Zhu Changxiao's version of the Sui Dynasty

Tang Taizong Li Shimin and Xiao Yu, Xiao Xun, Gao Shilian, Fang Xuanling and six others rode out of Xuanwu Gate on horseback, and stopped on the south bank of Weishui River, facing Jie Li Khan across the river.

The Turkic army on the other side of the river, with hundreds of miles of camps, cavalry like clouds, staring at them, ready to go. Looking from afar, I thought the Tang army would fight to the death with all their might, but I only saw six people riding horses.

"What kind of empty city plan is Li Shimin playing? Six people dare to fight alone?" Jie Li hesitated and said to himself.

Murong Xia, who followed Jie Li Khan, said: "The Khan needs to be more careful, there must be a trick."

The two sides looked at each other across the river, but there was no movement. After waiting for a long time, they saw clouds of dust rising, and then the Tang soldiers arrived at the south bank one after another. The flags covered the sun, the horses neighed, and the eunuchs and palace maids were dressed in armor and helmets, dressed as imperial guards, mixed in with them, lined up in a row, and the formation was twenty miles away.

Even so, the Tang soldiers continued to pour out of Chang'an City, but the people behind the team were no longer soldiers, but hired civilians and palace maids to set up a false formation, dressed in military uniforms, bluffing.

Jie Li Khan was far away on the other side of the Wei River. Although he could not see everything clearly, he was also very surprised when he looked around. He saw that there were many Tang soldiers on the south bank of the Wei River. He was suspicious and a little surprised, not knowing whether it was true or not.

When Jie Li Khan encountered this situation, he asked Murong Xia: "Yuchi Gong is leading the elite troops of the Tang army to fight in Hebei. The capital should be empty. Could it be that the ten-mile long snake formation today is a divine army sent from heaven? What do you think, General Murong?"

"Although I don't know the truth, the people of the Central Plains have always been particular about the truth and falsehood in the use of troops. All is fair in war. It is difficult to distinguish the truth from the false. The Khan must not be careless." Murong Xia said.

Jie Li Khan nodded, whipped his horse to the bridge head, and shouted loudly while shaking the whip: "Is the Tang Lord here? Come and answer quickly."

Li Shimin pulled the reins and was about to step forward. Xiao Yu hurriedly advised: "Your Majesty, it is too dangerous to go up the bridge alone, so you should send an envoy."

Li Shimin smiled and said: "I know my limits. The Turks dare to come out in full force and come thousands of miles away. They must think that I have just ascended the throne and the people in the court are unstable. If I go up the bridge alone, I will be able to scare Jie Li Khan by surprise. Subdue the Turks in one fell swoop!"

After saying this, Li Shimin, who was skilled and courageous, urged his horse to climb the southern end of the temporary bridge alone, and said loudly: "I have heard for a long time that the Khan has lofty ambitions and wants to kill Hui Zhong. Original, the restoration of the Sui Dynasty, now Chang'an still has 150,000 strong soldiers, ready to fight at any time. If the Khan has pity on the people of Guanzhong, the Tang Dynasty is willing to pay tribute and negotiate peace, I wonder if it is possible? Otherwise, the two sides of the Wei River will be bloody, and we will fight to the death!"

Seeing that Li Shimin's words were powerful, and his words were both soft and hard, he could pay tribute and negotiate peace, and dared to fight to the death without fear, which made Jie Li Khan a little confused; looking at the Tang soldiers on the south bank, with flags everywhere, relying on grass and trees, it was difficult to distinguish the real from the fake, Jie Li Khan was in a dilemma.

While he was hesitating, Murong Xia was beside him. After all, he was a Han Chinese, and he couldn't bear to see the people of Chang'an slaughtered again. He also thought that Xiao Jun was unwilling to fight again, Xiao YuThe others were the Queen Mother's close relatives, so they took the opportunity to persuade Jie Li: "Li Yuan and his son were full of tricks in the past, and now they are not showing any weakness. There must be an ambush."

Jie Li Khan was already hesitant, and after hearing this, he was even more cautious. Seeing that Jie Li Khan was in a dilemma, Murong Xia persuaded him: "Why not let the Tang Lord pay tribute and sign an alliance, and stop at the right time."

Jie Li Khan frowned and whispered: "If we go back like this, I'm afraid Princess Yicheng will complain."

Murong Xia was secretly happy and said: "Princess Yicheng loves her family the most. As long as Queen Mother Xiao and King Sui don't care, the princess will not blame them."

Jie Li nodded and urged his horse to the bridge head. He asked Li Shimin: "Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, listen, if you want to negotiate peace, unless you pay tribute of silk and coins, let this Khan reward the soldiers of the three armies, otherwise the soldiers of Mobei will find it difficult to obey your order!"

Jie Li Khan tried to find a way out. Li Shimin had a good idea in his heart. He was sweating coldly and suddenly realized, and then he answered: "I have no grudges with the Khan. The Tang Dynasty is willing to pay tribute of silk and coins to show friendship. I am afraid that it is empty words and untrustworthy. We need to kill a white horse to establish an alliance."

"This Khan agrees." Jie Li Khan turned around and said to the generals behind him: "The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty asks for peace. He ordered the killing of the white horse and the blood oath to establish an alliance!"

A group of fierce soldiers pushed a white horse, pulled out their Hu knives, slaughtered the horse, brought a copper basin, and took half a basin of horse blood. The soldier holding the blood basin was about to cross the bridge, but Murong Xia stretched out his hand to stop him. Murong Xia said to Xiao Siye: "Young General is the envoy appointed by the Empress Dowager, and he should personally deliver the horse blood to negotiate the peace treaty."

Xiao Siye calmly dismounted and took the copper basin. The copper basin of horse blood was one foot away, and half of the basin of horse blood was not heavy. Xiao Siye carried the blood basin to the front of Jie Li Khan's horse. Jie Li said: "Xiao Jun finally got his wish, and this Khan swore an oath of blood." As he said that, he reached out to dip his hand in the blood and wiped it on the edge of his lips.

Jie Li Khan winked at the other side of the bridge, and Xiao Siye walked across the temporary bridge with the blood basin and brought it to Li Shimin's horse. Li Shimin asked, "You kid, tell me your name."

Xiao Siye said, "I am Xiao Siye, the nephew of the Empress Dowager of the Great Sui Dynasty."

"Oh?" Li Shimin said, "Are you the son of Xiao Ju and the grandson of Xiao Xun?"

"That's right." This question and answer made Xiao Xun and Xiao Yu, who were waiting behind, suddenly realize and moved.

Li Shimin held the horse blood to his lips, and looked at Xiao Siye, who was handsome and smart, and said, "Your grandfather Xiao Xun is here, why don't you stay in the Tang Dynasty and reunite with your family."

Xiao Siye had followed Xiao Jun for many years since he was a child, and he was already unfamiliar with his relatives in Chang'an. He just put down the blood basin, knelt down and kowtowed to Xiao Xun, then stood up and returned to the bridge. Walking to the middle of the bridge, he suddenly turned around and replied: "Siye is young, but he still knows the etiquette. Now he is the envoy of Sui Dynasty, how dare he disgrace the mission? I hope you will forgive me!"

Li Shimin asked: "Since you are a Han Chinese, why don't you stay in the Tang Dynasty?"

Xiao Siye said: "There is still the Sui Dynasty in Mobei, and they are all Han Chinese. I can't bear to leave."

Li Shimin thought of the Han people who were captured and knew that he was powerless to rescue them. He was deeply moved and asked: "You are a child with extraordinary knowledge. I wonder when I can see you again?"

Xiao Siye said: "If your majesty breaks his promise and betrays the Weishui Alliance, we will meet again." After saying that, Xiao Siye turned around and left, returning to the Turkic army.

Li Shimin looked into the distance for a long time, turned his horse's head, and said to everyone: "The Han people in the northern frontier have a miserable livelihood, and I am uneasy. The annual tribute of money and silk, gold, silver, and silk, as promised, will be paid as tribute in order to be treated well."

The Tang Dynasty and the Turkic people were humiliated in the Weishui Agreement. Xiao Xun, Xiao Yu and other ministers lost their face and felt deeply humiliated. Li Shimin comforted them: "The shame of Weishui is unforgettable. As Xiao Siye said, when the alliance is betrayed, we will meet again." Li Shimin knocked on the stirrup and turned back to Chang'an, and everyone followed him.

In the ninth year of the Tang Dynasty Wude, in 626 AD, Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, and the Turkic Khan Jie Li swore an oath of blood at the bridgehead of the Weishui River. As a delaying tactic, the Tang Dynasty paid tribute to the Turkic tribe, and only then was peace negotiated and ceasefire achieved. This Weishui Alliance is also known as the Weishui Shame. This is:

The Turkic tribes seized the imperial power in front of the Xuanwu Gate and invaded the border. The smoke of war rose to the sky, and the dust was covered with swords.

The Weishui River was empty, and the white horse swore an oath for preservation. The tribute and peace talks were humiliated, and the day of revenge will come next year.

The Turkic tribes withdrew their troops and dispersed, and Xiao Siye and Murong Xia returned as they wished. Returning to the Dingxiang Palace, he reported the truth to the Empress Dowager Xiao Jun and the Sui King Yang Zhengdao.

Xiao Jun was overjoyed to learn about the alliance and peace talks, and praised the matter highly. Only Murong Xia was worried. After everyone left, only Murong Xia stayed. Xiao Jun asked: "General Murong, if there is anything wrong, just say it."

Murong Xia said: "Reporting to the Queen Mother, I just guarded Kang Sumi and others, and I can't speak directly."

"They left, you say it." Xiao Jun said.

"The Queen Mother and I are both Han people, and there are some truths that the Turks can't understand. The Han people have had the strategy of bearing humiliation, sleeping on straw and tasting gall, and keeping a low profile since ancient times. Li Shimin's tribute to seek peace this time is probably a delaying tactic. I expect that he will definitely break the contract and abandon the alliance and counterattack the Turks in the future." Murong Xia said.

"Hmm." Xiao Jun said, "You really hit the nail on the head. Go on."

Murong Xia bowed and said, "If the Tang army cannot defeat the Turks, the next ten years will be nothing more than this. If the Tang defeated the Turks, what would the Empress Dowager do?"

Xiao Jun stood up and walked outside the house. Murong Xia followed him and said as he walked, "My ancestral home is in Lanling, my mother's home is in Jiangling, and I married in Chang'an. After all, the northern frontier is not the home of us Han people."

The king and his ministers followed. Leisurely in the long corridor, Murong Xia said: "I dare to speculate. Is the Empress Dowager planning to return to Tang in the future?"

Xiao Jun looked at Murong Xia with a sidelong look, and laughed: "You and I can say this, and we must not mention it in front of Kang Sumi and others."

"I understand."

Xiao Jun spent his days in the palace, watching his grandson Yang Zhengdao diligent in civil governance and his nephew Xiao Siye superb martial arts. The two younger generations, one literary and one martial, accompany each other day and night. It can be said that he is happy with the family happiness. This is the best thing in life. This is:

In the desert, the heart is in Tang, looking south of the Great Wall to my hometown.

The exiled court has been isolated for a long time, and can only hide in tears when they return.

Just to say that at the end of this year, as the first month of the lunar calendar was approaching, the Han people in Dingxiang celebrated the New Year according to the old custom. The palace of the Later Sui Dynasty was also decorated with lights and colors, and there was endless celebration. A grand banquet was set up in the palace. The Sui King Yang Zhengdao, who was already ten years old, supported the Empress Dowager Xiao Jun and sat at the top seat to entertain all officials.

Murong Xia led the Han officials, and Kang Sumi led the Turkic officials, who were divided into two wings and sat down to attend the banquet. Jugglers, colorful maids, and palace maids competed to perform and celebrate the New Year together. After three rounds of wine and five kinds of dishes, singing and dancing, bells and music were heard continuously.

Kang Sumi drank vigorously and was a little drunk. During the banquet, he said to a minister: "It's been three years since we last met. Xiao Shaojiang is handsome and has great martial arts skills. Why not let him dance with a sword to cheer us up?"

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Siye heard everything, so he stood up and saluted to everyone: "The Empress Dowager, Your Highness the King of Sui, and all the ministers, Xiao Siye has practiced martial arts for twelve years. Today is a festive occasion, and I would like to dance with a sword to cheer us up."

Xiao Jun was pleased and nodded. Kang Sumi said: "The Shaojiang is heroic and generous. Come and dance!"

Xiao Siye took off the sword from his waist, drew the sword and threw it into the sheath, and came to the front of the hall. The musicians beside him played the piano to cheer him up. Xiao Siye danced to the rhythm. His sword skills were like flowing clouds and water, like looking at the moon through the clouds. The ministers on both sides of the Han Dynasty cheered. Several generals were eager to try.

When he was enjoying the sword dance, he saw a guard rushing into the hall. Xiao Siye was stabbing at him with his sword. He was startled and quickly put away his sword. He pointed at the guard and asked, "You are so reckless. What do you want to report?"

"It's urgent, it's urgent!"

Seeing the guard's anxious expression and panic, Xiao Siye knew something was wrong, so he dodged and said, "Hurry up and report to the Empress Dowager!" This led to:

A year of New Year's Eve, a big shock, a crisis in the vast northern frontier.

Iron hooves trampled the prairie fire, and the drums of war called the sun, moon and stars.

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