Tibet

On the third day after Li Ye came to Ganzhou, he finally met Gao Xianzhi, the governor of Hexi Province. In the temporary tent of the Hezhong Army, Li Ye and Gao Xianzhi were seated as guest and host.

Although Gao Xianzhi used to be Li Ye's boss, he is no longer. Li Ye can respect Gao Xianzhi, but there is no need to pay homage.

"How does it feel for Marshal Gao to be in Hexi?"

Gao Xianzhi smiled and said: "The air in the Hexi Corridor is humid, the water and soil support people, and the conditions are much better than Anxi. In just a few months, I gained ten pounds, but I still miss Anxi very much."

Li Ye also smiled and said: "As people go to higher places, Gao Shuai also approaches the court step by step. The next step is that Gao Shuai will strive to enter the court."

"That's a matter for the future. I don't think about it now. It's you. What are you going to do in the river?"

"I figured out what the emperor meant. He wanted to establish states and counties in the river, so I wanted to establish three states in my first term."

Gao Xianzhi shook his head, "The idea is good, but it is unrealistic. If it were easy to set up prefectures and counties, I would have set up prefectures and counties in Anxi long ago. The key is that there are no Han people. If you can convince the court to move 10,000 Han households to the river, then it will be true There’s a lot to be done.”

“It’s more difficult, but we still have to fight for it!”

Gao Xianzhi was silent for a moment and said: "I think the most important thing for you this year is to guard against Tubo!"

Li Ye quickly leaned forward and said, "I'd like to hear the details!"

Gao Xianzhi said slowly: "We made a big mistake before. We always thought that Tibet would not invade Khotan Town from the plateau. We always thought that they would not be able to get through the thousands of miles of uninhabited land. But last year I discovered that I was wrong."

"Did Marshal Gao discover something?"

Gao Xianzhi nodded, "Last autumn, a hundred-man Tibetan scouts arrived at Qiemo River, which surprised us. Later we discovered that these Tibetan scouts came from Qinghai Lake. Later, I checked the information and found out that Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty established Xihai County, Shanshan County and Qiemo County. These three counties are connected. After the Tubo people conquered the Tuyuhun people, they could use the ancient road from Xihai County to Qiemo County."

Li Ye understood what Gao Xianzhi meant. It was indeed unrealistic to come from the southern plateau and cross the no-man's land of Hoh Xil. The Tibetan army would not be able to get through, but it was possible to come along the southern foot of the Qilian Mountains. After all, in the Song Dynasty, it was the Yellow River. Human beings can survive in Tuhuihe's territory.

Li Ye thought for a while and said: "If you come from Qinghai Lake, you have to walk at least two thousand miles, and you must have a supply point along the way."

"You are right, we have also found the supply point. It is in Sabize, a large mountain lake, about 600 miles away from Qiemo County. The Tibetans have already established a supply tribe there."

"But what does this have to do with me being on guard against Tibet?"

Gao Xianzhi said lightly: "Starting from this year, the defense direction of the Anxi Army will turn to the east, and the troops from the Big and Little Bolu will be withdrawn. Once the Anxi Army withdraws from the Little Bolu, the Tubo Army will definitely fill the vacancy and continue to advance westward to invade Tubo. Fire."

Li Ye was shocked, "Is the Anxi Army going to give up on Xiao Bolu?"

Gao Xianzhi shook his head, "You don't understand what I mean. It's not that the Anxi Army will give up Xiaobolu, but that the Hezhong Army will take over. This is an important purpose of the court's establishment of the Hezhong Army. The Anxi Army must cooperate with the Longyou Army. Once the Tubo Army If the army expands from the West Sea to Anxi, the pressure on Longyou will be greatly reduced, but the Tubo cannot capture Anxi, so the Anxi army will strengthen the defense of Khotan, and the big and small Bolu will be handed over to the Hezhong army."

Li Ye was speechless for a long time. In the final analysis, the imperial court established the Hezhong Army to deal with Tibet, and the imperial court had no interest in expanding westward.

The army rested in Ganzhou for two days before continuing westward, leaving more than 700 families of military dependents in Ganzhou to recuperate and adapt, so that the elderly and children who had traveled a long distance could fully recover.

Without the family members accompanying the army, the team's marching speed accelerated significantly. They passed through Yumen Pass and crossed the Xingxing Gorge. More than 20 days later, the team arrived in Tingzhou.

In Tingzhou, which is today's Urumqi area, a Han navy of 12,000 people was stationed.

The current Beiting Jiedu Envoy is Wang Zhengjian. He is old and ill, so he is waiting to retire. In fact, after Changshi Dugujun came over, the real person in charge was Dugujun, not Wang Zhengjian. .

The army rested in Tingzhou for another two days, replenished food and water, and then continued westward. Going further west, there were no cities, only some forts, which were of little significance. They could only get supplies from the nomads along the way.

The northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains and the Yili Valley are mainly where the Wusu and Sai people live. There are large pastures and rivers everywhere, and supplies can be obtained along the way.

More than ten days later, the team entered the Yili River Valley. From here on, it was under the jurisdiction of the Hezhong Dudu Mansion.

Everyone felt like they were at home. Although there was still half a month to go, they were completely free from the fatigue of the journey. They stopped and stopped along the way to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.

Li Ye urged his horse to come to Wang Changling, laughed loudly and asked: "Judge Wang, how are you doing?"

Wang Changling had diarrhea when he was in Tingzhou. Li Ye originally wanted to leave him to recuperate in Tingzhou, but he refused and gritted his teeth and followed.

Wang Changling was half lying on a camel, covered with a thin quilt, his face was a little pale, and he looked not in good spirits.

"The Wusun people's herbal medicine is very good. I have recovered from my illness, but my body is a little weak. The military doctor asked me to nurse myself back to health for a few days. I think I will be back to normal once I reach the broken leaves."

"Is it comfortable to ride a camel?" Li Ye asked again.

"It's very comfortable. I was a little dizzy at first, but now I'm used to it. I won't be tired after long-distance travel like this."

"Does it feel like riding on a boat?"

Wang Changling chuckled, "You're right, that's how it feels."

At this time, a soldier rushed over and said: "Captain, Wang Yuanwailang doesn't want to go to Broken Leaf anymore, and wants to camp on the spot!"

Li Ye saw that it was getting late, so he ordered: "Stand camp on the spot!"

The soldiers took down the small marching tents from the camels and set up camp on the grassland by the Yili River. Some soldiers began to bury pots to make rice, and many soldiers took hundreds of fat sheep to the river to slaughter.

Wang Sheng, a member of the Ministry of War, was on a mission to formally hand over the military talisman and command arrows of the Hezhong Army to Li Ye after arriving at the Hezhong Dudu Mansion.

Without the military talisman and arrows, even if Li Ye can command the soldiers, it is only temporary. At most, it is internal affairs of the army such as marching and camping, but not sending troops abroad. This is a common practice. Only when he gets the military talisman and arrows, can Li Ye's power be considered complete. Will truly become the commander-in-chief of the Hezhong Army.

Normally, it would be handed over to Suiye, but it would take fifteen days to go to Suiye. Wang Sheng didn't want to go. Although he had just entered the Yili River Valley, it was already under the jurisdiction of the Hezhong Governor's Mansion, so handing over here did not violate the court regulations.

Dozens of civil and military officials gathered in the Chinese army's tent. Witnessed by everyone, Wang Sheng formally handed over the military symbols and command arrows to Li Ye, and there was a burst of applause in the tent.

All civil and military officials were appointed by Li Ye, except for the three important officials of the Deputy Governor, Chang Shi and Sima, who were appointed by the Ministry of War. In fact, Li Ye held the command and had the power to appoint all officials, just like Just as Gao Xianzhi appointed Feng Changqing as the chief historian, he also had the right to recommend the next Jiedushi, so Gao Xianzhi recommended Feng Changqing as the next Jiedushi.

Otherwise, given Feng Changqing's lameness, short stature, humble background, and lack of academic status, the imperial court would not appoint him as the governor of Anxi under any circumstances.

The reason why Li Ye did not object to the three officials appointed by the Ministry of War was that, first, he could not find suitable people, and second, these three people were actually recommended by Dugu Lie, the Minister of War.

The long history was named Xie Jin. He was originally the chief guard of the Zuo Prison and joined the army. Dugu Lie was originally the general of the Guards of the Zuo Prison. This Xie Jin was his confidential secretary and was a Jinshi in the third year of Tianbao.

The Sima of the Dudu Mansion in Hezhong was named Zhong Hui. He was a Jinshi in the fourth year of Tianbao. He was originally a Qianniu guard Cao Shenjun, and he was also a member of Dugu Lie.

The deputy governor's name is Dugu Ying, the lieutenant general of the Valiant Cavalry. This name is related to the Dugu family. That's right. He is the fifth generation general of the Dugu family, starting from his great-great-grandfather, great-grandfather, great-grandfather, grandfather, and so on. His father, himself, and all five generations have been generals of the Dugu family.

They are also the foundation of the Guanlong nobility. What is the foundation of the Guanlong nobility? Buqu! That is to say, his own army. Since Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty abolished the bureau system in the sixth year of Emperor Kaihuang's reign, the bureau system has disappeared, but the generals with the same surname still exist.

The most famous one is the famous traitor Yu Wenji of the Sui Dynasty. His ancestor was not the Yuwen clan of the Northern Zhou royal family, but a slave of the Yuwen clan, who followed his master's surname.

This Dugu Ying is actually the same thing. His great-great-grandfather was a slave of the Dugu family. He had martial arts and abilities. The Dugu family looked up to him, gave him the surname of master, and promoted him to a general. His descendants will all be members of the Dugu family. However, starting from his grandfather Dugu Sen, he was no longer a slave and became a commoner.

Dugu Sen joined the army, continued to be promoted through meritorious service, married a wife and had children, and established his own family. In the generation of Dugu Ying's father, Dugu Ming, he was doing well and served as General Zuo of the Knight Riding Guard.

But the spiritual tablets of their ancestors are all in the side hall of Dugu Ancestral Hall, so Dugu Ying is still a member of the Dugu family at heart.

Of course, Dugu Lie didn't want to take advantage of the opportunity to occupy the magpie's nest, but Li Ye was already the prospective son-in-law of the Dugu family. There was no one around him. As the father-in-law, Dugu Lie certainly had to share Li Ye's worries.