Datang: Huchi served as a bodyguard, but refused to enter the court as an official

At the climax of the moon, the banquet at the Yue Palace officially began.

There are quite a few people here today.

When Liu Bai held an auction in his old house in Jingyang County, it probably wasn't as big as it is today.

In order to publicize Taiji, Li Tai and Huang Chao worked hard.

In private, even Li Er was called Qian Shi'an, and he greeted the celebrities in Chang'an City.

Qian Shian said it in his personal capacity, but the weight is really not light.

You know, his identity is different from that of the courtiers.

On the bright side, the official position of the commander of the Baiqi Division is nothing, and his earl is not allowed to speak for the big man.

But don't forget that Qian Shi'an was born as Li Er's servant!

It sounds like he doesn't show his face in his name, but he is trusted by His Majesty far more than anyone else!

Usually when they met in court, even Fang Xuanling would smile at Qian Shi'an.

What's more, Baiqisi also has the power to supervise hundreds of officials.

Who can say for sure, will it fall into the hands of others tomorrow?

Therefore, Qian Shian's greeting was very effective.

The princesses who never participated in any external activities in the past are here today!

Li Yuan had nineteen daughters in total, and only eight of them were adults and married.

The rest were still young and were raised in the deep palace by concubines, so naturally they would not attend such occasions.

Throwing aside Chai Lingwu's legendary mother, the remaining seven are here.

Li Tai was at the door, greeted the ninth aunt Luling Princess and the ninth uncle Qiao Shi, and after welcoming them in, Huang Chao hurriedly ordered people to close the door.

Princess Luling is not yet thirty this year, and she seems to have a very good relationship with her son-in-law, Qiao Shiwang.

During the campaign against Jieli two years ago, Qiao Shiwang also went, but he didn't make any contribution.

Later, it was Princess Luling who ran to her emperor's brother and cried for a while, and only then did Qiao Shiwang win the fourth-rank title of Lord Qingche Captain.

It can be said that among the consorts, Qiao Shiwang has the lowest official position and looks the most unpromising.

But Li Tai knew that this Ninth Uncle was not an ordinary person.

It's not that Li Tai knows Qiao Shiwang very well, but because he knows that Liu Bai and Qiao Shiwang have a good relationship

Among so many son-in-laws, the relationship between Liu Bai and Dou Xiaoci's father, Dou Dan, needless to say.

From now on, Master Qiao will be counted.

Out of recognition of Liu Bai's vision, Li Tai is the most enthusiastic towards Ninth Aunt and Ninth Uncle.

"Fourth, according to your father, you actually plan to give up the Yue Palace?"

Princess Luling said with a smile.

Qiao Shiwang had two mustaches on his mouth, he looked a little funny, but he spoke very seriously.

"If you run out of money, even if you talk to your aunt, we are all one family. Don't embarrass yourself. If you have any difficulties, you must tell them!"

Li Tai cupped his hands and thanked him.

"Earlier, the crown prince also chose some places, but they were a little out of the way. The location of Yuewang Mansion is just right. It's not for saving money, but thank you aunt and uncle for their kindness!"

Qiao Shiwang nodded, looked around, and said, "Qing Que'er, come here."

He pointed to the princesses chatting in a circle, and raised his chin at Princess Luling.

It stands to reason that marrying a princess cannot be called "marriage", but "shang".

This means that the princess' status is higher than that of the son-in-law, so even if you don't obey what you say, you must be polite.

But judging from the meaning of the two couples, Qiao Shiwang was quite arrogant towards Princess Luling.

Princess Luling was not even angry, but followed Qiao Shiwang's arrangement with a smile and walked towards the princesses.

Seeing this scene, Li Tai couldn't help but look at Master Qiao again.

He knew too well the temper of his ninth aunt.

Qiao Shiwang must be no ordinary person to be able to subdue her.

Think about it, it's normal.

The other sons-in-law either have prominent family backgrounds, or have the merits of their ancestors.

Only Qiao Shiwang, who was born in a small family in Tongzhou, Guanzhong, is quite grassroots compared to other son-in-laws.

With this kind of status, can it be easy to 'respect' the princess?

It seems that people have really mastered the essence of the word "Shang"

Qiao Shiwang pulled Li Tai to a place where no one was around, lowered his voice a little, and said, "Didn't Liu Bai explain anything to you when you opened Tai Ji?"

Li Tai shook his head.

From the beginning to the end, he hadn't had much contact with Liu Bai.

It has always been Huang Chao, passing on the news.

Qiao Shiwang frowned, and said, "He didn't tell you about such a big matter?"

Li Tai felt something was wrong.

Qiao Shiwang has a lord, but no clear official position.

Just hanging under the left leader.

What big event can he have, cooperate with Liu Bai?

It's not that Li Tai looks down on him, but that Qiao Shiwang really doesn't have the qualifications.

But Qiao Shiwang's next sentence shocked Li Tai a lot!

"The imperial court is about to set up a Protectorate in the Western Regions, and I will leave for Liangzhou soon to take up the post of Protectorate of Anxi!"

"what?!"

Li Tai yelled in shock, and he was stunned!

Set up the Protectorate in the Western Regions!

He didn't receive any news about such a big event!

The Tang Dynasty spanned tens of thousands of miles and was divided into ten divisions. Except for the setting up of dethroning ambassadors in Hedong and Jiangnan to stabilize the hearts of the local wealthy families, the chief officials in other places were all governors who were caught by the military and government.

In other words, these ten governor-level officials are the most powerful people in the local area.

But no matter how powerful their power is, they can't catch up with the first protector!

After conquering Goguryeo, the imperial court intended to set up the Songmo Protectorate in Liaodong, with a vast area larger than the combined area of ​​​​Hedong and Hebei.

The most important thing is that the guardian has absolute autonomy.

Because what they are in charge of is not the people of the Tang Dynasty in the true sense, but the foreign race of the country!

Just like the soon-to-be-established Songmo Protectorate, it governs Goguryeo, Silla, Baekje, and Bohai countries, as well as Shiwei, Mohe, and a part of the Turkic remnants in the north.

A governor is definitely a hundred times stronger than the governor!

From the selection of the first Protectorate of the Songmo Protectorate, it can be seen that the imperial court attaches great importance to the Protectorate.

Because, the first Protector of Songmo was the Prince of Hejian County, Li Xiaogong!

The significance of the Western Regions is far beyond comparison in the Liaodong area.

To put it bluntly, after defeating Goguryeo, the importance of Liaodong plummeted, and the rest only needed to be managed.

But the Western Regions are still in chaos. On the surface, there are 36 countries, but in fact there are at least hundreds of small countries that have never been heard of, and they fight almost every day.

The garrisons arranged by the imperial court in Liangzhou alone amounted to hundreds of thousands!

Such a heavy burden, leave it to Master Qiao?

Li Tai's mind was so keen, he understood Qiao Shiwang's meaning almost instantly.

Qiao Shiwang wants to use Taiji's intelligence ability to manage the Western Regions!

Chapter 784 Your Royal Highness, why don't you go and listen to His Highness King Yue

In the eyes of some people, the Western Regions are not important.

The matter of one-third of an acre in my own house has not been clarified yet. Who has the leisure to care about those people with red eyebrows and green eyes, who have nothing to do with chopping with a knife?

Not only do most of the common people see it this way, but even a considerable number of officials in the court have this attitude.

However, for someone as smart as Li Tai, even wise, the Western Regions are extremely important!

Managing the Western Regions is the imperial court's grand policy and grand strategy for a long time to come!

From a military point of view, the tranquility of the western part of the Tang Dynasty is directly related to the situation in the Western Regions.

Not to mention anything else, if the Western Regions can be stabilized, at least half of Datang's [-] troops in the western border can be withdrawn!

From an economic point of view, the Western Regions are rich in products, and the benefits of re-opening the Silk Road for the development of Datang are self-evident.

Most importantly, it is political.

Passing on the crisis is an eternal truth.

The Western Regions are a wall that can block all unfavorable changes in the imperial court.

In addition, it is also the only way to cover the eyes of those aristocratic families.

When they thought that Li Er or the imperial court was completely focused on the affairs of the Western Regions and had no time to take care of them, then their end would come.

Li Tai's political wisdom is very high, Qiao Shiwang's words reminded him of countless things.

For example, Li Chengqian's official system reform plan.

Another example is what Liu Bai did in Hedong.

At a moment when the situation in the imperial court is extremely tense, drawing everyone's attention to the Western Regions is definitely a strong medicine!

"According to Liu Bai's original idea, Du Kui should have returned, but he has been stationed in Liangzhou with the Liu family's caravan, just to wait for Guo Xiaoke to finish handling the military affairs at hand and return to Chang'an to report on his duties!"

As soon as this remark came out, Li Tai gasped again.

According to Qiao Shiwang, even Guo Xiaoke, the most important thorn in the defense of Liangzhou and the court's emplacement in the Western Regions, had to return to Chang'an, which meant that the court had already made arrangements for the Anxi Governor's Mansion.

This plan has been going on for at least a year!

Even, when I first caught Xieli, it had already started!

As long as Qiao Shiwang arrives in Liangzhou, the Anxi Protectorate will immediately begin to operate, commanding the power of the Western Regions!

"Uncle, what do you mean?"

Li Tai knew very well that this matter was of great importance, and he could not let others know.

It was still Qiao Shiwang who was holding him just now, but this time, it was him who was holding Qiao Shiwang, and walked a few steps to the corner where there were few people.

Qiao Shiwang patted Li Tai's hand, and said: "You don't have to worry, people who should know about this matter basically know, these people can rest assured, and Liu Bai has already made arrangements, you just have to It is enough to follow through.”

He quietly stuffed a piece of paper into Li Tai's hands, and then left as if nothing had happened.

Li Tai looked left and right, opened the note carefully, and after only one glance, his face turned pale with fright!

"My God!"

At this moment, Cheng Chumo walked over with annoyed face.

"Qing Que'er, where have they all gone?"

A look of panic flashed in Li Tai's eyes.

In a hurry, he simply stuffed the note into his mouth, chewed it a few times, and swallowed it. Then he came back to his senses, pretended to be calm, and said: "Should all go eat, let's eat something too." go."

Since the Liu family held an auction, the buffet quickly became popular in Chang'an City.

The same is true of today's Yuewang Mansion.

Li Tai invited a lot of guests, and it was impossible to take care of everyone.