someone I know." He suspiciously sized up the mysterious man, vaguely recognizing his tall stature, but couldn't quite place him... Should he walk a few steps away with him to see who it was? A mere promise not to harm him, yet he wanted Li Ji to release the hostage and follow the mysterious man—this was illogical and unreasonable. But perhaps this very illogicality indicated that the other party didn't harbor much ill will.

Ultimately, he couldn't hold the hostages indefinitely; he needed a way out. Originally, he planned to summon the clan chief, question him, and investigate the Uyghurs' movements. Once he had confirmation, he would lead his men back to Tang territory. However, his interest in the clan chief was now less than half that of the mysterious man, and he vaguely felt that the key to breaking the deadlock lay with that mysterious man.

Judging from the way the clan chief spoke with this person, it seems that this person is of high status. So even though I released the hostages, if I could capture this person, I might be able to get more reliable information.

He hesitated for a moment, then ordered everyone, "Wait here and do not move rashly." He then slowly spurred his horse toward the mysterious man. The mysterious man seemed not to dare to look directly at Li Ji. Seeing this, he pulled on the reins and galloped to the side.

The clan chief hurriedly said, "Please put the child down first." Li Ji casually threw the young man in his hand at the clan chief. The clan chief caught it with both hands, but he was no match for Li Ji's strength. He cried out "Ah!" and fell off the saddle while hugging his son.

Li Ji loosened his grip, then spurred his horse's flanks, instantly accelerating towards the mysterious man. The mysterious man, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, also sped up. The two, one fleeing and the other chasing, were already two arrows' lengths away in the blink of an eye.

Li Ji shouted, "Who are you, and where do you intend to lead me?!" He then slapped the scabbard at his waist with a "snap," saying, "If you don't answer, don't blame me for being rude!"

Upon hearing this, the mysterious man reined in his horse and turned around. Li Ji rode closer, only to see the man lift his hood, finally revealing his true face, and then give a sad smile: "Li Ji, you are indeed bold."

During the chase, Li Ji had been suspicious of the man's posture and demeanor on horseback, and now that he saw him, his suspicions were confirmed. The man had a dark face, deep-set eyes, a high nose, and a yellowish-brown beard; he was none other than Di De, a high-ranking general of the Uyghurs, known as the strongest warrior in his tribe!

Li Ji sneered and immediately shouted, "As expected! You Uyghurs are planning to take advantage of our misfortune, break the alliance, and invade our Tang!"

Upon hearing this, Di De looked astonished—"Li Ji, what are you saying?"

Li Ji carefully observed the other party's expression, which did not seem to be feigned—wait, could I have guessed wrong? Then why would the Uyghur tribe refuse to receive us, and why would this Di De come here and hide his face, not daring to acknowledge me in public?

Then Di De said, "I, the Uyghur, am the son-in-law and father-in-law of your Tang family. The true princess of the Tang emperor is my family's Khatun. I, the Uyghur, am also reasonable. The Tang family is only experiencing internal strife. Even if it is weak, I, the Uyghur, will not break the alliance. Li Ji, what you say is too unreasonable."

Li Ji frowned and demanded, "As a key general in this unit, why have you marched south? And why do you dare not face me directly?"

He was observing Dide's expression, but the other was also scrutinizing him. After a long while, he asked in return, "Could it be that you are not...you didn't see, Apocho?"

Li Ji asked blankly, "Who is Apochuo?" Is he the Uyghur general who came to aid the country with the Crown Prince Yabghu last year? I don't have much of an impression of this name... To be honest, only the name Dide is straightforward and easy to remember; he can hardly remember any of the others.

Di De frowned, staring at Li Ji for a long while before asking, "Then... why did you come to the grasslands?"

Li Ji didn't hide anything and said, "I was ordered by His Highness Prince Qi to deliver a message to Princess Ningguo—who is also your Khatun—..."

"You're a warrior, how can you use that to send private messages? It just so happens that you've arrived here at this exact moment, it's too much of a coincidence."

Li Ji retorted, "It's too much of a coincidence that you just happened to arrive here at this time!"

Di De sighed softly, "To meet you, Li Ji, at this very moment, is this the will of Heaven?" He then looked at Li Ji and said, word by word, "I am no longer a Uyghur general, but a fugitive..."

Li Ji asked curiously, "Why is that? Have you offended the Khan or the Crown Prince of Yabghu? As one of the most outstanding warriors in the tribe, what heinous crime could be so unforgivable?"

Dide replied, "I have offended the Khan... As for the Crown Prince, my offense is precisely because of the Crown Prince. To be honest, the Khan deposed the Crown Prince and installed his younger brother, Yidijian, in his place. We, the Crown Prince, are now subordinates and can only flee..."

Upon hearing this, Li Ji was greatly surprised—good heavens, the Tang family hadn't even deposed the eldest son in favor of the younger one yet, and the Uyghurs had already started fighting! He hurriedly asked, "How is the Crown Prince Yegu?"

Di De's face was ashen. He looked up at the sky and sighed, replying, "After the Crown Prince was murdered, we fled south, intending to seek refuge with the Tang family. We temporarily hid here and sent Abo Chuo—son of Chebi Shitu Tunfa Pei Luo Teqin—to make contact first. We thought you had met him, which is why we came here. Alas, Tu Tunfa... he has also been murdered..."

Upon hearing this, Li Ji couldn't help but become suspicious again.

Since they said "we," it's probably not just Di De alone, but rather three to five former subordinates of the Crown Prince of Yabghu. Theoretically speaking, if you want to join the Tang Dynasty, then go ahead. Why hide in this small tribe and send someone to make contact first? Are you worried that the Tang Dynasty won't accept you? Unless you killed someone important in the fighting, you are both fierce generals who have assisted in suppressing rebellions. There's no reason for the Tang Dynasty not to keep you. It's also unlikely that the Uyghurs would forcibly take you back to be executed.

And you're hiding, fine, but you dared to sneak over and spy on us? Aren't you afraid of being exposed? If you're not worried about the Tang people recognizing you, then why not let us go to your tribe to be entertained? You can just hide in your tents. Do you think we, as guests, would search every single tent?

Unless, of course, you're not worried about being exposed, but you're worried about others being exposed... You're not afraid of me, Tang Buna, but you're worried about others being tied up and taken back to the Uyghurs...

Put your head down right now, stop looking up at the sky and sighing, let me see your expression clearly, okay?

Then he smiled slightly and said, "Prince Yehu, are you from this clan?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor De was greatly startled. He abruptly lowered his head, stared at Li Ji, and then his eyes flickered: "What are you saying... The Crown Prince has been murdered..."

Li Ji waved his hand and said, "Very well, I will go north to see the Khan and the Khatun and plead for you, asking the Khan to take you back to his camp." As he spoke, he pulled on the reins, intending to turn his horse around.

Di De panicked and hurriedly spurred his horse closer, grabbing the reins of Li Ji's mount: "We are friends, so we hope..."

Li Ji sneered, "If we're friends, why won't you tell me the truth?"

Emperor De smiled bitterly, "I'm afraid you'll hold onto old grudges and harm the Crown Prince..."

"What old grudge do I have against Prince Yabghu?"

"This...you struck the Crown Prince..."

"It is the Crown Prince who harbors old grudges against me. What do I have to hate about the Crown Prince?" Li Ji thought to himself, "I do hate the Crown Prince Yehu, I hate that he did not refuse Li Heng's unwarranted reward and wanted to abduct the Tang women of the two capitals. But strictly speaking, this is my public anger towards the Uyghurs, not my personal grudge against any one person. In fact, if you had not promised to redeem the women of Luoyang with silk that day, I would hate you too!"

/♂

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Rare Goods Can Be Held Highly Sold

The Uyghur Khan, known as Moyanchuo of the Yaoluoge clan, had long harbored the intention to depose the eldest son and establish the younger one in favor of the younger. Therefore, someone suggested to the Crown Prince of Yabghu that since the Tang Dynasty had just sent someone to request assistance, he should volunteer to lead troops there to strengthen the relationship between the Tang and Uyghur Khans. With the Tang family backing him, the Khan would not dare to touch him.

Therefore, Crown Prince Yabghu mustered four thousand elite troops, led by his trusted confidant Di De, his clansman Chebi Shitu Tunfa Pei Luo Teqin, and others, to march south to assist the Tang in suppressing the rebels. He also became sworn brothers with Li Yu. Sure enough, upon his return, his prestige soared, and the valiant Khan's attitude towards him seemed to soften somewhat.

Since the valiant Khan followed the diplomatic policy of his father, the benevolent Khan Guli Peiluo, and was consistently friendly to the Tang Dynasty, could the successor, who was appreciated by the Tang emperor and his son, be easily changed? You have to consider the feelings of the Tang people.

However, the Crown Prince of Yabghu and his faction overlooked one thing: Li Heng would soon formally marry Princess Ningguo and become the principal wife of the valiant Khan—the Khatun. In that case, what weight would the relationship between the Tang and He families—which was already a father-in-law and son-in-law relationship and a sworn brotherhood—be?

Therefore, shortly after marrying Princess Ningguo, the valiant Khan formally stripped the Crown Prince of his title of "Yaghu" and removed him from his military command. Knowing his position as heir was precarious, the Crown Prince plotted a rebellion, but the Khan discovered his plot and acted first…

In the fierce battle, the Crown Prince's henchmen, including Chebi Shitu Tunfa Peiluo Teqin, were all beheaded, and the Crown Prince was also seriously wounded. It was only by relying on his strength that Emperor De broke through the encirclement, changed the Crown Prince's clothes on the corpse of a soldier who looked similar to him, and protected the Crown Prince as he escaped to the border tribes.

—Although this place is seven or eight hundred miles away from the Tang territory, it is already considered the southern border of the Uyghurs, because the area in between is a vast semi-desert and uninhabited area, which is called "Ou Tuo" or a gap.

Firstly, the Crown Prince was seriously injured and it would be difficult for him to travel through that gap in the short term. Secondly, Emperor De and his men were also worried that the Tang people would not accept them—after all, sworn brothers were worthless in politics—and might even tie up the Crown Prince and send him back to the Tang court. Therefore, they temporarily hid and ordered Apochuo, the son of Chebi Shitu Tunfa Peiluo Teqin, to go south ahead to Chang'an to find out the Tang court's intentions.

The crucial point is that news has already arrived from the Khan's camp that the Crown Prince has died and his younger brother, Yidijian, has succeeded him. It's unclear whether the deliberately mutilated corpse of the soldier truly deceived the Khan, or if it was merely propaganda. If it's the former, then the Crown Prince's defection to Tang is far more dangerous than continuing to hide.

This small border tribe, a branch of the "Mengwu Shiwei," had once received a great favor from the Crown Prince, and thus was willing to hide them. In truth, whether the Uyghur Khanate sent people to inquire, or whether merchants from the south or Tang envoys passed by, it could all be done as if nothing had happened; the Crown Prince, Emperor De, and the others simply needed to remain hidden in their tents. However, the nomadic people of the grasslands, lacking in knowledge and intelligence, insisted that Li Ji and his group take a detour, which was nothing short of a blatant attempt to conceal their presence.

Therefore, when Di De heard that the clan chief's son had been detained, he feared that the clan chief might panic and the news would be exposed, so he hurried over to check on the situation. Upon seeing Li Ji, he felt a mixture of joy and apprehension—joy because he knew this man well, a confidant of the Tang family's crown prince, and with his assistance, perhaps he could obtain better treatment from the Tang people; apprehension stemmed not from anyone else, but from Li Ji, the very man who had once assaulted the crown prince, and who might not have a good impression of him…

That's why I invited Li Ji to speak, to reveal a little information, pretending that the Crown Prince was dead and that only a few of us were hiding among the herdsmen—I have a relationship with you, could you help cover it up? Who would have thought that Li Ji was much more perceptive than I thought, and actually saw through it in one sentence—the Crown Prince is still alive!

They also threatened that if they went north to the Khan to plead for Dide, then the Khan would send someone to fetch Dide, and they wouldn't be able to hide anything from him!

Left with no other choice, Emperor De had to reveal the truth and beg Li Ji not to leak the information.

Li Ji sat astride his horse, stroking his beard, lost in thought for a long time without saying a word.

Upon hearing the news of the Uyghur civil war and the escape of the crown prince, his first thought was to capture the prince and hand him over to the Uyghur Khan. With this great achievement, he could then request reinforcements, greatly increasing his chances of success. However, he then reconsidered. Dide was also a brave warrior, and with the addition of his entire Uyghur tribe, his own force numbered only about ten men; they were likely no match for him…

Should they feign help to cover for them, slip through the cracks, and then report them to the Khan once they reach the Uyghur camp? However, Dide and his men weren't stupid; they would definitely find an opportunity to escape. Even if they didn't go to Tang territory, the grasslands were vast, and who knew where they could hide? If they weren't captured in time, they might end up being accused of deceiving the Khan.

Thinking deeper, if the Yabghu prince were to surrender to the Tang Dynasty, would it be a good thing or a bad thing for the Tang? Although the Tang and Uyghur families had an alliance, Li Ji naturally distrusted nomadic peoples, especially as the Tang's power was declining. He always worried that the Uyghurs would become a potential enemy of the Central Plains dynasty. If the Tang Dynasty could hold the Yabghu prince hostage, it might damage the friendship and trigger conflict, but it might also force the Uyghurs not to easily turn against it.

After all, the Crown Prince had served as "Yaghu" for many years, controlling a quarter of the Uyghur army, and given his status as Crown Prince, his potential influence might be even greater. If Dide and the others had not lied during their previous meeting, then the Crown Prince was fully capable of stirring up a violent upheaval within the Uyghur territory.

—His influence is incomparable to that of a lone Tang Dynasty crown prince.

This must have been due to a lack of intelligence and the plan being exposed, which prompted the valiant Khan to strike first and launch a surprise attack, resulting in the crushing defeat of the Crown Prince Yabghu and his followers. And if their treacherous scheme had succeeded…

Li Ji then asked Emperor De, "Since we are friends, you must tell me the truth—why are you hoping for the Tang family to take you in? In order to strengthen the friendship between Tang and He, wouldn't Tang take the Crown Prince back to the imperial camp?"

Di De nodded and said, "It is indeed a cause for concern, which is why I ordered Apochuo to investigate first and bribe the Tang family officials..."

"Is it merely a matter of concern, rather than a certainty? What arguments will you use to persuade my Tang Emperor to take them in?"

Di De hesitated for a moment, but finally replied honestly, "Although our two families are related, we cannot be completely without suspicion towards each other. Even among my Uyghurs, some have suggested to the Khan that we take advantage of the vulnerability of Shuofang and Hexi to raid Tang... I imagine your Tang family would not be unprepared..."

Li Ji thought to himself that Li Heng was probably not on guard, and was dreaming that as long as he gave the Uyghurs enough benefits, or even let his own daughter marry him, the northern border would be safe and sound.

"...The Crown Prince has long led the army and enjoys great prestige, while Yidijian is nothing more than a callow youth. The Khan is old and nearing his end; if he were to pass away within a few years and Yidijian were to succeed him, the only way to secure his position would be to request the Tang Emperor to bestow a new title upon him. If the Tang Emperor were to send the Crown Prince back, the Uyghurs would surely descend into chaos, and he dares not take such a risk. Therefore, if your family possesses foresight, you should be willing to accept the Crown Prince to restrain Yidijian..."

"But if the Khan knows that the Crown Prince is with the Tang family, he may send troops to seize him, which would only lead to a conflict between the two families."

Di De smiled bitterly, "It's not entirely impossible. But what if the Crown Prince secretly enters Tang? It's uncertain whether the Tang family would be willing to take such a risk; and the Crown Prince is seriously injured, with nowhere else to go except Tang territory for the time being... We are also taking a risk..."

Li Ji thought to himself that there was no need to take the risk. He could answer them now. Given the weak nature of Li Heng and Li Yu, the father and son, they would most likely not dare to offend the Uyghurs in the slightest and would send the Crown Prince of Yabghu back.

However, he also felt that this was a rare commodity with great potential. If used properly, it could prevent conflict between the Tang and the He people for one or two decades. It would be a great pity to return it now.

Therefore, after pondering for a long time, he finally replied to Emperor De: "If the Crown Prince enters Chang'an, it will be difficult to keep it a secret. When the Khan sends an envoy to inquire, the Emperor will surely send the Crown Prince back north, and you... will probably not have a good end either. If you trust me, you can quickly recall Abochuo and not send him to Chang'an, but instead send the Crown Prince to Longyou. Only I, the King of Tang Qi, can protect the Crown Prince."

With virtually no worries about his rear in Longyou—a victory would boost his prestige, while a defeat would allow him to return to his leisurely life as a prince—his gambling instincts grew stronger day by day. Under these circumstances, Li Tan was probably the only one in the entire world willing to take in the Crown Prince of Yegu as a bargaining chip to control the Uyghurs in the future.

Of course, this is just Li Ji's speculation, and how Li Tan will actually decide remains to be seen. However, if even Li Tan refuses to take him in, then the Crown Prince Yehu should either prepare to face execution or be ready to hide for the rest of his life.

Furthermore, there is a fear that if the Crown Prince of Yabghu surrenders to the Tang Dynasty but is not accepted, he might flee to Tibet or Nanzhao. If this bargaining chip falls into the hands of the Tibetan rebels, it would be extremely detrimental to the Tang Dynasty.

Therefore, I advise you, Emperor, not to try your luck in Chang'an, but to go instead to Shanzhou in Longyou.

“I will write to the King of Qi, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages. You may take my letter to see the King of Qi. However, whether the King of Qi will ultimately be willing to keep the crown prince is up to man, and success is up to fate.”

Di De nodded and said, "You naturally know more about the Tang family's affairs than I do. Thank you for your guidance. It is indeed a sign from heaven that we met here. However... my decision is not final; I must report to the Crown Prince for a decision."

Li Ji smiled and said, "Since I've shown you a clear path, shouldn't you also show me a clear path?"

Emperor De asked blankly, "What do you mean?"

Li Ji then briefly explained his request for aid, and then asked Di De, "Who is the most favored person by the Khan's side now? If we want the Khan to send troops to invade the northern border of Tibet as soon as possible to relieve the siege of Shancheng, who should we persuade first?"

Without hesitation, Di De replied, “The Khan greatly favors the Khatun, and grants all the Khatun’s requests… It’s a pity that the Crown Prince is arrogant and has failed to win the Khatun’s favor, otherwise this situation would not have occurred… Moreover, the Khan has formed a marriage alliance with the Tang family and is trying out the Tang system, appointing a new prime minister, Dunmohedagan, who is second only to the Khatun and is the most trusted…”

The two talked for a long time, then rode back side by side. They saw that there were still many people standing facing each other on the riverbank. Among them was the son of the clan chief, who had been captured by Li Ji and humiliated. He tried several times to rush up and fight the Tang people, but the clan chief finally managed to hold him down.

Li Ji laughed heartily, "It was all a misunderstanding, it's all cleared up now." He then looked at Di De. Di De approached the chieftain and whispered a few words. The chieftain's tense expression finally relaxed, and he bowed to Li Ji, saying, "So you're a good friend. We've been negligent. You've come from afar, so we should treat you well." He waved his hand, "Please, please rest in my tent for the night. Tomorrow I'll send someone to escort you to the Khan's camp."

The location where this small tribe was encamped was not far from the river; it took only a quarter of an hour to reach it on horseback or on foot. Li Ji glanced around and saw that the huts were connected one after another, with cattle and sheep grazing everywhere; there were probably more than a thousand tents—it was indeed not a large place.

The clan chief ordered a sheep to be slaughtered in celebration. Li Ji returned the gift with an equal amount of rice and flour, along with a few pearls. The clan chief initially declined, but then accepted. The group gathered in a circle, each taking a short knife from their waist to cut and eat the meat, and taking turns sipping from a leather bag of mare's milk wine. Although Li Ji felt it wasn't very hygienic, he followed local custom and took a few sips from the clan chief's hand.

After days of travel and only having dry rations, we were now feasting on rich, fatty meat and eating with great relish. The lamb from the grasslands was of the highest quality, and roasted to perfection—crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—the aroma alone was enough to make one's mouth water. The only pity was the high price of spices. Even the tribal chief dared not, like the noble families of the Central Plains, lavishly apply and sprinkle pepper and Sichuan peppercorns, so the meat inevitably had a slightly gamey smell after eating a lot.

The milk wine, though cloudy and thick, was good at cutting through the greasiness, and Li Ji, relying on his drinking capacity, drank two large bags of it.

Halfway through the meal, the clan chief's son stood up and offered a toast to Li Ji, muttering something unintelligible. The clan chief rebuked him sternly, and Li Ji turned to ask Ma Meng, who whispered, "He's upset about being ambushed and captured by Inspector Li, and he wants to wrestle with you for fun."

Li Ji smiled and said, "This is also part of the topic." He then said to the clan chief, "I am deeply grateful for your hospitality and have no way to repay you. I would like to wager for a game. Please grant me permission." The clan chief hesitated for a moment, but Di De encouraged him from the side, "It's alright. Let your son know that the Tang family also has brave warriors."

So the two stood facing each other, five steps apart, their backs bent and arms outstretched. The clan chief had just given the order when the boy charged straight at him. Li Ji didn't dodge, but instead took the hit—he had been holding the boy for a while, so he knew how strong the boy was—and then he grabbed the boy's waist with both hands, pulling him down to the ground.

Hmm, kid, you've got some strength, probably about 80% of Di De's—what can you do to me?

The outcome was decided in an instant. Knowing his skill was far inferior, the young man's initial arrogance vanished, and he instead sought instruction from Li Ji on body-refining techniques. The clan chief reprimanded him, "Guests have come from afar; please rest early. There's no reason for you to keep pestering us!"

After eating for a while, Emperor De gave him a wink, and Li Ji got up to apologize. He then followed Emperor De to a felt tent in a corner. Emperor De whispered, "The Crown Prince wants to see you to thank you in person."

Li Ji lifted the tent flap and went inside. Sure enough, it was Crown Prince Yehu, his body wrapped in numerous bandages, even half of his face was covered. He sat leaning against the side of the tent, breathing heavily. Li Ji cupped his hands and smiled, "Your Highness, how have you been?" Actually, seeing the other party in such a state, he was quite happy.

The Crown Prince of Yabghu beckoned to him and asked—since he couldn't speak Tang language, he would have to rely on Emperor De to translate—"Please tell me the truth, why didn't you bind me and take me to see the Khan? With this merit, you will surely be able to request reinforcements as you wish."

Li Ji glanced at Di De beside him and bluntly said, "Even if I could defeat Di De, I'm afraid I would have no strength left."

"You may report my presence to the Khan..."

"Should we ask the Khan to send men to capture you again? But you all have legs. If you leave, wouldn't I be making a bad guy and not gaining any merit? It would be a loss."

"You were originally a confidant of the Crown Prince of the Tang family, so why did you switch allegiance to Prince Qi?"

Chapter Thirty, The Uyghur Prime Minister

Li Ji understood that the questions posed by the Crown Prince Yehu were a test of him. If he refused to tell the truth and instead gave vague answers, he might not be able to leave this tribe alive. Even if he did leave, the others would probably move on quickly.

Therefore, he simply told the truth until the Crown Prince Yehu asked, "You were originally a confidant of the Crown Prince of Tang, so why did you follow the Prince of Qi?" Li Ji thought to himself that if he told the truth, it would involve all the explicit and implicit rules of the Tang system, which were very complicated and you barbarians would definitely not understand. So he smiled and said, "Our Tang is different from your family. We value etiquette and have always been friendly and respectful to our brothers."

The Crown Prince of Yabghu nodded and said, "Thank you for telling the truth... If I am able to return to my command post alive and regain control of my tribe, I will surely appoint you as the Right Commander!"