It is late autumn in Hedong, but there is already a cold winter in Saibei.

The weather was a little cold, and the Zhenzhu Khan Yinan and the second prince were suddenly losing their profits, as well as a group of Xue Yantuo nobles were discussing in the big tent.

In one year, Xue Yantuo suffered a great change, and last year because of the "disappearance" of Xue Yantuo by the envoys of the Tang Dynasty, Xue Yantuo paid a painful price.

The eldest prince generously set up his life to apologize to the Tang Dynasty, so as to exchange for temporary peace, and spent a year in anxiety.

Dadu is dead, and the status of Tuli is naturally prominent, although there is a wife and concubine who gave birth to a son to Yi boy, but he is still young, and it is difficult to say whether he can grow up, let alone qualifications. Now Tu Lishu is the only adult prince, and he will still be Xue Yantuo's heir if nothing else, so Tu Lishu is not high-spirited.

At this moment, they were discussing a major matter, and Tu Lichuan stood tall and said: "Father Khan, the proposal of the Tubo people is very good, this is a rare opportunity. ”

That's right, the matter discussed today is due to the fact that a Tibetan envoy came and invited Xue Yantuo to fight against the Tang Dynasty together. I don't know if it's because of the events of last year, or because of some other reason, Khan Yinan has some doubts about this, but a group of people led by Tu Liyu are particularly in favor of it.

"Father Khan, the Tubo people have sent troops to Songzhou, and now the eyes of the Tang people have all been attracted to the southwest, it is said that there are fifty or sixty thousand soldiers in Guanzhong who have gone south, indicating that their hinterland is empty, and it is a good time for us to send troops."

Tu Li lost his way: "A golden opportunity, we have to defeat the Tang people, we can restore the prosperity of the old Jieli period and become the overlord of the eastern grassland, father Khan, what are you waiting for?" ”

"Are you sure you'll win?" Yi Nan finally had to open his mouth and asked a question. It is also in line with the rules of the art of war to think about defeat first and then victory.

"There is a great chance of victory, after all, Guanzhong is empty, if we can defeat the northern defense line in one fell swoop, we can go directly south into Guanzhong and take Chang'an. took Li Shimin's dog life and avenged his eldest brother. ”

Tu Lisu is very good at talking. Although there were many contradictions with Dadu at the beginning, and even forced Dadu to die in the end, he still played the emotional card at this moment, because he knew that his father Yi Nan was somewhat resentful of Dadu's death, and he had regret and revenge. And under the banner of revenge for Dadu, it can also mobilize the hatred and courage of many Xue Yantuo people.

Sure enough, Yi Nan's heart was moved, and he hesitated: "That's right." But the Tang Army's northern defense line may not be so easy to tear apart, Lingzhou and Li Daozong, Heshuo have Ashina Simo, and Bingzhou and Li Ji, none of which is easy to break through. ”

Tuli laughed and said, "What Father Khan said is that if we face the enemy head-on, it will not be easy for any of them to break through, but if any of them turn against us, help us ......"

"You mean......" Yi Nan hesitated, "You mean Ashina Simo?" ”

Obviously, it is possible to say that some of these three may have defected. It can only be Ashina Simo, this is not difficult to speculate.

Li Daozong is a member of the Tang Dynasty. Li Ji is a loyal and fierce general, and he has no reason to defect. Although Ashina Simo changed his surname to Li and was canonized as the king of the county by the Tang Dynasty, he was still a Turkic in his bones, and he was not his own person in the full sense of the word.

As the younger brother of the former Turkic prince and the Turki Khan. Could it really be that he wholeheartedly submitted to the Tang Dynasty? If you have to bow your head in the face of force, then when you have the opportunity to get rid of this pressure one day, will Ashina Simo be tempted?

Tu Li laughed and said: "Father Khan, the son has contacted a noble person in Chang'an, and he is not convinced by Li Shimin. I have a good personal relationship with Ashina Simo and am willing to help us get in touch. As long as Ashina Simo is convinced, we can get rid of Li Daozong and Li Ji and go straight to Chang'an. ”

Saying this, Yi Nan was also a little moved, obviously if this proposal can be realized, it is indeed very attractive.

"As long as we take Chang'an and capture Li Shimin, the Central Plains will be in chaos, and then we will be able to obtain a large piece of land, move all the gold and silver treasures in the treasury of Chang'an Mansion back to the grassland, and capture countless beautiful Central Plains women."

As soon as Tu Lishu said these words, it immediately caused a chorus of echoes, obviously speaking to the hearts of the leaders of the grassland tribes.

"Okay, you can start contacting Ashina Simo, as long as he is sure to help, lead the army south for his father." Yi Nan agreed, but this statement made Tu Lichuan slightly disappointed.

Father Khan still wants to lead his troops himself, instead of letting himself lead his troops south, which is still a little precautionary, alas......

……

In the past, the Eastern Turks were mainly based near the Yin Mountains, and their territory was vast, occupying almost the entire northern steppe at its peak.

However, since the defeat of the Tang Dynasty ten years ago, the status and form of the Turkic people have plummeted, especially in the previous years, when they were completely suppressed.

It was not until the past few years when Xue Yantuo was prosperous, in order to defend the northern frontier, a buffer zone was set up between Datang and Xue Yantuo, which was loosened.

gave Ashina Simo a county king, and let him lead Xue Yantuo's old department to camp and graze on both sides of the Yellow River. In the past few years, it has recovered some vitality and gathered some strength, but there has been no big achievement.

Because Li Daozong and Li Ji have been staring at them closely, they have never dared to make any changes. In addition, the leaders of the tribes such as Qibi He Li have become nobles of the Tang Dynasty, especially the obsessive thinking power or the horse, which has also greatly divided the status and power of Ashina Simo among the Turks, so he can only be a courtier of the Tang Dynasty.

However, if you want to say that Ashina Simo has no ambition at all, then I am afraid it may not be, after all, they are all children of the royal family, how can the eagles on the grassland in the past obediently submit to the foreign emperor? Although Li Shimin has Hu blood, he is now the emperor of the Han dynasty after all.

If he can, Ashina Simo also hopes to make a difference, not to mention restoring the prosperity of Jieli Khan when he was alive in the past, at least he can break away from the Tang Dynasty, at least be independent of the grassland like Xue Yantuo.

It's just that he hasn't had such an opportunity, but suddenly one day, a person walked into his Dingxiang tent on the bank of the Yellow River.

Dingxiang is located in the south of the white road, north of the Yellow River, a few years ago Ashina Simo was ordered to lead 100,000 people, 40,000 soldiers and horses and 90,000 horses to see the tent here.

Over the past few years, the nearby steppe tribes have come to join and have formed a fairly large tribe. On this day, the first snow first patronized the Dingxiang grassland, and Ashina Simo had to go out to inspect to check the tribe's winter preparations, and whether the hay, firewood and tents were complete.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he came back, a close attendant came to report: "Lord, there is a guest visiting!" ”

"Who?"

"One from Chang'an, the other from the grassland......"

"Huh?" Ashina Simo was slightly surprised, this situation was a bit abnormal and unusual. (To be continued.) )