The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 80: Mobei Grudge

"Okay, thank you, Grandpa."

The grandfather and grandson walked briskly. When they returned to the East Palace, their younger brothers and sisters had already washed up and gone to bed. Li Chengqian watched his younger brothers and sisters sleeping in four rooms, while Li Shen and Li Zhi were in the same room.

The East Palace needs to be renovated in the future, otherwise it will not be able to accommodate everyone. My younger brothers and sisters are one year older now, and when they grow up a little more, they will need their own space.

This winter's snowstorm swept across the entire Guanzhong region. In the county government office of Jingyang County, Xu Jingzong and Shangguan Yi were drinking.

After drinking Shanxi Fenjiu, the two were drunk.

"The caravan has finally left, and they will come back with silver cakes." Xu Jingzong sighed.

"Xu County Magistrate thought that just by sending the goods out, he could turn them into treasure and send them back?"

"Of course, what do you think, Brother Shangguan?"

Shangguan Yi whispered, "Xu County Magistrate, you underestimate the prince's ambition."

Xu Jingzong shook his head and said, "I have never underestimated the prince's ambition, but even if you know it in your heart, don't say it out loud."

"Well, then, the nations will go to war over soap and tea. Is this destined to happen in Xu County Magistrate's mind?"

"Look at the world." Xu Jingzong paused and said with a smile: "Two years ago, Ashina She'er declared himself Khan, but without the permission of the Tang Dynasty, he rashly went to war with Mobei. Last year, the Gaochang people began to send troops to test."

Shangguan Yi hesitated and asked, "How did County Magistrate Xu know about this?"

Xu Jingzong smiled.

The county government office became quiet again.

The entire county government office was dark, with only the oil lamp in front of the two people illuminating this corner.

Shangguan Yi understood and said, "Xu County Magistrate was one of the eighteen scholars in the Qin Palace back then. It is natural that there will be rumors among the old people back then."

Xu Jingzong smiled somewhat proudly and said, "Just wait and see. There will definitely be excitement in Chang'an City tomorrow."

The next day, the wind and snow were still falling. Snowing for too long would become annoying, and people had to go out and clear the snow.

In the villages and counties around Chang'an, some of the lower houses were almost buried in snow. As long as you saw the pile of snow with two holes in it, one was the window and the other was the door, with lights on inside, you would know that there was a family here.

Zhen Quan, wearing a bamboo hat, rode his horse and followed the officers and soldiers to such a house.

This is Jie Li’s residence. He has been living here since he was captured and brought back to Chang’an after the battle of Yinshan.

Zhen Quan dismounted and walked into the room. As a medical officer from the Imperial Medical Bureau, he came here to see a patient.

Now Jie Li was lying on the couch, coughing constantly.

Zhen Quan listened to the doctor's story, frowned, checked the pulse of the former Turkic Khan, and nodded, "Ashina She'er is here."

Jie Li slowly raised his head and said in Guanzhong dialect: "He's here?"

Zhen Quan said, "He has already arrived in Chang'an City and has asked the Honglu Temple several times to meet your uncle."

"He is a wild child." Jie Li's eyes dimmed again.

Zhen Quan raised his hand and let go of the person who was taking the patient's pulse. After the lineage of Jie Li, there were indeed few decent leaders of the Turkic people.

"The Khan of Heaven respects you as a man, so he asked me to treat you. Try a few doses of medicine. Live well, and the court will let you and your nephew meet again."

Jie Li clasped his fists and saluted.

As a doctor, Zhen Quan naturally hopes that his patients can survive.

Even if it is for the purpose of controlling the Turks and settling the feud between Tian Khan and Jie Li, it would be better if this person were alive.

Zhen Quan gave a few words of advice to the doctor who stayed here, then he mounted his horse and left.

Something happened again in Chang'an City today. The envoys of the Xueyantuo people in Mobei came, but as soon as this team arrived in Chang'an, the atmosphere became wrong.

Inside the posthouse, Ashina She'er was gnawing on a leg of lamb. Several Turkic people were sitting beside him, looking at the Mobei envoys with murderous eyes.

Mobei is to the north of the Turks and is a more northern location for the Tang Dynasty. The neighbors of the Mobei people are the Uighurs.

The Uighurs, Turks, and Xueyantuo people in the northern desert were the most powerful forces on the grassland.

There were quite a few people in the posthouse, including some envoys from various places. The Tubo envoy and the son of Gaochang envoy Ju Wentai were also here.

Just as this group of Mobei people sat down.

A Turkic man walked up, overturned the Mobei man's table, and then shouted a few questions.

The Xueyantuo envoy from Mobei was no pushover either and immediately started pushing and shoving.

Upon seeing this, Ashina She'er threw the lamb leg in his hand and shouted angrily, and the Turks who had been prepared all around rushed forward.

There was chaos in the post house. Someone shouted, "The Turks and Mobei people are fighting. Go and call the soldiers."

Those who did not participate in the fight in the inn all left.

People from the Western Regions have always been barbaric. They stood outside the inn and cheered, watching the two warriors fight. The fight was difficult to determine the winner, and the onlookers became more and more excited.

Soon, everyone who could retreat did so, and only the Turks and the Mobei people were still fighting.

Ashina She'er knocked a Mobei man to the ground and rushed towards another one like a wild beast.

The sound of dense footsteps came from afar, and the officers and soldiers in Chang'an City finally arrived. They rushed into the post station and suppressed all the Turks and Mobei people.

A Tang general, wearing a sword on his waist, strode into the post house, looked at the messengers who were making trouble, and said, "What do you think this place is? Why are you making trouble?"

The person who spoke was Liang Jianfang.

Another group of soldiers came quickly, and the one who came shouted angrily: "Who is causing trouble here?"

Seeing the general who was speaking, Liang Jianfang bowed and said, "Greetings, General."

The group of officers and soldiers that came later was none other than the Left Guard led by the current General of the Left Guard Su Dingfang. When this general, who had fought against the Turks with Li Jing in the past, arrived, the onlookers fell silent.

Su Dingfang winked at Liang Jianfang and said with a smile: "According to the order of Prime Minister Fang, Zuo Wuwei will be in charge of the affairs here."

Liang Jianfang clasped his fists and said, "Yes."

Su Dingfang kicked a Turkic man and said with a smile: "Hey! She'er? Long time no see!"

When Ashina She'er saw the general in front of him, he remembered how he was beaten to a pulp by Su Dingfang on the grassland three years ago, and he lowered his head in grievance.

"Hahaha!" Su Dingfang was in a good mood after seeing an old friend, "Someone is coming."

A deputy general came running over.

Su Dingfang ordered: "Get a longer rope, string up all these troublemakers, and send them to the front of the Vermillion Bird Gate."

"Here!"

An hour later, the Turks and Mobei people were brought to the Suzaku Gate by the Tang army. Their hands were tied, and they squatted on the ground with their heads down.

Su Dingfang held a file in his hand and wrote down their names. He said with an unhappy look, "Your names are really hard to remember."

"We are here to see the Khan."

The Mobei man just opened his mouth, but Su Dingfang glared back and said, "There are many people who want to see the Heavenly Khan. Do you want to see him just because you say so?" "Our Xueyantuo Khan is the Heavenly Khan's brother."

Su Dingfang picked up the file in his hand and was about to hit the man from Mobei on the forehead, and the other party immediately squatted down obediently.

Su Dingfang added: "She'er, some people won't learn their lesson if they are not taught a lesson."

Sheer said: "I always remember you."

Su Dingfang laughed again and said, "I won't bother with you for now. I finally got a chance to relax and you ruined my day. If you do something, Jie Li will probably report it to the Khan again."

"uncle……"

Glancing at him again, Su Dingfang impatiently took a big step and sat aside, beckoning a soldier over and saying, "Go ask Prime Minister Fang how I should handle this matter."

General Su Dingfang was a brave general in the army. He became famous at a young age. At the age of fifteen, he defeated Zhang Jincheng and pacified Handan.

After Dou Jiande was defeated by Liu Heita, he was employed by Li Shimin who ascended the throne.

At the age of 23, he was appointed as a captain.

At the age of 27, he followed General Li Jing to fight against the Turks. Now he is in his early 30s and has a high prestige in the army.

Li Baiyao came hurriedly and saw that Generals Su Lie and Su Dingfang had tied up the messengers and were taking them to the front of the Suzaku Gate one by one.

He was speechless for a moment, so he had to quickly step forward and said, "General, Duke Zhao asked the Turkic envoys and the Mobei envoys to go to the Honglu Temple for a talk."

Su Dingfang pointed to a Mobei envoy and Ashina She'er, untied them, and asked, "Where are the others?"

Li Baiyao was a little confused for a moment, and then said: "Duke Zhao didn't say anything, you decide?"

Su Dingfang chuckled and said, "The army is short of a few Turks to practice with."

Li Baiyao bowed and walked towards the Honglu Temple with Su Dingfang and two messengers. The rest of the people were taken away by the soldiers of Zuowuwei.

Li Chengqian walked to the Honglu Temple with his hands in his pockets, and saw his uncle sitting there while eating dates.

Everyone looked solemn and were discussing in low voices.

Sitting down next to his uncle, Li Chengqian was also waiting for the envoy to arrive, and asked again: "I heard that they fought?"

Zhang Sun Wuji nodded and said, "The Turks and Mobei have always had grievances."

Li Chengqian glanced at the file in front of him and said, "It's because three years ago, my father ordered General Li Jing to attack Yinshan and let the people of Mobei harass the Turkic people's rear."

"At that time, the strategy of making friends with distant countries and attacking nearby ones was decided, and Your Majesty even became brothers with the Yinan Khan of the Xueyantuo in the northern desert."

"Since the Tang Dynasty and Mobei are brothers, the Turks should be honest?" Li Chengqian thought again and said, "Fake brothers?"

Chang Sun Wuji whispered, "I will make the decision on this matter."

Soon, the two envoys were taken to the Honglu Temple. Li Baiyao brought the two of them, and a general also came with them.

Li Chengqian smiled at the general standing at the door.

The other party nodded slightly, then turned around and stood with his back to everyone.

Li Chengqian sighed inwardly, these Tang Dynasty generals are more arrogant than each other.

Li Baiyao said, "Duke Zhao, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the people have arrived."

Ashina She'er was standing right in front of him, and there was also a Xueyantuo envoy standing there with his head bowed.

Li Chengqian first looked at the Turkic man. He was not very tall, but had a pair of bright eyes on his dark face.

This person was also looking around, and seemed to be very alert, fearing that an executioner would come out and kill him on the spot.

The Turkic people's worries were unnecessary, as in fact all the people in the Honglu Temple were civil servants.

If a fight breaks out, the civil servants of the Tang Dynasty will not necessarily show weakness. After all, if they want to survive in the court of the Tang Dynasty, they will often be injured if they cannot beat the opponent, and it is common for them to be unable to walk for ten days.

Because of this, the civil servants of the Tang Dynasty were very skilled, and even if a fight broke out, these civil servants would be enough to give the Turks a hard time.

Besides, the only person with decisive fighting power at the moment is the general standing outside the gate of Honglu Temple.

Changsun Wuji closed the file on the table and put it aside. He raised his eyes and asked, "Two envoys, what are you fighting about?"

The envoy from Mobei spoke first: "It was the Turks who overturned the table where we were eating."

Hearing this, She'er reached out and pushed the Mobei man, nearly knocking him down on the spot. He explained, "It was the Mobei people who stole our grassland."

Li Chengqian understood everything and continued watching with his hands in his pockets.

The Mobei envoy said, "Those pastures were never yours."

"It belongs to the Turks, to me, Ashina She'er!"

"We, the Xueyantuo Khan, are your Majesty's brothers! You Turks are nothing!"

She'er looked furious, and he took a step forward and glared at the man from Mobei.

Chang Sun Wuji patted the table and said, "Speak one by one!"

Sheer patted his chest and said, "They robbed our pasture, I just overturned their table."

Li Chengqian took out a date from his sleeve and put it in his mouth, chewing it.

Changsun Wuji looked at the Mobei envoy beside him and said, "You say."

"Here."

Compared with Ashina She'er, this Mobei man was more polite. He saluted and said, "The grasslands conquered by Xueyantuo naturally belong to our Xueyantuo Yinan Khan."

Although seemingly polite, this envoy from Mobei was very harsh in his words.

The implication is that if you Turks have the ability, you can take it back.

There was a tribe in the north of the Turks. This tribe was neither Uighur nor Turkic. This tribe was located in the northern desert and was called Xueyantuo.

When the Tang Dynasty was about to attack the Turks, it noticed this force to the north of the Turks.

Of course, the people of Mobei were not strong at that time, but after the Tang Dynasty defeated Jie Li and captured him alive.

Because the Tang Dynasty had made friends with distant people and attacked nearby ones, it showed goodwill to the people in Mobei.

They felt that they were the brothers of Tian Khan. Relying on this self-satisfaction, and when the Turks were defeated and weak, the people of the tribes under Yinan Khan began to invade the Turkic territory. After the Battle of Yinshan, the people of Mobei grew rapidly in the past two years.

So, to the simple nomadic tribes, the wisdom of the people in the Central Plains is terrifying.

However, there was still a powerful figure among the Turks, namely Ashina She'er. He was a member of the Ashina clan of the Turkic royal court and the nephew of Jie Li Khan. After Jie Li was defeated, She'er began to gather the remaining Turkic tribes. His absurd act of proclaiming himself Khan was once discussed by people.

Last year, the Turks had a fight with the people of Mobei, led by Ashina She'er.

For the Turks, the Tang Dynasty defeated them and the Turks were convinced, but the people of Mobei took advantage of the situation and took advantage of their misfortune. They felt that this could not be allowed and they had to fight to the death with Mobei.

So, the facts have once again proved that the nomadic tribes on the grassland are cute and simple.

(End of this chapter)