On the third day of May in the eighth year of Jianji, Shao Shude Jing Peng Shengzhou Longhua County arrived at Zhongshengzhou.
Zhongsheng Prefecture has one county, called Jingfan County.
Jingfan County is not the Jingfan Village in last year's war, but a newly established county that just borrowed a name.
There are about 50,000 people in Zhongsheng Prefecture, mainly Khitans, followed by Xi people, and a small number of Bohai, Haner and Tatar people.
The state had not yet been enfeoffed, and the Lifan Yuan sent officials to take care of various affairs here. When Shao Shude arrived at the state city with three thousand palace guards and more than five thousand silver saddles, he actually breathed a sigh of relief when he saw these officials.
"Why is Master Li so afraid?" Shao Shude asked, looking at the unfinished city wall.
The name of "Master Li" is Li Yan. He was originally an official in Yingzhou. He was later transferred to the Lifanyuan system and served as the chief secretary. He was also sent to Zhongshengzhou to handle civil affairs.
"Back to Your Majesty." Li Yan replied: "There are nearly ten thousand households in Zhongsheng Prefecture. Except for Bohai and Han'er who were reclaimed by Yuancheng, the rest are tribal people who live in pursuit of water and grass. The tribal system has its own head.
The people and chiefs are not subordinate to each other, so they live in peace and harmony. I am worried that the tribes will have no masters, and in the long run they will annex each other, causing great trouble."
"Is there any sign?" Shao Shude asked.
"There is no such sign yet." Li Yan replied: "What I am worried about is the future."
Shao Shude nodded.
In fact, the pastures of the Eight Khitan tribes had long been cut to pieces by him.
In the Guigu area, each of the two governors received one piece, Qishengzhou one piece, Yong'an Palace one piece, and a small part was included in Yingzhou and Ruzhou territory, and was divided very finely.
Just as cultivated land is the means of production for the people in the Central Plains, pasture is the means of production for the grassland herdsmen. The finer the division, the weaker the individual strength. The weaker the strength, the harder it is to resist.
But we still need to have the concept of being prepared for danger in times of peace.
If a powerful force descends from heaven to unify the Seven Sacred Prefectures, Yong'an Palace and the two small Khitan tribes, the imperial court will have to send out large numbers of troops to conquer them, which will cost a lot of money.
To reduce this possibility, we must strictly guard against clinging to the interior of the Seven Holy States, make them atomized as much as possible, and do not allow the use of force and the prestige of men far beyond their peers.
What Li Yan is worried about is actually this matter. Zhongshengzhou doesn't even have a master now, which gives many people undesirable ambitions - if the big position is vacant, doesn't it mean that I have a chance? Thinking like this is actually human.
It's normal.
"The Khitans have just suffered a major defeat, and no one will cause rebellion in a short period of time. However, what you are worried about is also true." Shao Shude frowned and paced slowly.
Because of the differences in customs, culture and production models, the Seven Sacred States are similar to the Zoke Barbarians in central Guizhou, the Kunming tribes, and the Wuguan barbarians and slang. They are essentially ruled by hereditary native officials.
They pay attention to blood and have a strict hierarchy. Compared with the customs in the Central Plains at this time, the possibility of rebellion from above is much smaller.
Of course, there are not exceptions.
How did Xi Xieman become Xi Zhaoman? As a subordinate, Zhao Jundao, didn't he commit rebellion and usurp the local official position of Xie Longyu's descendants?
More recently, during the Qianfu period, Yang Duan took advantage of the situation and attempted to seize the Luo family's inheritance, which had ruled Bozhou for four generations.
But overall, there are still relatively few. The ruling structure is relatively stable. Slaves are born slaves, nobles are born nobles, and there are relatively few opportunities to reshuffle the cards.
But as the old saying goes in the Central Plains, "The position of honor cannot be empty for a long time, and the opportunities cannot be lost for a long time." You must cut off the thoughts of those powerful tribes and make them realize that they cannot become the king of Daxia.
Thinking of this festival, Shao Shude felt that the establishment of Pengsheng County Prince's Palace and Fengsheng County Prince's Palace would be accelerated. The palace would be temporarily located in Peiping or Luoyang, and the Khitan people from Pengsheng Prefecture and Fengsheng Prefecture would come to Beijing regularly to let them know who they were.
He is the master.
But there are seven states...
****
On the other side, Yue Liduo took her daughter Yelu Zhigu for a walk by the river.
In May, all kinds of grasses are blooming in Liaoze, the spring scenery is bright, and everything is filled with fragrant smells - well, maybe there is also the peculiar smell from cattle and sheep excrement.
On the other side of the river, Yulu Jiangu, mother and daughter Xiao Chonggun were picking wild flowers. They looked at each other and Yue Liduo and her daughter, and then quickly looked away.
Some shepherds gathered by the river, and when they saw Yue Liduo and Yu Lu meeting their aunts, they all fell down and saluted.
Seeing that her sister-in-law was silent, Yue Liduo sighed and said, "Get up, everyone. How are you doing recently?"
She was five months pregnant and couldn't hide her belly at all. She didn't intend to hide it, so she stood there openly and looked at everyone.
The people present were all chiefs with some status, and no one was stupid enough to think that Yue Liduo was pregnant with Abaoji's child, but could only be the son of the Supreme Khan.
This feels shameful to some people, but to most people who have just experienced failure, it seems to be nothing. The grassland is like the jungle. If the one who defeated Abaoji was not Shao Shude, but Yelvhadi, he would still take this
My niece is married.
"Yue Liduo, we can still live a good life, but we are a little worried about the future."
"Will Abao get the chance to come back?"
"The Diela tribe was divided into pieces, and many people are missing. Are they dead?"
"Ji Guzhi, what are you thinking? Will they come forward?"
"Where can I run now?"
…
There were a lot of questions. Yu Lujiangu raised her eyebrows when she heard them. She looked at Yue Liduo with a scrutinizing look, and she was secretly happy in her heart.
This coquettish hoof used to be calm and serious in the tribe, and many people worshiped her. Now, she is so good at charming the saint. If she continues like this, the saint may have to spend the night with her.
"The establishment of the Seven Holy States cannot be changed." Yue Liduo said: "The Diela tribe has passed away and will never appear again. If you lose, you will lose. Since ancient times, the tribes on the grassland have swirled and died.
The La tribe has existed for more than a hundred years, and it is very common for it to disappear. From now on, there will only be clans and no tribes."
As soon as these words came out, everyone was silent.
Yue Liduo's words are definitely not what everyone wants to hear. But they are also true. It is definitely uncomfortable for people to face the bloody facts.
"Zhongsheng Prefecture is surrounded by summer soil, where can we escape?" Yue Liduo said again: "You don't need to worry too much. The sky in Liaoze is still so blue, the water is still so sweet, and each clan has its own pasture.
Just live a good life with cattle and sheep. The Supreme Khan came from Yinshan. Following his party, the Uighur tribe became prosperous day by day. They had beautiful clothes to wear, wine to drink, meat and milk to eat. Many of them were brave and good at fighting.
Become an official. Do you need to worry about days like this?"
"Is it true that no one can stand up?"
"Yueliduo, how about you..."
"Is Abaoji really gone and never coming back?"
Everyone did not give up and continued to ask questions.
Yue Liduo looked to the north from a distance, shook his head, and said: "Gui Guzhi and Judi may start a war with Abaoji this year. You have seen the hundreds of thousands of forbidden troops in Daxia, and you have seen the overwhelming formation..."
"So what if Abaoji is here?" Yue Liduo gently stroked her bulging belly and said, "It's just humiliation..."
The clan chiefs immediately sighed.
After hearing this, Yelu Zhigu's eye circles were a little red.
She turned around, not wanting to look at these people anymore, but unexpectedly she met the cold eyes of her cousin Xiao Chonggun from across the river.
"Let's go." Yue Liduo pulled her daughter and said.
She had already done this to appease the hearts of the Khitans when she was protecting the Holy Prefecture and promoting the Holy Prefecture. She will probably continue to do so when she goes to other Jisi Prefectures.
She had no choice, and no need to continue to be entangled with the Eight Tribes of Khitan.
No one knew that when Shao Shu pulled her up to the high school to review the Imperial Army, looking at the murderous warriors and listening to their roaring cheers, she was trembling all over and was already wet.
The three children born together with Abaoji are not pleasing to the eye no matter how they look at them now.
Yue Liduo gently caressed the life conceived in her belly and walked away.
****
On May 15th, Shao Shude arrived in Yingshengzhou and rested for two days.
Yingsheng Prefecture leads one county, namely Shuangliao County, and the household registration is about the same as that of Zhongsheng Prefecture, just over 50,000.
Shao Shude met here with the chiefs of the three Shatuo tribes who were heading north.
The Shatuo people moved eastward after September last year, and most of them settled in Yingzhou. For this reason, the seven counties were furious, expropriating the people, and working with the Shatuo herdsmen to cut hay, and at the same time provided some food for them.
Spent the winter safely.
But even so, the cattle and sheep still suffered some losses and lost a lot of fat. This year, they must go to Bohai to make up for their losses.
"The two hundred thousand people in Shatuo belong to three tribes. I will find three good pastures for you." Shao Shu pulled Shi Jiantang and said, "Now we have found one."
As he said this, he asked someone to bring a map, pointed to a place on the west side of the Monjie Mansion and east of the Xianbei Mountains, and said: "There are some Khitan tribes who fled last year here, and there are also Mohe people. You can take the Shatuo tribe there."
Conquer them and build a palace for me, which I will call Yonghe Palace. From now on, your tribe will graze here and monitor the tribes of Heishui Mohe for me."
The place Shao Shude pointed to was roughly around Lai County, Baicheng Town, Jilin Province, not far from Lisheng Prefecture. It was a very good pasture. Except for the slightly colder climate, the quality of the pasture was not inferior to their original pasture.
, or even better.
"I obey the order." Shi Jiantang agreed immediately without saying a word.
Seeing that he agreed so simply, Shao Shude felt a little embarrassed.
The Shatuo Tribe was entrusted to him by his sworn brother before his death, but now he wants this tribe to guard the border for him.
Is it okay if the prestige is not established and the favor is not shown?
"I won't let your work go in vain. The bitter cold land is indeed a bit hard." Shao Shude said: "I will have 200,000 pieces of woolen cloth and 300,000 heads of miscellaneous animals sent to you. My slaves
, I won’t treat you badly. The promotion opportunities of the bodyguards are no less than those of the imperial guards, as you will know later.”
The bodyguard army composed of strong slaves did not participate in the war last year, but it was dispatched this year.
Except for the Hongyuan Palace, which dispatched thousands of men to Shazhou to set up defenses, the other palaces selected 20,000 people to go eastward and put them all under Fu Cunshen's control. They are almost here.
The Shatuo tribe is the most powerful of the three tribes, with almost 100,000 people, far more than the Sage and Anqing tribes. If they go to Yonghe Palace, they can maintain peace in that area.
"I thank your Majesty for your kindness." Shi Jiantang said.
In fact, it was a bit regretful. In his opinion, the three Shatuo tribes were no longer purely nomadic tribes, especially after absorbing a large number of Sogdians. They were also good at farming, doing business, and smelting iron.
As far as Shi Jiantang himself is concerned, he prefers the colorful world of the Central Plains and prefers to live a Han life rather than being a shepherd.
"What are you thinking about?" Shao Shude was keenly aware of his little mood and said with a smile: "The palace supervisor of Yonghe Palace is a wandering official, not a hereditary official. You are a general, and I have to entrust you with important tasks. I will go to Yonghe Palace first.
In a few years, when the time is right, you can return to Beijing."
Shi Jiantang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said: "I obey your order."
"Keep an eye on the Black Water Mohe for me." Shao Shude said: "These people are wild and untamable. They may not be submissive to the king. They may be troublesome in the future. You should be more careful."
The location of Yonghe Palace was called Taizhou during the Liao Dynasty, and it was the boundary between the Khitan people and the wild Jurchens.
After the Bohai Kingdom was conquered and destroyed by the Khitans, the northern states collapsed. The Blackwater Mohe took the opportunity to expand, encroaching on the territory in the northern part of the Bohai Sea and expanding their living space.
These people were unstable and very difficult to deal with. The Khitan people learned from the old wisdom of Bohai and built border walls and fortresses here to prevent the Jurchens from going south. Taizhou was one of the very important strongholds.
In Shao Shude's plan, in principle, Heishui Mohe will be under supervised release, but troops will also need to be stationed to guard it. It is impossible for the imperial army to be stationed here, so non-staff forces like the Shatuo Tribunal will be needed to fill the vacancy.
He has made it clear now that Yonghe Palace has no other mission but to keep an eye on the Blackwater Mohe and prevent their forces from going south and threatening the core area of Liaodong Road.
"If anyone dares to cause trouble, I will kill him to pieces." Shi Jiantang responded immediately when he heard that there was an opportunity to make meritorious deeds.
"There is no need for this." Shao Shude laughed loudly and said: "During the former Tang Dynasty, Heishui Mohe repeatedly sent envoys to pay tribute, and they were very respectful. If you eliminate them, other tribes will rise in the area. You can't kill them all.
