Shaodang Qiang has been enjoying a very prosperous life these past few years.
After the Han Dynasty regained the Huangshui River Valley and the remaining Qiang species in Huawai were defeated and incorporated, Shaodang had no foreign enemies; and because its habitat fell on the western line of the Silk Road (Qinghai Road in the Southern and Northern Dynasties and Northern Song Dynasty), Shaodang followed the trend.
Gained profits from trade.
Not only did Bashu merchants passing through their territory invite them to escort them along the way in exchange for money, but Qiang King Mangzhong also exchanged war horses, cattle and sheep for supplies such as Shu brocade and tea from the Han people, and sent his tribesmen to follow the caravan.
Western trade.
At the end of last year, Bai Huwen and Zhiwudai, the Hu kings who lived in the southern foothills of Lenglong Mountain and the Datong River basin, moved their tribes to Jincheng County and attached themselves to the Han Dynasty. After the Qiang King Mangzhong heard about it, he took advantage of the end of the year.
During the season, a large number of cattle, sheep and property were presented to the Han as tribute, and then the tribesmen were divided to occupy the vacant pastures, greatly expanding the tribe's sphere of influence.
With sufficient financial resources, expanded pastures and no intrusion from foreign enemies, how can we not be happy?
At least Qiang King Mangzhong felt that even after more than a hundred years, the Qiang people would still remember his name and be grateful for the prosperity his decision had brought to the tribe.
Therefore, after hearing the news that Zheng Pu, who had been inspecting Nongsang to Xiping County, would come to the west for a visit, Qiang King Mangzhong did not hesitate.
He actually came to Mucheng Valley in person to wait for him.
It not only shows that the Shaodang Qiang people have never changed their attachment to the Han Dynasty, but also shows their courtesy to Zheng Pu.
Without him, his tribe's current grand situation all started when he and Zheng Pu met for the first time and formed an alliance for mutual benefit. But what he didn't expect was that Zheng Pu's visit this time had bad intentions.
When Zheng Pu met him, he naturally expressed many words of gratitude, and then he sang happily with him all the way to the pasture.
Along the road, you can see the arid desolation described by the salt ponds and limestones, the countless birds flying in the air and the warm and graceful sea of yellow and green flowers by the lake, the galloping majesty of the so-called "Qin Horse", and the singing of cattle and sheep.
The melodious tranquility.
Nowadays, with the rise of swordsmen all over the world, Qinghai Lake is like a piece of forgotten pure land, which is heartbreaking.
In fact, the Central Plains Dynasty also took steps to include Qinghai Lake in its territory.
For example, during Wang Mang's period, tens of thousands of people migrated here to establish "Xihai County". However, with the end of the short-lived new dynasty, the Han people who were forcibly relocated fled back to their old homes.
More than a hundred years later, the Han Dynasty also made a move similar to Wang Mang's, and once again immigrated people to colonize and guard the border.
However, only a few years later, he failed in the face of the harsh environment.
This is the fundamental reason why the Prime Minister specifically told Zheng Pu not to force the Shaodang Qiang king Mangzhong to send troops - for the Han Dynasty, no matter how strong the Shaodang Qiang were, they could not resist the Han army's front, but it was absolutely impossible to wipe them out.
!And once the two sides turn against each other, the other side will take the trouble to disturb the border, making it difficult for the Han border counties to have peace.
After galloping all the way, it didn't take long to arrive at the big tent of Qiang King Mangzhong.
I saw that whole cattle had been set up on the open grassland, whole sheep and unnamed birds and other delicacies were being grilled. The faint sour smell of the kumiss brewed by the herdsmen lingered in their nostrils. Many people had their hair braided on the left side.
Herdsmen girls with dark skin and flushed cheeks were singing and dancing. The sound of laughter attracted many white clouds, casting shadows on the grass. From a distance, it seemed as if many light beams were slanting into the earth from the sky.
, uncanny workmanship, breathtaking.
"Zheng Jun, please."
The Qiang King Mangzhong, who already knew a little about the etiquette of the Han family, personally introduced Zheng Pu to sit down and said, "Our department is fortunate to welcome Mr. Zheng to visit us. I will definitely not come back drunk today!"
"Don't dare to take it, don't dare to take it."
Zheng Pu, who returned the gift first, jokingly said, "If I had known that the leader was so kind, I should have found an opportunity to visit him. To be honest with the leader, I don't know the taste of meat after more than a month! Hahaha~~"
After saying this, he laughed heartily.
The Qiang King also smiled in his eyes and quickly called for people to bring all the meat to him.
After a while of going back and forth, drinking and drinking, Zheng Pu waved his hands to his servants and asked them to present the jade Ruyi handle, the Four Treasures of the Study, and the beautifully embroidered Sichuan brocade that they had collected from Zhang Biao.
He put his clothes in his hands and said with a smile, "Chief, I came here without telling you. It's very rude, so I show my feelings with a simple gift."
"Hiss~~~"
Qiang King Mangzhong did not answer immediately.
Instead, as the gifts were presented one by one, he took a breath without any image.
The host of the banquet was a nobleman of the tribe, and the expressions of the guards and retinue beside him were even more exaggerated, with their eyes dull and their mouths open in shock.
Because this "little gift" is really too generous.
In recent years, the Han Dynasty also resold and burned hawksbill turtles, pearls of light, tiger souls, clam tails, worms, clam beads and other items obtained from Sun Wu to the nobles who cultivated Qiang. Therefore, they also knew the general outline of these gifts.
How much value.
Especially the jade Ruyi handle, the skill of craftsmanship and the smooth color are something they cannot describe in words.
For a while.
"Zheng Jun's friendship, I don't know how to repay you!"
When Qiang King Mangzhong came back to his senses, emotion overflowed from his expression.
He also told the guard beside him, "Go quickly and prepare another hundred war horses." Then he looked back and explained to Zheng Pu, "Originally, I also prepared some ceremonial gifts, but now seeing Jun Zheng's generosity, I am really moved.
ashamed."
"Don't be like this, leader."
Quickly waving his hand, Zheng Pu refused with a hint of embarrassment, "To be honest, these gifts are not mine."
After saying this, he roughly told the story of how he visited the prefect Zhang Biao via Didao, Longxi County, and collected these gifts from him, borrowed flowers, and presented them to the Buddha. Then he added a sentence of apology, "The leader does not mind these gifts."
It's an old thing, and it makes my heart and ears at ease! I dare you to receive more gifts from the leader again!"
But unexpectedly, after hearing this, Mang Zhong's eyes became even more joyful.
Because most of the herdsmen in the foreign lands are illiterate and never leave their habitat throughout their lives, they have a very simple temperament.
If they are treated with sincerity, they will love each other and be willing to live and die together; but if they are deceived or bullied, they will withdraw and fight to the death.
Just like in the past, Dong Zhuo killed cattle to entertain the Qiang chiefs who came to visit without warning. After the Qiang chiefs returned, they assembled thousands of miscellaneous animals and presented them to Dong Zhuo. And in the future, various Qiang tribes
The tribesmen followed Dong Zhuo in his expeditions to various places, but they all followed him to death and never abandoned him.
The Qiang people of Liangzhou, who are known for their vulgarity, are sometimes more trustworthy than the scholars who are full of poems and books.
Therefore, seeing Zheng Pu being so magnanimous now, Qiang King Mangzhong was even more moved. How could he be allowed to shirk the idea of not accepting the gift?
Zheng Pu, who couldn't refuse, showed a helpless smile, cupped his hands and said in salute, "To be honest, chief, I came here this time to pass on some bad news. It can take as short as one or two years, or as long as four or five years."
Now, I, the great men, will close the Yumen Pass so that merchants will no longer be able to trade along the Silk Road."
