During the reign of Khotan, Hotan City was undoubtedly a Buddhist city. Everything inside and outside the city was filled with the cultural atmosphere and imprint of Buddhism. Of course, this situation was greatly improved after the Kang army settled in.
changes.
The 50,000 people Liu Ye moved to Feilong Prefecture were basically nobles, craftsmen, and civilians from Hotan and its surrounding areas. Of course, there were also a large number of monks and Buddhists. They also came from the "Central Military Station" of Kangju State (by
The camps, troops, population and land directly under the royal family) transferred two camps and the tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians under their jurisdiction, and servants (essentially slaves, renamed due to political factors) were stationed to strengthen governance and control, integrate and reform customs.
In the rectification and reform of local Buddhism, Buddhists migrated and Buddhist temples were merged, which was a relatively large move, especially to enrich large temples with tens of thousands of monks for centralized management.
Lawak Temple is a well-known temple among many temples in Khotan. There are usually many believers. During this inspection, Liu Ye specially asked Liu Wenqian to accompany him to visit this famous temple and take a look. The reason is of course not Liu
Ye suddenly became interested in Buddhist teachings and wanted to listen to the sermons of the eminent monks and masters here. This was just because this Buddhist temple was renamed "Shengwang Temple" by Liu Wenqian, and an inscription was engraved on it to record Liu Ye's great achievements.
In the square and square Buddhist temple, there are bursts of Zen sounds, and the round-tower-shaped Buddhist temple is waiting respectfully and breathlessly for a group of eminent monks. There are monks and disciples of all sizes lined up beside it. However, Liu
Ye obviously looked down upon these people.
Following the worship path, passing through the statues of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and kings of heaven that shone with golden light and appeared lifelike, with different expressions, Liu Ye naturally showed no trace of awe on his face. He just told Liu Wenqian with emotion: "These Buddhist statues
The Chinese can still be used. To deal with the YSL, it is not enough to rely on weapons alone. Religious weapons must be used when they are needed. Fight poison with poison, and suppress religion with religion.
Only by fundamentally expelling the legacy of YSL from all the tribes and factions under our rule can our rule be long-lasting and stable. Only then can we truly gain a firm foothold in the Western Regions and take root for generations to come.
Just like in the past few decades, we are always worried about the counterattack of the cannibals and the Eastern Expedition of the YSL Army."
Liu Ye had always shown himself to be strong, but at this time, his tone revealed a hint of wistfulness and sadness, which surprised Liu Wenqian. However, he did not dare to neglect his father's gaze, and responded quickly: "Father's teachings,
I remember it!"
After thinking about it, Liu Wenqian reported again: "I have discussed with the state officials and Buddhist temples to send some monks to move westward and build temples there for them to preach scriptures and preach."
After hearing what he said, Liu Ye turned his head and glanced at Liu Wenqian, nodded and said: "Those who are willing to go to preach will have the fame and fortune they deserve. The government must guarantee it!"
"yes!"
Even after arriving, Liu Ye still politely met with the monks in the temple, gave some words of comfort, and enjoyed a vegetarian meal in the temple. However, from beginning to end, Liu Ye was wearing a suit of armor and was cold.
The chilling temperament and the solemn atmosphere of the temple formed a strange harmony.
Before leaving, Liu Ye pointed to the mountain gate and said that he was not worthy of the word "holy" in Shengwang Temple, and asked the temple to change its name. So, under the guidance of Wang Ming, Shengwang Temple was renamed "Mingwang Temple".
After three days of inspection, Liu Ye chose to return to Shule, preparing to embark on the long journey east to Luoyang. However, after packing and leaving, Liu Ye had to change his planned itinerary because of a piece of news.
The news came from Hezhong City in Anxi. King Wei of the Han Empire and King Liu Min of Anxi died of illness in Hezhong City (Bukhara) on November 18, the first year of Jianlong.
Since the Fifth Han-Iraqi War, under the rule of Liu Min, the Anxi Kingdom has entered a "conservative expansion" posture towards the YSL forces in West Asia. On the one hand, it has maintained a posture of "conservative expansion" towards the bordering Ghaznavids and Ziyar Kingdoms.
Under the pressure of offensive, they repeatedly invaded Persia and raided the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, but they maintained considerable restraint. Small battles often occurred but they could not afford big battles.
At the same time, Liu Min spent most of his energy on internal rectification and reform, especially the in-depth reform of the Hezhong area. In order to consolidate and strengthen his rule, Liu Min focused on political, military, economic and other aspects.
A complete set of policies and measures were implemented to establish rules for everyone from powerful generals to civilian slaves, and in the first year of Pingkang, the "Great Code" belonging to the Anxi Kingdom was officially promulgated.
There is actually no essential difference between what Liu Min did in Anxi and what Emperor Shizu did in the early and middle periods of his reign. They were both reforms, integration and innovation based on the existing system. It took decades to put it into practice.
The Han Empire became a "stitch monster" of a feudal dynasty with an autocratic monarchy. However, although the empire of Emperor Shizu had all the fundamental contradictions and problems of a feudal dynasty, the essence of its policies and governance concepts were also carried forward, and for a long period of time
Maintaining and consolidating its rule over time.
In contrast, Liu Min's Anxi Kingdom is a complete "stitch monster". It is a brand-new kingdom with contradictions and conflicts highlighted from top to bottom.
Ethnic issues, cultural issues, religious issues, institutional issues, and economic issues are all shocking sutures on this "stitch monster".
In this country, centralized power and local autonomy, feudal autocracy and slave retinue, Han culture and Central Asian culture, East Asian race and Central Asian race and even some white people, all the reasonable and unreasonable things are put together.
It is conceivable how difficult it is to integrate these contradictory people and things, make them harmonious, and put them under the rule of the kingdom. To a certain extent, it can be said that it is more difficult than what Emperor Shizu did to the Han Empire.
.
After all, although Emperor Shizu made many reforms and changes to the Han Empire, some fundamental things have not changed. The core of the empire's rule has not changed. The form has changed, and it remains true to its origin. Many policies, methods, reform regulations and measures are only means of rule.
Moreover, there are so many things that Emperor Shizu can learn from.
In contrast, Liu Min's operation in Anxi was an unprecedented "revolution". It was destined to be a difficult road. The "camp system" proposed at the end of Kaibao was the road he officially embarked on.
, the decades of Western Expeditions were a process of widening this road and overcoming obstacles. When the "Great Code" was born, Liu Min was on the road to integrating Sinicization and creating a brand new Central Asian dynasty belonging to the Han people.
A small step-by-step goal.
At least, the "Great Code" can be used as the highest legal basis for dynastic rule. It is recognized by everyone who takes it, and it is the general restraint on all classes and people of all ethnic groups under the Anxi system. Of course, this restraint is based on Liu Min's powerful power.
And it was formed just now under the shock of the military force with Han armed forces as the core under the control of the camp.
Even though the "Anxi System" created by Liu Min himself is not perfect, it is full of contradictions, sharp conflicts, and top-down opposition. If one of them is not handled well, big problems may arise.
But these do not hinder Liu Min's lofty achievements in Central and Western Asia, and the chapter of Central Asian history opened by his dedicated efforts. At the same time, the most traditional thinking is to view Liu Min as merely opening up frontiers and expanding borders.
Conquering countless lands is enough to demonstrate his illustrious martial arts.
By the first year of Jianlong, the Anxi Kingdom established by Liu Min was a large Central Asian country encompassing Zhuhai (Issyk-Kul Lake) in the east, the Aral Sea in the north, the Caspian Sea in the west, and Persia in the south. It had more than five million people.
With its population, it can organize a military power with hundreds of thousands of troops. Its existence severely dealt a blow to the development and expansion of the YSL religion in Central and Western Asia. For twenty years, it suppressed the YSL world.
Until now, its founder, Liu Min, who was called the "King of Central Asia" by the ysl world and the countries further west, finally could not withstand the invasion of time and the torture of disease, and passed away, leaving this place with regrets.
The world bid farewell to his unfinished work.
Liu Min was born in the seventh year of Qianyou (954), and he only celebrated his sixty-fourth birthday before his death. Compared with his lifelong work in state affairs and war, being able to live to this age is not considered a short life.
Due to long-term fatigue and the sequelae left by the war, Liu Min suffered from illness in the last few years of his life. This is also a very important reason why Anxi Kingdom has been relatively peaceful in the past ten years and has restrained its desire for expansion.
The reason is, after all, the lion who led them to conquer all directions is old.
Although Liu Min is gone, he has left his own glorious mark in the long history. What he left to future generations is also a strong civilized country. If the meaning is further sublimated, it is the Anxi Dynasty.
This country, with Han civilization as its core and a blend of many local cultures and customs, is a great practice of the intersection and integration of Eastern and Western civilizations in the history of Central and Western Asia, and has a major role in promoting the progress of world civilization.
I won’t talk about spoilers, but I still have to say it in advance. The Anxi Dynasty in Liu Min’s era was its peak, at least in terms of military and suppression of the ysl world. Liu Min’s era was its peak.
With Liu Min's death, where will the future of the Anxi Kingdom go, what will be the future of the Liu family's descendants, and how will the nearly 600,000 Han people survive and develop in Central Asia? These can only be determined after experiencing the erosion of historical trends.
can draw conclusions.
The city in the river is called Zhongjing in Anxi. This famous city with a long history, Xiongcheng, and the capital of the Samanid Dynasty. With the arrival of the Han people, after a series of transformations of Han system and Sinicization, it also transformed into a brand-new
His face is revealed to the world.
The mixture of bricks and wood is its architectural style, and the fusion of Han and Yi is its cultural color. Hezhong City is like a melting pot, and Liu Min is a strong and superb craftsman. After adding all the personnel elements, he smelt out a bright "
"New Hezhong Civilization".
The royal city in it is a sub-city expanded on the basis of the original Puhualuo City. It is used by the royal family, royal court, and nobles. At this moment, all the original black and red flags have fallen and been replaced by white flags and plain flags.
, whirring in the cold wind.
In the middle of the royal city is the palace city. The main hall in the middle is called Dacheng Hall. It is the most majestic palace in the entire Central Asia. It is also the place where the upper class dignitaries of Anxi discuss politics on weekdays.
However, the Dacheng Hall at this time was shrouded in a sad atmosphere. The coffin of Anxi King Liu Min was quietly placed in the center of the hall. It was crowded with people inside and outside, all wearing mourning clothes and crying.
It's just that one month after the funeral, the cries inevitably lacked some emotion.
The impact of Liu Min's death on Anxi can be seen from the death of Emperor Shizu. Therefore, in the sad atmosphere, there is inevitably a kind of mentality, and hesitant eyes are mostly directed towards a middle-aged man kneeling in front of the coffin.
The fifth son of King Liu Min of Anxi, Liu Wenze.
Liu Wenze was born in the 24th year of Kaibao (986), his mother was Concubine Kang (the daughter of the famous Kang family in Anxi, and the granddaughter of the old handsome Kang again). In the 12th year of Yongxi's reign, he was named Anhou and served successively as a subordinate of the Suiye Army.
Camp leader, defense envoy of Guocheng, prefect of Suiye, Haidong patrol officer, governor of Khorasan.
Unlike Kang State, where Liu Ye had few choices, Liu Min had plenty of heirs, with a total of eight sons. In addition to the eldest son Liu Wenmiao who died young, and the seventh son Liu Wenyi, six sons grew up. But similarly, in the choice of heir,
Basically, he did not follow the direct lineage system, but chose to choose the meritorious. However, the standard of "meritous" was judged by Liu Min himself.
With the king's attitude like this, the princes below naturally launched a fierce struggle to win the heir, and Liu Wenze was the winner. In fact, there were only two of his main competitors, the second prince, Ganhou Liu Wenli
, the third prince, Jihou Liu Wenmin, all three people have similar origins. Their maternal clans are all upper-class military aristocrats in Anxi. For example, Jihou Liu Wenmin, his mother was born in the Yang family, and the old master Yang Ye is the "Yang".
Under Liu Min's power, external factors had little impact on the choice of heirs. Everything only depended on the disciples' own performance and Liu Min's final judgment. Liu Min gave everyone the opportunity to let them live in Anxi
Within the military and political system, one can exercise through job rotation, silently observe the test, and at the same time promote competition.
Under high-intensity and heavy-pressure competition, those who failed to do well would gradually expose their shortcomings and be crossed off Liu Min's list. Although Ganhou Liu Wenli was older and had a strong personality, he was violent. Although he had strong methods, he was
But he still didn't understand the reason why he was so easy to break, he was often arrogant towards his subordinates, and he was willing to kill his slaves. When these shortcomings were exposed one by one, he was out of the game.
Followed closely was the Marquis of Ji Liu Wenmin. He was too scheming, easy to connect with others, and was good at politics, but had no military talent. This reminded Liu Min of Liu Hui, the late King of Wu. He completely lost his points.
In the first year of Duangong's reign, Liu Min fell ill. Liu Wenmin, who was stationed in Samodang at that time, did not see the king's edict, so he rushed to the river before his brothers. His intention was clearly revealed.
Although Min wants to choose a wolf king for the Anxi Kingdom, he does not pay attention to filial piety at all. Liu Wenmin's performance is too explicit and utilitarian.
Therefore, when competitors made mistakes one after another, Liu Wenze gradually stood out. Of course, the throne did not fall on him so easily. Liu Min's tests, both overt and covert, were multi-faceted and all-round. His own qualities, as well as his many years of service
The performance of Anxi's military and political leaders is the most fundamental. They may not be outstanding, but they have made some achievements and have some highlights.
In the second year of Duangong, Liu Wenze was recalled from Khorasan to the river by Liu Min. Before that, Liu Wenze had served as the governor of Khorasan for four years.
The Governor-General of Khorasan was established by Liu Min after the "Fifth World War". By the second year of Duangong, it had only a dozen towns and less than 200,000 people under its jurisdiction. However, it faced the ysl world directly, which was the world between Anxi and Ghaznavids.
Where competition is fiercest, there are conflicts every year and bloodshed every month.
This kind of complex situation and sharp contradictions are also extremely testing. During Liu Wenze's four years in office, although he did not further expand the territory, he still managed people's livelihood and developed the economy on the one hand, and on the other hand, he did not have strong support from Hezhong.
On the occasion of the war, he still withstood the overt and covert counterattacks from Ghaznavids and repelled more than ten attacks by thousands of people, including three attacks by tens of thousands of people.
After resigning from Khorasan and returning to Hezhong, Liu Wenze was appointed by Liu Min as the governor of Hezhong, recording the affairs of the Shangshu, and doing the final test. In the third year of Duangong, he went a step further, including inspections of the internal and external forbidden troops and the governor of the world.
The military camp completely established Liu Wenze's identity as heir.
Now, Liu Min has passed away, and Liu Wenze has naturally taken over the highest power in Anxi. At least the Hezhong City, the heart of the kingdom, the central government and the imperial army are under his control.
Of course, the brothers who are rushing back to the river for funerals will not be so peaceful. Before they officially succeed to the throne, there will inevitably be some disturbances. However, Liu Wenze, who has already grasped the actual power, will not be shaken as long as his head is not dizzy. Only
However, for the Anxi subjects who were accustomed to Liu Min's rule, Liu Wenze, the new king, was not so trusted after all.
In the Dacheng Hall, Liu Wenze was kneeling silently, with a deep and reserved look, his red eyes showing his sadness. An attendant hurriedly entered and whispered to him, which attracted the attention of many people.
After listening to the report, Liu Wenze quickly stood up, waved his hand, and said, "I will welcome you personally." Not long after, the answer was revealed. It was Kang Wang Liu Ye who came to express his condolences in person.
Liu Ye traveled more than two thousand miles from Shule to Hezhong, regardless of his old age and illness, and traveled day and night. His face was covered with wind and frost, and his tired look all told of his hard work.
Ignoring the dignitaries of Anxi in the palace, Liu Ye also got rid of the support of his attendants, walked slowly to the coffin, looked at the coffin, and then looked at the coffin shrouded in the smoke. His old eyes were full of sadness.
The sadness was also revealed unconsciously.
Taking the incense candle, Liu Ye solemnly bowed to the coffin. After lighting the incense, Liu Ye stared at the coffin for a long time, and then whispered sadly: "Brother Six, I have always disobeyed you. You don't want to leave like this."
Give my brother another chance to catch up."
As he spoke, strands of old tears overflowed from Liu Ye's eyes unconsciously.
When Liu Ye expressed condolences, everyone in the palace was silent and did not dare to look sideways, including Liu Wenze who also had a respectful posture. Although Liu Ye was not their king of Anxi, his identity, his achievements, and the relationship between the two countries,
It's enough to make these Anxi dignitaries look down upon them.
After standing there for a long time, Liu Ye just raised his hand and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with silk, but his red eyes were still memorable. He turned his head, looked around, and his eyes fell on Liu Wenze. Liu Ye's voice was tired and old.
: "Are you the heir apparent chosen by Brother Six?"
Upon hearing the question, Liu Wenze's heart moved, and he immediately bowed and said humbly: "My nephew Wenze, I have met Uncle Kang Wang. My father has given my nephew a huge burden, and my nephew is frightened and like walking on thin ice."
"You don't need to pretend to be humble and talk to me!" Liu Ye interrupted Liu Wenze directly, stared at him and said: "Sixth brother has his own reasons for choosing you. I only hope that you can run the country well and never forget that it is my father's ambition."
!”
After saying that, he left Liu Wenze, who was a little embarrassed, and left slowly in front of everyone. Braving the cold winter snow, he traveled two to three thousand miles and only said these two words in the Dacheng Hall. Then Liu Ye
I embarked on the journey to Luoyang, which was another hard journey of tens of thousands of miles.
At the same time, although Liu Wenze was not saved face, Liu Ye's words were obviously beneficial to his succession, which was equivalent to adding another "legal principle".