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

Chapter 672 The Emperor's Fengshan Ceremony Was Always Attended by the Officials (First Update)
In the Zhenguan Hall.

The morning light is lush and vibrant, and the interior is filled with a pleasant fragrance.

Li Chengqian lay on his side on the bed, looking at Su Shu in front of him, his right hand gently lingering between her collarbone and her jade-like neck.

"Your Majesty!" Su Shu opened her eyes groggily, reached out and pressed down on Li Chengqian's mischievous hand, then whispered, "Your Majesty, it's time for court."

"Alright." Li Chengqian smiled, then gently kissed Su Shu's forehead before getting up.

The maids in the palace immediately came over to help Li Chengqian wash up and get dressed.

Li Chengqian turned to look at Su Shu, who had fallen asleep again, exhausted.

Li Chengqian felt a little regretful.

Over the years, he and Su Shu had always wanted to have another child, but they had never been able to.

This time, the Western Turks won a great victory, and Li Chengqian stayed in the Lizheng Hall for five days.

They even neglected state affairs.

However, none of the officials said anything more.

The harmony between the emperor and empress is a matter of national importance; anyone who dares to utter a single word about it will be impeached by all the officials in the court and the country.

……

Dressed in a black dragon robe with gold thread, Li Chengqian calmly entered the Liangyi Hall, then walked up the steps and sat down on the imperial couch.
Changsun Wuji, Li Ji, Yu Zhining, Tang Jian, Sun Fujia, Ma Zhou, Xu Jingzong, Zhang Xingcheng, Yan Lide, Cui Dunli, Yin Jun, Changsun Xiang, Chu Suiliang, Qiu Xinggong, and others all bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Rise, my lords." Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly, then said with a smile, "How have the celebrations been these past few days for the people of Chang'an?"

"May everything go as you wish." Changsun Wuji stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting.

"That's good. Let's get down to business." Li Chengqian's expression turned serious. "Although Helu has been captured, the war against the Western Turks is not yet over. What is the current situation?"

“Your Majesty!” Cui Dunli stepped forward, cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty appointed Ashina Buzhen as the Protector-General of Mengchi and the successor to the former Khan, to govern the five tribes of Nushibi. Therefore, as soon as Ashina Buzhen arrived, the five tribes of Nushibi immediately surrendered.”

"Oh, immediately?" Li Chengqian's eyes narrowed slightly. He leaned back and looked at the assembled officials, saying, "All of you, please speak."

“Your Majesty, although Ashina Buzhen has been under our rule for many years, he has not actually made many great contributions. Now, relying on the military strength of the Tang Dynasty, he has become the successor to the former Khan of the Western Turks. This may not be a good thing. Moreover, judging from the situation of the five tribes of Nushibi, Ashina Buzhen may lead his troops to rebel against the Tang Dynasty one day.” Li Ji stepped forward and bowed earnestly.

"What a pity!" Li Chengqian couldn't help but sigh softly.

If the crossbow bolts don't slide too fast on the five guide rails, then Liang Jianfang will be able to launch a fierce attack.

Li Chengqian sent Liang Jianfang to the Western Regions to commit murder.

The ministers nodded silently.

On the imperial couch, Li Chengqian suddenly laughed and said, "My lords, this is actually not a bad thing, is it?"

The ministers were taken aback for a moment, then slowly nodded and said, "Your Majesty is absolutely right."

The Tang Dynasty has always supported a Khan, and once that Khan takes control of the Western Turks and rebels, the Tang Dynasty can then begin its purge.

Especially with each war, countless Western Turks became spies for the Tang Dynasty.

The Tang Dynasty's control over the Western Turks was gradually deepening.

It's just that the entire Western Turkic Khaganate has been transformed into the five tribes of Nushibi, which is not a bad thing.

"Issue an edict to Wang Fangyi and Pei Xingjian, ordering them to go to the ten tribes of the Western Turks and plunder the remnants of the Helu tribe. At the same time, keep a close eye on the location of the water and grass for each tribe." Li Chengqian's eyes were cold as he gritted his teeth and said, "I need to know the location of all the water and grass for the Western Turks. If war breaks out again in the future, the Tang Dynasty must be able to find them as quickly as possible and defeat them."

The Western Turks had no cities; their herders lived by moving with the water and pasture.

However, the affairs of aquatic plants, though seemingly unpredictable, actually follow certain patterns.

The patterns are even more obvious in the aquatic plants used by large enough tribes.

However, these patterns have always been known to the Turkic tribes, or even the elders. Now that the Western Turkic Khaganate has become part of the Tang Dynasty, there is naturally an opportunity to thoroughly investigate these matters.

"Here!" The officials held their hands in awe.

Li Chengqian breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "Now that the Western Turks have been destroyed, we should thoroughly investigate the remnants of Helu's forces. When the army returns, we should escort all the tribal chiefs, minor khans, and elders under Helu's command to Chang'an and have the Duke of Yanmen present them as prisoners to the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

"Yes!" Cui Dunli stepped forward, solemnly cupped his hands, and presented the captives to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, which was the best reward for the soldiers in the army.

"Furthermore, let Ashina Misha and Ashina Buzhen bring the chiefs, junior khans, elders, and their sons who they consider important to come to Chang'an as well." Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and said, "At the end of the year, when I am to be called the Heavenly Khan, it is time for the Turks to bestow upon me an honorific title."

"Here!" The officials held their hands in awe.

From this moment forward, the emperor's title of Heavenly Khan will be the most important event of the entire Tang Dynasty.

……

Li Chengqian looked up and said, "Now that the Western Turks have been destroyed, we need to seriously consider how to govern them. I want to implement the Fubing system in the Western Turks. What do you all think?"

The word "real" carries a lot of weight.

Li Ji stepped forward, looked up at the emperor, and asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, weren't we going to establish a tributary state in the Western Turkic Khaganate?"

“That’s right!” Li Chengqian nodded and said, “Nowadays, the various tributary states in the country are mostly governed by militia, local people and old systems, like Rongzhou and the various states of the Eastern Turks. They are mobilized when there is war. Furthermore, like Hebei, cavalry are recruited from Turks and Khitans, and people are moved to the Hebei border to form Zhechong Prefectures in Hebei to deal with war.”

Strictly speaking, the people of Zhechong Prefecture in Hebei were all from Hebei.

For example, Li Jinxing was a member of the Sumo Mohe tribe. His father, Tudiji, and his tribe were settled in Yanzhou in the early years of Emperor Gaozu's reign. Later, due to their military achievements, they were moved to Changping in Youzhou and given the surname Li.

His troops were actually from Hebei, and later became the Hebei military garrison.

“However, the Western Turks are different.” Li Chengqian looked at the ministers in the hall and sighed: “I have thought about this for a long time. Although the Tang Dynasty destroyed the Western Turkic Khaganate, it is probably difficult for the people of the Western Turks to submit to the Tang Dynasty. This is why I decisively destroyed the Western Turkic Khaganate.”

The Western Turks were different from the three kingdoms of the Eastern Islands.

The three kingdoms of the Eastern Islands were weaker than the Tang Dynasty. The Western Turks once completely controlled the Western Regions, and even now, they could easily muster 100,000 cavalry. They knew in their hearts that they were not much weaker than the Tang Dynasty, so it was difficult for them to win the hearts of the people.

Since the hearts of the people cannot be won over no matter what, I will simply destroy the Western Turks. I will not try to win them over with gentle persuasion, but will instead use force to intimidate them. "Destroying the Western Turks is the first step. How to govern the Western Turks afterward is what I have been pondering for a long time." Li Chengqian sat on the imperial couch, looking at the quiet assembled ministers, and continued, "Therefore, establish a military system. In each of the ten tribes of the Western Turks, establish a military unit, recruiting ordinary herders, or even slaves, from the tribes to serve as the source of the military units."

The officials in the hall suddenly looked up, staring at Li Chengqian in surprise.

"Just as I said back then, Goguryeo and Tibet had two fundamental problems: too many slaves and too much class antagonism." Li Chengqian sighed and said, "The Western Turks were no different. They had all sorts of khans, little khans, yakshu, she, tegin, silifa... dozens of types, but the Turks had the most oppressed and lowest-class people and slaves."

Many of the courtiers had begun to realize the emperor's thoughts.

Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and said, "From among these people in each tribe, select a thousand to become soldiers of the government, exempt them from taxes and labor service, and give them a share of the grass and produce left by Helu. In the future, they can be transferred to local officials."

I intend to establish a new path for the rise of ordinary herders, even slaves, within the Western Turkic Khaganate, to challenge the old system!

“Your Majesty intends to incite conflict within the Western Turkic Khaganate,” Changsun Wuji stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

Li Chengqian smiled and nodded, saying, "The Western Turks' left and right wings already have animosity. If new internal conflicts arise, their overall combat strength will be greatly reduced. At the same time, the Anxi Protectorate, the Ministry of War's Department of Military Affairs, and the Hundred Cavalry Division can all strengthen their infiltration. If the Western Turks become chaotic again in the future, it will be easy to quell the unrest."

Although Li Chengqian had destroyed the Western Turkic Khaganate, he never relaxed his vigilance against the various Western Turkic tribes, and he was even prepared for the Western Turks to rebel again.

"Your Majesty," Li Ji said, standing behind Changsun Wuji, cupping his hands in greeting, "I'm afraid the nobles of the Western Turks are unwilling for the Tang Dynasty to do this. Will they try every means to obstruct this matter?"

"If I really want to do this, who dares to object!" Li Chengqian raised his head indifferently.

The assembled officials bowed in unison, their expressions solemn.

Now that the Western Turkic Khaganate has just been destroyed, Liang Jianfang is still searching for the remnants of Helu. Anyone who opposes him is considered a remnant of Helu and will be executed.

"Of course, I am not a cold-blooded and bloodthirsty emperor." Li Chengqian said calmly, "Tell Wang Fangyi and Pei Xingjian to organize the local militia when the nobles of the Western Turkic tribes come to Chang'an to pay homage. That way, even if someone tries to stop them, they will be powerless to do so since they are not in the Western Turkic territory."

After the great battle, Liang Jianfang was to present the prisoners, and the emperor was to proclaim himself Heavenly Khan. A large number of Western Turkic nobles were to come to Chang'an.

This is what the emperor just said.

Moreover, they also had their offspring and a large number of guards.

The Western Turkic Khaganate will experience a power vacuum for a considerable period of time.

"Also, have Pei Xingjian and Wang Fangyi tell them that these nobles of the Western Turks may stay in Chang'an for more than two years. In two years, a lot will happen within the Western Turks." Li Chengqian chuckled coldly. Two years is enough time to completely establish this system.

Moreover, there are many tricks that can be used here.

Two years have passed, and many grudges have arisen between slaves and nobles.

Yes, you can report it.

Someone has set an example; if you want to calm people down, you'll have to kill them all.

"Your Majesty, why does it take two years?" Changsun Wuji suddenly looked up.

Li Chengqian smiled gently and looked at Changsun Wuji, saying, "Uncle, at the end of the year, I will declare myself Heavenly Khan, and at the end of next year, I plan to perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Song."

"The Fengshan ceremony?" The officials in the hall couldn't help but look up.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "I'm just looking for an excuse to delay them in Chang'an. Then, I'll find a place where disaster strikes, and the ministers will report that I lack virtue..."

"Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji couldn't help but interrupt Li Chengqian.

If Li Chengqian were to propose the Fengshan ceremony now, even if it were only at Mount Song, the court officials would feel it was too early and somewhat difficult to accept. However, if they were to say that he lacked virtue, no one would agree with that.

Li Chengqian smiled and shook his head, saying, "It's impossible to hold a Fengshan ceremony at the end of next year. If I'm not mistaken, by then, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla will be at war. At that time, who will care about Fengshan?"

The courtiers immediately understood that the emperor really did not intend to perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Song at the end of next year.

"However, if Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla are all destroyed in the future, I will use this achievement of destroying these countries to request the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Song. I urge all of you to submit your proposals." Li Chengqian smiled and raised his hand. The emperor's Fengshan ceremony was always requested by the officials; it was never the emperor who proposed it himself.

"Yes!" The ministers bowed respectfully. They understood some things; the emperor had now reached a point where he was ready to perform the Fengshan ceremony.

Moreover, he has accumulated enough merit; at most, he only needs to destroy the three kingdoms of the Eastern Island before he can perform the Fengshan ceremony.

……

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "Let's continue with the matter of the Western Turks. I once thought about governing the Western Turks, but the most difficult thing is that the Suyab River is too far from Tingzhou. Even east of the Suyab River, the edge of the five tribes of the left wing of the Western Turks is more than a thousand miles away from Tingzhou."

The distance is too far, which not only means that the supply line will have to be lengthened, but also that Anxi's influence over the Western Turks will be reduced. In fact, if something happens to the Western Turks, Anxi will not be able to react immediately, and by the time they arrive, everything will have been set in stone.

The joy that the emperor had just expressed—that he would establish a military garrison in the Western Turkic Khaganate and dismantle its ruling system—was instantly dissipated in the minds of his ministers.

“Therefore, I have decided to establish the Anxi Protectorate.” Li Chengqian looked up at Changsun Wuji and said, “The area north of Tianshan, including Tingzhou, Kunling, and Mengchi, will be designated as the Tingzhou Protectorate; the area south of Tianshan, including Xizhou, Yanqi, Khotan, Kucha, and Shule, will be designated as the Anxi Protectorate; both the Tingzhou Protectorate and the Anxi Protectorate will be under the jurisdiction of the Anxi Protectorate.”

After conquering Shule, the Tang Dynasty had already reached Shiguo through the Pamir Mountains in Anxi. Including Kunling and Mengchi, the entire Western Turkic territory was vast.

"May I ask Your Majesty, who will be appointed as the Grand Protector of Anxi?" Changsun Wuji stepped forward and respectfully bowed.

All the court officials understood that when Changsun Wuji said this, he was actually agreeing with the emperor's decision.

"I hereby appoint Du Fengju, the governor of Lanzhou, as the Grand Protector of Anxi, Luo Hongyi, the prefect of Xizhou, as the governor of Anxi, and Lai Ji, the prefect of Tingzhou, as the governor of Tingzhou." Li Chengqian smiled at his ministers and said, "In this way, I can also resolve some of the matters of rewarding merits after the war."

With the addition of the Anxi Grand Protector, a whole host of people can be mobilized.

Changsun Wuji, Li Ji, and the others all nodded in agreement.

“The reason I did this is partly because of the Silk Road.” Li Chengqian’s expression relaxed slightly as he continued, “The Silk Road in the Western Regions is also divided into two routes, north and south. The northern route goes through the Western Turks to Tingzhou. The southern Silk Road is now completely under the control of the Tang Dynasty. The northern Silk Road is the key point of the Tang Dynasty’s management.”

The ministers all bowed. What were the Tang Dynasty and the Western Turks fighting to the death in the northwest for? Wasn't it all for the Silk Road?

“The distance from Tingzhou to Suyab is too far. Although there are post stations built, they are ultimately not conducive to governance. Therefore, I have decided to build fortified villages along the northern Silk Road.” Li Chengqian looked up and said seriously, “Issue an imperial edict to appoint Wang Fangyi as the acting commander of the Tingzhou Protectorate and to plan all matters related to the fortified villages.”

When Liu Rengui was in Goguryeo, he built many fortified villages, and Wang Fangyi was actually watching over them.

They were quite familiar with the place.

(End of this chapter)