Chapter 85 Khan
According to Li Jiancheng's foolproof plan, the army entered the Turkic territory in square formation. Dragon flags blocked the sun, phoenix umbrellas covered the sky, the imperial chariot was like water, and the imperial horses were like dragons.

As the saying goes, the emperor's throne is overlooking the ecliptic, the emperor appears from Ziwei, thunder strikes drums in the sky, lightning flips flags a thousand miles away, thousands of chariots rush forward and backward, the three towers obey orders, the concubines are surrounded by minks and embroidered concubines.

The emperor was so proud of himself that he declared, "There is no need to admire Emperor Wu of Han, and the Emperor Qin is not something to be desired. There are few people who have ever been rich and powerful and have traveled around the country."

But the emperor's pride was not without reason. The herdsmen from the small Turkic tribes passing by along the way thought it was a god from heaven who had come down to earth when they saw such a grand spectacle, and all the men, women, and children from the tribe rushed to the roadside to kowtow and pray for blessings.

Qimin Khan also led envoys from more than 20 countries including Shiwei, Xiuyi, Jurchen, Kucha, Yiwulu, Gaochang, etc. to welcome the saint Khan.

Yang Guang ordered the camp to be set up on the spot, and ordered the soldiers to string their bows and draw their swords. The infantry were like mountains and the cavalry were like the sea, with bright armor and fluttering flags, guarding the city in the middle.

Qi Min, the princess and the tribal leaders arrived in front of the camp. They saw the mighty Sui army and a city in the middle with four open gates and complete towers. They were all dumbfounded.

"This is not a soldier, but a god. How can he be so powerful?"

"The Celestial Empire is indeed powerful and cannot be compared to our small country."

"I wonder what the Saint Khan looks like. Could he be a god with double pupils and eight arms?"

Li Jiancheng, dressed in armor and holding a long sword at his waist with his left hand, came out to greet him: "Please dismount and enter the city to see the emperor."

Everyone dismounted in a hurry and followed Li Jiancheng into the city on foot. When they arrived at the temporary hall, they prostrated themselves and bowed at the steps under the leadership of Qimin Khan.

Yang Guang was sitting on the dragon throne in court robes and crown. The civil officials below were all in court robes, and the military generals were all fully armed. They were lined up on both sides like swallow wings, and the places they stepped on were all carpets as soft as feathers.

Qimin Khan led the crowd in worship. A few of them secretly looked up and were immediately stunned by Yang Guang's handsome and flawless face, thinking that he was truly a god.

Yang Guang said to Qimin Khan: "Do you still remember the kindness of the late emperor in building the city?"

Qimin Khan bowed his head repeatedly and said: "The late emperor Khan had pity on me and gave me Princess Anyi. I have no lack of anything. My brothers were jealous and wanted to kill me. At that time, I had nowhere to go. I looked up to the sky and down to the earth. I surrendered myself to the late emperor.

The late emperor showed me pity and raised me to life, appointed me as the Great Khan, and comforted the Turkic people. I will never forget this kindness, and I only hope that after my death I can serve the late emperor and the Khan to repay him in the slightest."

Yang Guang nodded with satisfaction, and then asked: "How many soldiers does your country have?"

"If we talk about soldiers of all ages, they are everywhere, but the strongest ones are no more than a million. How can they compare to the might of the Celestial Empire?"

"How many troops are you bringing to me now?"

"If I were to come here on horseback with soldiers, it would be disrespectful to Your Majesty. I am accompanied by only a thousand tribal leaders."

"Loyalty, if the late emperor knew this, he would be delighted."

With a wave of his hand, he bestowed upon Qimin Khan and Princess Yicheng a golden urn each, as well as one hundred pieces of silverware, two hundred thousand pieces of silk, one thousand pieces of brocade, and twenty beautiful women.

Qimin Khan expressed his gratitude, and the other envoys also came to congratulate him in turn, and the emperor also gave them rewards.

After the banquet, they followed the newly opened imperial road straight to Dali City. The emperor visited the tent of Qimin Khan, while Empress Xiao visited the tent of Princess Kehedun Yicheng. This was the first time since ancient times that an emperor from the Central Plains visited the tent of a grassland Khan.

In the Khan's tent, a gold-clad chair with a coiled dragon was specially set up for the emperor, and a jade-inlaid agarwood dragon table with a longevity inscription was laid horizontally. Qimin Khan led a group of Turkic nobles, stripped naked and cut their flesh in front of the tent, competing to offer tens of millions of cattle, sheep, camels and horses. Yang Guang pointed at Li Jiancheng and asked him to write a poem. Li Jiancheng said, "This grand occasion has not been seen for thousands of years. I really have no words to describe it. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Yang Guang laughed loudly and said:

"The red flags are stationed at Lusai, the green chariot is returning to Longting, the felt curtains are lifted in the wind, the tent is opened to the sun, Huhan Dun is coming, the butchers are coming one after another, holding up pigtails and holding up stinky meat, and Wei Qi is offering wine cups. How can the emperor of Han go to the Chanyu stage empty-handed?"

The core meaning is that I feel I have surpassed Emperor Wu of Han. Emperor Wu of Han simply drove away the Huns and ascended an empty Chanyu platform, while I am now making the Turks, who are as powerful as the Huns, bow down at my feet and make them convinced of me. Isn't this greater than getting a piece of vacant land?
The emperor is proud and heroic, and this is indeed the case judging from the current situation.

During the banquet, Li Jiancheng had a very pleasant conversation with Ashina Duoji, the son of Qimin Khan. The Turkic prince had a good impression of Li Jiancheng and even wanted to exchange bows and horses with him.

Because the civil and military officials in the court could not help but look down on Qimin Khan when they saw his servile attitude. If he treated Qimin like this, they would not even look at the Khan's son with respect.

The two of them soon became close friends, and even secretly ran out, riding horses, eating lamb legs and drinking a bag of wine together.

"You are much better than those people. My father Khan is too cowardly, otherwise he wouldn't be looked down upon so much."

Li Jiancheng threw the wine bag over and said with a smile: "The Khan is a truly powerful figure. He has hundreds of thousands of soldiers under his command, but he can still bow down. How can an ordinary man have such a broad mind?"

"We really can't beat you?"

"The Central Plains grasslands have always been a place of decline and growth. Now the Sui Dynasty has strong troops and abundant treasury. If we fight, you will surely be defeated."

"Then what about later? I see that your emperor likes extravagance and pleasure very much, and I heard that he doesn't care much for his people."

Li Jiancheng really wanted to say that there was no need to daydream, but he couldn't say it out loud. He looked up at the clean blue sky and fell into deep thought.

"It seems that you also think that there is something wrong with your Majesty. I heard that you are the prince of the Sui Dynasty. If there comes a day in the future, you can come to me and I am willing to grant you the throne and divide the grassland and herdsmen and slaves for you."

Li Jiancheng came to his senses and said to him, "You know, if I tell your majesty this, you will be killed by your father, the Khan, and there will be no future."

Ashina Duoji smiled carefreely and said, "Then go ahead and tell me. If my death can help my father Khan regain some courage, then it will be worth it."

Li Jiancheng shook his head and stopped looking at him. He asked for the wine bag and took a big gulp. Ashina Duoji's tense right hand also relaxed a little. He regretted it as soon as he said it, and even wanted to kill Li Jiancheng and flee to Western Turkestan.

"Do you have a wife? My sister is very beautiful, the most beautiful flower on the grassland."

Li Jiancheng was a little curious: "But this is our first meeting, and you seem to think highly of me. Now you even want to promise me your sister."

"I've heard General Changsun talk about you. You are someone who can help others achieve great things."

It turned out that it was because of Changsun Sheng that the Turks were very respectful and reverent towards him, and apparently this person was one of them.

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(End of this chapter)