If it weren't for the fact that Qilaobaat'er was still needed to stabilize the Western Turks, Li Shimin really wanted to kill him.
As for the impact of killing the messenger, he didn't care at all.
Compared to killing your brother and imprisoning your father, killing an envoy is nothing.
"Thank you, His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty." Qi Laobat'er said with a salute.
Li Shimin's gloomy face softened a bit and said: "I thought about the proposal of the Western Turks carefully and agreed. As long as the Western Turks declare themselves to be a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty and send envoys to send tributes, the Tang Dynasty will not interfere with the Western Turks."
Things between Turk and Xue Yantuo."
Qilaobaat'er was stunned. When he came, Nishu told him that it was impossible for the Tang Dynasty to agree to the conditions of the Western Turks. He also felt that Nishu's words were reasonable. However, now that the Tang Dynasty actually agreed, he was a little confused for a moment.
The most important thing is that Nishu didn't say what to do if Datang agreed, so he didn't know how to respond.
When Li Shimin saw that Qi Laobateer was silent, he said unhappily: "What? Is it possible that what you said before was all lies to me? The Western Turks have no intention of becoming a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty?"
Speaking of the latter part, Li Shimin's tone already had a hint of murderous intent.
Qilaobaat'er trembled, came to his senses, and said quickly: "His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty misunderstood. The foreign minister was so surprised that he lost his mind for a moment. Naturally, the Western Turks did not dare to deceive His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty."
No matter what, let’s deal with the immediate situation first.
Anyway, it's just a verbal promise now. As long as the Western Turks don't announce it to the outside world and don't send people to pay tribute, it can't be regarded as a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty.
After thinking about this, Qilaobaat'er calmed down and said: "Since His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty agreed that the Western Turks would become a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty, why did the Tang Dynasty send troops to help Xue Yantuo?"
Li Shimin pondered for a moment and said: "No matter what, Xue Yantuo is a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty. Xue Yantuo asked for help from the Tang Dynasty and sent a large number of cattle, sheep and horses as tribute. If the Tang Dynasty turns a blind eye, how will other countries see the Tang Dynasty?"
"If I really want to help Xue Yantuo, I can't just dispatch 10,000 cavalry from the border."
After hearing this, Qi Laobater believed Li Shimin's words.
During the time he was in Chang'an, he had deployed manpower at all the important roads leading from Chang'an to the grassland. There was indeed no sign of the Tang Dynasty mobilizing troops.
Most of the Tang Dynasty's frontier troops were infantry used to defend the city. Being able to mobilize 10,000 cavalry was already the limit of the Tang Dynasty.
However, the grassland is flat and there is no danger to defend at all. Even if the Tang Dynasty sends infantry, it will be of little use. How can two legs catch up with four legs?
Now it seems that the Tang Dynasty sent ten thousand soldiers and horses just to save the face of the suzerain country.
A trace of disdain flashed through Qi Laobat'er's heart. Han people just love face.
"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, what should we do if the Western Turks and Xue Yantuo are at war and encounter the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty?" Qilaobaat'er asked the hidden worries in his heart.
He was worried that when the Western Turks attacked Xue Yantuo, if the Tang Dynasty's cavalry suffered casualties, what would happen if the Tang Dynasty continued to send troops out of anger?
Li Shimin smiled and said: "Don't worry, I have told you that they are just doing it for show and will not really help Xue Yantuo."
After a pause, Li Shimin sneered and said: "Xue Yantuo is a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty, but the tribes under it plunder the people on the border of the Tang Dynasty every year. How can I help him?"
Qilaobaat'er suddenly realized that no wonder Li Shimin agreed not to help Xue Yantuo. It turned out that he wanted to use the Western Turks to deal with Xue Yantuo.
Although he had doubts about Li Shimin's consent to the Western Turks becoming a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty before, he was completely relieved now.
"I hope the Western Turks will not be like Xue Yantuo in the future." Li Shimin said.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, we, the Western Turks, are sincerely surrendering, so naturally we will not be like this." Qilaobaat'er said confidently.
Li Shimin sneered in his heart. He had long seen the true nature of these alien races.
Since ancient times, all dynasties have suffered greatly from it.
Naturally, Li Shimin would not believe Qi Laobaater's so-called guarantee.
After sending Qilaobat'er away, Li Shimin said coldly: "Inform Baiqi that after the Western Turkic envoys leave, all those tails will be dealt with and no one will be left behind."
Qi Laobaat'er arranged for people to monitor various important roads, so naturally he could not hide it from Baiqi, but Li Shimin didn't want to alert the enemy, so he let Baiqi monitor it secretly.
After Qilaobaater leaves, there will be no need for those people to exist.
"Yes." Li Mu took the order and went down to make arrangements.
Qilaobaat'er returned to Honglu Temple, arranged some things, and applied to Honglu Temple to return home.
Honglu Temple received Li Shimin's instructions and directly agreed without blocking it.
Just when Qilaobaat'er left Chang'an, memorials from Hou Junji and Lin Xuan were delivered to Li Shimin's desk almost at the same time.
Li Shimin read Lin Xuan's memorial first, and then read Hou Junji's.
Hou Junji's memorial was very simple. He wrote down in detail how he made Tibet retreat. At the same time, he also asked Li Shimin to return his troops to the court.
Although there is information provided by Baiqi, if you don't have extraordinary vision, you won't be able to think of a solution so quickly from that information.
Li Shimin has always valued Hou Junji very much and wanted to train him into a mainstay for the future emperor.
It's a pity that Hou Junji's desire for power is too strong.
Li Shimin knew before that Hou Junji was very power-minded, but he didn't care.
All the emperor could give his ministers was money, titles, and rights. It was not a bad thing to be keen on power. As long as the emperor could control it well, if his ministers wanted to gain greater rights, they would have to devote themselves to making contributions to the Tang Dynasty.
What he didn't expect was that Hou Junji would actually get together with Li Tai.
Li Shimin put aside his thoughts and directly approved Hou Junji's request.
Now that Tubo has withdrawn its troops, it doesn't make much sense for Hou Junji to stay there. On the contrary, it will increase the burden on the court.
After finishing all this, Li Shimin ordered to summon the main officials from the three provinces and six ministries, as well as Cheng Yaojin and other generals.
When these officials came to the palace, they saw that not only the main officials from the three provinces and six ministries were there, but also many generals, they knew that something big must have happened.
After everyone arrived, an internal official came to inform them to go in.
Everyone quickly adjusted their appearance and lined up to enter the main hall.
"I will see you, Your Majesty." Everyone bowed.
Li Shimin waved his hand and said: "I called you here this time because Lin Xuan sent news that the grassland may change at any time. I want to discuss the expedition. This time I want to level the grassland in one fell swoop so that there will be no worries in the north of the Tang Dynasty.
.”
"Your Majesty, I request to go to war." Cheng Yaojin said first.
Yuchi Gong glared at Cheng Yaojin and cursed secretly, being overtaken again.
However, he did not delay and also requested to fight.
The other generals were not to be outdone and requested to fight.
Li Shimin was very satisfied with the generals' fighting spirit and said: "This time, Li Daozong is the commander-in-chief, and Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, Niu Jinda... will accompany the army on the expedition."
Li Shimin read out the names of more than 20 people in succession.