"Little Xuan, this Tuli Khagan is the son of Shibi Khagan, known as the Little Khagan of the Eastern Turks. But his Khagan title is just a title, and his strength is not strong. The power has always been in the hands of his father and uncle. In the second year of Wude, Shibi Khagan died of illness. The one who took the throne was not Tuli, but Tuli's uncle Silifoshi, Chuluo Khagan.
In the fourth year of Wude, Chuluo Khagan died, and Tuli's other uncle took the throne aggressively. He is the current Xieli Khagan. Xieli appointed Tuli as the Little Khagan, in charge of the Khitan, Suanni, and other departments.
Because Tuli Khagan did not have a fixed tax on his subordinates, his subordinates resented him. Because of this, many tribes submitted to the Great Tang, such as Xue Yantuo, Xi, and Suanni. Xieli Khagan sent Tuli Khagan to suppress these tribes. Tuli Khagan was defeated, and his soldiers were scattered in disorder. It is said that Xieli Khagan was furious and imprisoned him, whipping him for a long time before releasing him. Tuli suffered such a great humiliation, so he naturally harbored a grudge against Xieli!
From then on, the uncle and nephew of the Eastern Turks entered a state of open strife and covert struggle. Tuli suddenly sent an envoy to the court to beg for peace. He must be unable to withstand Xieli's offensive and wants the Great Tang to send troops to help him out of the siege!
But in this situation, if my Great Tang were to rashly dispatch soldiers, it would be tantamount to declaring a full-scale war with Xieli. The Eastern Turks are currently at the height of their national strength, possessing one million soldiers. If the Great Tang wanted to declare a full-scale war with them and win, how could it be so easy? We must make sufficient preparations before we can start this war! Otherwise, defeat is certain!
But there is not much time left for the Great Tang. Today, Tuli sent an envoy to the court, proving that his forces can no longer withstand Xieli Khagan's attack. Being destroyed and annexed is only a matter of time. And the Great Tang cannot sit by and watch Tuli be annexed like this. Otherwise, Xieli will become even stronger! So, it is difficult! Very difficult! Let's see what decision His Majesty will make today! "
In front of the Taiji Palace, Qin Qiong estimated that there was still some time before the court, so he told Li Zexuan about Tuli's envoy.
"Oh! I see! "
After hearing this, Li Zexuan finally had a rough understanding of the current situation of the Eastern Turks.
To be honest, before this, he didn't even know who Tuli Khan was or which faction he belonged to. He only knew Xieli Khan. There was nothing he could do about it. Who asked this guy to be so famous?
Now that he heard Qin Qiong's explanation, he had a good grasp of the current situation.
The Eastern Turks were in internal strife, but the Great Tang was still not ready to go to war with them! As for Tuli Khan, in front of Xieli Khan, he was but a small grasshopper, unable to resist for long!
"Morning court! All civil and military officials, enter the court for an audience! "
At this moment, an old eunuch stood on the steps and shouted in a high-pitched voice.
The civil and military officials at the foot of the steps immediately fell silent. They straightened their clothes, hugged their tablets, and walked up the steps toward Taiji Palace.
Entering the Taiji Palace, after a round of greeting and greeting, a Turk stepped out from the crowd and bowed to Li Er. "His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang, Xieli Khan has disregarded my late Khan's feelings, disregarded the relationship between uncle and nephew, and openly sent troops to attack my father Khan. I beseech His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang to send troops to aid my father Khan. Ashina Ilhand will be staying in Chang 'an as a hostage! "
Hearing this, the civil and military officials looked at each other in dismay. Li Er asked in a deep voice, "You are Tuli Khan's second son?"
The Turk cupped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, this one is indeed my father's son. I have come to the Great Tang to request assistance and surrender. In order to express my father's sincerity, Ashina Heluohe is willing to remain in Chang 'an as a hostage to express my father's sincerity in surrendering to the Great Tang!"
Sending a son into the court as a hostage!
All the civil and military officials sucked in a mouthful of cold air, thinking that Tuli was really going all out this time! At the same time, this also meant that Tuli Khan had been forced into a corner by Xieli. Otherwise, he wouldn't have staked everything and wholeheartedly submitted to the Great Tang!
After a moment of silence in the hall, Li Er said, "Since I ascended the throne, I have ruled the country with benevolence and righteousness, and I have treated my friends well. Ashina Heluohe, you don't have to mention the matter of a hostage again. My Great Tang doesn't need anyone as a hostage. This is really detrimental to my Huaxia's prestige! Furthermore, I have some friendship with Tuli in the past. How can I take advantage of this and take his son as a hostage? "
Speaking of which, Ashina Heluohe was also a straightforward person. How could he say "I am here to be your hostage" in front of the Emperor? Normally, this kind of thing was tacitly understood, and no one would directly say it. Old Li was the ruler of Huaxia, so how could he not care about his face?
However, Li Er saying that he had some friendship with Tuli Khan was also true. In the seventh year of Wude, the Turkic Great Khan Xieli Khan and Tuli Khan gathered all their forces and invaded the Great Tang's borders. At that time, the Great Tang Emperor Li Yuan sent Li Er out to defend against the Turks on the 21st day of the seventh month. On the 12th day of the eighth month, the two sides clashed at Wulongban, which was known in history as the Battle of Wulongban. Li Shimin used the strategy of sowing discord, working together with Tuli Khan to drive a wedge between Xieli Khan and Tuli Khan, and became sworn brothers with Tuli Khan, causing the Turks to retreat.
It did not matter whether Li Er and Tuli's friendship was due to the situation, or whether it was feigning civility, or because of benefits, or whether it was sincere friendship, but in the end the two of them became sworn brothers, it was an indisputable fact. Although this kind of thing sounded inconceivable to other people!
Hearing Li Er's words, Ashina Heluohe was first stunned, and then he immediately wanted to refute. After all, when he left the Turks, his father had instructed him to do so! He had to complete the task his father had given him!
Who knew that Li Er seemed to know what he was going to say next and spoke first, "Ashina Heluohe, you don't need to say anything more. We will not take you as a hostage! However, if you like the prosperity of Chang 'an and want to stay in Chang' an for a while, we naturally have no reason to refuse! "
Ashina Heluohe's wooden brain finally reacted at this moment. He hurriedly cupped his fists and said, "Many thanks to the Great Tang Emperor for taking me in. Ashina Heluohe is willing to stay in Chang 'an for a while. I only hope that the Great Tang Emperor can send troops to rescue my father. When the time comes, my father will definitely remember Your Majesty's kindness and lead his troops to surrender to the Great Tang Empire, joining the court and submitting to Your Majesty!"
Li Er's eyes narrowed as he said in a deep voice, "In the past, the Turks had internal strife and relied on the power of the Sui Dynasty to stabilize. However, Xieli Khan did not know how to cherish the situation left behind by his ancestors. Instead, he relied on his own strength to indulge his own desires. He was licentious and tyrannical, and his uncle and nephew killed each other. This is truly against the laws of nature.
However, sending troops to the Turks is a matter of great importance. We need to discuss it with the court officials before we can make a decision! Ashina Heluohe, you have traveled a long way from the Turks and must be exhausted. Why don't you return to the inn and rest for a while? After we have discussed with the court officials, we will send someone to inform you! "
Hearing this, Ashina Heluohe thought seriously before finally cupping his fists and saying, "Yes, Your Majesty! Ashina Heluohe will take his leave! "
After that, he clenched his fists in front of his chest and bowed to Li Er. Then, he brought the two Turk emissaries and left the hall!
After Ashina Heluohe left, Li Er's eyes darkened as he looked at the court officials and asked, "Dear officials, do you think that our Tang Empire should send troops to aid Tuli?"
Regarding Tuli's request for help, Li Er himself was' both happy and fearful '. He was happy that the internal strife of the Eastern Turks had caused the Tang Empire's northwest border to have a rare moment of peace. However, he was fearful that if Tuli was destroyed and Xieli became the sole ruler, then it would be difficult for the Tang Empire to destroy the Turks in the future!
The court officials were silent for a long time. Finally, Zhangsun Wuji could not help but step out and say, "Your Majesty, this old official thinks that it is not suitable to send troops now! Two years ago, our Tang Empire had just signed an agreement with Xieli not to attack each other. Now, without Xieli Khan's invasion, if we were to go back on our word and send troops, not only would it be a waste of manpower and resources, but it would also not be the army of a king. "
Hearing this, Li Er's face instantly fell. Indeed, the Wei River Alliance back then was the biggest obstacle for him to send troops to the Turks. The Tang Empire, as a dynasty in the central plains and a country of etiquette, had to have a reason for doing things. They could not be like the Turks, who could fight whoever they wanted to fight. Even if they killed their brothers, no one would blame them. The Tang Empire was particular about sending troops with a reason!
Most of the court officials would not allow Li Er to do something as treacherous as going against the agreement!
"Duke Zhao is right, it is indeed not suitable to send troops now ~!"
"This old official agrees ~!"
"This official agrees ~!"
After Zhangsun Wuji said that, there were immediately voices of agreement in the court.
"Hmph ~! Bullsh * t ~! Bullsh * t! What bullsh * t agreement? Let me, Old Cheng, ask all of you, if Xieli is free now and has sufficient provisions, do you think he will care about the agreement back then? Will he send troops to invade our Tang Empire? "
Although Cheng Yaojin also knew that now was not the best time for the Tang Empire to send troops, but seeing so many officials talking about the Wei River Alliance back then, he could not help but stand up and scold.
The Wei River Alliance was not only the shame of Li Er's life, it was also the shame of Cheng Yaojin's life!
"Hmph! Duke Lu, why are you spouting such vulgar words in the court? Furthermore, our Tang Empire is a country of etiquette and etiquette. When we go to war, we have a reason for sending troops. How can this be a game? "
Zhangsun Wuji pulled a long face and reprimanded Cheng Yaojin.
Cheng Yaojin immediately snorted and said, "Bullsh * t, sending troops with a reason! According to what you said, we can only wait for that brat Xieli to bring troops to Chang 'an City before we can retaliate? "
"Cheng Zhijie, don't be unreasonable in the imperial court!"
Zhangsun Wuji's eyes were dark as he said coldly.
"Your Majesty, this old official thinks that although Duke Lu's words are vulgar, they are not without reason!"
At this moment, someone from the court officials' camp actually stood up and spoke for Cheng Yaojin. It was Du Ruhui!
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