After completing his tour in Lingzhou, Emperor Liu once again faced a choice, whether to continue his western tour or return home. This tour lasted for a whole month, and it took a long time, and it also deviated from the original purpose.
From the north to Guanshan, he traveled far to the northwest.
During the camp, many of the civil and military officials who accompanied him suggested to Emperor Liu that they hope Luan Jia could return to the capital. The reasons they gave were nothing more than the following. The emperor should sit in the capital to calm the hearts of the people inside and outside, and he could not stay there for long.
Outside of Ji, let alone the emperor and the prince together.
Coupled with the remoteness of the northwest, the season has also entered the depths of winter, and the climate has become increasingly harsh, making it difficult to travel far. The locals have stayed at home to avoid the winter, and what's worse is the large group of people traveling and camping.
If we continue to travel westward to the extinct territory, the risks of the journey will also be great. If something unexpected happens to the emperor, it will definitely endanger the country and the country, and affect the stability of the country...
After these suggestions were submitted to the emperor, Emperor Liu's attitude became firmer. Due to the previous turmoil on the westward journey to Fengsheng, his first reaction was that the dignitaries and nobles who were camping were afraid of the bitter cold in the northwest.
They wanted to go back, but Emperor Liu refused to allow them and insisted on giving them a hard time. In Emperor Liu's view, the entire northwest was under the rule of the Han Dynasty, and the road ahead was smooth. In his own land, what should he be afraid of and worry about?
Their concerns were even less worth mentioning to Emperor Liu. Why should an emperor not stay outside the capital for a long time? He went on several patrols and conducted several personal expeditions. Which time did he stay shorter?
As for the winter, whether it was the southern expedition to Huainan or the northern expedition to Khitan, they survived the whole winter. No matter how bitterly cold the winter in the northwest is, can a normal patrol be more difficult and strenuous than marching to fight?
Talking about risks, in Emperor Liu's view, was nothing more than an excuse for seeking comfort. Therefore, the more the ministers objected, the more determined he became.
Furthermore, since we decided to patrol the west, we have finally reached Lingzhou. Now that we have arrived in Lingzhou, why not continue to the west and visit the Hexi Corridor?
The cost of Emperor Liu's patrol was not low at all. He didn't know if he would ever have the chance to go such a long distance again in this life. Since he had already walked half of the way, he had to grit his teeth and finish the rest of the way.
As for the entire northwest, it has only been under the rule of the Han Dynasty for a short period of time, and it is still early to talk about stability and peace. Emperor Liu paid a visit and went there in person, not only to see the scenery of the northwest, but also to realize his wish to travel across the territory.
, and even more want Enwezi to appease people's hearts. The political significance of this should also be taken into consideration.
Therefore, Emperor Liu, who had made the decision, directly issued an edict in front of a group of ministers, regardless of their helpless and bitter expressions. On November 1, the emperor set off to continue his western tour. And he decided directly to leave.
Go to the end and never look back until you reach Yangguan.
However, although the resolution was passed, practical problems still had to be faced, and the biggest problem on the western patrol was the weather. Although Emperor Liu was not afraid, and even showed an attitude of man being able to defeat the weather, he had no idea about the winter climate in the northwest.
Experienced.
Therefore, we still gave two extra days of camp time to purchase various supplies for the journey, especially supplies to keep out the cold. This matter was left to Li Ye, and a large purchase was made in Lingzhou.
, all the materials that the people had stored for the winter were purchased, and a batch of government warehouses were also requisitioned.
Although according to Emperor Liu's wishes, all transactions were paid by the camp, it also caused de facto intrusion to local officials and people. Moreover, due to the change of route to patrol the west, the cost of the camp was far beyond imagination, and the previous targets were
The budget for this tour was almost spent in Lingzhou.
It is conceivable that when we officially embark on the journey to the west, we will have to pay the local government to buy materials...
According to the edict, without any delay, they set off again on November 1, heading towards more distant territories. However, this time, not everyone was accompanying them.
Prince Liu Yang was left behind by Emperor Liu, who asked him to take his place and inspect the Longyou Road in the southwest. Among the four northwest roads, apart from the Guannai Road as the basis, Longyou Road was operated by the imperial court the longest.
After all, it was from the beginning of King Jing of the Bao Kingdom that the territory was expanded and consolidated. Coupled with the continuous encroachment and advancement in the Kaibao years, the territory expanded a large area to the west. Due to the division of Tubo, it was unable to resist. It can be said that the Han Dynasty was in Longyou
The power in the west has surpassed that of the Tang Dynasty, both in terms of territorial scope and influence. After all, there is no longer a unified and powerful opponent threatening the plateau.
Regarding the results achieved in recent years, we cannot just listen to the reports. Liu Yang, on behalf of Emperor Liu, went to inspect them and immerse himself in them to see where the limits of the Han Dynasty's territory are now.
At the same time, Liu Xiao, the eleventh son of the emperor, was also kept by Emperor Liu because Emperor Liu loved his son. Liu Xiao was only eleven years old and had always been weak. He had endured the journey for the past few months and never cried out.
It was tiring, but Emperor Liu was still worried that he would be unable to bear it if he continued to follow him, so he left him in Lingzhou to recuperate.
As for the others, they did not have this kind of treatment. They could only grit their teeth, endure the strong sand and wind from the northwest, immerse themselves in the car, and drive on in silence.
Go south from Lingzhou and proceed along the upper reaches of the Yellow River to cross the river in Zhongwei County. Zhongwei County is a major thoroughfare in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, but it has been abandoned for a long time. It is only a matter of nearly ten years since the imperial court reinstated officials to manage it. There are many ferries in the territory, which is also the case in later generations
The origin of the "Nine Crossings of the Yellow River".
After passing Zhongwei, we went straight west, along the edge of the desert, along the Great Wall, and headed towards Liangzhou. There was not much delay, and there was no interest in stopping and lingering. It was full of desolation. If it were normal, that would be fine. In this winter, the Gobi Desert
It can only make people stay away from it.
The long and narrow Hexi Corridor is filled with nothing but wind, sand, dry and cold air, and freezing temperatures, making people extremely uncomfortable. The business trips and camel caravans reported in past memorials are completely missing.
Maybe it was because of the untimely weather, but it still made Emperor Liu feel monotonous, and as the ministers reminded him, the Western Inspection was not easy.
By the time we arrived at Chenggu Zang in Liangzhou Prefecture, it was already mid-November, and the more than 8,000 people accompanying us were exhausted, nearly 30% of them were sick, and hundreds of them even died, mostly because they were not acclimatized to the climate.
, the livestock also froze to death, with a lot of frostbite...
Facts have proved that in the face of the power of nature, the power of individuals is too small. Just an ordinary climate in the northwest caused the loss of so many people in Emperor Liu's camp!
Emperor Liu himself also felt uncomfortable. He was naturally averse to cold, and with his old cold legs, even if he tried his best to keep himself warm and fed, he was actually suffering all the way.
That is to say, after arriving in Liangzhou, there were cities, houses, and cotton couches, which made him feel better. Lu Duoxun, the governor of Hexi Province, was very considerate and arranged all the affairs properly, saving a lot of money.
Trouble, Emperor Liu praised him a lot.
Emperor Liu couldn't help but associate his western tour with Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty's western expedition to Tuyuhun, and then he had to sigh that he was really a tyrant. Hundreds of thousands of people walked through Qinghai and climbed over the mountains. That was the real tyrant.
Compared with the dangerous journey in the territory and countless casualties, Emperor Liu felt that he was more rational...
However, after arriving in Liangzhou, the old question was posed in front of Emperor Liu. Should he continue walking? You must know that the straight-line distance from Guzang to Yangguan is still about 1,300 miles.
It has to be said that after personal experience, Emperor Liu still hesitated in the face of practical problems. However, if he took back his life and gave up the Western Tour, then where would his face be? Wouldn't his previous statement of "no turning back until Yangguan" be fulfilled?
Empty words, wouldn’t all the suffering and sin you endured be in vain?
However, if they continue to advance westward and camp with soldiers and accompanying them with civil and military forces, I am afraid that some troubles will arise again. Even if they dare not show it, they will always have something in mind.
At the same time, the waves of dull pain in Emperor Liu's own legs were also reminding him and discouraging him...