The news kept spreading.

Li Shimin did not show the slightest pride due to this great victory, and he never relaxed his grip on state affairs.

This is actually one of Li Shimin’s changes.

Even though the greatest threat to Kyushu has been eliminated, and the entire region is moving in a positive direction, he still feels it is not enough!

He was already contemplating taking advantage of the campaign against the Eastern Turks to restore the Western Regions!

But Li Shimin also understood—

For the current Great Tang, this was not a good time.

The various tribes of the Northern Border needed governance.

This would inevitably require the stationing of the Tang Army, and the work of repairing the waterways throughout the empire has not yet been completely finished. If another war were to break out, it would indeed be a great burden for the entire Great Tang.

He must not overreach, this was certain.

....

In the fifth year of the Zhenguan era, at the end of June.

The people of the four tribes once again came to the Great Tang, and this time it was completely different from the last.

Not only did the envoys of the four tribes return.

It also included their tribal leaders.

This was extremely significant.

In fact, the governing system of the four tribes wasn’t very secure, and for the leaders to personally leave their tribes to visit the Great Tang was a very risky endeavor.

But they had no choice.

The Northern Border had completely descended into chaos.

This chaos was not merely on the surface but stemmed from turmoil in people’s hearts.

In the presence of the Tang Army and the Gu Clan still stationed in the Northern Border, no tribe dared to cause trouble.

Even the attitude of the Eastern Turks had begun to soften, despite their dissatisfaction with Gu Quan occupying the Juyan Sea, they did not dare to easily provoke the Great Tang.

But precisely because of this, the unrest in people’s hearts had reached a peak.

Omens and prophecies abounded.

The flags planted on the Yudujin mountains were like thorns embedded in everyone’s hearts, impossible to remove.

The atmosphere of despair lingered persistently.

Even if they had already learned of Li Shimin’s attitude, knowing they would be spared, the sentiment was hard to dispel.

This was the result of a collapse in faith.

Not just for the Turkic tribes, even the smaller tribes were affected.

What choices could they make?

This time, they all journeyed to the Great Tang together to express their stance to the empire.

Chang’an, Taiji Hall.

Li Shimin once again held a banquet for the four tribes.

"Summon the tribal leaders into the hall!" The call of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites penetrated through the layers of eaves.

In the next moment, the Huihe chieftain Yaoluoge first stepped into the hall, followed by the Xue Yantuo Zhenzhu Khan, King of Silla Jin Zhende, entering one after another.

Now they had all changed into the attire of Great Tang courtiers.

Evidently, they had thoroughly accepted everything.

Everyone closely watched this scene, their eyes revealing a barely suppressed fervor.

They certainly understood the purpose of the tribal leaders’ visit.

After many years.

The scenes once faced by Gu Chen were about to reappear in reality. That era of prosperity had long been revered by the world as an immortal peak, and now all of this was about to occur again. How could they not be excited?

Only Li Shimin’s expression remained relatively normal.

To him, all of this was just the beginning, not enough to bring him joy.

The leaders entered one by one.

As if by prior arrangement, they knelt neatly inside the hall, each with a solemn expression, bowing their heads in unison, not daring to meet the Emperor’s gaze.

"Respected Emperor of Great Tang!"

Once everyone arrived, the leading Huihe chieftain shouted in stilted Han: "Your Majesty vanquished the Tyrant Sui, pacified the Eastern Turks, your grace shines like the sun and the moon!"

"The tribes of the grasslands are willing to honor the Emperor of Great Tang as the ’Celestial Khan’, following in life and death, with never a thought of rebellion!"

Before the words fell, the Khitan leader had already untied the golden knife at his waist, cutting his palm to show his sincerity to Li Shimin;

This was the custom of their tribe!

Others around him did the same, and amidst these myriad customs, they then collectively took out a pledge of submission painted in cinnabar, placing it before them.

They then bowed incessantly to Li Shimin, continuously shouting in Han: "Celestial Khan!!"

—Celestial Khan!

In the hall, the atmosphere reached its climax at that moment.

Even Li Shimin was momentarily stunned, not expecting these people to bestow upon him such a reverent title.

A myriad of thoughts flashed through his mind instantly.

In the mysterious workings of fate, he seemed to have unknowingly fulfilled an ancient ambition, becoming the second person to receive such a reverent title from the Barbarians.

In an instant, Li Shimin’s expression became complex.

"Celestial Khan, huh..." he murmured, repeating the phrase, his gaze growing deeper and more determined.

In the great hall.

As Zhangsun Wuji was the first to stand up, bowing with the tribal leaders to Li Shimin, one minister after another followed him, joining in the high praise for the name of the Celestial Khan.

The sound of their voices was deafening.

As if penetrating through Taiji Hall, echoing in all directions.

Gu Yi also gazed upon this sight, with countless thoughts flashing in his mind as well. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

After many years, since his manipulation of Gu Ye ended, the development of Kyushu had finally reconnected at this moment.

And this time the helmsman was different from the former Liu Jun.

He was Li Shimin.

He was an emperor uniquely unparalleled in the vast stretch of history.