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

Chapter 404 He Must Be Better Than the Historical Li Shimin
The snow outside the Honglu Temple was ankle-deep, and the biting wind whipped up snowflakes that stung my face like knives.

As dawn broke, the servant guarding the gate was still yawning, rubbing his sleepy eyes, and slowly went to open the gate.

The door hinges creaked open, and two dark figures suddenly appeared before him. The servant was so startled that he almost dropped the latch in his hand and blurted out.

"Oh my god, there's a ghost!"

The two people outside the door were also startled by the shout and rattled off a string of words that the servant couldn't understand at all.

After both of them calmed down, they could see each other clearly in the morning light.

The two men, dressed in foreign attire, were the envoys from Goguryeo and Silla who had arrived a few days earlier. The servant breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest: "So it was the two envoys. You gave me quite a fright."

Although he recognized the people, he didn't dare to let them pass without permission, and quickly said, "Wait a minute!"

Regardless of whether the two understood or not, they turned and ran into the temple to report to their superior.

The Goguryeo and Silla envoys stood in the cold wind, rubbing their hands and stamping their feet, but dared not utter a single complaint.

They discussed until midnight last night and finally decided to agree to the Tang Dynasty's conditions. Now they just want to sign the alliance as soon as possible and get the weapons, so they dare not delay any longer.

Not long after, the servant arrived in a hurry, leading an interpreter.

The interpreter approached and inquired, only to learn that the two had come to agree on the terms of the alliance and wanted to sign the contract as soon as possible.

"You want to see Minister Tang? But it's not time for you to go to the yamen yet; you're a full hour too early."

The servant was astonished.

It's barely dawn!

"It's alright, it's alright, we can wait, we can wait as long as it takes."

The Silla envoy hurriedly replied through an interpreter, his tone somewhat obsequious, fearing that the Tang Dynasty might change its mind.

Seeing their respectful attitude, the servant dared not neglect them and led them to wait in the main hall. He then hurried to the backyard to report to Tang Jian's personal attendant.

An hour later, when it was already broad daylight, Tang Jian, dressed in a scarlet official robe, slowly walked into the Court of State Ceremonial.

As soon as he arrived at the entrance of the main hall, he saw that the envoys from Goguryeo and Silla were already waiting outside. As soon as they saw him, they quickly stepped forward, their faces beaming with smiles, and greeted him through the interpreter.

Tang Jian exchanged a few pleasantries with them with a smile, and after everyone was seated, he got straight to the point, holding his teacup and asking.

"You two envoys have arrived so early today, are you perhaps returning to your homeland?"

"No, no, no, Minister Tang has misunderstood."

The Silla envoy quickly waved his hand, his tone urgent.

"We are willing to accept the conditions previously proposed by the Great Tang, exchanging cities and minerals for military equipment! However... however, could the price of these military equipment be reduced further? Silla is truly impoverished, and we hope the Great Tang will be lenient."

The Goguryeo envoy beside him nodded quickly and echoed, "We hope that Minister Tang will be lenient. Goguryeo is also willing to show its sincerity, but we hope that the Tang Dynasty will be more understanding regarding the price."

Tang Jian put down his teacup, shook his head with feigned helplessness, and said with a hint of apology, "You two envoys are unaware that this price and condition are not something I can decide, but rather it was proposed by the magistrate of Gaoyang County, and His Majesty has already approved it."

He paused, then emphasized his words: “Don’t underestimate Gao Yang County’s son just because he is young. He is deeply trusted by His Majesty, so there is absolutely no room for negotiation on this matter. If I were to change anything without authorization, it would be disobeying the imperial decree, and I cannot bear the consequences.”

These words, though seemingly polite, were in fact a clear and unequivocal rejection.

These words were like a thorn, causing even more pain to the two envoys.

As expected, it's Wen He again!

They had long heard that the Tang Dynasty's change in attitude toward Liaodong was entirely due to this young man's suggestion, and now it seemed that the rumors were true.

The two of them hated Wen He with a passion, but they could only suppress their anger and flatter her with smiles.

"Yes, yes, we were presumptuous. Minister Tang has gone to great lengths. The magistrate of Gaoyang has a profound understanding, while we are merely ignorant."

"You two need not stand on ceremony."

Tang Jian waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the two of them, his tone urging them on.

"If you agree to the terms, we can sign the alliance today. The Court of State Ceremonial will coordinate with the Ministry of War as soon as possible regarding the subsequent handover of military equipment. What do you say?"

The envoys from Goguryeo and Silla exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes, but still nodded.

Now that things have come to this, they have no choice but to agree.

Although the two looked helpless, there was a hint of smugness hidden in their eyes.

For now, let's exchange cities for weapons. Once we defeat Japan and Baekje, we can simply deny everything later!
They are not afraid if the Tang Dynasty dares to send troops to demand the city.

Back then, the Sui Dynasty's hundreds of thousands of troops failed to conquer Goguryeo. Now that the Tang Dynasty has only recently achieved stability, how could it possibly be stronger than the Sui Dynasty?
Tang Jian took in the changes in their expressions but didn't point it out. He immediately had someone bring over the pre-prepared alliance document.

After both parties verified that everything was correct, the envoys signed their names and affixed their seals.

However, this was only a preliminary agreement, and it would only be considered truly effective after Li Shimin signed and affixed his seal.

After seeing the envoy off, the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial walked anxiously to Tang Jian's side.

"Minister, these two envoys agreed far too readily. I fear there may be a trap. What should we do if they renege on their promises later?"

Tang Jian chuckled lightly, his tone brimming with certainty: "If they go back on their word, that would be perfect. It would give the Tang Dynasty a reason to send troops, allowing us to reclaim the cities and intimidate Liaodong. Why not?"

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, this is a calculated move by Goyang County. Once they get the weapons, they will definitely fight even more fiercely with Japan and Baekje. Goguryeo will never sit idly by and watch Japan occupy Silla. Otherwise, Goguryeo will be attacked from two sides. Silla also has a blood feud with Japan. Once the two sides have each other's support, they will fight to the death."

Shaoqing suddenly realized: "Does the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices mean that they should wear each other down, while the Tang Dynasty reaps the benefits?"

"Exactly."

Tang Jian nodded, his gaze fixed on the snow scene outside the window.

"The more intense their fighting, the more their strength is depleted, the better it will be for the Tang Dynasty. In the future, the situation in Liaodong will be firmly in our hands."

"Moreover, only when Liaodong is in chaos can the Tang Dynasty focus all its efforts on dealing with the threat from the north."

Shaoqing suddenly realized and admired him greatly.

'That young boy from Gaoyang County, at such a young age, already possesses such profound wisdom and foresight.'

"Alright, send someone to keep an eye on Goguryeo and Silla. Also, go and ask the Hundred Cavalry about the surrender of the Qibi tribe."

Tang Jian glanced at him and said indifferently.

When the topic of the Qibi tribe came up, the young minister suddenly remembered something and said it to Tang Jian.

"Reporting to the Minister of the Court, the Hundred Cavalrymen came yesterday, saying that the Magistrate of Gaoyang County sent several Hundred Cavalrymen with His Majesty's edict and a large amount of supplies to Lingzhou."

"what?"

Tang Jian was immediately taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise.

You, Wen Jiaying, are something else!

They actually bypassed the Court of State Ceremonial!

"Prepare the carriage, I'm going to the palace!" He gritted his teeth in anger.

The surrender of the Qibi tribe, even if not due to the Honglu Temple's merit, will at least boost his political achievements this year.

Unexpectedly, the Hundred Riders beat them to it.

You, a hundred rider, as His Majesty's personal guard, why are you going to Lingzhou instead of properly guarding Chang'an?
Tang Jian stormed into the palace.

But soon after, he left the palace with a long face.

Li Shimin only said one sentence to him.

"Half a month ago, the Hundred Riders went to the Qibi tribe to negotiate with Qibi Heli and his mother. Is the Court of State Ceremonial trying to steal the credit from the Hundred Riders?"

Since His Majesty has said so, how could Tang Jian dare to say anything more?

After handing over the alliance treaty between Goguryeo and Silla, he left the palace in a sorry state.

……

In the winter of Lingzhou, the cold wind whipped up heavy snow, enveloping the entire city in a white, chaotic expanse.

On the city wall, the snow was already ankle-deep. The soldiers guarding the city huddled around a makeshift brazier, rubbing their frozen hands, their breath instantly dissipating in the cold wind.

"This damn weather is getting colder and colder!"

A young soldier hunched his shoulders and moved closer to the brazier, his voice full of complaints.

His armor was covered in snow and frozen stiff, making a "creaking" sound with the slightest movement.

"you do not say!"

Another soldier sighed as well, his breath condensing into frost on his lips.

"This summer was so hot it was scorching, and this winter it's been freezing. Last night's heavy snowfall has caused several houses in the city to collapse, and I don't know how many people will suffer from the cold."

A veteran in his early thirties, his face etched with the marks of time, sat to the side. Hearing this, he glanced at the two of them and snorted, "You two should be grateful! It's cold this year, but at least you have wool sweaters under your armor, which keeps you warm. In previous years, people would have frozen to death by now."

Upon hearing this, the young soldiers instinctively touched the wool sweaters inside their armor.

"To be honest, my wife is not very skilled at knitting; the sweaters she makes are always crooked."

One of the soldiers deliberately looked into the distance, his tone mocking.

"I saw Zhang Erlang's shirt; it has embroidered flowers on it, all pink and delicate. Could it have been embroidered by his wife?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Erlang, a young soldier who was wiping the crossbow, turned red instantly. He almost dropped the cloth in his hand and lowered his head awkwardly, saying, "Don't talk nonsense. It's just... it's just that my wife was bored and embroidered it casually."

"Just embroidered casually?"

The soldiers who had been teasing him earlier immediately perked up and came over to make more jokes.

“I remember just a few days ago you were bragging to us that your wife sewed you a purse with angelica root inside, saying she was worried you’d catch a cold at the border. Now, she’s even embroidering flowers on your sweater. Is she afraid you’ll forget how warm it is at home?”

Zhang Erlang's face turned even redder, and he hurriedly tried to explain, "That's because my wife feels sorry for me! What do you know!"

A burst of laughter erupted from the city wall, and even the old soldier standing nearby couldn't help but smirk.

Although the cold wind was biting, these few jokes added a touch of warmth to the dull time spent guarding the city.

"Speaking of which, we owe this wool sweater, and the fact that we can have enough to eat, to Gaoyang County."

The veteran suddenly sighed, his voice filled with gratitude.

"If he hadn't uncovered the embezzlement of military pay last year, we border troops probably wouldn't have been able to afford horse feed, let alone warm sweaters."

Everyone nodded.

"I heard that Gao Yangxianzi is only eleven years old this year, and will be twelve after New Year's Day."

One of the soldiers asked curiously, his eyes full of admiration.

"So young and already so talented, I wonder if she's married?"

The soldiers beside him immediately teased, "What, you still want to marry your daughter to the magistrate of Gaoyang County? I've heard that the magistrate is not only highly talented and learned, but also handsome. He's bound to marry a princess someday. Your girl isn't even qualified to be his maid, let alone his wife!"

Hey! You old bastard Wu, why do you have such a foul mouth!

The former immediately became anxious, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to fight when Wu Laoba quickly laughed and hid behind the veteran. The two then started arguing.

"What's the fuss about?"

A cold shout suddenly rang out, and the city wall fell silent instantly.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Captain Li Chong and Deputy General Wang Wei walking over. Their armor was polished to a shine, but it was also covered with a lot of snow, obviously because they had just finished inspecting other areas.

Li Chong glanced at everyone, said nothing more, turned around, picked up the telescope hanging on the battlements, and looked towards the snowfield outside the city.

Frost quickly formed on his glasses. He breathed on them, wiped them with his sleeve, and his brows gradually furrowed.

"Captain, with such a heavy snowstorm, there isn't even a bird outside the city. Who would come?"

Wang Wei stepped forward and smiled easily.

"We have already taken over the Hetao region, and we have large armies stationed in Xiazhou, Shuozhou, and Shengzhou to deter the Eastern Turks. They wouldn't dare to cause trouble in Lingzhou even if they had ten times the courage."

But Li Chong shook his head, his tone grave: "Those few Turkic scouts from a few days ago still haven't been caught, and I can't help but feel uneasy."

"Moreover, a hundred riders came from Chang'an a couple of days ago. Although they didn't say anything specific, judging from their expressions, something must have happened on the Turkic side. We are guarding Lingzhou, so we can't let our guard down."

Upon hearing this, Wang Wei also stopped smiling. He knew Li Chong's nature; he was always cautious. If he said that, he must have his reasons.

The two stood by the battlements, looking out of the city. The wind and snow were so thick that their vision could only extend for a few miles before all that was a blurry white expanse.

Just as Li Chong put down his binoculars and was about to instruct his soldiers to strengthen their vigilance, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a dark spot in the distance out of the corner of his eye.

That was a watchtower on the outskirts of Lingzhou, usually used to monitor enemy activity, but now a wisp of black smoke was rising from it!
He suddenly raised his binoculars, and the sight inside made his expression change drastically.

The smoke from the watchtower was billowing into the sky, starkly bright against the white snow! It was a warning signal of an enemy attack!
"Warning! Warning now!" Li Chong roared, his voice hoarse with urgency. He grabbed Wang Wei's arm, his voice trembling slightly.

"It's a signal fire! Enemy attack! Quickly report to Magistrate Sun!"

Wang Wei's expression changed instantly, and without any hesitation, he turned around and roared at the messenger behind him.

"Send the order! Sound the drums! Inform the entire city to be on high alert! Have all soldiers assemble immediately and prepare to meet the enemy!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The rapid sound of war drums instantly rang out in Lingzhou City, breaking the winter silence.

On the city wall, the soldiers who had been gathered around the brazier suddenly tensed up, grabbed their weapons, and ran to their respective posts.

The sound of war drums suddenly rang out in Lingzhou City, breaking the silence of the snowy day.

Inside the governor's mansion, Sun Guicuo, the governor of Lingzhou, dressed in a scarlet official robe, was warming himself by the charcoal fire when he heard the drumbeat. He panicked instantly, stood up abruptly, his jade belt at his waist askew, and hurried towards the courtyard outside, shouting.

"What happened? Why were they suddenly sounding the alarm?"

The guards at the gate scrambled over, their faces pale: "Reporting to the lord, there's an alarm coming from the city wall! Smoke is rising from the watchtower, and judging from the direction, it looks... it looks like the Turks are coming!"

"Turks?"

Sun Guicuo stared at the swirling snowflakes outside, her face full of astonishment.

"This insane weather! The snow is so heavy you can't even see the road. Have they gone mad? How dare they brave this blizzard to attack Lingzhou?"

Although he was full of doubts, he knew that this was not the time to dwell on them.

There are only three thousand garrison troops in Lingzhou City. If the Turks really launch a large-scale invasion, this small force will not be able to stop them at all.

Without a moment's hesitation, Sun Guizu immediately ordered his personal guards: "Quickly! Pass on my orders! Deploy all the hand grenades and crossbows from the armory and transport them all to the city walls! Also, have the guards at the four gates immediately close the city gates. No one is allowed to enter or leave without my order. Anyone who disobeys will be treated as a traitor!"

"Yes!" The guard accepted the order and turned to rush out.

Before he could run two steps, a minor official rushed up through the wind and snow, his hair disheveled, panting heavily. "My lord! My lord! Commandant Chen Dahai, a centurion, requests an audience. He says he has urgent business and cannot wait a moment longer!"

"A hundred riders?" Sun Guicuo's brows furrowed instantly.

Three days ago, a troop of a hundred riders suddenly arrived in Lingzhou, claiming to be acting on His Majesty's secret orders, but refusing to reveal any details of their mission.

The Hundred Riders are His Majesty's personal guards, wielding immense power, even able to supervise local officials. Sun Guicuo usually avoids them, so why are they coming to his door at this critical juncture? Could it be related to the Turkic attack?

He pondered for a moment, then said to his personal guard, "Go and give the order to the garrison on the city wall to strengthen their defenses. I'll go see Commandant Chen first."

Then he turned to the clerk and said.

"Quickly invite Captain Chen to the main hall and prepare a cup of hot wine for them to warm up."

Before long, Chen Dahai led Fan Biao, Qi Song, and several other 100 knights into the main hall. Their black armor was covered in snow, but they still stood tall and straight. They bowed and saluted upon entering, their voices booming.

"Chen Dahai, the commander, greets the magistrate!"

Sun Guicuo quickly raised his hand: "Captain Chen, there's no need for such formalities. Please stand up and speak."

He looked at their faces, red from the cold, and asked them directly.

"Now that the city is under a signal of smoke, it seems the Turks are coming. You must have come to see me about this matter, right?"

This was just his guess, but to his surprise, Chen Dahai shook his head and replied with a cupped hand.

"Your Excellency is right. The enemy has indeed come for matters outside the city, but not to defend against the Turks. They want to borrow troops from you."

"Borrowing troops?"

Sun Guicuo was taken aback and stood up abruptly, causing the teacups on the table to tremble.

"What do you need troops for? Are you planning to voluntarily leave the city to meet the enemy? We don't even know how many Turks have come!"

Chen Dahai didn't rush to explain. Instead, he took out a tightly sealed envelope from his pocket and raised it high with both hands.

"My lord, do not be anxious. This is His Majesty's edict. You will understand the reason once you read it."

"His Majesty's edict?" Sun Guicuo's pupils shrank, and he quickly stepped forward to take it.

He looked at the gilded imperial seal on the envelope, his hands trembling slightly, and carefully peeled off the sealing wax, pulling out the letter inside and quickly glancing at it.

The more he looked, the more shocked Sun Guicuo became. Finally, he couldn't help but exclaim, "The entire Qibi tribe has surrendered?!"

It was written very clearly in the letter.

Qibi Heli, the leader of the Qibi tribe of the Turks, was discovered by Khan Jieli for his desire to submit to the Tang Dynasty and was pursued by Turkic cavalry. He is now leading more than a thousand of his people to flee to Lingzhou.

His Majesty ordered a hundred cavalry to meet them here, and at the same time ordered the governor of Lingzhou to cooperate by sending troops to assist in protecting the Qibi tribe and ensuring their safe entry into the city.

Sun Guicuo then suddenly realized what was going on.

No wonder the Turks appeared despite the heavy snow; they weren't there to attack the city, but rather surrendered Qibi tribesmen. And the smoke signals were most likely a misunderstanding.

The hundred cavalrymen arrived in Lingzhou three days ago, apparently to meet up with the surrendered troops!
Most of his doubts subsided, but new concerns arose, so he asked Chen Dahai.

"Since this is to meet the Qibi tribe, should we send someone to escort Chief Qibi Heli to Chang'an? If so, I can arrange guards immediately to ensure his safety along the way."

"There's no need to trouble you, Your Excellency."

Chen Dahai cupped his hands in reply.

"Escorting the Qibi chieftain to Chang'an was originally the task of Biao Xiaren this time. The magistrate of Gaoyang County specifically instructed that he must personally meet and escort him, and that there must be no mistakes."

He was respectful in words, but he was also puzzled in his heart.

Before setting off, Wen He repeatedly emphasized that Qibi Heli was a rare military talent, loyal to the Tang Dynasty, and that his safety must be ensured.

Why would a Turkic tribal leader be so highly regarded by the magistrate of Gaoyang County?

He couldn't figure it out.

However, since this is the young master's order, it must be carried out unconditionally.

Upon hearing this, Sun Guicuo was completely relieved.

With a hundred riders personally escorting him, it saved him trouble and relieved him of responsibility, which was perfect.

However, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Rumor has it that the son of Gaoyang County is not even old enough to dance with a spoon, yet he has such a scheme."

'If the Qibi tribe successfully surrenders, it will inevitably create discord between other tribes within the Turkic Khaganate and Jieli.'

'If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely meet this young man from Gaoyang County. He's eleven years old! I think Third Sister turned eleven this year after New Year's Day too.'

A thought suddenly occurred to Sun Gui.

He immediately made the decision: "Good! Since it is His Majesty's order and the magistrate of Gaoyang County specifically instructed me, I will certainly cooperate fully! I will immediately dispatch five hundred cavalrymen to accompany you out of the city, and prepare some food and medicine to ensure the safe return of the Qibi tribe to Lingzhou!"

Upon hearing that Sun Gui, the governor of Lingzhou, wanted to mobilize cavalry, Chen Dahai quickly bowed and added, "Thank you, Your Excellency! However, there is no need for cavalry. Before coming here, the young master had already prepared the necessary equipment for the journey. We only need to mobilize some horses."

"No need for cavalry?" Sun Gui asked, puzzled, pointing to the swirling snow outside.

"In this kind of weather, wouldn't it be even more dangerous to walk out of the city? Let alone meet up with the Qibi tribe, we might not even be able to walk steadily."

"It wasn't on foot."

Chen Dahai didn't know how to explain for a moment, so he simply turned to the side and said.

"My lord, come with me, and you will know at a glance."

Sun Gui, filled with doubt, followed Chen Dahai out of the governor's mansion. As soon as they reached the entrance, they saw a dozen or so riders busy around a pile of wooden equipment. Underneath the equipment were two narrow wooden planks covered with thick planks and tied with ropes, looking quite strange.

"What is it?"

Sun Gui reached out and touched the wooden board, asking in confusion.

"This is called a sled, also known as a wooden horse. It was specially made by the county magistrate of Gaoyang."

Fan Biao leaned forward, his tone smug, as if he had built the sled himself.

"It's faster than a horse-drawn carriage when gliding on the snow, and it's also more stable when carrying people, making it the most suitable for traveling in heavy snow."

Sun Gui suddenly realized and nodded, saying, "I have heard of similar things. The Turkic tribes of Dubo, Milie, and Ge'ezhi have similar things, but they are all small wooden horses worn on the feet. How could they be this big? They look more like carriages without wheels."

He had lived in Lingzhou for many years and often dealt with Turkic tribes, so he was quite familiar with the things on the grasslands, but this was the first time he had ever seen such a large sled.

"If Your Excellency has no objection, please mobilize the troops as soon as possible so that we can set off sooner."

Chen Dahai didn't say anything more, his tone tinged with urgency.

The snow was falling heavier and heavier; if the delay continued, the Qibi tribe might face disaster.

Sun Gui coughed lightly, suppressing his curiosity, and turned to call over the chief clerk, instructing, "Quickly dispatch five hundred infantrymen and prepare fifty strong horses. Have the soldiers carry dry rations and medicine for their wounds, and assemble at the city gate in a quarter of an hour!"

The chief clerk accepted the order and left. Sun Gui, watching the busy hundred cavalrymen, couldn't help but ask, "Can this sled really travel steadily in the snow? Let's hope it doesn't run into trouble halfway through."

"Rest assured, my lord!"

Chen Dahai patted the wooden planks of the sled.

"The wooden planks at the bottom of this sled are worn smooth, and when it is pulled by horses, it is faster than a cavalry march, and it will not get stuck in the snow, so it will not cause any delays."

A quarter of an hour later, the troops had assembled at the city gate.

Five hundred Lingzhou infantrymen, clad in armor and armed, stood in neat rows in the snow.

Fifty strong horses were led to the sleds, and the soldiers skillfully tied the horse ropes to the sled's pull bar.

The hundred knights swiftly loaded rations, medicine, and weapons onto the sleds.

"Open the city gates!" Chen Dahai mounted his horse and shouted to the guards at the city gate.

The heavy city gates slowly opened, and a cold wind carrying snowflakes rushed in.

Chen Dahai waved his hand and took the lead in riding his horse out of the city gate, with the sled behind him starting to move.

The horses struggled forward, and the sled glided rapidly across the snow, leaving two clear tracks. It was actually more stable than riding a horse normally.

The soldiers on the city wall were dumbfounded and crowded around the battlements to look.

"What is that thing? It's running so fast on the snow!"

"It seems to have been brought by a hundred riders. It's called a sled, and I heard it can travel freely in the snow!"

"The people of Gaoyang County really know how to do things. In this cold weather, with this, we don't have to worry about getting stuck in the snow when we leave the city!"

The soldiers discussed among themselves, their eyes filled with curiosity.

Sun Gui stood by the city gate, watching the sled team depart into the distance, and sighed inwardly.

Although Wen He is young, he always comes up with novel ideas, no wonder His Majesty and the Hundred Cavalry value him so much.

at the same time.

On the grassland about ten miles outside Lingzhou City, hundreds of makeshift camps were being ravaged by wind and snow.

Inside a small tent in the middle.

A boy, wrapped in a woolen blanket and with his face red from the cold, clenched his fists and his eyes were filled with hatred.

"Jieli, one day, I will use your blood to pay tribute to my people!"

……

On New Year's Eve in Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, the curfew was lifted for once.

The streets of Zhuque were brightly lit, with lanterns forming a galaxy of stars. Children carrying paper lanterns darted among them, their laughter echoing throughout the area.

Inside the Taiji Hall, singing and dancing filled the air, with the sounds of string and wind instruments never ceasing. Outside the hall, fireworks bloomed intermittently, painting the night sky with vibrant colors and eliciting gasps of amazement from the palace servants.

Despite the lively scene, Li Shimin and Wen He were not in the slightest interest.

News came from Lingzhou two weeks ago.

Chen Dahai had successfully met up with Qibi Heli, but after arriving in Lingzhou, he developed a high fever and fell into a coma.

For the next two weeks, no news came back from Lingzhou, like a kite with a broken string.

"Jiaying, don't worry too much."

Xu Jingzong walked over with a wine glass in his hand and gently offered words of comfort.

"Didn't you already send Master Sun there overnight? Master Sun's medical skills are divine; he will surely be able to cure Qibi Heli."

Wen He forced a smile but didn't reply.

He knew better than anyone that in this era there were no antibiotics, and even a common cold or fever could be fatal.

Even with Sun Simiao's exceptional medical skills, he was not a god. Whether Qibi Heli could pull through ultimately depended on fate. He could only hope that this future great general of the Tang Dynasty could overcome this ordeal.

Just then, a eunuch hurriedly entered the hall, anxiously weaving through the crowd to hand over sealed letters to the eunuch Gao Yue in front of the hall.

Gao Yue dared not delay and quickly presented it to Li Shimin.

This sudden action instantly attracted the attention of everyone in the hall.

The Taiji Hall on New Year's Eve is usually a place for celebrating joyous occasions; there has never been such an urgent scene of delivering a message.

The dancers stopped dancing, the musicians put away their instruments, and the ministers all turned to look at them. Even Empress Zhangsun looked at Li Shimin with a puzzled expression.

Li Shimin opened the letter, his eyes quickly scanning it. His previously furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, and he slammed his hand on the table, exclaiming, "Good! Excellent!"

This shout silenced the entire hall.

Everyone stared blankly at Li Shimin, waiting for him to explain the reason.

Li Shimin then spoke loudly.

"My esteemed ministers, I have good news to tell you: Qibi Heli, the leader of the Turkic Qibi tribe, has led his people to surrender to our Great Tang! Today, Qibi Heli has arrived safely in Chang'an!"

He paused, his tone full of pride.

"Jieli is cruel and ruthless, and has lost all popular support. Even a powerful tribe like the Qibi tribe has abandoned him. The defeat of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate is just around the corner! This is a perfect example of how the righteous gain many supporters, while the unrighteous lose few!"

Cheers erupted instantly inside the hall. The ministers rose to their feet, raising their cups to congratulate Li Shimin: "Heaven blesses the Tang Dynasty! Heaven blesses Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty is wise and has won the surrender of the tribes. This is truly a blessing for the Great Tang Dynasty!"

Empress Zhangsun breathed a sigh of relief, a smile of satisfaction appearing on her face.

The surrender of the Qibi tribe not only weakened the Eastern Turks but also provided a boost to the Tang Dynasty, which was indeed a great thing.

However, one person's smile looked forced.

Xiao Yu sighed inwardly.

His beloved elder sister, Empress Xiao, wife of Emperor Yang of Sui, is now in the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

If Jieli were to perish, it's uncertain whether his elder sister would be able to return to Chang'an.

However, he only thought to himself that for the sake of the Xiao family, he could not show any unusual expression at this moment.

"My lords, let us drink to this cup together!"

Li Shimin raised his wine cup, and everyone else followed suit.

"Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations."

Looking at his cheering ministers, Li Shimin felt as if a flame was burning in his heart.

He glanced at Wen He quietly, his eyes filled with determination.

It is now the second year of the Zhenguan era.

Wen He once said that in history, the Tang Dynasty did not destroy the Eastern Turks until the fourth year of the Zhenguan era.

But now, the Qibi tribe has surrendered ahead of schedule, and the internal situation of Jieli is unstable.

If he had launched his campaign a year earlier, he would have been able to pacify the Eastern Turks a year ahead of schedule.

After the destruction of the Turks, the Tang Dynasty was able to stabilize its internal affairs.

He needs to do better than Li Shimin in history.

He wants to be a true emperor for all ages!
(End of this chapter)