Chapter 283 Yanqi

“If the harvest is good and the country is at peace, I can save all nations by transferring the disaster to myself. This is what I wish for, and I will do it with all my heart.”

“Your Majesty is benevolent.”

In Xuanzheng Hall, Li Jiancheng said to his ministers: “I heard that some disaster victims still sell their sons and daughters. I feel very sorry for them. Wen Qing, you should go to the disaster area immediately to inspect and inspect. If you find any children being sold, you should use the national treasury to redeem them.

If there is relief in the area, then they will be sent back home. If there is a shortage of relief or their families are in trouble and unwilling to raise them, then they will be taken back to Luoyang and the Queen will send someone to take care of them.”

Imperial Censor Wen Yanbo stepped out to receive the order. After the court was dismissed, all government offices continued to work. Since His Majesty said that there were still people selling children, it meant that he was blaming them for not being able to provide disaster relief.

It was not until the New Year’s Day of the sixth year of Taiping that the court was able to breathe a sigh of relief, at least for the officials who remained in Beijing. Things had been arranged, food had been allocated, and the New Year still had to be celebrated no matter what.

His Majesty the Emperor also took the opportunity to reward the officials who had contributed to the disaster relief efforts. The local noble families who had responded to the imperial decree and exchanged grain for fiefdoms in Liaodong also fulfilled their promises and signed land deeds with the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

After the court ceremony, the emperor received the rulers of Yiwu, Yanqi and Gaochang.

They had been in Chang’an for more than a month, but had not yet received an audience with the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. They were originally dissatisfied, but in the past month, they also witnessed everything the Tang Dynasty had done to provide disaster relief and help the people.

The efforts made at all costs and the mobilization of millions of people are a true testament to the country’s heritage and strength.

The Yiwu ruler knelt down in awe and said, “Your Majesty, the ruler of the Yiwu ruler of the Western Regions pays respect to you here and wishes Your Majesty to shine forever like the sun.”

The ruler of Yiwu was very old, but his attitude was firm: “Your Majesty, I hope you can allow me to lead the seven cities and people of Yiwu to submit to the Tang Dynasty and become a citizen bathed in your glory.”

The State of Yiwu was very small, with only seven cities and more than 20,000 people, a typical small country with a small population.

Yanqi and Gaochang were stronger than Yiwulu, but not much stronger. Yanqi had a population of only about 30,000 to 50,000. Gaochang was the strongest of the three kingdoms, but it had a population of no more than 70,000.

According to the records of the previous dynasty, Yanqi had 6,000 soldiers and Gaochang had 8,000…

The reason why these three countries took the initiative to come to the court was mainly because the Western Turks had oppressed them too much and sent envoys to station in their countries to abuse their power.

Therefore, after Tong Yehu and Jie Li were defeated, they were tempted. Rather than being treated like this by the Turks, it would be better to join a stronger force. After all, the Central Plains is known as a country of etiquette.

However, the three kingdoms were not in a relationship of advancing and retreating together. For example, now, the words of King Yiwu made the two kings very embarrassed, and they were in a state of being unable to advance or retreat.

Because they came here not to offer land and submit, but just to use the power of the Tang Dynasty to resist the oppression of the Western Turks.

Li Jiancheng looked at the Yiwu leader with a gentle gaze: “I am very pleased that you have such a heart.”

Then his eyes turned to the other two people. The ruler of Yanqi looked to be in his early twenties, his surname was Long and his name was Tuqizhi. The ruler of Gaochang was middle-aged, his surname was Qu and his name was Wentai.

Long Tuqizhi bowed respectfully and said: “Your Majesty, I offer you red salt, white salt, grapes, frozen wine, honey, white flour, and cotton cloth. These are everything on the land of Yanqi.”

It was a tricky remark, but Li Jiancheng had no intention of making things difficult for him: “Okay, I’ll accept your gift.”

Qu Wentai glared at the King of Yiwu and said to the Emperor: “I have brought rare treasures from the Western Regions to present to you.”

The ruler of Yiwu was undoubtedly the most sincere. He didn’t even want his country anymore and hoped to be directly incorporated into the Tang Dynasty.

Yanqi’s attitude was ambiguous, and it was obvious that they had something to ask for but were not able to express it. Gaochang was the least sincere, and simply wanted to use the tribute to tell the Western Turks that if they were pushed too far, they would turn to the Tang Dynasty. The emperor gave the Yiwu ruler a seat, and Li Wei brought him a cup of tea. The Yiwu ruler drank the bitter soup with a pious attitude, and only felt that it was extremely sweet.

Even though Yiwu is the smallest and weakest, I sold him at the highest price.

He had also heard the story of someone in the Central Plains spending a fortune on horse bones.

As early as four years ago, he had sent several of his sons to Chang’an one after another, mixed in with the caravan. After several years of investigation, they made this decision.

Rather than staying in the country, suffering from the oppression of the Western Turks and neighboring countries, and living a precarious life, it is better to come to the Central Plains and live a rich and stable life.

Especially after seeing the life of the King of Silla, they became more convinced of this.

Although the emperor did not directly accept the submission of the Yiwu Kingdom, he ordered the officials of the Honglu Temple to solemnly entertain the King of Yiwu and allow their caravans to sell some goods that were prohibited for ordinary caravans.

As for the King of Yanqi and Gaochang, the Tang Dynasty would treat them coldly. It would reward those who expressed their loyalty, but would not take the initiative to win over those who were not obedient.

Because even at this time, their attitude still has some value. When the army marches westward in the future, even if the whole country submits to them, it will not be worthy of the emperor’s attention and allow them to sit down and enjoy tea.

Finally, after a few days, the King of Yanqi could not help but ask for a meeting, and the emperor found time to summon him.

“Your Majesty, I came here to ask for a favor. If it is accomplished, it will benefit both countries.”

Li Jiancheng was a little surprised: “If it benefits both countries, I will approve it.”

“Open the big morass road for the luggage!”

That is to say, the gradually abandoned Loulan Ancient Road should be rebuilt so that the Central Plains and the Western Regions would no longer have to pass through Gaochang.

The populations of Gaochang and Yanqi were not much different in territory, but the wealth of the two countries was as different as heaven and earth. Gaochang was extremely rich, while Yanqi was so poor that it was almost starving.

If it has always been like this, then we can accept it. After all, Yanqi was rich before.

The emperor thought about it and felt that building another trade route would definitely be beneficial to the Tang Dynasty, but it seemed that there was no need for him to come to the court to ask about this matter. Could it be that he wanted a loan?

“It is indeed a good thing. Is there anything that the Tang Dynasty can help me with?”

“Your Majesty, our subjects are all eager for this to happen and are willing to work hard to open the way. We are just worried about whether the Turkic Khan and the ruler of Gaochang will object.”

It would be better if they don’t have to lend money, Li Jiancheng thought about it. The Western Turks had no reason to object to this matter. No matter which route the caravan took, he would not squeeze a penny less.

The main opposition should still be from Gaochang Kingdom. Cutting off someone’s financial resources is like killing their parents. Yanqi Kingdom could only hope to get the support of the Western Turkic Khan, but was not sure of persuading the Western Turkic Khan, so it set its sights on the Tang Dynasty.

After all, it is no secret that the Khan of Western Turkic Khanate now obeys the orders of the Tang Emperor.

“Your Majesty, our country is willing to pay tribute to you every year…”

………………

(End of this chapter)