In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

"Your Majesty is very kind," Li Yuanchang said in a deep voice, then looked into the distance and sighed, "Actually, I didn't want to do this either, but I had no choice."

"It is truly regrettable that I was unable to attend the passing of the late emperor and the ascension of the new emperor."

Chu Yanbu nodded: "Your Majesty understands Your Highness's intentions, otherwise we wouldn't be here."

"Your Majesty means that what's past is past, and we're still family."

"What does Your Highness mean?" he asked, casting a probing glance.

Li Yuanchang smiled and said, "That's exactly what I meant."

"But so much has happened over the years, and many things will remain unresolved forever."

"For example, during the reign of the late emperor, the court wanted to take action against Kim Min-da, a general who had surrendered from Goguryeo. This would inevitably lead to a rebellion in Goguryeo, and I would be unable to answer to the meritorious generals below me."

Chu Yanbu naturally understood what he meant.

"Your Highness, rest assured, His Majesty has already given instructions on this matter."

"To pardon all, and to promise the safety of all."

Li Yuanchang drank his tea without saying a word.

Seeing that he was not willing to speak, Su Gui immediately stepped forward and said, "Lord Chu, words are not enough."

"Didn't the imperial court say the same thing last time? The result was that 200,000 troops pressed in and they called us traitors."

"That's right!"

Guo Chao and others echoed and exerted pressure.

No one can believe what someone says.

Chu Yanbu remained calm and countered, "Then, Your Highness, what do you wish His Majesty to do?"

Li Yuanchang blurted out, "I am a subject; how can I ask the emperor to do anything?"

One sentence was enough to leave Chu Yanbu speechless.

He wanted to test the waters and wait for Li Yuanchang to make an offer so he could take the initiative, but Li Yuanchang simply wouldn't take the bait.

In the end, Chu Yanbu had no choice but to say.

"Your Highness, how about taking a look at this?"

As he spoke, he pulled out a bright yellow imperial edict from his robes.

Everyone was shocked!

Li Yuanchang gave Chu Yanbu a deep look. With this guy around, Chu Yanbu had only just taken it out now.

Generally speaking, imperial edicts should be issued immediately.

This Chu Yanbu is quite composed!

Everyone looked at Li Yuanchang, wondering how he would face the new emperor's first edict.

Chu Yanbu himself was quite nervous, worried that Li Yuanchang wouldn't accept the invitation, or that Li Yuanchang wouldn't kneel according to etiquette, which would make things awkward for him.

To continue the discussion would be a disgrace.

Without dialogue, the mission cannot be accomplished and the conflict with Goguryeo cannot be completely resolved. The court will then have to continuously send large numbers of troops and supplies to this region.

Most importantly, they all knew, but didn't say it aloud, that they seemed unable to defeat the King of Han.

They came to negotiate peace because they couldn't win, which is why they were at a disadvantage.

Even Cheng Chuliang and the other man looked on with pleading expressions, hoping that Li Yuanchang would give the new emperor some face.

They didn't want anything to happen to Li Yuanchang, nor did they want their beloved Tang Dynasty to be engulfed in war and suffering.

But everyone underestimated Li Yuanchang's magnanimity.

He could refuse to kneel or accept bribes, and he could even go against the imperial court all the time, but his vision was far beyond what people of his time could imagine.

He rose, knelt, and in one swift motion, declared humbly yet arrogantly, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

It is to hear the decree, not to receive it.

He still wants to hear the details and conditions first.

He also had conditions for the peace talks; otherwise, it would just be another cycle repeating itself.

"We obey your command!"

As soon as he knelt down, the rest of the high-ranking military and political officials of the Han Prince's Mansion followed suit, including Kim Min-da and his group of surrendered Goguryeo generals.

Li Yuanchang could be said to have a large following and his words carried great weight.

Upon witnessing this scene, the hundred or so members of the imperial entourage exchanged glances, realizing that Li Yuanchang's attitude determined Goguryeo's stance.

Other methods are practically useless.

It was only then that they realized the true value of Li Ji's statement that defection was useless.

There's a reason why this group of people followed Li Yuanchang, preferring to stay in Goguryeo rather than return to the Central Plains; it's not something that money or official positions can sway them.

Most importantly, meritorious officials have become traitors, and everyone has lost trust in Chang'an.

This was also the biggest problem for Li Zhi after he ascended the throne. The credibility of the Tang Empire was shaken. Not to mention Goguryeo, even in the northern deserts and Tuyuhun, many places were no longer as closely connected as before.

There were many people openly and secretly speaking out for Li Yuanchang, and the twenty-one tribes of the grasslands even sent troops, all of which the imperial court knew.

Chu Yanbu took a deep breath and shouted, "Imperial Edict of the Great Tang Dynasty!"

"The King of Han has annihilated Goguryeo, achieving outstanding feats. Therefore, he is hereby appointed King of Goguryeo and Grand General of Liaodong, granting him supreme power over all aspects of Goguryeo!"

"His subordinate Wan Jun was appointed as the fourth-rank Yunwei General."

"Xue Rengui was appointed as a fourth-rank General of the Cavalry."

"Su Gui was appointed as a fourth-rank Hanmen Attendant, and Wang Hong was appointed as..."

"Kim Min-dae, a surrendered official from Goguryeo, was appointed a third-rank general, and all his trusted subordinates were pardoned..."

"..."

This bestowal of honors took a full quarter of an hour to read aloud.

Almost everyone from the Han Prince's residence to the surrendered officials of Goguryeo was given official titles and replaced with official Tang Dynasty identities.

The rewards of gold, silver and jewels were so numerous that they could not be remembered.

As the edict was being read to its end, Chu Yanbu added, "I am well aware of the grievances suffered by the border troops. This edict is to make up for the losses they deserved, and this edict is to restore order to the country."

"I have issued an edict to dismiss Han Fei, Changsun Huan, and a series of others who advocated resistance, suppressed the border troops, and caused conflict. They are to be expelled from Chang'an and never be employed again."

"I hope that all officers and soldiers will understand my will, cease raising troops, and submit to the court!"

"So be it!"

The last paragraph, when read aloud, carried far more weight than the preceding rewards. Everyone in the Prince of Han's residence was moved and began to whisper amongst themselves.

Dismissing these imperial envoys who caused the conflict was something that Li Shimin would never have done during his reign, which means that the court made a genuine compromise.

Changsun Huan was also dismissed from his post, which Li Yuanchang did not expect. He couldn't help but look at Cheng Chuliang and the other man.

Both of them nodded.

Seeing this, Li Yuanchang dared to believe it. After all, this guy was Changsun Wuji's son. His dismissal could be seen as a defeat in the struggle between Changsun Wuji and him, forcing him to bow his head.

Of course, if we're talking about who the mastermind was and who Li Yuanchang hated the most, it would definitely be Changsun Wuji.

But it was impossible for Changsun Wuji to be dismissed. He was not only a trusted minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor, but also the most outstanding minister during the Zhenguan era. His merits were so great that they could be compared to a widow taking a bath.

Demanding his execution as a condition for peace talks would force the new dynasty to continue the war.

Political negotiation is an art of compromise. Li Yuanchang was not the kind of person who was stubborn and inflexible. He saw the other party compromise and make concessions.

He simply replied, "Your subject receives the imperial edict!"

The moment those three words were uttered, everyone was overjoyed!

The hundred or so officials finally loosened their grip, revealing smiles, some even secretly wiping away sweat.

Once they receive it, things will be much easier; only after they receive it can we proceed with the next round of negotiations.