Chapter 305
Chen Ajiao hurried to Changle Palace to meet the Empress Dowager.In front of the palace gate, she suddenly remembered the last time she was reprimanded by her mother, Princess Guantao, and stopped again.She thought about it for a moment, and asked the waiter to invite her mother into the palace to meet the Empress Dowager together.

After the waiter left, Chen Ajiao entered the palace, came in front of the Empress Dowager, and said softly, "Mother, Ajiao is here to see you."

The Empress Dowager was sitting on the brocade couch under the porch, dozing off, when she heard Chen Ajiao's voice, she moved, her shrunken lips twitched, and said weakly: "Who is it?"

"It's me, Madam." Chen Ajiao lifted her clothes, sat beside the Empress Dowager, and took her hand. "I'm Gillian."

"Ah Jiao." The Empress Dowager laughed silently.She raised her hand. "Come on, let the big mother touch it."

Chen Ajiao moved her face closer, the Empress Dowager touched it twice, then slid down again. "Not here, not here." Chen Ajiao was embarrassed. "Aunt, where are you touching?"

The Empress Dowager murmured to herself, her wrinkled hands slid over Chen Ajiao's delicate face, over her plump chest, and finally landed on her flat belly.She touched it for a while, then sighed: "Such a good body, why don't you have children?"

Chen Ajiao's face suddenly collapsed.She twisted her body and said angrily, "Mother—"

"Ah—" The Empress Dowager turned a deaf ear, took Chen Ajiao's hand, and kept talking to herself. "Ah Jiao, you are the queen, you have to hurry up and add a son for the emperor. Otherwise, there will be people thinking about things they shouldn't be thinking about, you know?"

Chen Ajiao nodded sadly.This sentence hit her heart.Recently, the Son of Heaven stayed overnight in Jiaofangdian several times, but her belly still didn't move, which made her very uneasy.She knew very well what would happen to a queen without a legitimate son.

With thoughts, Chen Ajiao was unhappy.The Empress Dowager was awake for a while, and confused for a while, and she couldn't speak clearly. Chen Ajiao half understood, and felt more and more boring.Just when she was suffering, Princess Guantao finally came, and seeing Chen Ajiao's expression, she gave her a reproachful look.

Chen Ajiao didn't care about talking, she pulled Princess Guantao aside and muttered.

When Princess Guantao heard this, her face sank. "Did you tell the Empress Dowager?"

"Not yet, I want to discuss it with my mother first."

"It's a good thing I didn't say it." Princess Guantao breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes softened a bit, but her anger still persisted. "Does he often go to Jiaofangdian recently?"

Chen Ajiao hesitated for a moment, then nodded.Princess Guantao frowned slightly, and asked: "Really?"

"Of course it is true." Chen Ajiao forced a smile, and added: "The last few days are almost in my palace."

"Oh." Princess Guantao nodded in satisfaction. "A-Jiao, sending troops to conquer is a major event. People, horses, food, and supplies have to be transported thousands of miles away. Natural disasters have continued in recent years, how can we stand the toss? Besides, is it worth it for a Liang Xiao?"

"But Liang Xiao is serving the country..."

"As a courtier, it is his duty to serve the country. How could he make a big fuss because of him alone, and the world will be uneasy?" Princess Guantao was very angry, interrupted Chen Ajiao, and her voice became louder. "Besides, do you really think that the county magistrate is really for Liang Xiao? He is just using Liang Xiao as an excuse to act out of selfish intentions. Gillian, you are a queen, you can't let him do it. Be like the empress dowager , correct him from time to time, instead of being treated as a humble dog by him."

Chen Ajiao was at a loss, feeling heavy on her shoulders.

Princess Guantao pondered for a moment, and then said: "He really said that last year the Xiongnu did not enter the country because of Liang Xiao?"

"Yes, yes."

"In other words, this Liang Xiao is quite talented. Although my family is rich, there is no one to lead the army, and we have no prestige in the army. If you can recruit this person, it will be a help, and you will have an extra foreign aid." Princess Tao repeatedly weighed. "Well, let's go and tell the Empress Dowager to ask for credit for Liang Xiao."

Chen Ajiao was anxious about not being able to fulfill the entrustment of the emperor, and she was overjoyed when she heard that there was a turning point. "Can you send troops?"

"Sending troops is a big matter. We can't act hastily. It depends on the Queen Mother's wishes. We can talk about it, but we can't force it."

"Okay, okay." Chen Ajiao laughed, clapped her hands and said, "My mother still has her own opinion. I knew that I would discuss it with my mother first, and it would never be wrong."

Princess Guantao smiled, and reached out to pinch Chen Ajiao's cheek. "Silly boy, everyone in the world can harm you, but mother can still harm you. If you have anything to do in the future, you have to discuss it with mother first like today, you know?"

"Got it." Chen Ajiao smiled like a flower, and pulled Princess Guan Tao back into the palace.

Princess Guantao changed the explanation, only saying that the Huns have changed and may invade on a large scale, and border defenses should be strengthened.The Empress Dowager was not suspicious at all, she nodded repeatedly, asked someone to call the Son of Heaven, and told him to guard the border, not to let the Huns take advantage of it.

The son of heaven understood, and in front of the empress dowager, he summoned Xu Chang, the prime minister of Bai Zhihou, and Zhuang Qingzhai, the doctor of Wu Qianghou's censor, to discuss the matter.Both of these two were promoted by the Empress Dowager, and seeing that the Empress Dowager agreed, they dare not have the slightest objection.The emperor immediately issued an edict, ordering Li Guang and other border prefectures to rectify their armaments.

-

A fair-skinned eunuch walked into Liang's house and brought the queen's condolences and rewards.The queen issued an imperial edict, saying that Liang Mi taught her children well and educated talents for the country. She rewarded ten gold pieces and two brocade forgings.

Liang Yu didn't dare to be negligent, and quickly thanked her, and then rushed to the residence of Princess Guantao to express her gratitude.When they arrived at the door, after the announcement was over, a maid came out to greet her and led Liang Yu in through the side door.

This side door is the side door next to the main entrance, not a small door on the courtyard wall.For Princess Guantao's mansion, this is already the treatment for court officials.For Liang Yu, this is tantamount to reaching the sky in one step, at least he doesn't have to look at the faces of the servants in the Princess Mansion anymore.

Arriving at the central court, after waiting for a while, Princess Guantao came out with three smiles on her face.Liang Yu came forward to thank her and presented ten pieces of double-faced brocade.Princess Guantao nodded in satisfaction, pulled Liangmao and said a few gossips, and calmly stated that it was their mother and daughter talking in front of the Empress Dowager.Liang Yu was very grateful and thanked you again and again.

Princess Guantao achieved her goal and didn't say anything more.Liang Yu resigned tactfully.

Walking out of the gate of Princess Guantao's mansion and getting into the car, Liang Yu let out a long sigh: "Rongqing, as a human being, can An Neng be rich?"

Li Rongqing was also filled with emotion. "What my mother said is true. I only hope that my husband will return safely and the family will be reunited. It will be perfect."

"If you can give birth to a son and the Liang family has a descendant, then it will be called perfection."

Li Rongqing smiled shyly.

-

Liang Xiao and Tie Huali negotiated, exchanged yaks for horses, and traveled day and night to Chigu City.

According to Tie Huali, Aliusu was fighting with the Wusun people there.At the beginning of the year, Liejiaomi suffered a setback at the mountain pass. Aliusu seized the opportunity and led his army to attack many times, gaining a lot.In addition to the Nanshan Qiang and the former Yuezhi tribe known as the Xiaoyuezhi who were recruited before and after, Aliusu's strength increased greatly, and he took the initiative on the battlefield, squeezing the Wusun people in the Chigu City area.

Liang Xiao doubted Tie Huali's words.When it comes to fighting the Huns, they pour out their bitterness and are almost vulnerable; when it comes to alliances, they brag, as if they are invincible, and only Aliusu is qualified to represent the Yuezhi.To tell the truth, they were not good at lying, and their words were inconsistent and full of flaws.

Liang Xiao decided to go and see for himself before making a decision.

Going north from Shache, you have to pass through Shule.Shule is also a small country. Even among the oasis countries to the east of Congling, Shule is a small and weak country with only a little over 500 households, a population of less than [-], and soldiers of less than [-].However, Shule Kingdom has a good geographical location. Not only are there lush water and grass, but also there are many merchants and businesses. It is a small but rich oasis country.

Shule is also one of the few small countries with urban governance among the oasis countries. In addition to animal husbandry, it also has good agriculture.Compared with animal husbandry, agriculture can provide more food, which is one of the reasons why merchants are willing to stop in Shule.

Shule City also has a name in later generations, called Kashgar. It is one of the most important cities on the Silk Road, where the two northern and southern Silk Roads surrounding the Taklimakan Desert meet.

Liang Xiao was short on time, so he only stopped in Shule for one day to inspect the mountain pass of Yandun Valley.According to his analysis, Li Guangli's subsequent expedition to Dawan should have taken this path.But now, from the standpoint of protecting Dawan, he also wanted to see if this road was easy to walk, and how likely it was that the Wusun people or the Yuezhi people would enter the Fergana Basin through this.

There are also some Han merchants in Shule.Seeing Liang Xiao and his party, they were quite puzzled. Many knights wore Chinese-style armor, but they had faces of barbarians. They couldn't figure out the situation.Although Liang Xiao had the Han Festival in his hand, the businessman rarely saw the Han Festival and did not realize the meaning of this bamboo pole.However, businessmen never let go of any opportunity. Some people took the initiative to chat, and only then did they realize that these people were envoys sent by the Han court, and immediately became lively.

In the evening, Liang Xiao welcomed five Han merchants.

These five Han merchants were headed by an old man.The old man's name is Huangfuqi, and he is from An Ding. When he was young, he followed his father's generation to the Western Regions to do business.It was the first time he saw a Han envoy appearing in the Western Regions, and he couldn't contain his excitement.

Liang Xiao treated each other with courtesy, asked about the relevant situation, and explained the reason for the mission.

Huangfuqi and the others were both surprised and delighted when they heard this.They have long heard about the war last year, but they did not know that Han Chinese participated in it and played a key role.Although Liang Xiao said it simply and didn't boast about it, businessmen are naturally good at observing faces. Looking at the Greek-faced cavalry around Liang Xiao and the orchid next to Liang Xiao, they can guess a little bit. .

However, when they heard that Liang Xiao was going to join forces with Aliusu to fight against the main force of the Huns, they shook their heads repeatedly.

Huangfuqi said: "The Yuezhi people are not reliable. Aliusu is indeed capable, but his strength is limited. It is already very difficult to deal with the Wusun people, plus the Huns, how can they have the courage. According to the old man, Rather than forming an alliance with the Yuezhi people, my lord, it is better to form an alliance with the Wusun people."

"Wusun people?" Liang Xiao was greatly surprised.
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(End of this chapter)

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