The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 123 A Lonely City and a Thousand-foot Mountain
"I want to visit the border on my own bicycle, passing through Guyuan, a vassal state. The expeditionary troops leave the Han frontier, and the returning geese fly into the Hu sky. The smoke rises straight in the desert, and the sun sets over the long river. I meet a scout at Xiaoguan, and he tells me that the Protector General is at Yanran." - Wang Wei, the envoy to Hexi who was appointed as the judge of the Shogunate, bids farewell.

On April 11, the second year of Jingfu, the rains came and the grain in ear season came, and rice seedlings were planted everywhere.

In the eastern suburbs of Liangzhou, outside Emperor Wu’s city.

The sky is as blue as a mirror, the vast wilderness is vast and majestic, and eagles fly in the sky. The green grass is surging in the wind, ripples in waves, and the wild flowers are dotted with colors. The golden flowers are warm, the white is quiet; the stream flows forever. The snow leopard lies on the crenel of the ancient Great Wall, overlooking the cattle and sheep.

A group of red-faced shepherds carried sheepskin bags on their backs and held wooden sticks, chopping the flowers and plants.

The toothless little girl rolled up her trouser legs to her knees, stepped into the freezing water, and stabbed a fat fish with a steel fork. It is said that cold water fish are the freshest.

The white-haired old soldier, holding a dogtail grass in his mouth, rode his warhorse leisurely and told the children not to run too far, otherwise they would be caught and eaten by wild wolves.

The glory of the championship has quietly passed away in the long river of time, but the Tang people are still blooming and bearing fruit on this sacred land.

When the cheerful children's songs are accompanied by the heavy roaring of livestock.

When wild foxes climb up the strange-shaped poplar branches, and when the rugged tree trunks that refuse to fall burrow into the chirping groundhogs.

When white clouds cover the red sun and the dim light temporarily shrouds the green fields and black waters of Wudi City, desolation is revealed in the tranquility.

The distant fragrance invades the ancient road, and the clear green connects to the deserted city. The envoys, Su Rong, the Minister of Rites, and Cui Yin, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, traveled on the wide and open Liangzhou Road with their carriages and horses, carrying the imperial seal to visit Shazhou and other places.

Seeing the lonely city and the thousands of feet high mountains in the distance, Su Rong was filled with mixed emotions.

In the seventh year of Taihe, he and his fellow villagers followed a Western Region merchant caravan to Chang'an to take the imperial examination. He originally thought that Hehuang would fall into the hands of the enemy and his teeth would fall out, and he would never return in his old age. Unexpectedly, his fate was full of misfortunes... When he left, the Tianshan Road was covered with snow, and when he returned, there were only a few pear blossoms... He had not heard the spring breeze in Yumen for fifty years.

The young and the young left home and returned to their hometown.

It’s also Liangzhou.

The difference is, it’s a different world!
Despite his advanced age and fatigue from the long journey, Su Rong insisted on getting off the carriage and riding a horse. He wanted to change into purple clothes, wear the seal of the Nine Ministers, and wear jade ornaments, a fish bag, a silver knife, a golden talisman, and a seal. Holding the ceremonial staff given to him by the emperor, he walked step by step to Liangzhou City.

Cui Yin and others who accompanied him understood the old man's idea - this was not only to uphold the envoy's duty, but also to re-proclaim China's dignity to all the Han and Tibetan soldiers and civilians in Hehuang. They did not persuade him, but only asked the tenth general of the central army Fu Cunshen and the Eagle Shooting Captain Pei Yan to lead more than a hundred cavalry to clear the way.

……

On a distant hill, the old soldier was a little tired after patrolling and was about to dismount to take a nap. He looked up and saw a faint outline of red and purple in the low grass. When the grass was low, it was visible. When the wind passed, it was covered by green grass. Only a long bamboo pole with dense hairs was still standing upright.

The bamboo pole leaned backwards, as if it was carried on a shoulder. Perhaps the person holding it was too old and had no strength left.

The old soldier rubbed his eyes, stunned.

"Shouzhuoshi, what are you looking at?" A shepherd boy riding a cow noticed something was wrong and looked in the direction the old soldier was looking, but saw nothing.

At the same time, more than a hundred scattered guards also stood up in panic and quickly gathered. Emperor Wu shouted on the top of the city wall that the enemy was attacking, and several beacon towers were quickly lit, emitting billowing black smoke, warning the state city and other nearby military cities. They had already seen infantry and cavalry with bright flags and armor in the bushes, numbering no less than a thousand; it was very likely that they were the vanguard of the enemy's large group.

"My mother!"

"Rebellion! The Uighur barbarians are rebelling!"

"Zanpu Wuer has come for revenge."

……

The assembled soldiers of Emperor Wu rode their horses up the hillside.

They had young faces and strong looks. Some of the 2500 households of soldiers from Yun who came in the early years of Xiantong died in battle, some retired, and more died of old age outside the Great Wall and turned into bones. These vigorous and masculine men were their descendants. Just as he was about to say something to the guard, the white-haired old soldier suddenly slapped his thigh and shouted, "Emperor's envoy!", which scared the soldiers around him.

"Emperor?" They looked carefully and felt that the more than 100 knights in the lead were dressed in gorgeous clothes and riding horses, with tight armor, very majestic. They should be some chieftain's troops, how could they be the emperor's envoys? Hadn't the court heard anything for ten years? Could it be that the Central Plains had changed its ruler, and the new dynasty came to Liangzhou to announce the decree?

The old soldier ignored these young men who were ignorant of the world. He had seen the red silk ribbons on the flagpole and the golden copper leaves shining brightly, fluttering gently in the wind. He heard the crisp sound of the bells on the camel's neck... He saw the noble purple clothes on the messenger and the gorgeous jade belt around his waist. He saw an old man with a slightly hunched back and a gray beard, holding a bamboo pole, with slow and firm steps.

Children, farmers and herdsmen gathered on both sides of the post road covered with green grass, watching these "exotic" alien visitors.

"Where are you from?"

"Are you a Middle-earth merchant?"

"Mom, they look like us."

"..."

Although it was a wishful thinking, the old soldier chose to believe it. He quickly jumped on his horse, whipped his whip and rushed down the hillside, then jumped off again and ran to the side of the road: "After ten years, I didn't expect to see the envoy from my homeland again today!"

Since Tubo took advantage of the chaos to launch an army, Hehuang was in turmoil for more than a hundred years, and no envoys from the Central Plains were heard. During this period, the only two times when the sage received an imperial edict, apart from the time when Zhang Yichao restored Liang, was in the third year of Zhonghe when the sage arrived in Chang'an, which was loyal to him. The court that regained the ruling power announced to the world that Chao was dead and appointed Weng Gao as the defense envoy.

"Who in China has the surname Li?" As the envoy approached, the old soldier cautiously confirmed with the team.

The knight replied, "My surname is Li, and I am the seventh brother of the late sage, Prince Shou Ye."

I don't know him... but he's still surnamed Li... otherwise I really can't accept it. The words "Great Tang" still have some influence. Later, Zhu Wen wanted to take over this, but Liangzhou didn't buy it and appointed officials on his own. Shatuo restored the Tang Dynasty, but sent envoys to the court, saying that the descendants of the Yun soldiers were still holding on and couldn't be thrown away. Who the heart is on is obvious without asking.

Later, as Li Tang was gradually buried in the dust...

When Liao was established, Yelu Deguang sent his lackey Li Wenqian to serve as regent, but he was expelled.

After the Later Jin Dynasty was established, Shi Jingtang ordered Chen Yanhui, the Yaya of Jingyuan, to come and express condolences.

When Emperor Yin of the Later Han Dynasty ascended the throne, the garrison troops in Yuncheng were eliminated and the regime was eventually seized by the Tibetan warlord Zhebu Jiashi, whom Liu Chengyou recognized as the governor.

After the Later Zhou Dynasty was established, Guo Wei appointed Shen Shuai Hou to govern Liang. Shen was unable to defend the city and fled back to the Central Plains.

Liangzhou then cut off contact with the Central Plains. The God of Cars licked his face and set up Xiliang Prefecture, but the Tibetans ignored him. During the regency of Empress Dowager Liu of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Dangxiang Tuoba tribe sent a large number of troops to Hexi and expelled the Tibetans. When the next Central Plains envoy arrived, it was an afternoon in the fifth year of Hongwu, and Zhu Chongba in Nanjing was suddenly told about such a pre-Tang story...

"There is not a day that I don't look forward to the king's army coming east." The white-haired old soldier said hoarsely. Most of the soldiers of Emperor Wu who came over didn't understand why the guard and capture envoy, who looked like an old gangster, suddenly became so sentimental. Born among the barbarians, they are like barbarians. These second-generation people grew up in Liangzhou. They follow the etiquette of the Xia people, but also learn the customs of the barbarians and speak nonsense. Thirty years is enough to forget a lot...

"Quick, bow to the left of the road!" The old soldier saw the soldiers standing there in a daze, and couldn't help but shout, "This is an envoy sent by Chang'an!"

In addition to him, many men and women, including herdsmen from the Uighur, Umu, and Tuyuhun tribes who were grazing sheep in the nearby fields and farmers who were working the fields near Emperor Wu's city, also came running over.

"Is the war still raging in the Central Plains?"

"When Chao died, Qin Zongquan rebelled, and when Cai died, Bian rebelled." "How is Yuncheng?"

"The Zhu thieves are invading more and more urgently."

"When will the Heavenly Khan march west to recover the old territory?"

"I am reporting that the Tibetan Zhebu clan is plotting a rebellion!"

"..."

Seeing this scene, Su Rong's eyes became sore. He did not stay in Emperor Wu's military city for long, but straightened his hunched body. He held the staff and continued to head west towards Guzang City, which was within his sight. Only one sentence echoed in his heart - Tang has not fallen, and people's hearts are still attached.

Guzang City is located in Liangzhou.

In the Western Han Dynasty, Xiongnu King Xiutu built a city here as a palace. When Emperor Liu Che conquered Hexi, he established Wuwei Prefecture in this city. During the Sixteen Kingdoms period, Zhang Gui, Lü Guang, Tufa Wugu, and Duan Ye successively established their own regimes here, which were the Former Liang, Later Liang, Southern Liang, and Northern Liang.

In the first year of Wude, during the Tang Dynasty, during the Sui Dynasty, the powerful Gu Zang official Li Gui simultaneously proclaimed himself Emperor of Liang. Li Yuan captured him and brought him to Chang'an to execute him.

After successive dynasties, the city of Guzang was divided into seven smaller cities. There were 22 gates, palaces, pavilions, terraces and buildings with characteristics of various countries. A considerable part of the imperial palaces and palaces built by the previous dynasties were also preserved, such as Xiaoyao Courtyard and Linyuan Pond. The atmosphere was majestic. However, Guzang City was not a square city, but had a head, tail and two wings. Locals called it Bird City.

It is definitely the first fortress in the northwest.

At this moment, outside Qixia Gate, flags, swords and spears were everywhere. The soldiers of Yuncheng in the past had multiplied to the point where they could mobilize 7,000 warriors, and with the assistance of some of the remaining Han generals, the various ambitious forces around them had to keep their tails between their legs.

Knowing that the imperial envoys were passing through Liangzhou, the armed forces scattered here also sent representatives. The chieftains of the Zhebu clan, Pugu clan, Ashina clan, Bayegu clan, Geshu clan, Bai clan, Murong clan, and other foreign tribes, as well as the Han leaders such as He, Qu, Yin, and Ma, were all there, waiting anxiously, but no one dared to break the silence, and only looked at the military officials headed by Weng Gao.

Weng Gao, a native of Jingzhao, was appointed to Liangzhou during the Zhonghe period. Now he was nearly sixty years old, and had already organized his troops and left the city.

According to the information he received, the delegation was led by Taichang Qing Su Rong and was going to Shazhou on official business.

The third-rank official in purple robes and wearing golden seals served as ambassadors, a high status that showed the importance the court attached to this visit to the Western Regions.

"Here they come!" a knight shouted, waving his flag.

Everyone suddenly became serious, straightened their appearance again, and then walked to the left side of the road and lined up in an orderly manner.

"The Saint's messenger is coming!"

"Wu..."

"The emperor hasn't forgotten us!"

"Have they sent new people to replace us? I want to go back to my hometown in Yanggu County."

"..."

The soldiers became noisy.

Those standing at the back stood on tiptoe and looked up.

Weng Gao opened his eyes wide and looked at the smoke and dust that was flying from far away to near on the road.

The sound of bells and accessories hanging on the car and the muffled thuds of horse hooves and footsteps gradually became audible.

After staring for a long time, a large group of infantry and cavalry appeared faintly in everyone's sight.

As we got closer, we could hear the rumbling of carts, the neighing of horses, and the rustling of brocade clothes. A little old man, holding a long bamboo pole with dense quills, slowly came into view.

Weng Gao whispered to the soldiers as if to himself: "Here they come, the envoys with the emperor's ceremonial staff are here..."

Fu Cunshen and Pei Yan, who arrived earlier, led a hundred knights and stopped far away.

The powerful people of Liangzhou and the civil and military officials of the military took three steps forward and bowed their heads.

Deputy Envoy Cui Yin and others stood on both sides.

The soldiers suddenly became quiet.

Su Rong held the bamboo pole and walked forward under the gaze of the crowd. The red silk ribbon hanging on the flagpole swayed in the wind, and the golden copper leaves were blown by the wind. The clouds cleared and the sun, which had been blocked just now, was scattered on the earth again. With the crisp sound of wind chimes, everyone gradually bowed down.

His eyes went dark and Su Rong almost fainted.

Most of the people in the Central Plains did not obey the imperial court's orders, but in the isolated Hehuang...

"Long live!!!" Without waiting for Weng Gao and others to say anything, the Han and minority soldiers had already rushed forward, and directly carried Su Song and others to sit on the sedan chairs prepared in advance, and then carried them left and right and carried them into Guzang City.

"The messenger has come from Chang'an. Is the emperor well?"

"How is the court?"

"Where is my hometown at dusk? The misty river makes me sad."

"Hurry up and send out troops. I can't stand the Tibetan dogs any more!"

"Mr. Su, can you take my father's bones with you when you go back? Before he died, he asked to be buried in Liangshan."

"We can't fight in the Western Regions, so we can attack Huizhou first. We should first destroy the Tibetan bastards in Huizhou. I can't help but feel sick when I see the Tibetan bastards."

"I always think of my youth as a yamen official in Yunzhou. Now I am sixty-five."

"What? Zhu Wen wants to rebel? He wants to be emperor? It's such a big thing, has that wild dog asked us?"

All kinds of noises are ringing in my ears.

Cui Yin felt that it seemed that he could really attack the Tibetans in Huizhou, Jincheng, and Shanzhou. Fufeng, Qinfeng, and Jingyuan sent troops, and Liangzhou in the north cooperated to completely eliminate these treacherous, insidious and shameless barbarians in the vast mountains and valleys of Longyou, and take Lanzhou, Kuozhou, and Xihai, and open up the Shanzhou Road. In this way, it will be connected with Sanfu, isn't it beautiful? The key is convenient transportation and people's hearts can be used. Speaking of distance, the distance from Chang'an to Shanzhou is about the same as that from Bianzhou. I can go back and persuade the saint.

　Regarding the situation of Liangzhou Town, the Two Tang Books and Tongjian are very lacking. I read the "Research on Liangzhou Jiedushi in the Late Tang Dynasty" published by Li Jun of the Dunhuang Studies Institute of Lanzhou University in 2007, article number: 1004-4106-(2007)06-0071-09. And several of his other articles. And the discussion in the first volume of "Chinese Literature and History Collection" in 1962. I also read several Japanese textual research. There is also an article from Northwest University. I will not list them one by one. In summary: everyone has their own opinions and theories, and many professors and doctors use the words "should" and "probably". Even a small issue like the term of office and native place of Jiedushi Weng Gao cannot be resolved. Many views are contradictory. So regarding the length of the Guiyi Army and Liangzhou Town, if you see any problems, don't refute me, because the problems you think are almost not confirmed.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)