roccoschili Chapter 94 The Gift of the Lost System
Chapter 94 The Gift of the Lost System
Chapter 94 The Gift of the Lost System
July 26th.
Dou Fengjie asked Li Tai, the Minister of Ceremonies, to submit a memorial requesting that he be relieved of his post as an examiner for the imperial examinations.
He felt that the timing of the tribute ceremony conflicted with the original plan to destroy Tuyuhun, and that they could not be taken into account simultaneously.
"I think he's just after those military achievements."
Inside the Liangyi Hall, Li Shimin drank Qiuqing wine and chuckled, showing no sign of annoyance.
"That's right. Duke Zan has been planning for half a year and is about to win the credit for Tuyuhun. If he fails at the last minute, given his personality, he will definitely quit."
Li Tai, who knew Dou Fengjie's temperament, chuckled.
"Tell that fool, there won't be any delays! The imperial examination will be held from the 8th to the 13th of the first lunar month, and troops will be dispatched before the 15th."
Li Shimin muttered, "There's no trust at all," tilted his head back and drank the wine in the cup to the last drop, but his earlobes involuntarily turned red.
For so many years, his old problem has never gotten better; his earlobes will burn when he says something he feels guilty.
This secret was known only to Empress Zhangsun.
In fact, if Dou Fengjie hadn't discovered the problem, Li Shimin would have really let someone else take the credit, at most compensating Dou Fengjie with a small amount of money.
Li Shimin sighed inwardly upon agreeing that Dou Fengjie would not need to accompany him throughout the entire selection process for the imperial examinations.
They're all as clever as monkeys, can't they let me do as I please?
Setting down his wine cup, Li Shimin stared at Li Tai: "No matter what, make him leave the Empress's medicine before he goes to war, and make sure the quantity is sufficient!"
Li Tai readily agreed, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will certainly obtain enough medicine for Mother!"
Li Shimin paused for a moment, his voice tinged with bitterness: "Why are you being so distant?"
"Father, that was a dialogue between the emperor and his ministers!" Li Tai explained.
Li Shimin understood the reasoning, but Li Tai's sudden change to the way he addressed his subjects as emperor left him feeling lost and disappointed.
What he needs are children who never grow up and always snuggle in his arms, not thieves who can covet power.
The autumn wind swept up fallen leaves and also brought the clatter of horses' hooves.
Yi Shitong, with his hair disheveled and his robes fastened on the left, arrived in Chang'an with twenty followers and over a hundred fine horses he had seized from the Khitan, to report to the Heavenly Khan and, incidentally, to inform Dou Fengjie of the good news.
"Haha! Duke Zan, my brother! Thanks to you, I've gone from being a Teler to a She!"
Yi Shitong's laughter echoed throughout the entire Sifang Pavilion, attracting many foreign envoys to peek out and inquire.
"There is an old saying in the Central Plains: 'An awl in a bag will stand out,' and Yi lost the overall position simply because he gained the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities."
Dou Fengjie laughed heartily and embraced Yi Shitong.
Teller was merely a member of the royal family without any power or official position. The establishment of a separate military and political unit typically involved members of the royal family rising to high positions.
Although Yi Shi Tong only had three thousand Yi Luo Rivers, he was still quite satisfied.
Even if we calculate based on one male for every ten people, he would still have 30,000 herders, and a huge herd of cattle and horses would be driven out.
This means that he has gained some influence in Xueyantuo, and what he says is no longer just empty talk.
Ashina Simo, a Turk, did not have a single soldier or herdsman before he surrendered to the Tang Dynasty.
"The horses must be offered to the Heavenly Khan; I only have a stone as a gift for my dear brother!"
Yi Shitong took out a bright yellow stone slab from his bundle, presented it to Dou Fengjie with both hands, and looked quite pleased with himself.
The stone has distinct colors and textures; if carefully polished, it would definitely be an excellent auspicious seal.
Whether to inscribe "May your descendants be noble and powerful for generations," "May your life be as long as the Southern Mountain," or "May you have many children and much happiness," it all depended on Dou Fengjie's personal mood.
This is a small trinket that Yi Shitong accidentally discovered during his campaign against the Khitan.
Of course, calling it a campaign was really just a way of cooperating with Xue Wanche, the Great Tiger, to give a side speech.
They lost few soldiers and horses, but captured a lot of cattle, horses, and herdsmen, which further established the Xueyantuo's image as the "third most powerful force after the Khan".
Although the returned Living Jieli Fayao Luoge Bodhisattva must have seen through Yi Shitong's bluff, he would not expose it.
Do you really think the Uyghurs will always be subservient to others?
Yi Shitong said cheerfully, "Those Khitan soldiers are usually so arrogant, but when Governor Xue and my Xueyantuo brothers came together, Dahemohui was so scared that he hid in the Xianbei Mountains alone."
The more of these kinds of merits that can be gained without hard fighting, the better.
If this happened a few more times, it wouldn't be impossible for Yi Shitong to surpass his reputation as a skilled and courageous nephew, Yi Shijielibi.
Dou Fengjie gave Cheng Chumo a wink, and Cheng Chumo, along with the officials of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs, pulled Yi Shitong's attendants and walked outside.
As long as you say "let's drink," the Xueyantuo people have no power to resist.
The Xueyantuo people, living in harsh conditions, mostly drank mare's milk wine and had long wanted to change their diet.
Dou Fengjie looked around to make sure it was absolutely safe before speaking cautiously: "Brother Yi Shi, what do you have to say?"
Yi Shitong's face fell: "My two nephews are too arrogant. They mocked me for trying to establish my own independent government, and that coward Ba Zhuo even tried to stop me."
"I can't quell my anger until I get this out of my chest."
Dou Fengjie was delighted; wasn't this like a pillow for someone who was sleepy?
Originally, there were many dissenting voices within the Tang Dynasty regarding the Xueyantuo's rising momentum.
Since there was no opportunity to intervene in Xueyantuo affairs, Yi Shitong just provided an excuse.
"I have a plan. Brother, go to court and ask the Heavenly Khan to bestow titles upon your two nephews. With two minor Khans vying for power, they will inevitably engage in open and covert struggles. Wouldn't you then reap the benefits?"
Dou Fengjie's eyes lit up, and an idea immediately came to him.
Given Ba Zhuo's violent temper, he would certainly not tolerate seeing his half-brother Jie Lixin standing alongside him.
In a lose-lose situation, it's not impossible for Yi to seize the opportunity.
The fact that a non-threatening Yishitong succeeded Xueyantuo was a good thing for the Tang Dynasty, as it helped to balance the power between the north and south of the Gobi Desert.
"I can't swallow this insult of making them look like lowly servants!"
The hot-tempered man lowered his voice, his eyes filled with anger.
"While they are fighting, you secretly win over peripheral forces such as Yishiduomozhi, Shabolonidunzejin, Tizhendaguan, and Baixiao."
"When one side is destroyed, you suddenly raise your banner—"
Dou Fengjie secretly offered suggestions.
For core forces like the escapees of the Yantuo tribe, Yi Shitong doesn't need to fawn over them.
In Yi Shitong's eyes gleamed a shrewdness reminiscent of a husky.
What was originally a completely clueless matter was sorted out by Dou Fengjie, and Yi Shitong discovered that he could do it too!
Why must the next Khan of the Xueyantuo be a descendant of his elder brother Yinan?
He Yishitong was also a member of the pure Tiele royal family!
Once ambition takes root in your heart, it's like weeds in the wilderness—it can never be burned out.
"If I become rich and powerful, let us not forget each other!"
Yi Shitong patted Dou Fengjie heavily on the shoulder and made a promise.
In the future, if he owns a cow, he wouldn't mind sharing a leg with Dou Fengjie.
Whether it can be fulfilled is hard to say, but at least at this moment, Yi Shitong is absolutely sincere.