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

Chapter 675 We, your humble servants, wish to bestow upon Your Majesty the title of Heavenly Khan! (First Update)
On the Imperial Ancestral Temple Square, the ceremony of presenting prisoners of war was gradually coming to an end.

The bells rang loudly.

Li Xiang stood to one side with a puzzled expression.

Dressed in red robes and golden armor, Liang Jianfang kowtowed deeply to the ground, and a faint sobbing could be heard.

On either side of him were more than a dozen military generals who had participated in the battle, including Xue Rengui, Xue Wanbei, Guo Xiaoke, Luo Hongyi, Qibi Heli, and Porun.

Three zhang further back was Ashina Helu, bound to the ground as a sacrifice, his expression complex, along with countless Western Turkic nobles and their families.

Ashina Misha, Ashina Buzhen, and the Western Turkic nobles who had surrendered to them stood further away.

Changsun Wuji, Li Jing, Li Ji, Yu Zhining, and other civil and military officials of the fourth rank or above stood on both sides, calmly watching everything unfold.

The kings and envoys of the various foreign kingdoms, both inside and outside the capital, stood at a greater distance.

Their expressions were complex; the incredibly powerful Western Turks had been destroyed by the even more powerful Tang Dynasty.

The bells stopped ringing, and the ceremony finally came to an end.

Zhang Anan glanced at Li Xiang, who was moving a little slower, and then whispered, "Your Highness, help the Duke of Yanmen."

Li Xiang glanced at Zhang Anan with some surprise, then looked down at Liang Jianfang. He hurriedly helped Liang Jianfang up, and seeing that Liang Jianfang's eyes were completely red, he whispered, "Duke of Yanmen, it's time to see Father Emperor."

"Yes!" Liang Jianfang wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and said in a low voice, "Thank you, Your Highness."

"Let's go." Li Xiang glanced to the side, and Yuchi Baolin, the Crown Prince's Imperial Guard, immediately took the lead and led the way.

The others then solemnly bowed deeply to the Imperial Ancestral Temple before following Li Xiang and the others to Chengtian Gate.

……

On the Chengtian Gate, Li Chengqian calmly looked down at the hundreds of officials and numerous foreign envoys below.

All officials of the ninth rank and above in Chang'an, princes, relatives of the empress, retired officials, students of the Imperial Academy, foreign kings, and envoys are here today.

They all stood respectfully on both sides of the palace road.

Helu, along with a large number of Western Turkic nobles, whether captured or surrendered, were all led to Chengtian Gate.

The Palace Attendant immediately stepped forward and shouted, "Kneel!"

Everyone knelt down on the ground, kowtowed, and shouted, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"

Today is the fifteenth of October, the day of the grand ancestral worship ceremony.

Li Chengqian calmly raised his head and said, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The ministers then bowed, rose, and stood in their respective ranks.

"Summoning Liang Jianfang, Duke of Yanmen, and Ashina Helu, Khan of the Western Turkic Khaganate, to an audience." The Palace Attendants announced loudly according to procedure.

"Yes!" Liang Jianfang and He Lu then cupped their hands in greeting, entered Chengtian Gate, and finally ascended it.

Countless imperial guards, holding swords and spears, stood solemnly atop the city wall.

On either side of the emperor were countless elite guards personally led by General Sun Wukai.

Li Chengqian glanced at He Lu, who looked uneasy, and finally looked calmly at Liang Jianfang, only then noticing that his eyes were already a little red and swollen.

He clearly looked like he had been crying.

Li Chengqian sighed softly and looked at Liang Jianfang, saying, "Didn't you manage to hold back during the sacrificial ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple just now?"

Liang Jianfang bowed slightly, his head bowed, and he choked up as he said, “When we were offering sacrifices to the late emperor, I don’t know why, but I couldn’t help but cry… I have received great kindness from the late emperor and Your Majesty, which is why I have achieved what I have today. I have no way to repay you, so I can only give my life.”

Liang Jianfang was originally a general in the Prince of Qin's mansion. Later, he followed the late emperor and fought bravely in the various battles that led to the founding of the Tang Dynasty. Unfortunately, his combat skills were not very strong.

Even during the reign of the late emperor, he was criticized for his bloodthirstiness and was stationed as the Right General of the Golden Guard for many years.

It wasn't until later, as the founding generals gradually passed away, that he began to emerge.

He actually has no strategic talent.

He has always been either responsible for charging into battle, dealing with the southern barbarians, or implementing the military strategies set by the court.

Either he had talented people like Li Dejian, Pei Xingjian, Su Dingfang, and Wang Fangyi by his side to assist him, which is why he was granted the fief of Xihai and had his achievements inscribed on a stone.

In reality, only those within the family truly understand their own situation. Even if someone else were in Liang Jianfang's position, they could still achieve similar success.

He himself was somewhat unworthy of his position.

It relied more on the emperor's trust and favor.

That's why, during the sacrificial ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Liang Jianfang, a commander-in-chief of the army with an iron will, couldn't help but cry.

“I understand your feelings.” Li Chengqian waved his hand slightly and sighed, “After receiving the news a few months ago, I also went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and cried my eyes out. That’s why I didn’t go this time and sent the Crown Prince in my place. I know that I would also lose control in front of Father Emperor.”

"Yes!" Liang Jianfang nodded vigorously.

Li Chengqian looked at Helu, his expression turning cold, and asked, "And you, my Left General of the Valiant Guard and Commander of Yaochi, what were you thinking when you faced the late Emperor?"

He Lu knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "I was a defeated captive, but I was treated with great kindness by the late emperor. However, I am ashamed to have failed him. Now that Your Majesty has punished me, I have nothing to say. I have heard that under the Tang law, those who are executed must be executed in the marketplace. I only beg Your Majesty to grant me death before Zhaoling Mausoleum, so that I may atone for my past sins before the spirit of the late emperor."

As he spoke, He Lu couldn't help but sob.

"If only you had known this would happen, you wouldn't have done it in the first place!" Li Chengqian sighed softly, then slowly walked forward to the parapet, looked down at the countless ministers below, and said slowly, "Since you have made this request today, then so be it. I will use your head to warn the world."

He Lu suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with horror.

"Guards!" Li Chengqian suddenly shouted coldly!
"Your Majesty!" General Li Xuansi of the Imperial Guard stepped forward and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Escort him to Zhaoling and execute him in a public ceremony." Li Chengqian waved his right hand lightly. "Yes, sir!" Li Xuansi turned around and waved his hand. Two heavily armored imperial guards stepped forward, grabbed Ashina Helu, and strode down the city gate tower to escort him to Zhaoling.

Beneath the city gate, all the Western Turkic nobles couldn't help but bow their heads, and many even trembled slightly uncontrollably.

Ashina Helu, the Shabolo Khan of the Western Turkic Khaganate, ruled over ten tribes including the Dulu Wuchuo and Nushibi Wusijin, and led an army of hundreds of thousands.

He rebelled against the Tang Dynasty and was killed instantly.

This is what happens.

……

The kings and envoys of all the foreign tribes, both inside and outside the capital, bowed their heads deeply, but their breathing remained heavy.

However, without them noticing, the surroundings suddenly became quiet.

The eerie silence made everyone afraid to move, and even their breathing became much lighter for a moment.

However, after a long time, no sound came.

People wanted to look up at the emperor standing on the city gate tower, but they didn't know, and no one dared to look.

They felt an invisible pressure pressing down on them, making their hearts feel incredibly heavy.

Just when everyone was about to reach their breaking point, the emperor finally spoke: "Since the Zhenguan era, the Western Turks have had eight great khans: the Yabghu Khan, the Yipi Boluoshi Khan, the Dulu Khan, the Shabolo Dilishi Khan, the Yipi Dulu Khan, the Yipi Shabolo Khan, the Yipi Shekui Khan, and the Shabolo Khan Helu."

The people from the various Western Turkic tribes couldn't help but look up, their expressions solemn.

Over the years, the Western Turkic Khaganate has only had these eight Great Khans; those who existed for only a few months or even a few days during the wars and battles are not included.

"Over the years, you have fought back and forth, and countless of your people have died in the wars, but all of that is in the past." Li Chengqian looked coldly at each of the Western Turkic nobles and said in a cold voice, "From now on, the land of the Western Turks will be incorporated into the territory of the Tang Dynasty. Everything will be governed by Tang law, there will be no more fighting and bloodshed, and there will be peace both inside and outside the country."

Following the Tang Dynasty law, the Western Turkic Khaganate was destroyed.

Although this was already a fact, many Western Turkic nobles still harbored some inexplicable fantasies and expectations.

But today, the Tang emperor, before his ministers and countless foreign kings and envoys, has declared that the Western Turkic Khaganate will never return.

"The Earl of Pingrang County!" The emperor's cold voice came from above.

Ashina Misha immediately stepped forward, knelt three times and kowtowed nine times, holding the seal of the Western Turkic king and the register of people and households, and bowed his head and said: "Your subject is the Left Guard General, Protector of Kunling, and Khan Xingxiwang, who has brought the five tribes of Dulu under the jurisdiction of the Great Tang. I wish to be a subject of the Great Tang forever, abide by the Tang law, and humbly pray for Your Majesty's long life!"

A series of noble elders from the five tribes of Dulu stepped forward, then knelt three times and kowtowed nine times, saying: "Your subjects wish to submit to the Great Tang, to be subjects of the Great Tang forever, to abide by the Tang laws, and to pray that Your Majesty may live a long and prosperous life!"

Zhang Anan quickly walked down the city gate, then took the royal seal and the register of people and households from Ashina Misha's hands, and then quickly walked up the city gate to present them to the emperor.

Li Chengqian glanced at it indifferently, then looked down at the city walls: "Protector of Mengchi!"

Ashina Buzhen followed closely and immediately stepped forward, also holding the seal and the register of people and households, and kowtowed, saying: "Your subject, the Right Guard General, Protector-General of Mengchi, and successor to the Khan of the past, has submitted to the Great Tang Dynasty, and wishes to be a subject of the Great Tang forever, to abide by the Tang laws, and to humbly pray for Your Majesty's long life!"

All the nobles of the five tribes of Nushibi also stepped forward, knelt three times and kowtowed nine times, saying: "Your subjects wish to submit to the Great Tang, to be subjects of the Great Tang forever, to abide by the Tang laws, and to pray that Your Majesty may live a long and prosperous life!"

Zhang Anan descended the city gate tower again, took the seal and the register of people and households, and presented them to the emperor.

Li Chengqian glanced at it calmly, then nodded and said, "Good!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" All the Western Turkic nobles bowed deeply.

Li Chengqian raised his hand indifferently and said, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and stood up.

Just now, if anyone had dared not kneel down, someone might have immediately lifted them up and sent them to reunite with He Lu.

Li Chengqian continued, "Issue the imperial decree to grant Ashina Misha Kunling County Duke, with a fief of 500 households; and to grant Ashina Buzhen Xihai County Duke, with a fief of 300 households."

Ashina Misha and Ashina Buzhen knelt down again and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, we thank you for your great kindness. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years."

Li Chengqian nodded lightly and said, "From today onwards, you two will each lead the five tribes of Dulu and the five tribes of Nushibi. You must not wage war against each other without authorization. Stability is the priority."

Ashina Misha and Ashina Buzhen bowed simultaneously: "Your Majesty, we respectfully receive Your Majesty's instructions. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years."

All the Turkic nobles on both sides kowtowed in unison and said, "Your Majesty, we respectfully accept your holy instructions. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years."

"Rise," Li Chengqian nodded calmly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The Western Turkic nobles on both sides then stood up and stood on either side.

At this moment, everyone realized that Ashina Misha and Ashina Buzhen were still kneeling on the ground.

In an instant, everyone understood that the most crucial moment had arrived.

Ashina Misha and Ashina Buzhen simultaneously took out a memorial from their sleeves, raised their hands, and said earnestly, "Your Majesty's benevolence extends far and wide, benefiting all people. All nations submit to Your Majesty, and all countries pay homage. We, your subjects, wish to bestow upon Your Majesty the honorific title: Heavenly Khan!"

I respectfully submit this memorial, and humbly request Your Majesty's permission!

Beneath the Chengtian Gate, all the civil and military officials, princes from the court and the countryside, and foreign tribes from both inside and outside the capital knelt down, holding their memorials and saying in unison, "Your Majesty, we wish to bestow upon you the honorific title: Heavenly Khan!"

In an instant, everyone in the entire palace, including the guards at the city gates, the clerks of the three provinces and six ministries, and the concubines, palace maids, and eunuchs of the inner court, all knelt down and kowtowed earnestly, saying, "Your Majesty, we wish to bestow upon you the honorific title: Heavenly Khan!"

In an instant, everyone in the entire city of Chang'an knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "We respectfully acknowledge Your Majesty as the Heavenly Khan!"

"Heavenly Khan!" "Heavenly Khan!" "Heavenly Khan!"

The thunderous sound echoed throughout the entire world, even reaching the heavens.

You may ask Heaven.

(End of this chapter)