Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 313 The Turkic Khaganate Splits, the Time Is Not Yet Ripe

The most crucial part of the parchment, and the one that caused their expressions to change drastically, was the last two lines of text:
'Jieli heavily relied on Zhao Deyan, causing more than ten tribes, including the Xueyantuo, Uyghurs, Bayegu, Adie, Tongluo, Pugu, and Xi, to rebel against him.'

In early December, Jieli ordered Tuli to launch a campaign, but they were forced to return empty-handed due to heavy snow.

No wonder Huang Chun and Su Dingfang lost their composure.

Such a violent split suddenly occurred within the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

As if overnight, the once mighty Khanate that dominated the northern frontier suddenly cracked open with a bottomless fissure.

Xu Jingzong's gaze fell on the latter half of the parchment, and he slowly asked, "Is it because of wool?"

Everyone followed his gaze and saw that it was written prominently on the back:

Zhao Deyan imposed harsh taxes, levying a 50% tax on all goods sold to the Tang Dynasty. All wool within the Turkic territory had to be traded through official trading posts; otherwise, it was strictly prohibited from being transported to the Tang Dynasty.

"Has Zhao Deyan seen the potential profits in the wool?"

Xu Jingzong's tone carried a hint of understanding.

After all, he was a civil official by training, and his sensitivity to the pros and cons of wealth was more acute than that of Su Dingfang and Huang Chun.

He then explained Zhao Deyan's background to everyone: "This man was originally a Han Chinese. During the war in the Central Plains, he abandoned his homeland and went north to join the Turks. He was regarded as a confidant by the Khan Jieli and entrusted with important responsibilities."

"In a way, his position is somewhat similar to that of Zhongxing Yue, who defected to the Xiongnu during the Han Dynasty. However, in terms of ability and methods, he is worlds apart from Zhongxing Yue."

Xu Jingzong paused, his tone now tinged with disdain: "This man is extremely greedy by nature. Relying on Jieli's favor, he has been abusing his power in the Turkic territory. He has not only forced the tribes to change their old customs and habits, but also imposed many cumbersome and harsh decrees, which have long caused resentment among the Turkic tribes."

He added, "This winter, we have encountered a once-in-a-century heavy snowfall, with snow several feet deep. Most of the livestock on the grasslands have frozen to death. Coupled with years of famine, the Turkic people have long been suffering from hunger and cold."

"Jieli's treasury must be empty, and he can't afford to provide relief. So Zhao Deyan took the opportunity to suggest that heavy taxes be levied on the various tribes, which caused a complete uproar within the Turkic Khaganate."

"As a result, discontent arose within the Turkic Khaganate, and various tribes rebelled one after another, causing the Turkic military strength to gradually weaken."

Old Xu will surely become a prime minister someday.

It is truly remarkable that one can discern these insights by combining the contents of the parchment.

Wen He stroked her chin, pondering to herself.

The betrayal of the Xueyantuo and Uyghur tribes by Jieli was actually within his expectations.

Historically, these tribes were already alienated from Jieli's camp, but the rebellion occurred much earlier than recorded in historical documents.

He could roughly guess the reason behind this.

In the original historical trajectory, the Tang Dynasty did not decisively defeat the Turks in the Battle of Huizhou. Instead, after the Wei River Alliance, it adopted a strategy of dividing and winning over the Turks, which gradually disintegrated their power.

However, in the current timeline, in the Battle of Huizhou, Jieli's troops suffered a crushing defeat, losing countless supplies and provisions along the way, and their strength was severely depleted.

Unfortunately, this year the Turkic people were hit by this devastating snowstorm, coupled with Zhao Deyan's "shady dealings" in the wool trade.

Upon closer examination, the premature split of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate was not entirely without warning.

"So, the wool trade turned out to be the last straw that broke the camel's back?" Huang Chun clicked his tongue, his face full of disbelief.

He never imagined that those seemingly worthless wools could cause such a huge change in the Turkic people.

He couldn't help but glance at Wen He.

Could it be that this young man had already thought of this?

Su Dingfang had no time to ponder these things. He clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, and his eyes shone with an astonishing light.

"Such a great change has occurred in the Eastern Turkic Khaganate! This is a golden opportunity! We should report this to His Majesty immediately!"

His voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

In the previous battle at Huizhou, he was about to capture Jieli alive, but the Turkic Khan escaped in the chaos, which has always been his biggest regret.

These days, all he thinks about is wiping away his shame.

"If His Majesty decides to conquer the Turks with this opportunity, I will never allow Jieli to escape again!"

Su Dingfang said with a firm gaze.

"When the time comes, I will volunteer to be the vanguard, storm Jieli's camp, capture him and bring him back to Chang'an to perform a dance for Your Majesty."

Huang Chun nodded in agreement: "What Su Zhonglang said is right. This matter is of great importance and cannot be delayed. We must go to the palace immediately to report to His Majesty and ask His Majesty to decide on the next steps."

Wen He tapped her fingers lightly on the table, the fingertips making a rhythmic sound as they struck the wooden table, but she was not as optimistic as Su Dingfang and the others.

"Even so, those rebellious tribes may not be willing to submit to the Tang Dynasty."

He looked up at the three of them, his tone grave.

"Especially the Xueyantuo, whose leader Yinan has always been ambitious. If they take advantage of Jieli's weakness to grow stronger, they may become a new threat in the future. We must be wary of them."

Upon hearing this, Su Dingfang, Xu Jingzong, and Huang Chun were all stunned, and the excitement on their faces gradually faded.

"Who is this 'Yi Nan'?"

Su Dingfang was the first to ask a question. Although he was a military general, he did not know much about the tribal chiefs deep in the grasslands.

Of the three, one was a newly promoted lieutenant general, whose focus was mainly on battlefield clashes.

He was knowledgeable in government affairs, but he was only familiar with the people and things around the Turkic leader Jieli.

Huang Chun, needless to say, had spent a long time in the palace and had never participated in border military affairs before.

Therefore, no one knows that the Xueyantuo, which now numbers only about 70,000 households, is led by a man named Yinan. Even fewer know that after the fall of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate...

This barbarian only needed a year to become the new overlord of the grasslands with the support of the Tang Dynasty and his own skill.

For the next ten years or so, the relationship between China and the Tang Dynasty was marked by alternating periods of conflict and peace, causing Li Shimin considerable headaches.

"An ambitious person."

Wen He replied casually.

After all, Yi Nan is not a big shot these days, and too much explanation would only make Xu Jingzong and the others suspicious.

"So, could the Tang Dynasty take this opportunity to send troops?"

Su Dingfang stared intently at Wen He, his fighting spirit almost overflowing, and even his voice carried a hint of urgency.

Wen He didn't want to dampen his spirits, so she vaguely replied, "That depends on His Majesty's decision."

As for Li Shimin's thoughts, he had already guessed them roughly.

At present, the Tang Dynasty cannot afford to launch a large-scale northern expedition.

However, this was too direct, and he couldn't say it too obviously.

Upon hearing this, Su Dingfang was stunned for a moment, the light on his face gradually dimmed, and finally he sighed helplessly, slowly loosening his clenched fist.

Wen He stood up, carefully folded the parchment on the table and put it away: "I'm going to the palace, and then I'll go to the Ministry of War to report for duty."

He was about to take his leave when he said that. Xu Jingzong and Huang Chun nodded slightly in agreement, but Su Dingfang was still standing there in a daze, staring blankly at the wind and snow outside the tent.

Soon after, Wen He arrived at the Lizheng Hall, only to be told that Li Shimin was still resting because he had drunk too much with Li Jing.

He waited patiently in the side hall until the afternoon, when Li Shimin finally sobered up and came to the front of the hall, still somewhat tired from his hangover.

When Li Shimin saw the intelligence report presented by Wen He, he sighed solemnly and casually put the report into his sleeve: "It's not the right time yet."

He looked up at Wen He and saw the unwilling look on the young man's face. He couldn't help but laugh and said, "You brat, where did you get your warlike heart? Go home and wait for me. When the time is right, you will have your chance to go to war."

"Yes."

Wen He lowered her head and replied, deliberately pretending to be unwilling, her shoulders even slumping.

Li Shimin was amused by his appearance and laughed out loud. Looking at his back, he chuckled and said, "He does have a bit of a childlike heart."

It wasn't that he didn't want to fight, but he had only recently ascended the throne and the situation in the court was not yet completely stable.

Neither military equipment nor food supplies can withstand a protracted war.

He did not want to repeat the mistakes of Yang Guang, who exhausted the nation's strength in order to expand the territory.

Li Shimin originally thought that Wen He would be depressed for a few days after being rejected, but little did he know that after leaving the palace and going to the Ministry of War for her routine roll call, Wen He went straight back to her residence to catch up on sleep.

The snow has just stopped today, and the weather is perfect. Wouldn't it be a waste not to take a nap?
Sunset and moonrise, until dawn.

The crowing of roosters and the barking of dogs mark the passing of another day.

Before dawn, Li Daozong personally came to pick up Wen He.

Fortunately, Wen He went to bed early yesterday and got up and changed into his official clothes before A Dong could call him.

When they arrived at the front courtyard, Li Daozong was leading several officials from the Court of State Ceremonial, the leader of whom was a middle-aged man dressed in a green robe.

"You got up early today."

Li Daozong raised an eyebrow in surprise when he saw Wen He standing under the corridor looking radiant.

"I thought I would have to wait another half an hour."

"For the sake of those five acres of land you promised, I have to do my job well today, don't I?"

Wen He curled the corners of her lips, then changed the subject, speaking with a hint of disdain.

"But isn't it too much of a show of respect to the Japanese by going to the city gates to greet them so early?"

"In matters of diplomatic relations, all countries, regardless of size, should be treated equally."

The speaker was not Li Daozong, but the green-robed official beside him.

This green official robe was the signature color of the official robes of officials from the fifth rank (upper grade) to the seventh rank (lower grade) in the Tang Dynasty.

When the man saw Wen He looking at him, he immediately bowed and greeted her with a gentle smile: "Fang You, courtesy name Zixun, is the interpreter of the Sifang Pavilion."

"So it's you, Fang Sheren. Greetings." Wen Heyi returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

The Sifangguan Tongshi Sheren was a fifth-rank official, nine ranks higher than his current highest official rank.

Regardless of her noble title, if we only consider her official rank, he should have opened the main gate to welcome her according to custom. The way he greeted her now was already a great show of respect to Wen He.

"Alright, alright, stop with all the bowing and praying."

Li Daozong waved his hand impatiently and gave Wen He a mysterious smile.

"Little one, I have prepared a surprise for you today."

Seeing his mysterious demeanor, Wen He's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Will this surprise turn into a shock?

(End of this chapter)