"The new aunt is here to greet you!"

"I heard that it is the Hou Ye of the Tang Dynasty, he is really handsome."

"Miss has found a good home—"

As soon as Li Mu came to the door of Zhangjiaji, he surrounded a lot of people, Li Mu didn't know any of them, and he didn't dare to offend, who knew if the old lady who was facing him was Zhang Tianai's aunt? If that sentence is wrong, you will have to be beaten at night.

"Virtuous son-in-law, you are here. Hurry up, let's go inside. ”

Zhang Xun diligently helped Li Mu off the horse and said to the onlookers: "Listen to me, my son-in-law came to propose marriage today, and there was a flowing water banquet to entertain everyone, eat and drink well, and don't get drunk and don't return." ”

Everyone shouted, they were very happy, and the girl in the family who was not married, looking at Li Chongyi's tall and big man, his eyes were full of satisfaction, and he couldn't wait to stuff his own girl directly into his bed. I am used to living in the Northwest and advocating heroes, and Li Chongyi's image is undoubtedly a great hero.

Li Mu threw Li Chongyi a look of self-begging, and followed Zhang Xun into the house.

Zhang Xun seemed very happy today, firstly, Li Mu came to propose, his daughter had a home, and secondly, since Li Mu came, it means that his promise will be fulfilled, after so many years of planning, there is finally a result, how can he not be happy?

The banquet had already been prepared in the house, and Zhang Xun enthusiastically pulled Li Mu to sit down, and said, "Sit down, knowing that you are coming, I have asked Tianai what you like to eat early, and I have specially prepared it for you——"

"Father-in-law," Li Mu interrupted Zhang Xun's words and said, "Don't be polite, let's get down to business first." Father-in-law, the matter of King Gaochang is probably going to change a little. ”

"What do you mean?" Zhang Xun's expression suddenly turned cold, he stared at Li Mu's eyes, and said, "Do you kid want to regret it?" ”

"No, it's not that I want to regret it." Li Mu took a deep breath and said, "It's just a little different from what my father-in-law thought." This is also the most suitable approach that I can think of in the past few days that all parties can accept, otherwise, even if I agree to my father-in-law and assist my father-in-law to become the king of Gaochang, my father-in-law's throne will not be stable. ”

Zhang Xun snorted: "I said, don't seek stability!" ”

"But I want my father-in-law to be safe." Li Mu Zhengse, lowered his voice, and said, "I also want to leave a way out for myself, in case of a retreat in the future." ”

"Huh?" Zhang Xun looked at Li Mu and frowned, as if he was distinguishing whether Li Mu's words were true or false.

Li Mu's words are naturally false, even if he leaves a way for himself to retreat, it is to the south, or by the sea, and the retreat that can escape one day will not be in this land hinterland, but he must say so, because only in this way will Zhang Xun believe him, and Zhang Xun will inevitably believe him, for a conspirator, to live by himself, he will feel that if he is Li Mu, he will inevitably leave a way out.

"Let's talk about it first."

"Father-in-law, you have already guessed that the Tang Dynasty will follow the example of the Han Dynasty and operate the Silk Road. And now Datang does not have this kind of strength, and the reason is obvious. The Tang Dynasty has gone through several battles and has not yet recuperated, and furthermore, there are Western Turks in the Western Regions, Tuyuhun, and Xue Yantuo in the north, all of which are near the Silk Road, and the Tang Dynasty has not yet had the strength to make them surrender. ”

Therefore, in the next ten years, or even twenty years, when Datang deals with these countries, it will have to use non-war means. When countries abandon the means of settling disputes through war, many things need to be discussed, and it is like doing business. Father-in-law, what do you think is the most important condition for doing business? ”

"Money?" Zhang Xun speculated wildly, and said with a wry smile: "When it comes to trading, I really don't understand, so I'm not as good as you." ”

"My father-in-law was wrong, the most important thing in business is not money. It's equality, you and I can talk together, so that we can do a long-term deal, otherwise it's a one-shot deal, and it will never last long. ”

Zhang Xun frowned and said: "But countries are strong and weak, such as huge countries like the Tang Dynasty and the Western Turks, how can they be equal to a small country like Qiuzi Yanqi?" ”

"That's what I want my father-in-law to do." Li Mu said seriously: "A small country may not be insignificant. But what if the father-in-law linked all the small countries on the Silk Road? Saying that, Li Mu picked up a chopstick, broke it gently, the chopsticks broke, he took a few pairs of stacks together, and motioned to Zhang Xun to see: "Father-in-law, a chopstick, break it at will, but a pair of chopsticks, it's not so easy, can father-in-law understand this truth?" ”

"In the future, even if Your Majesty is dissatisfied with your father-in-law, when he wants to move you, he will also consider how the large and small countries on the entire Silk Road will think of the Tang Dynasty? Those who occupy high positions seek the overall situation, and he will never lose big because of small things. The closer the father-in-law connects the small countries on this road, the more stable you will be, the son-in-law says so, can the father-in-law understand? ”

Zhang Xun was silent and did not respond, and after a while, he laughed and said, "The virtuous son-in-law is really an important minister of the Tang Dynasty." ”

"Oh?" Li Mu pretended to be confused, and said blankly: "The son-in-law is all thinking about his father-in-law, why is it related to the loyal ministers of the Tang Dynasty, this is not a sideline, right?" ”

"You are smart yourself, and don't take everyone else for a fool." Zhang Xun said unhappily: "You know that I have been working in the Western Regions for many years, and my eyeliner is all over the countries of the Western Regions, you obviously want to use me to help Datang open up the trade road in the Western Regions. ”

Li Mu saw that he had already seen through it, so he didn't pretend anymore, and said, "Father-in-law's words are a little hurtful?" You say I'm plotting against you, okay, I admit it, it's true, but who am I plotting for? Isn't it also so that you can sit on the throne? If you weren't my father-in-law, I should have treacherously led the army to attack and kill all the young and old in Zhangjiazhai, I think, no matter how good you are, you can't stop the 50,000 Tang Iron Horsemen, right? ”

Seeing what Zhang Xun was going to say, Li Mu said again: "You know, I did it." ”

Zhang Xun snorted and said, "If you weren't my son-in-law, I wouldn't help you!" Although he was not convinced, he believed what Li Mu said, and when he killed people in Gaochang, he had no favors to speak of.

"So, father-in-law, we are a family, don't say who calculates whom, doing this, it's good for you, it's good for me, and I also have an explanation for Your Majesty, do you think it's okay or not, give me a word."

Zhang Xun said angrily: "Can I still say no now?" You have already planned, if I don't agree, you kid really lead troops to attack, and I have thousands of people in Zhangjiazhai, won't I die? ”

Li Mu smiled: "Father-in-law, my son-in-law just said that, if you don't agree, I won't do that, after all, I have to recognize my mother." It's just that if you don't agree, the son-in-law will have to be more troublesome, let you sit for a few days King Gaochang, and then find a way to let you come down, it's too much trouble, how good it is to say this, everyone is happy. ”

Li Mu poured a glass of wine for Zhang Xun, Zhang Xun drank it, and said: "Don't say it so nicely, I can take a step back, but you have to tell me, what should I do about this?" ”

"Father-in-law, listen to me."

Li Mu leaned into Zhang Xun's ear and muttered for a while, the more Zhang Xun listened, the brighter his eyes became, and after listening, he gave Li Mu a glass of wine, and Weng Zi-in-law glanced at each other and laughed.

……

Li Mu stayed in Zhangjiaji for three days, and then returned to Dingxiang to prepare for the 'Dingxiang Alliance' a few days later. And on the second day of his trip to Zhangjiaji, Li Ji and Hou Junji let the mud go back to the Camel Valley, although Li Mu repeatedly said that the mud would not be treacherous, but Li Ji still led the troops to camp outside the valley, but then the news came to dispel Li Ji's worries, after the mud went back, he met the leaders of the Western Turkic tribes at the west entrance of the Camel Valley, and was recognized by most of the people, but there were also a small number of people, who were loyal to the wild leaves, and did not recognize the status of the Khan of the mud, but because the number was too small and there was no climate, the mud allowed them to leave, And did not force them.

In this way, Ni Yu took over about eighty percent of the forces left behind by the Yakhu, and held a ceremony to succeed the Khan in the Camel Valley, and became the Great Khan of the Western Turks. Because the Eastern Turks had been destroyed, the "West" of the "Western Turks" was canceled, and the Great Khan of the Turkic Khanate was proclaimed. At the same time, an envoy was sent to the Tang army camp to formally request canonization. In the song, Li Shimin was called the Heavenly Khan, and he called himself the Turkic Khanate, and he was very thoughtful and respectful.

At this point, Li Ji finally put his mind at ease and sent a battalion of men and horses to escort the Turkic envoys into the Hajj, and at the same time, the flying pigeon passed the news back, so that Chang'an could prepare early. If the Western Turks are not chaotic, Tuyuhun, Tubo, Goguryeo, etc., will not dare to act recklessly, because they know that without the containment of the Western Turks, they are not the opponents of the Tang Dynasty.

The dust settled, and Hou Junji was also preparing to return to the court, just waiting for the court to send a will. After all, the leader is outside, and people eat and chew, and every day is consumption. And if there is no war, leading the army outside is itself a matter of suspicion, and Hou Junji also wants to go back early, lest someone in the court take the opportunity to attack him.

Although he did not make any great contributions to the expedition this time, fortunately, he did not take responsibility. Although Ju Wentai died in his hands, it was nothing compared to what Li Mu would do later. Moreover, Hou Junji talked to Li Mu and got Li Mu's tacit consent, after he returned to the court, he would say that everything was Li Mu's plan, so that no matter the merits or demerits, it was on Li Mu alone.

It's just that after waiting for today, it stands to reason that the imperial court should have received a reply from the flying pigeon a long time ago, but it was later than expected.

Two days late.

There were two notes in the reply, one note was for Li Ji, asking him to assist Li Mu and obey Li Mu's arrangement.

Another note is more interesting, it is for Hou Junji, Li Shimin strictly ordered Hou Junji to take Li Mu back to Chang'an, and he also made it clear that there is no need to hide it from Li Ji and Li Mu, but he can be outspoken.

What does this mean?

Rao is Li Ji and Hou Junji, both of whom are high-powered generals who have experienced ups and downs, but they have never seen such a strange thing.

If you look at Li Ji's order, His Majesty trusts Li Mu very much, and Hou Junji has already told Li Shimin everything before. In other words, Li Shimin already knew that Li Mu destroyed Gaochang, killed thousands of people, and even wanted his father-in-law to be the king of Gaochang. But under such circumstances, Li Shimin still handed over the power to him, and this level of trust has far exceeded a king's trust in his courtiers, even if the prince is there in person, Li Shimin cannot give such great authority.

But if you look at the order given to Hou Junji, it is a different taste. Although Li Shimin did not point it out, his meaning was already very obvious. Hou Junji's task was to escort Li Mu back to Chang'an at any cost.

Your Majesty, is this going to do something to Li Mu?

But if His Majesty is not satisfied with him, why does he give authority? Give the authority to admit what Li Mu has done, he is a meritorious man, does Your Majesty want to kill meritorious heroes?

The two were puzzled, and at this time, Li Mu returned to Dingxiang. Hou Junji and Li Ji didn't hide it, they showed the two notes to Li Mu, and after Li Mu read them, he didn't explain anything, just smiled, and then returned the notes to the two generals, and asked Li Siwen to prepare for the alliance ceremony. As if this had never happened at all.

……

The Tang Dynasty and the Turks becoming brotherly countries is definitely a major event, whether it is for the Tang Dynasty and the Turks, or for the small countries in the Western Regions, or even Tuyuhun, Tubo, Xue Yantuo, Goguryeo, etc., all of them are a big event. For the big countries of Tuyuhun and Tubo, the alliance between the Turks and the Tang Dynasty not only made them have no chance to spy on the Tang Dynasty, but also possibly lost a large part of their territory due to the alliance between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks.

For Qiuzi, Yanqi, Ruoqiang, Loulan, Jimo, Xiaowan, Ronglu, Mi, Qule, Pishan, Xiye, Puli, Yinai, Shache, Shule, Yutou, Wensu, Yuli, Gumo, Beilu, Wufengzi, Beilu Houguo, Shan Huan, Puzi, these small countries, without the containment of the Tang Dynasty, they are likely to be annexed by the Western Turks.

Therefore, the matter of the Tang Dynasty holding an alliance with the Turks in Dingxiang is very concerned about the fact that all forces are very concerned. There is a saying that hearing is false, seeing is believing, and hearsay cannot be taken seriously, so it is natural to take a look with your own eyes and find out what is going on. Hearing that the alliance is imminent, Datang and Turkic have received inquiries from envoys from many small countries, and the words may be different, but the meaning is the same, they all want to ask, can they come to the scene to watch the ceremony.

The alliance ceremony was prepared by Datang's side, and Ni Yi naturally sent someone over to inquire. Li Mu did not allow him to let go out, not only allowed to observe the ceremony, but also to entertain the envoys of various countries, and engraved their names and the countries they represented on the stele that witnessed this event for future generations to commemorate.

With this response, countries have become more active. Li Siwen made a statistic and finally confirmed that there were 32 countries that could come to watch the ceremony, and all the large and small countries in the Western Regions added up, and there were only more than 40, which is equivalent to saying that more than eighty percent of the countries in the Western Regions, except for those who were too far away, all sent envoys.

And Zhang Xun was not idle, all the detailed works under his hands were launched, contacting various countries through various relationships, and a big net woven by Weng and son-in-law cooperated with each other, unknowingly, everyone was caught in the net.