Chapter 235: Marriage Conditions (2)
Changsun Wuji had never thought that his nephew would ask this question, but it was not easy for him to answer.
As his uncle, this is the imperial court, the most sacred place in the empire. How could he interrupt the speech of the crown prince of the empire here in a capacity other than that of a monarch or a minister?
This is disrespectful, not to mention that he did it in front of the supreme ruler of the empire, which is a crime of great disrespect!
As the prime minister of the empire, interrupting the speech of the crown prince in front of the emperor is still a crime of great disrespect.
Therefore, no matter what Changsun Wuji said, Li Chengqian could take the opportunity to make trouble and let him know who is the monarch.
Changsun Wuji was speechless for a moment and didn't know how to answer!
"Okay! Fuji's mistake was unintentional. Chengqian should not hold on to him. Fuji is not only the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, but also your uncle."
"Fuji, you too. Chengqian hasn't finished talking yet. How can you interrupt him? It's not too late to listen to him first." Li Er said to the two of them.
"Yes!" Li Er had spoken, so Li Chengqian would not go against Zhangsun Wuji.
"Okay! Chengqian, continue!" Li Er said.
"We agree to the marriage proposal from the Western Turks, but the Western Turks must give their five subordinate states of Guizi, Yutian, Shule, Zhujupo, and Congling to the Tang Dynasty."
"In this way, not only can the strength of the Western Turks be weakened, but it will also be more conducive to the appeasement of the Western Turks by the
Tang Dynasty." "At the same time, it can also ensure the smooth flow of the Silk Road in the Western Regions and consolidate the border defense of the Tang Dynasty in the northwest, which is very important for the Tang Dynasty." Li Chengqian said.
As long as the Western Turks are willing to cede the territories of these five vassal states, it is nothing to agree to the Western Turks' request for marriage. Anyway,
with these five vassal states in hand, castles and military towns can be built on this land.
As for whether the Western Turks will only agree verbally and return behind the scenes, or will they obey in public but disobey in private?
This didn't matter to Li Chengqian at all. As long as you agree to cede the vassal states, the Tang Dynasty would immediately send a large army to station in the territories of these five countries.
There was no need to worry that the Western Turks would not keep their promises, or even go against their promises.
What was needed was a reason to be able to march the army in with integrity.
Li Er thought about it and naturally understood the importance of these five countries to the Tang Dynasty. As long as they obtained the territories of these five countries, they would control the main transportation routes to the Western Regions.
"Chengqian's idea is very good. I think this idea is very good! It not only solves the problem of fighting, but also does not worry about the Western Turks becoming stronger."
"It can also combine the opinions of both sides. According to the prince's suggestion, send someone to reply to the Western Turkic envoy and convey the intention of the Tang Dynasty to the Western Turkic Khan."
"If you want to marry the princess of the Tang Dynasty and make peace with the Tang Dynasty, you must cede the five countries of Guizi, Yutian, Zhujupo, Shule and Congling." Li Er said.
Li Er was very satisfied with Li Chengqian's performance. Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling and others did not have any opinions on this.
"Father! We can build military towns in Guizi, Yutian, Shule and Yanqi to ensure the safety of the Silk Road. We can name them the Four Anxi Towns." Li Chengqian continued.
"This is a good suggestion. With the Four Anxi Towns, we don't have to worry about the problem of the northwest border." Li Er nodded and said.
"Your Highness! What if the Western Turkic Khan Yibi Shekui pretends to agree to our request for ceding land as a betrothal gift and marries my Tang princess, but then refuses to give it to us?" Chu Suiliang asked.
Chu Suiliang felt that the Western Turkic would never agree to cede land, and was even deceiving. It would be better to refuse directly.
Why bother to waste more words on this, and even give up the title of princess for nothing, as if the title of princess is free.
Don't end up stealing chickens and losing rice. Not only did you not get the territories of the five countries, but you also let the Western Turks take away a princess for no reason. No
matter how you think about it, it feels like a loss! Rejecting the marriage proposal from the Western Turks will not lose anything, so why bother.
"As long as the Western Turkic Khan Yipi Shekui agrees to cede these five countries to the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty will not be afraid of the other party's regret or deception, but will be afraid that the Tang Dynasty will not be able to take these five countries."
"What we want is just a promise from the Western Turks! A legitimate reason, even if the Western Turks regret it, what can we do!" Li Chengqian said.
Everyone understood what Li Chengqian meant. As long as the Western Turks agreed to cede the land as a betrothal gift, it would not matter whether the Western Turks agreed or not.
If they don't give it to us, won't we just go and get it ourselves? In terms of power, who is the Tang Dynasty afraid of?
"Chengqian is right! As long as the Western Turkic Khan Yibishekui dares to agree to cede land as a betrothal gift, our Tang Dynasty can hold the five countries of Guizi and Khotan in our hands."
"Don't worry about the Western Turkic Khan going back on his word. Besides, the marriage is not completely without any benefits."
"With the current strength of our Tang Dynasty, even if Yibishekui Khan dares not go back on his word, not to mention that the Western Turkic Khanate is still supported by the Tang Dynasty. Without the Tang Dynasty, he can't sit firmly on the throne of Khan."
"If Yibishekui doesn't know what's going on, just find someone obedient to replace him. He is not the only one who can become Khan." Li Er said. He agreed with Li Chengqian's idea.
Seeing that Li Er had spoken, everyone stopped talking about this matter. Anyway, no matter how much they said, it would be useless if Li Er did not accept it.
Instead, it would make Li Er unhappy. Why bother to make himself unhappy!
"Your Majesty is right. The strategy offered by His Highness is very good!" Zhangsun Wuji said with a smile.
"What about you? Do you think the prince's words are appropriate?" Li Er did not agree with Zhangsun Wuji's words and looked at other people.
The tone of questioning revealed another meaning.
"What Situ said is very true!" Chu Suiliang, Fang Xuanling and others echoed.
"Okay! Let's stop here today! Everyone disperse! Wang Yuan, send someone to the post station to notify the envoys of Western Turks." Li Er said, and ordered Wang Yuan to do the work.
"I will take my leave!" Li Chengqian and others bowed and left.
Li Er sent someone to the post house to convey his intention to the Western Turkic envoy, asking him to return to the Western Turkic to tell Yibi Shekui Khan about the attitude of the Tang Dynasty.
The Western Turkic envoy immediately left Chang'an that day and returned to the Western Turkic to report to their Khan. Whether they agreed to use the five countries as a betrothal gift to marry the so-called Tang princess depended on what their Khan said.
In March of the 20th year of Zhenguan, Yibi Shekui Khan agreed to cede the five countries as a betrothal gift to marry the Tang princess. Li Er selected a woman from the royal family as a princess and married her to the Western Turkic Khan.
At the same time, the Tang court ordered the Anxi Protectorate General Guo Xiaoke to accept the territories of the five countries ceded by the Western Turks.
On the first day of the third month of the 20th year of Zhenguan, a solar eclipse appeared in the sky. Qin Tianjian thought it was uncertain and that a disaster would befall.
On the sixth day, Li Er issued an edict to abolish the Liaozhou Governor's Office and Yanzhou.