"Ashina Buzhen, to be honest, your gift... Guzhen is a little afraid to accept it."
Although the gifts were carried to the entrance of the East Palace, Li Xian really did not dare to accept them.
There are also things to pay attention to when accepting gifts. Accepting gifts from Japanese people is called taking by force. Although it is a bit wrong to use this word, this is the reality. However, for the courtiers, it was appropriate for the prince to plunder a small country like Japan. Others who wanted to go to Honglu Temple to extort money were not qualified to do so.
Accepting gifts from Tibetan envoys and Turkic envoys can barely be regarded as having a cause. Moreover, the saint personally ordered him to host this envoy's pilgrimage. He is equivalent to sitting in Zhang Xuanze's position, which is a plus version. Asking for favors from envoys is the prerogative of the foreign minister of a powerful country.
However....
Ashina Apoma's gift is not so easy to receive.
Although he is a puppet khan, it is an indisputable fact that he governs a large area of land and Turkic people in the Anxi Protectorate. It is no exaggeration to say that he is the source of trouble within the territory of the Tang Dynasty.
Is it so easy to get close to a local leader who can easily gather tens of thousands of troops?
What's more, this is the leader of a foreign tribe.
Seeing that the prince's expression was firm and there was no sign of being confused by the gift, Ashina Apozhen couldn't help but miss a beat. It seems that in the future, Datang will change its emperor...
He didn't dare to think about the next content, so he could only bend down lower: "Don't worry, Your Highness, the saint knows about this matter. The saint summoned Wei Chen yesterday, and Wei Chen has been allowed to visit. "
Got permission from a saint?
Seeing Zhou Quan not far away, Li Xian couldn't help but look over to him.
Seeing His Highness the Crown Prince's gaze, Zhou Quan nodded vigorously.
This is the fact. Ashina Buzhen came to give gifts, and it was really approved by the saint.
Since Li Zhi gave permission, it would be easy to handle.
Li Xian is deeply aware of the propriety in this. When Li Zhi doesn't know, he has to be as cautious as a persecutory delusional man. But when Li Zhi knows, he can relax, and if Li Zhi agrees, Next, hey, just do whatever you have to do. No matter what happens, you can't blame him.
Nodding, Li Xian smiled and said, "Since father has given permission, it is reasonable for me to accept your gift."
Seeing that the prince finally accepted it, Ashina Buzhen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
He is only in his forties now and has no illness or disaster. With the current body of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, it is very likely that he will live until the next emperor ascends the throne. Ever since he learned that the current prince was almost certain to inherit the throne, he made up his mind to flatter him in advance.
He knew very well that only if the future Emperor of the Tang Dynasty did not target him, he could secure his position as Khan. As for whether this position is a puppet controlled by others, he really doesn't care.
Leaning over and saluting, Ashina Buzhen said: "His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, the general of the Hussars and the Protector of Mengchi, Ashina Buzhen, would like to offer you my most sincere blessings. At the same time, please allow me, the humble servant, , I present to you a hundred horses, a hundred beef cattle, a thousand sheep, some grassland specialties, and fifty beauties from the tribe to express my respect for you."
Hearing Ashina Buzhen's words, although Li Xian's face was expressionless, he couldn't help but smack his tongue in his mouth.
What a big deal!
Cattle, sheep and grassland specialties are nothing. The Turkic people's territory was originally used for grazing. The value of these things is not high for them. The value of these things only increased after the livestock were driven to the Central Plains. What is truly valuable is a hundred horses and fifty beauties.
The horses presented by the Turks were not just randomly chosen and then considered done. First of all, the horse must have pure bloodlines. Even if it is a cross, it must ensure that its parents are pure bloodlines. In the eyes of grassland people, the blood of horses is as important as the blood of the royal family of the Central Plains.
The same goes for beauties. In this era, one of the ways for a country to show its loyalty to another country is to donate beauties, and beauties must meet the beauty standards of the other country.
Both are carefully selected, and it is no exaggeration to say that no matter which one is sent to the auction house, it will fetch a sky-high price.
but....
Forget about beautiful women, Li Xian doesn't want to be called a human trafficker by future generations. Anything can be auctioned at the auction house, but the auctioneer is going too far.
Nodding, Li Xian smiled and said to Ashina Buzhen: "I feel your loyalty and respect. Since the Khan has come to the East Palace in person, I will be criticized if I don't entertain you. Why not? How about following me into the East Palace and having a banquet?"
The gift has been accepted. After all, the other party is also a khan. You should always be polite as you should be.
What's more, this is also a way to win people's hearts. I hope that after eating and drinking, this guy and his people can calm down on the grassland.
Ashina Bu was overjoyed to receive the banquet. He quickly saluted and said, "It's such an honor. It's such an honor. Thank you, Your Highness, the Crown Prince for the banquet!"
Seeing that Ashina's happy expression didn't seem to be fake, a trace of contempt in Li Xian's heart only rose up and then dissipated quickly.
A person has a different way of living. Maybe you can despise his style and way of doing things, but you cannot despise his will to survive. Under the control of the Tang Dynasty, the Turks will only get better and better. Perhaps he is also a kind of greatness by being so groveling?
Ignoring Ashina Buzhen, Li Xian controlled the horse and headed towards the East Palace.
When passing by the Turkic team, the knights on their horses dismounted and saluted, groveling to the extreme.
When they arrived at the entrance of the East Palace, even Ashina Buzhen dismounted and handed the horse to the guards of the East Palace. He only took two guards with him and entered the East Palace on foot.
It was hard for the dignified Turkic Khan to make himself look like a slave.
When passing by the Mingde Hall, Qi Lan hesitated for a moment, but still controlled the horse to approach, and said: "Husband, I saw those horses outside, they are also very handsome. Do you think you can let me get out of them?" Pick out two horses and send them home tonight?"
Li Xian nodded with a smile and said, "Since you have this intention, you just chose directly outside. Why did you hold it in for so long? Go ahead."
After receiving the permission, Qi Lan immediately smiled, turned his horse's head, and ran towards the Chongming Gate.
After girls marry someone else, their homesickness will prompt them to involuntarily bring good things to their parents' family.
As a real man, you should allow this kind of thing. After all, you are not marrying a slave, but a living person. As a human being, you must learn to think from other people's perspective.
After returning to Lizheng Hall and washing off the dust on his body, Li Xian went to the small pavilion in the garden to entertain Ashina Buzhen.
In fact, to formally entertain people, you have to go to the Chongjiao Hall in the East Palace. However, because it was a bit hot today, and the person hosting the banquet was Ashina Buzhen, Li Xian did not choose a formal place, but chose garden.
As for dealing with Ashina Buzhen, it is also very simple. After drinking a few bottles of strong liquor, he started to drink like crazy. After drinking another bottle, he lay down.
As for Li Xian, who had been drinking cold drinks for free the whole time, he calmly ordered the two of them to be sent out.
It's just a joke. If possible, he would rather drink with Ashina Tag or Ba Lujia. As a prince, such creatures as friends naturally do not exist. Since he cannot drink with friends, the only option left is to drink with enemies. .
After drinking the last sip of boiled water in the tea cup, Li Xian got up and went to Cheng'en Hall to rest.
Although Fang Furong resisted him as before, she could only compromise under his authority.
Knowing her petty thoughts, she felt that she was a pregnant woman. If she couldn't serve her husband, she couldn't dominate him and make others laugh. However, in Li Xian's view, just because she is a pregnant woman, she needs more company.
Women in the harem are generally short-lived. Perhaps this has a lot to do with their mentality of hurting Qiu Beifeng no matter what.
The Turkic envoys have arrived, the Tibetan envoys have arrived, and the remaining envoys are not enough to make Prince Li Xian interested.
With the destruction of countries such as Kumosi, Bailin, and Goguryeo, tribes such as Shiwei Mohe in the northeast are no longer of concern. Perhaps, people who are familiar with the history of the Sui and Tang Dynasties are curious about why a small country like Goguryeo was able to defeat such a powerful country as the Sui and Tang Dynasties; even an ambitious emperor like Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty capsized on it. .
This question once confused Li Xian, but now he understands it after coming to Datang.
Because of the alliance.
Goguryeo is naturally very easy to conquer as a single country. Factors such as bitter cold may have an impact, but they will never completely affect the situation of the war.
What really made Tang Dynasty turn against Goguryeo was the intricate forces in that land.
On weekdays, Goguryeo and other congresses may be groveling, but when it comes to issues of survival, the chaotic tribal countries on that land will unite to jointly resist the attack of the Tang Dynasty.
A Goguryeo is nothing, but Bai Lin. Kumosi, Khitan, Shiwei, Mohe... all added up, even if Emperor Yang of Sui really had an army of one million, there would be nothing he could do.
But by the time of Emperor Gaozong, with the destruction of Goguryeo and other countries, the Northeast alliance had no support and had become scattered. No matter how many tribes there were, facing the gaze of the Tang Dynasty, they could only grovel and let them be beaten or scolded. They can't even think of resisting like this.
Now that both the Turks and Tibet have been frightened, the rest are no longer of concern.
As for the envoys from various countries in the Western Regions who came to the Tang Dynasty, they can basically be ignored. Because the Tang Dynasty had no direct contact with them, even if the envoys sent by those wealthy countries pretended to be poor, Honglu Temple would not expose them.
Let them pretend for a while. When the Tang army drives over, everything will be clear.
Now Datang is busy digesting its own fat land and has no time to deal with them. When Datang has the strength to attack again in two or three hundred years, they will be the first to be unlucky. As much as you eat, you have to spit out.
Stuck at the crossroads of trade between the Tang Dynasty and the Western Regions, it is strange that such a country does not make money. But, is Datang’s money so easy to swallow? The former Khotan Kucha is an example...
Early the next morning, when Li Xian went out, he did not meet Qi Lan.
Under normal circumstances, this girl should be waiting in front of his door and go to the martial arts field with him.
However, I remembered that she had a rare trip out yesterday and she must be very tired, so I didn't plan to send someone to call her.
In the martial arts arena, it was still the same training as usual.
Since Ming Chongyan didn't come to the East Palace for two consecutive days, he simply stopped coming, and Li Dan also stopped coming to the East Palace.
Knowing that he was taking the opportunity to escape and betting that the prince had no intention of sending someone to invite him, Li Xian simply got off the road and stopped paying attention to him. There is nothing magical about the art of concealment. Apart from some experiences summed up by predecessors, the rest is just practice.
It's similar to practicing Qing Gong. After all, it's the first choice to hide in a place that is beyond the reach of ordinary people.
After compressing time for other projects, Li Xian got a lot of time to practice archery.
After killing all the pheasants in a cage, what surprised him was that Xue Ne actually came to the East Palace today.
Ever since Li Xian left the East Palace, Xue Ne has been sent out to tutor Li Xian. As for him, in the next period of time, he will accumulate experience and no longer need anyone to watch him. Why did this guy come here today?
The most surprising thing is that he didn't come alone, but also brought a team of more than a dozen guys dressed as Qianniu Guards, and stopped far away from the entrance of the martial arts field.
As usual, Xue Ne did not need to be searched. He trotted over and slowed down when he got closer.
After standing still, Xue Ne knelt down on one knee, took out a silver medal from his arms and said: "Your Majesty, these dozen people are the Qianniu Guard archers sent by the saint to you. I passed the examination of them yesterday, and they are all He is an archery master like no other."
Taking the token from Xue Ne, Li Xian asked curiously: "What does it mean that my father suddenly brought these people to Gu?"
Xue Ne said embarrassedly: "Actually, these people will disguise themselves as your guards during the autumn hunting. Each of them has two quivers. When necessary, they will use the same arrows as His Highness to kill them." of prey.”
"ah?"
Li Xian opened his mouth. How could he do this?
If I had known this...
These five words just appeared, and the remaining words were torn into pieces by Li Xian in his mind.
Cheating is shameful!
Shaking his head, Li Xian sighed: "Forget it, tell these people that there is no need to help Gu. Although Gu's archery skills are not high, this is Gu's real archery skills. It may be embarrassing in front of foreign envoys, but, It’s better than being discovered by others with the help of external forces.”
"If I am embarrassed this time because I am not strong enough, it will be fine. I can just find it again next time. But if I am found out because of cheating, I will never be able to hold my head up."
