At the end of August and the beginning of September, Hexi was full of yellow clouds and decaying grass.
In the Gobi grassland, several yellow sheep lowered their heads and gnawed dry weeds while observing the surroundings with vigilance. At the slightest movement, they jumped up and disappeared into the billowing smoke.
Princess Zhuang Ao of Xinmi spit out the sand in her mouth, looked up at the Tucheng standing on the grassland, and complained non-stop: "It's the season, and I don't know which brother-in-law is still building a city and building a house, what a shame."
Oh shit!"
The followers seemed deaf and heard nothing.
Whether Mr. Zhuang's life is good or not depends on whether the imperial court rewards him with food or not. With a single order, trade is blocked directly and he can't even buy wine. How will he live his life?
The honey I just harvested this year is about to be sold to a businessman I know well. What should I do if the mutual trade is banned? Yes, I used to eat it myself, but now I find that I can exchange the honey for more useful things, such as tea.
, wine, porcelain, etc., once they are broken, the standard of living will really drop off a cliff.
Scholars in Kansai are now particularly fond of writing brushes made from the tails of yellow sheep. Every autumn hunting, they can catch a lot of yellow sheep, and they are preparing to exchange money. Once they break, they will be thrown into their hands.
The ladies of the Central Plains are now very fond of all kinds of clothes made of sand fox fur. These can be sold for a lot of money, so don't mess around.
Also, the leader asked everyone to grow a lot of sea beets and squeeze sugar, hoping to make a fortune, so don’t mess around.
The most terrifying move was that the imperial court released several Zhuang children who were serving as officials in Luoyang, which would be a great pleasure.
The grassland and the mainland are inextricably linked, and both sides have adapted to the days of exchanging what they need with the other. Once decoupled, the economy of the border states in Daxia will naturally slump, but the lives of the grassland tribes will plummet.
You can't take off this hook! You'd better carry on the job honestly. It's a bit hard, but at least the Supreme Khan won't make it impossible for you to live.
The city arrived soon, and Zhuang Ao wisely closed his mouth and turned to look at his followers. The meaning in his eyes was very clear: I am just complaining, so don't keep your mouth shut and say everything outside.
"Du Chengzhi."
"Zhuang inspection."
Outside the city of Mi'e, Du Hong, the Privy Councilor of Beiya, and Zhuang Ao, the inspection envoy of Yuan Yuquan, greeted each other.
"It will take another month to repair at most." Zhuang Ao looked at the damaged city wall and said, "After one month, heavy snow will fall, the weather will be freezing, the army will have nothing to rely on, and the horses will have nothing to eat, so they can return."
"One month is enough." Du Hong has been in Mi'e City for more than half a month and is well aware of the progress of various construction projects. He said: "In ten days, Lingzhou will send a batch of wheat, with enough 6,000 dendrobium.
, escorted by a thousand sergeants, enough to last until next year."
"May I ask Du Chengzhi, will these thousand soldiers be permanently stationed in Mi'e City?" Zhuang Ao asked.
"It is no longer the city of Mi'e. Zhongshu has issued a decree to establish Mi'e Prefecture and control Mi'e County. The Fangdang clan and its vassals are 18,000 people. The Tatar tribes who have surrendered to the south have been screened.
Later, a batch will be sent over," Du Hong said.
"Is the governor of Mi'ezhou a hereditary native official?" Zhuang Ao asked.
He couldn't help but care about this matter. As the leader of the grassland tribe, he must understand the situation of his neighbors, otherwise he would not know how he died.
Moreover, he knew that even within the Zhengzhou area, there were hereditary native officials. This was especially obvious in the south, such as Zhengzhou in the Central Guizhou Province. What's more, the Seven Saints State's pearls and jade were at the forefront, so it was normal to think about this aspect.
"It is a good thing to inspect the village." Du Hong said with a smile: "The saint wants to confer the title of Prince of Mi'e County and assassinate Mi'e Prefecture."
"A good thing? Could it be..." Zhuang Ao asked if he had some realization.
"Exactly." Du Hong nodded and lowered his voice: "That's Princess Xinmi's half-brother, the eleventh prince Shao Zhigu."
Zhuang Ao's face relaxed and he said with a smile: "It is indeed a good thing."
Princess Xinmi is the daughter of Zhang Quanyi and the Chu family. The eleventh prince is also a child of the Chu family. She was born in December of the first year of Tianyou in the Tang Dynasty (900) and is thirteen years old this year.
Since the two families are relatives, many things will be easier to handle.
"The sage also thinks it's very good." Du Hong said: "The prince of Mi'e County will not be a vassal for the time being. Mi'e Prefecture will be managed by Lifanyuan and Beiya. If there is unrest, Hexi and Guanbei will immediately
When troops are dispatched, village inspections also need to help look after the points."
"My brother-in-law's affairs are my affairs and I have no one to shirk." Zhuang Ao said, patting his chest.
After that, he tried again: "I wonder if Prince Mi'e is married? I have two younger sisters at home..."
Du Hong coughed and said in a low voice: "Why doesn't Zhuang Inspector know something? My wife is the sister of the prince of Mi'e County. We already have a close relationship. If we want to get married, even if the saint allows it, the court will not be able to get through it. It will be inevitable.
You will be impeached by the imperial censor, so why bother?"
"That's right." Zhuang Ao laughed and said, "That's good."
"Actually, the marriage of Prince Mi'e has already been agreed upon. She is the granddaughter of Pei Di, the former transfer envoy of Henan Province. She was born in the Pei family of Wenxi. She is well-educated and has an extraordinary family background. Zhuang Inspector should not join in the fun." Du Hong said again.
.
"So that's it." Zhuang Ao understood clearly in his heart that, like the princes of the Seven Saints Province, they all married into the mainland's noble families, which made it easier to recruit talents for political management.
After the two of them finished speaking, they entered the city together.
The traces of the existence of the Fangdang clan in Dangxiang have been almost completely erased. More than 700 people were killed in one go, all of them were the backbone of the Fangdang clan and its vassal tribes. There were almost no chiefs among the remaining tribesmen, waiting for the new king.
Promoted.
The city is dilapidated, with low adobe houses everywhere, and even thatched houses made of woven reeds.
Zhuang Ao looked at Anhui and thought, a strong wind can blow you away, you are so poor.
The smell of sheep dung is everywhere in the narrow streets, and you can't escape it no matter how you hide.
The shivering party members were all covered in the smell of sheep, which could not be washed away no matter how hard they washed.
Although he has been here for a while, Du Hong still can't adapt. Fortunately, on the west side of the old city, the new city has been built with rammed earth. From now on, the Mi'e County Prince's Palace and the prefecture government office will be located in the west city, and the county government office will be located in the west city.
It is located in Dongcheng. I hope the Eleventh Prince can stay here - in fact, he has to stay here if he can, and he has to stay if he can't. He has no choice.
"There will also be a warehouse built in the west city." After dodging a puddle of cow dung, Du Hong said: "When the saint marches to the west, he must store enough food and grass at every point to prepare for emergencies."
"The holy driver will go to Mi'ezhou, can't he?" Zhuang Ao was a little unbelievable.
"The holy emperor will naturally not go this way, but it is difficult to guarantee that there will be troops passing here." Du Hong said: "The army is going north from Lingzhou. If we take a shortcut, Mi'ezhou is the only way. That is to go west to Heishui City.
, will also be replenished here.”
"Blackwater City? So far?" Zhuang Ao said in surprise: "It's hard to find water sources across the moraine in the west of the river. It's too difficult."
Heishui City is a pasture in Daxia, which raises tens of thousands of military horses and thousands of camels. The city is located more than 20 miles south of Hanjuyan Haihai (northern part of today's Ejina Banner). It is garrisoned by more than 2,000 soldiers from Hexi Province all year round.
In addition, there were 3,000 native tribesmen and tribal soldiers from various counties to guard the grassland.
This is a pasture located in the border area, and it is also a military town. It has been harassed by the Qibei Prairie tribe from the south all year round. In the past twenty years, thousands of military horses have been robbed. In recent years, the crackdown has been severe. This kind of behavior is rare.
A lot.
Du Hong nodded and said: "Heishui City has also built Cangcheng. Gansu and Suzhou have sent people to help, and they have to stockpile at least 50,000 hu of military rations and a large amount of military supplies. Heishui City and Mi'e City, one to the west and one to the east, will
They are the two iron gates used by the imperial court to control the various tribes in Hexi. Of course they must be connected with each other. But you are right. It is more troublesome to cross the sand moraine in Hexi. It is better to take the northern line of grassland. At least the water source is easier to find, but
Be prepared for any danger. The saint's western tour, attacking the Uighurs is only one of the purposes, and adjusting the northwest governance system is the top priority."
"I understand." Zhuang Ao seemed to have a clue.
For many years, the Saint has been fighting hard in the Kanto region. His requirements for the west are very low. He just needs to maintain the status quo. He should not cause trouble for him and dilute his energy for the Eastern Campaign. Therefore, he often indulges in connivance.
Now that the heroes in the east have been wiped out, it is time to free up our hands and take advantage of the opportunity of the Western Expedition to readjust Hexi and even the wider grassland area.
The sage's intention is just like what he often said: "stretching the grass and beating the rabbit."
Xiang Fangdang, a member of the Hexi party, has been so unruly and unruly for a day or two. Why did he take this opportunity to directly raid and raid their hometown? This was a real raid, and Zhuang Ao was also just before the action.
After receiving the order, he rushed over with ten thousand cavalry and caught Fang Dangshi off guard.
The operation to annihilate the Fangdang clan marked the imperial court's military focus moving westward again. At least the saint had some time off and began to focus on this place that he had neglected and tolerated for more than twenty years.
The wind rises at the end of Qingping, and everything has its traces to follow.
Mi'e Prefecture may be just the beginning. Behind this, there must be a bigger thunderstorm. The power structure in Hexi will be reshaped.
Thinking of this, even though he had married the royal family and became a so-called royal relative, Zhuang Ao shuddered subconsciously. He did not dare to mention the matter of marrying his sister to the eleventh prince again. What Zhuang had received was enough
If there are many, there is no need to think about those things that are available and not available. Once the saint feels that Zhuang is too greedy, it is not a good thing.
Zhuang Ao had some political wisdom. He knew that there must be a reason why Du Hong was willing to say these words to him, perhaps because of the sage's instruction.
"Repair the city well and don't let the Fangdang clan members escape. Doing these two things well will be a great achievement." Du Hong glanced at Zhuang Ao and said: "Today, I remember our old friendship. Lu Yuquan Village
The saint has known about his loyalty and bravery to the country for many years, otherwise you would not have become the consort."
Zhuang Ao nodded repeatedly and said, "I have learned the lesson."
Du Hong smiled and said, "Have you heard about Xu Jingzong and Feng Ang's affairs?"
"I've heard of it." Zhuang Ao said hesitantly.
He seemed to understand, but wasn't quite sure yet.
"Don't limit your sights to the grasslands, and keep in touch with the Central Plains. Otherwise, if something happens, who will protect you? Who will speak for you in the DPRK?" Du Hong said.
Zhuang Ao understood now and said, "I will prepare an extra batch of gold and silver treasures, including cattle, sheep, horses and camels, as dowries for my two sisters."