Tang Dynasty Swordsman.

—Although this place is seven or eight hundred miles away from the Tang territory, it is already considered the southern border of the Uyghurs, because the area in between is a vast semi-desert and uninhabited area, which is called "Ou Tuo" or a gap.

Firstly, the Crown Prince was seriously injured and it would be difficult for him to travel through that gap in the short term. Secondly, Emperor De and his men were also worried that the Tang people would not accept them—after all, sworn brothers were worthless in politics—and might even tie up the Crown Prince and send him back to the Tang court. Therefore, they temporarily hid and ordered Apochuo, the son of Chebi Shitu Tunfa Peiluo Teqin, to go south ahead to Chang'an to find out the Tang court's intentions.

The crucial point is that news has already arrived from the Khan's camp that the Crown Prince has died and his younger brother, Yidijian, has succeeded him. It's unclear whether the deliberately mutilated corpse of the soldier truly deceived the Khan, or if it was merely propaganda. If it's the former, then the Crown Prince's defection to Tang is far more dangerous than continuing to hide.

This small border tribe, a branch of the "Mengwu Shiwei," had once received a great favor from the Crown Prince, and thus was willing to hide them. In truth, whether the Uyghur Khanate sent people to inquire, or whether merchants from the south or Tang envoys passed by, it could all be done as if nothing had happened; the Crown Prince, Emperor De, and the others simply needed to remain hidden in their tents. However, the nomadic people of the grasslands, lacking in knowledge and intelligence, insisted that Li Ji and his group take a detour, which was nothing short of a blatant attempt to conceal their presence.

Therefore, when Di De heard that the clan chief's son had been detained, he feared that the clan chief might panic and the news would be exposed, so he hurried over to check on the situation. Upon seeing Li Ji, he felt a mixture of joy and apprehension—joy because he knew this man well, a confidant of the Tang family's crown prince, and with his assistance, perhaps he could obtain better treatment from the Tang people; apprehension stemmed not from anyone else, but from Li Ji, the very man who had once assaulted the crown prince, and who might not have a good impression of him…

That's why I invited Li Ji to speak, to reveal a little information, pretending that the Crown Prince was dead and that only a few of us were hiding among the herdsmen—I have a relationship with you, could you help cover it up? Who would have thought that Li Ji was much more perceptive than I thought, and actually saw through it in one sentence—the Crown Prince is still alive!

They also threatened that if they went north to the Khan to plead for Dide, then the Khan would send someone to fetch Dide, and they wouldn't be able to hide anything from him!

Left with no other choice, Emperor De had to reveal the truth and beg Li Ji not to leak the information.

Li Ji sat astride his horse, stroking his beard, lost in thought for a long time without saying a word.

Upon hearing the news of the Uyghur civil war and the escape of the crown prince, his first thought was to capture the prince and hand him over to the Uyghur Khan. With this great achievement, he could then request reinforcements, greatly increasing his chances of success. However, he then reconsidered. Dide was also a brave warrior, and with the addition of his entire Uyghur tribe, his own force numbered only about ten men; they were likely no match for him…

Should they feign help to cover for them, slip through the cracks, and then report them to the Khan once they reach the Uyghur camp? However, Dide and his men weren't stupid; they would definitely find an opportunity to escape. Even if they didn't go to Tang territory, the grasslands were vast, and who knew where they could hide? If they weren't captured in time, they might end up being accused of deceiving the Khan.

Thinking deeper, if the Yabghu prince were to surrender to the Tang Dynasty, would it be a good thing or a bad thing for the Tang? Although the Tang and Uyghur families had an alliance, Li Ji naturally distrusted nomadic peoples, especially as the Tang's power was declining. He always worried that the Uyghurs would become a potential enemy of the Central Plains dynasty. If the Tang Dynasty could hold the Yabghu prince hostage, it might damage the friendship and trigger conflict, but it might also force the Uyghurs not to easily turn against it.

After all, the Crown Prince had served as "Yaghu" for many years, controlling a quarter of the Uyghur army, and given his status as Crown Prince, his potential influence might be even greater. If Dide and the others had not lied during their previous meeting, then the Crown Prince was fully capable of stirring up a violent upheaval within the Uyghur territory.

—His influence is incomparable to that of a lone Tang Dynasty crown prince.

This must have been due to a lack of intelligence and the plan being exposed, which prompted the valiant Khan to strike first and launch a surprise attack, resulting in the crushing defeat of the Crown Prince Yabghu and his followers. And if their treacherous scheme had succeeded…

Li Ji then asked Emperor De, "Since we are friends, you must tell me the truth—why are you hoping for the Tang family to take you in? In order to strengthen the friendship between Tang and He, wouldn't Tang take the Crown Prince back to the imperial camp?"

Di De nodded and said, "It is indeed a cause for concern, which is why I ordered Apochuo to investigate first and bribe the Tang family officials..."

"Is it merely a matter of concern, rather than a certainty? What arguments will you use to persuade my Tang Emperor to take them in?"

Di De hesitated for a moment, but finally replied honestly, "Although our two families are related, we cannot be completely without suspicion towards each other. Even among my Uyghurs, some have suggested to the Khan that we take advantage of the vulnerability of Shuofang and Hexi to raid Tang... I imagine your Tang family would not be unprepared..."

Li Ji thought to himself that Li Heng was probably not on guard, and was dreaming that as long as he gave the Uyghurs enough benefits, or even let his own daughter marry him, the northern border would be safe and sound.

"...The Crown Prince has long led the army and enjoys great prestige, while Yidijian is nothing more than a callow youth. The Khan is old and nearing his end; if he were to pass away within a few years and Yidijian were to succeed him, the only way to secure his position would be to request the Tang Emperor to bestow a new title upon him. If the Tang Emperor were to send the Crown Prince back, the Uyghurs would surely descend into chaos, and he dares not take such a risk. Therefore, if your family possesses foresight, you should be willing to accept the Crown Prince to restrain Yidijian..."

"But if the Khan knows that the Crown Prince is with the Tang family, he may send troops to seize him, which would only lead to a conflict between the two families."

Di De smiled bitterly, "It's not entirely impossible. But what if the Crown Prince secretly enters Tang? It's uncertain whether the Tang family would be willing to take such a risk; and the Crown Prince is seriously injured, with nowhere else to go except Tang territory for the time being... We are also taking a risk..."

Li Ji thought to himself that there was no need to take the risk. He could answer them now. Given the weak nature of Li Heng and Li Yu, the father and son, they would most likely not dare to offend the Uyghurs in the slightest and would send the Crown Prince of Yabghu back.

However, he also felt that this was a rare commodity with great potential. If used properly, it could prevent conflict between the Tang and the He people for one or two decades. It would be a great pity to return it now.

Therefore, after pondering for a long time, he finally replied to Emperor De: "If the Crown Prince enters Chang'an, it will be difficult to keep it a secret. When the Khan sends an envoy to inquire, the Emperor will surely send the Crown Prince back north, and you... will probably not have a good end either. If you trust me, you can quickly recall Abochuo and not send him to Chang'an, but instead send the Crown Prince to Longyou. Only I, the King of Tang Qi, can protect the Crown Prince."

With virtually no worries about his rear in Longyou—a victory would boost his prestige, while a defeat would allow him to return to his leisurely life as a prince—his gambling instincts grew stronger day by day. Under these circumstances, Li Tan was probably the only one in the entire world willing to take in the Crown Prince of Yegu as a bargaining chip to control the Uyghurs in the future.

Of course, this is just Li Ji's speculation, and how Li Tan will actually decide remains to be seen. However, if even Li Tan refuses to take him in, then the Crown Prince Yehu should either prepare to face execution or be ready to hide for the rest of his life.

Furthermore, there is a fear that if the Crown Prince of Yabghu surrenders to the Tang Dynasty but is not accepted, he might flee to Tibet or Nanzhao. If this bargaining chip falls into the hands of the Tibetan rebels, it would be extremely detrimental to the Tang Dynasty.

Therefore, I advise you, Emperor, not to try your luck in Chang'an, but to go instead to Shanzhou in Longyou.

“I will write to the King of Qi, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages. You may take my letter to see the King of Qi. However, whether the King of Qi will ultimately be willing to keep the crown prince is up to man, and success is up to fate.”

Di De nodded and said, "You naturally know more about the Tang family's affairs than I do. Thank you for your guidance. It is indeed a sign from heaven that we met here. However... my decision is not final; I must report to the Crown Prince for a decision."

Li Ji smiled and said, "Since I've shown you a clear path, shouldn't you also show me a clear path?"

Emperor De asked blankly, "What do you mean?"

Li Ji then briefly explained his request for aid, and then asked Di De, "Who is the most favored person by the Khan's side now? If we want the Khan to send troops to invade the northern border of Tibet as soon as possible to relieve the siege of Shancheng, who should we persuade first?"

Without hesitation, Di De replied, “The Khan greatly favors the Khatun, and grants all the Khatun’s requests… It’s a pity that the Crown Prince is arrogant and has failed to win the Khatun’s favor, otherwise this situation would not have occurred… Moreover, the Khan has formed a marriage alliance with the Tang family and is trying out the Tang system, appointing a new prime minister, Dunmohedagan, who is second only to the Khatun and is the most trusted…”

The two talked for a long time, then rode back side by side. They saw that there were still many people standing facing each other on the riverbank. Among them was the son of the clan chief, who had been captured by Li Ji and humiliated. He tried several times to rush up and fight the Tang people, but the clan chief finally managed to hold him down.

Li Ji laughed heartily, "It was all a misunderstanding, it's all cleared up now." He then looked at Di De. Di De approached the chieftain and whispered a few words. The chieftain's tense expression finally relaxed, and he bowed to Li Ji, saying, "So you're a good friend. We've been negligent. You've come from afar, so we should treat you well." He waved his hand, "Please, please rest in my tent for the night. Tomorrow I'll send someone to escort you to the Khan's camp."

The location where this small tribe was encamped was not far from the river; it took only a quarter of an hour to reach it on horseback or on foot. Li Ji glanced around and saw that the huts were connected one after another, with cattle and sheep grazing everywhere; there were probably more than a thousand tents—it was indeed not a large place.

The clan chief ordered a sheep to be slaughtered in celebration. Li Ji returned the gift with an equal amount of rice and flour, along with a few pearls. The clan chief initially declined, but then accepted. The group gathered in a circle, each taking a short knife from their waist to cut and eat the meat, and taking turns sipping from a leather bag of mare's milk wine. Although Li Ji felt it wasn't very hygienic, he followed local custom and took a few sips from the clan chief's hand.

After days of travel and only having dry rations, we were now feasting on rich, fatty meat and eating with great relish. The lamb from the grasslands was of the highest quality, and roasted to perfection—crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—the aroma alone was enough to make one's mouth water. The only pity was the high price of spices. Even the tribal chief dared not, like the noble families of the Central Plains, lavishly apply and sprinkle pepper and Sichuan peppercorns, so the meat inevitably had a slightly gamey smell after eating a lot.

The milk wine, though cloudy and thick, was good at cutting through the greasiness, and Li Ji, relying on his drinking capacity, drank two large bags of it.

Halfway through the meal, the clan chief's son stood up and offered a toast to Li Ji, muttering something unintelligible. The clan chief rebuked him sternly, and Li Ji turned to ask Ma Meng, who whispered, "He's upset about being ambushed and captured by Inspector Li, and he wants to wrestle with you for fun."

Li Ji smiled and said, "This is also part of the topic." He then said to the clan chief, "I am deeply grateful for your hospitality and have no way to repay you. I would like to wager for a game. Please grant me permission." The clan chief hesitated for a moment, but Di De encouraged him from the side, "It's alright. Let your son know that the Tang family also has brave warriors."

So the two stood facing each other, five steps apart, their backs bent and arms outstretched. The clan chief had just given the order when the boy charged straight at him. Li Ji didn't dodge, but instead took the hit—he had been holding the boy for a while, so he knew how strong the boy was—and then he grabbed the boy's waist with both hands, pulling him down to the ground.

Hmm, kid, you've got some strength, probably about 80% of Di De's—what can you do to me?

The outcome was decided in an instant. Knowing his skill was far inferior, the young man's initial arrogance vanished, and he instead sought instruction from Li Ji on body-refining techniques. The clan chief reprimanded him, "Guests have come from afar; please rest early. There's no reason for you to keep pestering us!"

After eating for a while, Emperor De gave him a wink, and Li Ji got up to apologize. He then followed Emperor De to a felt tent in a corner. Emperor De whispered, "The Crown Prince wants to see you to thank you in person."

Li Ji lifted the tent flap and went inside. Sure enough, it was Crown Prince Yehu, his body wrapped in numerous bandages, even half of his face was covered. He sat leaning against the side of the tent, breathing heavily. Li Ji cupped his hands and smiled, "Your Highness, how have you been?" Actually, seeing the other party in such a state, he was quite happy.

The Crown Prince of Yabghu beckoned to him and asked—since he couldn't speak Tang language, he would have to rely on Emperor De to translate—"Please tell me the truth, why didn't you bind me and take me to see the Khan? With this merit, you will surely be able to request reinforcements as you wish."

Li Ji glanced at Di De beside him and bluntly said, "Even if I could defeat Di De, I'm afraid I would have no strength left."

"You may report my presence to the Khan..."

"Should we ask the Khan to send men to capture you again? But you all have legs. If you leave, wouldn't I be making a bad guy and not gaining any merit? It would be a loss."

"You were originally a confidant of the Crown Prince of the Tang family, so why did you switch allegiance to Prince Qi?"

Chapter Thirty, The Uyghur Prime Minister

Li Ji understood that the questions posed by the Crown Prince Yehu were a test of him. If he refused to tell the truth and instead gave vague answers, he might not be able to leave this tribe alive. Even if he did leave, the others would probably move on quickly.

Therefore, he simply told the truth until the Crown Prince Yehu asked, "You were originally a confidant of the Crown Prince of Tang, so why did you follow the Prince of Qi?" Li Ji thought to himself that if he told the truth, it would involve all the explicit and implicit rules of the Tang system, which were very complicated and you barbarians would definitely not understand. So he smiled and said, "Our Tang is different from your family. We value etiquette and have always been friendly and respectful to our brothers."

The Crown Prince of Yabghu nodded and said, "Thank you for telling the truth... If I am able to return to my command post alive and regain control of my tribe, I will surely appoint you as the Right Commander!"

After leaving the tent, Li Ji asked Di De in a low voice, "What kind of official is the Right Killer?"

Dide replied, "This is a Turkic official position inherited from the Turks. In the past, the Turkic Khan divided his troops into left and right wings, and ordered the left and right wing commanders to be in charge. Thus, the right wing commander could command half of the troops in his wing. Although the Yabghu is in charge of civil affairs, he is not as respected as the left and right wing commanders in the army..."

Li Ji thought to himself, "They still see me as a military general, a reckless brute." But judging from the Crown Prince's words, he was quite unwilling to accept losing his right to the throne and had a strong desire to make a comeback. Whether he could make good use of this, and how to do so, was beyond his capabilities; he could only rely on Li Tan's wisdom.

He wrote a letter as promised, listing his thoughts in detail to report to Li Tan, but did not draw a final conclusion, leaving it to Li Tan to decide.

After dark, the tribe cleared out some tents to house the Tang people. Li Ji naturally received the best treatment, sleeping alone in a large tent, covered with thick wool felt, as well as mink and fox fur. Although it wasn't yet winter, the nights on the grasslands were quite chilly. These bedding provided sufficient warmth, but unfortunately, the nomadic people's tanning and leather-making techniques were too poor, and Li Ji always felt a fishy, ​​musty smell permeating the tent and surrounding him…

He was indeed quite tired and was about to close his eyes and fall asleep when suddenly the tent curtain was lifted and someone entered. It was pitch black, and Li Ji couldn't see who it was, so he couldn't help but feel a sense of vigilance. He reached out and quietly touched the horizontal knife beside his pillow.

The person approached but stopped. Then there was a soft rustling sound. By the time Li Ji realized what was happening, a naked, warm body had already slipped into the blankets, spreading its arms and legs to hold him tightly...

Li Ji thought to himself, "Oh my, they actually pulled this trick!"

Many nomadic tribes on the grasslands have little concept of chastity. When distinguished guests arrive, they often offer their female relatives to entertain them—this differs from the practice of concubines among the nobility in the Central Plains, because even wives, sisters, and daughters are readily available for offering. The root cause is likely the harsh environment and short lifespans of herders, who are therefore not hesitant to use offspring, as long as it ensures the continuation of their family line. Whether the offspring are blood relatives… perhaps only the elite nobles like the Yaoluoge would care.

Li Ji thought to himself, "I'm still a virgin in this world. How can I die on this grassland? How can I face the original owner of this body?" He reached out to push the other away, but instead pressed his hand against the other's chest. The touch was smooth and bouncy, which startled him so much that he quickly... rubbed it a couple of times, reluctant to let go.

When things come to a head, it's actually quite easy to cross a person's bottom line, as long as there's a suitable reason. So what could that reason be? Li Ji thought to himself that it might be the clan chief entertaining a distinguished guest according to custom, or it might be someone sent by the Emperor or even the Crown Prince of Yehu. If it was the former, then so be it; but if it was the latter… it also seemed like a test of him. If he firmly refused, would he be misunderstood as lacking sincerity and having treacherous intentions? In order to help Tang Dynasty buy that rare commodity, should he make some sacrifices?

It was pitch black, and he couldn't see her face at all—he reached out to grope, but the woman opened her mouth and grabbed his index finger, gently sucking on it… Li Ji asked in a trembling voice, “Who are you? Who sent you?” The woman mumbled a few words incoherently, but it was all gibberish, and Li Ji couldn't understand a word she said.

"You don't speak Tang language? What's your name?"

The reply, however, was just a few words of gibberish.

Li Ji touched the woman; her hands, feet, and face were rather rough—it was a pipe dream to find someone with delicate fingers and a face like jade, exposed to the wind and sun on the grasslands—but her body was very smooth and her skin was firm, so she shouldn't be very old.

Not only was the meat served in the bowl and placed on the chopsticks, but half of it was even eaten. Who would bear to spit it out! Fine, fine, let's just open our arms wide, embrace it, and give it a kiss first…

----------

When I woke up the next morning, I felt refreshed and had a strange feeling deep inside me—I guess my second life can be considered a success.

Unfortunately, the Hu woman had slipped away at some point, and I never got a clear look at her face.

Li Ji, dressed neatly, lifted the curtain and stepped out of the tent. Di De greeted him and said, "The chieftain has sent a guide to lead you to the Khan's tent."

Li Ji bowed and thanked him. He had wanted to ask Di De if the woman from last night was sent by him, what her name was, and if he could see her again to see her face clearly. But then he thought again, it was just a chance encounter, a brief but vivid memory. If he saw her in person and found out she was ugly, it would only ruin the beautiful moment…

Theoretically speaking, this tribe belongs to the Mengwu Shiwei, probably the Mongols of later generations. Most of them have round faces, high cheekbones, flat noses and narrow eyes, which do not meet Li Ji's aesthetic standards. It would be difficult to pick out someone that Li Ji considers beautiful. Do you think everyone has the good fortune of a Shaolin monk who can meet "Meng Gu" in the dark?

As the saying goes, "It's better not to meet than to meet," so why not just let that passion remain in your heart?

So the chieftain and Dide didn't mention it, nor did he ask. Soon, led by the guide, the group of Tang people left the small tribe and rode straight towards Mount Wudejian.

Before reaching the foot of the mountain, he was stopped by Uyghur cavalry and asked for his purpose. Li Ji told them the truth. They replied, "The Khan and his Khatun are on a hunting trip to the east and are not in their camp. Your esteemed envoy may come with me, and we will settle in a place for a day or two."

Taking the opportunity, Li Ji asked, "I wonder if the Prime Minister is nearby? I hope to pay him a visit first."

As Di De explained in detail, the current Uyghur prime minister is named Dunmohedagan, the nephew of the valiant Khan. He is roughly the same age as the crown prince of the Yabghu, but much older than the new crown prince, Yidijian. He is intelligent and brave, and highly valued by the Khan. Li Ji plans to first persuade Dunmohedagan. With the prime minister and the Khan acting as liaisons, one from the outside and the other from within, the chances of the valiant Khan agreeing to reinforce Longyou are perhaps greater.

The scouts then led Li Ji and his party to the northern foot of Mount Wudejian. There they saw countless tents stretching from the foot of the mountain to almost the horizon, with patrols moving back and forth, a scene of strict security, far superior to the small tribes of the Mengwu and Shiwei. From a distance, they saw a large golden-topped tent, almost six to seven feet taller than all the surrounding tents. In front of the tent stood the Khan's white yak banner, billowing in the wind, exuding an imposing air of nobility.

They were then led to a tent next to the main golden tent. The scouts reported to the guards, who went inside to announce their arrival. Shortly afterward, the guards came out and greeted them: "Please invite the esteemed envoy of the Tang family into the tent to pay his respects to the Prime Minister."

The guard approached Li Ji, gave him a quick once-over, and then extended his hands. Li Ji understood and immediately unfastened his sword, bow, and arrows from his waist, handing them to the guard. Another guard followed, searching Li Ji thoroughly with both hands. Finding nothing amiss, he turned and lifted the tent flap, letting Li Ji in alone.

Although this tent was not as grand as the Khan's golden-domed tent, it was still quite imposing and spacious, divided into two levels. Guards with swords were lined up on either side, along with several nobles in brocade robes. Seated on a black bear skin in the center was a large, imposing man with a long face and thick beard, unkempt, and with long, curly black hair cascading over his shoulders. Li Ji bowed with his hands clasped: "This must be the Uyghur prime minister. I am Li Ji, ordered to deliver a message to the Khatun..."

The Uyghur prime minister, Dunmohedagan, waved his hand and spoke in Tang language: "No need for formalities, please sit down." Li Ji was unfamiliar with Uyghur customs. He looked around but there was no mat—the ground was covered with thick felt carpets, and the nobles were sitting cross-legged on the carpets without taking off their boots. So he simply sat down five steps away from Dunmohedagan, kneeling down.

An ancient book says: "If a scholar is enraged, two corpses will lie on the ground, blood will flow five steps away, and the whole world will be in mourning..." This shows that five steps or more is a relatively safe distance for the master.

However, Dunmohedagan beckoned: "Your Excellency, come closer and sit down so we can talk."

Li Ji was unwilling to crawl on his knees, so he stood up and took two steps forward. After observing the other person's expression, he took two more steps forward and finally sat down just across a low table, within arm's reach of Dunmohedagan.

Dunmohedagan looked Li Ji up and down, then nodded slightly and said, "Your name is Li Ji? I've heard Emperor De mention that the Tang family has a brave warrior who defeated him in a wrestling match. Could it be you?"

"It is indeed your humble servant."

Dunmoheda gave a dry laugh: "Unfortunately, Emperor De has other business to attend to and is not here..." Li Ji thought to himself, "You're just making a fool of yourself here," but he could only reply perfunctorily, "Unfortunately, I will not be able to see my old friend again."

"Is your esteemed envoy here to deliver a message from the Tang emperor to the Khatun?"

Li Ji shook his head and said, "No, I am here on the orders of my third brother, the Third Prince of Qi, to deliver a message."