Chapter 168: Death of the Country
Especially the secret letter from Princess Yicheng, which reminded him to be careful of changes in the north. Whatever happened in the north would naturally be his younger brothers.

Originally, he attacked the Sui Emperor because the Sui Emperor wanted to make a royal daughter a princess and marry her to his younger brother Chijishe, and then make him the Southern Khan to compete with him.

However, he was already very proud of this trip and had no intention of really killing the emperor. He also did not want to go to war with the Sui Dynasty, not only because he was worried about the outcome, but also because chaos was imminent in the Central Plains. If he started a war at this time, wouldn't he be helping the Sui Dynasty?

Wouldn't it be better to let them fight themselves?

Kang Tan, a close confidant of Shibi Khan, said, "Great Khan, we should withdraw our troops. The news that you have surrounded the emperor of the Central Plains has spread throughout the grasslands. It is time to withdraw."

Kang Tan was the brother-in-law of Shi Shuhushi, the previous trusted adviser of Shibi Khan. After Shi Shuhushi was lured and killed by Pei Ju, he gradually replaced his uncle's position and was highly trusted by Shibi Khan. It was his suggestion to launch a surprise attack on the Sui Emperor.

Although Shibi Khan had already made plans, he was even happier to see that his advisers agreed with him so well.

Shibi Khan nodded and said, "Then withdraw the troops."

But Kang Tan suddenly asked, "Great Khan, I heard that the general coming to help is the noble relative of the Sui Dynasty that you have been thinking about all the time?"

Shibi Khan nodded and even smiled. The higher the position he reached, the easier it was for him to miss the past, especially the things he wanted but did not get. It was great that he and Li Jiancheng knew each other when they were teenagers.

When he still needed to pretend to be nice to the Sui Emperor, Li Jiancheng sent him a letter to remind him. Later, something went wrong on his side, which led to Li Jiancheng being held accountable by the Sui Emperor. He has always felt a little guilty about it.

"Yes, he is a truly remarkable person and my dear friend. It's a pity that he is unwilling to come to the grassland to help me achieve my great cause."

Kang Tan smiled and said, "The Sui Emperor is now in danger, and the initiative is completely in our hands. He has no request that he will not agree to. Why doesn't the Khan ask the Sui Emperor for this person? Don't people in the Central Plains believe that the emperor's orders cannot be disobeyed?"

Shibi Khan's eyes lit up. They were all going to withdraw their troops, and a day or two wouldn't matter. They should give it a try.

So he immediately stopped the attack and sent envoys to the county city to convey his request. This was like a life-saving rain for Yang Guang, who was once again in despair, and he agreed without thinking.

As for why Li Jiancheng came to rescue him and why Shibi Khan specifically wanted him, none of this mattered. What mattered was that he could survive and continue to be emperor.

Yang Guang now understood that no matter how ambitious he was or how he wanted to be the greatest emperor of all time, they were not as important as his own life.

However, Su Wei, Yu Shiji and others tried to dissuade him, believing that the reinforcements had arrived, and even though they were no match for the Turks now, there would surely be more troops coming to rescue the king.

How could the loyal ministers and generals who came to rescue the emperor be offered to the Turks in this way? Where would the reputation of the Sui Dynasty be? Where would the people's morale be? How would the soldiers who fought for the country feel!
"Your Majesty, no!"

"This is unprecedented in history. If you agree to this, you will be cursed in history. Your Majesty, please think twice!"

Yuwen Shu thought the same as the emperor. Although he was old, he still had a lot of money that he had not spent. He felt that he could still enjoy himself for a few more years. Of course, he did not want to die and leave his property to his useless sons.

"Your Majesty, Li Jianben is a deliberate rebel, how can you spare him?"

Yu Shiji immediately said: "The matter of Liaodong City has not yet been resolved, and Li Jiancheng has come from afar to rescue the emperor, which is enough to show his loyalty. How can we let such a loyal person feel disappointed?"

"So what you mean is that you want to put your majesty's life in danger?" This sentence forced everyone to shut up and they could only look at the emperor with expectation, hoping that he could fulfill his responsibility as the master of the country.

But they were destined to be disappointed. The emperor shouted sternly: "You are my subjects, and Li Jiancheng's subjects. He has been favored by me and promoted to this point. You should repay me with your life and sacrifice your life for the safety of the emperor. As a subject, you should be happy to accept it!"

So the emperor immediately agreed to the request of the Turkish envoy and sent someone out of the city to convey the order. He still had some face to save, so he ordered the order to be conveyed in private and not announced to the public.

But in fact, before the imperial edict arrived, the reinforcements had already received the news. How could Shibi Khan cover up for Yang Guang? He wished that everyone could see through Yang Guang's hypocrisy.

The morale of the reinforcements was low, but they still did not believe that the emperor would agree. They had risked their lives to come to rescue the emperor. If the emperor could even abandon a meritorious noble like Li Jiancheng, would His Majesty still care about them, the lowly soldiers?

The emperor's decree arrived at the tent, requiring everyone else to leave. This sentence chilled everyone's heart. The emperor was the Son of Heaven, and the decrees he issued were like the law of heaven. There was nothing that he couldn't let people know.

Therefore, they knew what the emperor meant without listening. Regardless of whether they were Li Jiancheng's relatives or old friends, they all felt a sense of grief at this moment.

Li Shimin clenched the hilt of the sword at his waist, but his brother calmly ordered: "We are here only to save the emperor. All the soldiers are willing to sacrifice their lives, and I, Li Jiancheng, will be no exception. I will die to save the emperor and the country. Yes, I will!"

Everyone saluted Li Jiancheng solemnly and then quietly withdrew. Only then did the eunuch announce the decree, which began by recounting the emperor's kindness to Li Jiancheng in promoting him, then describing his current helplessness, and finally hinting that Li Jiancheng should commit suicide after the Turks withdrew.

Li Jiancheng bowed and accepted the order. Even the eunuch felt a little bit reluctant, but what could he do?

Li Jiancheng followed the eunuch out of the camp. He handed the sword at his waist to Yun Dingxing and said, "After the siege is lifted, you must lead the army to escort His Majesty back to Luoyang immediately. Don't delay!"

"I will obey the general's orders."

"Take care, everyone."

Li Jiancheng used his eyes to stop Li Shimin's actions, and then rode out of the camp alone. His actions were the best explanation. The reinforcements tightly grasped their weapons, and looking back, they felt that their comrades who died along the way died unjustly.

Upon receiving the news, Shibi Khan came out to greet him personally, with the eagerness in his eyes more intense than when he saw a hundred or eighty beauties presented by the Western Regions.

He rode forward alone and said, "I said to you back then that if you are willing to come and help me, I will share the grassland herdsmen's slaves with you, and I will also give you my sister. I have never forgotten this promise.

My sister, the most beautiful flower on the grassland, has reached the age of being a mother, but I have never promised her to anyone, because only you are worthy of being my brother-in-law, my brother, my arm! "

Li Jiancheng looked in the direction of the county town and said, "I want to see the emperor."

Shibi Khan laughed and said, "What else can I say? Is such a person worthy of your loyalty? Besides, you have already tried your best."

...............

(End of this chapter)