Zheng Rentai, was given the title of Duke of Tong'an County and the governor of Liangzhou.
The so-called "Captain of Liangzhou" does not mean that he is only responsible for the troops in the surrounding area of Liangzhou. In fact, Zheng Rentai also commanded the military affairs of the six states of Gansu, Liangsu, Yinguasha, and almost all the gates to the west of the Tang Dynasty were guarded by him and his generals.
This Duke Zheng was a great general. He participated in the Xuanwu Gate Revolution in the early stage, served as Li Ji's deputy in the middle stage, and conquered Goguryeo in the 21st year of Zhenguan. In the later stage, he served as the commander-in-chief, with Xue Rengui as his deputy, in the northern campaign against Tiele Jiu.
He was a veteran of the same generation as Li Ji with a lifetime of great military exploits and cruelty.
If the military power of the Tang Dynasty was able to intimidate the world, it was all supported by many nuclear bomb-level veterans, then Zheng Rentai was undoubtedly one of the nuclear bombs of the Tang Dynasty.
When a famous general from his grandfather's generation came to visit, Li Qinzai did not dare to neglect him at all. He immediately tidied up his clothes and hurried out to greet him.
When you walk out of the gate of the Governor's Mansion, you should salute without saying a word, with a good posture and no shortage of etiquette.
"My dear, pay homage to Grandpa Zheng." Li Qinzai saluted respectfully.
Zheng Rentai stood outside the door with his hands folded. Seeing Li Qinzai's thoughtful etiquette, Zheng Rentai laughed and held him up with one hand.
"I've heard long ago that the grandson of Ying Gong is a great person. I just hate that I have been out guarding the border all year round. It's rare to see him. But I saw him today. The rumors are true. He is a thousand times better than my incompetent grandson."
Li Qinzai said humbly: "Grandpa Zheng is so ridiculous that I can't bear it."
Zheng Rentai nodded and said: "Among the gangsters of your generation in Chang'an City, you are the most promising one, not bad!"
After a pause, Zheng Rentai said again: "It's a pity that your body is a little weak and you are not a general. If the wind and sand outside the wall are a little stronger, I might blow you away, let alone go into battle to kill the enemy. Your grandfather is also a famous general in the world. Why not stretch your muscles while you are young?"
Li Qinzai grinned: "Yes, there are knockdowns, but there are really no beatings..."
Zheng Rentai frowned: "That can't be done. Once the ancestor is a hero, you should inherit the ancestor's legacy and become an enemy of ten thousand people."
Li Qinzai was about to speak but stopped.
The old man's ideas are simple and stubborn. A grandson should be like a grandpa. It would be unfilial to live a different life.
How to reason with him?
Zheng Rentai said again: "The emperor has appointed you as his envoy this time. After the incident, you will stay in Ganliang for a while. I will personally beat you up on your grandfather's behalf and make you a body of tendon meat to make your grandfather happy."
Li Qinzai felt a chill go down his back.
This is still a Tang Dynasty version of a fitness coach...
Speaking of the relationship between Li Ji and Zheng Rentai, they are indeed relatively close. In the 21st year of Zhenguan, the Tang Dynasty conquered Goguryeo. At that time, Li Ji was the general manager of the march in Liaodong Road and Zheng Rentai was the deputy general manager. The revolutionary friendship between the two began around that time. He remained steadfast.
But... there is no need to put my revolutionary friendship at risk. I will be fine when I go on my mission to Tuyuhun, but you will be tortured to death by working out and building muscles. Will I be considered a martyr at that time, or will my death be in vain?
"Grandpa Zheng, let's get down to business. It's time to get down to business. The military situation is urgent." Li Qinzai hurriedly changed the subject.
Zheng Rentai sneered: "What the hell, do you think I'm deaf and blind? As soon as I entered Liangzhou City, I sent troops to rob Tuyuhun. I'm quite capable, but my bastard temperament hasn't changed at all."
Li Qinzai said with a smile: "It was purely an accident. By the way, the boy's subordinates have no future. They not only robbed cattle and sheep from Tyuhun, but also robbed hundreds of girls. If Grandpa Zheng is interested, you can choose first. If you like the ones you like,
Just take it away as a token of filial piety to Grandpa Zheng."
Zheng Rentai smiled and scolded: "I am over sixty years old, do you plan to let me rest in peace in Liangzhou?"
"No, Grandpa Zheng misunderstood. You have been guarding the border all year round, so you should have a few smart people around you who know what is cold and what is hot. The army is full of vulgar warriors, so serving you will inevitably be rough. Wouldn't it be appropriate to have a few girls by your side?
?”
Zheng Rentai laughed: "I am in charge of the troops of six states. Isn't it easy for me to have a few girls to serve me?"
"Okay, let's get down to business. The emperor has asked you to go as envoy to Tuyuhun. When do you plan to enter the country?"
Li Qinzai thought for a while and said: "The battle between Tubo and Tuyuhun is going on now. I plan to let them fight for a while longer. After all, dogs bite dogs. A few more bites will not be a bad thing for the Tang Dynasty."
Zheng Rentai smiled and said: "Yes, dog bites dog, and neither side is a good thing, but if the Tang Dynasty wants to profit from it and control Tuyuhun, it is best to send the envoy as soon as possible..."
As he spoke, Zheng Rentai gradually became serious: "The current situation of Tuyuhun is quite critical. Most of their territory has been captured. Nuohebo Khan has led his troops to retreat to the east to resist the Tibetans in Doma City."
"If Tang Dynasty does not intervene, Tubo will have no scruples. When they occupy the entire territory of Tuyuhun, it will be useless for you, the envoy of Tang Dynasty, to say anything. Tubo will never retreat and surrender Tuyuhun to Tang Dynasty."
Li Qinzai pondered for a long time, then cupped his hands and said, "I wonder how Grandpa Zheng's troops are arranged?"
Zheng Rentai took out a folded sheepskin map from his arms, unfolded it and pointed at the map and said: "Ganzhou, Liangzhou, Shanzhou, Hezhou and Taozhou, I have all deployed soldiers and horses to prevent the Tubo from crossing the border and killing them.
I am a border citizen of the Tang Dynasty."
"But I only have 30,000 soldiers and horses under my command, so I can't take care of both. Therefore, I only deployed heavy troops in Liangzhou and Shanzhou. There are about three Zhechong Prefectures, and there is only one Zhechong Prefecture guarding the rest of the city."
Li Qinzai said again: "If Tubo is so bold as to invade our territory of the Tang Dynasty after I go on my mission, what will Grandpa Zheng do?"
Zheng Rentai sneered and said: "Just let them come. If they beat me in Tyuhun, they can sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. If they dare to bring the war to the territory of the Tang Dynasty, don't blame me for sending troops."
"Grandpa Zheng is so courageous! I plan to go to Tuyuhun as an envoy in a few days. However, although I am an envoy, there is no guarantee that Tubo will follow the rules. If I am detained by Tubo..."
Li Qinzai suddenly showed a pitiful expression and said, "Will Grandpa Zheng come to rescue me then? After all, I only brought a thousand troops with me on this trip. This number of troops is not enough to fill the gap between Tubo's teeth. The kid's safety cannot be guaranteed.
I’m counting on Grandpa Zheng to embolden the boy.”
"If Grandpa Zheng now starts to gather troops and patrol the border near Tuyuhun Jishi Mountain, and the Tubo people throw rat weapons at them, they may not dare to harm me."
Zheng Rentai glared at him and said, "Why are you a coward? How dare the Tubo people dare to detain the envoys of the Tang Dynasty?"
"That's impossible to say. Tubo is an uncivilized and barren land. The exotic hozens don't understand the rules at all. If they really capture them, I don't want to be like Su Wu who has been herding sheep for decades..."
Zheng Rentai thought for a while and felt that the Tubo people were unreliable, so he nodded and said: "Okay, after I return to the camp, I will gather troops and horses, and use Jishi Mountain as the boundary. If the Tubo people really dare to detain you, I will just have it."