Chapter 177 Gao Xianzhi’s Advice

Before dawn, Li Qing opened her eyes and had a quilt on her body. It seemed that Li Jingyan had been covered by himself at night. The room was very quiet. You could hear Li Jingyan's even breathing sound from the inner room. She was sleeping sweetly. Although there was no door in the inner room and the outer room, and there was not even a curtain, Li Qing had a door in his heart, put on his clothes. He tiptoed out and gently brought the door, for fear of waking up her sweet dream.

There was no one in the yard, and there was already noise from the kitchen. Someone got up to cook. The air was fresh and cold. In the royal blue night sky, the stars were still blinking tirelessly. Li Qing stretched his waist long, his heart full of ease and pleasure.

It was getting darker and the inn lobby was filled with soldiers who were having breakfast. Li Qing and several officers sat at a table and tasted a bowl of thick mutton soup with delicious taste. Although there were many movies in later generations that saw how the superiors were making a piece of together with the soldiers, sleeping on one bed and eating on the other table, it was just a show. It was possible occasionally once or twice, but it could not be done every day, otherwise it would lose its power. The army was talking about the strict hierarchy and the way to lead the army.

Although nearly three hundred people were crowded together, the living room was very quiet, without noise or speaking. Everyone was eating the food in front of them silently. At this time, a sound of horse hooves came from the door, followed by tight footsteps, and Gao Shi's anxious and depressed face appeared at the door, "Where is the governor?"

Gao Shi was the pioneer who sent Li Qing to find Gao Xianzhi's tone first. He had traveled to the Western Regions and had a relationship with Gao Xianzhi. He also wanted to join his tent. Although his surname was Gao, Gao Xianzhi looked down on him. This time he came on behalf of Li Qing, and Gao Xianzhi also politely received him. However, before he finished speaking, Gao Xianzhi left and left a heavy sentence: "Please go back and tell Governor Li that since he has a crush on my soldiers, he will tell the emperor that he doesn't have to come to me!"

Li Qing took Gao Shi to his room, poured Gao Shi a cup of tea, handed it to him and smiled, "Are you saying Gao Xianzhi refused to see me?"

Gao Shi covered the teacup with both hands, letting the cold hands feel the hot cup wall, and sucked a sip of the tea carefully, then slowly said: "I went to the Grand Marshal's Mansion yesterday morning and handed over the famous post first. He immediately received me, but when the governor did not bring Anxijun, he immediately turned his face."

Speaking of this, he sighed again, "Governor, it seems that the emperor has issued an order to him, but he is unwilling to accept it!"

Gao Xianzhi's attitude was within Li Qing's expectations. The Anxi Army had only 24,000 people in total, and he lent 3,000 people to him at once. And he was his elite. If Liu Bei borrowed Jingzhou, would Sun Quan be happy?

Li Qing smiled indifferently and asked again: "Where is Zhan Dao? Where is he? Why don't you come to see me?"

"He has no face to see you, so he has already returned to Shazhou first."

Li Qing smiled slightly and said, "What do you think I am a cook if you have salt or not? "

He stood up and ordered his personal soldiers to prepare horses. Gao Shi was surprised and advised: "Governor, he has said nothing. According to my opinion, since the emperor has the will, he will not dare to obey. Anyway, the Governor has come to Kucha and has also made a reconciliation posture. It is better to compile a letter first. If he is willing to see him, he will naturally send someone to invite him. If he doesn't see him, we will also return to Shazhou to avoid looking at people's faces."

Li Qing shook his head gently, "If you just apologize, your suggestions would be good, but I would like to ask Gao Xianzhi to borrow a thousand troops, so I have to check his face."

He strode to the entrance of the inn. The personal soldiers were ready to go. Li Qing asked for the way, turned over the horse, and under the escort of more than a dozen personal soldiers, he rushed straight towards Gao Xianzhi's official office.

Gao Xianzhi's official office is in the north of Kucha City. It takes a cup of tea to ride a horse. There are people coming and going on the streets. The lively wine shops and restaurants at night have been closed, but various shops are next to each other. The jewelry shops are filled with pearls, agate, and crystals; spices, drug stores, and carpet shops opened by Persian merchants; dark-skinned Indians and real lascivious gem shops opened by the real las; but more silk, porcelain, tea from the Central Plains, and the goods in every shop are full of dazzling.

At this time, there was a chaos behind him. From a distance, someone shouted: "Flash road, emergency military information!" Passers-by stumbled and hid aside, and saw six horses as powerful as thunder. The sound of thick and heavy horse hooves hit the ground, and the strong wind rushed towards him. The three soldiers immediately carried their bags and whipped the war horses desperately. The eyes of the people and horses were staring blood red, like demons and madness. This was an 800-mile rush. The letter was one minute late. The sender would be killed!

Li Qing quickly pulled the reins and flashed to the side. Six horses rushed past him at a glance. The wind brought about by the wind made his face hurt, but he was secretly surprised, "Emergency military situation? Is it because the Tubo war started?" His suspicion arose, and he plucked the war horse and chased him in the direction where the messenger disappeared.

If there are any historical celebrities in the two peninsula countries in the northeast, besides Li Shunchen, it is Gao Xianzhi, but Gao Xianzhi has long been a native of the Tang Dynasty.

Gao Xianzhi, a descendant of the Goguryeo royal family. In the first year of Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty destroyed Goguryeo and moved the Goguryeo royal family to the Central Plains. Gao Xianzhi's grandfather was also moved to Chang'an. When he was twenty years old, he inherited his father's honor as a guerrilla general. Later, he served in the Western Regions. He was favored by Meng Chaling, the protector of Anxi, and was gradually promoted. At this time, he served as the deputy protector of Anxi, the commander of the four towns of Anxi, and the real power of the Anxi Army.

During the Tang Dynasty factional struggle, he was classified as a princeling because of his husband Meng Chaling. However, in fact, he always maintained a close attitude towards Prince Li Heng and rarely returned to Chang'an. Even Wei Jian, the core figure of the princeling, privately admitted that Gao Xianzhi was not the prince's person. Gao Xianzhi himself felt like a mirror in his heart. Throughout the dynasties, military power was always in the hands of the emperor. Only by firmly loyal to the emperor can his career be smooth.

At this moment, the lord of Anxi was gently stroking his long beard and leaning on his chair to read the emergency military situation sent by Chang'an. Tubo Zan Puchi Dezuzan sent Lumangbuzhi as the main general to increase troops to Shibao City on the grounds that the Tang Dynasty crossed the border in Shazhou. He also sent his nephew Tuyuhun to lead an army of 20,000 to the Jiuqu area to support Shibao City from the side. Huangfu Weiming, the governor of Longyou of the Tang Dynasty, also sent 50,000 troops to order the deputy general Chu Zhilian to attack Shibao City as the vanguard. The Longyou battle between Tang Tu had already begun.

Li Longji ordered the Hexi Jiedu Prefecture and the Anxi Jiedu Prefecture (note: the four towns in Anxi are the main body, which are smaller than the jurisdiction of the Anxi Protectorate) to take stricter guard against Tubo's two fronts.

Gao Xianzhi gently folded the general's report and put it on the table. A trace of worry appeared in his eyes. He had heard Wang Zhongsi say that Shibao City was natural danger, and one man was at the pass, and tens of thousands of men could not open. Only a few hundred people could resist tens of thousands of people siege the city. Since the foreign army sent 40,000 reinforcements, their purpose was definitely not as simple as defending Shibao City. They would inevitably attack the Longyou area. Huangfu Weiming was a little anxious. What's wrong with luring the enemy deep into Longyou and then closing the door to fight the dog, but he insisted on attacking the strong city. It was really unwise to use his own shortcomings to touch the enemy's strengths. Even if he wanted to siege the city and fight for assistance, the enemy and us were evenly matched. If one was not properly deployed, he would be very likely to be attacked inside and outside.

"Well, let's take care of your own affairs!"

Gao Xianzhi sighed and returned to Anxi defense. If Tubo attacked Anxi, he would definitely take Boxian Town and Shicheng Town first. He picked up his pen and wrote the four words "Boxian" and "Shicheng" on paper. After pondering, he casually wrote the three words "Feng Changqing". These two military towns must focus on defense. The generals of the leaders should be Feng Changqing, who is familiar with the situation of the two towns, but the soldiers seemed to be unable to be allocated. Thinking of this, Gao Xianzhi couldn't help but feel annoyed. If Li Siye was there, he would be the deputy general and lead the three thousand elite front troops to defend the two towns, but now, this best plan is gone.

All the soldiers and generals were borrowed by the Shazhou Governor Li Qing, and they borrowed one but did not return it. It was a serious crime to transfer troops across regions privately. If it weren't for the emperor's confidant eunuch Bian Lingcheng, if it weren't for the damn horse bandits, if it weren't for the mysterious reduction of troops from Doulu Army, he would never have borrowed troops. He thought he would have returned it at most a month, but a hint of hatred flashed in Gao Xianzhi's eyes, and the pen in his hand was broken by him with a "click".

At this time, a personal soldier at the door reported: "Shazhou Governor Li Qing is outside asking for a meeting with the general!"

"He actually dares to come to see me?"

Gao Xianzhi stood up suddenly, waved his hand hard, and scolded: "I won't see you!"

But just as the personal soldiers were about to leave, Gao Xianzhi's angry face had already calmed down a little, and he called the personal soldiers and said, "Take him to the small living room, entertain him with good tea, tell him that I am in the hospitality and ask him to wait."

In the small living room, Li Qingzheng looked at Gao Xianzhi's official residence with his hands behind his back. His official residence was not luxurious, but the workmanship and materials of the house were very exquisite. Like his own mansion, it was also made of good bluestone. It seemed to be the property left by a noble family in Kucha. The one who was most impressed by the most was green. In the autumn when thousands of trees were withering, only in Gao Xianzhi's mansion could he see the pleasing green. In the Central Plains, the green that was already tired of seeing in Li Qing was now stunning.

The layout of the small living room is also simple and elegant. There is a large rosewood marble case in the middle. There is only a horizontal knife on the case. The scabbard made of shark skin is yellow and old. It seems that it is a bit old. Next to it are two square and wide chairs. There are small tables with tea cups next to the chair. There are a large celadon vase behind each chair, with a full of autumn chrysanthemums that have not yet bloomed. There are two 16 nanmu junction chairs. The walls are painted white and there are several pictures of "Solemn Desert Smoke" or "Three Friends of the Cold" that matches the horizontal knife, which is quite murderous and radiant.

Li Qing waited for a long time, but he did not see Gao Xianzhi coming out. He was not in a hurry, and only tasted water after water in the cup of tea. Finally, it was not until the cup of tea was lighter than clear water that he saw someone appear at the door. He saw that he was about fifties, not tall, but very symmetrical, with a straight waist, and agile walking like a cat. Looking at his face, his skin was smooth, without a trace of wrinkles, a wisp of black beard was graceful and elegant, with a serious and calm eyes. This was Gao Xianzhi, the famous general of the Tang Dynasty. He was a famous handsome man when he was young, but now he has grown this year, but he has a bit of mature charm.

He had been here for a long time and had been observing Li Qing. He had been hanging him for half an hour, but he was still not anxious or irritable, leisurely and calm. Although he was young, his cultivation skills were very great, which made Gao Xianzhi secretly admire him.

As he stepped into the door, Gao Xianzhi laughed and said, "It is inconvenient for him to have guests, so Governor Li has been waiting for a long time."

Gao Xianzhi's official position is the deputy governor. Although the rank is third, he was also named the general of the army. This is a second-rank scattered official. In addition, he holds real power in Anxi. No matter in terms of age, qualifications, prestige, or highest official rank, he is Li Qing's old senior. Li Qing dared not neglect and stepped forward to salute Gao Xianzhi, "Li Qing in Shazhou has seen Gao Damao!"

Gao Xianzhi smiled and received a gust from him, and waved her hand, "General Li, please sit down!"

A personal soldier served tea for the two of them again. Gao Xianzhi picked up the teacup, blew it, and sucked it slowly, then said lightly: "Governor Li came, but I'm here to return it to my son?"

Li Qing shook his head and said apologetically: "Low after Li Qing took office in Shazhou, he found that most of the Doulu army in Shazhou were taken away by Huangfu Jiedu to prepare for Longyou. Shazhou was almost unprepared. In addition, the horse bandits were rampant, so Li Qing had no choice but to borrow troops from the general. Unexpectedly, as soon as the troops arrived, the Tubo people arrived. Thanks to Anxierlang's bravery and good fighting, he barely repelled the Tubo people. However, the Tubo people may come again at any time, and there was no time to train them again, so he asked His Majesty to keep this part of the Anxi army in Shazhou for a while. Li Qing had no choice but to come to Anxi to apologize to the general."

Li Qing's words were long as Gao Xianzhi expected, but Li Longji had issued an order to mobilize troops. He could not say that Anxi Army was his private army! He could show his face to Gao Shi and drove out of the mansion, but he did not dare to say that Li Qing was a rising star among the princelings. Not to mention that he was a third-ranked rank so young, and it was not mainly the last time that the emperor rewarded four people in total. As a lower-level governor, Li Qing was also among them, which made him think twice about the mystery in the middle.

Moreover, Li Qing had sufficient reasons to defend against Tubo, which made him even more speechless. If Tubo occupied Shazhou, it would be like cutting off the ties between Anxi and the Central Plains. Gao Xianzhi was a smart man. Since the tree had already been completed, there was no need to blame the person who cut down trees.

Shazhou belongs to the Hexi Jiedu Prefecture in name, but in fact it is the gateway to Anxi, just like Russia in later generations. It is a European country, but most of it is in Asia, and the same is true for Shazhou. Its military and political center is in Dunhuang, the northernmost part of the Hexi Corridor, but its western border is already bordered by Yanqi Town. Its southwest even includes Qiemo City. If Gao Xianzhi gets into a feud with Li Qing, it will be like Gao Xianzhi's throat is inflamed. Li Qing can hold Gao Xianzhi's throat at any time. He also knows this well, so he came to Kucha to negotiate with Gao Xianzhi with confidence.

"Since the court has issued an order to dispatch troops, Governor Li will accept my Anxi army. Why bother traveling thousands of miles to Anxi to explain to me?"

Seeing that his smile was dry, Li Qing knew that he was unwilling to accept it, so he stood up and bowed deeply to Gao Xianzhi, saying, "Li Qing came to pay homage to the general, one was to apologize to the general, and the other was to ask the general for advice on how to use troops. In the last battle of Shazhou, although Li Qing won by chance, he also lost more than a thousand men, especially the archers, and the losses were heavy. I am really ashamed. Please teach me!"

Gao Xianzhi was speechless and said slowly for a long time: "That Iron Blade Sinuolu is also a famous general. Although he is stronger than defending the city, it is remarkable that Governor Li can defeat him with less and more, especially taking the initiative to defend the enemy outside the country. It can be seen that Governor Li is not bound by rules, so that those who are generals should do so.

But then again, Governor Li did win by chance. He had no genius in command before the battle. He had to accumulate experience by fighting each battle, but his strategy required a few geniuses. I have a sentence for Governor Li, which is my personal brief opinion."

Li Qing was excited and bowed and said, "Master, please speak, Li Qingxi listened attentively."

Gao Xianzhi smiled slightly, stroked her long beard lightly, and said slowly: "Seventh part conspiracy, three third part conspiracy, if used alternately, the ghosts and gods will be unpredictable."

Speaking of this, Gao Xianzhi took out a military information from his arms and handed it to Li Qing: "I originally wanted to keep Governor Li in Kucha for a few more days, but the war in Longyou has begun. It is estimated that the court's urgent news has also arrived in Shazhou, so I will not keep Governor Li."

This is the eight hundred miles I saw on the road just now. After hesitating, Li Qing said, "I also know that the Anxi army has not many troops, so it is really difficult to speak. However, the war between the Tang and Tibet has begun, so I cannot watch it. So I want to ask the general again to borrow a thousand crossbowmen, which is my personal acceptance of the general's favor. After this battle against Tubo, I will definitely return it!"

"private?"

Gao Xianzhi's eyes slowly narrowed into a slit. Of course he understood what Li Qing meant. This was different from the previous time. It was a transaction between the two of them. Li Siye said that he cherished his troops as much as his life. That was only from the perspective of the public and from his own perspective, but Li Qing knew that Gao Xianzhi was also a veteran in the officialdom for a long time. As long as there was a exchange of interests, how could he refuse to borrow troops?

Li Qing nodded slowly, "Yes, I borrowed it in my personal name and has nothing to do with the court."

"What if I don't lend it?" Gao Xianzhi asked without saying a word. He stared at Li Qing tightly, with a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes.

Li Qing smiled faintly, pointed to the knife on the table and said, "This knife looks old and no different from the ordinary horizontal sword, and is even worse than it is. But I believe no one dares to underestimate it, because it is placed in the living room of the Anxi Protectorate."

Speaking of this, Li Qing stood up and bowed to Gao Xianzhi, and smiled and said, "Thank you for your advice and thank you for your good tea. As the Marshal said, the war has begun, and I have to go back!"
Chapter completed!