Chapter 575: Important Task in the Western Regions
Li Zhi said it unintentionally, but his father listened intently.
After having conflicts with Zhang Yang for so many years, Li Shimin thought that he had become very powerful. He said slowly: "Your brother-in-law is a more cunning person than a fox."
Li Zhi frowned and thought, holding the wine bowl in both hands with a bitter look on his face.
Knowing that he couldn't drink, Li Shimin said again: "Go to your mother and try on the new clothes."
Li Zhi was amnesty and fled quickly.
The grape wine was sour and astringent and not tasty, and not as delicious as the wine dumplings made by my brother-in-law, but I had to drink it as a reward from my father.
Li Zhi walked out of the Li Zheng Hall with a bitter look on his face.
Zhang Yang's letter was delivered to the Diplomatic Academy, and Zhang Xiang, Zhang Dashu and Xu Jingzong were discussing in the room.
In the dim room, a piece of letter was placed in front of me.
Xu Jingzong said in a low voice: "The news from the Western Regions indeed said that the Great Cannibals are increasing their troops today. It seems that the posture is indeed determined to capture the capital of Persia."
Facing the cannibals, the Persians suffered repeated defeats. Although they won several times during the period, they could not reverse the decline of Persian troops.
The Western Regions do not have standing troops and horses like Guanzhong.
Most of Persian soldiers and horses were hired or temporarily requisitioned, while Persian nobles owned many slaves and were not used for war.
Those slaves had become property. If they were to be used in the war, the Persian king would have to pay for them.
This situation of shrinking population and increasing number of slaves is very similar to the fall of Gaochang.
Xu Jingzong has read a lot about the West in the past two years, and was personally involved in the aftermath of the Gaochang incident. There was another country in the West that also perished in the same way.
Xu Jingzong frowned and looked at the table in front of him, "I will ask Perus, Prince of Persia, to set off back to Persia."
Zhang Dashu hesitated and said: "Persia is at the end of its war effort. Even if it is temporarily stable, will it continue to support it in the future?"
"Da Su's concerns are reasonable."
The room fell into silence again, and the three of them fell silent, not knowing how to deal with the current situation.
"How long has it been since Mr. Zhang came to the Diplomatic Academy?" Da Su suddenly asked.
Xu Jingzong took a sip of tea and said, "I haven't seen Shilang Zhang for a few days. I haven't seen him again since the opening of the imperial court this year."
Da Su gave himself some more tea.
Zhang Xiangxiang said in a low voice: "Your Majesty asked the Prime Minister to take charge of Shangshu Province again, and Zhang Shangshu is also in Lishan now. What is your intention?"
Xu Jingzong was also very troubled by this. Among the six ministers, all the ministers were fulfilling their duties, but the minister of rites could not see anyone, and he had not seen anyone for a whole year.
Occasionally we met and exchanged a few hasty words.
In this regard, Xu Jingzong felt that although the three people present were ministers, they were all doing the work of a minister.
Traveling between six departments, you have to take care of the people under each one.
Outside the room, Pei Xingjian came in a hurry and met Li Chongyi.
Li Chongyi is the child of Li Xiaogong, the prince of Hejian County, and a descendant of the clan. His appointment to the Diplomatic Academy was arranged by His Majesty, but Li Chongyi was isolated from many matters in the Diplomatic Academy.
Pei Xingjian could see that there were five ministers in the Ministry of Rites, but only Zhang Xiang, Zhang Dashu, and Xu Jingzong from the Ministry of Rites were actually in charge of foreign affairs.
Since arriving in Chang'an City last year, Pei Xingjian has heard many things about the Foreign Affairs Academy.
The first person to follow Zhang Shangshu was Xu Jingzong, and they planned the Tuyuhun affairs together. Later, Zhang Daxiang and Zhang Dashu came into being.
Li Chongyi is leisurely on weekdays, and he still behaves like a child of aristocratic family.
Pei Xingjian greeted: "Li Shilang."
"I heard that Duke Zhao often sends people to lobby, hoping that you will serve in the Zhongshu Province. Why do you always stay in the Foreign Affairs Academy?"
Duke Zhao often sent people to inquire, but Pei Xingjian was unwilling to accept Duke Zhao's kindness despite repeated excuses.
Compared with those old people in the court, Pei Xingjian's net worth is cleaner.
He is also the leader among the newly appointed officials in the DPRK and China in recent years.
The most important thing is that he is very young, just such a person, but Zhang Yang recruited him first.
Only Duke Zheng knew that before Pei Xingjian took part in the imperial examination, he asked Pei to go to Hedong to inquire about Pei Xingjian.
From then on, Pei Xingjian was very curious about Zhang Yang.
What kind of person is he?
Moreover, Pei Xingjian served in the Ministry of Rites and worked in the Diplomatic Academy. He usually followed Zhang Elephant and traveled around in various ministries. He knew everything about the court and inside, but he had never met Zhang Shangshu.
"I don't want to go to the Zhongshu Province. If you enter the Zhongshu Province, you won't be able to go to the vast outside the customs. Brother Xue and I both want to be a general."
Li Chongyi added: "I am just a civilian in the Foreign Affairs Academy, how can I lead the army?"
Pei Xingjian nodded and said, "Yes, but I am a scholar, so how can I join the army?"
At this moment, in the room on the second floor of the Diplomatic Academy, discussions are still going on.
Xu Jingzong looked at the memorial in his hand and said, "The Anxi Protectorate has added more manpower to allow Ashinadur to quell the civil strife in the Western Turks. As for the life and death of Nishu, it is not important."
Zhang Elephant could see that Xu Jingzong was the first to follow Zhang Yang and did many things to kill people and destroy the country.
When it came to the interests of the Tang Dynasty, Xu Jingzong would act decisively.
Even Zhang Dashu and himself cannot be so decisive on this point.
The three ministers walked out of the Diplomatic Academy together. Zhang Elephant hurried to Zhongshu Province, where he ordered the Ministry of War to send two thousand troops to the Anxi Protectorate.
Zhang Dashu wrote a copy in Turkic characters and gave it to Xu Jingzong.
Xu Jingzong also wrote a letter. One of the letters was given to Ashinadur of the Western Turks, and the second letter was given to the garrison general Adalan of Gaochang. Gaochang had been building strength for a long time, and it was precisely through the use of
This is the most critical time for this force.
The fate of the Western Turks should also come to an end due to the internal fighting between the two Western Turkic Khans.
Because Pei Xingjian had written a strategy for the Western Regions, he was standing in the inner courtyard of the Diplomatic Academy listening to the minister's instructions.
"I saw the strategy you wrote before. It was Zhang Shangshu who took a fancy to you. If you don't want to go to the Western Regions, we can also make arrangements with someone else."
Pei Xingjian bowed his hands and said, "I am willing to take a trip to the Western Regions."
Xu Jingzong looked at him and nodded with a clear expression, "You will have to endure a lot of hardships in the Western Regions compared to Guanzhong. You are still young and have not yet started a family, so you should not be allowed to go."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! After saying this, he looked a little happy and said loudly: "Please allow me to go to the Protectorate of the Western Regions, Mr. Xu."
The two of them were talking, and Xue Rengui watched eagerly from the side, listening carefully with his ears raised, the anxiety and impatience in his eyes clearly visible.
Xu Jingzong raised his eyes and said: "You have been studying hard for several years and it is time to put it to use. Xue Rengui, although you are a guard in front of the Diplomatic Academy, you have no official official position. If you go to the Western Regions and miss this year's imperial examination, you must take good care of yourself."
consider."
Xue Rengui hurriedly stepped forward, bowed his hands, and said, "I would like to escort Pei Xingjian to the Western Regions."
Hearing what Brother Xue said, Pei Xingjian pulled him aside and said, "Brother Xue, if you have a family..."
Xu Jingzong smiled and said: "It doesn't matter. We at the Diplomatic Academy are civil servants, so we can go to the Protector's Palace with our family documents."
Xue Rengui saluted again, "Thank you so much, Minister Xu."
Xu Jingzong would not miss this kind of thing to win people's hearts. Zhang Shangshu, Zhang Shangshu, you are not in the Foreign Affairs Academy, but your subordinates are worried about this career.
The world is difficult and people's hearts are not as old as they used to be.
Only the obsession with getting ahead in Xu Jingzong's heart supported him to stay here.
Zhang Elephant brought the military talisman and said, "Zhongshu Sheng agreed. We will go to Zuo Qianniu Guards General Cheng Yaojin to pick up thirty soldiers to escort us. When we get to the Hexi Corridor, we will pick up another three thousand Hexi soldiers and horses, and we will go to the Anxi Protectorate together."
Xu Jingzong looked solemn, "Is there only three thousand soldiers and horses?"
"The Minister of War, Hou Junji, said that it would be good if he could give you three thousand. We haven't received any reply about the war in Mobei, so we don't dare to mobilize too many troops."
Pei Xingjian's eyes were fiery and he held the military talisman carefully with both hands.
Zhang Daxiang looked at Pei Xingjian and Xue Rengui, who were still bowing and saluting. He hesitated and said: "For such an important matter, I thought you would choose someone experienced in handling matters."
"Brother Elephant, we should also train young people. We still have many things to arrange in the future."
Zhang Xiangxiang looked at the expressions of the two people again and said: "You must remember the next words. We are going to the Anxi Protectorate. You will lead Gaochang soldiers and horses to assist Ashinadur in pacifying the Western Turks, and then Ashinadur will
We will take 20,000 Gaochang soldiers and horses to Persia west of the Tianshan Mountains to rush for reinforcements."
"Here you go, you have to escort the Prince of Persia, Belus, and arrive at the Anxi Protectorate before the wind season in May. You and Xue Rengui can lead troops to the Western Turks at most, but you are not allowed to leave the Western Regions. As for the Prince of Persia, leave it to Ashinadur
After escorting the troops from Gaochang to Persia and pacifying the Western Regions, 20,000 soldiers and horses from Gaochang will be transferred away, leaving the Western Regions empty."
"And you need to sit in the Western Region Protectorate and preside over the future governance of the Western Turks. We have given the specific details to the Gaochang garrison general Adalan. He has been guarding Gaochang for our Diplomatic Academy for four years. This man is trustworthy."
"Here."
Pei Xingjian and Xue Rengui responded in unison.
Xu Jingzong added: "Although the four towns of Anxi have been recovered, their governance is loose. You still need to raise a large army there to prevent the Persians from being defeated. This army and horses are also used to assist Persia. This time
Attacking Persia with hundreds of thousands of troops, including countless ferocious beasts. This battle is related to the survival of Persia, so you must be cautious during your tenure as governor."
"Here!"
Zhang Elephant nodded and said: "Go back and get ready. We will take the military talisman and set off early tomorrow morning. We will pass by the Hexi Corridor and say hello to Di Zhisun on our behalf. You left Longxi early, and you can rest in the Hexi Corridor."
Pei Xingjian put the military talisman in his arms. It was a great blessing for him to finally be able to command an army. He could also control the four towns of Anxi, and maybe he could also raise a larger army.
He saluted and said: "Shilang Xu, I have one more request."
"Let's talk."
"Di Zhisun met Zhang Shilang once when he left Chang'an, and his subordinate also wanted to meet Zhang Shangshu before leaving."
Zhang Yang appeared in Lishan and ignored the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. He had said that he would retire at the age of thirty, but now it seems that he is already planning to retire before he reaches thirty.
"I will go with you to Lishan Mountain early tomorrow morning. I can't guarantee whether you will see Zhang Shangshu. However, if you go to Zuo Qianniu Guard, you can assign someone to escort you. I suggest you find a person named Wang Xuance."
"Here."
Speaking of Wang Xuance, Zhang Shangshu wanted to recruit him by name.
It's a pity that this person has been unable to make progress, which made Xu Jingzong feel very frustrated, and he could only make this decision at the moment.
Watching Pei Xingjian and Xue Rengui, two passionate young people, leave, they have to face the harsh environment and treacherous situation in the Western Regions.
The Western Region Protectorate has been built, and the four towns of Anxi have been recovered, but the intricate forces in the Western Region still exist. Their real purpose of going here is to build the Anxi Army.
Li Chongyi on the side was eating a bowl of soup cakes. He took a sip of the soup, licked his teeth, and walked forward with the bowl in one hand. "I am very envious that they can go to the Western Regions and serve as officials."
Xu Jingzong smiled and said: "Does Shilang Li also want to go to the Western Regions?"
Li Chongyi took out a few pieces of mutton from the bowl, put them into his mouth and chewed, "It's different for lower officials. I can't go to the Western Regions. My father is the king of Hejian County. As the eldest son of the family, I have to stay and inherit the family business."
After saying this lightly, Li Chongyi put down his bowl and left quickly.
Xu Jingzong looked at the empty bowl beside him and drank the soup completely. Among the clan members, Li Chongyi was not unlearned and unskilled. He was quite easy-going and could handle some trivial matters arranged for him.
The next morning, Zhang Yang took the little bear to the field and asked Li Tai to hitch it to the plow. The bear went to plow the field of its own accord.
While becoming the overlord of Lishan, conquering the fields of Lishan is also one of its goals.
Yesterday, Xu Jingzong sent someone news that Pei Xingjian wanted to see him before leaving.
There are a lot of things to worry about right now. Only a carefree retirement life can truly lead to retirement.
With this in mind, Zhang Yang walked toward the entrance of the village, where Xu Jingzong was leading a group of soldiers.
These people were ready to rush to the Western Regions. Prince Perus of Persia was also in the team. He immediately knelt down.
Zhang Yang quickly helped him up and asked, "Why did the Prince of Persia do such a great gift?"
Belus sniffed aggrievedly, "It has been three years since I came to Chang'an, and only the Foreign Affairs Academy is willing to come to Persia's aid. Please accept my prayers."
This man has been in Chang'an City for three years, and his Guanzhong dialect has become more and more authentic. Zhang Yang sighed: "You also know that there is a Western Region between Guanzhong and Persia. It is unrealistic for a large army to trek across the Western Region. The only thing we can help you with is the establishment of the Western Region."
An Anxi army rushed to the aid of Persia."
Belus wiped his tears and said, "Thank you!"
Zhang Yang smiled and nodded.
I haven't seen Zhang Yang for a long time. He seems to have not changed at all from when he was a small minister of the Ministry of Rites to now a minister of officialdom.
This kind of conspiratorial smile made Xu Jingzong uncomfortable. He also had such a smile when dealing with Gao Chang and his son.
First he cleared his throat, and Xu Jingzong whispered: "Zhang Shangshu, these are Pei Xingjian and Xue Rengui."
Lowering his voice again, he whispered: "The one at the front of the team is Wang Xuance."
Pulling Xu Jingzong aside, Zhang Yang whispered: "It's been so long, have you dealt with him?"
"This person is difficult to deal with. It is difficult to recruit lower officials, so I have to resort to this trick."
Pei Xingjian stood in front, looking at the legendary youngest Minister of Rites and the Minister of Zhongshu. He was full of curiosity about him and had many questions to ask.
It's just that the way Xu Jingzong was whispering to him didn't look like a gentleman.