Chapter 120 Yi Nan, give him a whole life!

Li Shimin was not surprised at Yi Nan's surrender.

At this rate, the constant harassment of the Xueyantuo by these vassal troops alone would be enough to overwhelm them.

What's more, the Tang Dynasty is plundering the enemy from behind. If they really raise an army to attack, the Xueyantuo will not be able to resist at all.

Old Li was actually a little unhappy that Xueyantuo took so long to realize his mistake and return to the right path.

If you had surrendered with courtesy when I sent the envoys, you would still have retained your title of Duke. But what about now? You are so careless that you want me to let you go?

If I let you go this time and everyone follows my example in the future, will I, as the Khan, still have any dignity?

It is difficult to be the big brother, and it is even more difficult to be the leader among a group of countries.

It’s not that Lao Li doesn’t want to bring all these countries under the rule of the Tang Dynasty, but after all, the time is not right now and the culture has not been fully assimilated. After all, you can’t eat a fat man in one bite.

"I can feel your remorse." Li Shimin said thoughtfully, "I will accept these 50,000 cows and 100,000 sheep as an apology in order to reassure you."

"Thank you, His Majesty the Khan!" Yinan touched his chest with fear and trepidation.

I thought it was over, but Li Ji suddenly stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Xueyantuo defied the authority of the Tang Dynasty and dared to accept the Qibi tribe who defected from the Tang Dynasty without authorization, and even detained your Majesty's trusted general Qibi Heli. As a vassal of the Tang Dynasty, it is our duty to send Xueyantuo back."

"Now that our Tang Dynasty has mobilized a large army, Xueyantuo has just repented. If we just lightly disclose this matter, I am afraid that the army will be dissatisfied..."

When Yinan heard Li Ji's words, his eyes went dark.

Fortunately, he thought Li Ji was a good person just now, and gave him advice, saying "If the Khan imitates the story of carrying a thorn stick to apologize, Your Majesty will definitely let the Khan go", but he didn't expect that you, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, would actually...

He was really overthinking it. Li Ji just wanted to give Li Shimin a good life.

Yi Nan, give him the whole life!

"What Duke Ying said makes a lot of sense." Li Shimin nodded slightly, looked at Li Ji and said, "According to your opinion, what should we do?"

"When we sent out the troops, it was the busy autumn harvest season." Li Ji began to make up a lie with his eyes open: "In order to conquer Xueyantuo, the soldiers we recruited were willing to leave their food in the fields and follow Your Majesty to conquer the rebels. Now Xueyantuo wants to lightly cover up this matter. This is definitely not allowed. We must give an explanation to the soldiers."

Li Ji’s words were very simple. The cattle and sheep you sent were just the same price as last time.

Since you are not satisfied with the price last time, just add some more until we are satisfied.

What he said was also problematic. It was already November when the troops were sent out, and generally speaking, the Tang Dynasty did not harvest crops in November.

But even if Yinan knew, he could only grit his teeth and pretend not to know.

On the grassland, Yinan always discusses issues with others from the perspective of strength.

But Datang just laughed and said, no one can argue with me from the perspective of strength.

"What you said is very reasonable." Li Shimin nodded approvingly: "Taishigong said, 'Food is the people's first necessity'; the Book of History also said, 'People are the foundation of the state, and a solid foundation brings peace to the state'. If we cannot compensate the soldiers for their losses, people will surely be dissatisfied."

This is actually...

Anyway, Yi Nan doesn't believe it.

But there was nothing he could do if he didn't believe it. After all, he had to bow his head. Yi Nan's eyes were red, and he gritted his teeth and stamped his feet: "In this case, in order to compensate the losses of the Tang soldiers and the friendly countries that cooperated with the Tang Dynasty, I am willing to provide another 50,000 horses and 100,000 sheep!"

"It's hard for you." Li Shimin sighed.

"Your Majesty...it's not difficult!" Yinan's heart was about to explode.

After consoling Yi Nan with some kind words, Li Shimin found an excuse to send him back to collect cattle and sheep.

What? You think you, Xueyantuo, are pitiful?
Do you think I, a general who lost an ear, should be pitied?

After Yinan left, Qibi Heli walked into the house.

Seeing this general who was loyal to him coming back to his side, Lao Li couldn't help but stand up and walk down the stairs quickly.

When Qibi Heli saw the emperor coming down the steps to greet him, he immediately rolled on the ground and crawled on his knees to Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" He lay on the ground and shouted loudly, venting the depression in his heart for the past month.

Li Shimin's eyes turned red and tears fell.

"Qibi, you are finally back!" He helped Qibi Heli up and addressed him affectionately.

"Your Majesty!" Qibi Heli, a man of iron, had burst into tears.

Old Li reached out his hand to touch the broken ear of Qibi Heli and said distressedly: "Why do you have to do this?"

"My loyalty to Your Majesty is witnessed by the sun and the moon!" Qibi Heli was not good at speaking and could only express his loyalty.

Li Shimin was deeply moved, but he did not forget Li Xiang.

"Xiang'er, come here." Old Li waved to Li Xiang.

Li Xiang was originally looking at the tough guy crying, when he suddenly saw Li Shimin calling him. He scratched his head and walked forward.

"Qibi, at that time, someone brought news that your entire family had defected. The entire court believed it without a doubt, but my grandson was the only one who said with absolute certainty that he believed you would never betray me."

Li Shimin reached out and rubbed Li Xiang's head, smiling and saying, "My grandson and I have the same idea. He said, 'Qibi has a heart as hard as iron and stone, and will never betray my father.' I think so too."

Qibi Heli looked at Li Xiang with emotion. He never expected that besides Tian Khan, there was someone who was willing to believe him.

The warriors on the grassland only respect the strong, but in the young grandson of the emperor in front of him, Qibi Heli really saw the shadow of the Heavenly Khan.

And from Li Shimin's words, Qibi Heli thought of another meaning.

That was what Tian Khan meant, to confirm Li Xiang's identity as the successor.

Qibi Heli was of course convinced of this, because he thought he was a bit brainless. If even a brainless person like him could understand the meaning, then it was a foregone conclusion, right?

"I would like to thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!" Qibi Heli stroked his chest and said in greeting.

"General, there is no need to be so polite. I have heard about your deeds when you conquered Tuyuhun, so I am sure that you will never betray my father." Li Xiang said with a smile.

Li Shimin smiled and nodded, then reached out and stroked Li Xiang's head twice, and then issued an order: "Order, Jin Qibi He Li is the general of the right guard!"

The General of the Right Guard was one of the Twelve Generals of the Guard, of the third rank, in charge of the overall government affairs, and in charge of all the Eagle Palaces, and in charge of the palace guards.

This represented Li Shimin's trust in Qibi Heli and was also a reward for his loyalty. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward!" Qibi Heli thanked excitedly.

Then he added: "My tribe has two minds and betrayed the Tang Dynasty. Please, Your Majesty, deal with them according to the law."

After Li Shimin pondered for a moment, he looked at Li Xiang and asked, "Xiang'er, what do you think should be done?"

"It would be better to break up the Khitan tribe and distribute them to various villages in Gyeonggi Province. They can be organized into households according to family size, with two or three households in one village. The government will give them farmland, and the villagers will teach them how to farm and give them Chinese surnames. What do you think, old man?" Li Xiang talked about his way of dealing with the matter.

In fact, this is a detailed version of "large mixed residence, small concentrated residence". Logically, the Qibi tribe should be a separate village. But Li Xiang wanted to assimilate them, turn them into Tang people, and use them as a pilot... so he made this suggestion.

As for whether nomadic people can adapt to cultivated land... Well, if they can't, you can't blame the Tang Dynasty. It's not the imperial court that won't give you a way to make a living. Who can you blame if you can't learn to farm?

Besides, this is a punishment, a punishment, bastard!

As for whether two or three Tiele households would band together to go against the villagers...that's really overthinking.

Don't take the propaganda about "Han people being gentle, kind, respectful, frugal and modest" seriously. In fact, during the Han and Tang dynasties, Han people were full of martial virtues, and even now they still have the afterglow of the past.

For specific examples, you can search for village wars in our country.

That was just a battle between two villages. In the fierce battle, the villagers of the two villages took turns using tactics such as encirclement and attacking reinforcements, infiltration and division, and they were even able to skillfully coordinate infantry and artillery, which was jaw-dropping.

Afterwards, a total of four artillery vehicles, more than 60 homemade rifles, more than 200 kilograms of explosives, more than 200 homemade grenades, more than 300 meters of fuse, nearly 2,600 detonators, and countless controlled knives were seized.

In the Neon Warring States period, it would at least be a combined battle level.

Of course, Old Li understood what Li Xiang meant. To be honest, he had never considered this method of digestion and annexation.

The Tang Dynasty has always adopted a control policy towards the surrendered foreign tribes. Where has it ever used this method?

After thinking about it for a while, Li Shimin felt that it was quite reasonable. However, further tests were needed to see the specific effect.

Now the Khitan tribe had already committed a serious crime, and any punishment according to the law would not be excessive, let alone this kind of experimental punishment?

This can't be called a punishment, it can be said to be a reward.

It doesn’t matter if something unexpected happens. At most, the villagers will unite and beat him to death.

"Okay, let's do as Xiang'er said." Li Shimin nodded.

After announcing the handling opinions, Qibi Heli expressed his gratitude to Li Shimin and Li Xiang profusely.

After all, they are his own people. Just like what Xiao Yu taught Li Xiang, it is impossible for Qibi Heli to be completely heartless to his people.

Unintentionally, Qibi Heli owed Li Xiang another favor.

Xuanwumen side quest completion degree +1 (bushi)

Seeing that things were over, Tumidu suddenly stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Tian Khan, I have an immature idea..."

Li Shimin nodded and said, "You can speak as you please."

"I think that since Xueyantuo is weak now, why don't we destroy it in one fell swoop to avoid future troubles?" Tumidu said righteously.

Hearing Tumidu's words, Daha Kugo, the leader of the Khitan tribal alliance, also stood up and said, "What the Tubo leader said makes a lot of sense. Your Majesty, Heavenly Khan, I also think we should send troops together to destroy Xueyantuo!"

Li Shimin looked at the Tang army again, and Ashina She'er said in the same way: "Your Majesty, I think so too."

"Now is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Li Ji also stood up and said.

Almost all the ministers in the palace and the leaders of foreign races agreed with this suggestion.

After all, the Xueyantuo are currently powerful, and it is unknown what will happen if they make a comeback in the future.

Li Shimin hesitated, and before he made a decision, he found that Li Xiang had already stood up.

"Your Majesty, I think it is not possible." Li Xiang raised his objection.

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows and asked, "Why does the Prince of Hengshan say that?"

"Your Majesty, the Tang Dynasty is the supreme country. When dealing with vassal states, credibility is of utmost importance." Li Xiang said righteously, "Since we have already promised the Yi Nan to stop fighting, both sides should abide by the rules and temporarily stop fighting."

It’s not that he was pedantic. As a prophet, he knew that Yi Nan would not live long and would soon die of illness.

After Yinan died of illness, his two sons, Bazhuo and Yimang Tulishi, fell into internal strife, which greatly weakened Xueyantuo's strength.

According to history, the Tang army took down the Xueyantuo after their internal conflicts with almost no effort, which can be said to be a big bargain.

If we go to war with Xueyantuo now, it may not be decided in one battle. After all, it is winter and the weather is cold.

Moreover, a major event was about to happen in Goguryeo. If Xueyantuo could not be quickly resolved, the problem of Goguryeo would be delayed again and again. When Yeon Gaesomun integrated the power of Goguryeo, it would not be so easy to fight.

Wars are fought with logistics. In ancient times, productivity was underdeveloped and a war to annihilate a country was launched once a year... Let alone Li Shimin, even if the rule of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing was added, it would be difficult for them to withstand the consumption.

Of course, what Li Xiang said makes sense. After all, there are no eternal friends between countries, only eternal interests.

You just need to know this in your heart, but you must never say it in front of everyone, otherwise, this will be the end of the ugly country.

Today he fools this person, tomorrow he tricks that person, and finally his subordinates all become alienated from him. At the beginning of the century, the ugly country was invincible and rampant in the world. On the eve of Li Xiang's time travel, he could only stick his neck out and argue with others, "I really went to the moon."

And the biggest reason is that Xueyantuo is a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty, and belongs to the category of Tang Dynasty's younger brother. You can be dishonest with the enemy, but you can't be the same with your younger brother. If the younger brother does not abide by the moral code, the elder brother can naturally bring a group of people to beat him up. But if the elder brother does not abide by the moral code, the younger brother will definitely be alienated.

"What Prince Hengshan said is very true. As the Heavenly Khan, I should value my credibility." Li Shimin certainly knew how important the idol burden of the Heavenly Khan was. This was the foundation for all ethnic groups to unite under him and become his loyal followers.

What's more, he knew the situation of Xueyantuo very well, so he was not in a hurry to attack Xueyantuo. He wanted to wait for Xueyantuo to become chaotic and then reap the benefits. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
Li Shimin added: "Since you have promised Yi Nan, you should fulfill your promise."

"The Heavenly Khan has a broad mind and values ​​trust and righteousness. We are ashamed of ourselves!" The leaders of all tribes stroked their chests and said.

They also realized this problem. If the Tang Dynasty could go back on its word to the Xueyantuo, it could do the same to them.

Li Shimin's timely braking made them feel relieved.

Li Xiang took the opportunity to say, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Why don't you take this opportunity to hold a meeting with the tribes and meet the leaders of each tribe?"

When Li Shimin heard this, he was immediately moved.

(The third update is sent to...)
(End of this chapter)