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Zhao Deyan was born in Mayi, Yunnei. From a young age, he loved reading poetry and aspired to enter the officialdom to showcase his ambitions and bring glory to his family.
However, during the Sui Dynasty, someone of his background had no path to officialdom and could only accompany the sons of noble families, hoping for an opportunity to be recommended through flattery.
He waited for years but never received such an opportunity, so he directly allied himself with several rising heroes of the chaotic times. Unfortunately, under his assistance, none of these lords met a good end.
Although his plans were somewhat flawed, he had a knack for avoiding danger and managed to survive various hardships without suffering much harm, eventually enduring until the founding of the Tang Dynasty.
He was certain that the new emperor would recruit commoners to balance the court, so he hurried to Luoyang to study diligently, waiting for a chance to make a remarkable impression.
He waited for several years, but fortunately, his judgment proved correct. In Luoyang, he frequently organized poetry gatherings and literary collections to attract peers.
At his age, relying solely on local experience would not lead him to the opportunity of assisting a ruler in governing effectively.
A few years ago, it might have been feasible, but now who would forsake the Imperial Examination in Luoyang to go to Turkic lands?
Tuli licked his lips; his harem consisted of only a few Han Chinese women. If he could conquer Central Plains, wouldn't that double the number of women in his harem?
Thus, whenever he had the chance, he belittled the Turkic system and attributed its decline to this reason while vigorously promoting the rituals and systems of the Central Plains.
"Your Majesty, do not mind these temporary difficulties. You are destined to become the emperor of the grasslands. Once reforms are made, you will wield power like the Son of Heaven from the Central Plains, and no one will dare defy your will!"
"The Central Plains have always been this way. Your Majesty, people from the Central Plains and those from the grasslands are ultimately just people; the difference lies in governance systems. As long as we reform and address our weaknesses, you will have the opportunity to march south and become the sole emperor under heaven."
Initially, Tuli Khan was reluctant to listen, but over time, especially as he faced setbacks on various fronts and witnessed the continuous prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, he finally appointed Zhao Deyan as Chancellor of Turkic.
As scholars gathered in Luoyang, particularly commoners from the south arrived with their splendid writings and governance strategies that shattered Zhao Deyan's outdated confidence into pieces.
Zhao Deyan suddenly realized that he was merely average among people in Luoyang. However, if he went to Turkic lands, there might be a chance for him to govern the grasslands. While glorifying ancestors was beyond imagination, there was still an opportunity for ambition.
Tuli was quite tempted but felt something was amiss: "Is this really feasible?"
In a very short time, Tuli Khan managed to fill his harem; he was only eighteen years old. Seeing himself surrounded by so many women who also brought cattle and sheep slaves with them filled him with joy as he first tasted the benefits of reform.
He began to change various systems, policies, and laws of the Turkic people, largely emulating those of the Central Plains while occasionally adding his own early ideas on governance and law.
Thus, he returned to his hometown with a lack of enthusiasm, preparing to write two books to share his story of unrecognized talent with future generations.
Zhao Deyan smiled and said, "Then you will have a well-known reputation. You can take the opportunity to mobilize troops from other tribes to jointly suppress the rebels who do not obey the court's orders!
After defeating them, you can seize all their wealth for the national treasury. In this way, the court will have savings, and you can reward a portion to the tribes loyal to you, which will make them even more loyal."
Zhao Deyan then followed the merchant caravan to Dali City and successfully met Princess Yicheng. With his years of honed eloquence, he truly became a guest of honor at the princess's table and was recommended to the Khan.
He still needed to cultivate connections, especially among those of common status, so that he might have the opportunity to be appointed by His Majesty and then use that chance to balance the court...
Zhao Deyan did not neglect Princess Yicheng; he built her a new palace and specifically sought out some handsome young men from the Central Plains.
Tuli frowned and asked, "What if they are unwilling?"
Since being married into the Turkic people by Emperor Yang, Princess Yicheng had been a wife to Qimin Khan, Shibi Khan, and Xieli Khan in succession; she had long grown weary of the rough men of the grasslands.
She had heard Zhao Deyan mention that the Central Plains Emperor could have three thousand beauties in his harem; she was not that greedy but thought three hundred would be enough.
Zhao Deyan believed he might still have a chance to enter government service, but as for glorifying his ancestors, that was out of the question, let alone aspiring to assist in governing the world.
Zhao Deyan thought this way and acted accordingly. At first, things went relatively smoothly, but soon he suffered a significant setback.
Zhao Deyan confidently stated, "Of course there will be taxes. Your Majesty, the taxes you originally set were far too low; they relied almost entirely on each tribe's voluntary contributions. How can that work?
Taxes should be determined based on the number of cattle and sheep each tribe has; this is only reasonable."
Among over a hundred women, some were young girls while others were already married. Tuli Khan saw them all as favorable and began to trust Zhao Deyan sincerely.
The first reform Zhao Deyan implemented was in the Turkic harem system. He established for Tuli Khan one primary wife, four consorts, nine concubines, twenty-seven wives, and eighty-one imperial consorts, emulating the practices of the Central Plains.
All tribes were commanded to offer beautiful women, especially the leaders of each tribe, who must honorably send their daughters and livestock slaves to marry the great Khan, the Son of Heaven of the steppe.
Tuli perked up and said, "Due to last year's snow disaster, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has little savings left. You still say we should provide relief to the disaster-stricken herders to win their hearts. How can we achieve that?"
Just as Tuli was about to speak again, a jewel-adorned Turkic noblewoman burst in, "But... Your Majesty, you should be accompanying me today!"
If there are tribes that have not complied with your orders to mobilize troops, we can once again conquer them. This way, the treasury will become increasingly full, and the leaders of each tribe will grow more respectful and loyal. No one will dare defy your will any longer, Your Majesty!"
Tuli Khan's expression was somewhat pale. He originally had only three or four women, but now he had over a hundred, each quite formidable. Naturally, he could only do his best to share his affections evenly. Such a burdensome happiness could only be borne by an eighteen-year-old like Tuli.
It was not just one or two people; there were far too many. Even if there is no clear first among scholars, obvious distinctions can still be made.
Thus, the already unstable Turkic began to experience the pains of reform. The nomadic people were greatly troubled and dissatisfied, but with Zhao Deyan supported by Princess Yicheng and Tuli Khan, no one could do anything against him.
However, unexpectedly, fortunes changed. After returning to his ancestral home in Mayi, the Turkic merchants actively sought him out, claiming that Princess Yicheng was recruiting talented individuals for the Turkic Khagan.
Tuli Khan particularly enjoyed watching women compete for his favor and nodded in delight.
………………
(End of Chapter)
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