Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

Sifangguan.

Inside the spacious house.

Yi Shitong personally cooked a bowl of hot mare's milk and delivered it to Dou Fengjie.

Even though Dou Fengjie had already issued a merciful decree to dissuade him from drinking wine, women, singing, and dancing, he still kept his vows against it.

It wasn't just about observing etiquette; it was also about genuinely feeling some sorrow for one's father.

If his father were still alive, why would Dou Fengjie have faced such difficulties, to the point of being so cautious in everything he did?

As for dealing with Murong Xiaojun, it was merely a matter of anticipating the emperor's thoughts and using Tuyuhun as a pretext to exert influence.

"On this mission, I am acting on the orders of Zhenzhu Bilge Khan to present the Tang Dynasty with 500 fine horses and 1,000 cattle and sheep."

"This mare's milk is freshly squeezed out, and it's still warm."

Yi lost control and was somewhat pleased with himself.

Yi Shitong certainly pulled off a novel move.

Dou Fengjie was curious about what Yi Shitong would drink if all the horses in the herd were male.

The products of the Xueyantuo in the north and the Turks in the south were not much different, and the quality of their horses was also similar.

Turkic horses or Xueyantuo horses are not particularly fast runners, but they excel in carrying heavy loads and have good endurance.

"I don't understand. Teler followed Zhenzhu Bilge Khan back from the Western Turks and cooperated with the Tang Dynasty to fight against the Turks. Even if he didn't make any great contributions, he certainly worked hard."

"Leaving aside the establishment of separate tribes, shouldn't we at least give one of the following: Qulu Chuo, Apo, Jielifa, Tutun, or Sijin?"

"Shouldn't Zhenzhu Khan be so stingy with an official position?"

Dou Fengjie's words struck a nerve with Yi Shitong.

Yi Shitong smiled wryly and waved his hand, then raised his bowl to toast Dou Fengjie.

Without any added sugar or other seasonings to neutralize it, the original mare's milk has a strong, pungent smell.

Xueyantuo became the second largest country in the world, and the previously scattered Tiele people found their leader and flocked to them.

It's one thing if the tribes of She, Jielifa, Tutun, and Sijin, who actually control the tribes, don't give them the right to rule, but why don't they give them the right to rule the tribes of Quluchuo and Abo in the yazhang either?

Yi Shitong knew that besides his archery skills, he didn't have much else to offer, but couldn't he even get a nominal position?

"I heard that Zhenzhu Khan's two children have started to compete with each other?"

Dou Fengjie spoke casually.

Yi Shitong put down his bowl and snorted, "Jielibi knows how to lead troops into battle, and Bazhuo has the support of his mother tribe, the Yantuo tribe. Both of these little brats are arrogant and disdainful of everyone."

The early Xueyantuo was formed by the combination of the Xue tribe and the Yantuo tribe, and the strength of the Yantuo tribe should not be underestimated.

Although Ba Zhuo was incompetent and violent, he had the support of his cousin Duo Mozhi and his uncle who had fled earlier.

Jielibi established another tribe, which was set up for Dadu.

In comparison, it's understandable that Yi felt disappointed about losing control.

Even if he lacks ability, he doesn't deserve to be treated like this, does he?

The palm of the hand is flesh, but the back of the hand isn't?

"Actually, Teler lacks an opportunity to establish his authority." Dou Fengjie, his eyes gleaming with mischief, hatched a terrible plan. "The Turkic Chebi tribe of Mount Axi has 30,000 troops."

The following words are left blank, allowing Yi Shitong to think for himself.

Before the fall of the Turkic Khaganate, the 30,000 soldiers were indeed like wolves and tigers.

Now, the Turkic Khaganate is fragmented, and in Yishitong's eyes, the 30,000 soldiers are nothing more than 30,000 goats.

Sheep mainly lived in the Western Turkic Khaganate. A small number of sheep existed in the pastoral areas of Longyou during the Tang Dynasty, and they were all recorded as white sheep in all the records.

However, in the Tang Dynasty, the term "white sheep" not only referred to white sheep, but also to the takin that lived in the Qinling Mountains, also known as the "four unlikes".

Chebi Khan was originally a minor Khan of the Turks and a strong contender for the Great Khan. When the Tang Dynasty dealt a heavy blow to Jieli Khan, he chose to stay at home.

Thus, the Chebi tribe rose to become one of the most powerful among the Turkic tribes.

If the Turks were to be unified by the Chebi tribe, it would inevitably pose a threat to the Tang Dynasty.

Yi Shitong's fingertips tapped repeatedly on the table.

It's hard to say how capable Ashina Hubo, the Khan of the Chebi, was, but Yi Shitong himself was somewhat lacking in ability.

However, the morale of the Turkic troops had plummeted and was certainly no match for the unstoppable momentum of the Xueyantuo.

There is a chance of winning, but it's not particularly high.

Seeing Yi Shitong's hesitant expression, Dou Fengjie helplessly pointed out, "The Uyghur leader Huo Jieli Fayaoluoge Bodhisattva is a skilled warrior, yet he still relies on the Xueyantuo, doesn't he?"

Yi Shitong slapped his shiny forehead hard, tossing his long hair. "Thank you for reminding me, sir. I completely forgot about that!"

He could have easily suggested to his elder brother that they borrow the Uyghur Yaoluoge Pusa to attack the Turkic Chebi tribe.

Chebi repeatedly tried to curry favor with Xueyantuo, but refused to become Xueyantuo's vassal, which was already a path to his death.

A single minor victory would be enough to solidify Yi Shitong's position in Xueyantuo.

When the time comes, even if his two nephews are vying for power, they will have to win him over.

"By the way, Yan Tuo is so frail, should I just take her in as well?" Yi Shitong's eyes gleamed with greed.

"It's best not to. Although the Yan Tuo clan is easy to conquer, they are Ashina Simo's wife's clan, and the Yin Mountains are a symbol of the Turks. All the tribes will surely come to our aid." Dou Fengjie stopped this suicidal idea.

"What a pity," Yi Shitong clicked his tongue.

There was such a weakling that couldn't be preyed upon by the strong. Yi Shitong felt as if he had been stabbed in the back, and it hurt terribly.

The Tang Dynasty and the Xueyantuo are currently in a honeymoon period. The Tang Dynasty wants to use the Xueyantuo to suppress the various Turkic tribes that want to be integrated, but it also wants to prevent the Xueyantuo from swallowing up the Turks and causing border troubles for the Tang Dynasty.

Yi Shitong's gaze fell on Dou Fengjie, and after a long while, he let out a sigh.

How did such a good child end up being chosen by the eldest princess?

Otherwise, Yi Shitong would have liked to marry her snotty-nosed daughter to him in order to secure a stable future.

Dou Fengjie also felt sorry that although Yi Shitong was not very bright and was easily fooled, he also lacked ambition because of this.

Otherwise, their ambitions will grow, their courage will be savage, and when Yishiyinan grows old, they will rise up unexpectedly, and the entire Xueyantuo will form a three-way balance of power. How wonderful!

-----------------

After appeasing Yi Shitong, Dou Fengjie then went to appease Zhi Shi Shaode and Yan Tuo Sijin.

Both families had members who had entered officialdom in the Tang Dynasty, so they could be considered family members of officials. Dou Fengjie was naturally much more sincere.

"Tuli Khan, Prince of Beiping Ashina Shibobi, died on his way to the court last year, and his son Ashina Heluogu succeeded him."

"Heluogu is young and cannot control the former troops of Tuli Khan."

Zhi Shi Shaode was deeply worried.

This is said as if Shibobi could control his Turkic followers when he was alive.

Shibobi died at the age of twenty-nine, so Heluogu's age was naturally insufficient to convince the public.

The instability of Tuli Khan's former subordinates has not yet affected the Yan Tuo clan, but the Zhi Shi tribe is facing unavoidable trouble, with several local conflicts already occurring.

"The biggest problem for the Turks is that they don't have a Great Khan," Yan Sijin said with a grin that revealed his large, yellow teeth.

Whatever, anyway, the position of Great Khan will never fall to his son-in-law Ashina Simo.

The Tang Dynasty would not allow the Turks to unify the country too early. It would take at least ten years before a Great Khan would emerge from the Turks.

The reason why the Turks have not yet been divided up at this stage is that they serve as a buffer zone between the Tang Dynasty and the Xueyantuo.

You have to endure being slapped by the Tang Dynasty, and you have to endure being slapped by the Xueyantuo.

Between two great powers, the small is hard to contend with; the disorganized Turks were such a small group.