A look of surprise appeared on Li Shimin's face. He could not help but ask, "I wonder who Minister Fang is talking about. As long as it is a loyal person, We will not be stingy with rewards."
Fang Xuanling said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I am talking about the Turks. Ashina Jieshu and Heluohe betrayed Your Majesty and plotted to assassinate Your Majesty, but the Turks did not participate. Naturally, they are loyal to Your Majesty."
Fang Xuanling was using a counter-argument. Among the Turks, if Ashina Jieshu and Heluohe were traitors, the other generals would naturally be loyal. According to Fang Xuanling's words, the generals of the Tang dynasty were also loyal and should be rewarded.
However, although Fang Xuanling's words were not strict, Li Shimin nodded slowly and said, "The Turks are indeed loyal to me. Naturally, I will reward them."
The Turks were flattered. They originally thought that they were lucky that Ashina Jieshu and Heluohe's rebellion did not implicate them. Who would have thought that they would be rewarded?
Ashina Simo's face was filled with shame as he said, "This subject is ashamed to accept it."
Li Shimin shook his head and said, "General Simo's words are wrong. If the Tujue generals all followed the Ashina Alliance and Heluohe to rebel, even if Zhen had ten lives, I am afraid I would not be able to survive. You all are able to scrupulously abide by your hearts and perform your duties faithfully, indeed you can be considered loyal and devoted."
Ashina Simo was extremely touched and said in a clear voice, "Heaven Khan, please be at ease. This subject will definitely not betray His Majesty like Ashina Jieshu and Heluohe. This subject will definitely be loyal to His Majesty. If this subject goes back on his word, let this subject be trampled to death by ten thousand horses."
Being trampled to death by ten thousand horses was a very heavy curse in the Turks. It was almost the same as being pierced by ten thousand arrows. It could be seen how determined Ashina Simo was.
Li Shimin was immediately moved. He personally walked down from the dragon throne and helped Ashina Simo up. He said in a clear voice, "General Simo's loyalty can be witnessed by heaven and earth. I have decided to bestow upon him the imperial surname, Li, as a reward."
Li Shimin's words caused an uproar in Taiji Palace. It must be known that it was extremely rare for Li Shimin to be bestowed a surname. In the entire court, only one person had received such treatment, and that was Li Shimin. Li Ji's original name was Xu Shiji, but because he wanted to avoid Li Shimin's surname, he had changed his name to Xu Ji. When Li Shimin heard this, he was deeply moved and personally bestowed the surname Li upon Xu Shiji.
He changed his name to Li Ji.
"This subject kowtows and thanks the Heavens for their kindness!" Li Simo was so moved that he could not control himself.
If Li Shimin bestowed him with the surname Li, wouldn't that mean that he would be the first among the Turks to be recognized by Li Shimin?
Looking at Li Simo's touched eyes?
Li Shimin felt extremely pleased.
However, he did not neglect the other Turks and rewarded them one by one.
"Many thanks, Heavens Khan!" The Turks all expressed their gratitude.
Li Shimin harvested the loyalty of the Turks?
Only then did he sigh and say, "All of you are loyal and devoted people. There is something in my heart that I do not feel happy about.
Not only have I treated all of you like brothers and sisters?
I have also treated the Turks as well as the people of the Tang dynasty. However, I did not expect that there would be traitors like the Ashina Society. "
Li Simo said proudly, "Your Majesty, please be at ease. Who among the Turks would dare to rebel against Your Majesty without waiting for Your Majesty to take action?
This subject will behead him first. "
The other Turks all agreed.
They looked extremely loyal and devoted.
Li Shimin nodded his head in satisfaction. Sighing deeply, he said, "Ashina's association rate may be wrong, but there is one thing that is correct, that is, the people of the Tujue all want to return to the grassland."
"This!"
The Turkic generals were at a loss as to what to do.
They were enjoying the glory and wealth in Chang 'an, so naturally, they did not want to return.
However, they could not stop the ordinary herdsmen from wanting to return.
"Your Majesty, please be at ease. This subject will definitely strictly restrain the people in the future." Li Simo said.
Li Shimin shook his head and sighed, "There is a saying in the Tang dynasty, that is, a grown woman cannot be kept at home.
If she stays, she will become enemies. The Turks all want to return?
If I forcefully keep them, I am afraid that it will only cause resentment.
Is it difficult for all of you?
Moreover, people like the Ashina Society will not stop. "
Even the biological daughter would become enemies, let alone the adopted daughter of the Turks. There would definitely be endless conflicts in the future.
"Your Majesty! We …! "
Li Simo and the other Turks quickly expressed their loyalty. However, Li Shimin waved his hand and interrupted them. He said firmly, "I have decided to let the Turks return to the grasslands!"
"Ah!"
Suddenly, the entire Taiji Palace was in an uproar. The Turks were shocked. They naturally knew the feud between the Turks and the Tang dynasty. They also knew the reason why Li Shimin forced the Turks to stay south of the Yellow River. If they were in Li Shimin's position, they would do the same. However, they did not expect that Li Shimin would really let the Turks return to the Tang dynasty.
In fact, not only the Turks, but even the ministers of the Tang dynasty were surprised. No one expected Li Shimin to make such a decision.
Meton also frowned. He had already proposed the Ten Outer Paths Plan to Li Shimin, but Li Shimin still decided to let the Turks return to the grasslands.
Zhangsun Chong was overjoyed and couldn't help secretly rejoicing. Could it be that the Emperor still favored him?
Only a few important ministers of the three provinces and six ministries remained silent. The ministers of the Tang dynasty, who wanted to oppose, could not help but remain silent.
"Your Majesty!" Li Simo's face was full of struggle. He wanted to show his loyalty and stay, but when he thought of the countless requests of his tribe, he lowered his head helplessly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Although my tribe will return to the grasslands, I will always stay in the Tang dynasty to serve Your Majesty," Li Simo said firmly.
However, Li Shimin shook his head and said, "General Simo cannot remain in the Great Tang. Right now, among the various Turkic tribes, Xieli Khan has already passed away, and Heluohe, who inherited the position of Tuli Khan, has also participated in the rebellion. The Turks no longer have a Khan, and General Simo is a member of the Ashina tribe. You are the best candidate for the position of Khan. I hereby confer upon you the title of Yimi Sili Khan, to lead the Turkic and Hu settled in various provinces to cross the Yellow River and return to the old lands of the Desert."
"Khan!" Li Simo was shocked when he heard this. He suddenly felt as if a big pie had fallen from the sky. He had never thought that the position of Khan would fall on his head. Although he was a member of the Ashina family, he was the great-grandson of Yi Li Khan. He had long been reduced to a remote bloodline. In the Ashina family, if there were not a hundred, there were at least eighty people who were nobler than him.
Many people looked at Li Simo with envy and jealousy. Li Simo actively expressed his loyalty to Li Shimin, but he did not expect that he would receive such a big benefit. He actually obtained the position of Khan. Many people regretted that if they had expressed their loyalty to Li Shimin in advance, the position of Khan would have fallen on their heads.
Seeing the expressions of the people, Li Shimin could not help but smile. This was the result he wanted. He wanted to let the Turks see the benefits of being loyal to him.
"I thank the Heavenly Khan for his kindness."
The position of Khan was the dream of every Ashina family. It was simply integrated into their blood. Li Simo could not refuse this temptation.
"Greetings, Khan!"
The generals who suddenly appeared bowed respectfully to Li Simo.
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