It was actually the first time Chen Zhengtai entered the fort. From the outside, the fort was just a huge building with high walls.

But once you enter through the door hole, there is a unique sky. Along the huge high wall, there are countless arrow towers. The gate is particularly thick. When you enter the door hole, you will suddenly see the location of the Tibetan soldiers' cave and the barn. The barn is low. Obviously, there is a hole hidden under the barn.

There are still archways and etiquette gates that show their master's identity. I don't know how many times I walked into the mansion, but the Cui family's ancestral hall was finally established.

There are special rooms on the left and right of the ancestral hall. Going further forward, the main hall is.

If you go deeper, Chen Zhengtai firmly believes that it must be the residence of the women's family.

Of course, this is something outsiders cannot enter rashly.

Cui Zhizheng led Chen Zhengtai to the main hall. All the elders and relative bloodlines of the Cui family arrived and came to see each other.

Judging from their red faces, it was obvious that they were doing well in Hexi. The land they obtained from Hexi was several times higher than that in the pass.

Of course, the land may not be as fertile as the inner city, but the biggest advantage here is that it is flat and there are almost no hills. It can grow food and raise a large number of livestock. As long as they live here for generations and slowly open up land, it will be enough to support countless descendants.

In addition, what surprised them the most was obviously the large number of commercial opportunities here.

In Guanzhong, there are not no business opportunities, but... the transactions in Guanzhong are very saturated. Whenever there is a chance to make money, a swarm of people will come in until everyone's profits are meager.

But it is completely different here. There are many Hu merchants here, and many goods from the Central Plains are sold here, which are rare goods and are sold at high prices. Not only that, if the goods purchased by Hu merchants are transported to other places, they can also make huge profits.

Of course, the current income is actually not beyond the time when the Cui family in Qinghe was at its peak in the pass. But here, many Cui family members saw hope.

Under this hope, they gradually began to contact the Hu people, began to inquire about the Western Regions and Tubo, and began to formulate one reclamation plan after another.

They will look forward to the railway being opened and the construction of Xining City. Relying on the future Xining City, the Cui family, not far from Xining, can also get a share of it.

In the past, although many aristocratic races had marriages, in fact, there were conflicts of interest between them. After all, ordinary people could not squeeze out much money. If you get one more official position in the court, I will get one less. If you take one more share of the expanded land, I will take one less share.

Although everyone maintains superficial relationships, they secretly compete with each other.

But here, it became a completely different situation. The Cui family even encouraged other aristocratic families to go out of seclusion and reclaim. After all, there is too much barren land here. The development of surrounding land is also beneficial to the Cui family.

What's more, you can rely on each other's lips and teeth to at least ensure safety.

Before the Cui family came, although the nearby Xining City had begun to be built, in fact, there were a large number of horse thieves wandering in this wilderness. These horse thieves came without a trace and left without a trace, making a living by looting.

But now... the situation is much better because the Cui family has begun to organize troops to wipe out the horse thieves around them.

The aristocratic clans always try their best to defend their own land and safety. Once a horse thief enters the land of the Cui family or wanders around, the children of the Cui family can always be desperate and seem to have a deep hatred for these horse thieves. Even if they chase them to the ends of the world, they will definitely wipe them out.

At this time, Hexi was more like before the Spring and Autumn Period, when the Zhou emperor divided the princes into possession of the princes. These princes were all the same clan and believed in the same set of etiquette and law. Under the call of the Zhou emperor, they led their respective families and people to migrate to every place. There was not much disgusting between them, because the world at that time was extremely vast, and they all had a common enemy, and they were the barbarians around them.

Therefore, the Cui family helped many aristocratic families to gain a foothold, and they were happy to provide help to the Wei family, who were a hundred miles away.

Even the families that had been aggravated in the Guan area in the past began to have some contact, hoping that they could depend on each other.

On one wall of the Cui family's lobby, the entire Hexi location was hung. Here, the Cui family roughly marked its land. In addition to the Cui family, many aristocratic races have actually migrated here. These dense small dots surround Xining City, surrounded Xining like stars, like moonlight.

Now there are as many as thirty aristocratic tribes who have left the country, bringing tens of thousands of families and a population of sixty or seven hundred thousand.

Of course, most aristocratic races dare not take a gamble. Unlike the Cui family, they directly bet on their own wealth and lives, and even moved their own ancestral halls.

Because of this, the Chen family is a first-class aristocratic family in Hexi. Even if the land in Hexi is distributed to more than 30 aristocratic families, more than 90% of the land in Hexi is still in the hands of the Chen family.

But at the same time, the Cui family has now become the second largest aristocratic clan in Hexi, except for the Chen family. Their land and income are far above other aristocratic clans.

Chen Zhengtai sat down, and Cui Zhizheng poured tea and handed him water attentively, and said, "The land in Hexi is too vast and the minerals are also rich. A few days ago, my tribe members discovered a large number of minerals on the southern foot of the Qilian Mountains... In the future, the coal and copper and iron here can be produced by themselves. Now the Cui family is busy investing in several workshops. Of course... these are all gadgets, not worth mentioning. Although it is profitable, they are all children who go to play casually. These days, I am concerned about the cotton in Gaochang. If the land in Gaochang is planted with continuous cotton, a textile workshop can be established on the spot, and then countless cotton cloths can be sent to the Tang Dynasty continuously, or even... it can be sold to the Hu people in Xining. If such a Feng Shui treasure land is in the hands of the Lord of Gaochang, it would be a pity. Your Highness... Is Your Majesty planning to let you advance this time?"

What Cui Zhizheng showed was still greed.

This is huge profit.

As long as Gaochang is taken over and Cui Zhizheng gets a piece of the pie and gets a piece of land from Gaochang, the Cui family will have the capital to gain a real foothold.

Chen Zhengtai said: "Yes, Your Majesty gave me three months."

"Three months?" Cui Zhizheng frowned: "Isn't it too little? Gaochang is still a distance from Xining. Although the two are bordered, if they go west along the way, there are indeed many Gobi Deserts, and the road is afraid it is difficult to move. Besides, before the army moves, food and grass will go first... This..."

Chen Zhengtai smiled and said, "I'm not afraid, I've actually sent troops to attack."

"Has already attacked?" Cui Zhizheng was even more suspicious.

He felt that Chen Zhengtai was fooling himself: "Your Highness is talking about the Tiance Army, but... the Tiance Army has just arrived here. When did it attack? There are some soldiers and horses in Xining, but these soldiers have been stationed in Xining to protect the craftsmen who built the city and the merchants who came here. I have never heard of... There is any movement to send troops. Could it be... I... the news is wrong?"

There is only so much armed forces in Xining, and it is too late to protect merchants and craftsmen. What happened in Xining can escape Cui Zhizheng's eyes and ears? As for the Tiance Army, haven't it just arrived?

Cui Zhizheng found it incredible.

Chen Zhengtai laughed and said, "Before I set off, I sent a fast horse and sent an order, and immediately organized 500 Turkic cavalry slaves to attack Gaochang. I think at this time... these cavalry slaves have arrived in Gaochang, and I don't know what the result of the battle is."

Five hundred...Charge slaves...

Still a Turkic cavalry slave...

Cui Zhizheng felt that he was insulted.

Just because of this, I want to take Gaochang Kingdom?

Cui Zhizheng smiled bitterly and said, "Once the Turkish cavalry slaves are released, it is difficult to guarantee that they will not scatter. Can these people be relieved to be slaves? What's the use of just 500 people? There are many cities in Gaochang State, and the city walls are still solid. They have conquered 60,000 to 70,000 adult men. It can be said that the whole nation is full of soldiers. What's the difference between these 500 cavalry slaves and death?"

"Your Highness..." Cui Zhizheng coughed: "I did not question your Highness. Your Highness has always been wise, but... I secretly think that Gaochang has been fighting with the Western Regions for many years, and the people are strong. Now, there are 60,000 or 70,000 people waiting for the battle. Even if these thousands of Tiance troops attack, I feel that it is not enough. The court needs to allocate troops and divide the troops into several ways. You must know... We are forging troops and rushing hundreds or thousands of miles. Whether it is the right time, place, people, it is not in me, but in Gaochang. Isn't these five hundred cavalry slaves ridiculous?"

Chen Zhengtai was calm and composed: "It's enough to have these five hundred cavalry slaves. You don't have to worry. I'll decide to take Gaochang."

Cui Zhizheng felt that Chen Zhengtai was awkward and could not help but sigh, looking regretful.

Cotton... seems to be getting further and further away from yourself.

This is the best cotton.

But he had no choice but to deal with Chen Zhengtai. He just felt so nervous that he had spent so much effort to win Gaochang. He instigated his disciples and old officials to write a letter, and tried to add fuel to the fire behind the scenes. But he thought... it was still a waste.

Five hundred cavalry slaves...

He shook his head and just sighed.

On that day, the Cui family was feasted, and then sent to Xining by the Cui family. The outline of the giant city was almost complete.

The other palaces inside, from the government offices, to the market, and the floor tiles laid in the city, including the walls of each yard and the facilities, have almost begun to the stage of decoration.

It will probably be completed at the beginning of the next year.

Chen Zhengtai set up a large tent outside the city, and the tent in the military camp was guarding the big tent.

Other battalions were stationed one after another.

These officers and soldiers were curious about the first time they came to Hexi.

Outside this huge new city, there are continuous tents, built by craftsmen and merchants from afar. People live in tents and are in a simple world of sewage. There are loud people here, but here, it seems that people are in their hearts with hope.

When you wake up every day, you will feel expectant when you see this giant city.

Craftsmen hope that after the city is built, they will receive enough wages.

Merchants hope to trade in the city market where they can shelter from wind and rain in the future.

Even the majestic other palaces seem to have become a proof of glory in the depths of people's hearts.

There are other palaces in the world, just Luoyang and Yangzhou. Another one is Xining. In the future, it will definitely become a place like Luoyang and Yangzhou.

…………

The big tent was arranged very warmly, with a few oil lamps rising.

The exquisite Persian blankets are laid on the ground, which makes the place more exotic.

Here are all tables, chairs, beds and beds. The thick canvas block the wind at night, and the warm basin emits heat, making the tent warm as spring.

Wu Xu lowered his head and lay on the desk, writing the last order to end a planned charter.

Chen Zhengtai seemed very excited. He paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, saying, "I don't know if those cavalry slaves have any news... and... I have just received a report saying that Hou Junji has gathered 30,000 elite troops and is about to set off from Chang'an."

"My mentor doesn't seem to like General Hou?" Wu Xu seemed a little strange when he put down his pen.

Logically speaking, Hou Junji has always maintained His Highness the Crown Prince, and his mentor and His Highness the Crown Prince should have a good relationship with each other.

What's more, Hou Junji is already the Minister of Personnel. If he can make friends with others, it will be of great help to his mentor.

After all... there are many disciples and children in the Chen family. If Hou Junji is willing to provide some help, the future of these people in the future will be even more prosperous.

Chen Zhengtai sneered: "Hou Junji? This person is not upright. Of course he doesn't like him!"

Wu Xu said: "What does his mind have to do with his mentor? In this world, besides his mentor, there are no flawless people? If a man has no selfishness, is he still a man? Why does the mentor need to use the standards of a sage to demand this person? In my opinion, everything is enough to weigh the pros and cons. As long as the mentor feels it is beneficial, what's the harm to make good with him?"

"You don't understand..." Chen Zhengtai shook his head. Actually... Chen Zhengtai didn't understand. Theoretically, Wu Xu's words were right. No one in the world is perfect, so why bother with other people's shortcomings?

However... Chen Zhengtai met Hou Junji several times, but he always felt that he couldn't get along. He always had a deep sense of vigilance towards this person.

Wu Xu smiled and said, "Since my teacher said this, there must be a reason for my teacher. My teacher, those riding slaves, have probably arrived in Gaochang these days. I have calculated the day... If there is news, it will take three or five days. So don't worry."

"Your Majesty only gave me three months." Chen Zhengtai shook his head: "It makes people feel sad to think about it. What can I do in three months? There is more than this time to go back and forth."

Wu Xu was so tactful that he stopped talking.

When he heard his mentor promise that he had been three months old, she was still shocked. His mentor was so amazing.

It turns out... this is just a product of the teacher taking off his job.

"Well." Chen Zhengtai immediately said, "Wait a little longer."

He sighed. The wind in the night whimpered the tent, drowned Chen Zhengtai's sigh after this sentence.
To be continued...