My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 100: Tang Dynasty Marriage, This Time It’s a Real Princess

Xue Rengui became the commander of the Eastern Palace Brigade, which was almost the lowest official position in the Eastern Palace.

Chen Yunchao then explained the matter of the Military Academy to Xue Rengui. Xue Rengui, who had been a little depressed, suddenly became excited.

At that time, Xue Rengui still remained somewhat ignorant and naive. Although he was already 28 years old, he had spent the first half of his life farming in the countryside.

Now that I have suddenly entered a place like the Eastern Palace, I feel completely confused.

"I'll send someone to pick up your wife and children. You can tell Yun Chao who else you want to bring."

"In the backyard, I will reward you with a house."

Li Chengqian easily arranged Xue Rengui's trivial matters. Compared with those small places in the countryside, the environment in the East Palace was naturally more comfortable.

It would also relieve Xue Rengui of his worries and allow him to serve him wholeheartedly.

After Er Feng's era, there were only a few famous generals who could lead the Tang army, and no matter how well they were treated, it would not be enough.

"Thank you for your grace, Prince."

Xue Rengui immediately knelt on the ground and saluted deeply.

This is no longer a simple favor of recognition.

A sentence echoed in Xue Rengui's mind.

If you treat me as a national hero, I will repay you as a national hero.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and asked Xue Rengui to stand up. He knew his feelings very well.

There is nothing better than adding icing on the cake, than giving timely help.

It’s like in the future, you, who were originally living in poverty, suddenly meet a noble person who gives you a luxury car, a villa, and a high-paying job. There is only one thing in your mind: A gentleman will die for his confidant.

For Li Chengqian, such a small matter as the quota for the Military Academy was just a matter of a word.

But in fact, the screening is quite strict.

As the opening time of the Military Academy approached, Erfeng had been repeatedly summoning the prince to the Taiji Palace to discuss the details of the regulations over the past two days.

“Try to avoid recruiting people from aristocratic families, especially those from large and powerful families.”

"The main ones are brigade commanders who come from humble backgrounds, but ordinary people are better."

Li Chengqian put forward his own opinion that the greater significance of the Military Academy was to centralize power, strengthen the imperial power and suppress the aristocratic families.

After all, today's imperial examination system is actually a disguised form of selecting filial and honest people, and there are almost no ordinary people who can become officials through this path.

Even if one has good literary talent, local officials may not necessarily recommend him.

Li Shimin nodded, agreeing with the prince's idea. In fact, he was already doing so.

"I have already asked people to review the files of all the registered brigade commanders and make a selection."

"I'll send you a copy of the list when the time comes, and you can take a look at it."

This means that Li Chengqian should arrange some of his own people to go in, but Li Chengqian does not have many people under his command, at most he can add some brigade commanders in the East Palace.

"I plan to let the elephant go in and exercise for a bit."

Li Chengqian suggested.

Although he was only twelve years old, he was not young for the Tang Dynasty.

Compared to Li Chengqian, who had a son named Li Xiang at the age of twelve, he was already able to get married.

However, Li Chengqian did not let Li Xiang get married and have children too early.

My health is so good that I feel it will not be a problem for me to live to be a hundred years old.

It would be so embarrassing if my son and grandson were outlived by then.

"Xiang'er has good literary talent, and it's time for him to familiarize himself with military affairs."

Li Shimin had no objection to this. From the perspective of inheritance, the crown prince would ascend the throne after his death, and then Li Xiang, the eldest grandson of the emperor, would take the throne.

"Winter hunting will begin in two days, so make good preparations."

"Given your archery skills, I am looking forward to it."

Li Shimin added.

The winter hunt was originally scheduled for earlier, but was delayed because of the Military Academy incident.

"Okay, Father."

Li Chengqian left Liangyi Hall in a four-wheeled carriage.

On the way back to the East Palace, Princess Gaoyang arrived.

Obviously, she had been waiting here for quite some time.

"Why are you here?"

Li Chengqian asked.

Princess Gaoyang glanced at the eunuchs Wen Zhong and Chen Yunchao, and her meaning was very clear.

Li Chengqian waved his hand, and the two men stepped back.

"Brother, please help Xinxing."

Li Chengqian frowned slightly. Fifteenth sister? Princess Xinxing.

"What's up with her."

Princess Gaoyang's eyes were filled with anxiety and worry. She tightly grasped Li Chengqian's sleeve and said, "Brother, father wants to send Xinxing to marry the Zhenzhu Khan of Xueyantuo. The journey will be long and arduous, and I don't know how much suffering she will have to endure."

"Besides, it's a strange place with no relatives around. How can a weak person like Xinxing endure such hardships?"

"Brother, please help Xinxing and ask the emperor not to take her as a marriage partner, okay?"

Li Chengqian frowned slightly. He had no impression of this matter.

He asked, "I don't know this, how did you know it?"

The status of princesses in the Tang Dynasty was not low, and most of the princesses used for marriage were daughters of royal family. For example, Princess Wencheng was the one that Li Shimin asked the various kings to choose, asking who had extra daughters willing to marry into the royal family.

Many people signed up, but the daughters of princes and dukes might not necessarily have a good life. The status of dukes and dukes in the Tang Dynasty was not high, especially since there were many concubines' daughters.

Princess Wencheng was a member of the royal family and she volunteered to go to Tubo to marry.

Wencheng was canonized as a princess, but she was not a princess originally.

"My father went to see Xinxing and told her personally. I asked someone and found out that Xueyantuo has arrived in Chang'an today and will come to the court to pay homage tomorrow."

Princess Gaoyang and Princess Xinxing have a very good relationship.

Princess Xinxing was sent to marry a foreign prince, but it was obvious that Li Shimin did not like her very much.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and the eunuch Wen Zhong ran over.

"Your Highness."

"I want to ask you if you know anything about the Xueyantuo marriage."

"This slave knows."

Li Chengqian asked: "What happened? Tell me in detail."

The eunuch Wen Zhong explained: "Two or three months ago, Qibi Heli returned to Liangzhou, and his original tribe members planned to submit to Xueyantuo."

"These tribesmen have long been thinking about rebellion, and they hope that Qibi Heli can go with them."

"Qibi Heli has always been unwilling to betray Your Majesty and firmly opposed to joining the Xueyantuo."

"But the tribesmen ignored his wishes, forcibly kidnapped him, and brought him before Xueyantuo Zhenzhu Khan."

"Zhenzhu Khan tried to persuade him to surrender, but Qibi Heli refused to surrender until his death. It is said that Xueyantuo cut off his left ear to show his sincerity."

"After word of this came back, His Majesty was willing to exchange Qibi Heli for a marriage alliance."

Li Chengqian asked: "So it has been decided that Princess Xinxing will go to marry?"

The eunuch Wen Zhong bowed his head slightly and said, "That should be the case."

Li Chengqian frowned and said, "Such a big thing, how come I don't know about it?"

The eunuch Wen Zhong hesitated slightly and said, "Your Highness was in a good mood with Chengxin at that time and had no interest in state affairs, so he didn't know." Li Chengqian's face was calm. He didn't care about the things that happened to Chengxin.

At that time I had just arrived and was unfamiliar with the environment, but now I can face it with a normal attitude.

"Brother, you must save Xinxing."

Princess Gaoyang was about to cry, or maybe she had already cried before.

Li Chengqian couldn't help but ask: "Didn't you go to ask the emperor for help?"

After all, Princess Gaoyang was very much favored by Erfeng.

Princess Gaoyang choked up and said, "I went to ask my father for help, but he said that military and national affairs are not a joke."

She always felt that her father doted on her and obeyed her in everything.

It was also for this reason that she felt that her father would agree to anything she asked.

However, as his own marriage had been unsuccessful some time ago, his father remained indifferent when he pleaded for Xinxing.

At this moment she understood her true position in her father's heart.

In comparison, the prince, who is often scolded by his father, is the truly important one.

When something really big happens, only the prince can convince his father.

Li Chengqian frowned and said, "Don't worry, I'll go ask my father and see what's going on."

"Go back and rest first. I'll have someone notify you later."

Princess Gao Yang shook her head slightly: "I'll wait for my brother here."

This is because she was afraid that the prince would just deal with her superficially and then ignore the matter.

She has a really good relationship with Xinxing, otherwise she wouldn't have achieved this.

Li Chengqian laughed and said, "Okay, whatever you want."

Then he ordered: "Yun Chao, turn around and go to Liangyi Palace."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Princess Gaoyang was very worried when she saw the prince's carriage returning again.

Only the crown prince can see his father whenever he wants.

In fact, she went there again earlier, but her father refused to even see her.

On the other hand, Li Shimin was somewhat surprised at the prince's return.

"Cheng Qian, why are you here again? What's the matter?"

Li Chengqian said frankly: "It's because of the matter of the fifteenth sister."

Li Shimin suddenly thought of something and asked, "Did Gao Yang come to find you?"

Li Chengqian said: "Yes, why did the emperor let the fifteenth sister go to marry? Is there no one left in the royal family?"

Li Shimin explained: "It's a long story. This matter is not as simple as you think."

Li Chengqian said, "I'm not in a hurry. Father, just take your time. The princess's marriage is such a big thing. As the crown prince, don't I have the right to know about it?"

Li Shimin felt helpless when he heard the slightly questioning tone. Ever since he had whipped the crown prince five times, it seemed that his authority as a father had been shattered.

As a result, the prince was no longer respectful to him as he used to be, and he became strong-willed.

However, Li Shimin himself understood that it was indeed somewhat unfair to the prince, especially in the matter of King Wei.

Therefore, as long as it was not an important matter, Li Shimin would not reprimand the prince casually.

"Well, since Your Highness wants to know, I will tell you."

Li Shimin then told the story of why he allowed Princess Xinxing to marry.

If we trace back to the source, this is also related to the Wei River Alliance of the Eastern Turks.

In order to avenge the humiliation of the Weishui Alliance, Li Shimin contacted the Xueyantuo tribe while developing the national strength of the Tang Dynasty.

Xueyantuo was a tribe of the eastern Gaoche, but had a low status among the Turks and was a third-class citizen.

Unlike other nomadic peoples, they have a strong sense of national superiority and pride, and they believe themselves to be the noblest people in the world.

With a strong sense of nationalism and self-worship, they regard conquering the world as their mission and believe that this is the will of God.

The ethnic groups north and south of the desert all regarded the Turks as their common leader, but they had suffered from the Turks for a long time.

The Turkic nobles were composed of the Ashina clan and the Ashida clan, and were called the "Blue Turks". Although they were very few in number, they held the military and political power of the Turkic Khanate. The Khanship could only be inherited by the Ashina clan.

The former Tiele tribes such as Zhishi, Sunong, Bayan and Sheli were called "Black Turks" because they pledged loyalty to the Turks earlier and shared the same language. They were second-class citizens in the Turkic Khanate and could hold some low-level positions.

The third-class citizens were the nine-surname Tiele tribes, such as the Xueyantuo, Huihe, Pugu, Hun, Bayegu, and Tongluo tribes. They were not considered Turks, had a low social status, and had almost no political rights.

The lowest class were the eastern hunting tribes such as the Khitan, Xi, and Shiwei, who had the lowest status among the Turkic tribes.

In the eyes of the Turkic nobles, "all nations in the world are enemies", so under their rule, ethnic barriers are strict and the Turkic nobles are superior to other nations.

Other tribes were subjected to heavy taxes and levies in peacetime, and had to follow the troops and receive supplies during wartime. If they disobeyed, they would be killed.

Wherever there is oppression, there is resistance, let alone the powerful and difficult to control Nine-Surname Tiele.

For these tribes, they have suffered from the Turks for a long time and have always been secretly uniting to resist the Turks.

In the first year of Zhenguan, while Jie Li Khan led his cavalry to the Tang Dynasty to revolt and signed the Weishui Alliance, the Turkic country was empty, and the Xueyantuo tribe took the lead in rebellion. Later, the Uighur, Bayegu, Pugu, Xi, Khitan and other tribes also rebelled one after another and declared independence or surrendered to the Tang Dynasty.

In the third year of Zhenguan, all the tribes of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate rebelled.

What’s funny is that in August of the third year of Zhenguan, under pressure from the situation, Jie Li Khan asked the Tang Dynasty to pledge allegiance and marry his daughter to him, but was rejected by Li Shimin.

He then joined forces with the Xueyantuo to destroy the Eastern Turks, and Su Dingfang captured Jie Li Khan alive.

After the defeat of the Eastern Turks, Xueyantuo's Zhenzhu Khan Yinan took over the Eastern Turks' homeland.

The Xueyantuo surrendered to the Tang Dynasty and secretly expanded their power.

"Yinan sent me three thousand war horses, apologized for his crime and asked for marriage. He also threatened Qibi Heli's life and asked me to marry my daughter instead of the princess canonized by the Tang Dynasty. How could I not know his intentions?"

"He wants to use the name of the Khan to suppress the tribes and strengthen himself."

Li Chengqian frowned and said, "Why should Father agree to his request? This will make other tribes think that the Tang Dynasty is weak, and thus arouse their rebellious hearts."

Li Shimin said: "The strength of the Tang Dynasty has never been determined by what others think, but by the swords and swords of the soldiers, fighting and killing, which made the four directions submit."

"If I don't agree to his request, Xueyantuo will definitely interfere in the conquest of Goryeo next year."

Having said that, Li Shimin turned and walked to the bookshelf, took out a book from it, and handed it to the prince.

Li Chengqian took a look.

This is the original letter written by Erfeng to Xueyantuo, which is equivalent to two copies of the official letter.

The gist of it is that my princess is the most noble woman in the world. If you, Xueyantuo, want to marry my daughter, you must have a generous dowry.

Then there was a long list of betrothal gifts.

The most eye-catching thing among these is that more than 10 horses, cattle, sheep and camels are needed, and the leader Yi Nan has to go to Lingzhou in person to welcome the bride.

The deadline for the wedding is before the end of the year.

"Did he agree?" Li Chengqian couldn't help but ask.

"Of course, otherwise why would I tell Xinxing about this matter?" Li Shimin replied.

Li Chengqian thought for a moment and said, "Although Xueyantuo is well-developed in animal husbandry, 100,000 cattle and sheep are not a small number. It seems that Zhenzhu Khan is very ambitious."

"But it's winter now. It's not certain that the cattle and sheep can be safely transported to Lingzhou at this time of year."

"What will happen if I fail to arrive on time and in the required number, Father?"

Li Shimin laughed and said, "That means Zhenzhu Khan is not sincere enough. If he is not sincere enough and God is not on my side, why should I marry my daughter to him?"

Li Chengqian asked again: "If they arrive on time and in the required number, what will happen to your father?"

Li Shimin was silent for a moment, and then said: "That means Xinxing is unlucky. I have already said something, how can I change my mind overnight?"

(End of this chapter)