The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 129 Meeting
Anxi, Qiuci.

The news that the Tang Dynasty defeated the Huang-surnamed Turks and captured the city of Suiye spread quickly. The countries in the Western Regions once again felt the strength of the Tang Dynasty and once again sent congratulatory messages and tributes to the Tang Dynasty.

Compared with history, Li Heng had a legitimate excuse to send troops to Suiye City this time, and Gao Xianzhi also enforced strict military discipline along the way.

In addition, the Turkic people had done many bad things in the Western Regions over the years. In comparison, the Tang army became a righteous army, and Li Heng became a "benevolent ruler."

Therefore, the countries in the Western Regions became more favorable towards Li Heng and came to visit him one after another.

On this day, envoys from Bactria and several other small countries in the Western Regions arrived in Kucha.

Li Heng summoned him personally and hosted a banquet for him.

The one who came on behalf of Bukhara was none other than Princess Ayis of Bukhara.

Aqisi was very happy to see Li Ying again, but she still put public affairs first.

At the banquet, Aqisi asked on behalf of all the envoys: "Your Highness Prince Shou, after Suiye City is incorporated into the jurisdiction of the Tang Dynasty, will there be a reduction in commercial and travel activities due to considerations of border affairs because Suiye City is located at the extreme border of the Tang Dynasty?"

Li Heng smiled and said, "Emperor Taizong once said that since ancient times, people have valued China and despised foreigners. I love them all equally. The Tang Dynasty is tolerant, and its strength is not just military. So after Suiye City is under the jurisdiction of the Tang Dynasty, commercial activities will not be reduced. I will act in accordance with the laws of the Tang Dynasty and will not collect more commercial taxes. For merchants from various countries, I will send people to distribute approval documents according to regulations."

These people are waiting for this sentence.

Suiye City is an important city on the Silk Road. If Li Heng implements strict control, it will increase the cost for them to enter the Tang Dynasty.

So the envoys were very satisfied with this answer.

Others asked other questions, and Li Heng answered them one by one.

Mr. Li Ying’s answer is that the Tang Dynasty will play the role of “policeman” and supplier of the Silk Road.

The envoys got what they wanted. After the banquet, they gave gifts to Li Heng and left.

Only Aqisi stayed behind.

"It's been a long time since we last met. Your Highness is still as charming as ever."

Aqisi looked at Li Ying, sizing him up carefully.

Li Ying smiled upon hearing this and said, "Princess Aqisi has become even more beautiful and charming."

"Thank you." Aqisi smiled brightly and said, "Since we parted last time, I went back to take over part of the army and government affairs in Bukhara. As Your Highness said, I may have some talents."

Aqisi's words were very blunt and not modest.

Li Heng knew how Aqisi spoke, so he was not surprised. After thinking for a moment, he asked directly, "Will you compete with your brother for the Khanship?"

"Your Highness, do you want me to fight for the Khanship?" Aqisi asked back.

Li Ying said: "This is your national affair, I am not in a position to give advice."

Aqisi asked, "What if I insist on your suggestion?"

Li Heng said: "From your perspective, it is not a good thing to cause the country of Bukhara to suffer a great loss because of the fight for the Khanship. After all, your biggest enemy is the Arabs."

"Yeah." Ayis nodded, seeming to be relieved, "I think so too."

Li Heng said: "Our interests are the same on this point. Now that the Turkic strength has been greatly reduced, the Arabs have lost a strong enemy in the Western Regions, and the Tang Dynasty will also face the threat of the Arabs directly."

Aqisi asked, "So Your Highness hopes that Bukhara can unite and fight against the Arabs?"

"Not bad." Li Ying nodded.

Aqisi smiled and said, "I thought His Highness only liked heroic women who dominated a region."

"Uh..." This turn was a little too quick. Li Heng was startled and said, "We are talking about official business, right?"

"Yes." Aqisi smiled, "So Your Highness is planning to help Bhana?" Li Heng really had this idea.

Historically, the outbreak of the Battle of Talas was actually because the Arabs lost the constraints of the Turks and had to engage in further competition with the Tang Dynasty in the Western Regions.

Although Li Heng has supported Mohedagan, his strength is still far from enough, so he plans to support some other forces to fight against the Arabs.

Among them, the best is Bakhchisar.

Because Bukhanna was the most pro-Tang, and secondly, Bukhanna was a buffer zone between the Arabs and Anxi. The stronger Bukhanna was, the more advantageous it would be for future wars between the Tang and the Arabs.

As for whether Bakhtahan will launch a major backlash, there is no need to worry about it for the time being, because given Bakhtahan's size, no matter how big it is, it can't be that big and can only rely on the Tang Dynasty.

Li Heng thought for a moment and said, "You can send some generals from Bukhara to exchange experiences with the generals from the Tang Dynasty, and we can deepen our business cooperation."

"Really?" Aqisi was a little surprised.

"When have I ever told a lie?" Li Heng smiled slightly.

Aqisi smiled and said, "Your Highness is proficient in both civil and military affairs. You can teach me first."

Any strategy must be supported by strong strength. For a small country like Bukhara, there is not much that Li Heng can teach.

Therefore, after Li Heng pondered for a moment, he said, "My first suggestion to you is to form a permanent alliance with the Tang Dynasty."

"Yes." Aqisi nodded seriously, "If His Highness marries me, the friendship between the Tang Dynasty and Bahanna will be further strengthened."

"This..." Li Heng was startled again, and said, "If it's just for political considerations, it may not be a good thing for you to marry me."

"It's not just a political consideration." Aqisi walked up to Li Heng, "I will prove my worth and make His Highness truly accept me."

After saying this, Aqisi looked at Li Ying affectionately again and walked out.

Li Ying couldn't help but glance at Aqisi's back.

This girl seemed bolder than others and expressed her feelings more directly.

Li Ying shook his head and smiled, then followed him out.

But Li Heng went out not to chase Aqisi, but to meet someone else.

The person Li Heng met was the second largest supplier of Li Te Jin in Qiuci, or in the entire Western Regions.

This supplier was the He family, one of the Nine Zhaowu Clans. Their base camp was in Suiye City. Therefore, after the Tang Dynasty captured Suiye City, it needed to discuss with Li Heng how to further conduct business.

Li Ying arrived at the reception hall and saw six people. All of them were wearing white clothes decorated with green flowers and had gold belts with thousands of nails and precious stones tied around their waists. The leader was a man in his forties.

Li Heng had some understanding of the living habits of the Kut people and knew that they basically liked white clothes, and black was the color of mourning clothes.

However, the Sogdians valued business and profit, and there was no difference in the color of clothing.

The six people bowed to Li Heng, and Li Heng asked them to sit down.

The leader He Tuo said, "Your Highness, I came here to discuss the He family's passing and approval with Your Highness."

Li Heng said, "General Gao is in charge of Suiye City now. If you want the approval document for Suiye City, just ask General Gao."

He Tuo said: "I have consulted General Gao about this matter, but General Gao said he cannot make the decision."

Li Heng knew that Gao Xianzhi was not the kind of person who would shirk his responsibilities. If he really couldn't make a decision, he wouldn't have let these people come to him.

So Li Heng said, "Tell me about it."

(End of this chapter)