In April 936, the Guiyi Army agreed to form a tribute horse mission of more than 70 people, with the ambassador from the Neidu branch of Yaqian, Jia Yanchang from Jiedu Yaqian as the chief envoy, and Tong Longbian, a monk from the capital of Hexi Province, as the deputy envoy.
Dunhuang sent an envoy to the imperial court.
This mission is said to be a tribute horse, but the biggest task is to ask for Cao Yuanzhong to inspect the Situ, to observe and deal with the two prefectures of Guasha and Shazhou, and to ask for Zhang Zhao to be reinstated as the rebel envoy.
In order not to make the court suspicious, Zhang Zhao also specially selected five high-quality horses from his three generations of sweat-blooded horses and presented them to the emperor as tribute.
However, Zhang Zhao estimated that Li Congke, the late Emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty, would most likely not be able to enjoy these BMWs.
Because at the same time that Zhang Zhao sent out the tribute horse mission, Li Congke officially issued an order to transfer Hedong Jiedu envoy Shi Jingtang to Tianping Jiedu envoy, in an attempt to weaken Shi Jingtang's military power.
Shi Jingtang, of course, refused to be transferred, and even went so far as to directly accuse Li Congke of illegally taking the throne, and that he should immediately give up the throne to King Xu Li Congyi, officially kicking off the rebellion.
Eight months later, in December, Li Congke, his mother Queen Mother Cao, his wife Queen Liu, and Prince Li Chongmei set themselves on fire in Xuanwu Tower.
That's why Zhang Zhaocai gave up famous horses and treasures in order to be canonized. If he had been too late, these two positions would have been canonized by Shi Jingtang.
In particular, the position of Guiyi Army Envoy could only be canonized by the Later Tang Dynasty. The Later Tang Dynasty was also a Tang Dynasty. If an emperor like Shi Jingtang could confer it on him, how could he talk about Guiyi?
At the same time, this also has the advantage that it can help Zhang Zhao obtain the official position of Hexi Jiedushi while having the position of Guiyi Army Envoy.
If there had not been changes in the Central Plains, it would have been impossible for Zhang Zhao to concurrently serve as the military envoy to Hexi and the military envoy to Guiyi. Everyone knows how terrifying it is to have the military envoy to Guiyi in control of Hexi.
Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty once said, "It is not a good idea to send generals from Guanxi!" The land of Hexi has always been a place where famous generals have emerged in large numbers and the people have strong customs. Not only did they produce generals, but they also produced fierce soldiers.
In this place, various Qiang, Tubo, Tuyuhun and Han people live together, learning from each other, well, just learning, both culturally and physically.
This has led to the fact that the soldiers in the Hexi area are very powerful in combat, but they are not strong now. That is because no one can bring them together, especially those who can bring them together with great righteousness.
Therefore, although the Central Plains court seemed not to pay attention to Hexi and was unable to pay attention to Hexi, this was when Hexi was in chaos.
If there really were to be an envoy of the Guiyi Army whose territory was larger than that of the Hexi Jiedushi, and who would govern the eleven prefectures of Guasha, Gansu, Liangmin, Shangri-La, Kuolan, and Tao, it would be strange for the Central Plains court not to jump in.
So Zhang Zhao had to go now to ask for the title of envoy to the Guiyi Army, and the Tang court would definitely approve it. After getting the envoy to the Guiyi Army, Zhang Zhao entered Liangzhou, and then went to ask for the title of envoy to Hexi Jiedu.
At this time, the Later Tang Dynasty was estimated to be in danger. As long as Zhang Zhao chose to send the envoy before December, it could be said that he was invited by the Tang Dynasty and granted by the Jin Dynasty.
Moreover, Shi Jingtang can be sold in the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun. Yelu Deguang, who is more than ten years younger than him, can recognize his father and appoint an envoy to the Yiyi Army as the Hexi Jiedu Envoy. He probably doesn't care much.
Even if he didn't care, Zhang Zhao could immediately jump up and yell at him from the perspective of righteousness. Forgive him for his shameful and droopy eyebrows. Shi Jingtang didn't dare to say anything. You just ascended the throne and Liangzhou came to join you. What else are you thinking about?
Woolen cloth?
Before leaving, Zhang Zhao specially summoned Tong Longbian, a monk from the capital of Hexi Province. Yes, he summoned him.
Originally, monk officials such as Hexi Dusengtong and Guasa Dusengtong had special status in Hexi.
The appointment of the Dusengtong was recommended by the Buddhist sect itself and was reported to the Jiedu Envoy of the Guiyi Army. It was not appointed by the Jiedushi Envoy.
When Cao Yijin was here, he could not interfere with the appointment of Du Seng Tong, not even Zhang Yichao.
But if Zhang Zhao can do it, how many ranks of monks and officials do you have in Dusengtong? Can you be more powerful than the Dharma King?
Moreover, Zhang Zhao’s Dharma King is not only recognized by Tianzhu, Anxi and Qiangtang, but also recognized by Hexi Buddhism.
When he was crowned at the Samaro Temple, the Buddhist sects in the three states of Guasha also sent their first eminent monk to participate.
This is what Zhang Zhao deserves after defeating the Tianfang believers, regaining Shule, the center of Buddhism in Anxi, rebuilding Dayun Temple in Shule, and going to Tianzhu to protect the Dharma.
Even if he only has a few thousand people, the title of Buddhist Protector of Dharma King is well deserved, and no one dares to disagree.
Therefore, Long Bian, a monk from the capital of Hexi, was very respectful to Zhang Zhao. If you dare to prick him without respect, you must be insincere. Zhang Zhao even dared to say that Long Bian’s Buddhist teachings were false and expelled him from the monkhood.
The name Long Bian sounds like a Han Chinese, but in fact he is from Yanqi.
At that time, the Long family of Yanqi King was even one of the five surnames and three royal families of the Anxi Army.
However, after Yanqi was captured by the Tubo people, the Long family chose to surrender and were later moved to Suzhou to live in peace by the Tubo people.
Therefore, when Long Bian came in, Zhang Zhao was not surprised at all that he looked more like a Scythian.
The two chatted for a while, mainly Zhang Zhao recalling the loyalty of the five surnames and three royal families to the Tang Dynasty, and asked Bai Congxin, Xue Shouli, Pei Tongyuan and others to meet with him.
Qiuci Bai, Ningyuan Xue, Shule Pei, Yan Qilong, plus Zhang Zhao's close relationship with the Khotan Li family, the five major indigenous kings in Anxi during the prosperous period of the Tang Dynasty were all alive.
Gutou
"Since you and Du Sengtong are both members of the same family, you won't have to talk to each other anymore. We are all descendants of loyal people in the Tang Dynasty, and we should support each other.
The next day, when the dynasty is strong and the heavenly troops are sent westward, the glory of the ancestors can be restored.
Du Sengtong, the Long family is multiplying in Suzhou. Is the supply of rice, grain, meat and oil still sufficient?"
Well, in just half an hour, Zhang Zhao and Long Bian became family members.
Long Bian smiled bitterly. Now the Long family in Suzhou is divided into two parts. Upper Suzhou is attached to the Yijun army, and lower Suzhou is controlled by the Ganzhou Uighurs.
The Guiyi Army was better off, they just had to pay tribute to some cattle and sheep every year, but the Ganzhou Uighurs were different, they had been encroaching on the land of Xia Suzhou.
Suzhou was known as Jiuquan in later generations. The land was originally relatively barren. There were 50,000 to 60,000 Long family members and 30,000 to 40,000 Ganzhou Uighurs crowded here. They lived a life that could not be said to be rich and powerful, but at least it was difficult for the people to make a living.
"In response to His Majesty's words, people's livelihood in Suzhou is difficult. Ordinary people, let alone meat and fat, can eat seventy percent of their food all year round, which is considered a good year. In addition, the Uighur persecution in Ganzhou is getting worse, and it is as if they were born in a sea of misery!"
"This is because the dynasty is weakening! If it were in the past, the Uighurs in Ganzhou would have lived in the grasslands. How could they dare to occupy the state and county here? But I am already preparing to defeat the Yao Geluo family."
If you want to unite people, you must find an enemy. It just so happens that Ganzhou Uighur pigs dislike dogs.
Not only did they bully the Long family in Suzhou, they also spared Dadan in the grassland and Amo in Liangzhou.
Moreover, while Hexi is almost entirely populated by Buddhist believers, the upper class of Ganzhou Uighurs still stubbornly believe in Manichaeism, making them a natural target for taking the blame.
When it came to dealing with the Ganzhou Uighurs, Long Bian couldn't agree more and nodded in agreement, but before he could speak, Bai Congxin next to him touched his chin and said suddenly.
"Since life in Suzhou is so hard, why don't you Yanqi people return to Yanqi? I heard that the Great Sage of Khotan intends to conquer the Gaochang Uighurs, if..."
Halfway through, Bai Congxin pretended to glance at Zhang Zhao and immediately shut his mouth. Long Bian felt hot in his heart and felt as uncomfortable as ants crawling all over his body.
The general scope of Yanqi at this time was the later Bayinguoleng Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture. This was definitely a good place with abundant water, grass and fertile land in Anxi!
Kuler fragrant pears and Bosten Lake are all here, but nothing can compare with Jiuquan where Suzhou is located.
But Bai Congxin only said half of it and stopped. Long Bian couldn't ask any more questions, but he secretly remembered in his heart that it would be great if he could return to Yanqi and restore the Long family.
"His Holiness must have given instructions when he summoned the young monk. If he is given an order, he must go all out and serve him wholeheartedly!"
What Zhang Zhao wants is this effect, because what he wants Long Bian to do is very important, and he must go all out to complete it.
"A few days ago, I went to Kaiyuan Temple to worship the Buddha. I suddenly had a dream at night. In the dream, Skanda Bodhisattva told me that in Luoyang, the eastern capital, there was Yelvbei, the king of Khitan Dongdan.
Her daughter has Buddha nature and is a rare jade girl. Luoyang, the eastern capital, is going to change soon. Let me do my best to protect her!
The monks should go to Dongdu here to stay a little longer. If there is a change, they should be protected by someone. If they can be brought back to Dunhuang, that would be even better.
This matter is quite important. If you want to use gold and silver, feel free to use it! I have prepared a total of 30,000 gold!"
Although Long Bian was well prepared to be assigned a major task by Zhang Zhao, he was still stunned when he heard what Zhang Zhao said, with a constipated look on his face.
This jade girl treasure is one of the seven treasures of the Holy King of Wheels. She is a stunningly beautiful woman with Buddha nature.
If other people asked him, Du Sengtong, to help get a woman, Long Bian could jump up and knock his head off.
But what the Holy King of Chakravartin said must be carried out. Bai Congxin, who was standing aside, almost laughed out loud and asked a highly respected Du Sengtong to find a woman for him. Only Dharma King Zhang could do it.
Zhang Zhaoze smiled proudly, you know nothing about me, you can understand my vision, who is this Dongdan King Yelvbei? That is the eldest son of Yelu Abaoji!
Because he was more inclined to Chinese culture, he was squeezed out of the throne by his younger brother Yelu Deguang. In the end, he had no choice but to flee to the Central Plains.
But he had a special status! He was supposed to be the emperor of the Liao Kingdom, and Yelu Bei's son Yelu Ruan later returned to the Liao Kingdom and became emperor, as Shizong of Liao.
If we take the opportunity at this time to get Yelu Abaoji's granddaughter and the future Liao Shizong's sister, wouldn't it be in the name of interfering in the internal affairs of the Liao Kingdom?
Of course, it is of little use when the Central Plains is weak, but what if the Central Plains becomes stronger?
Moreover, decades later, Yelv Ruan, Shizong of the Liao Dynasty, was killed by the clan Yelvcha, and his whole family died. The throne finally fell into the hands of Yelu Jing, Muzong of the Liao Dynasty because there was no heir.
What if at this time, the Emperor of the Central Plains sent Yelu Ruan’s nephew to intervene? Nothing is impossible!
When Zhang Zhao's fist is big enough, this will be his best chance to control the Khitans.
