Northern Dynasties

Chapter 1378 Waiting for the Battle of Yiwu
Gaochang King Qu Qiangu was in his early twenties, with a rather stocky figure. However, because he wore his hair loose and his clothes were worn with the left lapel on, he looked a bit crude at first glance. However, his words and actions were polite, showing that he had received a relatively complete Han education.

"I, Qu from Gaochang, a former vassal of Xizhou, pay my respects to His Majesty the Supreme Emperor of the Tang Dynasty!"

After Qu Qiangu entered the tent, he first looked up at the Great Tang Supreme standing in the tent. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he hurriedly lowered his head and bowed respectfully.

Although the Longxi Li family has many personal connections in Xizhou, not all people and things can be linked to them. It is a bit far-fetched for Qu Qiangu to claim to be an old relative.

As a country in the Western Regions, Gaochang had no subordinate relationship with Xiliang, but because there were many Han people settled in the area, the customs and culture of the two countries were quite similar. The direct jurisdiction between the two countries was established when Li Bao retreated to Yiwu and established the Xiliang regime. He once implemented a tributary rule over Gaochang, but when he planned to occupy Gaochang and cut off the retreat route of Northern Liang, the troops he sent were still resisted by the Gaochang people.

Even this thin relationship actually has nothing to do with Qu Qiangu in front of him. Since the Northern Wei Dynasty unified Hexi, Gaochang has experienced four dynasties, and the current Qu family Gaochang is already the fourth generation.

But as long as people become strong, they will not worry about not having good friends in the world. When Qu Qiangu presented the letter to the country for the first time, he claimed to be a native of Xizhou, and Li Tai did not correct or object to this, which was regarded as tacitly acknowledging this origin.

"We have corresponded with each other many times in the past. Seeing Qu Lang's elegant writing style, I couldn't help but imagine how he was. Now that I see him, he is indeed quite good. He is truly a role model for Xizhou and has an outstanding style."

Li Tai smiled and motioned Qu Qiangu to skip the formality, and raised his hand to signal him to take his seat.

The connection between the two sides was not just temporary. Gaochang was one of the few regimes in the Western Regions where Han people dominated the mainstream. It was also located on the main route of the Silk Road and was very sensitive to changes in the Chinese regime.

When Qu Qiangu's father, Qu Baomao, was still alive, he sent envoys to the Western Wei several times and congratulated Li Tai on replacing the Yuwen family. Of course, the exchanges between the two sides at that time were mainly based on the needs of trade.

As the Silk Road became more open, the huge productivity and commodity export and digestion capabilities of the Guanzhong regime forced all forces along this route to pay attention to it, and no matter whether their attitude was hostile or friendly, they could not take it lightly.

However, when Qu Qiangu succeeded to the throne, Li Tai officially replaced the Western Wei and established the Tang Dynasty. Qu Qiangu showed more obvious signs of strengthening interaction in the exchanges, not only in trade, but also in politics. However, Li Tai was busy with the plan of unifying the world at that time, and the Western Regions were still a marginal issue, so he did not give a formal response.

In 552 AD, the th year of the Western Wei Dynasty, the Turkic Ashina Tumen led his troops to the east, conquered the Tiele tribes and the Rouran, and officially became the new overlord of the grassland. His brother Moheduo Yehushi Dianmi stayed in Jinshan and was preparing for a westward expedition. As a regime located in the eastern part of the Western Regions, Gaochang inevitably surrendered to the rapidly rising Turkic Khanate.

Afterwards, Shitiamil officially started his Western Expedition. He successively annexed and integrated the Turgesh, Qarluk, Basmil and other tribes, which made the Western Turkic power grow rapidly. His influence and control over the Western Regions increased day by day. He also joined forces with the Sassanid Persians to attack the Hephthalites, the overlord of the Western Regions at that time. From then on, the Western Turkic hegemony in the Western Regions was established, and there was no force in the region that dared to confront the Western Turkic.

It was precisely because he thought he had control over the situation in the Western Regions and had a unified and stable territory that Shidianmi dared to resist the name of the Turkic Khan and brazenly declared independence.

However, the establishment of hegemony is not overnight, and conquest by force alone cannot achieve deeper integration. In particular, the productivity of the Western Turks themselves is not high, and they can only gain benefits through war plunder and extortion. For the various states in the Western Regions, they are pure invaders, not protectors who can establish a new order.

On the other hand, although the Tang Dynasty had not yet launched any substantial military and political actions in the Western Regions, as news of the Tang Emperor's western tour spread, many leaders of Western Region states came to Hexi to express their welcome. The recent expo held in Dunhuang City was even more crowded and popular.

With the stories of the Han Dynasty's expansion into the Western Regions, and the Silk Road trade that has been going on for many years, these Western Region states are well aware that once the powerful Eastern empire, the Tang Dynasty, returns to the Western Regions, it will certainly not establish its rule through military hegemony like the Western Turks did. There is great room for win-win cooperation with the Tang Dynasty.

Therefore, the states in the Western Regions were all superficially submissive to the Western Turks, but they were still somewhat alienated and resistant inwardly, but they endured it in the face of the powerful Western Turks. However, some states were more severely oppressed by the Western Turks, and their resentment towards the Western Turks became stronger, and Gaochang was one of them.

Due to its geographical location, Gaochang was the first to be affected when the Turks invaded the West, and was also the first among the states in the Western Regions to express submission to the Turks.

But this did not bring about the Turkic treatment. Instead, Gaochang became a supply point for the Turkic army to conquer other states and tribes in the Western Regions, and suffered heavy labor and exploitation. Even though the situation in the Western Regions has gradually stabilized and the Turks have established their hegemony in the Western Regions, the exploitation of Gaochang has not eased. At the same time, in order to strengthen their control over Gaochang, the Western Turks also adopted various other means, and marriage alliances were a relatively common way. The previous Gaochang King Qu Baomao was forced to marry a Turkish woman, and his son Qu Qiangu was not spared either. After his father's death, he was forced to marry his stepmother.

"I am truly ashamed to receive the praise from His Majesty the Supreme Emperor. I live in a remote borderland, bordering the barbarians, and the customs are similar to those of the barbarians. I am ashamed to see my ancestors with my hair loose and my clothes on the left. I dare not call myself a role model of Xizhou."

After hearing the Supreme's praise, Qu Qiangu immediately said with a look of shame on his face, and then he showed a look of resentment: "Qu is incompetent in governing the country, and now I am forced to break human ethics by a powerful clan, and act like a beast. I really hate it, but I can only sigh that I am powerless to kill the enemy..."

Li Tai knew that Qu Qiangu was angry at the Western Turks for forcing him to marry his stepmother, but in comparison, Qu Qiangu was lucky. In history, his son Qu Boya was still forced to marry the same woman, and that was decades later. This Turkic princess was turned into a family heirloom.

However, Li Tai was not qualified to blame the Western Turks for going too far. The states were ruled by the law of the jungle and would inevitably be bullied for making big things out of small matters. It was hateful that the Western Turks forced the ancestors and grandchildren of the Qu family to share one wife, and it was not a pleasant thing for Li Tai to force a cheap son on the Tuyuhun Khan Kua Lu.

At present, Gaochang still retains certain Han ethics and customs, and would be ashamed and angry about this matter. But in history, a few decades later, its royal family also accepted this marriage custom. Qu Qiangu's grandson married his biological mother, Princess Huarong Yuwen, who was married into Gaochang by marriage in the Sui Dynasty.

So many people and things in this world are not necessarily like this. They may become completely different and unrecognizable in an instant.

Whether it was the trampling of human values ​​or the heavy exploitation that the country had been enduring to this day, Qu Qiangu hated the Western Turks deeply. He had made repeated statements in his previous letters to the Tang Dynasty. Now that he had the opportunity to meet the emperor, Qu Qiangu naturally became more excited and kept accusing the Western Turks of various atrocities. He repeatedly expressed his hope to accept the jurisdiction and protection of the Tang Dynasty.

"I have also heard of the arrogance of the Turkic Moheduo Yehu. The Khan of his country was supported by our Tang Dynasty, but he disobeyed orders and occupied the west of Jinshan Mountain, arrogant and self-righteous. Now our Tang Dynasty troops have come here to punish him!"

After hearing this, Qu Qiangu immediately showed joy on his face, and immediately bowed to the ground and said repeatedly: "Your Majesty has unified the world and is the great ruler of the universe. Now you have a million soldiers and are powerful in the Western Region. Naturally, you are not afraid of the fierce Hu. In the future, we will fight against the Hu bandits. I will be your spearman and pioneer, and I will give you a detailed report on the bandits. The whole country of Gaochang is willing to give everything we have to help the army defeat the bandits!"

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

Seeing Qu Qiangu so excited and enthusiastic, Li Tai couldn't help but sigh that this kid was really oppressed by the Western Turks. Until now, he was willing to do anything as long as he could strike a blow to the Western Turks.

After all, this was the first time that the Tang Dynasty sent troops to the Western Regions, and they were facing a powerful opponent like the Western Turks who had been operating in the Western Regions for many years. It would naturally be a great thing to have a local tyrant like Gaochang to cooperate closely.

However, the battle plan against the Western Turks had already been formulated, so there was no need to consult Qu Qiangu. Moreover, although Qu Qiangu was familiar with the situation of the Western Turks, he was still unfamiliar with the strength and combat style of the Tang army, so even if he made suggestions, they might not be appropriate.

Then Li Tai continued, "The Western Turks have controlled the Western Regions for a long time. Although our army is strong, if we cross the Quicksand to attack them from afar, the situation will be unpredictable. Rather than rushing to attack them from afar, it is better to wait for the enemy to arrive. Now the Turkic Shetu Khan has led our elite army across the Jinshan Mountains to attack the Xueyantuo tribes to disturb the heart of the Western Turks.

Yiwu is my ancestral heritage. This time when I return to visit my homeland, I will also build a great foundation here and rule the land forever! Qu Lang can lead his troops to move east to Yiwu. By then, the heartland of the Western Turks will be disturbed and it will be difficult to stop them. The Gaochang people will be protected by my army. If the Western Turks dare to pursue them, my army will fight and kill them!"

Yiwulu is located in the northwest of Dunhuang. It is also the place where Li Tai’s ancestor Li Bao established the Later Western Liang. Therefore, the Later Western Liang is also called Yiwulu Western Liang, and its land is connected to Gaochang in the west.

When Qu Qiangu heard that he was asked to move away from his homeland, he couldn't help but look embarrassed. However, when he thought about being able to get rid of the control of the Western Turks in one fell swoop, he was moved again. After weighing the pros and cons for a long time, he spoke again: "I naturally admire the Tian Tang and am eager to return to the rule of the Supreme. However, there are also many people in the country who are collaborating with the enemy. I am afraid that I cannot control them..."

"That's fine. Once the news of the battle at Jinshan arrives and the Western Turks are too busy to take care of themselves, Qu Lang can then attract the people you can control to come east. We will have a strong army here to support us!"

No matter how arrogant Li Tai was, he would not go straight into the Western Turkic territory to fight with them. He would use the Eastern Turkic people to attack the west of Jinshan and lure the people of Gaochang to move east to Yiwulu. The Western Turkic people would inevitably be greatly disturbed, and then it would be a good opportunity to fight!