All the way to the north.
The Turks who had returned from Chang 'an City became more excited as they headed north. When they saw the Turks to the south of the Yellow River, they cheered and rode forward to meet the people who had come to welcome them.
Although there was no lack of wealth in Chang 'an City, all the Turks knew that they were not the masters. They were the real masters when they returned to the grasslands.
In the central tent of the Turks, the Turks formally pledged their loyalty to Li Simo. "Greetings, Khan!"
"Everyone, please rise!" Li Simo said in high spirits. Although he had been appointed as the Khan of the Turks by Li Shimin in Chang 'an City, it was an empty promise. Now, the loyalty of the Turks gave him real power.
"Thank you, Khan!" The leaders of the tribes stood up and looked at Li Simo with burning eyes.
Li Simo took a deep breath and said, "It has been ten years. We Turks have moved south for ten years. Today, it is all thanks to Khan's mercy that we are allowed to return to the grasslands and give the Turks their homeland in the Southern Desert."
The leaders of the Turks cheered. Although the tribes that had moved into the grasslands lived a richer life, they could only live with their tails between their legs. They missed the days when they were the kings of the grasslands.
"However, the Turks' homeland in the Southern Desert is occupied by Xue Yantuo. Warriors of the Turks, take up your weapons. If Xue Yantuo does not return the homeland to the Southern Desert, take it back with your scimitar," Li Simo said loudly.
"Take it back!" The leaders of the Turks shouted. Ten years ago, when the Turks were powerful, Xue Yantuo was just a small tribe that depended on the Turks. They did not care about the Turks at all. In the eyes of the Turks, as long as they returned, Xue Yantuo would definitely give up the homeland in the Southern Desert.
Li Simo looked at the Turks who were still immersed in the past glory of the Turks and frowned. However, he did not destroy the confidence of the Turks. Instead, he paid more attention to them.
"I hereby announce that we will return to the grasslands immediately!" Li Simo raised his arms and shouted.
Following Li Simo's order, the Turks who had already finished their preparations impatiently began to move. Even though everyone knew that it was already autumn and not a suitable time for migration, the Turks didn't seem to mind at all. The joy of returning completely overshadowed the worry of the long distance migration.
Soon, thirty thousand Turks' herdsmen, three hundred thousand cattle, horses, and other livestock, and forty thousand cavalry were ready. However, this was only the first batch of returning Turks. The rest of the Turks would return to the grasslands in an orderly manner.
"We are back!" The Turks cheered.
One by one, the Turks crossed the Yellow River on the pontoon bridge that had already been built. The elders of the Turks looked at the waist-high withered grass and couldn't help but shed tears of excitement. After ten years, the Turks had finally returned to their homeland.
As the herdsmen crossed the Yellow River one by one, some leaders who had complicated thoughts retracted their gazes from the direction of Chang 'an City. They heaved a sigh of relief when they realized that there was no sudden attack from the Tang Dynasty army. There was no sudden attack, which meant that the Heavenly Khan truly wanted them to return.
"Don't worry. The Heavenly Khan is broad-minded and won't break his promise. We only have one enemy on the grasslands, and that is Xue Yantuo." Li Simo's eyes revealed a hint of worry.
Ordinary herdsmen were immersed in the excitement of returning to their homeland, but he, the Khan of the Turks, had to consider the survival of his tribe. Xue Yantuo, a former subordinate tribe of the Turks, had become the biggest threat to the Turks.
"There is a lot of grass north of the Yellow River, enough for the Turks to survive the winter. Settle down here and return to the old land of the Turks after spring," Li Simo ordered.
The grasslands north of the Yellow River were the most fertile grasslands in the grasslands. In addition, there had been no grazing for ten years, so it was enough for the grassland tribes to survive the winter. Moreover, the climate was milder than that of the Gobi Desert. Of course, there was another important reason that Li Simo didn't mention, which was that this place was closest to the Tang Dynasty. The Turks had suddenly returned and hadn't gained a firm foothold yet. If there were any changes, they could ask for help from the Tang Dynasty as soon as possible.
"Yes!"
All the Turks accepted the order. As long as they could return to the grasslands, it was enough for them. It didn't matter where they set up camp.
As the tribes set up camp in the grasslands north of the Yellow River, the Turks officially returned to the grasslands. However, the return of the former overlords of the grasslands was like a storm that swept across the grasslands.
"The Turks are back!"
All the tribes on the grasslands were shocked when they heard the news. In less than ten years, the strength and ferocity of the Turks were still deeply etched in the minds of the tribes. When the smaller tribes heard the news, they immediately retreated back to the old land of the Turks and returned to their own small and barren territories.
These smaller tribes were all waiting. The biggest impact of the return of the Turks was the current overlord of the grasslands, Xue Yantuo. The number of tribes that had invaded the old land of the Turks was also the largest. All the tribes were waiting for Xue Yantuo's response.
In the cold north of the grassland, even if the north of the Yellow River only had withered grass and trees, this place was already a world of ice and snow. In the snow, a huge tent stood proudly. This was the tent of Xue Yantuo, the Barbarian Khan.
"The Turks are back!"
The Xue Yantuo nobles all looked at the Tang Dynasty envoy in shock.
The envoy nodded, "That's right. The Heavenly Khan has already given the order for the Turks to return and give the old land of the Turks to the Turks. Before that, the old land of the Turks that Xue Yantuo took over must be returned."
"What? Return? Then what about me? Don't tell me I can return to the Yellow River? "A muscular Xue Yantuo man suddenly stood up. He was the second prince of Xue Yantuo, Magnanimity.
The envoy said proudly, "The Yellow River doesn't belong to Xue Yantuo. It doesn't belong to you just because the owner isn't home."
"This is the rule of the grasslands. The strong are respected!" Magnanimity snorted angrily.
"Returning things to their original owners is the rule of the Tang dynasty. In the past, the grasslands were chaotic and fought with each other. However, with the rule set by the Heavenly Khan, the grasslands are to guard their own land and live in peace. No fighting is allowed." The envoy warned.
Magnanimity's face was immediately filled with anger, "That's impossible! The grasslands are the grasslands of the various tribes, not the grasslands of the Tang dynasty. The rules of the Tang dynasty don't apply here. "
The envoy looked at Magnanimity with disdain, "Even if we follow the rules of the grasslands, the strong are respected, the Tang dynasty is also strong. We still have to follow the rules of the Tang dynasty."
Magnanimity's face immediately turned red, as if his neck was being choked. He couldn't say anything.
The old man hurriedly dissuaded, "Envoy Tang, please calm down. My unfilial son is vulgar and doesn't know etiquette. I've admired the etiquette of the Tang dynasty for a long time. I'm willing to follow the etiquette of the Tang dynasty to guard our own land and protect the peace of the grasslands."
A trace of sarcasm appeared on the face of the envoy, "At least you know what's good for you!"
In the tent, the nobles of Xue Yantuo were angry but didn't dare to say anything. The barbarian even said nice things and offered a generous gift to the envoy.
After the envoy left, Magnanimity exploded, "Father, why are you giving in to the Tang dynasty? Once the Turks gain a foothold in the grasslands, will there still be a place for me, Xue Yantuo, to stand?"
Everyone knew that a mountain couldn't accommodate two tigers. There could only be one overlord in the grasslands. Xue Yantuo and the Turks could only exist. Otherwise, there would be no peace.
The barbarian man slowly stood up. Even though he was old, he still exuded a majestic aura. A trace of awe flashed across Magnanimity's face. This was the barbarian man Khagan who had shocked the grasslands for ten years.
"I, Xue Yantuo, am not afraid of the Turks or the Tang dynasty. Although the Tang dynasty is powerful, I can still protect myself if they attack the Mobei Dynasty. But I, Xue Yantuo, am definitely no match for the Turks and the Tang dynasty. Once the Tang dynasty and the Turks unite, I, Xue Yantuo, will definitely lose. "The barbarian man Khagan regained the wisdom of a mighty lord.
"Then are we willing to give up the overlord of the grasslands? Go back to the bitter cold of the Mobei Dynasty again. "Magnanimity said unwillingly. Now that Xue Yantuo was in his prime, he naturally didn't want to tie his hands.
Xue Yantuo shook his head, "No, there will be a war between the Turks and Xue Yantuo. However, this war will bypass the Tang dynasty. Once Xue Yantuo destroys the Turks, the Tang dynasty will have no choice but to accept this fact no matter how unwilling they are."
"Bypass the Tang dynasty?! How is that possible? " Magnanimity shook his head. Now the Tang dynasty was determined to support the Turks. How could they sit back and watch Xue Yantuo destroy the Turks?
The barbarian man Khagan showed a trace of confidence and said, "Don't worry. I have received a definite news. Li Shimin will go to Mount Tai next year. Chang 'an City has no leader. This is a heaven-sent opportunity. Now secretly contact the other grassland tribes. Once Li Shimin leaves Chang' an City and goes to Mount Tai, immediately attack the Turks. When the Heaven Khan returns, the Turks will have been destroyed and the Heaven Khan will have no choice but to accept me."
At this moment, the barbarian man Khagan showed the majesty of the overlord of the grasslands.
"Yes!"
Magnanimity was convinced.
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