Control your ancestors and create an immortal family starting from the Eastern Han Dynasty

Chapter 138 The trend is irreversible, the world is unified (Part 2, please vote)
The whole world was in turmoil.

The prestige of the Tang Dynasty did not fade with time.

on the contrary--

Under this overwhelming trend, the prestige of the Li Tang dynasty rose gradually throughout the entire land, like the rising sun.

People's hearts are all set on unity.

This is the shared vision of the people of Kyushu after years of devastation.

Who can stop?

Even without Li Shimin launching another military campaign, a steady stream of feudal lords would come to surrender, hoping to gain future wealth and glory through this action.

This was also a chain reaction of Li Yuan's failure to execute Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong.

This move has indeed given hope to many people.

When there is no chance of conquering the world, obtaining a life of wealth and honor is not an option.

But just as some people are willing to surrender, others are willing to put up a stubborn resistance.

But what can we do about it?
Can they stop the Tang army, which currently enjoys immense prestige, or can they withstand this overwhelming momentum?
In fact, the ending was already predetermined.

When these people gave the Li Tang dynasty the opportunity to consolidate its territory, the overall situation was already irreversible.

Unless something major happens within the Tang Dynasty.

But before the world is completely unified, all problems will be suppressed by all of this.

In the sixth year of the Wude era, after all the territories had been completely consolidated.

Li Yuan finally sent Li Shimin again.

This completely ignited the war for unification of the world.

Actually, there were some unexpected events in the middle of this. Someone suggested that Li Yuan should send troops in different directions, including Li Yuanji and even Crown Prince Li Jiancheng.

Indeed, the internal struggle within the Tang Dynasty has fully begun.

However, Li Yuan ultimately refused the offer.

This might be the final battle, and Li Yuan didn't want any unexpected events to occur.

This is what makes Li Yuan unique.

Although at times he seems to lack his own opinions and needs someone to push him in whatever he does.

But he was extremely wise at crucial moments.

In the entire Tang Dynasty, who could compare to Li Shimin now?
After the matter was completely settled.

The entire Tang court sprang into action, with everyone united in their efforts to make final preparations for the unification of the empire.

April;

Li Shimin led an army of 200,000 out of Guanzhong once again.

The news spread;

—The world is in an uproar!
Unlike in the past when the world was in chaos and the people only felt despair, this time...

This time, wherever the Li Tang army went.

The people were surprisingly supportive.

This was naturally due to various prophecies and the help of the Gu family; the people in various places had been waiting for a true golden age for far too long.

The Tang Dynasty has brought them renewed hope.

This is the influence of the Gu family.

Through the restraint and efforts of generations, the Gu family had long since become inextricably linked with the rise and fall of the Nine Provinces, completely breaking free from the constraints of a single dynasty.

Although the Gu family also paid a considerable price in the process.

However, considering the Gu family's dream of passing down their legacy for generations, this is indeed a significant step forward.

In Gu Yi's eyes...

The Gu family has gradually acquired a reputation for representing "destiny".

The Mandate of Heaven is the Mandate of the People.

The influence of the Gu family over the past few centuries has left countless legends in the hearts of the people of Kyushu.

This matter is both a good thing and a bad thing.

The emergence of the Gu family did indeed save the entire Nine Provinces from a potential collapse, but judging from the development of later generations, they will face many crises in the future as well.

This is something the Gu family has to bear, and even he can't change it.

Everything happens for a reason.

Having enjoyed the blessings brought by these halos and avoided one chaotic era after another, the Gu family also had to bear the other consequences, which were also unavoidable.

Li Shimin had only two objectives for this trip.

One is the universe and culture.

This is something that Li Tang must do right now.

The Tang dynasty could have easily forgiven the various regional lords to demonstrate the court's benevolence.

But Yuwen Huaji was not an option.

The reason is quite simple: Yuwen Huaji murdered the emperor.

Even if Yang Guang was no different, he was still the emperor of a unified dynasty. If he let Yuwen Huaji go, the consequences of this matter in the future would be unimaginable.

In any case, Yuwen Huaji must be eliminated.

The second one is Liang Shidu.

That's right, Liang Shidu did not choose to surrender to the Tang Dynasty.

He placed his hopes on the Turks, promising the Turkic Khan great benefits in hopes that the Khan would help him resist the Tang army.

In this battle, Li Shimin's target was them.

He truly wanted to be the "one who conquers all directions" for the Tang Dynasty, and even regarded these two battles as his final obstacles.

Even with the Tang army's current momentum, Li Shimin did not relax his vigilance in the slightest.

He doesn't just want to win!
We must also win the hearts and minds of the people!

Regarding Yuwen Huaji.

Li Shimin discussed the matter with generals such as Gu Quan, and finally decided on a strategy to win hearts and minds.

That's right, it's about winning hearts and minds.

Yuwen Huaji's current subordinates are actually the former generals of Yang Guang, who have always longed to return to their hometown.

Why did Yang Guang cause a mutiny in the first place?

It wasn't just because of his brutality, but more importantly because the soldiers felt no hope.

This ultimately led to a mutiny.

Yuwen Huaji learned from Yang Guang's mistakes and made no attempt to conceal his desire to conquer the Central Plains.

Unfortunately, he couldn't do it.

In his current situation, he is no different from Yang Guang, who had completely lost his will to fight back then.

The so-called mutiny was just one trigger away from happening.

Li Shimin naturally wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. On the advice of generals like Gu Quan, Li Shimin simply stationed his troops on the riverbank and did not show any intention of crossing the river.

Then he sent someone to bring the villagers and elders of the Xiaoguo Army.

At the same time, they secretly placed pillar barrels in the Yangtze River to spread various prophecies such as "Li's destiny will bring a prosperous age".

—This is an absolute killer move.

In many situations, seemingly gentle methods are far more effective than direct attacks.

In fact, Yuwen Huaji truly learned from Yang Guang's mistakes.

He used every means to appease these remnants of the Xiaoguo forces.

It not only improved their treatment.

At the same time, Yang proclaimed his determination to lead them back to the Central Plains. In addition, he assigned widows and unmarried women in Jiangdu to them, forcing them to settle down and make a home in the local area under the guise of bestowing favors.

But these methods ultimately could not stop those prophecies.

Even more so, nothing could stop the soldiers' yearning for a prosperous era and their longing for their families.

When the remnants of the Xiaoguo tribe and their fellow villagers gradually appeared on the riverbank, the situation in Jiangdu had already spiraled completely out of control.

Subsequently, Li Shimin had people spread the word that "the elders of Guanzhong are longing for their son's return."

This is not a prophecy, but a true reality.

Who wouldn't miss their family?
Nursery rhymes from all over the country echoed along the banks of the Yangtze River, and each note seemed to have a magical power, constantly stirring up the homesickness of the brave soldiers.

In the end——

Li Shimin would even have people help their family members express their true feelings, and then immediately throw them into the Yangtze River.

It records detailed addresses and names.

This is naturally impossible to cover everyone.

But it is not important.

If even one person receives it, its impact will spread to countless people.

Faced with Li Shimin's tactics, Yuwen Huaji was truly dumbfounded.

He would much rather Li Shimin personally lead the attack, since he had already made various preparations for defending the city long before that.

This soft knife is completely beyond his control!

He dared not restrict the soldiers' behavior anymore.

If this happens, it will surely trigger a mutiny, and he, the so-called emperor, will surely die at the hands of his own people.

But what can he do?

Yuwen Huaji had considered surrendering.

For him, being able to be emperor was enough, but the Tang Dynasty would not give him that opportunity. He had to bear all the guilt of regicide alone.

He had no choice but to keep fighting.

To keep people's hearts at ease, he could only offer more rewards and keep a close watch on them.

But what can be done about it?

He could stop the soldiers' actions, but he couldn't stop their hearts.

Under the deep darkness of night.

Inside Jiangdu City.

Team leader Liu Kui received the mission to scout the enemy camp, but no matter how he tried to gather the men, the team of fifty was always missing a few.

"Could it be that there are more deserters?"

Liu Kui frowned immediately, a sense of unease rising in his heart.

Yuwen Huaji has already set the requirements.

If any of their soldiers desert, they will be punished level by level.

Thinking of this, Liu Kui didn't dare to hesitate any longer and quickly led his men toward the tents of those people.

The atmosphere in the military camp was not good.

Liu Kui had completely adapted to the atmosphere and strode in. As soon as he opened the tent, he saw several figures sitting inside.

"What are you all doing?"

He frowned immediately, but his heart calmed down instantly.

It's good that there are no deserters.

He would then be spared punishment.

Yuwen Huaji treated these officers, who were among the lowest-ranking officers in the army, very well.

Take Liu Kui for example.

Although he was just a small squad leader, he only had fifty men under his command.

But in this Jiangdu, he already has three wives and they are living quite well. This was something he would never have dared to dream of before.

This certainly alleviated the homesickness of these military officers.

Similarly, this is also the most important reason why Yuwen Huaji was able to maintain his large army.

The Xiaoguo Army has very close ties between its superiors and subordinates.

Besides many fellow villagers, there are also the bonds built up over many years of hard work. Controlling these people is enough to avoid a lot of trouble.

This is where Yuwen Huaji's brilliance lay.

As Liu Kui spoke, he walked towards the group, intending to give them a verbal reprimand as he always did.

But that's it.

The others turned around and looked at him.

In the firelight, the eyes of the group were bloodshot, and tears were streaming down their faces.

They just stared at Liu Kui like that.

One of the youngest men spoke up, "Brother, I miss home."

For a moment, Liu Kui was stunned.

“My father died in the war, and now only my mother and sister are left in the family. If I don’t go back, they won’t be able to survive.”

Tears streamed down his face, and the man's hands trembled uncontrollably.

This is Liu Kui's fellow townsman.

The two had known each other since childhood, which is why he was called his elder brother.

Liu Kui remembered his parents and sister, and their faces, as well as his relatives from his hometown, flashed through his mind.

"Captain, why should we continue fighting? Didn't we agree to go home? Can't we go home now?"

“My mother said that the Gu family has come out of seclusion, and good days are coming for the people. If I don’t go back, the fields at home will be abandoned.”

"."

The group spoke in turn, their eyes fixed on Liu Kui.

Their voices weren't loud, and each of them was choked with sobs.

But these words were like knives stabbing directly into Liu Kui's heart.

Countless memories flashed through Liu Kui's mind at this moment. Looking at the people in front of him and the silent brothers behind him, he suddenly felt that his days in Jiangdu were not so wonderful after all.

He couldn't even imagine what would happen to his family if he didn't go back.

All the energy vanished in that instant.

Liu Kui remained silent for a long time, then glanced at all the brothers present, looked at their expressions, and sighed, "Do you all want to go home?"

"miss you!"

"I want to go home!"

"."

Each response was like an arrow shot from a bow.

Looking at those slightly brightening eyes, Liu Kui clenched his fist, took a deep breath, and as if making a decision, remained silent for a long time before speaking again:
"Come on, I'll take the brothers home!"

This scene was repeatedly repeated throughout the Jiangdu military camp.

Perhaps this is a characteristic of the Chinese people.

Home--

It has always been a haven that nothing else can compare to.

Twenty-three days!

It only took twenty-three days!
Even before May was over, the entire Jiangdu region had completely split apart.

Yuwen Huaji tried every means possible, but he could not change people's hearts or reverse the overwhelming trend.

Li Shimin didn't even need to lift a finger.

He eventually died at the hands of his own generals.

Some people traded his head for wealth and status.

Li Shimin didn't care at all about this.

Watching the soldiers of the Xiaoguo Army come looking for their families and then burst into tears, he remained completely silent, showing no joy whatsoever at having once again pacified a regional lord.

"What has Your Highness thought of?"

Beside him, Gu Quan was also watching this scene and asked softly.

"The people are suffering."

Li Shimin remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "In my view, the so-called Mandate of Heaven is the will of the people of this world."

"If my Li Tang dynasty can always gain the support of the people, what is there to worry about in unifying the world?"

His voice was very calm.

Upon hearing this, Gu Quan nodded in complete agreement.

"Ziyuan." At this moment, Li Shimin turned his head slightly and looked at Gu Quan again: "Do you think I can really create a prosperous world where the people of the world can live in peace, just like Marquis Zhaolie?"

Without hesitation, Gu Quan said very seriously, "This humble general believes in Your Highness."

Li Shimin slightly raised the corners of his mouth, but did not speak directly. He turned his head again to look at everything happening by the river, as if he was thinking about something.

He is still too young.

In addition, his ambition was too strong, and he would think a lot whenever he saw anything.

As dusk spread across the sky, it crushed the last rays of the setting sun onto the shimmering river surface.

Li Shimin suddenly straightened his back, the dark light surging in his eyes was tempered into a sharp sword by the twilight, and his voice burst forth with the burning passion in his chest: "I also believe in myself!"

The heron took flight, breaking the stillness of the air.

He abruptly turned to look at Gu Quan, and slowly spoke, each word carrying immense weight: "But at this moment—"

"I shall wield my long spear and sweep across the eight wastelands! When the mountains and rivers have all returned to Tang territory, I will surely bring back the envoys of the ten directions to the world!"

The river breeze carried these words across the reeds, startling flocks of egrets into flight. The sound of their flapping wings mingled with distant sobs, as they were swept into the surging waves.

Amidst the crashing waves, he stood with his hands behind his back, the twilight outlining his figure with a sharp, golden edge. The wind tousled his hair, revealing the still-healing scar between his brows.

This is the wound he sustained during the Battle of Hulao Pass.

The blood and the setting sun complement each other.

At that very moment, the scar seemed like a miracle, radiating an inexplicable glow before the masses.
Li Shimin did not personally go to Jiangdu.

He entrusted everything to his trusted subordinates, and then once again led his troops to attack Diaoyin City.

Although he is still himself.

But now Li Shimin truly possesses an invincible heart, and that unwavering ambition guides him to always move in the right direction.

He wouldn't take Liang Shidu seriously.

Even if the Turks come to our aid, what can they do?

For Li Shimin, no one could stop his determination to create a prosperous era!

The army passed by in a hurry.

And this was accompanied by the spread of news of the Battle of Jiangdu.

No, this battle cannot be called the Battle of Jiangdu.

Because the Tang army was stationed on the banks of the Yangtze River from beginning to end, and never took the initiative to wage war.

But precisely because of this, the shock this event brought to the world was unimaginable.

Aside from the idea that it was "destined by fate," no one else knows how to convince themselves otherwise.

Even if Yuwen Huaji couldn't compare to the current Tang Dynasty, he was still an emperor of a region.

But that's the kind of person I'm talking about.

They didn't even have a chance to fight the Tang army before they were defeated.

What else could this be but destiny?
The momentum of the entire Li Tang dynasty reached its peak under these various prophecies, especially after hearing that Li Shimin did not do anything to the surrendered soldiers, nor did he require them to forcibly return to the army.

The atmosphere throughout Kyushu has completely changed.

Everyone had a vague feeling that a "golden age" was slowly descending.

At this time, in Diaoyin City.

Master Liang was completely desperate.

He never imagined that Yuwen Huaji would be so useless. In just twenty-three days, without even engaging in battle with the Tang army, he completely lost everything.

That is why he was completely desperate in the face of the advancing Tang army.

If possible—

In fact, Liang Shidu really wanted to surrender to the Tang Dynasty directly.

Unfortunately, he had already sought help from the Turks, for which he not only paid various prices, but also illustrated the potential crisis the Turks might face if Kyushu truly fell into Tang territory.

He didn't even mention Li Yuan, but only explained Li Shimin's ambitions.

— Envoy of the Ten Directions.

Even after so many years, this "name" still resounds loudly among the barbarians from all directions.

Gu Chen once decimated all the barbarian tribes from all directions!
Although Gu Chen did not have any special title among the Turks.

But the reason is...

It was because they were extremely weak back then, not even worthy of Gu Chen's attention, so how could they possibly have any titles associated with him?

However, among the Turks, there are quite a few legends about Gu Chen.

Because the Xiongnu and Rouran, whom they had once relied on, were crippled by Gu Chen.

Naturally, they were also greatly affected.

With Li Shimin's growing reputation and the help of the Gu family, the Turkic Khan had no choice but to take this seriously.

Now he wants to surrender, but how could that be possible?

At that time, forget about wealth and glory.

The Turks would then simply swallow him whole.

Now that things have come to this, he has no choice but to face the Tang army head-on!

Li Shimin has indeed changed somewhat.

He no longer seemed to have all his sights set on unifying the world; his idea for the upcoming battle was to use his power to force Liang Shidu to surrender.

This is not arrogance.

Rather, it was the situation that gave him confidence.

In fact, the plan went very smoothly at the beginning.

Faced with the overwhelming force of the Tang army, no one dared to stop them wherever they went, and they all surrendered.

Although there were some die-hard fans among them.

Unwilling to bear the name of betrayal, they want to put up a stubborn resistance.

But the overwhelming public opinion was so terrifying that strange stories even emerged where civilians killed officials and then surrendered to the Tang Dynasty wherever the Tang army passed.

However, as the Tang army drew ever closer to Diaoyin City...

This situation gradually changed.

Because the Turkic troops arrived and took control of the soldiers' families.

If they do not resist, their families will be killed.

This is actually a characteristic of the feudal era.

By using the soldiers' families to indirectly control the entire army, the soldiers were forced to resist the Tang army.

This did indeed have an effect, affecting the speed of the Tang army.

Of course, this approach is destined to be a drop in the ocean.

If Li Shimin were willing, he could lead a large army to attack directly. Liang Shidu's troops alone would not be able to stop the current Tang army.

However, unexpectedly—

Li Shimin, however, halted his advance. After capturing a few cities, he ordered the Tang army to garrison in place and ceased his offensive.

Tang army camp.

"Your Highness, why did you meet with that Turkic Khan?"

"He's openly opposing our Great Tang Dynasty. They clearly made an agreement with His Majesty, but they've repeatedly broken it over the years. They're just a pack of insatiable wolves!"

"That's right! Are they thinking our Great Tang has no one to rely on? How dare they do this?"

"."

Angry shouts rang out continuously.

The soldiers were all very excited about Li Shimin's intention to send someone to meet with the Turkic Khan.

It wasn't just about the credit, but also about the incomprehension.

They did not believe that the Turks could stop the Tang army.

Looking at the agitated generals before him, Li Shimin remained calm, shook his head, and said, "They are all sons of my land. If you didn't want them, why would you kill each other?"

That's right, although it has not yet unified the world.

But Li Shimin had already regarded these people as subjects of the Tang Dynasty.

This is not a case of womanly compassion.

Rather, it was Li Shimin's compassion for the people after witnessing too much suffering and bloodshed among them.

Kyushu truly needs to recuperate and rebuild.

If we can fight one less battle, we can reduce the bloodshed and suffering of the people.

This was the real reason why Li Shimin wanted to meet the Turkic Khan.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers were speechless, but their fighting spirit remained undiminished.

But just then.

Gu Quan suddenly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting to Li Shimin, and said loudly, "Your Highness is wise. If the people of the world knew this, they would surely be grateful for Your Highness's benevolence."

In an instant, all the generals in Bianjing lowered their heads.

If both Li Shimin and Gu Quan supported the strategy, then there was no possibility of changing it.

What more could they say?
Li Shimin ignored the soldiers' complicated expressions and looked at Gu Quan: "Ziyuan, would you like to come with me?"

The influence of the Gu family members among outsiders was unmatched by anyone else.

"This humble general is willing to follow," Gu Quan said without any hesitation, immediately cupping his hands in greeting.

The news spread instantly.

Jieli Khan agreed to the matter without much hesitation.

In his opinion, he really didn't believe that Li Shimin could replicate the achievements of Gu Chen in the past.

This is also normal.

Throughout history, how many people have achieved what Gu Chen did?

He also wanted to meet this young man who now enjoyed immense prestige in Kyushu and see what he was really like.

Under these circumstances, both sides actually settled the matter completely under these inexplicable circumstances.

— Li Shimin led only a hundred cavalrymen.

That's right, it's the Hundred Riders.

For both sides, bringing too many people would render the meeting meaningless.

Even Jieli Khan was stunned when he saw all this.

He instantly formed a certain judgment about Li Shimin.

This guy is incredibly bold!
These mere hundred cavalrymen could not possibly protect Li Shimin; if he so desired, he could have kept Li Shimin at any time.

But even so.

Li Shimin showed no fear whatsoever, and slowly led Gu Quan into the tent.

"The King of Qin has a hundred riders attending the gathering; aren't you afraid I'll invite you to stay as a guest?"

As Jieli Khan looked at the two young men with sharp features and resolute eyes, he suddenly raised the corners of his mouth and spoke abruptly with a hint of threat in his voice.

He can still speak Chinese.

This change is also due to everything that Gu Ye's generation did.

Although this did not change the rise of the Turks, it did allow the culture belonging to Kyushu to spread.

"If the Khan wanted to keep his guests, why wait until today?"

Li Shimin's expression remained unchanged as he looked at Jieli Khan and smiled, "If we hadn't formed an alliance with the Khan in the past, where would my Li family be today?"

The tent fell silent instantly.

But Li Shimin didn't care at all. He sat down directly in front of everyone in the tent and continued, "I don't know why the Khan has repeatedly broken the alliance and disturbed my Great Tang?"

There was no mediation or maneuvering whatsoever.

Li Shimin got straight to the heart of the matter as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Hmph!" Khan Jieli snorted coldly and laughed disdainfully, "I only promised to let your Li clan start a rebellion. Now your Li clan has occupied most of the Nine Provinces. How can the agreement of the past be valid?"

To put it bluntly, they didn't give enough.

Interests are always at the heart of all disputes.

Li Shimin seemed to have anticipated all of this, and smiled again, saying, "In that case, why doesn't the Khan wait until our Great Tang Dynasty unifies the world?"

"Hmm?" Jieli Khan frowned instantly.

Li Shimin then went to Bianjing and talked about the trade routes that Gu Ye had built in the past, while Gu Quan was also checking for any omissions or deficiencies.

Although the world was thrown into chaos once again.

These places have all been affected.

But the influence of this trade route remains, and the value derived from it is no secret.

Li Shimin's idea was very simple.

That is to use future benefits to avoid this war and quickly unify the world.

Moreover, this move also benefits the people of Kyushu, making it a win-win strategy.

Jieli Khan listened very attentively.

He never expected that Li Shimin would say these things to him.

In fact, for him...

This is indeed a good thing. Although the Turks have risen to power, they still cannot avoid the fatal weakness of nomadic peoples.

—Productivity is severely insufficient.

If Kyushu is at peace, it would indeed be a good thing to be able to trade with Kyushu.

He would naturally be tempted.

But how could a negotiation that is essentially a disguised negotiation end so quickly?

After Li Shimin finished speaking, he immediately smiled disdainfully, "What gives a mere member of the imperial clan the courage to discuss such an important matter with me, the Khan?"

He clearly knew Li Shimin's identity.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately suppressed his smile and looked at Jieli Khan, slowly saying, "So what if they are members of the imperial clan?"

"If I were to become the Great Tang's envoy to conquer all directions in the future, would I be able to settle this matter?"

—The Envoy of the Ten Directions!

These five simple characters instantly attracted everyone's attention.

Even the Khan of the Ten Directions' expression instantly turned serious, but in the end he still smiled disdainfully: "Ten Directions Expeditionary Envoy? Does the King of Qin think he can compare to the Azure Wolf Chasing the Sun of yesteryear?"

He paused slightly as he spoke.

He then slowly raised his hand, his expression instantly turning cold: "How dare you be so arrogant, you mere child?"

The voice just fell.

In an instant, several soldiers rushed into the camp, all armed with weapons.

Without any hesitation, Gu Quan stepped directly in front of Li Shimin.

Li Shimin remained unfazed throughout. He first glanced at the group of people, then at Jieli Khan, and spoke again: "Khan may not believe it, but it will eventually become a fact."

"Could it be that Khan Jieli truly believes he can protect Liang Shidu?"

He did not believe that Khagan Jieli was unaware of the changes in the Nine Provinces.

The great trend of the Nine Provinces has arrived, and no one can stop it.

This was Li Shimin's greatest source of confidence in coming.

They use force to create an illusion, and offer inducements with benefits;
It was impossible for someone as extremely greedy as Jieli Khan not to be tempted.

As expected, upon hearing Li Shimin's words, Jieli Khan's expression changed slightly once again. He looked at Li Shimin seriously and said, "Are you really not afraid that I will kill you today?"

“A true man dies when he should, these are the words of Marquis Zhaolie.” Li Shimin met Jieli Khan’s gaze and slowly rose. “Khan, you may kill me today.”

"But I can be certain."

"If the Khan kills me today, he will never have another chance in the future!"

After discussing the benefits, they will naturally resort to threats.

Li Shimin was a master of negotiation.

The atmosphere inside the tent grew increasingly tense.

Jieli Khan stared intently at Li Shimin, seemingly weighing his options in his mind. Li Shimin didn't say anything more, but simply gripped the sword at his waist.

Time passes slowly.

Gu Quan stood protectively in front of Li Shimin, his gaze unwavering, as if he would strike at any moment.

A few moments passed like this.

Jieli Khan seemed to have finally made a decision. He slowly turned his gaze to Gu Quan and a smile appeared on his face: "This brave warrior is quite extraordinary. Where do you come from?"

Although he did not directly agree, his sudden change in tone already indicated his attitude.

"Gu Ziyuan of the Gu family." Gu Quan didn't even glance at him before speaking directly.

—The Gu family!
Upon hearing those two words, Khagan Jieli's expression changed. He looked at Gu Quan seriously before waving his hand to dismiss the soldiers.

The atmosphere inside the tent instantly softened.

"Truly, heroes emerge from among the young." Khagan Jieli looked at Li Shimin and Gu Quan, smiled, and said, "I, the Khan, will grant your request."

"but--"

He changed the subject: "The things that Master Liang promised to give me, I will take with me."

“Sure.” Li Shimin said without a care.

Upon hearing this, the smile on Jieli Khan's face grew even wider.

Before anyone knew it, Liang Shidu, the so-called emperor, had been completely betrayed by him.

Although there was no special ceremony, the two still renewed their covenant.

And that was right after the alliance.

Khagan Jieli showed no reluctance and immediately led his army back.

This was not unexpected by Li Shimin, Gu Quan, and others.

He practically emptied Liang Shidu, revealing his greedy nature to the fullest extent.

The moment Li Shimin led his army into Diaoyin City, some soldiers were still asking him if it was worth it.

After all, in many people's hearts.

If they launch a forced attack, all of these things might very well belong to the Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin's eyes shone brightly, his expression remained calm, and he said firmly, "Gold and silver treasures are nothing but external possessions, and grain and supplies are just ordinary reserves."

He paused slightly, his words carrying an undeniable firmness, "But to exchange this meager sum for the survival of tens of thousands of soldiers and the saving of hundreds of thousands of civilians from carnage, why hesitate?"

"Whether it's worth it or not is none of my business!"

A simple sentence, without the slightest hesitation.
(P.S.: This is a combined chapter, please vote with your monthly tickets! I would be extremely grateful for your support and will definitely work hard to update. I will not let you down!!!)
(End of this chapter)