Due to the dual political and military needs, the Western Han Dynasty established the Western Regions Protectorate to govern the vassal states in the Western Regions. When the power was at its greatest, it could even appoint or remove the kings of the Western Regions at will.
Just because it was too far away from the Central Plains, the influence of the Central Plains Dynasty ended here. The establishment of the Protectorate was intermittent, and the conquest of the countries in the Western Regions could not be completed.
As the Central Plains dynasties changed, the influence of the Central Plains dynasties also rose and fell like the tide, and the countries in the Western Regions had nothing to do about it.
From time to time, the Central Plains people in the east would rush out of Yumenguan and beat them up. Everyone had no way to resist and could only kneel down and kowtow. However, within a few years, there was no movement there again.
In addition, the rise of Xiongnu, Rouran, Turks and other grassland tribes also came to the Western Regions to join in the fun.
In addition, the west is not peaceful, and the smoke and dust blowing from the Gobi desert will spread to the countries in the western region from time to time.
Therefore, it seems that the world that the Central Plains people call the Western Region has never had a peaceful life since its birth. People sing and I come on stage, and they never stop.
The Protectorate Palace was the product of the Central Plains Dynasty's unification of the countries in the Western Regions. When the Central Plains Dynasty was strong, the power of the Protectorate Palace was stabilized. When the Central Plains Dynasty was weak, the Protectorate Palace was just a decoration, or even a decoration.
Then it disappeared.
The functions of the Protectorate are definitely not the same as those of local government, but they are not the same as the vassal towns and princes who are integrated with military and government.
Probably somewhere in between.
His authority comes entirely from the central dynasty behind him. The position of Protector is actually not a good position, but if you want to be a Protector, you must be a confidant of the emperor, or simply a member of the royal family.
And since these people have such status, they will naturally not be willing to do anything to protect the general.
Therefore, this position has always been difficult to obtain. The Donghai Protectorate is a typical example. It has been established for more than a year. It seems that the Donghai Protectorate has begun to operate, but the chief protector of the Donghai Protectorate has not yet disappeared.
…………
Speaking of which, Li Nian's status is suitable. He is a relative, a general, and a founding father. His qualifications and status are completely sufficient, but he himself is definitely not willing.
Moreover, Liu Chaozong's proposal was very sudden and the timing seemed wrong, making Li Nian extremely suspicious.
"It shouldn't be Liu Langzhong who comes to ask me about this, right?"
Liu Chaozong smiled wilfully and said, "Chaozong is just a messenger. General, don't worry about it. This is Governor Li's intention. After Goguryeo is pacified, a protective palace must be set up in the court.
The governor thinks that the general can compete. In addition to sharing the worries of the court, he may also have the intention of letting the general go further. I don't want to ask more.
The governor trusted Chaozong, so he asked Chaozong to pass on the message. If the general has anything to say, I will report it to the governor truthfully."
Li Nian said in surprise: "The doctor and the governor are..."
Liu Chaozong nodded, "I am from Xiangyang. When the Governor was in charge of Jingxiang, he took good care of the Liu family. I have been away from home for many years. A few years ago, I returned to my hometown to visit relatives and went to Jiangling to meet Governor Li..."
Li Nian didn't know that this guy fell ill when he returned home, and his reputation in Xiangyang was extremely bad. Later, Li Jing heard about this and publicized the name of the righteous man who assassinated Zhu Can in the Jingxiang area.
Although the effect was not big, it was a piece of cake for Li Jing. In fact, the purpose was not to clear the names of Liu Chaozong and others, but to show kindness to the people of Jingxiang. However, Liu Chaozong was very grateful. After Liu Chaozong returned to Chang'an, he also specially
I went to Li Jing's house and paid my respects once.
…………
Seeing Li Nian's silence, Liu Chaozong knew that he had to think about it, and he was probably even more unwilling to do so.
In the end, he just said, "The general has accomplished hundreds of battles, but others may not be any worse than the general. It's just that the general's status is different, and it is his duty to share your majesty's worries.
Moreover, having served as the Protector-General for two terms, my future will be limitless after returning to the imperial court."
Li Nian was tangled in his heart, and in the end he could only smile and said: "It's too early to say this now. It won't be too late to talk to my uncle when I go back to Pyongyang."
Liu Chaozong nodded. This matter was almost Li's family matter. Anyway, he had already brought it and said everything that needed to be said. The final outcome had nothing to do with him.
His current task was to help General Li find the Goguryeo people in the mountains and forests, not to think about the selection of the Protector.
Half a month later, the Tang army in Baiyan City received good news from the front. The Tang army defeated the main force of Goguryeo's Shunnu tribe on the bank of Caiyang Lake, killing 20,000 to 30,000 Goguryeo soldiers and civilians, and won a great victory.
By the way, it also brings an end to this year's war.
In addition to being prepared for Goguryeo counterattacks or sporadic sneak attacks, the Tang army will not conduct any large-scale military operations this winter.
By this time, the Tang army had beaten Goguryeo to pieces, captured Pyongyang City, and captured the King of Goguryeo and many Goguryeo nobles.
The remaining forces of Goguryeo were no longer able to organize a large army that could confront the Tang army head-on. It can be said that the established strategic goal was generally achieved.
…………
In early November of the sixth year of Yuanzhen in the Tang Dynasty, good news reached Chang'an. A few days later, King Jindeman of Silla and his entourage also arrived.
Although Li Jing made it clear in the victory report that the war was not over yet, the tribes in eastern Goguryeo were still resisting in the mountains, and troops would not be sent out to annihilate them until next year.
But as soon as the good news arrived in Chang'an, the news of the attack on Goguryeo quickly spread both inside and outside the court.
In the past six years, the Tang Dynasty experienced wars to annihilate the princes, as well as a series of conquests against Tubo, Baekje, Japan, and Linyi.
But compared to the war with Goguryeo, except for the war to unify the world, nothing else can be compared.
The Battle of Goguryeo had special significance for the Central Plains Dynasty. A lot has been said about this, and there is no need to elaborate further.
Being able to destroy Goguryeo would greatly boost the morale and cohesion of the people of the Tang Dynasty on the level of national sentiment.
In other words, this was not an ordinary war to destroy the country, but a great achievement that had not been completed in all dynasties for hundreds of years.
At the national level, Datang eliminated a stubborn opponent, which was no less significant than pressing the Turks to the ground and rubbing them.
The news first spread in Chang'an, which shocked both the government and the public, and the whole city celebrated with more excitement than any other festival.
Then it spread like ripples throughout the Tang Dynasty. Even in the cold winter, the delivery of this great news could not be hindered.
So at the end of the sixth year of Yuanzhen, documents congratulating victory from ministers from all over the country flew like snowflakes to the capital Chang'an. This was the best New Year's gift. The whole country of Tang Dynasty rejoiced and everyone praised it.
In such a situation, we actually have to thank Yang Guang for his help.
At that time, Yang Guang gathered millions of people to conquer Goguryeo with a great momentum that was unprecedented in ancient times. The commotion was known to everyone and the whole world was in an uproar.
The name of Goguryeo has become well-known to people all over the world, and even old men in the countryside can say a few words about it, because everyone in the world was hurt by Yang Guang's conquest of Liaodong, and their memories are even more profound.
Now suddenly, the Tang Dynasty wiped out those bastards in Goguryeo, and the breath that had been blocked in people's hearts was released.
In another time and space, the grand scene described by Li Shimin when he conquered Goguryeo was definitely exaggerated, but it also reflected people's hatred for Goguryeo to some extent.
Therefore, this piece of news alone raised the people's recognition of the Tang Dynasty to a higher level. It can be said that the people's morale was exciting and unprecedented.
As for how much manpower and material resources the Tang Dynasty spent on this, how long it took to carefully arrange it, and what impact it will have in the future, ordinary people will not care. They only know that the Tang Dynasty destroyed Goguryeo and avenged everyone.
, this is enough.
Many people took out all the things they had prepared for the New Year. There were many people burning incense and praying, and there were countless people offering condolences to the deceased.
In the war against Goguryeo, too many people died.
The people of Shandong shed blood, the people of Henan and Hebei were used as cannon fodder, the people of Jin were conscripted with the army, the people of Guanxi suffered many casualties, the people of Shu were tortured to the point of death by taxes, the warriors of the Jianghuai River shed blood and tears, and the civilian husbands of the counties in the south of the Yangtze River were recruited
Most of them never come back.
Otherwise, the song "Wandering to Liaodong without Direction" would not have been sung all over the world as soon as it appeared, and everyone in the world would regard Liaodong as a fearful road.
…………
The subjects were so happy, and as the emperor Li Po also let go of his hanging heart, it could be said that he felt relaxed.
Li Jing was still the same Li Jing. It was not because he became the emperor that famous generals like Li Jing in the early Tang Dynasty lost their control. They defeated the Japanese country in one move and attacked Goguryeo neatly.
I am very happy to have such an old father-in-law, and I don’t have any worries about having great achievements. It’s not bad.
It seems a little too late to reward merit at the end of this year, but we can't chill the hearts of the soldiers at the front, so let's reward them with something practical first, such as gold, silver, silk and satin, fertile farmland and fertile soil.
Wait until next year when the central government and the Central Committee have discussed it, and then we will give officers and soldiers at the front ranks.
Thinking of this, Li Po couldn't help but feel a little sad. He had fought a war in the East China Sea for several years, and the expenses were like water, but the actual benefits were not much.
Especially in the battle against Goguryeo, the money and food expenditure exceeded expectations, wiping out more than half of the wealth that Datang had accumulated over the years.
In addition, Datang is engaged in infrastructure construction, most of which are expenditures from the national treasury, and are all done with long-term plans, without any immediate gains.
Calculating it this way, what he told his wife before that the granaries were starving to death was not just a joke. The actual situation was indeed not optimistic.
Nowadays, awarding meritorious soldiers is another expense, which makes Li Po less happy.
Alas, the agricultural empire is so helpless. After many years of accumulation, maybe after a war, regardless of victory or defeat, it will make people feel like crying without tears.
Fortunately, it was a quick victory, otherwise if it had dragged on for a year and a half, Li Po would have been unable to do anything but spread his hands.
