Northern Dynasties Imperial Industry

King Qu Qiangu of Gaochang was in his early twenties, with a rather sturdy figure. However, he looked a bit crude at first glance because he wore his hair down and his clothes were on the left side, but his words and deeds were polite, showing that he had received a relatively complete Han education.

"I, Qu from Gaochang, a former subordinate of Xizhou, pay my respects to His Majesty the Supreme Emperor of the Tang Dynasty!"

After Qu Qiangu entered the tent, he first looked up at the Supreme Emperor of the Tang Dynasty standing in the tent, with a flash of surprise in his eyes, and then he hurriedly lowered his head and bowed respectfully.

Although the Longxi Li family had many personnel connections in Xizhou, not all people and things could be related to them, so it was a bit far-fetched for Qu Qiangu to claim to be a former subordinate.

As a country in the Western Regions, Gaochang had no subordinate relationship with Xiliang, but because there were many Han people settled in the area, there were also many similarities in customs and culture between the two. The direct jurisdictional relationship between them was established when Li Bao retreated to Yiwu and established the Xiliang regime. He once implemented a tributary rule over Gaochang, but when he planned to take Gaochang and cut off the retreat of Beiliang, the troops he sent were still resisted by the Gaochang people.

Even such a thin relationship actually has nothing to do with Qu Qiangu in front of him. Since the Northern Wei unified Hexi, Gaochang has experienced four dynasties, and the current Qu family Gaochang is already the fourth generation.

But as long as a person becomes strong, he will not worry about not having good friends in the world. When Qu Qiangu presented the letter for the first time, he claimed to be a former member of Xizhou, and Li Tai did not correct or object to this, which was regarded as tacitly acknowledging this origin.

"We have corresponded many times in the past. Seeing Qu Lang's elegant writing, I can't help but imagine his style. Now I see that he is indeed good. He is really a model of Xizhou and has outstanding style."

Li Tai smiled and motioned Qu Qiangu to waive the courtesy, and raised his hand to signal him to take the seat.

The connection between the two sides was not just temporary. Gaochang was one of the few regimes in the Western Regions where Han forces dominated the mainstream, and it was located on the main road of the Silk Road. It was also very sensitive to the changes in the Chinese regime.

Before, when Qu Qiangu's father Qu Baomao was still alive, he had sent envoys to the Western Wei several times and congratulated Li Tai on replacing the Yuwen family. Of course, the exchanges between the two sides at that time were mainly based on the need for trade exchanges.

As the Silk Road became unblocked, the huge productivity and commodity output and digestion capacity controlled by the Guanzhong regime made all forces on this route have to pay attention to it, and the attitude, whether hostile or friendly, could not be ignored.

However, when Qu Qiangu succeeded to the throne, Li Tai officially replaced the Western Wei and established the Tang Dynasty. Qu Qiangu showed a more obvious strengthening of interaction in the exchanges, not only in trade, but also in politics. However, Li Tai was busy with the plan to unify the world at that time, and the Western Regions were still marginal issues, so he did not give a formal response.

In 552 AD, the 18th year of Datong in the Western Wei Dynasty, the Turkic Asina Tumen led his troops to the east, successively conquered the Tiele tribes and Rouran, and officially became the new grassland overlord. His brother Moheduo Yehu Shidianmi stayed in Jinshan and was preparing for the westward expedition at the same time. Gaochang, as a regime located in the eastern part of the Western Regions, inevitably surrendered to the rapidly rising Turkic Khanate.

After that, Shidianmi officially began the westward expedition. The Tuqishi, Karluk, Basimi and other tribes were successively annexed and integrated by him, which made the Western Turkic power grow rapidly, and its influence and control in the Western Regions increased day by day. It also joined Sassanid Persia to attack the then overlord of the Western Regions, the Hephthalites, and since then established the hegemony of the Western Turkic in the Western Regions. There was no force in the region that dared to confront the Western Turkic.

It was precisely because he thought he had controlled the situation in the Western Regions and had a unified and stable territory that Shidianmi dared to resist the name of the Turkic Khan and declared independence.

However, the establishment of hegemony is not overnight, and the conquest of military force alone cannot achieve a deeper level of integration. In particular, the productivity level of the Western Turks themselves is not high, and they can only gain benefits through war plunder and extortion. For the various states in the Western Regions, they are pure invaders, not protectors who can establish a new order.

On the other hand, although the Tang Dynasty has not yet launched substantial military and political actions in the Western Regions, as the news of the Tang Emperor's western tour came, many leaders of Western Regions states came to Hexi to express their welcome. The expo held in Dunhuang City recently was even more crowded and hot.

With the story of the Han Dynasty's strategy in the Western Regions, and the Silk Road trade that has been going on for many years, these Western Regions states are also very clear in their hearts that once the Tang Dynasty, a powerful Eastern empire, returns to the Western Regions, it will certainly not establish rule through military hegemony like the Western Turks. There is a great space for win-win cooperation with the Tang Dynasty.

Therefore, the states in the Western Regions were all superficially submissive to the Western Turks, but they were still somewhat alienated and resistant inside, but they endured it in their hearts due to the powerful force of the Western Turks. However, some forces were more severely oppressed because of their serious pressure, and their resentment towards the Western Turks became stronger, and Gaochang was one of them.

Due to its geographical location, Gaochang was the first to be affected when the Turks went west, and it was also the first among the states in the Western Regions to express its submission to the Turks.

However, this did not bring about preferential treatment from the Turks. Instead, Gaochang became a supply point for the Turkic army to conquer other states and tribes in the Western Regions, and endured heavy labor and exploitation. Even though the situation in the Western Regions has gradually stabilized and the Turks have established their hegemony in the Western Regions, the exploitation of Gaochang has not eased.

At the same time, in order to strengthen their control over Gaochang, the Western Turks also adopted various other methods. Marriage and grant of marriage were a more conventional method. The previous king of Gaochang, Qu Baomao, was forced to marry a Turkic woman. His son Qu Baomao was not spared either and was forced to marry his stepmother after his father's death.

"Qu is really unworthy of His Majesty the Supreme Emperor's praise. The place he lives in is in the wilderness, bordering the barbarian barbarians. The custom is the same. He wears his hair in a left bun and is ashamed to see his ancestors. He even dares not claim to be a model in Xizhou."

After Qu Gangu heard the Supreme's praise for him, he immediately said with a face of shame, and soon showed an angry look on his face: "Qu is incompetent in governing the country, and now he is forced to rape his clan, break human relations, and behave like an animal. I really have a hatred in my heart, but I just lament that I am unable to kill the thief..."

Li Tai knew that Qu Qiangu was angry at the Western Turks for forcing him to marry his stepmother, but in comparison, Qu Qiangu was lucky. Historically, his son Qu Boya was still forced to marry the same woman, and that was already Decades later, this Turkic princess was turned into a family heirloom.

However, Li Tai is not qualified to blame the Western Turks for going too far. Between the weak and the strong, countries will inevitably encounter difficulties. It is hateful for the Western Turks to force the ancestors and grandsons of the Qu family to share a wife and one daughter. Li Tai forced him to do so before. It is not a pleasant approach to give Tuyuhun Khan a cheap son.

At present, Gaochang still retains certain Han ethics and customs, and will be ashamed and angry about this incident. But a few decades later in history, the royal family itself accepted this marriage custom. Qu Gangu's grandson married his aunt, Princess Yuwen of Huarong, who was married to Gaochang from the Sui Dynasty.

Therefore, many people and things in this world are not necessarily like this, and may suddenly become completely different.

Whether it is the trampling of human values ​​​​or the heavy exploitation that the country has endured so far, Qu Gangu has a deep hatred for the Western Turks. He has stated it in several letters to the Tang Dynasty before, and now he has the opportunity to meet the saint. Qu Gangu was naturally more excited to accuse the Western Turks of various atrocities, and repeatedly expressed his hope to accept the jurisdiction and protection of the Tang Dynasty.

"I have also heard about the domineering and arrogant behavior of the Turkic Mohedu Yehu. The Khan of his country was supported by the Tang Dynasty, but he disobeyed and took control of the west of Jinshan Mountain and arrogantly arrogant. Now that our Tang army is here, It’s also to punish those people!”

After hearing these words, Qu Gangu's face immediately beamed with joy. He immediately bowed to the ground and said repeatedly: "The Supreme Ruler rules the world and is the lord of the universe. Now he has millions of troops and is powerful in Xizhou. Naturally, he is not afraid of the fierce Hu. In the coming day, I will attack the thief Hu. I ask you to be the pioneer of the supreme leader and give me the details of the thief. I, the whole country of Gaochang, are willing to give everything to help the army to defeat the thief!"

Seeing Qu Gangu's excited and enthusiastic look, Li Tai couldn't help but secretly sigh that this kid was really oppressed by the Western Turks. Now, as long as he can attack the Western Turks, he is willing to do anything.

After all, this was the first time that the Tang Dynasty used troops against the Western Regions, and it faced a powerful opponent like the Western Turks who had been operating in the Western Regions for many years. It would be great to have a local snake like Gaochang to cooperate closely.

However, this time the battle plan against the Western Turks has already been formulated, so there is no need to ask Qu Gangu for advice. Moreover, although he is familiar with the situation of the Western Turks, he is still unfamiliar with the strength and combat style of the Tang army. Even if he makes suggestions, It may not be appropriate either.

So Li Tai then said: "The Western Turks have controlled the Western Region for a long time. Although I have a strong army, if I cross the quicksand to attack them from a long distance, the outcome of the battle is still unpredictable. Instead of running a long way to attack, it is better to wait for the enemy. Today, the Turkic Photograph Khan has come across the Jinshan Mountains with our elite troops to attack Xue Yantuo's tribes in order to disturb the heart of the Western Turks.

Yiwu is my ancestral property. This time when I return to visit my homeland, I will also establish a great cause here and rule it forever! Qu Lang can lead his troops to move eastward to Yiwu. At that time, the Western Turks will be disturbed in their heart and soul, and it will be difficult to stop them. The Gaochang group will enter the shelter of our army. If the Western Turks dare to pursue, our division and brigade will fight and kill them. ! "

Yiwu is located in the northwest of Dunhuang. It is also where Li Tai's ancestor Li Bao founded the country of Later Xiliang. Therefore, Later Xiliang is also called Yiwu Xiliang, and it borders Gaochang to the west.

When Qu Gangu heard that he was asked to move away from his homeland, he couldn't help but look embarrassed. However, when he thought that he could get rid of the control of the Western Turks in one fell swoop, he was moved. After weighing it for a long time, he said again: "I naturally respect you." Mu Tiantang is eager to return to the Supreme Ruler, but there are also collaborators in the country, and I am afraid that I cannot control it..."

"That's okay. Just wait until the news of the Jinshan War comes and the Western Turks have no time to take care of themselves. Qu Lang can attract all the people you can control to come east. There will be a strong army here to support you!"

No matter how powerful Li Tai is, he will not go straight to the Western Turks' home ground to fight against them. If the Eastern Turks attack the west of Jinshan and attract the people of Gaochang to move eastward to Yiwu, the Western Turks will definitely be greatly disturbed, and then it will be a good opportunity for war!