Chinese New Year

Chapter 1434 New Home
Gaochang City is actually quite large, consisting of three layers: the outer city, the inner city, and the palace city. It has a circumference of more than ten li and faces south, slightly to the west.

This city has been expanded four times in history. The first expansion occurred during the period when Gaochang abolished the feudal system and established a prefecture, and it was completed at that time.

The second time was during the reign of the Qu clan in Gaochang, the third time was during the Tang Dynasty in Xizhou, and the last time was during the reign of the Gaochang Uyghurs.

The expansions during Zhang Jun's reign mainly involved widening and raising the city walls, with no other major alterations.

The inner city had a circumference of nearly eight li and was the residential area for high-ranking officials and nobles, where Buddhist temples and Taoist monasteries were built.

The palace city is located in the northern part of the entire city, with a circumference of less than two miles. It was built on the basis of the ancient city of the Han Dynasty. Although it is called a "city", it is actually just a large courtyard mansion. It is just that thick and tall city walls were built and defensive facilities were constructed.

After reading it, Shao Xu understood the situation.

His future palace will be similar to the mansions of high-ranking officials in Luoyang and Bianliang, but it will be much inferior to the palace of his fourth brother, which is currently under construction.

But he didn't care. There was enough for his wives, concubines, and children to live in, and he could even set aside some houses to use as barracks for his guards.

"Your Majesty, I have led the troops to clean and sweep the palace, and it is ready for guests to move in," Lieutenant Xue Tao reported.

The palace gates were already open, and the palace was filled with guards from the Zhao King's residence.

Shao Xu laughed and said, "Let's go inside and take a look."

Everyone yielded to each other, and in the end, the officials of the royal palace were given priority, followed by the local powerful families. Among the local powerful families, the Qu family was the most respected.

The local population of Gaochang is mostly of Western Region Hu (non-Han) origin, with high noses and deep-set eyes. Among the soldiers of the Wuji Xiaowei camp and their families, there are also many people with high noses and deep-set eyes or mixed Han and non-Han ancestry. The largest pure Han clan is the branch of the Qu family of Jincheng, which has more than a thousand members and also deeply controls a portion of the non-Han people, making it a powerful force.

Below the Qu family were mostly minor clans, with only Wei Jin, who had served as a clerk in Zhang Jun's entourage, possessing some power and controlling several hundred people.

The Wei family was a branch of the Wei clan of Tianshui. They were primarily engaged in commerce, were fluent in the Hu language, and had extensive social connections. However, they were severely suppressed by the Qu clan and had no hope of competing with them, so they had no choice but to submit.

But the Wei family wanted to submit to the imperial court, but they refused!

In the second year of Kaiping (328), an imperial edict appointed Wei Jin as the governor of Gaochang, with the intention of breaking the stalemate in Gaochang.

However, after serving for several years, Wei Jin only caused the Qu family a minor setback, without seriously damaging their health.

At the end of the Kaiping era, Wei Jin passed away, and the imperial court sent Linghu Ce, a prefect from Dunhuang.

This man had no ambition; he was only interested in becoming an official, and Gaochang remained largely peaceful.

However, the raging tide of the fall of the Sima Jin dynasty affected the Western Regions. Even though thousands of miles of mountains and rivers blocked the way, and the waves were reduced to mere ripples by the time they reached this place, even these ripples still drastically changed the situation in the four counties of Gaochang (including Jiaohe).

The arrival of the Yu family of Kuaiji and the Xu family of Danyang posed a serious challenge to the Qu family's position. The Qu family alone would probably find it difficult to contend with them, but if the Western Region Hu people under their influence and control were taken into account, the Qu family would be three times stronger.

Of course, since the Yu and Xu clans were newcomers, they were given land and some semi-abandoned wells and canals, which, once repaired, would be enough to support the entire clan. There was no need for them to compete with the Qu clan. Gaochang was vast, and its land and water resources were not yet depleted. There was no need to turn against them now. It would be better to align themselves with the King of Zhao, manage their family businesses well, and eventually, things would be resolved.

Therefore, Yu Ning and Xu Fen stood silently behind Qu Gan, giving him the main seat.

Xu Fen was the eldest brother of Xu Fuzhu, who was executed. He was adopted by his uncle Xu Chao in his early years. Xu Chao surrendered with Shan Xia and was unharmed. Even the manor in Chaisang was preserved. Therefore, as Xu Chao's eldest son by patriarchal law, Xu Fen was naturally safe.

However, after Xu Chao adopted his eldest nephew Xu Fen, he also had a biological son, and the two brothers had a very bad relationship.

Xu Chao was quite a character; under the guise of leaving an heir for his elder brother, he reinstated Xu Fen as Xu Fu's son and exiled him to Gaochang.

Xu Chao died a few years ago. I heard his son is in poor health and seems to be dying soon. I really don't know what to say...

King Zhao had already reached the center of the square.

The square wasn't large, only about 200 paces in circumference, but it was enough for the guards with halberds and the civil and military officials of the country to stand. There were even seven or eight houses and five or six large trees on both sides, which could be used for resting in the shade or for the attendants and close ministers to work.

Behind the square are three halls: one main hall for public audiences and two side halls for the King of Zhao and his prime minister to conduct their business.

"This hall may be small, but it is sufficient." Shao Xu looked at the not-so-tall hall and the pillars in front of it and said with a smile, "I only need an office for asking questions and conducting business."

The pillars are somewhat weathered; they used to be covered in gold leaf because Gaochang was very wealthy and far from poor. However, after Zhao Zhen's rebellion was quelled, Zhang Jun's troops stormed into the palace and looted extensively, scraping away all the gold leaf from the pillars…

Shao Xu then entered the main hall, looking left and right, and was very satisfied.

Many of the furnishings had been looted, but his father returned some from Zhang Jun's old palace in Guzang City. For those that couldn't be found, he retrieved them from the palaces in Chang'an and Pingyang, basically completing the necessary arrangements for him, so he wouldn't have to live in such poverty in the future.

While Shao Xu was chatting and laughing with his subordinates and wealthy people, Lieutenant Xue Tao quickly walked two steps to the left side of the throne, lifted a beaded curtain, and waited silently.

Upon seeing it, Shao Xu laughed and said, "This beaded curtain certainly doesn't belong to the King of Gaochang. Judging from its style, it should be from the Central Plains. Could it be from—"

“Your Majesty, this curtain was taken from Jianzhang Palace in Chang’an and sent here,” said Wang You Shen Jin.

"I see." Shao Xu nodded, exited the main hall from the left side of the throne, and saw a courtyard.

Surprisingly, the courtyard was planted with many flowers and trees, and a pond was dug.

The tree is very thick, and it has been growing for many years. Its trunk is tall and straight, and its canopy is wide open, providing a very shady view.

The most eye-catching feature was the pond. Although it wasn't large, it was quite a rare find in Gaochang, where water resources were not abundant. Shao Xu stared at the pond in a daze and was even more delighted to find that it was still flowing water. He laughed and said, "On a hot summer day, sitting in this courtyard to cool off, sometimes playing in the water, sometimes fishing, is wonderful."

The crowd laughed a few times.

The officials of the Prince's residence forced awkward smiles. Coming from the Central Plains, they looked down on this kind of garden, finding it quite ordinary.

Yu Ning and Xu Fen, who came from Jiangnan, had very complicated expressions.

Qu Gan was somewhat envious. His family lived in the inner city, but their conditions were not as good as those in the royal palace, which he greatly envied.

As usual, some houses were built on both sides of the garden; these were the guards' barracks.

Behind the garden are two more courtyards, each with more than twenty rooms, which can be used for family members and maids. Some rooms can even be used as armories or storage rooms.

"Excellent!" Shao Xu looked around and became even more satisfied. He then invited everyone to sit down in the garden.

The soldiers brought over some cut fruits and vegetables.

Shao Xu pondered for a moment and said, "The royal palace has not yet been bestowed upon me, so it is truly inconvenient for me to reside here. Furthermore, I will be leading my army north in a few days."

Upon hearing this, everyone was surprised, including some of the officials in the Prince's Palace. It was clear that the Prince of Zhao had not informed everyone.

"The King of Cheshi sent an envoy, saying that the defeated Xiongnu army had poured into the country and was looting everywhere. The Cheshi army could not control them, so he asked the expeditionary force to send troops to help." Shao Xu said, "I have already discussed it with Commander Yang and I will personally lead 5,000 infantry and cavalry north to help the King of Cheshi suppress the bandits."

"Why must Your Majesty personally lead the expedition?" Lieutenant Xue Tao stood up and said, "I can lead three thousand troops north to meet the enemy."

Shao Xu shook his head and said, "My mind is made up, I will say no more."

Xue Tao was about to speak again when Da Nong Liu Gong secretly tugged at her sleeve.

Although Xue Tao was puzzled, he still sat down. However, he soon realized that the king wanted to establish his prestige and even vaguely wanted to control the Cheshi Kingdom, which was just across the mountain. After all, that place had more than 10,000 people, which was very valuable to the sparsely populated Western Regions.

I just don't know which way to go.

One option is to take the same route back, crossing the snow-capped mountain pass somewhere between Gaochang and Yiwu, and then proceeding to the north of the mountain; the other option is to avoid the same route, heading northwest from Jiaohe, taking a detour to reach the back of the mountain.

The passage was narrow and rugged, probably not suitable for large carts, and could only be used by light cavalry. This was also one of the routes taken by the Hu people from the mountains to advance south.

The road to the northwest is wider, and I heard that only one valley is more treacherous (near Daban City). It is the most important pass in the northwest of the former Cheshi Kingdom, and hundreds of soldiers from the former Cheshi Kingdom are still stationed there. Of course, the former Cheshi Kingdom has been abolished, and its capital has become Jiaohe County. The people of the former Cheshi Kingdom have not put up any resistance. In the future, it will be under the jurisdiction of the Zhao Kingdom or the Gaochang Kingdom.

After much deliberation, Xue Tao decided that taking a detour to the northwest would be safer, as it would allow large carts to carry a large amount of military rations or equipment, which would be beneficial for a protracted war.

"Your Majesty's troops are skilled, but they are unfamiliar with geography and the local customs. They will need someone to guide them." Qu Gan stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I am not capable, but I am willing to lead five hundred elite soldiers as the vanguard."

"Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops of the Yu clan to follow in your footsteps," Yu Ning said calmly as he rose to his feet.

"Your Majesty, I am also willing..."

Shao Xu was very satisfied. After some discussion, the Yu and Xu families joined forces with 500 soldiers to serve as the vanguard, together with the Qu family's troops.

As for conscripting soldiers in Gaochang County, he doesn't have that authority yet, since it's not a formal feudal society yet.

However, Yang Qin had already promised him that the troops under the command of the Wuji Colonel could be allocated a thousand men.

In this way, seven thousand soldiers would be enough.

After discussing it to the end, Shao Xu turned his gaze to Murong Ke and said, "Tu Fu, you will lead five hundred cavalrymen and follow the command of Lord Qu, serving as the vanguard."

"Yes." The eighteen-year-old Murong Ke immediately stood up and replied.

He was not surprised at all, because when he was in Shuozhou, the King of Zhao often sent him with more than a thousand cavalry to intimidate and even attack disobedient tribes.

He was very grateful for the King of Zhao's trust, because he learned a lot from him.

Of course, his training with the troops under the Beiyi Protectorate greatly improved him, allowing him to break through several barriers.

He felt he had a natural talent for commanding battles; things that took others a long time to learn, he seemed to master very quickly.

However, he was still very grateful to King Zhao, because without his guidance, he would not be where he is today.

"It's a pity that Xianyu Qu is still halfway there, otherwise, once those hundred armored cavalry arrive, Tufu will be even more powerful," Shao Xu sighed.

After changing his allegiance, Xianyu Qu became the Left Attendant of the Prince's Palace. He was ordered to close up the businesses in Handan and convert last year's rent and taxes into usable light goods, which were then transported to Gaochang.

If there are any remaining soldiers, recruit those willing to travel west from Hebei.

Now we don't know where we are, and we might not even have passed Tongguan yet. What a pity.

(End of this chapter)