At the court meeting on the first day of the second lunar month, Gao Xiu, who was in charge of military affairs, stood up and raised a question at the court meeting.

"Your Majesty, the minister has something to do!"

"Accurate!"

Gao Xiu clenched his fists and said: "Since our army destroyed Beiliang and captured Hexi, the remnants of Beiliang's frustration have fled to Gaochang and established Gaochang Beiliang!" However, the fleeing Gaochang officials have received the blessing and support of the Rouran people, and are planning to recapture Gaochang and try to occupy the Western Regions to cut off the Silk Road to our country. The minister suggested strengthening the military strength of the Hexi side, setting up the base camp for the operation of the Western Regions in Dunhuang and commanding nearby, and sending forward institutions to go deep into the hinterland of the Western Regions to support the desert countries that are inclined to our great cadres, and to crack down on the forces that deviate from our great cadres, just as the Han Dynasty established the Western Regions Governor's Mansion in the Western Regions! ”

After listening to this, Zhao Junsheng said to the ministers: "For Gao Xiu's suggestion, all the secretaries will discuss it!" ”

Some ministers advocated that the war against Tuyuhun and the party members had just been completed, and that the soldiers and horses should be allowed to rest and recuperate, and the people should be allowed to recuperate; after all, the war is fought with money and grain, and these money and grain need to be paid for by the people, and a large number of strong laborers are also needed to engage in logistics and transportation work, so that they cannot produce, and this has a great impact on agricultural production.

There are also ministers who think that there is no need to open up the Silk Road, and the money of the great cadres is enough, so why bother to run away to earn the money of the Western barbarians? There are no good things in the Western Barbarians, the Western Regions are full of sand, and there is nothing to produce and valuable, and spending too much money and the lives of soldiers to run the Western Regions is really worth the loss.

For this kind of person, Zhao Junsheng can only be evaluated with a short-sighted sentence.

In this matter, the Qianguo Imperial Court held a total of two court meetings, and it took half a month before it decided to adopt Gao Xiu's suggestion - to pass through the Western Regions, even if it was to start another war with the Rouran people.

Zhao Junsheng decided to set up the Western Regions Protectorate in Dunhuang, and sent the Western Regions Governor to reside in Shanshanguo, the Western Regions Governor was a subordinate of the Protectorate, and was subject to the Western Regions Protectorate, and gave 12,000 soldiers and horses to the Western Regions, of which 1,000 were sent to the Western Regions Governor.

After a few days of consideration, Zhao Junsheng selected a few people, once he wanted to run the Western Regions, then both Rouran and Liu Song of the Southern Dynasty had to make adequate precautions and deployments.

Gao Jinzhi, Liang Yi, Wei Sui, Sima Chuzhi, and Liu Qi were edicted into the palace by Zhao Junsheng.

"Summoned a few of you today, you must have guessed that the imperial court will pass through the Western Regions in the next two or three years, and I have decided that Gao Jinzhi will take up the position of protector of the Western Regions, and make every effort to manage the Western Regions, and the post of the chief historian of the Western Regions will be held by Liu Qi!"

Gao Jinzhi and Liu Yu stepped forward and promised: "Obey the order!" ”

After the two retreated, Zhao Junsheng continued: "Although we want to run the Western Regions, we can't relax our guard against the Rouran people and the Southern Dynasties. Captain, I named you the general of Zhenbei and the military governor of Mobei, and the governance office is located in Huaishuo Town! To treat Rouran, we must change from a passive defensive state to an active attack, every year we do not wait for the Rouran people to go south to loot our Daqian border pass area, we must take the initiative to attack Mobei, mainly small-scale light cavalry, at least no more than 100 horses, at most 1,000 horses, one blow and go, never love to fight, do not give Rouran people the opportunity to gather troops to encircle and chase and intercept! ”

The lieutenant stood up and hugged his fists and agreed: "The minister obeys the order!" ”

Zhao Junsheng said to Sima Chuzhi and Liang Yi: "We should also increase our deterrence on the Southern Dynasties, but we have mainly operated the Western Regions in recent years, and we cannot start a war against the Southern Dynasties for the time being, if there are no special circumstances, don't stimulate them!" But it can be strengthened in military drills, troop movements, and patrol vigilance, so I chose the two of you! ”

"Sima Chuzhi, I have named you the general of Zhennan, the governor of Jingxiang, and the military of Huainan! Liang Yi, I have appointed you as the captain of the Southern Barbarians, the general of the cavalry, and the governor of the Zhennan General's Mansion, and assisted Sima Chuzhi to guard southern Henan and Huaibei! ”

Sima Chuzhi and Liang Yi took a step forward and said, "The ministers obey the order!" ”

The generals soon went to various places to take up their posts, and soon Gao Jinzhi and Liu Qi also set out from Chang'an with 12,000 soldiers and horses to Dunhuang to establish the Western Regions Protectorate.

Since the Qianguo opened up the Hexi Corridor and solved the problem of Tuyuhun and the party members, the prestige of the great cadres has become more and more prosperous, and more and more Hu people have come from the Western Regions, and Chang'an City has become more and more lively day by day, and more and more people from all parts of the Qianguo and the Western Regions and the Sains have come to Chang'an to seek a living.

In the past half a month, envoys from various countries in the Western Regions and small countries in the Sichuan-Tibet and Qiangtang regions have arrived in Chang'an.

On this day, Li Ji, the secretary of Honglu Temple, entered the palace to meet and report; "Your Majesty, the envoys of all countries have arrived in Chang'an, and the ministers have arranged for them all to stay in the post house area and strengthened the garrison! When Your Majesty will receive them, please give instructions, and the ministers can arrange it! ”

Zhao Junsheng calculated: "Today is already twelve, and two days later it will be the 15th National Congress, so let's arrange it at the 15th National Congress, and the venue will be set in the Taiji Palace!" ”

"No!"

In the early morning of February 15, amid the majestic sound of drums, hundreds of civil and military officials lined up from the palace gate to form two teams and slowly entered.

More than 100 ministers are divided into two classes in the Taiji Palace, standing facing each other on both sides of the hall.

Zhao Junsheng and Hua Mulan were coming in the imperial chariot, and Hua Mulan yawned and said, "I don't fall in love with the early dynasty, you want me to come!" What's so nice about those barbarian envoys? ”

Zhao Junsheng said: "I'm afraid that you will develop the habit of sleeping lazy every day to ask you to get up early, you still don't appreciate it, think about how long you haven't gotten up early to practice martial arts?" This is not good, you have to live to be old and old when you practice martial arts, and when you are old, you can also be an elegant, capable, and flexible little old lady, unlike other grandmothers who are faltering, old, and bloated, if so, your children and future generations will dislike you, and your grandchildren don't want you to hug! ”

"Cut!" Hua Mulan was disdainful, but in fact, she heard it in her heart, and blamed herself for being really tired and lazy in the past few years, her body was really getting more and more bloated, and her skills were not as good as before, so she secretly made up her mind to practice martial arts early every day in the future.

Outside the Taiji Palace, Zhao Junsheng and Hua Mulan got off the imperial chariot and walked in side by side.

Zanlilang shouted: "His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress have arrived—"

The hundred officials bowed: "Welcome Your Majesty!" ”

Zhao Junsheng and Hua Mulan held hands and walked to the front of the throne to face the hundred officials, Zhao Junsheng raised his hand: "Zhongqing is flat!" ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The officials stood up solemnly, and Zhao Junsheng and Hua Mulan sat side by side on the throne.

Zhao Junsheng swept his eyes at the ministers: "Today is the Great Imperial Meeting, and I will meet with the envoys of the Western Regions and the small countries on the Southwest Plateau later, in order to save time, the chief officials of the three provinces and six departments should be as brief as possible, and it is important to say that it is not necessary to play can be put on tomorrow to meet the Ming alone!" Okay, let's get started! ”

The chief officials and ministers of the three provinces and six ministries spent an hour reporting on the affairs of the yamen.

Zhao Junsheng listened to them one by one and now gave a decision.

"The next thing is the time to meet with the envoys of various countries, but before receiving the envoys of various countries, I still have to do some understanding of the customs and customs of various countries, so as not to make jokes and make people laugh and be generous, who will tell me about it?"

Li Ji, the secretary of Honglu Temple, stood up and said: "Your Majesty, the envoys of all countries have sent people to receive them, and the ministers have also done some investigation and understanding, so let the ministers introduce them to Your Majesty!" ”

"Yes!" Zhao Junsheng nodded, "Let's talk about the annexed country first!" ”

"No!" Li Ji agreed, introduced: "This vassal country in the northwest of Shu County, in the south of the original party activities area, two thousand miles away from Shu County, eight hundred miles from north to south, east and west 1,500 miles, its people to avoid revenge between tribes, often live according to the mountain base stone, the name is watchtower, the watchtower is ten zhang high, the dwarf is also six or seven zhang, there are stone houses built on both sides of the watchtower, and live in the stone house on weekdays, if the enemy comes to attack, then hide in the watchtower to garrison! Towers each floor more than a zhang, separated by wooden boards, there is no staircase connection between the upper and lower floors, if you want to go up and down on weekdays, only build a piece of wood, with the protruding stone on the wall to step on the feet for up and down, if there is an enemy to attack, when all the clansmen have hidden in the watchtower after pulling out the wood! ”

"The people of the vassal countries are good at singing and dancing, playing drums and flutes! do not wear mourning clothes for funerals, perform secondary burials, and heavy ghosts and gods; Death for felonies, punishment for misdemeanors, marriage transfer system! The vassal country has a king, and the small tribes below have chieftains, and there are no surnames! It borders Jialiangyi in the east, Boyuanyi in the south, and the women's country in the west! ”

Hua Mulan couldn't help but ask: "What do you mean by this marriage transfer system?" ”

Li Ji replied: "The transfer system is also known as the step-marriage, that is, when the father dies, he can marry his father's wife, but not his biological mother; When a brother dies, he marries a brother's wife! Such customs are also prevalent in Rouran, and Rouran even has the vice of nephews marrying uncles and aunts! ”

Hua Mulan's face turned red when she heard this, and she couldn't help it: "Wow, it's really an ugly vice, vulgar!" ”

"Ahem!" Zhao Junsheng coughed twice, raised his hand and said, "Let's talk about Jialiangyi, Bo Yuanyi and Nuguo!" ”

"Yes!"

"Jialiangyi is in the east of the vassal country, and Boyuanyi is in the south of the vassal country, and the customs of these two countries are the same as those of the vassal country! The women's country is in the west of the vassal country, and until the depths of the plateau are the sphere of influence of the women's country! ”

"The women's country is a city on the mountain, with a radius of five or six miles, and its king is a woman, and the queen's surname is Subi, who is high on a nine-story building, and the queen's husband is called 'Jinju', and does not ask about government affairs. The men in the country are all sergeants and do not give birth; Women are officials, ministers, and herdsmen. Its vulgar noble women and light husbands are completely different from my patriarchal customs! Under the queen, there is also the little queen, who knows the national politics! The high-ranking official of the female country is called 'Gaoba'. If the queen dies, the successor will be the two virtuous daughters of her clan, one is the queen and the other is the little king! ”

"The women's country despises their husbands because of noble women, so polyandry is implemented, and the children are all from the mother's surname, and the sex is not jealous!"

"The people of the women's country, both men and women like to paint their faces in color, and change one or more times!"

Zhao Junsheng, Hua Mulan and the Manchu Dynasty Wenwu were all amazed when they heard Li Ji's introduction to the women's country, no wonder it was called the women's country, this custom is completely opposite to the Central Plains.