sjar Chapter 35 Quickly Eliminate Surrounding Military Hazards
Chapter 35 Quickly Eliminate Surrounding Military Hazards
Deep within the Tang Dynasty palace, undercurrents surged around Li Zhi, with power struggles and schemes constantly unfolding.
Li Shimin, this great monarch, as a father, had high expectations for his children, especially for their harmony. He would never allow the tragedy of fratricide to happen again.
Look at my brothers Li Chengqian and Li Tai. Although they are of noble birth, their lives after their downfall are incredibly difficult!
Li Zhi knew clearly that as the crown prince, he possessed, and had to demonstrate, the inherent qualities of benevolence, compassion, loyalty, and filial piety, which were the cornerstones of his stable position!
"Young Master, why are you sighing like that?"
“Alas, my two elder brothers, Chengqian and Litai, have been living a very frugal life in the palace since they fell on hard times. Shouldn’t we think of a way to help them…?” Li Zhi cautiously offered his thoughts while chatting with Sizi.
"Alright, Guoguo, write the memorial, and Sizi, proofread it!!"
The next day, when Li Shimin saw Li Zhi's memorial, he discovered that Zhi Nu had pleaded for his two older brothers in his handwriting. His heart warmed, and his affection for the prince grew even stronger.
Li Shimin said to Li Zhi with a serious expression:
"Little Zhinu, your heart is as soft as a persimmon. When it comes to becoming emperor, you'll have to be ruthless!!"
Don't always be kind and gentle to those around you; that's not kindness, that's indulgence!
I will order someone to give your two imperial brothers extra special treatment, at least to ensure they eat and drink well.
But your position as crown prince isn't something you can simply sit on and call your own. You need to learn to be kind and gentle on one hand, but also to possess a certain imposing authority that makes people afraid to look you in the eye, just like me, understand?"
Zhi Nu nodded with a smile.
Back then, things were really changing, and Emperor Li Shimin was extremely busy.
The Goguryeo Kingdom in Northeast China was like a restless leopard;
The Xueyantuo in the north are like fledgling eagles with hardened wings;
The Western Turks are also eyeing us covetously...
Emperor Aye slammed his fist on the table, deciding to personally take charge and give Goguryeo a taste of its power.
Before leaving, he patted Li Zhi on the shoulder and said with a serious expression, "Zhi Nu, this time your father has to go out to fight a war. You just need to guard Dingzhou well. The stability of the country is more important than anything else, understand?"
Li Zhi was truly uneasy, his heart churning like a belly full of boiling water.
This was a major test from his father, and also a practical demonstration of his ability to oversee affairs in the court. The pressure was immense, making him even more excited and uneasy than when he drank coffee at night.
When Emperor Aye returned victorious, Li Zhi, being considerate, took the initiative to set off to welcome him, and couldn't wait to meet Aye on the way.
The father and son returned to the capital together. Zhi Nu's experience as regent had gradually made him as steady as a seasoned veteran. Li Shimin was very pleased to see his son's transformation, but he couldn't help but miss the deceased Xiao Si Zi. However, he also felt that the little princess had always been with them and had never gone far away...
Now, Li Zhi's position in the court is even more secure. He has given a satisfactory answer to his father's test.
In a late-night conversation, Li Shimin solemnly said to Li Zhi, "Zhi Nu, you have done very well, every step has been steady. But remember, as long as the military threats from the surrounding areas are not eliminated, the peace of the Tang Dynasty will not be guaranteed!"
Upon hearing this, Li Zhi couldn't help but feel nervous again, like a rabbit being chased by a hunter, but he still nodded firmly.
Since the seventeenth year of the Zhenguan era, Li Zhi officially became the new crown prince.
In the following years, there was constant warfare.
In the eighteenth year of the Zhenguan era, a western expedition was launched against Yanqi.
In 644 AD, Aye and Zhinu bid a tearful farewell to Xiao Sizi.
Meanwhile, our General Guo Xiaoke led a group of troops and launched a fierce attack on the Yanqi Kingdom in the west.
They "invited" the King of Yanqi, Longtuqizhi, back to the capital, forcing his entire country to obey the Tang Dynasty.
He was put in charge of the Anxi Protectorate. Before the Tang Dynasty, the Yanqi Prefecture was also established in the Yanqi Kingdom, with a large number of troops stationed there, under the command of the Anxi Military Governor.
In the early 9th century, the Uyghur Khanate suddenly emerged, seized the territory of the Yanqi Kingdom, abolished the rule of the Long clan royal family, and replaced it with the Khan's confidants.
The Uyghurs began to move here in large numbers.
Thus, the rule of the Yanqi Long clan, which had lasted for a thousand years, came to a dramatic end...
In the nineteenth year of the Zhenguan era, the Tang Dynasty was also busy, launching a campaign against Goguryeo;
In the twentieth year of the Zhenguan era, the Xueyantuo were destroyed!
Yinan took over the homeland of the Eastern Turks.
Xueyantuo, this little brother, outwardly kowtowed and bowed to the Tang Dynasty, but secretly strengthened his own power.
In 639, Emperor Taizong of Tang wanted to revitalize the Eastern Turkic Khaganate and established a new Khan, Ashina Simo, to counter the Xueyantuo.
This infuriated the Xueyantuo, who had fought several battles with the Tang Dynasty and were afraid of its growing power.
In order to prevent the Eastern Turks from suffering a crushing defeat, Tang general Li Ji, also known as Liji Xiaonangjun, defeated the Xueyantuo in 641.
However, in 644, while Emperor Taizong of Tang was away fighting Goguryeo, the Xueyantuo launched another attack, defeating the Eastern Turks decisively. Ashina Simo had no choice but to flee back to the Central Plains.
At this time, Goguryeo wanted to ask Xueyantuo for help, but Yinan was worried about going to war directly with the Tang Dynasty.
In 645, after Yinan's death, his son, Duomi Khan Bazhuo, began to confront the Tang army.
In 646, the Tang army counterattacked and defeated Bazhuo. Upon seeing this, the Uyghurs, allies of Xueyantuo, killed Bazhuo.
Finally, Bazhuo's cousin, Yitewushi Khan Duomozhi, surrendered to the Tang army, and the Xueyantuo were completely finished...
Alas, this is what happens when there are constant wars. Li Shimin is anxious to help the weak and timid Crown Prince Zhinu, to help him quickly eliminate the surrounding military threats, and to urgently lay a solid foundation for the future of the Tang Dynasty!