Chapter 871 Hu Fu rides and shoots Li Chengqian
The eighth year of Zhenguan.
This year, the Supreme Emperor Li Yuan was already sixty-eight years old, and was about to reach the end of his life. And Tian Khan Li Shimin was just thirty-five years old, and he was in full swing. Prince Chengqian was just seventeen years old and in his prime.
Duke Wei Qin Lang is twenty-four years old, young and promising.
On the snow-covered plateau, Songtsan Gampo, who ascended the throne at the age of twelve, quelled the rebellion, and reunified the plateau, was just seventeen years old at this time.
This age, like Cheng Qian, the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, is also the age when Tian Khan started his army.
This year, King Rongliu of Goguryeo in Liaodong, who was stripped of water, has been in power for seventeen years. In Mobei, Yinan Khan has been in power for five years, but he has relied on 400,000 horsemen and is rebellious, intending to challenge the Tang Dynasty.
Chang'an, in the Ganlu Hall of Taiji Palace.
After the court meeting, Li Shimin specially left the Taiwei Qin Qiong to play against him.
The new year is approaching, and the winter months are approaching, and the vegetation in Chang'an City is all withered, and it is difficult to find greenery. However, in the Ganlu Hall, there is actually a greenhouse, in which are many potted plants planted by Princess Changle for her father. It's blooming brightly.
However, the fruit that was originally born in the south is tangerine, and the fruit that crosses the Huaihe River is citrus, but it is full of golden fruits in the greenhouse, like a tree of gold ingots. The bright color and attractive fragrance make people want to bear it. Can't stop picking one to try.
In winter, being able to sit next to these vibrant flowers, plants and fruit trees seems to make the whole person less hot and bothered.
The midday sun shines into the hall through the glazed tiles on the hall, bringing warm sunshine.
Thirty-five-year-old Heavenly Khan Li Shimin was chatting with Taiwei Qin Qiong, who was about to know his destiny, while the seventeen-year-old Crown Prince Cheng Qian sat aside respectfully.
"At the age of twelve, my father was poisoned and killed. The old Chinese nobles rebelled one after another. All the tribes conquered by his father took the opportunity to rebel. If it were an ordinary person, the country would have perished long ago. It took only three years. It took only two years to move the capital, reform the system, strengthen the army and enrich the country. It’s not easy to abandon the family.” Li Shimin said, looking at the same seventeen-year-old Chengqian.
Although Chengqian's performance has been remarkable since he was established as the prince, he studied literature and martial arts, participated in government affairs, and was able to give many good suggestions at a young age. Well organized.
In the past two years, he has been allowed to personally lead the affairs of the Yongzhou Mansion, and with the assistance of his courtiers, he has performed very well.
Although there are some Eastern Palace officials such as Kong Yingda who often report that the prince is not doing enough in some areas, he likes luxury, is easy to talk about, likes food and clothing, and even likes some strange and obscene things, and he is greedy for beauty at a young age , also likes hunting, loves to play polo, spends money lavishly, often spends a lot of money, is not very interested in learning, etc.
But in Li Shimin's view, these are just some minor problems. On a big scale, Cheng Qiandu is still very good.
But now when compared with this Abandoned Nong, Li Shimin suddenly felt that the prince seemed a bit incomparable. How could the monarch of a small wild country be so promising?
"The Tubo mission has arrived in Chang'an. They have submitted their credentials to Honglu Temple. Not only have they brought goods to pay tribute and trade, but they also hope to marry the princess of the Tang Dynasty!"
"Yiran Khan of Xue Yantuo in Mobei sent envoys to bring 10,000 sheep, and brought up the old story again, wanting to ask to marry me, Princess Datang."
Li Shimin stretched out his hand from the kumquat tree in front of him, unscrewed a small golden orange, wiped it on his clothes twice, and threw it into his mouth. Kumquats are very sweet, and orange trees in the south cannot grow in the north. It will not bear sweet fruit. But the kumquat tree that grew up in the greenhouse, although small and exquisite, was planted in a pot, but it was full of oranges.
At first I thought it was just a fancy food, but who knew it was extra sweet. Li Shimin likes to grab one as a snack when he is free now. It is sweet and sour, very appetizing and quenching thirst.
Prince Chengqian also reached out and picked a kumquat from the tree, but instead of eating it himself, he wiped his hands and handed it to Qin Qiong, "Taiwei, please taste the fruit of the sage. It was Sanlang who sent someone from Lingnan to Chang'an." For the fifth emperor girl, the fifth emperor girl specially selected a few pots and put them in the Ganlu Hall, the taste is very good."
Qin Lang thanked and took over.
Cheng Qian turned his head and said to Li Shimin, "After the sage Yuji, he established a system. I don't pay tribute, don't pay tribute, don't give up land and don't pay compensation. Over the years, monarchs and chiefs from different countries have wanted to marry me as a princess of the Tang Dynasty. When did my Tang Dynasty promise one? Not to mention the royal princess with golden branches and jade leaves, even a palace official in the Taiji Palace has never given the title of princess or personally handed over to a vassal state. Why do he and Xue Yantuo think that the Tang Dynasty Will you promise them?"
But this crown prince, who was born with Datang, has an innate disdain for barbarians.
Li Shimin smiled.
"It is impossible to make peace. Although the peace policy of the Han Dynasty contributed a lot to the greatness of the Han Dynasty, and the Northern Zhou and Sui Dynasties also adopted the policy of peace, Saburo said that the greatness of our Tang Dynasty does not need to be built on sacrifices." On top of the happiness of my own woman, with us men from the Tang Dynasty, we can let the Quartet come here in a dignified manner." He twisted off another small kumquat and threw it into his mouth, biting it lightly, the juice burst out, which was very pleasant. sweet.
"But Chengqian, if you are willing, I can ask both Xue Yantuo and Tubo to send you a princess as a concubine for you. I heard that you like to change into Turkic clothes, ride Turkic horses, and live on purpose. In the Turkic tents, even the clothes and hairstyles were changed into Turkic ones, and Turkic weapons were also replaced, and the Luben army from the Eastern Palace ran to Zhongnan Mountain to play Turkic riding and shooting tactics? Unexpectedly You are so interested in the customs of other races, I will ask Tubo and Xue Yantuo to send you a princess from another race to be your concubine!"
The emperor said these words with a smile, but at the end, the emperor took off the third kumquat and threw it into his mouth, biting it with a vicious look.
Chengqian saluted the emperor calmly.
"The sage asked Rong Erchen to explain."
"explain!"
"I'm not playing with things and losing my ambitions, or even forgetting my roots. My son is just studying the Turkic people recently. I want to know more about these grassland tribes. The sages and teachers have taught me that knowing yourself and the enemy is the only way to win a hundred battles. My son. I think that if you just have some ready-made Turkic news, it will be superficial after all, so why not try it yourself."
"Therefore, I conducted an experiment with the Lu Ben army of the East Palace and the officials of the East Palace. According to the teacher's words, practice is the only criterion for testing the truth. I am doing exercises to simulate the behavior of the Turkic people, including their The way of life, traditional customs, combat formations, etc., I believe that if I pretend to be a Turkic and do things in the way of a Turkic, then I can get a thinking result that is closer to a Turkic. In this way , it was very helpful for me to understand the Turkic people.”
Chengqian was not flustered, he knew that teachers like Kong Yingda must be suing him again, but he was confident that the emperor could understand him.
Because he's really not playing.
"Since the sage came to the throne, he has captured Jieli and destroyed the Eastern Turks, and killed the four leaves to protect the Western Turks. His achievements have been extremely great. The Turks no longer threaten our Tang Dynasty as much as they used to, but the Turks still exist, and they are still the largest in the Western Regions of Mobei. Therefore, I think that I should know more about them, so that when I face the Turkic issue, I may be able to better understand the strategy of the emperor and the ministers, and even provide some useful suggestions!"
Qin Qiong said immediately from the side, "The prince has thought deeply and put his heart into it!"
Li Shimin swallowed the crushed kumquat, and his face became a little more attractive, "If so, it is considered intentional, but we still have to pay attention to the impact of actions, so as not to let others misunderstand."
"Erchen's experiment has always been done in secret. He deliberately chose to conduct it in the deep mountains of Zhongnan, and it has never been shown to the public."
This is a counterattack, turning back the teachers who accused him of bad behavior.
Li Shimin laughed, "This little kumquat tastes really good, Shubao, pick some more to eat, why is it so hot in this room all of a sudden, pick a few oranges and eat to quench your thirst."
This matter, even if it has been taken.
Qin Qiong breathed a sigh of relief. He thought that the prince would be blamed, but he didn't expect the prince to deal with it calmly.
"Do you dislike the princess and prince of Tubo and Xue Yantuo?"
Chengqian thanked him with a smile, "I dare not refuse the gift from the sage. If I accept two barbarian women as concubines, it can bring some benefits to the Tang Dynasty, and I am willing to contribute."
"Haha, it's good that you are willing to contribute, and it seems that you are still at a disadvantage. It's settled like this. I will let Honglu Temple tell the envoys of the two feudal clans later, and let them tell their monarchs that it is okay to make peace, but Datang doesn't marry his daughter, he only marry. Come if you want to, and let it go if you don't want to!"
"By the way, let Murong Shun also send you a daughter. Do you want the daughter of the King of Goguryeo? Do you want the daughter of the Western Turkic Khan Nishu? I heard that the Queen of Silla has a younger sister. How about I want to come with you too?"
Chengqian was a little speechless, and hurriedly said, "I am afraid that I will be powerless, and I will not be able to deal with so many princesses and princesses from foreign countries."
The atmosphere relaxed.
Qin Qiong reminded the emperor, "The young Zanpu in Tubo is very ambitious. Now that Nipoluo in the rear and Xiangxiong in the west have all married him, he has no worries about the future. Next, he may send troops to the north and use troops from the Qiangs. Now Supi, Bailan, and Dongnv Qiang are all in danger. They all hope that the Tang Dynasty can send troops to rescue them. The minister is in Songzhou and has heard a lot about Tubo. Their ambitions are great. If they are allowed to go north and annex them Xiqiang, I'm afraid that they will make further progress and want to get their hands on Qinghai, and even directly threaten the land of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty."
(end of this chapter)