"Ten famous horses, ten coral branches..."

Du Zhongxiao sat behind the desk, listening to the long name of the ceremony official's gift list, with a expressionless face.

The envoy went to Shengzhou, not to the capital, because he wanted to enter the capital, and first he had to allow Du Zhongxiao to allow him. After Du Zhongxiao allowed this time, the two envoys returned to Gaochang and Yizhou to send official envoys to the Song Dynasty. Without this procedure, any small forces around would have to pay tribute to the capital, and the Song Dynasty would not have the energy to deal with it.

The gifts brought were nothing special, they were just common horses, camels, corals, jade belts, fragrant medicines, etc. A few days ago, the big merchant Jin San had already shipped a batch and it was included in the duty-free area. The number was not particularly large, and it was considered a generous gift to the handsome ministers along the way.

After reading the gift list, the two envoys stepped forward and handed over the documents they brought.

Du Zhongxiao opened it and read it, and said to the two: "Since the Qingli period, no envoys from the Western Regions entered the capital. If you live in Shengzhou for a few days, I will write to the court and then make a decision. Also, the two stayed in Shengzhou and sent people back to tell the ruthless people that the imperial court would not cause trouble before the imperial decree was issued. If there is any trouble or even arbitrary war, don't blame me for turning against me! It is not difficult for the army on Hequ Road to enter the Western Regions!"

The two of them hurriedly saluted and said together that they dare not.

Du Zhongxiao also said: "In these days, in addition to looking at the city and people in Shengzhou, together with the people in the yamen, how should you translate your words and words into Chinese? Gaochang and Yizhou are adjacent to each other, and the same sentence is written differently. How can you do this? A misunderstanding will delay military and national affairs."

Chen Xiliang obeyed the order. Lian Cheng said, "Jingshou is not well-versed in writing. He wrote the Chinese books by others. I am afraid that this matter cannot be done."

Du Zhongxiao said: "There are always people who read books and read characters in your entourage. Let them do it. This matter is not careless. If you go to a business in the Chinese Book of Documents, it is a big deal. At that time, don't say that I didn't give you a chance."

Lian Cheng agreed. In Gaochang, Wenmo and other matters were mostly used by Sogdians, and the same was true for Lian Cheng's team. I suddenly felt that the Sogdians were worried about this kind of major event, so I could only agree to it with a tough bullet.

Du Zhongxiao said: "That's it. Tonight, the general's mansion will hold a banquet in the commander's mansion to welcome the two envoys, and the civil servants and generals in the city will accompany them."

Everyone sang together, and Du Zhongxiao ordered to return the account.

When he arrived at the side room, he ordered tea to be served. Du Zhongxiao sat alone. As soon as the tea came, Bao Zheng came in quickly.

The two of them sat down, and Bao Zheng said anxiously: "Mainland, I just asked people, and I realized that Yizhou is not mainly Gaochang this year. The envoys of the two countries are like crickets with red eyes. If there weren't any guards to suppress them, they would be furious at any time."

Du Zhongxiao said: "Cui Dutian has reported that Gaochang was defeated by the Black Khanate in Kucha this year, and Yizhou took the opportunity to become independent."

Bao Zheng said: "Since that is the case, why did the governor summon them together? The two terrain are in the same water and fire, so we should summon them separately to avoid rift."

Du Zhongxiao smiled and said, "Longtu, what kind of rift can arise? Yizhou is close to Gaochang. Whenever he has the chance, he will be independent, and it has nothing to do with us. They can't fight in the Western Regions, so why will they fight in Shengzhou?"

Bao Zheng nodded, thought for a while and said, "Gaochang and Yizhou are like this, what does the governor want to do with the Western Regions?"

Du Zhongxiao said: "Let it go with the flow. Yizhou takes the initiative to send envoys, with a compassionate attitude, and of course he cannot use weapons. When the Hequ Road army is completed, it will not be difficult to seize Yizhou and Gaochang. It is just that it is easy to get the land and the people's hearts. This matter is not urgent."

Bao Zheng nodded: "I just fear that the strategy would be smooth, so I couldn't help but enter the Western Regions and cause trouble."

Du Zhongxiao smiled and said, "War is a major military and national affairs, so how can you fight easily? Longtu is worried. The Western Regions are from the hometown of the Han and Tang dynasties. If you have the opportunity, you should take it. You cannot maintain the kindness of a woman. But if you don't have the chance, you must wait patiently. You cannot get the territory or lose the hearts of the people. You will talk about everything when the railway is built to Heishui City - by the way, the change of Heishui City to Juyan County has already agreed, but there is no suitable candidate for the magistrate."

Bao Zheng said: "It's not okay to be a county magistrate there."

Du Zhongxiao said: "That's true. I don't have a suitable candidate here. Is anyone recommending Longtu?"

Bao Zheng thought for a while and said, "You have to think about this matter. Those who come there must be officials. It is best to be a Jinshi, and it is difficult to find someone in a hurry."

The magistrate is too small, and people with ability and prospects are not coming. The status of Yan County is particularly important. It is necessary to be capable officials. It is also necessary to be able to control the surrounding foreign tribes. It is best to have the experience of being an official in the border areas. Du Zhongxiao knew not many officials and had no suitable people at all. If Bao Zheng was not alone, then the court could only choose it. Du Zhongxiao held a bunch of recommended places in his hand, but there were no talents available.

Once the railway arrives in Heishui City, not only will the Western Regions be affected, but the Hexi region of Dangxiang will also be affected. From Juyan Sea, along the weak water, you can go directly to Ganzhou. Although this is a seasonal river and there are not many sections of rivers that can be navigated, there will be water along the way, which will solve the biggest problem of marching in the desert. At that time, the Zhenrong army will attack Lingzhou, and Heishui City will attack Ganzhou, and Dangxiang will collapse.

Yelu Chongyuan and Yelu Hongji of the Khitan were ready to fight, and the battle was about to begin. After Dangxiang was defeated, he was frightened and desperately built a city to destroy it. The surrounding area of ​​Hequ Road was stable. The most important thing now is to build the railway to Heishui City as soon as possible.

Heishui City is located next to the inland lake downstream of Ruoshui. It is Xiu Tuze during the Han Dynasty and Juyanhai during the Tang Dynasty. Bicycles wanted to ask about the border, and Juyan, whose vassal state passed Juyan, which was there. It was Wuwei County during the Han Dynasty and Juyan County during the Tang Dynasty. Du Zhongxiao wanted to change Heishui City to Juyan County because of this.

The water and grass around Juyanhai have been abundant, and they have been reclaimed since the Han Dynasty. It is a rare population settlement in the desert. However, it is precisely because there are deserts all around. Once the cultivation is excessive or planting is abandoned for various reasons, the cultivated land will easily fade away. Du Zhongxiao ordered Zhao Zi to station the army and try to supply grain from the rear. Instead of reclaiming food in the Juyanhai area, they will be grazing. Only places with particularly good conditions can be reclaimed into rice fields and planted with mulberry and dates instead of dry land. After all, when the railway is open, the food will be available, and the cost may be cheaper than local planting.

It is not difficult to station a hundred thousand troops around Yanhai without relying on local supply of food and grass. Anyway, as long as there is water, it is enough. Facing thousands of soldiers, you can traverse the invincible states and the Western Regions. Such a base is enough to deter all forces.

Bao Zheng was afraid that Du Zhongxiao would fight easily, which was the reason. Compared with Khitan and Dangxiang, Yizhou and Gaochang were too weak, and Zhao Zi could destroy them with one army. Why did Du Zhongxiao consider the hatred of the two small countries? He also met separately, which was too wasteful of energy. Let them understand the reality as soon as possible and know that the Central Plains soldiers and horses have once again faced the Western Regions, and all forces were mantis armed to block the chariot, which was necessary.

The most important thing to reenter the Western Regions is not force, but to win the hearts of the local people. Only with the hearts of the people can everything be achieved. It is said that it is backed by the commercial route. Many prosperous places in the Western Regions are only relatively prosperous and cannot be compared with the Central Plains. Due to backward production, the Western Regions cannot support too much population. All the territory within a radius of thousands of miles is added up, and the population is insufficient to be a large state in the mainland. Without the cooperation of local people, the army will sprinkle pepper everywhere, which is too expensive. If you enter there, you still have to concentrate your troops on several key points. Other places are beyond the reach and rely on local autonomy. If the autonomous forces can focus on the Central Plains, everything will be easy to say, otherwise there will be endless troubles.

The Han people must rely on the army's garrison and gradually expand over time. This process is not urgent, nor can it be urgent.

At night, Du Zhongxiao set up a banquet in the back yard to welcome the two envoys, and civil and military officials accompanied them together.

The host and guest were seated, Chen Xiliang and Lian Chengmen sat on both sides, glaring at each other.

Du Zhongxiao said: "Wine, drink, talk and laugh, what are the grudges of the two envoys? Let's put it aside for the time being. If there is anything pleasant, be careful I will send someone to blow you out!"

The two hurriedly said that they didn't dare.

Du Zhongxiao ordered the food and drinks to serve, and said to Zhang Ji: "The general sent a personal guard to hold my sword on the side. Whoever does not follow the rules will be killed!"

Zhang Ke Yingnuo recruited a personal soldier and took Du Zhongxiao's sword and asked him to hold it and stand on the side to drink. In this era, there are usually wine supervisors, and most of them are designated by everyone. Anyone who violates the rules will be punished. Du Zhongxiao is the commander of the road, and it is no joke that his personal soldier holds the sword and is a wine supervisor. Some generals will really kill him. Everyone knows that Du Zhongxiao will not do this and dare not be troubled.

Chen Xiliang and Lian Cheng looked at it, turned their heads away and stopped looking at each other. They understood in their hearts that doing so was not to shock the officials of Shengzhou, but to shock the two of them, and not to ruin the atmosphere of the banquet. Dare to do this, which means that Du Zhongxiao did not take Yizhou and Gaochang seriously.

After a while, the food and drinks came up, which were unprecedented and unheard by Chen Xiliang and Lian Cheng. The unhappiness in their hearts gradually put aside. No matter what military and national affairs he had, he would eat and drink first.

After drinking wine, Du Zhongxiao told Chen Xiliang and Lian Cheng: "This roasted mutton is a selection of tender and fresh meat, and then grilled it with willow charcoal. When roasting, there are various spices and add savory fennel. The two envoys taste it."

The two of them each took a skewers of meat, which were tender and fragrant, and they couldn't help but keep talking.

Du Zhongxiao smiled. This kebab was a famous product in their later generations and almost became a local business card. Of course, barbecue was a traditional skill of human beings. It was not invented there, but was developed by them. In this era, the most barbecue was in the Central Plains region, and other places did not have this condition. Annex is cumin. Without this thing, the barbecue will lose its flavor.
Chapter completed!