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

Chapter 407 From a Warrior to a Singer and Dancer

Jing'an Ward in Chang'an City has always been a place where aristocratic families and ordinary people live together. The ward has crisscrossing streets and numerous shops, and it is always bustling with activity.

However, in recent days, a house in the southwest corner of the neighborhood has become the focus of everyone's discussion.

This house had been vacant for a long time, but not long ago a family suddenly moved in. When they arrived, they were not only acting mysteriously, but they were also accompanied by more than a hundred soldiers dressed in imperial guard armor, who surrounded the house so tightly that not even a fly could get in.

The nearby residents were talking about it.

Some say that the mansion must have been inhabited by the emperor's favorite concubine kept outside the palace. After all, on the day the concubine moved in, someone saw a woman in brocade dress from afar, and she was guarded by the imperial guards. Ordinary officials would not have received such treatment.

Some say that the person living there is a big shot who has just returned from the frontier, perhaps a general who has made great contributions and is deliberately living in a low-key manner to avoid retaliation.

Some speculate that there are important treasures hidden inside, and the Imperial Guards are there to protect them.

Anyway, there is anything to say.

No matter what people speculated, the family kept their doors tightly shut. Apart from a few servants coming out to buy groceries every morning, no one else came in or out, and no one ever came to visit.

If it weren't for the Imperial Guards standing meticulously around the mansion, the people in the neighborhood would have thought it was empty, and some even almost reported it to the authorities, suspecting that villains had occupied the mansion.

Even today, the sound of horses' hooves has broken the tranquility of Jing'an Ward.

A caravan slowly came to a stop in front of the mysterious mansion. A young man dressed in a moon-white brocade robe stepped out of the lead carriage. The young man had a handsome face and an extraordinary temperament. Behind him were several guards in tight-fitting clothes, carrying many gift boxes.

"Why does this person look so familiar? I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."

A vendor selling candied hawthorns put down his stick and whispered to the crowd.

"You're new to Chang'an, aren't you? You don't even recognize Wen He from Gaoyang County?"

An old farmer carrying a basket of vegetables next to him rolled his eyes at him, his tone smug.

"Just a few days ago, on New Year's Day, His Majesty held a banquet in the Taiji Hall. I heard that this Wen County boy is a favorite of His Majesty, and even a hundred cavalrymen are under his command!"

"What Gaoyang County?"

Another scholar in a long gown corrected him.

"His Majesty just issued a decree this morning, and Wen County's son has been promoted to the title of Earl of Gaoyang County, and even the founding Earl of the county. He is the first young nobleman to be granted a title after His Majesty ascended the throne. He is very impressive!"

"It turned out to be him?!"

The vendor selling candied hawthorns widened his eyes and instinctively took two steps back.

"Is that the legendary 'Hundred Riders Killer,' who captured many nobles in two years, Wen He? What's he doing here? Could the people living in this mansion be related to him?"

The people around also stepped back, their eyes filled with awe as they looked at Wen He.

In the past two years, many nobles in Chang'an have suffered because of Wen He. From generals who embezzled military pay to corrupt officials, almost no one who was targeted by Wen He had a good ending. Everyone was afraid of accidentally offending this evil star.

At this moment, Wen He was frowning as she looked at the house in front of her.

The gate of this mansion looked excessively simple; the paint on the vermilion gate was peeling off, and there wasn't even a stone lion at the entrance. Compared to the surrounding mansions with their carved beams and painted rafters, it appeared particularly shabby.

If it weren't for the Imperial Guards standing at the entrance, he would have thought he had come to the wrong place.

"Young man, please don't find it offensive."

Qi San leaned forward and whispered.

"It's good enough that these Turks have a place to live in Chang'an. Why do they care about such pomp and circumstance? It's fortunate that others don't know their identities, otherwise there would definitely be trouble. After all, the Turks and our Tang Dynasty fought a war a couple of years ago, and many families lost their relatives on the battlefield. If they knew that the chieftain of a Turk tribe lived here, who knows what kind of trouble they would cause."

Wen He glared at him and snorted, "What do you know? This Qibi Heli and her son are no ordinary Turks; they will be of great use in the future."

Qi Biheli was essentially Li Shimin's pledge of allegiance.

Many eyes on the grasslands were watching his situation in Chang'an.

If Li Shimin treats him badly, then the people on the grasslands will bind themselves tightly to Jieli.

If he is treated favorably, the people on the grasslands will analyze the pros and cons and sow discord among them.

However, Wen He had another purpose besides that.

That is, I learned about the current problems within the Turkic Khaganate from the Qibi tribe.

Historically, Li Jing was able to eliminate Jieli so quickly.

One reason for this was that Jieli underestimated his opponent.

He misjudged the strength of the Tang army, believing that the Tang army at that time was still the same as during Li Yuan's reign.

They were unaware that the Tian Ce Army, trained by Li Shimin, could break through Dingxiang with only three thousand cavalry.

But things are different now. After the battle of Huizhou, Jieli shouldn't underestimate the Tang army anymore... right?

Well, actually Wen He wasn't sure either, which is why he came here today to find out more.

While I'm at it, I'll also pay a visit to Lady Guzang, who only appears briefly in history.

Although Qibi Heli is only ten years old and seems insignificant, his mother, Lady Guzang, is definitely a remarkable woman with hidden talents.

Historically, it was she who overruled public opinion and ordered Qibi Heli to lead the Qibi tribe to submit to the Tang Dynasty, laying an important foundation for peace between the grasslands and the Central Plains.

In the sixth year of the Zhenguan era, she personally led her troops to protect the vital transportation routes between the East and the West, working day and night on the transfer of goods and the movement of people, building a bridge for the material and cultural exchange between the Tang Dynasty and the grasslands. In those years, the trade and marriage alliances she facilitated resolved countless potential conflicts.

Historical records state that later, Li Shimin, mindful of Qibi Heli's homesickness, sent him back to the grasslands to visit his family and mother. However, he unwittingly fell into an ambush set by the Xueyantuo tribe.

The Xueyantuo Khan used high-ranking official positions and titles as bait to persuade Qibi Heli to betray the Tang Dynasty and surrender. However, Qibi Heli would rather die than comply. He even cut off his left ear on the spot to show his loyalty to the Tang Dynasty.

The Xueyantuo Khan had no other choice but to ask Lady Guzang to persuade her son to surrender. However, Lady Guzang resolutely refused, saying, "My son has already submitted to Tang, so he is a subject of the Great Tang. How can he betray his sovereign because of temporary difficulties?"

Later, when Li Shimin heard that Qibi Heli had been captured, he was so anxious that he couldn't sleep all night. He immediately sent Cui Dunli, the Vice Minister of War, with an imperial edict to the Xueyantuo tribe, offering to marry his princess to the Khan in exchange for the return of Lady Guzang and Qibi Heli and her son to the Tang Dynasty.

However, when Lady Guzang saw the envoy, she immediately refused, saying, "This is unacceptable! How can we exchange the strategy of throwing the princess into the tiger's mouth for the escape of this old woman and her son from the wolf's den?"

It wasn't until the envoy repeatedly persuaded her, informing her that "the princess is also willing to sacrifice herself for the peace of the Tang Dynasty."

She reluctantly agreed to let Qibi Heli return to Tang, while she herself voluntarily stayed in the Xueyantuo tribe to secretly protect the princess's safety until the princess returned to Chang'an safely.

Thinking of this, Wen He couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.

These few things alone are enough to show that Lady Guzang was definitely an extraordinary woman.

Now that the Qibi tribe has been attacked by Jieli, she and Qibi Heli have submitted to him with a deep-seated hatred.

Wen He didn't believe it; she didn't want the Tang Dynasty to help her take revenge.

The Qibi tribe had just escaped from the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, and they certainly knew more about Jieli's plans and the conflicts between tribes than anyone in Chang'an.

Seeing that Wen He remained silent for a long time, staring blankly at the courtyard, Qi San couldn't help but ask again, "Young master, shall we go in now?"

Wen He then came to her senses, nodded, straightened her brocade robe, and walked towards the Imperial Guards at the door.

Upon seeing Wen He, the imperial guards immediately bowed and saluted, saying, "Greetings, Lord Wen!"

Wen He nodded slightly: "I have come on His Majesty's orders to visit Lady Guzang of the Qibi tribe and Chief Qibi Heli. Please inform them of my arrival."

"Yes! Lord Wen, please wait a moment!" A soldier from the Imperial Guard quickly turned around and strode into the courtyard to report.

Wen He stood at the door, her gaze falling once again on the simple courtyard.

A moment later, the Imperial Guard soldier strode out and bowed, saying, "Lord Wen, Lady Guzang invites you in."

Wen He nodded, instructed his entourage to wait there, and then led Qi San into the mysterious mansion.

As soon as Wen He stepped through the gate of the Qibi Mansion, she frowned. This place was far too shabby.

There were no elaborate rockeries and flowing water features common in the mansions of aristocratic families in Chang'an, nor were there carved beams and painted rafters, corridors and pavilions. Only a few sand date trees were planted in the courtyard. Their bark was rough and their branches were strong. They looked like they had been transplanted from the grasslands and had a rough, windy feel to them.

The ground was paved with smooth bluestone, but there was still some dirt stuck in the cracks between the stones, and the edges had not been carefully polished. It was even more shabby than his own deliberately low-key mansion.

Wen He muttered to herself.

Are these people in the Ministry of Rites too arrogant, or too careless, that they don't realize the importance of treating the Qibi tribe well?
He wasn't deliberately biased towards foreign tribes, but rather, given the current state of the Tang Dynasty, it simply lacked the capacity to completely control the grasslands.

With a population of less than ten million and productivity just recovering from war, even the post road from Chang'an to Bingzhou was frequently disrupted, let alone communication across the northern desert.

In this situation, trying to suppress the grasslands by force is nothing short of wishful thinking. The only option is to proceed gradually, like slowly eroding the grasslands by gradually boiling a frog in lukewarm water.

After all, they voluntarily switched sides from Jieli to the Tang Dynasty. If they are not even given basic preferential treatment or a decent place to live, why should we expect them to sincerely submit or even betray the core secrets of the Eastern Turks?

It should be noted that from the fall of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate in 630 AD to the fall of the Western Turkic Khaganate in 657 AD, the Tang Dynasty only controlled the grasslands for a short period of 22 years.

Subsequently, the surrendered Turkic tribes under the jurisdiction of the Southern Protectorate of the Mongols began to rebel intermittently, and supported Ashina Funian, a son of Jieli's clan, as Khan.

In 682, Ashina Gutlug rallied his remaining forces and rebuilt the Eastern Turkic Khaganate in Black Sand City.

Even after Li Longji completely destroyed the Turks, nomadic peoples such as the Uyghurs, Karluks, and Tiele rose to power one after another, always posing a threat to the northern border of the Tang Dynasty.

From the Quanrong of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties to the Yezhupi of later generations, these nomadic tribes of the grasslands have always been like wildfires that cannot be extinguished and will spring up again with the spring breeze.

To transform them from warriors into singers and dancers, force alone is not enough; a two-pronged approach is necessary.

On the one hand, we use our powerful military to deter them from rebelling.

On the other hand, they relied on Sinicization and education to gradually integrate them into the Central Plains civilization.

If education fails, then let's use cannons to speak.

Of course, all of this is predicated on strengthening the Tang Dynasty's productivity and overwhelming the nomadic peoples in terms of industry and military capabilities.

Get them to accept the change "willingly".

As they were pondering this, the servant who had been leading the way brought them to the entrance of the main hall.

Wen He looked up and saw a woman dressed in Turkic clothing standing under the eaves, about thirty years old. She wore a light blue Turkic robe with simple scroll patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, and a narrow silver belt around her waist, which made her figure look tall and neat.

Her hair was styled in the Uyghur bun, a style unique to women of the grasslands, and adorned only with a single, warm white jade hairpin. There were no other decorations, yet her dignified bearing was undeniable.

Beside her stood a young man wearing a blue round-necked robe, the hem of which was embroidered with faint Turkic wolf patterns, clearly custom-made.

The boy was about ten years old. He wasn't very tall, but he stood very straight. However, his hair was tied in a Turkic style with a red rope, which looked somewhat out of place with his Tang Dynasty attire.

Without a doubt, this must be Qibi Heli.

When Lady Guzang saw Wen He and Qi San approaching, she immediately led the boy forward, placed her hands folded at her sides, and performed a standard Turkic greeting, saying in a steady voice, "Greetings, Earl of Gaoyang County."

Qibi Heli, standing beside him, followed suit, his little face tense, and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Earl of Gaoyang County."

Qi San was stunned and subconsciously stopped in his tracks, his eyes filled with confusion.

Why is this Turkic woman bowing to me?
In a flash, he realized that Madam Guzang must have mistaken him for someone else. Qi San quickly stepped aside, pointed to Wen He beside him, and explained respectfully.

"Madam, you misunderstand. This is the Earl of Gaoyang County of our Great Tang Dynasty, Lord Wen."

"what?"

Madam Guzang suddenly looked up, staring at Wen He in disbelief, then quickly glanced at Qi San, who was tall and dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, her eyes filled with astonishment.

She had heard from the servants that the County Earl of the Great Tang Dynasty was visiting, and she had imagined it to be a mature and dignified adult with half-white hair and beard. To her utter surprise, the person standing before her was a boy who looked no more than twelve or thirteen years old, slender, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, and with a touch of youthful naiveté on his face. While there were children on the grasslands who rode horses and hunted at the age of eleven or twelve, even the weakest tribes would never allow a child to be in charge, let alone hold an official position like "County Earl."

Of course, Chibi Heli is a special case.

He was recognized by the tribe.

Madam Guzang's gaze unconsciously drifted back to Qi San, as if she was still wondering if she had misheard.

Seeing this, Wen He couldn't help but chuckle. He stepped forward, returned the Tang Dynasty's traditional cupped-hand salute to Madam Guzang, and said in a gentle tone.

"I have seen Eqi."

He then turned to Qibi Heli and smiled, saying, "Greetings, Khan."

Lady Guzang came to her senses.

It seems that this young man is undoubtedly the Earl of Gaoyang County.

She had studied Sinology and knew that the title of Earl of a County in the early Tang Dynasty was neither low nor high, but it was remarkable that a child of that age could receive such a title.

He must be very special.

In the Tang Dynasty, adding the words "founding of the dynasty" before a title meant that the title was not inherited.

However, Wen He's use of "Khan" surprised her again, and she quickly waved her hand to explain.

“The Earl of Gaoyang County, He Li has already demoted himself to Da Si Li Fa and dares not call himself Khan anymore.”

Wen He had heard about this before.

Before they arrived, the Hundred Cavalry Commandery had sent word that when Qibi Heli submitted to the Tang Dynasty, he voluntarily relinquished the position of Khan and only referred to himself as "Da Si Li Fa".

Silifa was an official title left over from the Rouran, and the Turkic Khaganate continued to use it as a high-ranking noble title. The Book of Zhou records that it ranked below Yabghu and She and above Tutunfa. It was mostly inherited by the royal family and could participate in state affairs.

The title "Da Si Li Fa" was most likely added by Lady Gu Zang on purpose, so as to preserve her son's noble status without making the Tang Dynasty think that they had any intention of overstepping their bounds.

Upon hearing this, Wen He smiled calmly, but her tone carried an undeniable air of authority.

"Now that we have submitted to the Great Tang, the title we should be given in the future should naturally be decided by His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang. This is the proper way for a subject to act. What do you think, Eqi?"

These words sound kind, but they actually contain a hidden warning.

The status and destiny of Qibi Heli are no longer something you and your son can decide for yourselves. You must abide by the Tang Dynasty's etiquette and follow His Majesty's arrangements.

Lady Guzang was a clever woman, and she immediately understood Wen He's deeper meaning. She placed her hands on her chest and bowed solemnly, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, County Lord. I understand."

Qibi Heli also bowed to his mother, but his little head did not lower; instead, he stared at Wen He with curiosity.

He was a whole head shorter than Wen He, but perhaps unwilling to be treated like a child, he quietly stood on tiptoe, trying to look Wen He in the eye, his dark eyes full of inquiry.

“Are you awesome?”

Qibi Heli suddenly took a step forward, tilted her little face up, and asked straight out, her tone full of dissatisfaction.

He stared at Wen He's thin figure, thinking to himself.

This man looks frail and weak. If we were on the grasslands, I could take on ten of them by myself. Why is he the county magistrate?
Qi San frowned immediately, took half a step forward, and was about to reprimand the unruly Turkic boy when Wen He stopped him with a look.

Lady Guzang was both anxious and angry. She quickly reached out and tugged at her son's sleeve, scolding him in a low voice.

"He Li! How dare you be so disrespectful to the county magistrate! Apologize immediately!"

"Oh."

Qibi Heli reluctantly agreed, but didn't actually apologize. He just pouted, his stubbornness undiminished.

He was simply indignant. Why was it that this boy, who was about the same age as him, could receive a title from the Tang Dynasty and even have his mother bring him to greet him?

He is the Khan of the Qibi tribe!
Upon hearing this, Wen He merely smiled faintly, not even glancing at Qibi Heli, and instead spoke gently to Madam Guzang.

"I've come to visit today to offer some small gifts. Madam and Da Sili have just arrived in Chang'an. If you encounter any inconvenience in the future, you can report to the Ministry of Rites or send someone to the Hundred Cavalry Commandery to find me."

At this point, he turned to Qi San and gave him instructions.

"Have someone bring the gifts from the car in."

"promise!"

Qi San responded and turned to walk quickly out of the main hall.

Wen He then looked at Madam Guzang and added with a smile, "These are just everyday trinkets, including soap, silk cloth and wool yarn, as well as some writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones and some money. Please don't find them too expensive, Madam."

Madam Guzang had wanted to refuse the gift as soon as Wen He mentioned it.

What she needs now is a clear stance from the Tang Dynasty towards the Qibi tribe, not these things.

But Wenhe's tone, though seemingly gentle, carried an undeniable certainty, giving her no chance to refute.

She sighed helplessly and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Lord Gaoyang, but I am unworthy of your kindness."

As soon as she finished speaking, a strong feeling of being dependent on others welled up in her heart.

On the grasslands, she was a noble Eqi of the Qibi tribe, but in Chang'an, even with the Imperial Guards protecting her, she still had to be mindful of others' opinions.

However, she quickly suppressed this emotion, remembering what Wen He had just said: "There are two things."

Now that the first thing to do is to give gifts, the second thing must be the focus of this trip.

Lady Guzang composed herself and asked, "The Count of Gaoyang said he had two matters to discuss with me today. What is the second matter?"

Wen He didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "I want a detailed map of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, including the nomadic areas of the various tribes that you know, the location of water sources, and the approximate location of the Khan's camp."

Lady Guzang was already prepared.

The Tang Dynasty would inevitably need intelligence from the grasslands to deal with the Eastern Turks.

But when the moment actually came, she still hesitated.

If this map is handed over, their last value will be lost.

Will the Tang emperor abandon them then?

However, if they did not pay, they would be unable to prove the sincerity of the Qibi tribe to the Tang Dynasty, and their situation would likely become difficult.

Just as she was pondering, Qibi Heli suddenly spoke up, his voice clear yet firm, "I can give it to you! But I want to see your Emperor!"

He took half a step forward, staring intently at Wen He, his little face full of stubbornness, showing no intention of backing down.

Wen He raised an eyebrow, secretly finding it amusing.

This kid is truly talented. No wonder he was elected Khan at the age of eight. When Jieli sent troops to attack, the Qibi tribe members would rather die in battle than let him escape.

This courage and ambition are not something ordinary children possess.

He chuckled lightly, his tone tinged with amusement: "If you want to see His Majesty, you must first show us your sincerity. Empty words won't do."

"Then...if I give you a map, can I become a higher-ranking official than you?"

Qibi Heli blinked and suddenly asked, his eyes filled with anticipation.

The person in front of him is about the same age as him, yet he can become a county magistrate.

If he presented the map to the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he would surely be able to obtain a higher official position.

Wen He was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

It turns out this kid is a careerist.

He remembered that in the original history, Qibi Heli was later enfeoffed as the Duke of Liang.

However, the current title of Duke of Liang is Marquis Junji, and it's hard to say what title Li Shimin will give this kid in the future.

Whether or not I can become an official is not up to me; it depends on His Majesty's decision.

Wen He deliberately teased him.

"Then I want to see the Emperor!"

Qibi Heli stiffened his neck and became even more adamant in his stance.

"Give us the map first."

Wen He refused to budge an inch.

"I will not give you the map without seeing the emperor!"

Qibi Heli also lost his temper, putting his hands on his hips.

"You cannot see His Majesty without a map," Wen He said with a calm smile.

"..."

The two chatted back and forth, sounding like they were arguing, and for a moment the main hall was so quiet that only their conversation could be heard.

Lady Guzang stood aside, increasingly feeling that something was amiss.

Wen He did want the map, but he could have negotiated with me in a more formal way; there was no need to argue with a ten-year-old.

Could it be... that he wanted to test He Li's character or probe the Qibi tribe's bottom line through this method?
After all, he was a county magistrate of the Tang Dynasty; he wouldn't deliberately argue with a child.

Just as Lady Guzang was pondering, Qibi Heli suddenly blushed, as if he had remembered something, and shouted, "I know! You did it on purpose! You just don't want me to see the Emperor!"

"Hey, you're absolutely right. You just asked me if I was really good, now you know, I am that good."

Wen He deliberately teased him.

Qibi Heli was instantly enraged.

"you!"

He shouted and rolled up his sleeves, ready to make a move.

Upon seeing this, Qi San immediately stepped in front of Wen He to protect her.

"He Li, no!" Lady Guzang said anxiously.

And just then!
A series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from not far away.

Looking into the distance, Wen He spotted a familiar face.

Gao Yue!

What the hell is he doing here?
Gao Yue noticed him too, and smiled meaningfully at him.

Wen He was startled, and a bad premonition suddenly welled up in her heart.