"I hereby confer Murong Shun the title of Prince of Xi Ping! Khan of Luwu Gandou … "
In Fuqi City, in the tall tent of Tuyuhun, Gao Shilian stood in the middle as he read out Li Shimin's imperial edict as the special envoy of the Tang dynasty. Meton stood beside him quietly.
"Thank you for your permission, Khan. Murong Shun accepts the edict!"
Murong Shun, who was dressed in a purple robe, bowed as he received the edict. He then walked up to the throne in the middle of the tent.
Murong Shun looked at the throne that was right in front of him. This was the position that he had dreamed of many times. Now that it was finally going to come true, all the years of grievances were swept away.
Murong Shun waved his long sleeves and sat on the throne.
"Greetings, Khan!"
Under the lead of King Xuan, the leaders of the tribes bowed and greeted.
Murong Shun had seen with his own eyes how the leaders of the tribes met with Fu Yun. The number of leaders was at least twice as many as what he saw now. However, this was not the time to be calculative. From today onwards, he was the Khan of Western Tuyuhun.
Thinking of this, he could not help but feel proud. Who would have thought that the former Crown Prince who was looked down upon in Fuqi City would suddenly become the Khan of Tuyuhun?
"I hereby appoint King Xuan as the Prime Minister. He will be in charge of Tuyuhun's government affairs. King Xuan …"
After Murong Shun wantonly distributed the titles, the group of Tuyuhun leaders all received a decent title. Everyone was overjoyed.
"Report! Khan, Tubo's special envoy is here to congratulate you! "A Tuyuhun cavalryman suddenly entered the tent and said loudly.
"Tubo's special envoy?" Everyone in the tent fell silent and looked at Murong Shun who was sitting at the top.
Gao Shilian and Meton could not help but frown. Tubo's special envoy came at such a sensitive time. It was obvious that he did not come with good intentions.
"Why is Tubo here uninvited?" Murong Shun was surprised. He did not invite Tubo.
"Reporting to Khan, it's Tubo's special envoy invited by the Minister of Foreign Affairs!" King Xuan, who was at the front, stepped out from the crowd and said loudly.
When Murong Shun heard that Prince Xuan had acted on his own initiative, he couldn't help but frown and stare coldly at Prince Xuan.
However, King Xuan was not afraid at all. "Tubo and Tuyuhun are neighbors. The two countries have been in contact for many years. Now that the Khan has succeeded the throne, Tubo coming to congratulate him is a tradition."
Murong Shun looked at King Xuan's calm face and the anger in his heart rose involuntarily. He was angry not because of Tubo's arrival, but because King Xuan acted on his own and did not even mention it to him before.
Murong Shun was just about to fly into a rage when he caught sight of Gao Shilian and Meton from the corner of his eyes. His heart skipped a beat as he forcefully suppressed the anger in his heart and said, "Today is the day of I's ascension to the throne. Those who come are guests. Welcome!"
"Yes!" King Xuan bowed and replied. His lowered face involuntarily revealed a trace of a proud smile.
"I suddenly heard that the late Luwu Gandou Khan has ascended to the throne. I, Wang Songzan Gambu, am here to present a congratulatory gift!" As the voice came, a familiar figure reflected in Meton's eyelids.
"Lu Dongzan!" Meton's heart trembled. He had never underestimated this famous person in history. At this sensitive moment, Tubo could not sit still and sent Lu Dongzan.
"Tubo is very polite!" Murong Shun nodded and said.
The sudden addition of Tubo might not be a bad thing for him. Perhaps he could use him to counter the pressure brought by the Tang dynasty. Mo Jiazi mocked him that his position was a castle in the air, which had always bothered him. Now that Tubo suddenly joined, of course, it made him dissatisfied, but it was also an opportunity for him.
Murong Shun was proficient in the history of the Han dynasty. Only when Tubo, Tuyuhun, and the Tang dynasty were the three pillars, Murong Shun would have more right to speak.
Gao Shilian's face suddenly turned ugly. He was a cunning old fox, so he naturally knew Murong Shun's plan to gain advantages from both sides.
Meton also sighed slightly. Murong Shun thought that he was luring the tiger to drive the wolf away, but he did not know that this would be the biggest mistake he had made in his life. The Tang dynasty might let go of Tuyuhun for the sake of its reputation, but Tubo was bent on annexing Tuyuhun and unifying the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
"Lord Gao, Merton, it's been a long time since we last met. Nice to meet you!" Lu Dongzan saw Meton and Gao Shilian here and immediately greeted them with a smile.
"Lu Dalun! You're too polite! "Gao Shilian said lightly.
Dalun was the title of Tubo's Prime Minister. At this moment, Lu Dongzan already held great power in Tubo and held the position of Prime Minister.
Lu Dongzan saw that Gao Shilian's attitude was cold, but he was not angry at all. He was still watching Murong Shun's ascension ceremony with a happy face. Even Meton could not help but secretly praise him. He was indeed a person who could be recorded in the history books.
"The ceremony is over!"
With King Xuan's loud shout, Murong Shun's ascension ceremony was officially over. Murong Shun had officially succeeded as the 18th Khan of Tuyuhun.
"Lu Dalun, Lord Gao, and Merton have come from afar. I am very grateful. I have already prepared some good wine for a long time. That is the best wine in the Tang dynasty. Merton should be familiar with it!" Murong Shun looked at Meton and said humorously.
Lu Dongzan's eyes flashed when he heard this. He glanced at Meton and Murong Shun unnoticeably. Suddenly, he understood.
"Haha, this is the best wine in the Mo Family Village. I heard that in the grassland, a lot of good horses were needed to exchange for a small amount. Today, we are in luck." Lu Dongzan laughed loudly.
"It's just a small trick. If you two come to Chang 'an, you can have as much Xie Qianchou as you want. It's free!" Meton retorted.
Lu Dongzan and Murong Shun could not help but be stunned. Both of them did not have good memories of Chang 'an.
"Come, come, come! Let's drink! "Lu Dongzan laughed and tried to smooth things over.
The four of them sat down and drank three rounds of wine.
"Congratulations on your ascension, Khan. I wish that Tubo and Tuyuhun will be as close as brothers! Let's be friends forever! "Lu Dongzan put down his wine glass and said sincerely.
Murong Shun was secretly angry at Lu Dongzan's obvious provocation. However, Tuyuhun had just been established. It was not appropriate to offend Tubo, a powerful country. He could only awkwardly change the topic and said, "It's all thanks to the Khan's trust. I will remember it."
Murong Shun was prepared to play both sides of Tubo and Tuyuhun. Naturally, he would not easily express his position.
"All of this is what Duke Xiping deserves. The Tang dynasty will not mistreat our own people." Gao Shilian said with a double meaning.
"Oh right, Merton! It's all thanks to the Khan's mercy that he allowed Tuyuhun to use the silage method. I'm sorry, Merton! "Murong Shun said apologetically to Meton.
Meton frowned and turned to look at Gao Shilian.
Gao Shilian nodded awkwardly and said softly, "Duke Xiping used Chaka Salt Lake in exchange for the right to use the School of Mo's unique skill. His Majesty took pity on the suffering of the Tuyuhun's herdsmen and allowed it."
Meton was furious. What suffering of the Tuyuhun's herdsmen? It was all because of the benefits of the Great Green Salt Lake.
"I will obey His Majesty's order!" Meton's expression softened.
"Thank you, Merton, for your help!"
Murong Shun was secretly pleased. At this moment, what he needed the most was the support of the large tribes. Exchanging the Chaka Salt Lake, which was useless to him, for the silage method was worth it. After all, there were plenty of salt lakes in Tuyuhun, and there was no lack of salt.
"Marquis Mo's ultimate technique is beneficial to the grasslands. Even I, who am far away in Tubo, yearn for it. I heard that in order to marry the princess, Marquis Mo had once made a promise of a thousand horses as betrothal gifts and ten thousand taels of gold as a matchmaker. My Tubo is willing to offer a thousand horses and ten thousand taels of gold in exchange for the right to use the Mo Clan's ultimate technique. I hope that Marquis Mo can make things convenient for us!"
Murong Shun could not help but be stunned. He looked at Lu Dongzan with jealousy. During his coronation ceremony, Lu Dongzan's gift was not even comparable to Lu Dongzan's offer.
Meton was not moved. He put down his wine cup and said: "If I don't agree, will Tubo abide by my rules?"
Lu Dongzan's face stiffened. He laughed dryly and said: "On the plateau, it is difficult for the herdsmen to survive. Merton, please do us a favor. I will repay you generously in the future."
Lu Dongzan did not directly answer Meton's question, but the meaning of his words was clear. Tubo was determined to get the School of Mo. If the School of Mo stopped while they were ahead, the betrothal gift for the princess could be easily obtained. If Meton did not know what was good for him, he might not even get the School of Mo.
This time, even Gao Shilian quieted down and waited for Meton's decision. In Tuyuhun, Meton did not get a single penny. But in Tubo, there were thousands of horses and tens of thousands of taels of gold at his fingertips.
"Is there a need to consider?" Murong Shun sneered in his heart. Any normal person would know what choice to make.
Even Lu Dongzan was full of confidence.
"I'm sorry! I've let you down! "Meton shook his head firmly.
"Ah!"
Everyone's eyes widened. They looked at Meton in disbelief. Such a huge amount of wealth was in front of them, but Mo Jiazi rejected it so straightforwardly.
Lu Dongzan immediately said anxiously: "If Merton thinks it's too little, the price can be discussed!"
Meton shook his head and said: "This is not a matter of price. Since the Khan has exempted Tuyuhun from using the School of Mo, the right to decide this matter has been transferred to the Khan. If Tubo wants it, you can request it from the Khan. The Khan is spread all over the world and has pity on the common people. He will not let Tubo's herdsmen suffer. Of course, even if Tubo's herdsmen secretly use it, this Marquis is young and has little power. Naturally, I can't control Tubo."
"Merton, you must be joking!" Lu Dongzan smiled bitterly.
Lu Dongzan felt bitter in his heart. If he could secretly use it, why would he take out thousands of horses and tens of thousands of taels of gold as a reward? The Tang dynasty had defeated the Turks and Tuyuhun in succession and was fully deserving of the title of overlord. Tubo had not yet reached its peak, so naturally, he did not dare to offend the Tang dynasty.
However, if this matter was settled in Chang 'an, perhaps Tubo would not have to pay the money, but he would lose more.
"Merton treats money like dirt. I admire you!" Murong Shun snorted coldly in his heart, but his mouth was full of praise.
Gao Shilian's face was full of praise. Everyone lamented that Morton was a prodigal son. However, in Gao Shilian's opinion, Morton was the one who valued money the most. He was not soft-hearted when he spent money, and he would not take a single cent that he should not take. Just based on this wisdom alone, he was worthy of his reputation.
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