Chapter 234: Preparing for war (7)

In the 12th year of Tianbao, Geshuhan attacked Tubo, conquered Hongji, Damomen and other cities, captured all the Jiuqu tribes, and seized the logistics base for the Tubo to advance eastward. At this point, the Tang Dynasty had a strategic advantage for the first time in a century. Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. A year later, the Anshi Rebellion broke out, and the Longyou Army advanced eastward, and Tubo recaptured the Jiuqu area and connected the vast areas such as Hehuang.

After Zhang Huan led the Xiliang army to recapture Hehuang and Shibao City, he did not stop. He ordered Wang Siyu to be the governor of Jiuqu, and led 20,000 troops to continue to attack the empty Jiuqu area. Wang Siyu reversed the strangeness and speed of seizing Shibao City, and adopted a steady and steady strategy. After more than a month of erosion battle, he conquered Hongji, Damomen, Wanxiu, Baigu and other cities, and captured the entire Jiuqu area beautifully and neatly. By the end of June, the Tang army once again restored the eastern border between the Tang and Fan countries in the 12th year of Tianbao.

This day was July 2nd, and the first day of the exam was started at Helong Academy in Jincheng County. The weather was hot, but the city was very quiet.

But it started drizzling in the vast Hehuang area. The confused rain brought a hint of coolness and comfort to the hot summer. At noon, on the green and low grass hills, a team of three thousand cavalry teams appeared on the north bank of Huangshui, about ten miles away from Huangshui City. This is the place where Zhang Huan, the governor of Longyou, once again arrived at this beautiful and fertile land after more than a month after leaving Hehuang. Flying in the drizzle, Zhang Huan's eyes were calm and deep. A series of political arrangements made him gradually get out of the complicated government affairs. The day before he left Jincheng County, Hu Yong, the chief of the Longyou Jiedu Prefecture, officially took office and was fully responsible for the government affairs in the Longyou area. The supervision order Du Mei's independent existence put a tight curse on Hu Yong's power.

Walking on the vast wilderness, there are snow-capped mountains in the distance, the thick and soft meadows flood the horse's hooves, and sheep are gnawing on the grass leisurely. By the river, hundreds of thin horses are stretching their necks to drink water. Rainy days can give people peace of mind, especially the drizzle. It is like a curtain of gauze, covering countless scrutiny eyes and allowing people to relax themselves. It is more like a brush to cleanse the soul, cleaning the loss brought by pain and confusion, and the impetuousness brought by avenging revenge.

"Huanlang, what are you thinking?" Cui Ning, who was sitting in the carriage, asked in a low voice. She had already made Zhang Huan's name. Given the simplicity of Pei Ying's marriage, Cui Ning also married quietly a few days ago. Although there was no hot and festive wedding and no bride who was highly anticipated, a glass of light wine and a vow had satisfied Cui Ning, who had been looking forward to for many years, isn't it? The pearly luxury and grand scenes of the wedding can satisfy the momentary vanity, but life is more of a dull day.

"I wasn't thinking anything, my heart was blank. I never felt as relaxed as I am today." Zhang Huan smiled, and he turned around and asked Cui Ning, "What about you! What are you thinking?"

A hint of shyness rose on Cui Ning's face, and she pursed her lips and chuckled: "Guess."

"Do you want to go back to Chang'an to have a look?"

Cui Ning shook his head.

"That's because I can't worry about the little girls in Chunlei Hall?"

Cui Ning still shook her head with a smile.

Zhang Huan suddenly smiled ambiguously, "Then are you thinking...!" Before he finished speaking, Cui Ning pulled down the curtain of the car.

Zhang Huan shrugged, "Why women have the ability to predict the future is so puzzling. At this time, a messenger rushed over, "Governor, Chief Li Jinge sent his son to ask for a visit."

Li Jinge was the leader of the Qiang people in Hehuang and Hexi. The Qiang people lived in Hexi for generations and the vast grasslands of Hehuang. They did not have the strong aggressiveness of the Huihe people and the Tubo people, nor did they have the cunning and repetition of the Dangxiang people. The Qiang people were more like old cows on the grassland, gentle and easy to get along with. They were full of nostalgia for the grassland and did not care who entered Helong.

Therefore, both the Tang and the Tubo were not hostile to the Qiang people, and they only collected taxes from them, and still allowed them to live freely on the grassland. Due to the long-term war between the Tang and the Bohai, the Qiang people intersected between the Tang and the Bohai gradually differentiated, and many tribes appeared, either relying on Tubo or favoring the Tang Dynasty. The largest Guzang tribe lived in a vast area north of the Huangshui River and south of Guzang Mountain. The chief of the Guzang tribe was also the common leader of the Qiang people. His original name was Jinge. In the 13th year of Tianbao, Li Longji named him the governor of Guzang and gave him the surname Li.

This time, Zhang Huan came to Hehuang, on the one hand, to inspect the newly occupied Jiuqu area, and on the other hand, at the invitation of Li Jinge, he came to discuss the status of the Qiang people in Hehuang and appease the concerns of the Qiang people. Hearing that Chief Li Jinge's son was coming, Zhang Huan immediately followed his personal soldiers to the front of the team.

Just as he left, Cui Ning secretly opened the curtain of the car. She looked at Zhang Huan's back and suddenly turned her head to look at the drizzling plateau grassland. What she thought was that one day she and Zhang Huan could live in this fairyland that was as pure as the breath of the world.

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"Little man Wu Gaogeli, my father ordered me to come to welcome Governor Zhang to the banquet." The person who came was Li Jinge's seventh son. He was not tall but very strong, with a long bow on his back, a red face, and a shy smile on his lips.

"Please be sure to enjoy the glory!"

After saying that, he presented a huge ox horn with his hands. This was a way for Qiang people to invite distinguished guests. Niox horns were equivalent to the invitation given by the Han people. A personal soldier stepped forward to take the ox horn. Zhang Huan looked back at everyone and smiled heartily: "Then please help the Warrior Gerry lead the way."

The brigade of cavalry turned around and headed north. At this moment, a horse suddenly ran towards the west, with about 2,000 people, and the momentum was like thunder. "Governor, it is General Wang Siyu." A personal soldier recognized the front general.

After a moment, the cavalry rushed to the front. The general was one foot tall, and a large iron spear was scattered above the Ankong Bridge, looking majestic. It was Wang Siyu, the general who had just recovered the Jiuqu area. He had just arrived at Huangshui yesterday. He heard that the governor had arrived, so he came to greet him. He happened to meet Zhang Huan to go to the Qiang tribe to attend a banquet.

Wang Siyu saw Zhang Huan from a distance. He turned over and got off the horse, ran to Zhang Huan's horse, knelt down on one knee and said in a deep voice: "The last general Wang Siyu, come to welcome the governor."

Seeing that the beloved general had arrived, Zhang Huan quickly dismounted and helped him up, "Recover the Nine Qu, you can make a great contribution."

When Wang Siyu heard the governor's praise, he quickly said modestly: "The last general went to Jiuqu all the way. The Tubo army he encountered was a sporadic small army. The real main army had long been eliminated by the governor in the Knight Valley. It was just to clean up the funeral for the governor, which was not a great achievement."

"Do you have to deal with my funeral?" Zhang Huan said in a silence.

Wang Siyu knew that he had made a mistake. He scratched the back of his head embarrassedly, "I didn't mean that!"

Zhang Huan laughed loudly, "No need to explain, I understand!" He held Wang Siyu's arm affectionately, pointed to Wu Gaogli, who was smiling silly not far away, and said, "The Qiang people hold a banquet and let the brothers go together."

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The Qiang people of the Guzang tribe were nomadic between Hehuang and Hexi. They lived without a fixed place and lived by water and plants. There were about 100,000 people, and they were composed of more than a dozen smaller family tribes.

The place where Chief Li Jinge treats guests today is at the foot of a small hill about fifty miles north of Huangshui City. This is the place where the Guzang tribe spends summers. The terrain is flat in a radius of hundreds of miles and the grass is abundant. The icebergs and snow on the Qilian Mountains bring abundant water sources here, and there are dozens of rivers of all sizes.

Near dusk, Zhang Huan's large group of men arrived at the Qiang camp. When there were still two miles, an old man in his sixties was greeted by a hundred great men.

Wu Gaogeli quickly introduced to Zhang Huan: "That is my father, our chief of the Gutou tribe."

Although Li Jinge was nearly 60 years old, he was still as strong as a cow. He was very generous and enthusiastic. He stretched out his hands and laughed from a distance: "I have long admired Governor Zhang's name, and I have only met today."

Li Jinge's family was a Qiang noble for generations. He was recognized as the leader by the Qiang people for decades. He has always been the target of the Tubo people. He even married two Tubo princesses one after another. However, Li Jinge was not optimistic about Tubo. After the first Tubo princess died two years ago, he did not agree to the second marriage request of Tubo. Until Zhang Huan recovered Hehuang, Li Jinge, with his unique eyes, saw that Zhang Huan's ambition to monopolize Helong and would become the eighth largest family in the Tang Dynasty.

After repeated consideration, Li Jinge resolutely decided to form an alliance with Zhang Huan.

Zhang Huan jumped off the horse, and according to the customs of the Qiang people, he also stretched out his arms to hug him tightly. Next to Li Jinge there was a woman in her thirties with a beautiful face and decorated with gold pearls and silver chains. She was the eighth wife of the chief. She also stepped forward to give Zhang Huan a gift, "Welcome to distinguished guests!"

Zhang Huan quickly introduced Cui Ning to her, "This is my second wife Cui."

The chief and the chief's wife seemed to have known Cui Ning's identity for a long time. They hurried forward to salute, "Cui Xiangguo has always taken care of the Qiang people, so thank you here."

Cui Ning smiled slightly and replied, "The Tang Dynasty governed Longyou with General Zhang, and General Zhang represents the court. You can only thank General Zhang."

Li Jinge understood Cui Ning's meaning, he blew up, waved his hand to Zhang Huan and said, "It's too late, but we are here to delay the beautiful scenery. It's really a sin. Governor and his wife invite me!"

"Chief, please!"

The five thousand Tang army was not fascinated by wine and meat as Zhang Huan said. They were the most elite of the Western Liang army and had strict discipline. The army was stationed one mile away. Except for the five hundred guards who protected Zhang Huan, none of the five thousand Tang army left the barracks. They were always alert to possible changes under the leadership of Wang Siyu.

The banquet venue was 300 acres in size. Dozens of bonfires had been lit in front of dozens of huge circular tents. The drums were sounded and the laughter was noisy. The fires reflected the red of happy smiling faces. In front of the main tent, the two-meter-high bonfires were flying red. Nearly a hundred Qiang girls danced in front of the bonfire with rhythmic drums. Dozens of Qiang men killed cows and sheep not far away, roasting large pieces of beef and mutton on the fire, with fat everywhere and fragrant meat.

The careful owner had already arranged the seats, and a thick velvet blanket was laid on the ground to sit on the ground. Several rows of low tables were filled with fruits and wine. In addition, in front of each person there was a thick silver plate and several exquisitely crafted short knives.

Zhang Huan and Cui Ning sat on the right side of the chairman, and one meter away were Chief Li Jinge and his wife. In addition, the Qiang priestess also sat in the main seat, and below were more than a dozen Qiang tribe leaders and their wives who came from all over the country.

Cui Ning suddenly found a very young woman sitting on the left of Chief Li Jinge. She was about sixteen or seven years old, with a round oval face, her eyes were pitch black, her cheeks were flushed, and her youthful and lively breath was exuding. She hid behind the chief's burly body like a little bird, and was secretly looking at Zhang Huan. Suddenly, she saw Cui Ning smile at her, and her eyes immediately avoided in panic and lowered her head.

Cui Ning seemed to understand something, and quietly sneered in Zhang Huan's ear: "Huanlang, is it because the chief is going to choose a son-in-law for his daughter today?"

Zhang Huan was stunned. From his perspective, he couldn't see the girl. He didn't understand what Cui Ning was saying. Cui Ning smiled and shook her head slightly, but refused to say it out loud.

At this time, Li Jinge stood up, holding up a gold wine glass and said loudly: "Today is our most honorable guest. General Zhang, the governor of Longyou, is here. Let us give a cup of the strongest wine, the most fragrant mutton, the most beautiful and charming girl, and the most sincere heart to the general."

"Cheers!" Everyone shouted, raising their glasses and drinking them all. Zhang Huan drank all the wine in the glass. Cui Ning also drank a small glass lightly. The dozens of girls serving next to them immediately carried the wine pot, walking back and forth like butterflies, filling the wine in their glass. At this time, the girl sitting behind Li Jinge carried a pot of wine to Zhang Huan. When she approached, she found that her skin was tender and graceful, like a flower blooming in the rain, with a slight revealing of the flower stamens, shy and charming expression.

She knelt in front of Zhang Huan, filled the cup in front of him, then picked it up and handed it to him gently, signaling him to drink it. At this time, everyone's eyes were casting towards him, staring at Zhang Huan's performance, and Cui Ning next to her also looked at her lover with a smile to see how he would deal with it.

But Zhang Huan seemed to not notice the special nature of the girl in front of him. He only thought she was the leader of dozens of wine-filling girls. He raised his wine and smiled and stood up sincerely. He raised his glass to toast the chief and his wife first, and then raised his glass to everyone, "Today I am fortunate to be invited by Governor Li Jinge. Zhang Huan used this glass of wine to pay tribute to the Qiang brothers. Among my 180,000 troops in Xiliang, there are more than 40,000 Qiang people. We can be said to be connected by blood. I hereby assure you in the name of heaven that Qiang people are equal and free, and are both people of the Tang Dynasty. As long as you support my Emperor of Tang as Khan, you can live on your own land for generations. This glass of wine will be toasted to this beautiful land that feeds you and me."

After saying that, he slowly sprinkled the wine on the ground. Although everyone knew that Zhang Huan should accept the third princess' wish to drink the glass of wine, everyone was still moved by his sincerity and sprinkled the wine on the ground.

Only the girl was at a loss and stood there blankly. Mrs. Li Jinge kept staring at Zhang Huan. Seeing that he did not take the princess seriously, she knew that things could not be urgent, so she brought two glasses of wine and handed them to the girl, and brought her to Cui Ning to introduce: "This is the third princess who is the chief. We all call her Princess Yinbottle, and we respect her a glass."

Zhang Huan next to him then realized that it was the princess who poured wine for him. According to the rules of the Qiang people, if a woman took the initiative to pour wine for the guests, it would express her love. Zhang Huan suddenly understood Li Jinge's true intention. Did he want to form an alliance with him in the form of marriage?

The alliance with the Qiang people was Zhang Huan's main purpose for this time, but he was not willing to form an alliance through marriage. However, the Qiang people are the largest clan in Hexi and Hehuang areas except the Han people. If they can get the support of the Qiang people, they will play an extremely important role in his future seizing Hexi and stabilizing the rule of these two regions. Especially Li Jinge, who is actually the King of Qiang, but unfortunately his son is too young, otherwise it would be feasible to form a relative. If Li Jinge really means this, he can only reluctantly take her into account.

Not to mention that Zhang Huan was pondering, Cui Ning next to him picked up the wine glass and stood up. She was a woman and could better understand the chief's wife's good intentions. She knew that they had misunderstood Zhang Huan and thought that she would have to nod. In fact, Zhang Huan wanted to marry a wife and concubine, not to mention herself, even Pei Ying could not stop him. He was a man who did big things, so how could he be bound by women?

Cui Ning is the daughter of the right prime minister. Of course she knows the importance of this political marriage to Zhang Huan. She took a sip of wine and smiled at Mrs. Li Jinge and said: "Thank you for your toast, but men should talk about the matters between them themselves. We women should not participate too much. What do the lady think?"

Mrs. Li Jinge immediately understood what Cui Ning meant. She pushed Princess Yinping. Although this was a political marriage, it was always respectful of women as the tradition of Qiang people. Li Jinge also hoped that Princess Yinping could take a fancy to Zhang Huan himself. So before talking about this marriage, he asked his daughter to choose by himself. Princess Yinping took a fancy to the young and heroic Zhang Huan at a glance. He was not the rude soldier he imagined, nor was he an old and old Tang Dynasty official. She was secretly happy, and a thread of love quietly wrapped around Zhang Huan.

Princess Silver Bottle mustered up the courage to walk to Zhang Huan again, poured a glass of wine for him, she picked up the glass and handed it to Zhang Huan, blushing and said, "Please accept my wish."

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Chapter completed!