Seeing Li Mu's embarrassed look, Zhang Xun said: "Xian son-in-law, you should understand that I will not give in. Moreover, it seems that you have no other choice now."
Li Mu smiled bitterly and nodded, saying: "I really have no choice, but father-in-law, do you think His Majesty won't mind if you get the throne in this way?"
Zhang Xun laughed loudly and said: "I'm afraid what will he mind? I only have one daughter, and I married you. I believe in your boy's ability and will not let his woman suffer. Apart from her, I have no one else."
Changwu, how can your majesty be angry? The worst possible outcome is death. My long-cherished wish in this life is to ascend the throne. Even if I can be a king for a day, I will be satisfied. This deal, in my eyes, is a good deal!"
Zhang Xun was already crazy. Li Mu knew that no more persuasion would be of any use. He was silent for a while and then said something very silly: "How about not calling me king? I can tell your majesty that I will allocate thousands of miles around Gaochang's hometown."
Here you go, this is 30% more than the original land in Gaochang!"
Zhang Xun shook his head: "Even if it's only five hundred miles away, I will still be king!"
"..."
The two men looked at each other for a long time, and then Li Mu laughed: "Okay! I promise my father-in-law, no matter what the consequences are, my son-in-law will definitely make his wish come true!"
"Then thank you so much, my virtuous son-in-law!"
Zhang Xun raised his glass, and Li Mu also agreed. The two drank together, each smiling thoughtfully.
…
After sending Zhang Xun away, Li Mu couldn't sleep all night. After Zhang Tianai fell asleep, Li Mu put on his clothes and walked outside Li Ji's tent. The guards at the door discovered him and went in to report to Li Ji. After a while,
Li Ji also put on his clothes and came out to meet him.
As soon as Li Mu told Li Ji about the matter, Li Ji immediately shook his head and said: "Li Mu, you must not agree to this matter. This is a taboo!"
"But--"
Li Ji interrupted him and said: "It is true that this is the most appropriate method at present. I also believe in Zhang Xun's methods. He has planned for half his life and can do what he said. But have you ever thought about it?
In the case of Ou, you are already on the verge of death, and you still hope to make a great contribution to save it. But if you do this, no matter how much merit you make, it will not be able to offset your sin. You can still be saved, but if you do
If this happens, there will be no help at all. How big a deal is it to be crowned king? Do you dare to overstep your authority? At that time, as long as someone says that you are disobedient, you will not be able to explain it clearly. Even if His Majesty wants to protect you, he will protect you.
I can’t stand you anymore!”
Seeing Li Mu's hesitant expression, Li Ji was afraid that he would do something stupid, so he grabbed his arm and said sternly: "Li Mu, you must not do anything stupid, never do anything stupid!"
Li Mu gave a bitter smile and said: "Father, I understand your intention. But if you were me, what would you choose? Giving a false name saved tens of thousands of people from dying. In order to protect oneself, thousands of people were killed.
Man? My adoptive father, Mu is not a kindhearted person like a woman, but he is not that cold-blooded either--don't worry about my adoptive father, I have my own opinion."
"Li Mu!"
Li Mu broke away from Li Ji's hand and bowed and saluted: "Father, please go to bed early. We will fight against the enemy tomorrow morning!"
…
Li Mu learned about Zhang Xun's methods the next day. On the way to the Camel Valley, the Tang army was sent back by the sentinel. As soon as the Western Turkic king's tent arrived at the Camel Valley, the cadres of Shebeida and Nu were suddenly missing.
They launched an attack and set up Bida cadres to seal the western entrance of Camel Valley, preventing the rear army of 50,000 Turkic cavalry from entering the valley. The Nushubi tribe cooperated with the Nishu tribe, which was the Turkic vanguard who had been clearing the rocks before, and divided them into two groups.
He set up a flank to attack the king's cavalry. Although Si Yehu mobilized all the most elite cavalry to protect himself, but the crossbows were lost, Bi's troops were strong and their horses were strong, their numbers were overwhelming, and the Nishu tribe held a grudge and tried their best to attack, but they still failed.
He was able to withstand it, and at sunset, at the cost of killing three thousand of the king's cavalry, wounding more than a thousand, and being captured, the crossbows were lost and the troops were captured.
When the war came to an end, Zepi left first, came to the Tang army's formation, and asked to see Nishu. He was also leaving a backup for himself. This battle was all to welcome Nishu. If the Tang army did not have Nishu,
Everything was over, and the few thousand men he had left could not face the wrath of the Nusupi tribe and Shebeida cadres.
Li Mu asked Ni Shu to come out to meet him, but he didn't let Zepi take Ni Shu away. He had to guard against it. If Zepi took Ni Shu away, what would happen if Ni Shu also wanted to go on an expedition? Although Zhang Xun said
He had to swear a promise, but Li Mu couldn't believe it 100%, because if he had made an agreement with Ni Shou beforehand, he would also be able to get the land of Gaochang, and if that was the case, Datang would be tricked to death.
The most important person today is Ni Shou. Only by controlling Ni Shou can one control the right to speak.
Li Mu asked Nishu to tell Zepi that the cadres of Shebeida and the tribe of Nushubi went to the valley to discuss important matters together. But they were rejected. The cadres of Shebeida and the tribe of Nushubi did not trust Li Mu, and they rebelled against Siyehu.
Just because they are dissatisfied with Si Yehu's rule, it does not mean that they are not hostile to the Tang Dynasty. If they come here through the valley and are attacked by the Tang Dynasty, the two tribes add up to only 20,000 people. They can
Can't resist.
Li Mu also understood the concerns of these people, so he took a step back and asked them to bring Si Yehu over and send representatives to discuss important matters. At the same time, he said that if this request was not agreed, then there would be nothing to talk about, and the Tang Dynasty would
Attack the Camel Valley, and together with Si Yehu's remaining 50,000 people, we will first wipe out two groups.
Maybe the two troops had figured it out, or maybe they were really afraid that Li Mu would attack. At nightfall, Zepi led about twenty cavalry to the Tang Army camp. In the middle of the camp, roasted whole sheep and fine wine had been prepared.
Seeing such a grand reception, Zepi and others looked a little better.
Ni Shu also changed into a new set of clothes and met everyone in the Western Turks with a smile. Only then did Li Mu know why Zepi was so persistent in welcoming Ni Shu. It turned out that he was Ni Shu's son-in-law. Ni Shu had twelve daughters.
, but he did not have a son. Zepi was his eldest son-in-law, which was equivalent to his son.
Everyone sat around the bonfire. Li Mu toasted a glass of wine and spoke first: "There is no hatred between the Tang Dynasty and the Western Turks. In the past, the Turkic Khanate split. It was the people of the Eastern Turks who drove you to the Western Regions. Wude
During the year, Li Mu made an appointment with Tong Yehu Khan to attack Jieli together, and they also had an in-law agreement, but unfortunately it was broken by Jieli, which is a pity when you think about it." Li Mu looked at Nishu again and said: "More
Needless to say, Nishu Khan and I, His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, were brothers in the early years. I heard that the Turks worshiped the Immortal Heaven. The most important thing is brotherhood and the most faithful to the covenant. I don’t know if it still counts now.
It doesn’t count anymore.”
Zepi looked at each other and the representatives of the two chiefs, and said: "We Turks naturally value brotherhood and abide by our covenants. It's just that you Tang people are cunning. Let's just say you. Weren't you pretending to be dumb at the beginning?
"
"Zebei, don't talk nonsense." Ni She has known Li Mu for so many days, and he knows very well what Li Mu is like. More than just cunning, this person is full of tricks, and has no bottom line. He is ruthless and will fall out at any time. Today.
Zepi's words were careless, and it was very likely that Li Mu would retaliate against him in the future, so he stopped him.
Although Zepi was rude to Li Mu, he really respected Ni Shou. When he spoke, Zepi apologized and was not sloppy at all.
Li Mu likes this kind of personality very much. Like Li Chongyi, this kind of unconditional loyalty has to be touching.
Li Mu smiled and said: "It doesn't matter. Let's talk about things. If you don't want to speak up, just speak up."
"Since you think the Tang people are cunning, I will not beat around the bush and go straight to the point." Li Mu said sternly: "The current situation, what is before you is that the three of you have betrayed Si Yehu and are loyal to Si Yehu.
Ye Hu's men and horses are temporarily separated from the Camel Valley by you, and you urgently need Nishu Khan to go back and win people's hearts." Li Mu looked at Nishu and said: "I also admit that Nishu Khan can do this, after all.
As far as I know, at the beginning, the Turkic tribes recommended Nishu Khan to succeed the Great Khan. If he appeared, the Western Turkic tribes would definitely support him, but... what if I don't agree?"
"What did you say!" Zepi became angry in an instant, and drew out his scimitar and pointed it at Li Mu: "You are a treacherous villain -" Before he could finish his words, there was only a sound of metal hitting each other, and Li Chongyi didn't know when.
With the ax in his hand, he waved it casually, and Zepi's scimitar broke and flew out an unknown distance.
Zepi looked at Li Chongyi's giant axe, suppressed his anger, and gritted his teeth and said, "This is the Hongmen Banquet!"
"Hey," Li Mu chuckled and said, "Everyone knows about the Hongmen Banquet. It seems that you really understand our Central Plains culture. But you guessed wrong. I have no intention of hosting a Hongmen Banquet with you. I just tell you
You have a fact. Considering the current situation, the most beneficial thing for Datang is to kill all of you, then invade the Camel Valley, and together with Si Yehu’s remaining 50,000 people, wipe out the three of you."
"Hmph, you can do it too!" Zepi gritted his teeth and said, "Aren't you afraid of killing us before the three troops are combined with the 50,000 people outside the valley?"
"Oh, so you Turks don't hold grudges so much?" Li Mu chuckled and said, "I just betrayed and killed the Khan, but can I forgive you in just one day? I don't believe it, why don't we give it a try?"
"You!" Zepi didn't believe it either, so he was choked up. Taking a deep breath, Zepi said again: "Even if you kill three of us, you will still suffer heavy losses!"
"Yes, we will suffer heavy losses." Li Mu nodded in agreement, but he added: "We will suffer heavy losses, and you will lose your vitality. After annihilating the three of you, how many Turks will die in and outside the valley? Then you will still be there.
Do you have the strength to march eastward? Xue Yantuo in the north doesn't have a good relationship with you, right? The nine surnames of Tiele are also similar in appearance and spiritual separation, right? After this battle, the Tang Dynasty will still be the Tang Dynasty, but there may not be a place for you Turks in the Western Regions."
"You villain, you didn't say that before, how could you-"
Li Mu chuckled and said, "Am I a treacherous Tang Dynasty after all? You are absolutely right."
Zepi was so angry that he was about to vomit blood. Nishu stretched out his hand to hold him, looked at Li Mu and said, "Master Marquis, why don't you just say it straight, what do you want to do?"
"On behalf of the Tang Dynasty, I want to sign an alliance with the Western Turks to form a brotherly country and advance and retreat together. We can exchange what we have and make a fortune together on the Silk Road. We will no longer fight each other. I wonder what the Nishu Khan wants?"
Ni She was silent for a moment and said: "Master Hou, I have to remind you that the Turks will abide by the covenant, but it depends on the situation. If I am in the throne, I will naturally abide by my covenant, but if I exceed it, I will abide by it."
In a few years, the Turks have changed a khan, so I can’t guarantee whether the covenant is still valid.”
"Well, we can talk about it later." Li Mu smiled confidently and said: "I have always believed that as long as the strength is sufficient, we are not afraid of breaking the covenant. If one day, the Tang Dynasty does not have the strength to be respected by the Turks, the covenant will be
It was torn apart, and we accepted it."
Ni She looked at Zebei and the others. Zebei nodded slightly and said, "Follow the instructions of the Great Khan."
Ni She looked at Li Mu again and said, "Master Marquis, please speak."
"That's it." Li Mu spread his hands and said, "Isn't what I just said clear enough? We will form a country of brothers, advance and retreat together, exchange what we have, make a fortune together, and no longer fight... I think I said it very well.
Do you understand?"
"That's all?" Ni Zuo said in disbelief; "You don't ask for tribute, you don't want slaves? You don't want anything?"
Li Mu waved his hand and said: "I have always despised that kind of covenant. In a country of brothers, everyone is rated equally, and there is no point in bullying others, right? This is also my sincerity and peace to the Turks on behalf of the Tang Dynasty.
It is the sole purpose of the Tang Dynasty. His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty once said that since ancient times, I have valued China and despised the barbarians, and I have loved them the same. Do you understand the meaning of this sentence? What a broad-minded emperor I am, a sage monarch, and a virtuous man.
All over the world, the scenery of the world follows suit. Only cruel and foolish kings will want to enslave others. Nishu Khan should understand the difference."
Ni She naturally knew that what Li Mu said was half true and half false, but if what he said was true, he would be willing to join him. He had "study abroad" in the Central Plains and was well aware of the gap between the Turks and the Central Plains. The Turks only have force, and nothing else.
There is nothing to eat, so no matter which dynasty or generation, the life of the Turks is not good. Many people starve to death every year, but in the Central Plains Dynasty, as long as it is a peaceful time, most people can live in peace.
"If the words of the Marquis can be fulfilled, I can also promise that the Western Turks are willing to annex the Tang Dynasty and ask for a seal."
Li Mu raised a smile and said, "Okay, let's make an oath according to the Turkic rules?"
Nishu raised his hand and put it on his chest and said solemnly: "Ashina Nishu swore to the Immortal Heaven, if he can do everything Zhuluhou said, Ashina Nishu can also do what he said. If he violates this oath, Changsheng will be destroyed."
God forsakes it.”
Li Mu was a little confused. Is it so casual?
But he didn't care. It was just a formality. Countries still depended on their strength and relied on any alliance to deceive themselves and others.
Li Mu also imitated Nishu's gestures, then filled up the wine and offered it to Nishu: "I have one more thing that I want to discuss with Nishu Khan. This is what happened..."