Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 529: Tang Dynasty's Methods, Killing the Mother and Keeping the Son (Part )
In the Liangyi Hall, the eunuch Dou Zhijie stepped out from the side and said solemnly, "Silence."

The ministers who were originally laughing immediately stopped laughing and bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian looked at the ministers and said, "Xu Jingzong!"

"I'm here!" Xu Jingzong, the Imperial Censor and Recorder, stood up and bowed to receive the order.

"The conversation between me and the envoy of Goguryeo just now has been sorted out and sent to the Liaodong army. Then, someone will make a letter out of paper, bamboo slips, tree bark, or even stone tablets, and send it to Goguryeo. Try to send it as far as possible, and then wait for the envoy of Goguryeo to return to Goguryeo." Li Chengqian looked solemn.

"Yes!" Xu Jingzong bowed seriously.

Li Chengqian glanced at Xu Jingzong and waved his hand slightly, and Xu Jingzong immediately retreated behind the table.

A hint of solemnity flashed across the eyes of the ministers as they looked at Xu Jingzong.

Jiujiulang, Jieshizhong.

The next step should be the Imperial Secretary and then the Prime Minister.

Xu Jingzong's literary talent was naturally outstanding, but he was also very good at sowing discord, which was why the emperor used him.

Li Yifu stood aside with a calm expression, not even glancing at Xu Jingzong.

He knew that he and Xu Jingzong were not competitors on the same level.

The emperor used Xu Jingzong because he was capable, and the emperor used him because he was the emperor's confidant.

Xu Jingzong's competitor was Shangguan Yi, not Li Yifu.

Li Yifu did not think that anyone in the court was his opponent.

Because when it comes to satisfying the emperor, no one is better than Li Yifu.

……

On the imperial couch, Li Chengqian calmly glanced at the ministers and said softly, "My lords, tell me, when I say that the Tang Dynasty does not aim to destroy Goguryeo, will they believe me?"

All the ministers bowed in agreement, but no one spoke.

"You may not believe it, but I do." Li Chengqian sighed and said, "I truly have no intention of destroying Goguryeo. The emperor's words are binding, how can I go back on my word so easily?"

The ministers looked up in confusion.

"Hahaha..." Li Chengqian suddenly laughed, waved his hand and said, "I have no intention of destroying Goguryeo, nor does the Tang Dynasty. However, the length of its reign is up to me. If, in the future, it is destroyed by Silla or Baekje due to its weakness, it will no longer be my business."

The ministers raised their eyes and then bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."

Li Chengqian turned his head, looked at Zhangsun Wuji, and said, "Uncle, go see Jin Shangquan and ask him to follow the Goguryeo envoy back to Jiangbei."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji stood up and bowed.

At the emperor's command, the Tang Dynasty officially began to implement its plan to destroy Goguryeo.

"Duke of England!" Li Chengqian looked at Li Ji.

Li Ji immediately stood up and bowed: "Your Majesty!"

"You should come with us and help establish the Jiangbei Protectorate." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "From top to bottom, the Jiangbei Protectorate must be staffed with pro-Tang Goguryeo nobles. Supervisors will be appointed at every level, and personnel will be transferred from the Liaodong Protectorate, primarily those who lived in Goguryeo."

"Yes!" Li Ji bowed.

"The Jiangbei Protectorate has established an embassy for the Tang Dynasty. Please recommend a suitable person to serve as the Tang Dynasty's envoy to Goguryeo." Li Chengqian tapped the imperial desk lightly.

The ministers in the palace immediately understood that in the future, these envoys from the Tang Dynasty and Goguryeo would be the ones who would truly decide everything inside and outside the Jiangbei Protectorate.

"I obey your command." Li Ji bowed.

"Finally, let's deal with the military." Li Chengqian looked at Li Ji and said, "Pull officers from the Liaodong front and command the soldiers of the Jiangbei Protectorate. Once we're sure everything is under control, the Liaodong army will advance to the north side of the Taedong River."

"Yes!"

"The Jiangbei Protectorate's military strength will be under the control of the Tang Dynasty, but Jin Shangquan will be responsible for managing the people and collecting taxes." Li Chengqian looked up and said, "Half of the taxes collected by the Jiangbei Protectorate will be paid annually as tribute to cover the Liaodong Road's military expenses."

"Yes!" Li Ji bowed and accepted the order, then returned to the train.

The ministers looked solemn. They all knew that once the Jiangbei Protectorate was established, not only would the morale of the Goguryeo people be shaken, but the Tang Dynasty's consumption in Liaodong would also be greatly reduced, laying a solid foundation for the Tang Dynasty to destroy Goguryeo.

Li Chengqian calmed down and said, "The Tibetan envoy has arrived, so let's take care of the Tibetan affairs so that we can focus on Goguryeo."

"Here!"

……

In the main hall, a seven-foot-tall, broad-shouldered man from the plateau, dressed in a long ochre-red felt robe, bowed solemnly to the ground. "I, the Tibetan envoy, Wei Dama Renzeng, pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang. May Your Majesty live a long and healthy life."

Li Chengqian looked at Wei Dama Renzeng and nodded gently, saying, "Stand up."

"Yes!" Wei Damarenzeng stood up calmly, and his towering brows instantly caught Li Chengqian's eyes.

Li Chengqian's eyes gently moved downwards, sweeping across his throat, where the skin was soft.

"Is Songtsen in good health now?" Li Chengqian raised his head and looked directly at Wei Dama Rigdzen with a sharp look.

"The Zamp is now in better health. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern." Wei Dama Renzeng bowed and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I have come to Chang'an on the Zamp's orders. Firstly, to put an end to the war between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo, secondly, to mourn the Heavenly Khan. After all, the Zamp is also the Heavenly Khan's son-in-law, and thirdly, to invite the Queen Consort back to Tubo."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Now that the things have been delivered, the war between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo will naturally end."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wei Dama Renzeng breathed a sigh of relief. Tuyuhun had been badly defeated in the battle, and Tubo was immediately at a disadvantage on the plateau.

If the Tang Dynasty continued to attack and faced the crisis of national destruction, Tubo would naturally be able to gather enough strength and then use the terrain of the plateau to resist the Tang Dynasty.

Even defeated the Tang Dynasty.

In this way, the situation on the plateau was back under the control of Tubo.

But unfortunately, the Tang Dynasty was very sober.

Li Junxian stationed his troops on the north bank of Tongtian River, threatening the situation of Tubo at all times. He would not advance easily, and would start to plot against Subi as soon as things went wrong, which made people extremely uncomfortable.

Fortunately, everything has finally been concluded in the country.

The gold was delivered to the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty naturally shifted its attention eastward.

……

"Songtsen Gampo is the imperial consort of the Tang Dynasty, and he has come to mourn with all his heart." Li Chengqian raised his hand and said, "Ministry of Rites, draft an imperial decree to promote Songtsen Gampo, the Tibetan king, the Xihai prince, and the imperial consort, to the title of Xiong King. All other honors will be granted as per regulations."

"Yes!" Li Xizhi stood up and bowed to receive the order.

"I have had a stone statue of Songtsen carved on the north side of Zhaoling Mausoleum to replace the real one in guarding the mausoleum." Li Chengqian looked at Wei Dama Rigdzin and asked, "What do you think? Is it a good likeness?"

"Your Majesty is so kind and benevolent, it's very similar." Wei Dama Renzeng bowed seriously, then lowered his head slightly.

Seeing him like this, Changsun Wuji suddenly looked up and looked at Li Chengqian on the Danbi.

Li Chengqian shook his head slightly.

Wei Damarenzen had been to Zhaoling Mausoleum and the North Xuanwu Gate, and had seen the portrait of Songtsen Gampo, but he did not show any dissatisfaction.

Songtsen was dying.

"Your Majesty!" Wei Damarenzeng suddenly looked up, staring at Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty, since the Queen Consort arrived in Chang'an last April to attend the 30th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, and then your Majesty ascended the throne, and now the late emperor passed away, it has been over a year. I wonder if the Tang Dynasty will allow the Queen Consort to return to Tubo."

Wei Damarenzeng's eye sockets were sunken, and his amber pupils looked at Li Chengqian with an unusually solemn and firm gaze.

Li Chengqian nodded calmly and said, "Now that the dispute between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo has ended, it's only right that the imperial sister should return to Lhasa. However, my father has just been buried, and according to etiquette, the imperial sister should serve as a mourner for nine months. Three months have already passed, so there are only six months left. After six months, if the imperial sister is willing to return to Tubo, I will not stop her, but..."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Wei Damarenzeng bowed his head and kowtowed, shutting up the rest of Li Chengqian's words.

Li Chengqian glanced at Wei Damarenzeng. This trick of his might be useful to those kings who valued face, but Li Chengqian!
"I heard that in Luosi now, the prince consort only has one heir left!" Li Chengqian suddenly changed the subject.

Wei Dama Renzeng's face became serious, and he bowed and said, "Yes!"

"According to the etiquette of the Tang Dynasty, the imperial sister should be considered his legitimate grandmother, right?" Li Chengqian raised his head slightly.

Wei Dama Renzeng was stunned for a moment, then he bowed and said, "Yes!"

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "The emperor's funeral is over. You may return to Luosi. After six months, you can come to Chang'an to pick her up. If my sister is willing to return, I will not stop her. But if she is unwilling to return, then you, my husband, should prepare for a divorce."

"Your Majesty!" Wei Damarenzeng looked up in surprise.

"Minister of Honglu Temple, send him out." Li Chengqian looked at Minister of Honglu Temple Li Yibiao.

"Yes!" Li Yibiao stood up and bowed, then turned and walked to the side of Wei Dama Renzeng, nodded and said, "Let's go."

Wei Damarenzeng raised his head and looked at Li Yibiao blankly.

Li Yibiao raised his head slightly to indicate, and Wei Damarenzeng immediately reacted and kowtowed to Li Chengqian, saying, "I, your humble servant, shall take my leave."

"Hmm!" Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly, and Wei Damarenzeng immediately bowed, then walked out of the palace backwards.

……

Li Chengqian knocked lightly on the table, and all the ministers in the hall became solemn at the same time.

The emperor's words just now were a bit obscure.

Most people really don’t understand.

Given the current situation between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo, Tubo’s purpose of wanting the Tang princess to return to Tubo is clear.

They wanted to use the power of the Tang Dynasty to quell domestic opposition, and at the same time use the princess as a hostage to force the Tang Dynasty to not take action.

What they could rely on was that Songtsen and Princess Wencheng were a legal couple who had worshipped heaven and earth, and Wencheng was also Songtsen's queen.

Even Li Chengqian had to admit this.

However, in order to allow Princess Wencheng to return to Tubo, Li Chengqian also made a request.

Songtsen had to kill the grandmother of his grandson Mangsong Mangtsen.

Get rid of the mother and keep the child.

No, it’s about leaving the mother behind and leaving the grandchildren behind.

Only in this way could Princess Wencheng occupy a place in Lhasa as the legitimate grandmother of Mangsong Mangzan.

In this way, Li Chengqian would not have to worry about her being killed and buried alive.

(End of this chapter)