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Chapter 1258 Background
Uncle Fu wiped away his tears, smiled, and said loudly to Guo Xin:
"Young master, the caravan also brought some fine wine from our Great Tang Dynasty, authentic Xinfeng wine! Young master, you probably haven't had it in many years, have you?"

"When I passed by the Uyghur capital, a Uyghur nobleman offered to exchange ten taels of gold for a jar of wine from me. This old servant couldn't bear to part with it, thinking that I must make sure that you, young master, can have a good bowl of it!"

He then gave an order, and the caravan members immediately unloaded several well-sealed wine jars from a carriage.

The mud seal was broken, and a rich and mellow aroma of wine instantly filled the air, evoking deep memories of the most familiar tastes from the Tang Dynasty for countless veterans.

Guo Xin took a deep breath, a long-lost, almost intoxicated expression appearing on his face.

However, he did not take the wine bowl offered by Uncle Fu, but instead looked around at the soldiers before speaking loudly:

"Since the trade routes were cut off, I am not the only one who has not tasted the fine wines of the Tang Dynasty. This is the wine of my hometown, how can I enjoy it all by myself?"

He suddenly waved his hand and said, "Men, dilute all this wine with water and distribute it to everyone! Let every soldier of the Anxi Army taste the flavor of home!"

The order was issued without anyone finding it inappropriate; fine wine from Xinfeng cost ten thousand coins a cup, a luxury in Chang'an.

But here, in Kucha, thousands of miles away, to be able to let thousands of soldiers taste it is already an immense favor.

Soon, several large vats of diluted liquor were brought out. Although the liquor was so weak that it was almost tasteless, every veteran who received a portion of it carefully held the bowl and deeply inhaled the faint aroma of the liquor, as if it were fine wine.

Then they sipped it carefully, one small sip at a time, as if they were drinking not wine, but the homesickness of twenty-five years. Many people were already in tears as they drank.

Lin Hao, carrying a bowl of light wine, walked up to Guo Xin and said loudly:
"In the past, Huo Qubing, the General of the Cavalry of the Han Dynasty, poured the fine wine bestowed by the emperor into the spring and drank it with his soldiers, thus giving rise to Jiuquan Prefecture!"

"Today, the Grand Protector-General is sharing wine with the entire army, displaying a spirit that rivals that of the ancients. I believe that under the Grand Protector-General's command, the people and soldiers of Anxi will be united as one, just as Huo Qubing swept through the Xiongnu, cleansing the Western Regions."

"Let the banners of our Great Tang Dynasty shine once more over the Tianshan Mountains, and let the camel bells of Anxi Road resound once more along the Silk Road!"

"May the Great Tang Dynasty be victorious! May the Great Tang Dynasty be victorious! May the Great Tang Dynasty be victorious!" Lin Hao's words were like sparks, instantly igniting the long-suppressed emotions of all the soldiers!

Whether they were white-haired veterans or young men who had just come from Chang'an, whether they had found their relatives or lost their loved ones, they all raised their wine bowls (or water bowls) high at this moment and let out a deafening roar that gathered all their longing, grievances, loyalty and hope!

The roar, like rolling thunder, burst out of the Protectorate and spread throughout the entire city of Kucha, echoing repeatedly among the broken city walls and soaring into the sky!
Many merchants and tribal people in the city were startled by the sudden, enormous sound and listened intently.

When they realized that it was someone shouting "May the Great Tang Dynasty be victorious!", their faces showed surprise and speculation.

As reinforcements arrived, the news quickly spread to all levels of society within the city, turning into barely suppressed joy as people began whispering and gossiping among themselves.

"It's the Great Tang! The Tang army is shouting 'Long live the Great Tang!'"

"Could it be that reinforcements from Chang'an have arrived? Are the trade routes about to reopen?"

"It's true, the Tang Dynasty has really sent reinforcements. They're not the old Tang army; they've been sent from the capital, Chang'an," a merchant or commoner who was fortunate enough to witness Lin Hao entering the city explained to others.

"God help us! If the trade routes can be reopened, we can exchange our sheepskins and jade for silk and tea!"

For thirty years, the Western Regions were blocked, and the suffering was not limited to the Tang army. The various Hu tribes that relied on Silk Road trade for survival also faced hardship.

The reappearance of the Tang Dynasty banners and the thunderous cheers gave them a glimmer of hope for the restoration of its former glory.

Guo Xin listened to the resounding cheers that echoed throughout the city, and a rare smile appeared on his face.

Looking at the enthusiastic soldiers before him, and then at Lin Hao beside him who was calm, confident, and full of potential, a hopeful and excited smile bloomed on his face.

He turned to Uncle Fu, his voice trembling with excitement, and said, "Uncle Fu, you just said that the trade route has really been reopened? It's not just temporary support!"

Uncle Fu quickly pointed to the fully loaded carriages:
"It's open, all thanks to Commander Lin... no, it's Grand Commander Lin! He led us north to the Uyghur camp, and then we turned southwest, opening up a trade route."

"Although it's much longer and more treacherous than the old route, at least we've managed to transport the goods from Chang'an. Look at all this silk and porcelain!"

Guo Xin's gaze swept over the goods, but then he was a little puzzled. If he hadn't misheard, when Uncle Fu called Lin Hao, he was calling him the Grand Commander.

"Grand Commander?" Guo Xin looked at Lin Hao with a puzzled expression.

Seeing that Guo Xin finally realized what was happening, Lin Hao smiled slightly and said:

"When I was in Chang'an, I had the honor of being summoned by His Majesty. In addition to telling His Majesty about the current situation in the Western Regions, I also told His Majesty about the strategies for managing the Western Regions..."

After recounting the events in Chang'an, Lin Hao finally spoke:
"After understanding the situation in the Western Regions, His Majesty greatly approved of my strategy for the Western Regions, and therefore granted me the title of Grand Governor of the Western Regions, in charge of many affairs in the Western Regions!"

“If this were in Chang’an, the Grand Commander could be pardoned and appointed based on a single policy, and this would certainly not have happened. But this is the Western Regions, a place that the Tang Dynasty has lost control of and cannot manage.”

"Since I can't control it anyway, I might as well give it a try. Maybe I'll get some unexpected benefits!" Lin Hao said frankly.

He then handed over the imperial edict granting him amnesty and the imperial edict to Guo Xin of the Anxi Protectorate.

In fact, Guo Xin didn't care much about Lin Hao's appointment as the Grand Commander of the Western Regions. Like Yang Xigu, they and the soldiers left behind were already quite old and lacked support.

Their concern was what would happen to the Western Regions and the people living there when they could no longer wield weapons.
They genuinely support the emergence of someone as outstanding as Lin Hao, and even hope that Lin Hao can become their successor and continue to protect the Western Regions for the Tang Dynasty.

The reason why Guo Xin and Yang Xigu both have this perception is because Lin Hao used his skills to influence them when he approached them.

After reading the imperial edict, Guo Xin disregarded Lin Hao's status as Grand Commander and patted Lin Hao heavily on the shoulder.

"Good! Good! Good!" Guo Xin then shouted loudly, his eyes shining with an unprecedented light as he said:
"With the Western Regions now under the unified control of the Grand Protectorate and trade routes reopened, our Anxi Protectorate and Beiting Protectorate are saved, and the Western Regions have hope!"

Then Guo Xin changed the subject, saying, "Fortunately, the imperial court has the ability to recognize talent. I have been in the Western Regions for many years, but I failed to discover Lin Hao's strengths. It was truly my mistake!"

Guo Xin not only did not blame Lin Hao for privately asking Emperor Dezong for an official position, but also solemnly apologized: "Fortunately, the court helped this Protector-General and made up for this oversight!"

"The Grand Protector is too kind!" Lin Hao nodded and said.

"If it weren't for the Grand Protector's steadfast defense, the Western Regions would probably have fallen long ago. If it weren't for the Grand Protector's approval, I wouldn't have been able to ask His Majesty for support."

Guo Xin smiled, feeling somewhat proud of his support for Lin Hao's return to Chang'an to seek aid. However, he also understood that without Lin Hao's talent, he wouldn't have been able to secure such valuable support.

Then, recalling the contents of the imperial edict, he said with some worry:

"But from what you're saying, you want to use Luntai, which was originally under the jurisdiction of the Beiting Protectorate, as the future Grand Protectorate!"

"Indeed!" Lin Hao nodded and explained.
"Although the trade route between the Tang Dynasty and the Western Regions has been opened, this route is too fragile. Moreover, the Tibetan Empire, which occupies the Hexi Corridor, is ultimately a major threat."

"Therefore, the Anxi and Beiting armies will eventually have to rely on their own efforts, and the only places in the Western Regions that can be cultivated are the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains and the area around the Yili River."

"If we want to gain a foothold in the Western Regions, we must occupy one of these two places. Luntai, which was formerly under the jurisdiction of the Beiting Protectorate, is not far from the weak Xizhou."

At this time, Guo Xin's Kucha still had 20,000 soldiers. Although there were many foreign tribes, their military strength was not bad. Yang Xigu's Xizhou, on the other hand, only had less than 3,000 soldiers. If a battle were to break out, it would be very difficult for them to hold their ground.

Even with reinforcements from Kucha, the distance was too far, and they might be besieged and attacked along the way. Therefore, occupying Luntai would allow them to effectively reinforce Xizhou, which was more than 100 kilometers away.

Guo Xin nodded, then frowned and said:
"However, since Luntai is still in the hands of Tibet, if there is anything we can do to help, please feel free to say so!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Hao was deeply moved. Perhaps this was the reason why this iron-blooded prince was still able to lead his remaining troops to guard the Western Regions for decades after severing ties with the Tang Dynasty!

With Lin Hao's return from Chang'an, the two last strongholds of the Tang Dynasty in the Western Regions, Kucha and Xizhou, were revitalized by the fresh blood he brought.

However, it also faces enormous pressure to absorb population, as Xizhou City is too small and has a small population.

In contrast, Kucha, though a large city, also had a significant population. The sudden influx of tens of thousands of people into both cities posed a severe challenge to food supplies, housing, and public security.

Guo Xin personally oversaw the operation, arranging for civil officials and military officers from the prefecture, along with some of the personnel brought by the old steward of the Guo family, to quickly register the more than ten thousand people who had followed Lin Hao to Kucha.

"Based on their place of origin and kinship, every hundred households will be organized into a hamlet!" Guo Xin quickly made the arrangement.

"Those who are skilled in farming, water conservancy, and craftsmanship will be registered separately! Outside the city of Kucha, there are still abandoned sites of former military farms. Although the irrigation canals are silted up, the foundations remain!"

"From this moment forward, distribute farm tools and seeds to each village, repair irrigation systems, and reclaim and sow wasteland! The elderly, women, and children will be responsible for gathering, mending, and assisting in the repair of houses and camps!"

With Guo Xin's order, the entire Kucha region instantly sprang into operation like a giant beehive, especially with the arrival of thousands of civilians and soldiers, which brought new vitality and life to the lifeless city.

The white-haired veterans took on the role of temporary foremen and technical advisors. Although they were better at wielding knives, they were familiar enough with the land that they knew exactly where to draw water and where the soil was most fertile.

The newly arrived people, though far from their homes, were filled with great enthusiasm by the promise of "fifty acres of land and ten years of tax exemption" and the tangible opportunity to settle down and make a living.

On the desolate wilderness outside the city, near the water source, groups of people soon appeared to be clearing land, and the clanging and banging of repairs replaced the previous silence.

In Xizhou, Yang Xigu acted just as swiftly, taking over most of the people and three thousand new soldiers left behind by Lin Hao.

The situation in Xizhou is much worse than in Kucha. Fortunately, the land here is more open, but the pressure is still considerable.

Besides the new troops that Lin Hao was to take away, Yang Xigu dispersed the other soldiers and incorporated them into the Xizhou garrison. Veteran soldiers provided one-on-one training to familiarize them with the Western Regions environment, Tibetan tactics, and key points for defending the city.

The common people were also organized into groups for military farming, with a focus on restoring the old road from Xizhou to Luntai, as well as abandoned military farming sites along the route.

This was not only for food production, but also, to some extent, to pave the way and establish supply points for subsequent operations toward Luntai.

The resettlement work was complex and multifaceted, but in these two isolated cities that had longed for life for so long, everything was progressing rapidly amidst a hopeful chaos.

Lin Hao entrusted specific matters to Yang Xigu, Guo Xin, and the Guo family steward, while he devoted all his energy to planning for Luntai City.

To Guo Xin's surprise, after detailed discussions, Lin Hao refused his request to send elite troops to support him, and instead took away the elderly soldiers.

This made Guo Xin quite suspicious. His first thought was whether Lin Hao was planning to send these veterans to their deaths.

However, to Guo Xin's surprise, Lin Hao directly ordered Guo Yuanzheng and the cavalrymen who followed Lin Hao to step forward and remove their helmets.

At first, Guo Xin didn't understand what Lin Hao meant, but when he looked closely at Guo Yuanzheng, his eyes widened instantly.

"You, you, you all~!" Guo Xin then looked at the cavalry unit assigned to Lin Hao and asked in astonishment, "How come you all look so young?"

These were his personal guards, his bodyguards who protected him at all times. They were together all the time, so how could he not know them well?

At first, Guo Yuanzheng and his men wore helmets, and since they had been traveling a long way, they didn't pay much attention to them. Then, they were busy arranging for the newly arrived civilians, and subconsciously neglected these guards.

Lin Hao smiled, then said to Guo Yuanzheng, "You explain this to the Grand Protector, and I'll add the details later!"

"Yes!" Guo Yuanzheng then recounted the events he encountered on his journey eastward back to Chang'an.

Of course, the main focus was on Lin Hao's miraculous ability to restore youth and make warhorses stronger, which was described in detail.

Lin Hao then added to the discussion, briefly mentioning his own abilities.

The main point was to convey to Guo Xin that they could absorb the lives of foreign soldiers and transfer them to these veterans, allowing them to regain their youthful spirit!
This is why Lin Hao asked the Protector-General for these five thousand veterans. No matter how old they are, once they are restored to their youth, they will be an incomparably powerful fighting force, loyal to the Tang Dynasty.