A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 622 Everyone gets what they need
Have friends come from afar.

Inside the border city of Yunzhong,

"Big brother!"

"Second brother!"

"Third brother!"

The three kings swore brotherhood and addressed each other as brothers.

Three young men in their early twenties, yet they were also three young men who were now famous and extremely powerful throughout the world.
At this moment, three large hands clasped together.
An alliance was formed.

"Hahaha, from now on we'll share the good times and the bad." Li Yi laughed, took a wine glass, poured three glasses of wine, and then pricked his finger, letting blood drip into it.

Li Shimin and Tuli the Little Khan also dripped their blood into the wine in the same way.

The blood of three people was mixed into each of the three cups of wine.

This is blood wine; drinking it forges a blood oath.

They swore an oath by blood.

The three of them raised their glasses together and drank them down in one gulp.

This is truly a matter of life and death; if anyone has an infectious disease, it's easy for it to spread.

The important deal was settled.

The rest are minor sections.

Li Yi organized a welcome feast for Tu Li, which also served as a celebration of the three men's sworn brotherhood.

In the dead of winter, nothing beats a hot pot with mutton.

Fresh, tender lamb, enjoy the hot pot to your heart's content.

Copper hot pot, silver bamboo charcoal fire,
To Tuli's great surprise, Li Yi invited him to hot pot, but it wasn't just lamb; there were also various kinds of pickled vegetables, beef, and fish. He wasn't particularly interested in those.
Li Yi even laid out a lot of fresh vegetables, including not only radishes, cabbage, and winter melon, but also leafy greens such as cabbage and rapeseed, all crisp and tender, along with winter bamboo shoots and fresh mushrooms.
With several different dipping sauces,

This was an eye-opening experience for Tuli, who was known as the Khan of the grasslands. It was something he could never enjoy even with money on the grasslands.

tasty,

Everything was delicious.

They ate and chatted.

The atmosphere is very relaxed.

However, when Li Yi steered the conversation toward the fact that Jieli Khan was going to take action against him, Tuli sighed helplessly.

"Second brother, don't worry. You are now the Prince of Beiping of our Great Tang Dynasty, and also the Left Wise King of the Turks appointed by the Emperor."

"Jieli is acting perversely and openly violating the ancestral rules of the Turks, attempting to seize power from you. Our Great Tang cannot tolerate such a thing."

Tuli also began to complain.
In recent years, he has been quietly making a fortune, trading extensively with the south. He's living a comfortable life, with a steady stream of income coming in without even having to lift a finger. Why would he need to go through all that trouble and risk plundering in the south?

Tuli became the biggest middleman on the grasslands.

They acquired cattle, horses, camels, sheep, furs, and medicinal herbs from various tribes, then resold them to the south, making a fortune. They also purchased various Han goods from the south, such as silk, porcelain, cloth, and medicine.

He even opened many trading markets.

They source their own goods and collect taxes on the spot; life couldn't be more carefree.

Merchants from the Khitan, Xi, Xi, and even the Shiwei and Goguryeo people came to him to trade.

Now Jieli is envious.

They said they would unify foreign trade rights under the Khan's court, send tax officials to collect taxes, and send Tutun and commanders of ten thousand men to take away his military power.

Is it bearable, what is unbearable?

Jieli sent several golden arrows to summon him back to the Dingxiang Khanate, his intentions were malicious. Tuli would never go; if he did, he probably wouldn't be able to return to his Yanbei headquarters.

"Jieli summons you to the Khan's court, but you must not go, or you will surely be killed by him and never return. Just stay in the eastern camp and ignore his summons."

"If Jieli sends Tutun and others to seize your military and taxation power, just drive them away." Li Shimin really liked the kelp knots in the hot pot. He didn't know where Li Yi got them from; they were slippery and crunchy, with a very fresh and sweet taste.

The shrimp paste was delicious too.

He ate until he was covered in a fine sweat, but he couldn't stop.

Tuli chuckled, “I saw through Jieli’s sinister intentions long ago. The first batch of Tutun and tax officials he sent were all Sogdian Hu people he favored. Relying on Jieli’s favor, they were very arrogant in the east. I sent them all to meet the Eternal Heaven that very day.”

"You must be careful of Jieli. He is extremely treacherous. We have learned that your uncle, Chuluo Khan, did not die of illness, but was poisoned by Jieli and Princess Yicheng, who then framed my Tang envoy, Zheng Yuanzhu."

"How could Zheng Yuanzhu, an envoy, have had the opportunity to poison Chuluo Khan? Moreover, after Jieli became Great Khan, the matter was simply dropped."

The story of Jieli and Qadin poisoning Chuluo Khan had long been circulating on the grasslands.

Yusheshe and Tuose, the two sons of Luo Khan, were also at odds with Jieli for this reason.

“If I go to the Dingxiang Khanate, I will definitely not return. Even if Jieli doesn’t dare to kill you openly, it’s inevitable that you will die suddenly.”

Tuli gritted his teeth, "That damned bastard, I'll cut off his head sooner or later."

Li Yi cut off two pieces of fish lips.
"If Jieli summons you but you do not respond, it is highly likely that he intends to attack you, possibly even launching a surprise attack. However, you need not worry too much; we have already sent people to monitor the Dingxiang Khanate's every move, and his actions cannot escape our notice."

If he sends troops, we will send troops immediately as well.

"Then, like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, the three of us brothers will launch a pincer attack, ensuring Jieli's demise."

"If you defeat Jieli, you will become the Great Khan."

You are the eldest grandson of Qimin Khan, the eldest son of Shibi Khan, and now the junior Khan under Jieli. Your position in the Khanate is the most esteemed. Who could be more qualified than you to be the Great Khan of the Turks?

Tuli put down his chopsticks and stood up.

He bowed deeply to his two sworn brothers, saying, "I thank you both in advance. If I become the Great Khan of the Turks, I will never again allow my people to invade the borders southwards, even if we become friendly."

Li Yi suddenly asked, "Is your Khatun the niece of Princess Yicheng?"

Tuli Khan's wife was Princess Huainan of the Sui Dynasty. However, she was not married to Tuli by Emperor Yang Guang as part of a political alliance. Instead, after Emperor Yang Guang was assassinated in Jiangdu, she followed Empress Xiao northward, and was eventually brought to the grasslands by Princess Yicheng and Chuluo Khan.
She was not Yang Guang's daughter, but a member of the Sui Dynasty's imperial family. After Chuluo Khan died suddenly and Jieli succeeded him as Great Khan, Jieli conferred the title of Tuli Little Khan upon Nibusheshibobi, the eldest son of Shibi Khan. Princess Yicheng conferred the title of Princess Huainan upon her niece and married her to Tuli.

Princess Yicheng also hoped to one day restore the Sui Dynasty.

Tuli didn't hide anything and told them about how Jieli and Princess Yicheng had arranged for Yang's daughter to be named Princess Huainan and then marry him.

"How is your relationship?"

"So-so. She's not used to life on the grasslands and doesn't like it. We're not very familiar with each other yet," Tuli said.

Not very familiar with each other.
Li Yi found it somewhat amusing, but upon reflection, he also felt sorry for Lady Yang. She had been dragged north from Jiangdu by Yuwen Huaji, enduring countless hardships along the way. Hebei fell into the hands of Dou Jiande, and then she was taken to the grasslands by the Turks.

She was then married off to Tuli, leaving her with absolutely no say in her own life.

A member of the imperial family, born and raised in the Central Plains of China,
She suddenly arrived on the grasslands and married a Turkic nobleman.

Different environments, different traditions and customs, completely different lifestyles, and even few people who can communicate with each other.

Tuli and the princess have been married for three years.

Not familiar yet.
"Are there any kids?"

Tuli shook his head.

We don't know anyone, so how could we have children?

He raised his wine glass and said, “I’m not afraid to tell you this, but I’ve been married to the princess for three years, and she has never let me touch her. There are three hairpins in her hair that are actually three specially made short swords.”

She also carried a short sword with her every day.

Once, Tuli, drunk, tried to force himself on the princess, but was stabbed and nearly castrated. He then beat the princess up.
From then on, the two became like strangers.

Tuli was traumatized and never went looking for trouble again.

Li Yi scooped up a piece of tofu for him, saying, "Since that's the case, why don't you just send Yang back?"

Li Shimin gave him a piece of lamb chop and said, "Send Yang back, and the court will marry Princess Changping to you."

Tuli looked at the tofu and lamb ribs that his two sworn brothers had given him; they were both delicious.

"Is Princess Changping the one the court wanted to marry Jieli to?"

Li Yi laughed and said, "What, you're still complaining?"

"No, no," Tuli quickly replied. "That's right, wasn't Princess Changping going to marry Jieli?"

"Jieli is not worthy? My Tang princesses who are sent to marry foreign rulers must naturally be chosen from among those who are loyal to the Tang Dynasty."

Tuli felt a little dizzy.

The hot pot was so hot that my head was starting to throb. The emperor bestowed upon him the titles of Prince of Beiping and Left Wise King of the Turks, and Li Shimin became his sworn brother.

Now he's going to marry a princess to him.

He just happened to be in all these good things.

However, although Tuli was young, he was not stupid. He knew in his heart that these benefits from the Tang Dynasty came with conditions.

Just like when his grandfather was also the Little Khan of Tuli, he accepted the marriage alliance with the princess of the Sui Dynasty, so he had to stand up and fight against the Great Khan of Dulan. He was once beaten so badly that he fled south to the Sui Dynasty alone.

However, with the support of the Sui Dynasty, he eventually defeated Dulan Khan and Datou Khan, becoming the final victor in the struggle for supremacy among the Five Khans.

Even a princess from the Sui Dynasty married two men.

He can do what his grandfather did.

After his grandfather became the Great Khan of the Turks, he remained loyal to the Sui Dynasty. Tuli felt that this was nothing special; as the Great Khan of the Turks, he was the master of the grasslands.

Let the Han people rule the Central Plains.

The three of them ate hot pot and were all sweating profusely, their clothes smelling of cooking.

However, all three of them were very happy.

Tuli Khan's trip was worthwhile; he gained the unwavering support of the Tang Dynasty and the confidence to fight Jieli to the bitter end.

Of course, he didn't come without making sacrifices.

His contribution was to submit to the Tang Dynasty and pay tribute.

He followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Qimin Khan.

In addition to forming alliances, marriage alliances, and mutual military assistance, Li Yi also reached an agreement with Tuli on further border trade.

Trade between the Tang Dynasty and Tangli expanded. From then on, trade with the Jieli and the Turks was conducted with the Tuli.

This year, heavy snow has caused disasters on the grasslands.

Many livestock belonging to herders froze to death, resulting in severe white disasters.

Li Yi then negotiated with Tuli that Tuli could purchase the cattle and sheep that had frozen to death among the herders and transport them to the border market. The Tang Dynasty would then organize merchants to collect them, process them on the border, or transport them directly back to the Central Plains during the cold weather.

Although the meat of cattle and sheep that have frozen to death has some impact, it is not easy to spoil in this weather, so it is cheaper to transport it here and it is still a good commodity. And the hides will certainly not go to waste.

Tuli hoped to exchange some grain for it, and Li Yi promised to send them some.

Warhorses, cattle, sheep, furs, and medicinal herbs were exchanged for Tang Dynasty silk, porcelain, salt, tea, grain, and medicine.

Take what you need.

"The current Grand General of Youzhou is Prince Huaiyang, Daoxuan. He will station troops on the border of Yanshan. After you return, keep in close contact with him. If Jieli dares to attack you, send him a message, and he will come to your aid immediately."
"The King of Qin and I will arrive soon," Li Yi instructed.

Tuli's face flushed with excitement, and he nodded repeatedly.

Jieli Khan,

It is their common goal.

At this point, Tuli was even eagerly anticipating Jieli's army attacking him, as this would give him a chance to overthrow Jieli and perhaps even capture and kill him.

I'll take his place!
(End of this chapter)