Warrior in Turbulent Han Dynasty

Lingzhou used to be a military town in the wild grasslands and deserts. The houses were low and rough, and the clothes of the soldiers and civilians were shabby. The same is true now, but a western tour of the Central Plains emperor has changed here.

The city became more lively, and there were more people wearing all kinds of strange clothes, because there were post houses of various ethnic groups and tribes, and there were also trading markets. It is no longer the Forgotten City, but has been given the status of a kind of regional center.

After the arrival of Zhe Dejian, the governor of the Pingxia Province, the first person to meet was Tubo Tuosi Mabu.

The envoy Woge brought a group of seven or eight people to Xingyuan, all of whom were lamas wearing Buddhist robes and holding staffs. Woge asked the Han officials who led them: The governor has contacts with many tribes, why did he choose us (to meet for the first time)?

The official said neither humble nor overbearing: As the noble envoy knows, the people staying at the Lingzhou post are not important people from various ethnic groups, but the noble envoy is different. You are a nobleman who has just come here from your own land.

Brother Wo was very helpful when he heard that there was a sense of respect in the words, and immediately said: The Tubo people have a lot of horses, but we will walk to Lingzhou. Do you know why?

The official said: I would like to hear the details.

Wo Ge said: Because I am not only a nobleman in Tubo, but also a monk. Walking is the etiquette for us to express our piety and sincerity.

The official clasped his fists and said: I will definitely report this matter to the Governor. He turned his head and pointed to the corridor between the low houses, The last time Emperor Daxu was lucky to Lingzhou, this house was used as the emperor's palace.

After hearing this, Brother Wo raised his head and squinted his eyes to carefully look at the scenery on both sides of the corridor, without saying a word for a long time. Very ordinary buildings, the soil on the walls has been weathered and uneven, but Woge still thinks these houses are amazing.

There was an inexplicable sense of fear in his heart. Fear is due to the unknown. Brother Wo has heard all kinds of rumors about Emperor Xu and his imperial guards. Some even say that the imperial guards loyal to the emperor have three heads and six arms. Of course, Wo Ge will not believe all those nonsense, but he believes in Da Xu's strength. In his heart, Han'er is full of cunning, hypocrisy, conspiracy, and deceit.

At this moment, the monk behind him said in Tubo language: I'm afraid they are not only interested in your status, but also the position of our tribe. Wang Jing and his son guard Qinzhou, which is the farthest force in Daxu in Longyou; Lanzhou is in our hands. It can threaten Daxu's border and the horse trade to the west.

Brother Wo took a look at the Han official, not sure if the official understood Tuo Sima's language, so he said in Tubo: We will talk after we leave here.

A group of people were brought to the lobby, and saw a big man sitting on the public seat above. Brother Wo couldn't help but take a second look, because the man was wearing military uniform and armor, and the iron helmet was placed on the table above. The owner's attire itself carried some kind of signal.

Great governor, the envoy Tuosima has arrived. The civil servant clasped his fists and bowed.

Brother Wo and others folded their hands together and saluted.

Zhe Dejian said kindly: Your envoy doesn't need to be too polite. If the Lingzhou government has neglected reception, I hope you will forgive me.

Woge smiled and said, May all ethnic groups in the Northwest Mutual Market abide by etiquette like Daxu's government.

... Zhe Dejian savored this sentence with great interest, sat on it with his legs apart, and finally responded: Unfortunately, this is not the case. The Daxu court is very dissatisfied with the situation in the northwest.

Oh? Wo Ge raised his head. The atmosphere of courtesy was gradually changing, and the expressions of the lamas also changed accordingly.

Zhe Dejian said: His Majesty the Emperor once visited the Northwest and ordered all the ministries to live in harmony, and everyone agreed. But now, there are many checkpoints on our commercial roads, and the tolls are even higher than the price of the horses themselves. We also face the danger of being robbed halfway.

Wo Ge spread his hands and said helplessly: As the governor knows, our ministry has not set up checkpoints, and there is no way to set up checkpoints. The trade routes do not pass through the territories of Tusima ministries. What can we do for the court?

Zhe Dejian leaned forward, as if this would bring his mouth closer to the Tubo people. He said calmly, The imperial court hopes that Tusima can stand by our side... and hand over Lanzhou City to the jurisdiction of Daxu, and let your warriors on horseback fight side by side with Daxu's warriors.

The lobby immediately fell silent. After talking for so long, the governor of the Great Xu Dynasty finally spoke frankly and frankly to an important point. Everyone looked at the Tubo envoy, waiting for his attitude.

At this moment, Wo Ge said in a calm tone: The request made by the governor is that our department should not only cede the land, but also work for Da Xu, so... what can we get?

People looked sideways, the hall was dead silent, and the breath suddenly became tense.

Originally, everyone was polite, and the guests of honor enjoyed themselves happily, but when it came to actual interests, things changed immediately.

Zhe Dejian hadn't answered yet, and the Tubo envoy suppressed his emotions and added: At the beginning, Xiazhou party members also formed an alliance with Daxu in Lingzhou. In less than a year, Pingxia has now become the province of Daxu.

After hearing this, Zhe Dejian's face turned blue and white, and he said coldly: Li Yiyin is different. He was originally a minister of Daxu, but he resisted the edict and colluded with the enemy to rebel!

The Tubo people finally endured and did not refute the ridicule.

Zhe Dejian also let out a breath, and said in a slow tone: Just like me, all the officials of the court also hope that the Northwest can be harmonious and peaceful, so they 'discussed' with the envoy Tuosima, and we formed an alliance. Otherwise, if Longyou and Hexi are made into Daxu's land, why should we pay taxes, why should we be soft-hearted to those bandits?

Are you threatening our department? the Tubo envoy said in a deep voice.

Zhe Dejian said noncommittally: Your Majesty is a benevolent and enlightened king. Besides, if you want to persecute, you shouldn't go to Tuosi Mabu first. You and Daxu are more harmonious.

He was controlling the aura in the lobby, and he had already grasped the proportion between his words.

The Tubo people seemed unwilling to offend Zhe Dejian completely, so they said at the moment: Of course we respect the majesty of Emperor Daxu and agree with Daxu's national prestige; but if we behave weak and deceitful, we will not only hand over a piece of Lanzhou City, but soon Dangxiang and Uighurs will also threaten us to give us more things.

Zhe Dejian said coldly: Your envoy can decide the choice for the Tubo tribes, and you don't want to stand on Daxu's side?

The Tubo people clasped their hands together and said, The governor misunderstood what I meant. Please be clear, the Tusima tribes are not willing to be enemies of Daxu, and dare not obey what they say, just to protect themselves. If other tribes also agree to 'stand by the court', Tusima will definitely not become the enemy of Daxu's court.

Zhe Dejian nodded, he already understood the attitude of the Tubo tribe in Longyou, they just waited on the fire from the other side, watching the situation and wind as a fool... But this is not the worst situation, it is better than resisting Daxu's forces wholeheartedly.

Just when Zhe Dejian was about to appease the Tubo envoy, Tubo suddenly said: By the way, I wonder if the governor already knows that Li Yiyin, the former leader of the Pingxia Party, seems to be in Hexi.

Zhe Dejian's expression was suddenly surprised, and he blurted out: Didn't he escape to the northern grassland?

The Tubo people calmly said: All the tribes in the northern grasslands are under the orders of the Daliao. If Li Yiyin can succeed, the Daliao will definitely support him. It is no longer necessary for him to stay in the north. It is said that he arrived in Longyou not long ago and was sheltered by a Dangxiang tribe. Now he is plotting to marry the Uyghurs in Ganzhou and wants to win the help of the Uyghurs in Hexi.

Zhe Dejian immediately became angry: The Longyou Dangxiang tribe has surrendered, and the leaders of the tribes have sworn to obey the orders of the Xiazhou Metropolitan Governor's Mansion, and now they dare to cover up the traitors blatantly!

Tubo said humanely: Swearing is useless. Party members are not pious in Buddhism, and their Dharma is also wrong. In addition, Li Yiyin's daughter is still Concubine Daxu, and the court does not seem to say that he is a criminal.

This Tubo man doesn't know Da Xu very well, and Zhe Dejian can't explain it, so he can't say that he is afraid that the center will suspect his origin, can he? So he could only say: However, he betrayed the emperor and fought against the emperor. What he did was true. Although the court did not convict him, it did not show that he would forgive his sins. Therefore, Li Yiyin is still a traitor.

Zhe Dejian asked: Which tribe sheltered Li Yiyin?

The Tubo man replied cautiously: We are not quite sure, after all, the person who is more concerned about his whereabouts is not the Tubo people, but Han'er.

So why did he break the news? Sure enough, the Tubo people immediately said: For hundreds of years, there have been many tribes in the northwest, and the tribes that survived in the world can't just rely on softness and courteousness. If Daxu persecutes too much and leaves everyone with nowhere to go, Li Yiyin may have the opportunity to win over many tribes. Everyone may take risks and try to resist the threat that scares them. I hope the governor thinks twice.

A strange red color appeared on Zhe Dejian's face, and he sneered, Thank you for your advice.

The Tubo people held the ceremony and said: Daxu is the most powerful country in the world. Even the northwestern tribes think that Daxu is stronger than Daliao. However, the northwest is very big and the road is far away.

He paused and then said: Perhaps, we should deal with these matters more calmly...it's a wise move, what do you think?

After hearing this, Zhe Dejian waved his hand, and said with a calm manner: I hope there will be a next time, and I can talk to your envoy.

Farewell. The Tubo man left the hall with a salute.

The scribe beside him quickly said in a deep voice: The news of Li Yiyin's stay in Longyou has not been confirmed, we have to send someone to find out as soon as possible.

Zhe Dejian pondered for a moment and said: The thing that should be done right now is to report to the court, regardless of whether the news from the Tubo people is reliable or not.

What Zhe Gong said is very true. The two of them looked at each other in unison, and suddenly there was a tacit understanding in their eyes. The scribe clasped his fists and said, Please order me to draft a memorial for Zhegong.

Zhe Dejian put his hand on his chin, rubbed his beard, and nodded slightly.

The scribes obviously understood Zhe Deji, and they refused to admit it, but they agreed with the scribes' views in their hearts: try to avoid getting involved with party members, and avoid being suspected and rejected by some people in Tokyo.