"Xieli is dead!"
Li Jing could not help but be absent-minded. Speaking of which, Li Jing also contributed to Xieli Khan's end. In the fourth year of Zhenguan, it was he, Li Jing, who led the army to break through the Turks' Tusk and captured Xieli Khan.
It could even be said that Li Jing's glory was obtained from Xieli Khan.
"On the battlefield, everyone depends on their fate!"
Li Jing's heart slowly became firm. At that time, he and Xieli Khan were enemies. Xieli Khan was defeated and could still preserve his life. If he, Li Jing, was defeated at that time, he would probably fall into Xieli Khan's hands and end up even more miserable.
Li Shimin looked up at the sky, not knowing whether to be happy or sad. Xieli Khan had brought a lot of threats to the Tang dynasty and had an irreconcilable enmity with the Tang dynasty. However, a person's death was like an extinguished lamp. With Xieli Khan's death, all the enmity would be written off.
In the Hongyi Palace, Li Yuan, who had just dyed his black hair and wore reading glasses, looked at the ink magazine in satisfaction. After hearing the news of Xieli Khan's death, he was stunned. The ink magazine in his hand fell to the ground, but he did not notice it at all.
Li Yuan's enmity with Xieli Khan was even deeper. Almost during Li Yuan's reign, he had been threatened by the Turks. Especially when Xieli was Khan, they had frequently violated the Tang dynasty. At that time, Li Yuan was wholeheartedly united the country and had compromised a lot with Xieli Khan. The two had fought for a lifetime, and Li Yuan had always been at a disadvantage. It could even be said that he had been humiliated repeatedly.
"I didn't expect you to be one step ahead. This time, I won!" However, there was no excitement in Li Yuan's tone. Instead, there was endless loneliness. Xieli Khan, who was not even 55 years old, had passed away, and he was probably not far from that day.
Suddenly, Li Yuan felt a burst of desolation and was depressed.
In a moment, the news of Xieli Khan's death spread throughout Chang 'an. Many people were talking about it everywhere.
"In my opinion, Xieli deserved it. Back then, he had committed many murders at the borders of the Tang dynasty."
"His Majesty was merciful and spared his life. Otherwise, how could he have lived until now?"
…
The citizens of Chang 'an were no stranger to Khan Xieli. Regardless of whether it was when Khan Xieli led an army of 200,000 to Chang' an in the second year of Zhenguan, or when Li Jing captured Khan Xieli in the fourth year of Zhenguan, the grand scene of the prisoner offering seemed to have happened just yesterday.
The Mo Periodical took the opportunity to do a special issue about Xieli Khan, which described the details of Xieli Khan's rise and decline, and listed the grievances between Xieli Khan and the Tang dynasty one by one. The effect was surprisingly good, and it immediately sold well in Chang 'an.
"Anyone who offends the Tang dynasty, Xieli Khan is a precedent!"
When everyone saw the Mo Journal, they couldn't help but feel relieved.
…
"Official Linghu! Has Xieli's funeral been properly prepared? "During the court assembly, Li Shimin asked.
Xieli Khan lived in Chang 'an City as a guest and was conferred the title of General of the Right Guards. But he was a captive after all and was still under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites.
Linghu Defen stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites is already preparing for the funeral of General of the Right Guards, but his posthumous title is still waiting for Your Majesty to decide."
Xieli Khan was after all a mighty lord, and according to the rules, he should be given a posthumous title according to the emperor's funeral.
"Xieli Khan is a captive of the Tang dynasty, it is already Your Majesty's grace to keep him alive. According to the Minister, there is no need to give him a posthumous title!" An official objected loudly.
"That's right, and Xieli Khan is only General of the Right Guards in the Tang dynasty, so he can be buried as a general."
Quite a few people immediately chimed in. Xieli Khan was different from the successor of Southern Chen and Southern Tang. He was of a different race, and it was the rule of the Huaxia emperors to confer posthumous titles. How could Xieli Khan follow the rules of the Huaxia emperors?
Seeing the objections of the officials, Li Shimin couldn't help but hesitate.
When Zhangsun Wuji saw the situation, he stepped out and said, "According to the Minister, although Xieli is of a different race, he can't forget the etiquette of an emperor. However, what you all said makes sense. Xieli Khan is only a general in the Tang dynasty. Why don't Your Majesty give Xieli the title of king? This way, you can have the best of both worlds. "
Zhangsun Wuji was one of Li Shimin's close officials, and he could understand Li Shimin's thoughts the best. Although Xieli Khan invaded the Tang dynasty, both sides signed an alliance at Wei River, and both sides agreed not to invade each other. However, after only two years, Li Shimin took advantage of the internal strife and natural disasters in the Turks to launch an expedition to the north when the Turks were at their weakest, and took revenge.
Although Li Shimin's actions were extremely wise from the point of view of the Tang dynasty's interests, eliminating one of the strongest enemies for the Tang dynasty, from a moral point of view, Li Shimin had indeed broken his promise. Ever since the Xuanwu Gate, Li Shimin's requirements for himself in terms of morality were extremely harsh. This matter had always been in Li Shimin's heart.
"Moreover, Your Majesty is honored by the world as the Heavenly Khan, and Xieli was also once a Khan. The Minister thinks that since he is a Khan, he should be given the etiquette of an emperor." Fang Xuanling also said.
After all, Xieli Khan had already passed away, and being given the title of king was beneficial but not costly. This had no impact on the imperial court, so there was no need to be entangled in this aspect and appear stingy.
"What do you think, Minister Li?" Li Shimin asked Li Jing. After all, the biggest contributor to defeating Xieli Khan was Li Jing.
Li Jing did not hesitate to bow and answer, "The Minister agrees that Xieli Khan should be given the etiquette of an emperor, so as to calm the hearts of the grassland tribes."
Although Xieli Khan had failed. Although he was held captive in Chang 'an City, in the grassland, there were still many tribes that were loyal to him. Xieli Khan had passed away due to illness and was given the etiquette of an emperor. In this way, the grassland tribes would definitely be united.
The three big shots in the imperial court all agreed to give Xieli Khan a posthumous title. Li Shimin then nodded with satisfaction, "Although Xieli was tyrannical, etiquette cannot be abolished. Xieli will be given the posthumous title of Guiyi King, with the posthumous title of Huang."
"Posthumous title of Huang! Huang Khan! "All the ministers were suddenly moved. This posthumous title could be said to be extremely ingenious.
Since this posthumous title recognized Xieli Khan's identity as an emperor, and at the same time, it attacked Xieli Khan's prestige in the Turks. It could be said to be killing two birds with one stone.
"Your Majesty! In addition, Guiyi King's son wrote that Guiyi King had left a last wish. He wanted his son to carry the coffin to the north and be buried in the grassland according to the etiquette of the Turks. Your Majesty, please make a decision. "Linghu De said.
"Buried in the grassland!" Li Shimin suddenly frowned and said.
"Your Majesty, you must not. This is no less than letting the tiger return to the mountain." Li Jing quickly stopped him. Although Xieli Khan had passed away, his prestige was still there. If his son returned to the grassland, he would definitely receive the support of the grassland tribes. Perhaps in less than ten years, another Xieli Khan would appear in the north of the Tang dynasty.
Li Shimin sneered and said, "Since Guiyi King has such a last wish, then order his people to come and bury him. Cremate him according to the etiquette of the Turks and bury him east of the Ba River."
"Your Majesty is wise!" All the ministers immediately said in unison.
East of the Ba River was the place where Xieli Khan's army reached the deepest part of the Tang dynasty. Li Shimin buried him here. It could be said that the meaning behind it was very profound. It could be seen that although Li Shimin was magnanimous, in his heart, he had never forgotten the Wei River Alliance.
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