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

Chapter 660: I would like to give Your Majesty the title of Heavenly Khan! (Part )
The first day of the first lunar month in the seventh year of Yongwei.

In the Taiji Hall, all the ministers were solemn.

Li Chengqian was wearing a scarlet and yellow dragon robe and a headpiece with twelve white jade tassels. He sat on the steps with a solemn expression.

Su Shu was wearing a dark blue multicolored robe and a phoenix crown with twelve beauties on her head. She sat beside the emperor with a solemn expression.

In the hall stood civil and military officials, provincial governors, retired elders, students from the Imperial College and Imperial Academy, as well as a large number of foreign envoys, all holding tablets.

King Gao Baozang of Goguryeo knelt in the hall and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, the Supreme State, Duke of Liaodong, King Gao Baozang of Goguryeo, presents five hundred taels of gold, five hundred sable furs, one hundred strings of pearls, and eighteen beauties. I wish His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang a long and healthy life."

"Stand up." Li Chengqian raised his head calmly, looked at Gao Baozang and said, "After the spring, Mr. Gao will return to Goguryeo. Remember to be diligent in your work and love the people. Don't let the Quan Gaisuwen incident happen again."

"I respectfully accept the Holy Instructions!" Gao Baozang kowtowed heavily, then stood up and returned to the train.

The three large boxes placed aside were also carried to the front.

"Your Majesty, I, Prince Daifang and King Buyeo Yici of Baekje, present you with one thousand taels of gold, one hundred pearls, and fifty tortoise shells. I wish His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang a long life and a long lasting Tang Dynasty." Buyeo Yici stood out from among the foreign envoys and kowtowed solemnly.

The guards on one side immediately carried three large boxes to the center of the hall and placed them next to Buyeo Yici.

After years of war with Goguryeo, and after the Tang Dynasty carried out extensive plundering of Goguryeo to supplement the needs of the court, Baekje had actually become the richest of the three eastern island countries.

In particular, it has the advantage of controlling the Han River's land and sea transportation to the east, and has obtained extensive maritime trade profits, making its wealth the greatest.

Not only did he have twice as much gold as the King of Goguryeo, but the pearls he presented were all larger than half an inch.

"Your Excellency is very thoughtful." Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction and said, "Baekje has made great contributions in suppressing the Quan Gaisuwen rebellion. In the future, the Tang Dynasty will increase its maritime trade with Dongdao. Thank you for your concern."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Fu Yu Yi Ci kowtowed, then retreated happily.

During the New Year's Day ceremony, the various tribes presented gifts to the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty would naturally give gifts in return, but that was the responsibility of the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple.

"Your Majesty!" King Kim Chunchu of Silla walked out from among the other tribes and knelt in the hall. He then said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I, King Kim Chunchu of Lelang County and King Kim Chunchu of Silla, present you with ten golden Buddhas, one hundred ginseng plants of ten different colors, ten beauties, and fifty pieces of various jewels."

Six imperial guards carried six large boxes and placed them beside Jin Chunqiu.

"Also," Jin Chunqiu raised his head and said, "Your Majesty is a man of great virtue, both civil and military. Your foundation is natural, your achievements are immense, and you command respect from all corners of the world. I, along with the kings of Goguryeo and Baekje, have jointly agreed to bestow upon Your Majesty the title of Heavenly Khan!"

Heavenly Khan, Heavenly Khan.

The word "Heavenly Khan" shocked all the officials inside and outside the palace.

Gao Baozang and Buyeo Yici widened their eyes in surprise.

No matter what Jin Chunqiu said, he had already discussed with them that he would give the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty the title of Heavenly Khan.

Where is there such a thing?

How could Jin Chunqiu have discussed this with them? Isn't this nonsense?
Gao Baozang and Fu Yu Yici couldn't help but curse out loud. There was no such thing or the same thing as before. Everything was completely made up by that bastard Jin Chunqiu.

However, just as they were about to speak, the emperor turned his gaze and asked sharply, "Mr. Gao, my dear Mr. Buyeo, is this true?"

Gao Baozang and Fuyu Yici gritted their teeth, then stood up together, knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, we are willing to give you the title of Heavenly Khan!"

The hall was completely quiet at this time.

Tian Khan, Tian Khan, they haven't heard this title for many years.

The title of Tian Khan has not appeared since the fourth year of Zhenguan, when the late emperor conquered the Eastern Turks and was honored as "Tian Khan" by the countries in the Western Regions. In the twenty-third year of Zhenguan, he abdicated as the Supreme Emperor and was honored as "Tiansheng Khan" by the emperor, ministers, and envoys from various countries inside and outside the country.

Now, the kings of the three Goguryeo kingdoms are going to be the current emperor, and they will be given the title of Heavenly Khan.

Considering the emperor's civil and military achievements, it seems to make sense, but for some reason it always sounds weird.

……

"You are so thoughtful." Li Chengqian sat on the imperial couch, his gaze passing through the imperial crown to Jin Chunqiu, Gao Baozang, and Buyeo Yici. He shook his head calmly and said, "Although I have achieved some success, I am still far behind the previous emperor's conquest of the Eastern Turks... Moreover, the title of Heavenly Khan should be bestowed upon the tribes of the Western Regions, not upon you."

Jin Chunqiu, Gao Baozang and Buyeo Yici were stunned, and then their faces looked a little embarrassed.

Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje all used King and Emperor of the Tang Dynasty as their highest titles. They gave the emperor honorific titles such as Heavenly Emperor and Sage Emperor, which were better than Heavenly Khan.

Of course, the reason why they gave Li Chengqian the title of Tian Khan was because after the previous emperor became Tiansheng Khan, the title of Tian Khan became vacant.

When the emperor was given a title, he naturally had to first be given the title of Heavenly Khan, just like the previous emperor.

"Alright, I appreciate your kindness, my three beloved ministers. You may withdraw. I will present you with return gifts after the court session!" Li Chengqian looked up and asked, "Have the Western Turkic people arrived?"

Among the various tribes, a middle-aged man wearing a clean wolfskin robe and a winged lion crown stood out. He walked into the hall, knelt down, and said, "Your Majesty, I am Ashina Diyun, the General of the Right Guard. I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty live a long and healthy life."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly and asked, "Where is your father, the Khan? Didn't I already issue an imperial decree for him to come to Chang'an for the New Year's audience? Why didn't he come this year?"

"Your Majesty!" Ashina Diyun kowtowed and said, "My father Khan had already set out on his journey, but when he was halfway there, he was suddenly hit by a heavy snowfall.

After the heavy snow, my father fell ill. I waited for a long time, but my father never recovered. Only then did I come here on his behalf."

"I see." Li Chengqian nodded slightly and said, "When we return, I will have the Anxi Protectorate send someone to express our condolences."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Ashina Diyun kowtowed, his body trembling slightly.

"What a pity!" Li Chengqian sighed and said, "If your father Khan were here today, perhaps I could ask him about the matter of the Heavenly Khan."

Changsun Wuji, Li Ji and others on the side suddenly looked up. They were extremely familiar with the emperor and had smelled something different.

"How about this? Go back and ask your father, the Khan, what he thinks of the proposals made by the Kings of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian smiled and said, "During the New Year's meeting next year, I'd like to have your father, the Khan, come to Chang'an and have a good chat with me about this matter."

The corners of Ashina Diyun's mouth twitched slightly, and then he kowtowed and said, "Yes!"

Li Chengqian smiled faintly and said calmly: "To be honest, I think they are still a bit presumptuous. Since I ascended the throne, although I defeated Tubo in Tuyuhun and Pingrang City in Goguryeo, and the court has had good harvests for several consecutive years, but in my opinion, I am at most a relatively qualified heir who inherited the throne of the late emperor." "Your Majesty!" All the ministers bowed solemnly.

"Are you saying that I want to be called the Khan of Heaven?" Li Chengqian nodded directly and said, "Yes, I won't deny it. I do think so in my heart, but I also know that I still have a lot to learn. That's why I asked Helu to give me some advice on what I need to improve. You, the ministers, and the people of the world, can all write to me and point out my shortcomings."

"Yes!" All the ministers were in awe, and the emperor sought advice from all over the country.

Li Chengqian looked at Yu Zhining who was standing to the side and said, "Master Yu, you are now the Minister of the Central Secretariat. You should personally draft the edict to seek talents and advice.

All citizens and officials throughout the country who feel that what they have to say is beneficial to me and the world can write to the local prefecture and county government offices, and then they will be sent to Chang'an every month."

"I obey your order." Yu Zhining immediately stood up and bowed.

Li Chengqian nodded, then looked at Ashina Diyun and said, "The term Khan ultimately represents the highest authority in the Western Regions. Helu is now the Khan of Western Turkic Khaganate. My dear minister, you can convey all my words to him. Submit petitions repeatedly to pray for peace and prosperity for the Tang Dynasty. His opinion, as the Khan of Western Turkic Khaganate, is of paramount importance."

Changsun Wuji, Li Ji and others could not help but bow their heads slightly.

Perhaps it was a little surprising at first when Jin Chunqiu proposed to give the emperor the title of Heavenly Khan, but the emperor put the responsibility on Ashina Helu in the shortest time.

It is true that the emperor wants to be the Heavenly Khan, but he wants more for the prosperity of the world and the eternal prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. If Helu does not want the emperor to be the Heavenly Khan, then he does not want the eternal prosperity of the Tang Dynasty and the prosperity of the world. Then when the time comes, all the tribes in the world, both inside and outside, will rise up to attack him.

It is now legitimate to destroy the Western Turks.

"I obey your command." Ashina Diyun kowtowed heavily. He hadn't fully understood Li Chengqian's intentions. He said, "Your Majesty, I have brought seven thousand fine horses, a hundred precious treasures, dozens of ancient books from the Western Regions, various spices, and more to present to Your Majesty!"

Several imperial guards entered the hall carrying ten boxes and placed them beside Ashina Diyun.

Li Chengqian saw this scene and nodded gently: "Good!"

……

Spring is fleeting, and in the blink of an eye it is already the seventeenth day of the first lunar month.

A young Persian nobleman, wearing a brocade robe with linked beads, a brown felt hat, and a gilded silver belt, appeared in the palace with an upright posture.

This person was none other than the Persian prince Peroz, who had been in Chang'an for nearly a year. However, it took him a whole year before he was finally allowed to meet the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

Under the guidance of the Tongshi Sheren Zhang Da'an, he stepped into the long-awaited Chengtian Gate step by step.

Pass through the numerous palace roads and climb the golden stairs of Liangyi Palace.

On both sides are guards wearing red clothes and golden armor, holding sharp spears, and in front of them is the magnificent Liangyi Hall.

Bilus subconsciously held his breath. Following the instructions of the Honglu Temple official, he entered the center of the hall, knelt down, and kowtowed solemnly, saying, "Your Highness, Prince Bilus of Persia, pays homage to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang. May His Majesty live forever."

On the imperial steps, Li Chengqian flipped through the memorial on the table and looked at Peroz. He said, "You are now the sole heir to the Persian dynasty. It is no longer appropriate to call yourself the Prince of Persia. Since you are willing to have Persia submit to the Tang Dynasty and become a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty, I grant you the title of King of Persia, the Prince of Leizhu County of the Tang Dynasty, and establish the Persian Governor's Office, with you as the Governor of Persia."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Peroz bowed his head heavily to the ground. After Persia was destroyed for many years, he finally saw the hope of restoring his country.

"But you must also understand that Persia is too far away. This is why, from the Zhenguan period until now, the Tang Dynasty has been reluctant to send troops to help you restore your country. Even I feel the same way. It is difficult to directly send troops into Persia." Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and said, "I can only ask you to recruit cavalry in Chang'an, Dunhuang, and even Western Turkestan in the name of the Persian Governor-General to temporarily stabilize the situation. Once I reach Tokharistan, we will see."

"Yes!" Although Belus was reluctant, this was the best solution.

Li Chengqian's voice suddenly grew heavier. "You have to understand that restoring a nation after it's been destroyed is the most difficult thing. You need to have a strong foundation. Otherwise, even if you do restore your nation, it will be destroyed again in three to five years, which will make it even more difficult."

"I obey your order." Bilus calmed down all of a sudden. He knew that what the emperor said was right.

"I will issue an edict to let Yongzhou Prefecture, Shazhou Military Governor's Office, and Yaochi Military Governor's Office facilitate you. The rest is your own business." Li Chengqian looked calm.

"I obey your command. Thank you, Your Majesty!" Bilus kowtowed again.

"Well!" Li Chengqian looked up and said, "Let's stop here for today. The Honglu Temple will take care of the rest for you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I'll take my leave." Bilus kowtowed vigorously, then stood up and left the Liangyi Hall.

When Bilus' figure completely disappeared, Zhangsun Wuji sighed softly on the Danbi and said, "He's dead. Helu will not let him go."

Ashina Helu, Governor of Yaochi Military Governor's Office.

Li Ji knelt down behind Zhangsun Wuji and said calmly, "Persia is, after all, a powerful nation in the Western Regions. It won't be easily destroyed. If anything unfortunate happens to him, the Tang Dynasty will avenge him."

"If Helu had no intention of rebelling, he would naturally not care about the growing Persian power around him. But if he, as the Yaochi Governor, attacked the Persian Governor without authorization, then he would be ready to rebel." Li Chengqian shook his head slightly and said, "Everything depends on fate."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji and Li Ji bowed at the same time.

"Also," Li Chengqian looked up and said, "This autumn, the Guanzhong Autumn Harvest must be organized. The court must not only issue a large number of new sickles, but also prepare all the transportation tools such as carriages to ensure that the harvest is completed five to ten days ahead of schedule."

"Here!"

"After the autumn harvest is completed, we will secretly take the Southern Silk Road, pass through East and West Tuyuhun and enter Anxi. We will also take the other route through Shasu to confuse Helu's sight and lure him to Anxi in advance. When he mobilizes his troops, we will directly attack from the south." Li Chengqian clenched his fists.

"We obey your command." Changsun Wuji and Li Ji bowed solemnly.

"Heavenly Khan, I really want to hear Helu serve me in person." Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Your Majesty will surely get what you wish for." Changsun Wuji and Li Ji bowed solemnly at the same time. If the emperor could inherit the title of Heavenly Khan of the previous emperor, it would mean that the Tang Dynasty had reached the peak again.

That is also the glory of these officials.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Alright, but a year of preparation still needs to start from the basics, like the imperial examination in February."

"Your Majesty, the imperial examinations are fully prepared." Li Ji bowed and said, "There are 1,700 candidates taking the exam this year, and no one, whether internal or external, will be traveling."

"Hmm!" Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, saying, "Alright, that's it. I need to go see that Tianzhu princess now. At this time, if Tianzhu contributes some strength, the situation will be more stable."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)