Zhang Wen and Zhou Li are both highly educated people and proficient in history books. Even though they are from Jiangdong, they still have some understanding of the distant countries in the Western Regions.
According to the "Book of Han" records: "The Western Regions began to be connected during the reign of Xiaowu. They were originally thirty-six kingdoms, and were later divided into more than fifty... There are mountains in the north and south, a river in the center, more than six thousand miles from east to west, and more than a thousand miles from north to south.
inside..."
Since Emperor Xiaowu first exerted influence on the Western Regions, the emperors of the Western Han Dynasty have made unremitting efforts to incorporate the Western Regions into the territory of the Han Dynasty.
Later, in the hands of Emperor Xiaoxuan, this ideal that lasted for decades was basically completed, and the significant symbol of the completion of this ideal was the establishment of the Western Region Protectorate.
Emperor Xiaoxuan's move to establish the Protectorate in the Western Regions not only greatly expanded the territory of the Han Dynasty politically, but also had a profound impact on the Han Dynasty economically and militarily.
Under the influence of all aspects, even if there was Wang Mang's rebellion, Liu Xiu, the founder of the Han Dynasty, did not forget to restore sovereignty over the Western Regions after he unified the world.
It can be said that due to past examples, in the hearts of people all over the world, the mysterious and vast place of the Western Regions has returned to the embrace of the Han Dynasty, which is a symbol of the return of the Han Dynasty to its heyday.
But now this symbol was clearly displayed in front of Zhang Wen and Zhou Li in person, not through the mouths of others. How could this not shock them?
Even if the Cheshi Kingdom is willing to surrender to the current Han Dynasty, as the King of Cheshi is the king of a country, does it mean that there are no other ministers or members of the royal family in the Cheshi Kingdom to act as envoys?
The king of a country was so respectful to a few Han ministers. This cannot be said to mean that the Cheshi Kingdom has surrendered to the Han Dynasty. It should be said that everyone in the Cheshi Kingdom has a desire to kneel to the Han Dynasty.
How shameless!
Can you straighten your waist?
In addition to being deeply shocked, Zhang Wen and Zhou Li's thoughts couldn't help but wander away.
Now they only see King Cheshi's respect for Meng Guang, so are there any envoys or royal family members from other countries in the Western Regions in the Sifang Pavilion?
And if so, are their attitudes the same as the King of Chariots?
The answers to these two questions are what Zhang Wen and Zhou Li are eager to know now.
Meng Guang, who naturally accepted the worship of King Chaushi, did not relax his gaze on Zhang Wen and Zhou Li, and it was not difficult for Meng Guang to see some clues from their expressions.
As a famous scholar, Meng Guang is willing to answer people's questions.
As the chariot king kept bending down, Meng Guang smiled and said to Zhang Wen and Zhou Li:
"Since our army regained Anding County, Da Sima ordered General Zhang Boqi to lead his army to reopen Yumen Pass.
In the middle of the night, I sat in the tent with a candle and just thought about opening the Jade Gate again."
After reading this verse spoken by Mi Yang himself, Meng Guang's words were full of emotion.
Since Emperor Xiaohuan, the Han's control over the Western Regions has become weaker and weaker. After Dong Zhuo's Rebellion, the Han actually completely lost its sovereignty over the Western Regions.
This was a regret in the hearts of many Han men in the past?
The loss of territory is something that every passionate man in China cannot tolerate.
But then the emotion in Meng Guang's words disappeared, and a bright light appeared in Meng Guang's eyes, and he continued:
"Tiancai's Northern Expedition has not yet returned, and the Chinese people are all over the Tianshan Mountains. The country has been restored for 30,000 miles, and the spring breeze has brought back the Jade Pass."
When he read this recent poem in Chang'an City praising Mi Yang's restoration of the Western Regions, Meng Guang's face was filled with pride. At this moment, he no longer needed to remain humble!
"After the news that our army had recaptured Yumen Pass spread throughout the Western Regions, the countries in the Western Regions who received the news sent envoys to Chang'an one after another to show their willingness to pay tribute and submit."
"If I remember correctly, there are currently more than 40 envoys or royal family members from the Western Regions staying in the Sifang Pavilion."
More than forty countries?
Zhang Wen and Zhou Li were shocked again when they heard the news.
According to historical records, there were more than 30 people who claimed the country in the Western Regions at the beginning. Later, after the changes of time, the number of people claiming the country in the Western Regions reached more than 50.
On this basis, what does it mean that there are more than 40 envoys from the Western Regions staying in the Sifang Pavilion?
This means that most of the political powers in the Western Region, which covers tens of thousands of miles, are willing to submit to the current Han Dynasty.
This means that Mi Yang's ambition to establish the Sifang Pavilion has been initially achieved, and it also means that the current Han Dynasty already has the outline of his heyday!
What a grand event is this?
Zhang Wen and Zhou Li were so shocked that they were speechless.
As members of the Chinese nation, they long for such grand events.
As the courtiers of Soochow, they felt a little frightened by the great Han's achievement.
This kind of fear was far more terrifying than thousands of cavalry standing in front of them.
Seeing the shocked expressions of Zhang Wen and Zhou Li, Meng Guang stroked his beard faster and faster, but he always insisted on moderation, so Meng Guang did not continue to attack Zhang Wen and Zhou Li.
Meng Guang first asked his subordinates to welcome Zhang Wen and Zhou Li into the Sifang Pavilion and place them there. After Zhang Wen and Zhou Li left, Meng Guang set his sights on the chariot king.
Meng Guang instinctively felt a little displeased when he saw the strange attire on the chariot king.
Foreign costumes are just not as grand and gorgeous as our Chinese costumes.
However, due to his identity, Meng Guang still leaned forward slightly to help the king of chariots.
During the conversation between Meng Guang and Zhang Wen just now, the Cheshi King kept bending down because he did not receive a response from Meng Guang.
Although such a posture is physically and psychologically uncomfortable, the King of Drivers does not feel it is inappropriate at all.
Because King Cheshi knew that even if he was the Protector of the Western Regions Protectorate, his status was only roughly equal to that of a Captain in the Central Plains, not to mention that Meng Guang was one of the Nine Qings.
To put it bluntly, Meng Guang was able to accept his worship, which was regarded as giving him face.
After being helped up by Meng Guang, the Cheshi King's expression became quite reserved.
Mainly because he had never learned Han etiquette and didn't know how to start the conversation next.
But fortunately, Meng Guang knew something about Mi Yang's next plan for the Western Region, so Meng Guang didn't want to embarrass King Cheshi too much.
Meng Guang took the initiative to ask the driver Wang Dao: "Where are you going?"
With the existence of translators, it was not difficult for King Che Shi, who did not know Chinese, to communicate with Meng Guang.
Seeing Meng Guang taking the initiative to ask him, the Cheshi King was overjoyed.
He quickly and respectfully replied: "Recently, I heard that Da Sima's son occasionally felt cold and needed some herbs from outside the city as medicine.
Fortunately, with the help of the Grand Sima, I succeeded in restoring the country. Such a great deed must be repaid.
Seeing that the weather is good today, I am about to go out to look for those herbs for Da Sima’s son.”
After hearing King Cheshi's explanation and looking at the medicine bag on his entourage behind him, Meng Guang knew that he was not lying.
Although the countries in the Western Regions have average military capabilities, they are basically wealthy countries. With a little money, it is not difficult to find out this news.
But the reason why King Cheshi went out couldn't help but make Meng Guang find it a little funny.
After all, he is the king of a country, and he is willing to risk his own life to find medicine for Da Sima's son. It is indeed true that King Cheshi was given the Chinese name.
The Chinese name of King Cheshi is "Shu Aiyang", and this name is very particular.
Shu represents Yizhou, and Yang is interchangeable with the character "旸". In this way, the meaning of the three characters "Shu loves Yang" is self-evident.
Apart from anything else, the King of Car Drivers' ability to kneel and lick is truly outstanding.
"No need to go.
I am a great man with many talents, and I don’t need to take risks to get some medicinal herbs."
After saying this, Meng Guang turned around and left outside the Sifang Pavilion.
But after Meng Guang left, King Cheshi, who received Meng Guang's instructions, didn't know for a moment whether he should go back.
But after thinking for a while, he felt that it was better not to disobey Meng Guang's chariot king, so he returned to the Sifang Pavilion with his entourage dejectedly.
But after returning to the Sifang Pavilion, the King of Drivers immediately changed into another face.
When in front of Meng Guang, King Cheshi looked humble and honest, but when there was no one else around, King Cheshi's expression became solemn and suspicious.
The chariot king kept rubbing the valuable glass cup in his hand with his fingers, wondering what he was thinking.
After thinking for a long time, King Chaushi called a close confidant, gave him a lot of money, and asked him to find out the identities of the two envoys he saw outside the door.
The Cheshi King always felt that the arrival of those two people would have a big impact on the current situation in the Western Region.
As for whether this impact is good or bad, it all depends on the results of the investigation.
...
After Meng Guang left the Sifang Pavilion, he went straight to the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Since Liu Bei's death, a very interesting situation has emerged in the political landscape of the Han Dynasty.
In the posthumous edict, Liu Bei had planned three auxiliary ministers for Liu Chan, but Liu Bei did not clearly point out who among the three auxiliary ministers would be the leader.
"All major military and state affairs will be discussed jointly by the three governments and then reported to Young Master Wen."
Maybe Liu Bei couldn't make a decision, maybe Liu Bei did it intentionally. According to Liu Bei's words, the current political structure of the Han Dynasty maintains a situation in which the three palaces stand in harmony.
The three mansions are Zhuge Liang's Prime Minister's Mansion, Mi Yang's Grand Sima Mansion, and Zhang Fei's General's Mansion.
When the owners of the three palaces reach an agreement, they can achieve the historical pattern of "the palace and the palace are all integrated into one body: the government has the power to assist the government".
Judging from the series of personnel changes in the Han Dynasty in recent times, it is not difficult for others to judge that the three governments essentially have their own division of labor and check and balance each other.
For example, Mi Yang's Grand Sima Mansion was mainly responsible for the military operations of the Han Dynasty.
Zhuge Liang's prime minister was mainly responsible for the daily government affairs of the Han Dynasty.
As for Zhang Fei's General's Mansion, it controls the military power in the Gyeonggi region.
Of course, although in a broad sense, the three governments each have different power bases, many things require the cooperation of the three governments to be implemented.
They both check and balance each other, but they are inseparable from each other.
Such a power structure has never appeared in history, but it is very consistent with the national conditions of today's Han Dynasty.
At least since Liu Bei's death, everything in the Han Dynasty has been running very smoothly under this power structure.
Originally, Mi Yang had asked himself to be responsible for all matters related to welcoming the Soochow envoys, but in recent days Mi Cheng had contracted the cold, so Mi Yang Xiu Mu took care of him at home.
Therefore, after Meng Guang welcomed the Soochow envoy, he went to Zhuge Liang's Prime Minister's Mansion to resume his duties.
After hearing the news of Meng Guang's arrival from his subordinates, Zhuge Liang immediately asked his subordinates to welcome Meng Guang in.
When Meng Guang came to Zhuge Liang, Meng Guang first bowed to Zhuge Liang, and then reported to him the arrival of Zhang Wen and Zhou Yi.
After hearing Meng Guang's return, Zhuge Liang, who was buried in the papers, nodded slightly.
But Zhuge Liang saw that Meng Guang had not left after reporting the matter, so he knew that there was something that Meng Guang didn't know whether to continue reporting.
"Say it."
Zhuge Liang put down the brush in his hand and looked at Meng Guang quietly.
After getting Zhuge Liang's promise, Meng Guang just handed over and told the story of meeting King Cheshi.
Meng Guang, who has an upright personality, instinctively dislikes the flattering behavior of King Cheshi.
And Meng Guang didn't believe that the king of a country was as harmless to humans and animals as he appeared on the surface.
If this were the case, the Cheshi King should have died in the previous rebellion, and how could he have waited for the support of the Han army.
Meng Guang's report did not arouse Zhuge Liang's surprise. Instead, Zhuge Liang chuckled and said:
"Is it that Shu Aiyang?"
When Zhuge Liang mentioned this name, he couldn't hide the teasing look on his face.
Seeing that Zhuge Liang didn't seem to care much about this matter, Meng Guang didn't say anything more. After bowing to Zhuge Liang, he left the hall.
After Meng Guang left, Zhuge Liang continued to handle the government affairs in his hands.
As the number of documents on the desk continued to decrease, a silk book underneath the documents gradually emerged.
After seeing the silk letter, Zhuge Liang reached out and pulled it out.
Looking at the four big characters written on the silk book, Zhuge Liang couldn't help but think of what Mi Yang said to him a few days ago:
"If military deterrence alone is not enough, what the Han wants should not be tribute.
If you are lacking something, just take it. Why should others contribute?
Over the past hundred years, the reason why there have been many rebellions in the Western Regions is that they believe in their hearts that they are not a part of China.
They do not agree in their hearts. When the Han Dynasty is strong, they will naturally surrender. But who can guarantee that the Han Dynasty will not be in decline again in the future?
Today the sword is in our hands, and we shall be the foundation of the Chinese clan for all eternity!
Disciples don’t like the name Western Regions.”
Mi Yang's generous look that day is still fresh in Zhuge Liang's memory today.
And Zhuge Liang also remembered that after listening to Mi Yang's last words, he subconsciously asked him: "Then what kind of title do you like."
Faced with this question of his, how did Mi Yang answer him?
Four words are enough.
“Convert a territory into a state!”
Looking at the four exciting words on the silk book, Zhuge Liang couldn't help but feel hot inside.
In the heat of the day, Zhuge Liang raised the brush in his hand again, seemingly inadvertently, and approved a memorial.
The melodies read this:
"I, Pingxi General Zhang Ni, have been ordered by Grand Sima to transfer 50,000 shi of military rations to Yumen Pass!"
Most of the countries in the Western Regions surrendered, so why did Zhang Ni need so much food and grass?
The envoys from the Western Regions and the Eastern Wu envoys entered the Sifang Pavilion together, which was originally an important step that Mi Yang and Zhuge Liang had agreed upon long ago.
It’s better to build momentum than to take advantage of it!
This chapter has been completed!