The distance from Xining City to Qingtang Zongge City is not long, but the road is very difficult.

In order to avoid mountains and ravines.

A group of people along the Huangshui, to the northwest, through Miaochuan City, Zhilong City, traveled for five days, only to arrive at Qingtang's capital Zongge City.

During the Han and Tang dynasties, there was no need for such trouble when going to Shazhou.

During the Han and Tang dynasties, out of Qinfeng Road, all the way along Wuwei and Zhangye to the northwest, out of Yumen Pass, and then westward for a while, you can reach Shazhou.

It's a pity that this road is now controlled by Western Xia.

If Kou Ji and his entourage want to enter Shazhou, they can only take the Qingtang Road, cross Qinghai Lake, and cross Huangtou Huihui to reach Shazhou.

The distance was half the way, and it was very difficult.

When Kou Ji and his party arrived in Zongge City.

Qingtang Zanpu Jiaoluo, who had already led Qingtang's ministers, slowly walked out of Zongge City and greeted him for nearly six miles.

Kou Ji looked at Zongge City carefully from afar.

Zongge City is the largest city in Qingtang.

The wall is two feet high.

The length and width have reached the scale of the inner city of Bianjing.

In addition to the city walls, which are made of bricks and stones, most of the buildings in the city are made of loess.

There are circles and squares, and many flat tops.

It is very characteristic of the Western Regions.

On the avenue leading to the city, many people gathered.

There were many camels and horses, each carrying a cargo.

In the crowd, Kou Ji faintly saw many disciples with very distinctive clothes.

Those figures were also very common in the Great Song Dynasty, but they were far less numerous than in Zongge City.

In the eyes of most Song people, the Western Regions were a land of bitter cold.

The people of the Western Regions all live in tents, and everyone is nomadic.

There was a lot of fighting, and there was chaos.

This is not the case.

There are cities in the Western Regions.

There are a lot of castles.

Some were built by the people of the Western Regions themselves, and some were left over from the Han and Tang dynasties.

Many people from the Western Regions live in it.

Kou Ji looked at Qingtang City from afar and sighed a lot, Liu Heng slowly walked up to him, and said in a low voice: "Qingtang Zanpu Jiaoluo, six miles outside Qingtang City, wait for me." ”

Kou Ji retracted his gaze and instructed the leader of the patrol guards beside him, "Order someone to hold up the guard of honor......"

Qingtang Zampu Jiaoluo, welcoming Liuli in person, is naturally not to welcome Kou Ji.

It's to welcome the identity that Koji represents.

Although he has been awarded the title of official by the Great Song Dynasty, Kou Jike Qingtang Zanpu Jiaoluo is at the same level.

But the family is the master of a department, and he doesn't have a deep friendship with Kou Ji, so how can he welcome him in person.

The leader of the patrol horse guard led people to open the guard of honor given by Zhao Zhen to Kou Ji.

Kou Ji faded from the Kou family, put on his official uniform, hung the sword of the Son of Heaven at his waist, led the patrol horse guard, 3,000 Japanese soldiers, and 60,000 people, escorted the grain cart, and under the leadership of An Ziluo, he straddled the horse to six miles outside Qingtang City.

Approaching Qingtang Zampu Jiaoluo, Kou Ji looked at him carefully.

A tall and thin middle-aged man, dressed in a wide Tibetan costume, with a pointed hat with a round bottom, inlaid with many precious stones, looked very valuable, and a golden knife symbolizing status at his waist.

Eagle eyes, hooked nose, and two whiskers with back lines are very eye-catching.

Wait until Kou Ji and his party are approaching.

Jiao Guluo hammered his chest with one hand, and bent down respectfully, "Qingtang Zampu Jiao Guluo, welcome the heavenly envoy ......"

Jiaoluo's Chinese dialect is not standard, and it sounds a little awkward.

But Koji could barely understand what he was trying to say.

Behind Jiaoguoluo, the civil and military officers of Qingtang bent down reluctantly.

Kou Ji straddled the horse's back and smiled indifferently: "The general doesn't have to be polite. ”

Kakuro slowly got up.

Koji held out his hand.

Liu Heng handed a scroll of holy decrees to Kou Ji.

Kou Ji picked up the holy decree and said in a loud voice: "Horn Guy Luo listens to the decree ......"

Jiao Guluo learned the appearance of Song Chen, and bowed his hand, "Chen Jiao Luo, listen to the ......"

Kou Ji unfolded the holy decree, "The edict is ......"

The holy decree is sprinkled with a thousand words.

Koji read aloud.

The general meaning is simple.

Qingtang, as a subordinate of the Great Song Dynasty, cooperated with the Great Song Dynasty to fight in the Western Regions, and contributed to the Great Song Dynasty.

The Great Song Dynasty would reward Qingtang with some money and grain, and promoted the rank of Jiaoluo.

Horn Gola used to be just a knotty envoy.

Now he is named the Marquis of Qingtang.

Among the many genera, the status is equal to that of Western Xia.

Hornara humbly received the decree.

Kou Ji jumped off the horse, leaned in front of Jiao Guluo, and said with a smile: "I have seen the ...... of the Marquis of Qingtang."

Kakuro put away the holy decree and thumped his chest to Kou Ji.

"The Ministry of Officials is courteous......"

Although the Arhat dialect is not standard, it is familiar with Han etiquette.

In order to deceive more benefits from the Great Song Dynasty, he did not study the etiquette of the Great Song Dynasty.

Kou Ji smiled again: "Marquis Qingtang, you and I are ministers in the same palace, so don't stick to those vulgar etiquette, how about it?" ”

When Jiao Guluo heard this, he laughed and said, "I have heard for a long time that the Ministry of Kou is eclectic, but I didn't expect it to be true. ”

Kou Ji smiled indifferently: "You and I are both clear-eyed people, and we have been entangled in those mundane rituals, which is not interesting." ”

"Hahaha...... The Ministry of Officials is reasonable. ”

Jiao Luo smiled heartily, showing a boldness that did not match his figure.

Jiaoluo smiled and said to Kou Ji: "I have heard the name of the Kou Ministry for a long time, but when I see it today, it is really extraordinary. ”

Kou Ji smiled indifferently: "Qingtang Hou praised it. ”

Jiaoluo shook his head and said, "It's not a false praise, but a fact." The angels who came to my Qingtang in the past were not as easy-going as the Ministry of Officials. ”

As far as Koji knew, what Kakuro said was the truth.

When Qingtang was in turmoil, Da Song had always been the object of Jiaoguoluo's desire to make friends and win over.

Therefore, every time the envoys of the Great Song Dynasty arrived in Qingtang, Jiao Guluo received them with the most humble attitude.

In time.

Those envoys were used to being a little unpresentable, and after arriving in Qingtang, they became very domineering.

They always feel that Qingtang is a rural place, and if they pick their noses and eyes at Qingtang, Qingtang has nothing they can look at.

However.

It's unbelievable.

Those envoys of the Great Song Dynasty liked to send envoys to rural places like Qingtang.

Because the envoy to Qingtang was a beautiful difference for the envoys of the Great Song Dynasty.

The envoy to Qingtang is not like the envoy to the Western Xia and Liao countries.

When the envoys of the Great Song Dynasty arrived in the Liao Kingdom, if the Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu appreciated the envoys enough, then the envoys would receive a certain amount of courtesy.

But if the Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu does not appreciate the envoys, then the envoys will be unable to move an inch in the Liao State, and they will be subject to a lot of difficulties.

When the envoys of the Great Song Dynasty arrived in Western Xia, Li Deming, the lord of Western Xia, was very deferential on the surface, but behind his back, there were many problems to make things difficult for the Great Song envoys, and even frequently took advantage of the negligence in the words of the Great Song envoys to ask for benefits from the Great Song Dynasty.

It's not like Qingtang.

When the envoys of the Great Song Dynasty arrived at Qingtang, they only needed to set up a shelf.

Qingtang people will give them enough courtesy, as well as generous bribes.

Not only will it not embarrass them.

It will also help them cover up some of the mistakes they have made.

Before Jiao Guluo did not completely purge Qingtang, Jiao Guluo was really good to Da Song, an ally.

But Da Song has always looked down on this ally.

Single-mindedly wooing Western Xia.

Even in order to win over the Western Xia, he decisively rejected the strategy proposed by Jiao Guluo that the Great Song Dynasty and Qingtang join forces to deal with the Western Xia.

In the end, the Great Song Dynasty did not win over the Western Xia, but turned against the Western Xia.

And Qingtang is getting bigger step by step.

Now he has the power to wrestle with Western Xia and threaten the Great Song Dynasty.

Kou Ji is not one of those civil and military ministers in the court who only knows how to stare at his own one-third of an acre and live a life.

He is very aware of the current situation of the Great Song Dynasty, and he also understands the situation outside the Great Song Dynasty very well.

Qingtang Zanpu Jiaoluo, now the entire Qingtang has been cleared, and the unification of Qingtang in the true sense has been completed.

His ambitions began to be revealed.

His ambitions are huge.

But his strength is not enough to support his ambitions.

So he had to rely on the Great Song Dynasty.

So he had to give Kou Ji enough courtesy.

So Kou Ji can take advantage of this to make use of Qingtang's power.

Kou Ji smiled and said to the corner: "Qingtang Hou Yan is heavy......"

Although Kou Ji is not used to the virtues of those civil and military ministers in the court.

But there is no need for him to grow the ambition of others and destroy his own prestige in front of Jiao Guluo.

Kagara smiled and made a gesture of please to Kou Ji.

"Casual ...... I...... Let's enter Qingtang City ......"

Kakugara seemed to be unfamiliar with the term 'me', so when it came to 'me', he paused deliberately.

Kou Ji glanced at Jiao Luo's very gorgeous carriage and said with a smile: "That should be the frame of Qingtang Hou, I won't go up." Qingtanghou only leads the way in front, and I will follow behind. ”

Jiao Wuluo was stunned for a moment, and said with a smile: "An Ziluo said, you are a very assertive person. Since you don't want to ride with me. Then I'll ride with you? ”

The voice landed.

Kakuro ordered the guards to take a horse, get on horseback, and invite Koji into the city with him.

Kou Ji didn't refuse, got on horseback, and followed Jiaowuluo to Qingtang City.

On the road.

Jiao Guluo deliberately slowed down, accompanied Kou Ji, and introduced the customs of Qingtang to Kou Ji with a smile.

He doesn't speak good Chinese, but he is very talkative.

The customs and customs of Qingtang that he explained to Kou Ji were far more comprehensive and intuitive than An Ziluo's explanation to Kou Ji.

If it weren't for his frequent hints to Kou Ji that Qingtang was poor, Qingtang was weak, and needed the strong support of the Great Song Dynasty, Kou Ji would be willing to become friends with him.

Just when Jiaoluo hinted to Kou Ji for the fourth time that Qingtang was very poor.

Kou Ji looked at the Qingtang people on the side of the road who were saluting the corner boy Luo Shi, and said with a smile: "The Marquis of Qingtang is very popular with the people in Qingtang." ”

Jiao Wuluo was stunned and smiled indifferently: "I didn't do anything, I just helped them survive." ”

Kou Ji said with a smile: "The people's hearts are towards Qingtang Hou, they must be willing to help Qingtang Hou do anything, Qingtang Hou will definitely be able to lead them to make Qingtang richer and stronger." ”

Jiao Guluo was stunned for a moment, and sighed: "What I have now is only the people's heart. My Qingtang is a bitter cold place, and it is difficult to become rich and strong. Only by relying on the Great Song Dynasty can I become rich and strong. ”

Although Kakuro is not used to Kou Ji's words such as richer and stronger, he still follows Kou Ji's words and cries to Kou Ji.

Kou Ji smiled indifferently: "Qingtang now has hundreds of thousands of people who control the strings, and it is no longer lost to Western Xia......"

Implication.

Qingtang's current national strength is not lost to Western Xia.

Da Song has already raised a white-eyed wolf, so he won't raise a second one.

Jiao Guluo is a smart person, so he naturally understands the meaning of Kou Ji's words.

On the way back, he never cried poverty again.

Kakuro felt that Koji was a very unique person, a very unique person.

In the past, when those Great Song envoys arrived in Qingtang, he only needed to cry a little to be poor.

Those envoys of the Great Song Dynasty would promise him many benefits in a big way.

Although it cannot be cashed out in full.

However, Qingtang can still take advantage of the promises of the envoys of the Great Song Dynasty to obtain certain benefits from the Great Song Dynasty.

If he gives a certain amount of generous gifts to the envoys of the Great Song Dynasty, after the envoys of the Great Song Dynasty return to the Great Song Dynasty, they will help Qingtang strive for more benefits.

But Koji was clearly different from those envoys.

From beginning to end, Kou Ji spoke without revealing a drop of water.

No matter how he cried poor, Kou Ji didn't give a single promise.

The group arrived at the gate of Qingtang City.

Kou Ji asked 3,000 Japanese soldiers to guard the people who were escorting grain and grass, and stationed them outside Qingtang City.

He took the men who patrolled the horse guards, followed the horns, and entered Qingtang City.

The palace of Jiaoguo Luo is in the middle of Qingtang City.

It was a palace that was not grand, and the entire palace group added up was comparable to the vertical arch palace group of the Great Song Dynasty.

However, the architectural style, as well as the magnificence, are more than a star and a half worse than the vertical arch hall.

On either side of the palace where Kakugara lived, there were two more temples.

Among them, there is a temple that is even larger and more ornate than the palace of Kakuro.

If this had been placed in the Great Song Dynasty, it would have been demolished seven or eight times ago.

But in Qingtang, it seems to be a very common thing.

The monk in a big red shirt and a cockscomb hat seemed to have a very unique position in Qingtang.

Even the king of Qingtang, the king of the Qingtang, had to give a salute when he saw some of the older monks.

Kakuro led Kou Ji to his palace.

Kou Ji wanted to go in with the men who patrolled the horse guards, but An Ziluo came forward to stop him.

How powerful the men of the horse patrol are, An Ziluo has seen it with his own eyes.

During the Han and Tang dynasties, the envoys were rampant in the Western Regions, and the story of breaking into the palace and killing the king is still circulating in the Western Regions.

An Ziluo didn't dare to let in a group of very dangerous people who patrolled Ma Wei and Hanzi.

When Kakuro traveled, there were countless guards who followed him.

But when I entered the palace, there were not many guards around.

If the men who patrol the horses and guards break out and hurt people, then Qingtang should be replaced by a Zampu.

Kou Ji understood An Ziluo's concerns, so he asked the men who patrolled the horse guards to wait outside the palace, and he took Liu Heng and waited less than ten people, and followed Jiao Guluo into his palace.

Through An Ziluo's letters, Kakuro already knew about the existence of the Horse Guard.

So when An Ziluo stopped the men of the horse guard from entering the palace, he specially glanced at the men of the horse guard.

Entered the palace.

Kakuro led Kou Ji to a very tall hall.

A noble lady led several fair-skinned and beautiful women to wait in front of the temple.

After seeing Kakugara and his party, the ladies and women saluted together.