The Great Tang General

The rivers flow and everything blooms.

Kings, chiefs and envoys of various countries traveled across mountains, rivers and seas and finally arrived in Chang'an.

For many kings far away from home, the things they faced all day pale into insignificance the moment they saw the magnificent city of Chang'an.

They had only heard envoys talk about the prosperous Tang Dynasty before, but how could verbal descriptions compare to seeing it with their own eyes?
Or from west to east.

Or from south to north.

Some of them took more than half a year along the way.

They saw cities and people living and working in peace and contentment.

On both sides of the unobstructed road, there are houses facing each other and mulberry and hemp fields.

The marching team camped outdoors, but no accidents occurred, which represents good public security.

Especially the kings and chiefs coming from the Western Regions.

There was a constant flow of merchants and travelers on the Silk Road.

No matter which city they go to, they can see prosperity that far exceeds that of their capital.

Dunhuang, Liangzhou, Jincheng...

The towering cities showcase completely different cultural styles.

During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, Chang'an was the center of the world.

It has a vigorous spirit and endless charm.

The Heavenly Khan sat in Chang'an, and all nations obeyed him.

The biggest reason for this grand gathering of hundreds of nations was the fall of Tubo.

Even the hundreds of nations respected the Heavenly Khan more than the title of the Tang Dynasty.

A person meets an era.

Everyone praises Li Xuan's legendary story.

A few days before the grand gathering of a hundred nations, Chang'an City was crowded with foreign guests.

The song and dance of prosperity has begun.

The lanterns that had just disappeared during the Lantern Festival were also brought out to decorate Chang'an City, Taiji Palace and Xingqing Palace.

On the streets of Chang'an, the chief of police and his detectives patrolled day and night.

This is the order issued by Jingzhao Yin.

Prepare for the lifting of curfew.

There was also a team of Tian Ce Guards and a team of Shen Ce Guards entering Chang'an City to maintain public order in Chang'an.

Kings and envoys from various countries witnessed everything that happened in Chang'an in the city and in the east and west markets.

The prosperity and power of the Tang Dynasty prevented them from having any disrespectful thoughts.

Even the king, when faced with Li Xuan's summons, still sat upright.

Before the Hundred Nations Gathering, the small countries in the rivers of the Western Regions expressed their loyalty to Li Xuan, which was as unchangeable as the mountains and rivers.

They are forever loyal to the Khan.

The Western Regions and Transoxiana were under the absolute control of the Tang Dynasty.

March 5th, the third year of Qianyuan.

The time for the grand gathering of a hundred nations has finally arrived.

As the morning light appeared, the bell of Xingqing Palace rang, and the heavy palace gate slowly opened, as if opening the door to another prosperous world.

Kings and chiefs of hundreds of countries looked excited in front of Xingqing Gate.

After decades of management by Li Longji, Xingqing Palace was naturally the most beautiful and magnificent palace in the Tang Dynasty.

Hundreds of flowers bloomed in Xingqing Palace, and the varieties of peonies were as diverse as those in Qujiang.

In addition, Xingqing Palace has the tallest building in Chang'an, the Hua'e Xianghui Tower.

From a distance, they could see the tall buildings reaching into the sky.

Kings and envoys from various countries came from all over the world, dressed in colorful clothes of various styles, wearing gorgeous crowns and exquisite jewelry.

Some of them came from the distant Western Regions, the river, some from the mysterious South China Sea, and some from the vast grasslands...

Most of them were direct affiliates of the Tang Dynasty, and gathered in Xingqing Palace with awe and yearning for the Tang Dynasty.

In this era, no king would feel that his status was equal to that of the Tang Emperor.

They thought it was their right to meet the Heavenly Khan.

Wherever the Khan's decree came, everyone submitted.

No matter which country the army is from, they should accept the call of the Heavenly Khan.

In addition to these kings and envoys, on the other side were the civil and military officials of the Tang Dynasty, as well as invited princes, nobles, poets and writers.

They were also dressed in formal attire, waiting for the announcement from the celebrant.

Of course, there were also "kings" such as Chidai Zhudan, Daqinmao, Trisong Detsen, and Wuzuoge who rebelled against the Tang Dynasty.

As "kings of a fallen country", they wore casual clothes and there was no gold, silver or jewelry on their hats.

Moreover, they feel depressed and even humiliated.

Every time a gaze was reflected upon them, they felt uncomfortable all over.

Especially Chidai Zhudan, he was once a great leader, and many envoys from the Western Regions would go to Lhasa City to pay him a visit.

He even saw familiar faces.

But he understood that he was now a prisoner. He no longer had a country and could never return to the snowy plateau. He could only die in Chang'an with endless regrets.

A magnificent sound of music was played.

The people of Chang'an also understood the foreign Hu countries, and all came to Chang'an to pay homage to the Supreme.

As Tang people, they felt honored to see the Supreme being respected in this way.

The Celestial Empire is not just a saying; its people’s self-confidence is its true strength.

"The envoys enter the Huaye Xianghui Tower to pay homage to the Supreme..."

The time has come, the supervisor of ceremonies shouted in front of the Xingqing Gate.

Civil and military officials, as well as envoys from foreign countries, filed in.

They came to the Xingqing Palace which was full of flowers, and under the guidance of the ceremonial officer, went to the Hua'e Xianghui Tower.

The Supreme is already waiting in the Huaye Xianghui Tower.

Along the way, the foreign envoys looked around and were fascinated by the blooming flowers in Xingqing Palace.

Only the emperor is worthy of living in this garden-like palace.

When they arrived at the Hua'e Xianghui Tower and looked up at it, they were even more shocked.

"The sage summoned all civil and military officials and foreign envoys to enter the hall."

The master of ceremonies drank again.

Dozens of eunuchs and palace maids in front of the hall will lead people of different identities into the building and take their seats.

The place where the grand banquet was held was the first floor of Hua'e Xianghui Tower.

The second and third floors are not large enough for this banquet.

At this time, there was no one in the main hall of Hua'e Xianghui Tower.

As they entered the palace, the foreign envoys were shocked.

The dome is high, and the glazed decorations are glittering, as if a bright galaxy is hanging in the sky. The pillars in the hall are thick, painted in bright red, and carved with dragons and phoenixes. The delicate textures show the majesty of the royal family, and the dragons and phoenixes seem to be flying into the sky, vivid and agile.

The floor is covered with smooth leather carpets, which are stitched together tightly.

On the cabinets on both sides, there are exquisite porcelains scattered around, including various celadons and white porcelains, which are all natural.

On the table in the hall, light smoke rises from the incense burner, and the subtle fragrance lingers, mixed with the hint of ambergris, adding a touch of mystery and nobility to this magnificent palace.

The kings of various foreign countries were dazzled by the show and were so enchanted by it that they could not extricate themselves.

In fact, the layout of Hua'e Xianghui Tower is far less magnificent than that during the reign of Li Longji.

Colored glaze, celadon, white porcelain, leather blankets are all products of the factory.

In the magnificent Hua'e Xianghui Tower, this simplicity is filled with grandeur, which is very different from the luxurious style.

After the sound of the chime bells, a group of civil and military officials and envoys from foreign countries took their seats one after another.

In this solemn atmosphere, they waited quietly without saying a word.

Even the musical instruments outside the Xingqing Palace stopped playing.

"Supreme Supreme..."

Following another loud shout from the master of ceremonies, everyone stood up at the same time and looked towards the depths of the hall.

Li Xuan was seen walking out from behind the screen, wearing a dragon robe with a crown tassel hanging down.

With majesty added, he is the only one in the hall at this moment, the only one who is supreme.

Even though she is the mother of the country and the elegantly dressed Pei Lingxi can only be a foil.

She, Shuang'er and Changli accompanied Li Xuan to the banquet and met the ladies of honor.

Jiang Yueyao was pregnant and about to give birth, so it was not suitable for her to attend the banquet.

In addition, Li Xuan was followed by Li Shizhi and Li Longji.

Li Xuan kept his promise and allowed Li Longji to attend this grand gathering of a hundred countries.

Although Li Longji had become a supporting role, he was still moved when he saw hundreds of foreign envoys of various appearances and kings wearing crowns.

Li Qillang has only been on the throne for two years, but he already has such prestige.

Think about it, he has been in power for more than forty years!

Northeast and Southwest, many things that he could not accomplish in his entire life were easily accomplished by Li Xuan.

In the past, Li Qilang followed behind him, and now he follows behind Li Qilang.

He still feels sad about his current situation.

It's more complicated.

Fighting and fighting is all in vain.

He will never be able to gain power again, so let's get drunk today!

"Greetings to the Supreme..."

"Greetings to the Heavenly Khan..."

When Li Xuan appeared in front of the bed, envoys from all nations and civil and military officials performed the ceremony of homage.

The names they addressed Li Xuan were different.

There is even some incomprehensible language mixed in.

The Supreme Lord is the ruler of the Tang Dynasty. The Heavenly Khan is the common ruler of the world.

When everyone paid their respects, the gorgeous costumes and solemn etiquette were extremely spectacular, representing the unparalleled status of the Tang Dynasty in Li Xuan's hands.

The palace of Ninth Heaven is opened, and people from all nations dress in formal attire and pay homage to the emperor.

This is not only a diplomatic tribute, but also a reflection of the exchanges and integration in military, cultural, economic and other aspects.

At this moment, the cultures of all countries in the world collided in the Hua'e Xianghui Tower in Chang'an, and art blended here, showing the open-minded and magnanimous mind of the Tang Dynasty.

"Gentlemen, please stand up. Kings, chiefs, and envoys of foreign countries, please take your seats. There is no need to be formal."

Li Xuan raised his hand, signaling everyone to excuse themselves.

At the same time, his heart was in turmoil.

This event brought him to an unprecedented height since ancient times.

He did not become complacent because of this. He still had a long way to go in reform and development, and he wanted to spend his entire life to accomplish this great cause.

"Thank you, Supreme!"

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

"Thank God Khan..."

Everyone thanked him respectfully and sat down to listen to Tian Khan's instructions.

Although it was a banquet, it was a once-in-a-century banquet that could not be just about drinking and watching singing and dancing.

Almost all the envoys sent to the Tang Dynasty understood Chinese.

For those kings in the Western Regions, being able to speak Chinese was just the basic knowledge.

In more distant countries, even if you don't speak Chinese, there will be a translator sitting next to you.

As for Li Longji and Li Shizhi, they sat on the left and right sides of Li Xuan, highlighting their unique identities.

Pei Lingxi sat with Li Xuan, while Shuang'er and Changli sat with the ladies of honor.

"All the countries that have come from afar are friends. I welcome you all to gather together to celebrate this great event. This gathering will surely be a blessing to the world. My China has always ruled the world with benevolence and virtue, and is a country of etiquette. I am willing to exchange what we have with all countries, learn from each other, promote the prosperity of trade, and share peace. I pray that diplomatic relations will last forever and all people will be happy together..."

A grand gathering of a hundred countries naturally focuses on these hundred countries. Li Xuan first gave an opening speech to express the friendship of the host country.

"The words of the Heavenly Khan frighten us. The Heavenly Khan wins people over with his virtue and his power is felt both at home and abroad. We have been blessed by the Tang Dynasty and have served as its subjects for generations. As long as the Heavenly Khan gives an order, our people and our tribe will fight to the death."

Bai Ba, the King of Kucha, immediately stepped out and bowed to Li Xuan.

As the Tang Dynasty's number one double-flowered red stick in the Western Regions, the King of Kucha must make his loyalty clear.

At this moment, the more loyalty you show to the Tang Dynasty, the more you can elevate the country's status.

Because Tian Khan is almost synonymous with God in the rivers of the Western Regions.

"You are the Khan of Heaven, and it is a blessing for all living things in the world. Your glory is like that of a god, and all living things should obey you."

King Hu Shijian of the Tocharian region also flattered Li Xuan.

"The world can only prosper if the Heavenly Khan upholds justice for the world. The Heavenly Khan is the god of Sogdia. We Sogdians will always follow the Heavenly Khan's lead."

The ruler of Xicao State spoke on behalf of the Sogdians about their admiration for Li Xuan.

The rebellions of An Lushan and Shi Siming did not represent the thoughts of the Sogdians in the Western Regions.

Li Xuan also had under his command Sogdian generals such as Li Baozhen, Li Baoyu, An Yuanzhen, as well as many Sogdian soldiers from the Western Regions.

"We in the Karluk Khanate are the most loyal servants of the Heavenly Khan. We are willing to do anything for the Heavenly Khan, even if it means going through fire and water."

Shili Khan of the Qarluk Khanate was the first to come forward, and his expression was even more exaggerated.

I feel that it is a great honor to be a servant of the Khan.

Some countries in the Western Regions did not think there was anything wrong.

Only the small countries in Southeast Asia were surprised, after all, they had not personally experienced the power of the Khan.

The Roman ambassador Apogas has stayed here until now just to attend this gathering of a hundred nations.

He felt like an outsider.

This was an alliance for the Tang Dynasty to flex its muscles to neighboring countries.

Rome always considered itself to have an equal relationship with the Tang Dynasty.

The Romans had a glorious history that made them extremely proud.

However, Abogas saw the might and power of the Tang Dynasty from these envoys and witnessed the grandeur of the Eastern Empire.

Even during the heyday of Rome, they were far inferior to the current Tang Dynasty.

It is even more impossible to call on so many countries to pay homage and pledge allegiance.

"You are too kind. Just like the current Chang'an, where hundreds of flowers are blooming in all colors, the emergence of any tribe is not accidental. Whether it is knotting ropes to make words or breaking bamboo to make sounds, it is the process of a tribe's progress. The Tang Dynasty is the suzerain of the world and should uphold justice. We are of the same blood and will move forward together. We will surely create a grand occasion that will last for thousands of years."

Li Xuan waited for some kings to express their feelings, then spoke slowly.

The purpose of the event is to connect trade.

Exchange the Tang Dynasty's silk, tea, porcelain, and emerging industries in the factories for the gold and silver of small countries.

Moreover, the Tang Dynasty needs to enter more countries and gain some understanding of them.

Especially those countries and tribes in Southeast Asia.

The new style of Tang Dynasty's tower ship is already being designed.

The Tang Dynasty's ships were capable of crossing the ocean, but the Tang Dynasty needed stronger, larger ships that could sail on the sea for long periods of time and that could avoid wind and rain to a certain extent.

"Tian Khan is wise. We will remember your kindness forever."

The king of Ningyuan (Bukhara) was conquered by Li Xuan.

Their country is on the Silk Road.

Every year's trade can create many benefits for them.

Now Bukhara has been officially renamed Ningyuan Kingdom and has implemented sinicization.

Which civilization can be as brilliant as the Chinese civilization?

Every stroke of the Chinese characters of the Tang Dynasty contains the universe and truth.

Which country can have a hero like Tian Khan?
The people of Ningyuan, like many people in the Western Regions, believed that Tian Khan was the reincarnation of a god.

This time, the King of Ningyuan brought six of the best Ferghana horses to show his respect for the Heavenly Khan.

Immediately afterwards, Li Xuan formally explained the trade matters to the foreign countries.

He divided the Silk Road into the Maritime Silk Road and the Overland Silk Road.

Compared with the Maritime Silk Road, the Land Silk Road is more mature.

However, Li Xuan gave a more precise description.

Starting from Luoyang, after reaching Chang'an, one route passes through Shu and enters the Yunnan Protectorate.

One route goes to Longyou, passes through the ancient Tang-Tibet Road, enters the Snowland Protectorate, and then enters the Tianzhu region.

One route starts from Chang'an, passes through Lingwu, and goes all the way to Sanshoujiang City, and then branches out to enter Shanyu City.

The main road passes through the Hexi Corridor and splits into two roads from Yumen Pass and Yangguan.

It radiated to the Qarluk, Shatuo, Jiankun, Boxian areas, etc., and then radiated to various countries.

After the main road reaches Qiuci, it splits into two branch roads, passing through Qianquan Ancient Road and Congling Ancient Road respectively.

The Qianquan Ancient Road covers Zhezhi Military Governorate, Ningyuan State, the Nine Surnames of Zhaowu, and Khwarezm.

The ancient Congling Road covers the Tocharian countries.

Among them, the Congling Ancient Road will branch out into a main road and head towards Tianzhu.

Finally they entered the Persian Empire together.

Now the Tang Dynasty and the Arab Empire have too deep a grudge. Although the Arab Empire opened the Silk Road to make money, Abu Jalfar Abbas exploited merchants too severely, making the Silk Road inactive in the Arab territory.

According to Li Xuan's plan, the Silk Road should go through the Caucasus Mountains to meet the Slavic barbarians.

The other is divided into two main roads, entering Europe and Africa respectively.

But this is premised on the destruction of the Arab Empire.

In addition, the Maritime Silk Road must also be carried out in an organized manner in the name of the government.

The Silk Road is a term that only appeared in later generations.

But Li Xuan brought this word into this world early on.

No one has ever planned the Silk Road like Li Xuan.

It looks like a trade route, but in fact it is a grand blueprint.

"Today is a banquet, and the whole world is celebrating. You all just need to know about the business matters, and we will discuss them in detail tomorrow. The banquet begins..."

Li Xuan only proposed the outline of the trade and did not ask Fan Bang to answer immediately.

After all, it is also related to the issue of road construction, and Li Xuan wants to mobilize foreign countries to build roads.

After Li Xuan said this, Fan Bang put his worries to rest and waited for the banquet to begin.

"Dangdang..."

As Li Xuan finished speaking, the sound of bells rang.

One by one, palace maids entered the Hua'e Xianghui Tower carrying fruits, vegetables and snacks.

Serve fine wine and delicious food to those present.

"I offer a toast to you all."

Pei Lingxi filled Li Xuan's glass with wine, and Li Xuan raised his glass and stood up.

Everyone knew what Li Xuan meant, filled their glasses, and stood up from their seats.

Including Li Longji.

Although he wanted to attract everyone's attention, he didn't want to lose his demeanor.

Just standing up with Li Xuan made him feel very awkward.

"cheers!"

Li Xuan tilted his head back and drank the wine in the cup.

"Thank you, Supreme!"

"Thank God Khan."

After everyone drank it all, they thanked Li Xuan again.

"I will enjoy the song and dance with you all..."

Li Xuan gestured for everyone to take a seat.

The dancers from the Imperial Music Bureau and the young men from the opera theater left behind by Li Longji were also put to use.

They arrived at the center of Hua'e Xianghui Tower one after another and played the magnificent music of the Tang Dynasty.

The beautiful music and wonderful performances made the kings and envoys of foreign countries intoxicated and completely forgetful...

(End of this chapter)