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

Chapter 819 Alan
In addition to the Hundred Cavalry, the emperor added a new imperial guard unit called the Flying Cavalry.

The Flying Cavalry was also composed of a hundred carefully selected young, brave, and skilled riders and archers. They also had another characteristic: they were all sons of Turkic nobles.

Empress Zhangsun also selected two Turkic noblewomen for the emperor to enter the harem, one from the Ashina tribe and the other from the Ashide tribe.

"The Empress has chosen a granddaughter of Zhi Shiyan to bestow upon you; you can take her back with you later."

As the emperor spoke, he beckoned to Xu Luoren, "Summon Zhishi Sili."

The Zhishi tribe, one of the six core tribes of the Turkic peoples, was known as the Blue Turks. Its tribal leader, Zhishi Yan, also known as Jielifa, held a prominent position. At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty's uprising, he was ordered by Shibi Khan to lead several thousand cavalry south to assist the Tang army.

After capturing Chang'an, Li Yuan also bestowed upon him the high-ranking positions of Grand Master of the Palace and Pillar of State.

However, in the Battle of Yanmen later...

Zhi Shiyan had suffered a great loss at the hands of Li Yi, losing many soldiers and generals and severely weakening his forces.

After Jieli was captured, the Zhishi tribe surrendered, and Tuli Khan succeeded to the throne. Zhishi Yan, relying on his past connections and his pragmatism, managed to gain the trust of the Tang Dynasty.

Zhishiyan was appointed as one of the governors of the former Turkic lands and was further granted the title of Grand General.

This time, Zhishi Yan personally accompanied Tuli to Chang'an to pay homage to the emperor, and brought several grandchildren with him. Zhishi Sili stayed in the court and was appointed as the Left General of the Right Martial Guard by Li Shimin. His other grandchildren were also given official positions.

The granddaughters were distributed among the ministers.

Empress Zhangsun chose a granddaughter of Zhishi Yan for Li Yi. She was young, beautiful, and could speak Chinese.

"Zhi Shi Si Li pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"Sili, you'll take your sister to Li Situ's residence later."

Li Yi smiled and said, "Young Clan Chief Zhi Si, we meet again."

Zhishi Sili faced Li Yi with a complicated expression. Back then, the Zhishi tribe suffered a great defeat under Li Yi's command, and many of his soldiers died in battle at Yanmen.

But now his own sister has been betrothed to Li Yi.

The Zhi family already knew about this matter, and Zhi Shiyan even approved of the marriage, believing that the fact that his granddaughter could become a concubine for Li Yi, a high-ranking official of the Tang Dynasty, showed the emperor's trust and favor towards the Zhi family.

The young woman, who had lost her ability to think clearly, was only sixteen years old.
Zhi Shi personally escorted his sister to Li Yi's door. Instead of riding in a flower carriage, Zhi Shi rode a chestnut horse to accompany her brother.

First meeting,
Li Yi's eyes met hers. The young woman looked directly at him from horseback, without the slightest fear or shyness, but rather with a unique aura that blended nobility and wildness.

The girl had almond-shaped eyes, single eyelids, and slightly upturned corners, exuding a cool and noble air.

Like a crescent moon amidst distant mountains, serene and serene, its light reflected in the eyes like a pool of clear water.

Her legs looked long and slender beneath the deerskin skirt.

He dismounted nimbly, the silver wolf ornament at his waist jingling.

The girl had wheat-colored skin and long, jet-black hair, the ends of which were adorned with pearls and gems that sparkled.

She adjusted the white mink coat over her shoulders and stopped in front of Li Yi.

"Are you my husband?"

"Li Yi of the Great Tang Dynasty." Li Yi nodded with a smile.

“Galanbika, you can also call me Alan,” the girl said generously.

"Your name is very beautiful, Garanbhika. In Buddhist scriptures, it is a bird of the Pure Land, living in the jeweled pond of the Pure Land. Its voice is beautiful and melodious, surpassing all worldly sounds."

In Buddhist murals and sculptures, Kalambha often depicts a human-headed bird, symbolizing auspiciousness, beauty, and wisdom. — Li Yidao

Alan smiled at Li Yi, "You know so much. My name was given to me by my mother, who was a Buddhist."

Zhi Shisi stood aside.
Seeing his younger sister chatting and laughing with Li Yi as soon as they met, he felt very uncomfortable. He was originally reluctant to let his sister marry into the Central Plains, and he personally escorted her to Li Yi's mansion. He was even more worried about handing her over to a stranger.

Unexpectedly, the girl seemed to hit it off with him at first sight.

This made me feel a pang of bitterness, and even a little jealousy.

Alan had a good impression of Li Yi.
“I thought I’d marry a decrepit old man in his fifties or sixties. I didn’t expect you to be so young and handsome. Can you ride a horse?” she asked.

Zhi Shi Sili said sourly from the side, "Minister Li is the God of War of the Tang Dynasty, invincible in battle. Of course he can ride a horse and knows the Five Thunder Orthodox Method."

“Yes, I like horseback riding and hunting. You’ll come with me from now on.” Alan looked up at the Li residence. “I don’t like this house. I don’t like living in a city like this. Are there any manors outside the city?”

"Have."

"Can I stay at the manor from now on?"

"can."

"That's good."

Alan smiled and went inside.

Zhi Shi Si Li smiled ingratiatingly at Li Yi, "Lord Situ, my sister has a straightforward personality. I'm entrusting her to you from now on. You must take good care of her."

"If there is anything wrong, please forgive me, Master Situ."

Li Yi nodded, "Don't worry, I don't think your sister will let herself be taken advantage of."

When Zhishisi Li sent his sister to get married, he also prepared a dowry, which included four Turkic female servants and eight Turkic male servants.

She also received twenty fine horses and two gyrfalcons as part of her dowry.

Although Alan is the granddaughter of the leader of the Zhishi tribe, Zhishi Yan is still the Duke of Anguo, Grand Master of the Palace, Pillar of State, and Governor of Zhishi Prefecture, all titles conferred by the Tang Dynasty.

But after all, she was merely Li Yi's concubine.

To put it nicely, she was just a concubine.

Therefore, there was no wedding ceremony.
Moreover, the emperor is currently advocating frugality, so there are no elaborate banquets.

Li Yi hosted a buffet party at home.
We invited some close relatives and friends to come and get together.

There was some tea and snacks on the table, along with some cold dishes and a roasted lamb—just simple and unpretentious.

After Alan entered the mansion, he did not sit inside.

She loves lively atmospheres.

He led his maids around the courtyard, looking here and there. Seeing that a sheep needed to be slaughtered, he insisted on doing it himself. A bleating Datong sheep...

Alan walked over and immediately picked him up.
Tying up the sheep, skinning it, gutting it, cleaning it, dismantling it.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea,

She slaughtered and butchered the live sheep, which weighed several dozen kilograms, with fluid and effortless movements.

After slaughtering the sheep, he didn't get a single stain on his body.

Li Yi, watching from the side, was astonished. The knife in her hands moved like a butterfly flitting among flowers, dazzling the eye.

"What kind of food do you want? Roasted or stewed? I can make roasted lamb, hand-pulled lamb, and milk tea," Alan said with a smile.

Li Yi originally wanted to say that these things could be left to the cooks and maids at home, but in the end he said, "Make me a pot of milk tea."

Li Yi asked San Niang to give the mud-washed food to his two Hu women, and also to come and help Alan.

The two Hu women were indeed very exotic. After Li Yi reported this to the emperor, Li Shimin ordered him to keep them, as well as the fine horses, jewels, gold and silver that Ni Shu had given him.

"My lord, there is a man outside who calls himself Tulishi. He is an envoy from the Xueyantuo tribe in the northern desert. He has come to congratulate you on taking a concubine," the steward reported.

"Please thank the guests for me."

This sudden setback resulted in him being turned away several times at the State Affairs Hall.

The Xueyantuo people wanted to unite with the Tiele tribes and establish a Tiele Khanate in the northern desert.

During the reign of Chuluo Khan of the Western Turks, the Tiele people took advantage of the turmoil in the Western Regions, with the Qibi and Xueyantuo tribes leading the way, and established the Tiele Khanate in Jinshan.

However, later Chuluo Khan was detained in the Central Plains.

Shekui Khan inherited the Khanate with the support of the Sui Dynasty and quickly integrated the various tribes. The Tiele Khanate was soon defeated and forced to relinquish its Khanate title and submit to the Western Turks. Later, the Xueyantuo moved east and, with the strength of its 70,000 tents, became one of the most prominent Tiele tribes in the northern desert.

Seeing that the Eastern Turkic Khaganate was weak and leaderless, Xueyantuo once again considered establishing a khanate.

The chieftain Yinan's grandfather, Yishibo, and Qibigeleng were once revered as the chief and junior khan, respectively. Back then, Yinan's grandfather was the junior khan, but now Yinan wants to be the senior khan.

Yinan knew very well that if he wanted to become the Great Khan, he needed the support of the Tang Dynasty.

He sent envoys to the capital to pay tribute and request a marriage alliance.

Unfortunately, the Tang Dynasty was indifferent to them.

The northern desert is still under the jurisdiction of the Turkic Khaganate, and since the Turks are a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty, the northern desert is also under the rule of the Tang Dynasty.

Yinan believed that by declaring himself Khan in the northern desert, he could weaken the strength of the Turks, and that the Tang Dynasty would support him.

Unexpectedly, Tulishi arrived in Luoyang with his horse and camel, carrying sable fur, ginseng, and gyrfalcons, only to encounter setbacks at every turn.

After the gatekeeper of the Prince of Dai's mansion refused him,

Tuli looked helpless.

In Han Chinese parlance, it's like carrying a pig's head but not being able to find the temple gate.

Rejected at the door, they had no choice but to leave.

"The Western Turkic chieftain Moheshenishu sent Li Yi two stunningly beautiful Hu women, along with a magnificent Akhal-Teke horse, and I heard he also sent a considerable amount of gold and jewels."
Then the Tang Dynasty reached an agreement with the Western Turks on marriage alliances and trade.

"Tuli Khan of the Eastern Turks sent hostages and women to the Tang Dynasty. Li Yi took Zhishi Yan's granddaughter as a concubine, and Zhishi Yan was then enfeoffed as Duke of Anguo and General of Huaihua."

I think Li Yi only likes beautiful women, fine horses, and gold and silver jewels.

"Should we just send him beauties, fine horses, gold, and silver?" Tulishi's deputy envoy reminded him.

Tuli frowned.

After pondering for a moment, I realized it made sense.

"Quickly buy some young and beautiful maids from all over the place, such as Persian princesses and Silla maids, buy as many as possible. We will also prepare some fine horses and gold and silver to send over later."

I refuse to believe there's any cat that doesn't crave fish.

The deputy envoy further reminded, "We cannot only send gifts to Li Yi. We should also send gifts to all the prime ministers of the Council of State, as well as Changsun Wuji. He is the emperor's brother-in-law. Although he is no longer the prime minister, he is still a confidant of the emperor and his words carry weight."

Tulishi frowned again, "Send them all? How can we possibly send so many?"

"Send more to Li Yi, and less to the others," the deputy envoy said.

"it is good."

The deputy envoy was very efficient.
It was all arranged that very day. Two Hu women and two Silla maids were prepared for Li Yi, along with two Turkic and two Sogdian maids.

They also prepared ten fine horses, plus a chest of gold and silver.

But when he secretly delivered this valuable gift to Li Yi's residence, it was still rejected.

Li Yi didn't even let him in.

Tulishi looked rather grim, so he simply left the beauty, the fine horse, and the gold and silver at Li Yi's door and left.

Unexpectedly, Li Yi reported directly to the emperor, and the beauties, horses, gold and silver were all handed over to the government.

The next day,

The emperor sent someone to deliver an imperial edict to Tulishi in the embassy.

In return for the Xueyantuo's subsequent tribute, the government bestowed upon them porcelain, silk, and Buddhist scriptures.

What was given away were beauties, BMWs, and gold, but what was received in return were a pile of porcelain, silk, and Buddhist scriptures.

The emperor then bestowed those eight beauties and ten fine horses upon Li Yi.

Li Yi looked at the beautiful women and fine horses that had been sent back, and immediately sold them all. He donated all the money and silk he received to the national treasury, keeping nothing for himself.

Tuli Khan dispatched his loyal wolf guards to surround Tulishi's residence.

They captured the Xueyantuo delegation and brought them before Tuli Khan.

Tuli rebuked them for betraying the Turks, had them flogged, and drove them out of Luoyang, ordering them to immediately return to the northern desert.

They were warned that if the Xueyantuo dared to bypass the Turkic Khanate and directly request a marriage alliance with the Tang Dynasty, they would be severely punished.

(End of this chapter)