Li Yuanji’s face turned red from embarrassment at his words. He desperately wanted to refute but couldn’t find a single word to counter with, so he could only stand there sullenly.

“If you have anything else to say, speak it all now.” Li Jiancheng was unwilling to admit this fact, yet had no choice but to acknowledge it. Times were different now—as long as Li Shimin didn’t become a second Emperor Yang of Sui, those common people would not follow him in rebelling against Li Shimin.

“The Crown Prince is an intelligent man and should know that aside from cooperating with us, you have no second path to take. Using merely five prefectures in exchange for this vast empire—whether this deal is profitable or not, the Crown Prince should be very clear in his heart.”

Li Jiancheng pinched the bridge of his nose and said, “This matter is of great importance. Could you allow us brothers to discuss it?”

“Of course.” Zhishisili readily agreed to his request, picking up the iron bucket that had been set aside. “My current duty is cleaning the stables. Whenever the Crown Prince has made up his mind, just come find me at the stables.”

After he walked away, Li Yuanji looked at the silent Li Jiancheng and said, “Elder brother, what do you think? Are you really… planning to cooperate with the Türks?”

Li Jiancheng didn’t answer but asked in return, “What do you think?”

Li Yuanji scratched his head and said with difficulty, “Elder brother, you know what kind of person I am—I don’t have as many schemes as you all. I just feel that the Türk people are treacherous and cunning, untrustworthy and not worth believing. I’m worried that… after the deed is done, five prefectures won’t be enough to satisfy their appetite.”

Li Jiancheng stared at the withered grass at his feet and said slowly, “Bingzhou and other places are just their first step. Their ultimate goal is to swallow the entire Central Plains region.”

Li Yuanji’s eyes revealed a trace of horror, then he said, “If elder brother says so, then you’re not planning to cooperate with them?”

This time, Li Jiancheng remained silent for a long while before saying, “Just as Zhishisili said, if we don’t cooperate with them, even if we prepare for ten or twenty years, we may not necessarily have the strength to contend with Li Shimin.”

“But…” Li Yuanji gritted his teeth and said, “Although I refuse to submit to that despicable scoundrel Li Shimin, I even more don’t want the empire we fought so hard to establish to be seized by the Türks.”

“This is natural. The Central Plains can only belong to our Li clan.” Hearing these words, Li Yuanji probed, “So elder brother is not planning to cooperate with them?”

Li Jiancheng smiled bitterly and said, “Not cooperating is easy—it’s just a matter of one sentence. But have you thought about the consequences this would bring?”

Li Yuanji asked in confusion, “What consequences? Could he really make a move and kill us right here in this stable?”

Li Jiancheng shook his head and said, “Why would he need to personally take action? As long as he spreads the words we said before, Li Shimin will naturally help him take action.”

Reminded by him, Li Yuanji also remembered, and his brow immediately furrowed. After a long while, he said unwillingly, “So we can only cooperate with him and then sit by and watch as the Türks devour the Tang territory bit by bit?”

Li Jiancheng’s lips curved into a cold smile. “They can use us, but can’t we turn around and use them? As long as I ascend to the imperial throne, I believe I can resist Türk aggression and even annihilate them, making the Türks become history forever!”

Seeing Li Yuanji’s hesitation, Li Jiancheng said, “What, no confidence in your elder brother?”

“Of course not.” Having said this, Li Yuanji bit his teeth and finally made his decision. “Alright, I’ll listen to elder brother in everything.”

His answer made Li Jiancheng reveal a smile, and he patted his shoulder heavily, saying, “Rest assured, elder brother will definitely not disappoint you!”

After making their decision, the two came to the stables on one side of the horse grounds. Zhishisili, who was cleaning the stables, saw them approaching and smiled, “It seems you two have made your decision.”

Li Jiancheng said in a grave voice, “I hope the Khan and Chief Zhishisili can honor our agreement as promised.”

His words made the smile on Zhishisili’s face even broader. “Of course!”

At this time, other people entered the stables to work. To prevent their conversation from being overheard, the three left the stables and came to the open horse grounds again.

“What are your plans?” Having learned from the previous lesson, Li Jiancheng was more cautious and kept surveying the surroundings while speaking, to prevent anyone from approaching unnoticed again.

“Since we now stand on the same front, I don’t fear telling the Crown Prince that a month ago, Zhao Jin, a trusted aide of Li Shimin, came to our Türk lands carrying Li Shimin’s personal letter.”

Li Yuanji asked in confusion, “Zhao Jin? What did he come to do?”

Zhishisili smiled and looked at the thoughtful Li Jiancheng, “Does the Crown Prince have any guesses?”

Li Jiancheng said slowly, “Currently, the Tang and Türks are at peace with no warfare, so it shouldn’t be for state affairs. I remember… Empress Dowager Xiao has been with the Türks all along, correct?”

“The Crown Prince is wise.” Having flattered him thus, Zhishisili said, “After Empress Dowager Xiao was received by Princess Yicheng and brought to our Türk lands, she has remained there ever since. Zhao Jin came to the Türks precisely to escort Empress Dowager Xiao back.”

Hearing this, Li Yuanji understood and said coldly, “No need to ask further—it’s again for that woman. Hmph, he’s been bewitched and will die by that woman’s hand sooner or later.”

Li Jiancheng sneered and looked at Zhishisili, “You didn’t agree?”

“The Khan has never recognized Li Shimin’s imperial position. His personal letter has no meaning whatsoever to the Khan, so how could he agree? However, Zhao Jin’s arrival did make the Khan decide on one thing—to help the Crown Prince reclaim the imperial throne.”

Li Jiancheng raised his eyebrows, “So I should thank Zhao Jin then?”

Zhishisili said, “The Khan has decided to dispatch 200,000 troops to assist Your Highness. They should be approaching the outskirts of Chang’an by now. What we need to do now is go outside the city to rendezvous with them.”

Li Jiancheng nodded, “This is naturally how it should be. But Chief, don’t forget that Yuanji and I are both court criminals, sentenced to exile here. The moment we step outside the horse grounds, we’ll be hunted down.”

Zhishisili’s expression remained unchanged as he said, “I naturally know this, so I’ve arranged for a thousand men to disguise themselves in Liangzhou City. As soon as we leave this place, they’ll naturally come to meet us and escort us away from Liangzhou.” After a pause, he added, “Since the Crown Prince has decided, I’ll immediately go make arrangements to leave the horse grounds. Please wait here, Your Highnesses.”

Zhishisili ran toward the stables. Li Yuanji asked curiously, “Elder brother, what method do you think he has to get us out? There are quite a few soldiers guarding outside these horse grounds.”

“We’ll know just by watching.” Following Li Jiancheng’s words, Zhishisili disappeared into the stables. Not long after, wisps of black smoke began rising from the stables, followed by flames bursting out from the windows. These stables were built of wood and filled with dry grass, making them highly flammable. Soon the flames turned into a raging fire.