Chapter 111: His determination cannot be taken away! (asking for monthly tickets)

Li Xiang breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to look at the five men and asked in a deep voice, "Did you hear that?"

Only at this point did the five people show signs of shame.

"I'm sorry." The five men came to the two Hu people, crossed their arms and apologized sincerely, "It's our fault for involving you two in the matter of Qibi Heli..."

The two Hu people nodded slightly and said nothing.

After all, they had just been beaten up, so it was impossible to expect them to have any particularly good attitude.

Li Xiang looked at the five people and said, "Since the two of them have forgiven you, I will not punish you."

The five people bowed to Li Xiang with many thanks and left in a hurry.

Li Xiang sighed. What is this?

Sima Guang recorded the envoy who returned from Xueyantuo, where are you?
If they don’t come soon, the anti-Hu sentiment in Chang’an will be out of control!

"Brother..." Li Jingren walked out of the restaurant and looked at Li Xiang with a complicated expression.

Li Xiang reached out and patted Li Jingren on the shoulder, smiling and comforting him: "Don't worry, everything will be fine."

"Yeah." Li Jingren nodded heavily. He believed in Li Xiang.

Just as Li Xiang had expected, the anti-Hu sentiment in Chang'an City became more and more intense. Some people even brought up the incident in the 13th year of Zhenguan when Ashina Jieshe led 40 people to attack Jiucheng Palace and assassinate Li Shimin.

The public sentiment soon spread to the court.

Even Ashina She'er, Zhishisili and others did not escape and were targeted by the censors who were like flies seeing blood.

Now Li Chengqian has been almost reformed. In addition, the censors of the Five Surnames and Seven Ancestral Family have basically been expelled from the court. Naturally, the censors who are feeling frustrated will not miss such a good opportunity to vent their anger.

Fortunately, although Fang Xuanling, Li Shiji, Cheng Yaojin, Li Daozon and others also believed that Qibi Heli had rebelled, they still remained rational and did not want the matter to escalate and spread to other innocent people.

So you can see a scene like this: the imperial censors are talking nonsense to the Hu generals in front, while Cheng Yaojin is making jokes on the side to divert the topic.

The censors really have no place to vent their anger. They can afford to offend others, but they really can't afford to offend Old Cheng.

If his carriage broke down and cow dung "happened" to be spilled all over the ground when he passed by his house, he would have no place to complain.

The conflicts in the court, in turn, affected the people.

Nowadays, the Hu people in Chang'an City are not like rats crossing the street, but at least they are beaten by everyone.

Since Li Xiang's restaurant still did not follow the trend and ban the Hu people from entering, the public sentiment, under the guidance of some people with ulterior motives, actually affected him.

Therefore, under the exaggeration of this person, and the fact that he specially sent people to spread the fact that Li Chengqian liked to dress up as a Turk, according to the law of "son resembles father", Li Xiang was suddenly given the reputation of "close to the Hu people and distant from the Han people".

Although the turmoil in Chang'an City was not caused by him, it was still easy for him to slightly influence the rhythm of public opinion.

Even if he is an ordinary scholar, he can adjust the rhythm a little bit if he is willing. What's more, the status of this person is not low.

Princess Gaoyang Li Su also came to see Li Xiang twice, but she did not come to persuade Li Xiang to give up his own opinion, but to express her support to him.

He also comforted him by saying that if necessary, he would ask his father-in-law Fang Xuanling to step in.

Li Xiang was quite touched, as he thought Li Su would be a fence-sitter.

Seeing Li Xiang's somewhat unbelievable expression, Li Su knew what he was thinking, so he reached out and pulled his ear for a long time.

I was still thinking in my mind, I should pull his ears now, otherwise it would be disrespectful to pull his ears again if he becomes successful in the future!
It was not until the sixth day, when the storm in Chang'an City was getting worse, that Li Shimin convened a grand court meeting in the Taiji Hall.

Originally, Li Shimin wanted Li Xiang to hide, but Li Xiang said that as a man of the Li family, how could he retreat behind when encountering trouble?

Old Li was delighted and also agreed to his request to attend the grand court meeting.

Everyone was stunned to see the Prince of Hengshan appear in the court meeting.

The emperor's grandson suddenly participated in the court meeting. Does this have any special meaning?
"I also know about what happened in Chang'an City recently." Li Shimin looked around and said in a serious voice, "I know that the public opinion in Chang'an City was deliberately guided by someone with ulterior motives, so that the example of an individual could spread to the entire group."

"But what I want to tell you is that no matter what, I am willing to trust Qibi Heli, and I will not allow anyone with ulterior motives to stir up trouble and escalate any problem to the entire group!"

The ministers looked at each other and felt that Li Shimin's argument in supporting Qibi Heli was not worth discussing, as the rest of his words also made sense.

But they didn't quite understand. It was clearly a fact, so why did the emperor still seem determined and believe that Qibi Heli would not rebel?

Li Xiang immediately came out and said, "Your Majesty is right. Moreover, Qibi Heli never betrayed the Tang Dynasty. It is not right to spread a fabricated story to the entire Hu people!"

Upon hearing Li Xiang's words, Zhang Liang immediately stood up to express his opposition.

"The Prince of Hengshan is wrong. The barbarians are of the same ilk, and they are beasts in human form. The Prince is still young, so it is normal that he does not understand the truth."

Hearing this, Li Chengqian, who had been standing there with his eyes on the nose and his nose on his heart, rolled up his sleeves and was about to move forward, but he didn't expect that Li Tai behind him pulled his belt.

Li Xiang narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Zhang Liang.

Damn you, how dare you look down on me?

Very good, you have a way to die!

"Duke of Yun." Li Xiang lowered his gaze and looked at Zhang Liang.

Zhang Liang's heart skipped a beat. Li Xiang's tone and eyes were very similar to the Heavenly Khan sitting above him...

"I'm here," he agreed.

"If I remember correctly, you are from Xingyang, right?" Li Shimin asked.

Zhang Liang immediately replied, "That's right."

Li Xiang asked in a cold voice: "There are certainly many bandits in Xingyang. If someone spreads the banditry to all the people in Xingyang, and even says that you, Zhang Liang, are also a bandit, would you agree?"

He made some sarcastic remarks to Zhang Liang, but Zhang Liang was unable to refute.

He could only reply in a muffled voice: "Of course I disagree."

"That's it. You said that the barbarians are beasts in human form. Then can I also say that you are a thief too?" Li Xiang snorted coldly.

Zhang Liang was stumped by the question and didn't know what to say.

Li Xiang laughed and said sarcastically: "Since the Duke of Yun has nothing to say, it means that your previous arguments were just childish opinions and are not credible!"

That's how elephants are, revenge never takes overnight.

Seeing Li Xiang taking this opportunity to scold Zhang Liang, Xiao Yu, who was standing in the team of civil officials, was enlightened. Great, Meng Ze really has the demeanor of a teacher!

Seeing that Zhang Liang was speechless after being refuted by Li Xiang, Li Shimin was overjoyed. His mood, which had been a little bad in the past two days, suddenly improved.

Moreover, my identification with Li Xiang reached a new level.

When everyone was against him, suddenly someone stood up and expressed his support. It was impossible for Lao Li not to be moved.

"My grandson is stern and resolute, and his will cannot be taken away. He is just like me."

When this compliment came out, all the ministers were shocked.

Such a high evaluation, especially spoken at a grand court assembly, the significance of this is self-evident.

For so many days, Li Xiang has been standing on their side and always believed in them. How could the Hu generals such as Ashina She'er and Zhishishili not be moved?
Moreover, today, in the grand court meeting, in front of all the civil and military officials, he openly expressed his support for them...

After Lao Li's praise, the Hu generals turned to look at Li Xiang, clenched their fists, and pounded their chests.

At the same time, a thought arose in their minds at the same time.

Only if the Prince of Hengshan ascends the throne can the wealth and prosperity of our descendants be preserved!
Just at this moment, someone suddenly came from outside to report that an envoy had returned to the Tang Dynasty from Xueyantuo.

Li Shimin was extremely anxious and immediately sent someone to summon an envoy.

Li Xiang also breathed a sigh of relief. Damn it, if you don’t come again, I will dig up Sima Guang’s ancestral grave!

Apparently, he was the "envoy who happened to return from Xueyantuo" recorded by Sima Guang in "Zizhi Tongjian".

If it weren't for him, after sending people back and forth to gather information, Qibi Heli's body would probably have been cold.

Soon, the messenger was brought in from outside.

"I heard that you returned from the Xueyantuo tribe?" Li Shimin asked the messenger.

The messenger bowed and said, "Your Majesty, it is indeed so."

"Since you have returned from the Xueyantuo tribe, you must know about Qibi Heli?" Li Shimin asked again.

The envoy did not dare to neglect it and immediately said: "I did know about General Qibi's affairs when I was in Xueyantuo. I also met him twice and heard him describe the events in detail..."

After organizing his words, he began to tell Li Shimin and the ministers in the palace about the incident of Qibi Heli in detail.

Qibi Heli returned to his hometown originally to visit his relatives and to inform his clansmen about the grace of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

However, when he returned to Liangzhou, he found that things had changed.

At that time, the Xueyantuo was very powerful, and both the Xueyantuo and the Qibi tribe belonged to the Tiele ethnic group.

The Qibi tribe wanted to submit to Xueyantuo, and had originally planned to take the remaining old and young to Xueyantuo that night, but unexpectedly Qibi Heli suddenly returned to the tribe.

Seeing that his people were packing up, Qibi Heli immediately stepped forward and asked in amazement: "The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty has been so kind to us, why do we want to rebel?"

"The old lady and the governor have already gone to Xueyantuo, why don't you go there?" asked his childhood friend.

Since they were all from the same tribe, Qibi Heli could not say much, and could only say: "The monks are respectful to the old man, but I want to be loyal to the emperor, and I will definitely not go with you."

"As an eagle on the grassland, you actually stooped to serve the emperor of the Central Plains. You really bring shame to us, the Qibi people!"

The people of the Qibi tribe blamed Qibi Heli one after another, and suddenly took advantage of his unpreparedness to subdue him with a sneak attack, tied him up, and took him to the Xueyantuo tribe.

Along the way, Qibi Heli shouted and cursed angrily, but his tribesmen remained unmoved and were determined to take him to the Xueyantuo Khan Zhenzhu Khan to exchange for a reward.

When they arrived at the tent of Zhenzhu Khan, the tribesmen threw him in front of the tent of Zhenzhu Khan Yishiyinan.

Yishiyinan, in the spirit of respecting the wise and humble, stepped forward to untie Qibi Heli.

He looked at the loyal and brave warrior in front of him, sighed and asked: "Qibi, you are an eagle on the grassland. Why don't you gallop on the grassland with me again? It would be better than serving the emperor of the Central Plains?"

Qibi Heli was not moved at all. He drew his sword and shouted towards the direction of Chang'an City: "How can a Tang hero be humiliated by the enemy? Heaven and earth, sun and moon, please know my heart!"

After cursing, Qibi Heli raised his sword, cut off his left ear with one stroke, and vowed never to rebel against the Tang Dynasty.

……

When Li Shimin heard that Qibi Heli cut off his left ear with a knife to swear his loyalty to the Tang Dynasty and to him as the emperor, he was so moved that his eyes filled with tears.

He immediately asked with concern: "How is Qibi? Did Yinan make things difficult for him?"

In this situation, the first thing that Lao Li was concerned about was the safety of Qibi Heli.

The messenger sighed and said, "Seeing that General Qibi was so loyal to the Tang Dynasty, Yinan Khan was furious and wanted to execute him. Thanks to Yinan's wife's persuasion, Yinan Khan gave up..."

After hearing this, Li Shimin slapped his hand on the armrest and angrily cursed: "You little barbarian boy, you are bullying me too much!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down your anger for now. The most urgent thing is to save Qibi first." Ashina She'er immediately came out to comfort him.

As one of the two most loyal warriors of the Tang Emperor, Ashina She'er and Qibi Heli truly sympathized with each other.

After Qibi Heli's suspicion was cleared, he immediately stepped forward to comfort Li Shimin.

"Yes, Qibi... Qibi..."

When Li Shimin heard the name of Qibi Heli, he couldn't help but burst into tears.

"How could he be so stupid that he actually cut off his ears..." Li Shimin wiped his tears, sighed and looked at Cui Dunli, the Minister of Rites.

Cui Dunli, whose courtesy name is Anshang.

Although he and Cui Gan were both from the second branch of the Cui family of Boling, he did not participate in Cui Gan's siege of the prince, so Old Li did not implicate him.

As one of the few Shandong gentry members who survived the previous siege on the prince, Cui Dunli was naturally special.

During the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Prince of Lujiang Li Yuan detained Cui Dunli and interrogated him about the situation in the capital. Cui Dunli remained steadfast and unyielding, and was therefore deeply appreciated by Li Shimin.

Cui Dunli was also known for his "deep understanding of the Tibetans' sentiments". He was sent as an envoy to the northern minority tribes such as the Turks, Xueyantuo, Uighurs, and Tiele many times. Every time he made a request, he would get the emperor's approval. He could be said to be a rare diplomatic talent.

Li Shimin looked at him and said in a deep voice: "Sir, I order you to hold the banner and tell Xueyantuo that I will marry my fifteenth daughter, Princess Xinxing, to Yinan in exchange for Qibi Heli's return to the court!"

As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the court was shocked.

(The third update has been sent, the latter part should be this chapter...)
(The 2000 words in the previous chapter were revised without any extra money, and this part is 1600 words, so everyone will not lose money, and may even make a small profit!)

(End of this chapter)