Tibet

Chapter 400 Strategic Objectives
On the third day when Li Ye came to Ganzhou, he finally met Gao Xianzhi, the governor of Hexi. In the temporary tent of the Hezhong army, Li Ye and Gao Xianzhi took their seats as guests and hosts.

Although Gao Xianzhi used to be Li Ye's boss, but not now. Li Ye can respect Gao Xianzhi, but there is no need to show respect.

"How does Gao Shuai feel in Hexi?"

Gao Xianzhi smiled and said: "The air in the Hexi Corridor is humid, and the water and soil support people. The conditions are much better than Anxi. In just a few months, I gained ten catties, but I still miss Anxi very much."

Li Ye also smiled and said: "When people go to high places, Gao Shuai also approaches the court step by step, and the next step is Gao Shuai who will strive to enter the court."

"That's something for the future, don't think about it now, but you, what are you going to do in the river?"

"I figured out what the emperor meant. He wanted to establish states and counties in the river, so I want to establish three states in the first term."

Gao Xianzhi shook his head, "It's a good idea, but it's not realistic. If it was easy to set up prefectures and counties, I would have set up prefectures and counties in Anxi long ago. The key is that there are no Han people. If you can persuade the imperial court to relocate [-] Han households to Hezhong, then it is true. There's a lot to do."

"It's more difficult, but we still have to fight for it!"

Gao Xianzhi was silent for a moment and said: "I think the most important thing for you this year is to guard against Tubo!"

Li Ye hurriedly leaned over and said, "I would like to hear more about it!"

Gao Xianzhi said slowly: "Before we made a big mistake. We always thought that Tubo would not invade Khotan from the plateau. We always thought that they would not be able to get through the deserted land. But last year I realized that I was wrong."

"Could it be that Shuai Gao discovered something?"

Gao Xianzhi nodded, "Last autumn, a group of [-] Tubo scouts arrived at Qiemo River, which surprised us. Later, we found out that this Tubo scout came from Qinghai Lake. Later, I checked the information and found out that Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty established Xihai County, Shanshan County, and Qiemo County. These three counties are connected. After the Tubo people conquered the Tuyuhun people, they could use the ancient road from Xihai County to come to Qiemo County."

Li Ye understood Gao Xianzhi's meaning. It is really unrealistic to cross the Hoh Xil no-man's land from the southern plateau. Head to the territory of Huihe, where human beings can survive.

Li Ye thought for a while and said, "If you come from Qinghai Lake, you will have to walk at least two thousand miles, and you must supply some supplies along the way."

"You are right. We have also found the supply point. In Sabize, a large mountain lake is about [-] miles away from Qiemo County. Tubo has already established a supply tribe there."

"But what does that have to do with my defense against Tibet?"

Gao Xianzhi said indifferently: "From this year onwards, the Anxi army's defensive direction will turn to the east, and the big and small Bolu side will withdraw their troops. Once the Anxi army withdraws from Xiaobolu, the Tubo army will definitely fill in the vacancy and continue westward to invade Tubo. Huo Luo."

Li Ye was shocked, "Anxi Army is going to give up Xiao Bolu?"

Gao Xianzhi shook his head, "You didn't understand what I meant. It's not that the Anxi Army wants to give up Xiao Bolu, but the Hezhong Army has taken over. This is an important purpose of the imperial court's establishment of the Hezhong Army. The Anxi Army must cooperate with the Longyou Army. If the army expands from the West Sea to Anxi, the pressure on Longyou will be greatly reduced, but Tubo cannot take Anxi, so the Anxi army wants to strengthen the defense of Khotan, and the big and small Bolu will be handed over to the Hezhong army."

Li Ye was speechless for a while. In the final analysis, the imperial court set up the Hezhong Army to deal with Tubo, and the imperial court had no interest in expanding westward.

After resting in Ganzhou for two days, the army continued westward, leaving more than 700 military families in Ganzhou to recuperate and adapt, so that the elderly and children who had traveled long distances could fully recover.

Without the family members of the army to follow, the marching speed of the team was significantly accelerated. After passing through Yumen Pass and Xingxing Gorge, the team arrived in Tingzhou after more than [-] days.

Tingzhou is today's Urumqi area, where the Han Navy with 1 people is stationed.

The current Beiting Jiedu Envoy is Wang Zhengjian, who is old and sick, and he is waiting to retire. In fact, after the long history Dugujun came over, the real person in charge is Dugujun, not Wang Zhengjian. .

The army rested in Tingzhou for another two days, supplemented with food and water, and then continued westward, and then westward there were no cities, only some fortresses, which were of little significance, and could only get supplies from the nomads along the way.

The northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains and the Yili River Valley are mainly the places where the Wusu and Cypriots live. There are large pastures and rivers everywhere, and they can get supplies along the way.

More than ten days later, the team entered the Yili River Valley. From here, it was under the jurisdiction of the Dudu Mansion in the river.

Everyone has a feeling of coming home. Although there is still half a month to go, they are completely free from the fatigue of the journey. They stop and go along the way and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.

Li Ye urged his horse to come to Wang Changling, and asked with a loud laugh, "Judge Wang, how is your health?"

Wang Changling had a bit of diarrhea when he was in Tingzhou. Li Ye originally wanted to keep him in Tingzhou to recuperate, but he refused, so he gritted his teeth and followed.

Wang Changling was half lying on a camel, covered with a thin quilt, her face was a little pale, and she looked not in good spirits.

"The herbal medicine from Wusun people is very good. I have recovered from my illness, but my body is a little weak. The military doctor asked me to recuperate for a few days. I guess it will be normal after the broken leaves."

"Is riding a camel comfortable?" Li Ye asked again.

"It's very comfortable. I was a little dizzy at first, but now I'm used to it. I won't be tired after such a long journey in the future."

"Does it feel like being on a boat?"

Wang Changling chuckled, "That's right, that's the feeling."

At this time, a soldier rushed over and said, "Commander, Wang Yuanwailang doesn't want to go to Suiye anymore, he hopes to camp here!"

Seeing that it was getting late, Li Ye gave the order: "Stand at the camp!"

The soldiers took off the small marching tents from the camels and set up camp on the grass by the Yili River. Some soldiers began to bury pots for cooking, and many soldiers took hundreds of fat sheep to the river to slaughter them.

Wai Lang, a member of the Ministry of War, was called Wang Sheng, and his mission was to formally hand over the soldier talismans and command arrows of the Hezhong Army to Li Ye after he arrived at the Governor's Mansion in Hezhong.

Without the Soldier Talisman Command Arrow, even if Li Ye could command the soldiers, it would be temporary. At most, it would be the internal affairs of the army, such as marching and camping. He will truly become the commander-in-chief of the Hezhong Army.

Usually, Suiye is handed over, but it will take fifteen days to go to Suiye. Wang Sheng doesn't want to go. Although he has just entered the Yili River Valley, it is already under the jurisdiction of the Hezhong Dudufu, so the handover here does not violate the court regulations.

In the big tent of the Chinese army, dozens of civil and military officials gathered. Under the witness of everyone, Wang Sheng officially handed over the soldier talisman and command arrow to Li Ye, and applause erupted in the big tent.

All civil and military officials are appointed by Li Ye, except for the three important officials of the Deputy Governor, Chang Shi and Sima, who are appointed by the Ministry of War. Just as Gao Xianzhi appointed Feng Changqing as the chief historian, he also had the right to recommend the next Jiedushi, so Gao Xianzhi recommended Feng Changqing as the next Jiedushi.

Otherwise, given Feng Changqing's lameness, short stature, humble background, and lack of professional qualifications, the imperial court would never appoint him as Anxi Jiedu Envoy anyway.

The reason why Li Ye did not object to the three officials appointed by the Ministry of War was that he could not find suitable people, and that these three were actually recommended by Dugulie, Minister of the Ministry of War.

The long history is called Xie Jin, and he joined the army as the head of the Zuojian Guard. Dugulie was originally the General of the Zuojian Guard, and this Xie Jin is his confidential secretary.

The Sima of the Hezhong Governor's Mansion was named Zhong Hui, a Jinshi in Tianbao for four years, and he was originally a Qianniu guard Cao Shenjun, and he was also a member of Dugulie.

The deputy governor is called Dugu Ying, Xiaoqiwei Zhonglang General. Hearing this name, he has something to do with the Dugu family. It is true that he is the five generations of Dugu family generals, starting from his great-grandfather, great-grandfather, great-grandfather, grandfather, His father, himself, and the five generations are all generals of the Dugu family.

They are also the foundation of the Guanlong nobles. What is the foundation of the Guanlong nobles?That is, his own army. Since Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty abolished the trilogy system in the sixth year of Kaihuang, the trilogy disappeared, but the family with the surname still exists.

The most famous is Yu Wenhuaji, a famous treacherous official in the Sui Dynasty. His ancestor was not the Yuwen clan of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, but a slave of Yuwen clan, who followed his master's surname.

This Dugu Ying is actually the same thing. His great-grandfather was a slave of the Dugu family. He was skilled in martial arts and capable. The Dugu family looked up to him, gave him the surname of master, and promoted him to the rank of general. His descendants are all from the Dugu family. Will, but since his grandfather Dugusen is no longer a slave, he has become a commoner.

Dugusen joined the army, continued to make meritorious service and was promoted, married a wife and had children, and established his own family. In the generation of Duguying's father, Duguming, he got along even better and became General Xiaoqiwei Zuo.

But the spiritual seats of their ancestors are all in the side hall of the Dugu Ancestral Hall, so Dugu Ying is still a member of the Dugu family at heart.

Of course, Dugulie didn't want to take the opportunity to occupy the magpie's nest, but Li Ye was already the son-in-law of Dugu's family, and he had no one around him. As the father-in-law, Dugulie naturally had to share Li Ye's worries.

(End of this chapter)