Chapter 429

Hearing the word Turk, Li Yuan shuddered all over.

He had dealt with the Turks for longer than Li Er and Cheng Yaojin combined.

Precisely because of this.

Li Yuan knew better than anyone the power and terror of the Turkic cavalry.

He naturally heard some news about the Weishui Alliance back then.

"No, Grandfather! The reason the Turkic envoy came to Chang'an is actually to have us provide troops and food, as they are attacking the Western Regions. After the Weishui Alliance, our Great Tang became a vassal state of the Turks; according to the alliance, if the Turks launch a war, our Great Tang must provide troops and food."

Gaoyang analyzed in great detail.

Of course.

This stupid woman actually didn't understand anything.

These words were taught to her by Bianji.

"That's good, that's good. As long as they don't attack our Great Tang, everything is fine. Isn't it just troops, money, and food? Just give it to them! Is our Great Tang lacking these things?"

"Gaoyang, you must persuade your father well, you must not offend the Turks! Our Great Tang cannot afford to provoke them; if the Turks are not satisfied, just let your father send two more women for marriage alliances. Stability is the priority!"

Li Yuan said earnestly.

In his eyes, his own life was naturally the most important.

Troops, money, food, and Great Tang women were all objects that could be sacrificed!

When he was in power, he taught Li Er the same thing.

From a certain perspective, Li Er's current foreign policy toward surrounding countries was influenced by Li Yuan.

"Hmph! Father hasn't been in Changancheng for a long time."

"What did you say!?"

"Father secretly left the Great Tang to go to Yizhou, which is under Great Qin's jurisdiction, to find some eldest son. For a non-existent son, Father doesn't even want the Great Tang empire anymore." Gaoyang curled her lips, still unable to understand.

It's just a son!

Can he be more important than the Great Tang empire?

I don't know what Father is thinking.

"Hiss!"

Li Yuan frowned, his heart suddenly jolting.

Li Er's eldest son living among the people, he had also heard this story.

But Li Yuan never believed it, thinking it was just a joke.

Now it seems, it should be confirmed.

From another perspective.

Li Er secretly left the Great Tang, doesn't that mean Changancheng is currently leaderless?

"Grandfather, you don't know, today the Taiji Hall was already in an uproar. The regents Father left behind, Du Ruhui and Cheng Yaojin, can't suppress those court officials at all. Many people are unwilling to agree to the Turks' demands, and some even say they want to break off relations with the Turks."

"Simply unreasonable!"

Hearing this, Li Yuan stood up directly, his old face full of wrinkles and anger.

Are those court officials muddled?

The Turks are so terrifying, and they are still dreaming of breaking off relations with the Turks?

Isn't this inviting disaster?

Gaoyang saw all this in her eyes and continued: "Grandfather, now Changancheng is leaderless, there must be a figure who can preside over the overall situation to sit in command. Now the Crown Prince is dead, and the Prince of Wu and the Prince of Wei are arguing endlessly; there is no one left who can shoulder the burden. I hope Grandfather will come out in person to stabilize the situation."

"Good!" Li Yuan agreed without hesitation, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he hesitated: "It's just... now I am trapped in this Great Ming Palace, with strict supervision, unable to even leave this small square city, how can I go to the Taiji Hall to preside over justice?"

"Grandfather, having your word is enough! With me, Gaoyang, here, no one will make things difficult for you, just follow me with peace of mind!"

Gaoyang guaranteed confidently.

She naturally didn't have such great energy to bribe all the guards inside and outside the Great Ming Palace.

All of this was naturally Zhangsun Wuji's handiwork!

"Good! Then I will go with you! It's been a long time since I've been to the Taiji Hall; this time, I will settle the world with a single word!" Li Yuan nodded heroically, seemingly having found the feeling of being the Great Tang Emperor again.

Palace, Taiji Hall.

Civil and military officials gathered!

Inside the hall, various noises and arguments were incessant.

This place no longer looked like the place symbolizing the highest power of the Great Tang, but more like a vegetable market on the East Street of Chang'an.

Du Ruhui and Cheng Yaojin stood at the head of the officials, trying their best to maintain order, but there was really no way.

Which of the people before them wasn't powerful and influential?

How could they care about Du Ruhui and Cheng Yaojin?

"Stop arguing! Old Du, hurry and think of a way! We can't go on like this!"

Cheng Yaojin was sweating profusely, feeling extremely anxious.

His loud voice could no longer suppress the situation.

"What way can I think of? Look at the people standing here, which one isn't a royal relative, which one isn't a noble official?" Du Ruhui was also furious.

I regret it!

We shouldn't have let the Emperor leave in the first place!

If I had known this would happen, even if we were given ten princesses for the Du family, I wouldn't have let the Emperor go to Yizhou.

"No! The Turks are bullying our Great Tang too much. Now they are gathering troops to attack the Western Regions, and they even want us to provide people, effort, and money; it's simply unreasonable."

"What do you know? The Turks gathered 500,000 troops, what kind of combat power is that? If we don't agree, the Great Tang will be wiped out in an instant. By then, we will lose even more troops, money, and food."

"It's not that I'm unwilling! It's just that the Turkic envoy Zhishi Sili is too much, actually snatching commoner women on the streets of Chang'an. According to the news received by the Jingzhao Prefecture, Zhishi Sili snatched 18 beautiful women in just three days, 15 of whom were tortured to death, and the remaining 3 are also unable to take care of themselves, going crazy. Changancheng is now full of complaints; if we agree to the Turks' conditions, it will surely cause heaven's anger and people's resentment."

"Damn Turkic dogs! I really want to slice them alive one by one!"

"Do not act impulsively, prioritize the big picture! Prioritize the big picture!"

The court officials spoke one after another, each with their own ideas, and no one had a unified opinion.

Du Ruhui and Cheng Yaojin kept maintaining order, but it was to no avail.

"The Retired Emperor has arrived!"

Just then, a loud voice rang out.

The Taiji Hall instantly became silent.

Everyone looked at the outside of the hall in surprise.

The Retired Emperor!?

Why is he here?

Wasn't he under house arrest in the Great Ming Palace by the Emperor?

Just as everyone was puzzled, Li Yuan walked in with long strides.

"Hehehe, it's truly a change of the world! It's only been a few years, does no one in this Taiji Hall recognize me anymore?" Li Yuan's laughter was like an old owl in the middle of the night, making people feel cold.

"We pay our respects to the Retired Emperor!"

Reminded by Li Yuan, the officials finally remembered to pay their respects.

"Forget it, forget it! My old bones can't take your respects."

Li Yuan waved his hand sarcastically.

"Retired Emperor, I wonder what brings you here today?"

Du Ruhui stepped forward and asked with a bow.

At the same time.

He gave Cheng Yaojin a wink.

Cheng Yaojin understood and prepared to exit the Taiji Hall quietly.

Li Yuan suddenly appearing in the Taiji Hall is no small matter!

Who let him out?

Is there an insider, or is Li Yuan biding his time?

The most important thing right now is the control of the Twelve Guards of the Capital!

These troops are all in the hands of Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde.

Du Ruhui was worried about a mutiny, so he prepared to let Cheng Yaojin go out and see.

"Hehehe, General Cheng, don't be nervous. I have no intention of fighting for the throne, and I came here alone."

Li Yuan smiled.