"The strength of a country lies in the vast territory of the country, sitting on the land of the sea, the four provinces are served, and all countries come to the court. This is the spirit of the strength of a great country. Therefore, the land of Anxi is far away from the Central Plains, but it is the reliance of my Tang Dynasty in the eyes of the countries of the Western Regions. Someone just said that I, Datang, need to station heavy troops in Anxi Town to protect the countries of the Western Regions. That's right, that's what our great country needs to do. What is the basis for the world to return to the heart of all nations? The strength of my Datang is enough to give these small countries enough deterrence and protection. It is with their surrender to my Datang and my Datang that has the absolute ability to protect their safety, and with the strength of the strongest country in the world. Li Linfu said eloquently, his words full of pride.

The ministers nodded one after another, and Li Linfu's words inspired the pride and excitement of being a Tang person in their chests. Xuanzong smiled and nodded slowly.

Li Linfu continued: "Besides, Anxi Town is my Tang Dynasty land, what is the symbol of a strong country? That is to have enough ability to protect every inch of their country. Not only to protect the country, but also to expand the territory, so that the territory of my Datang can spread to the horizon. If Anxi is far away from the Central Plains and doesn't ask, then does my Datang still have the prestige it has today? It is precisely because Anxi Town is far away from the Central Plains that good generals are needed to be stationed, and Gao Xianzhi has done this very well. Not only to make Anxi Town impregnable, but also to expand the territory of the Western Regions in a few years to make the small countries in the Western Regions submit, and greatly promote the prestige of our Tang Dynasty, this is an extremely important and extremely difficult thing to do. After all, the imperial court could not give timely support. ”

"That's right, Anxi is so far away, you have to rely on yourself for everything, you can't do it without any skills."

"Yes, this Gao Xianzhi does have some skills. He did everything that his previous three Anxi envoys had not done. There are indeed some doorways. ”

“……”

The ministers hummed in a low voice, pointing at Gao Xianzhi. Gao Xianzhi was a little embarrassed, being praised so much in the main hall by the right minister, and in front of His Majesty, which made Gao Xianzhi a little overwhelmed.

Li Linfu continued: "If you still don't understand what you said above, I'll say something that you can all understand. To put it simply, the Tibetan Turkic Khitan is my strong rival of the Tang Dynasty. The barbarian clan covets my Tang heart, and it will not die. The biggest enemy of this is actually the Tibetan State. The strategic significance of the existence of Anxi Town is to insert a knife in the belly and back of the Tubo State. And this knife is also ripping the flesh of the Tibetan people from time to time. Originally, all the countries in the Western Regions were attached to the Tubo State, but now they have all turned to the arms of my Tang Dynasty, what a blow to the Tubo people. The Tibetan state could no longer obtain support from these small countries in terms of troops, horses, and materials, and their national strength weakened. Everyone should be able to understand this truth. ”

The ministers nodded one after another, this truth is not difficult to understand, the expansion of Anxi Town in the west of Tubo is actually equivalent to setting fire to the backyard of Tubo. Of course, the Tibetans were extremely uncomfortable.

"In terms of strategic pattern, Anxi Town is in the northwest of Tubo, Hexi Longyou is in the north and northeast of Tubo, and Jiannan is in the east of Tubo. The Southern Zhao attached to my Tang Dynasty is in the southwest of Tubo. In the whole pattern, the country of Tubo is surrounded by most of my Tang Dynasty, and the entire Tubo has become a caged beast because of the existence of Anxi Town. This time, our Tang Dynasty Three-Way Army attacked Tubo because of such an advantage in the strategic pattern, we can attack Tubo wherever we want, and the initiative is in the hands of our Datang. Li Linfu stroked his beard and said.

After Li Linfu's analysis, many people instantly felt that it suddenly became clear that a small Anxi town actually played such a big role. After all, it is the Tang Dynasty Xiangguo, who can see it clearly and analyze it clearly.

"I don't know if after listening to the words of the true appearance, does anyone still think that Anthy is not important? Does anyone still think that it is unnecessary to station heavy troops in Anxi Town? If you still don't understand, think about the convenience of your daily food and clothing. You drink the wine of the Western Regions, use the camel hair felt blanket of the Western Regions at home, call the loyal Kunlun slaves, listen to the light songs and dances of the orchids of the Western Regions, etc., etc., how did all this come about? But it's all thanks to the town of Anxi. Of course, there is also the Hexi Road connecting Anxi Town, opening up this trade route to the countries of the Western Regions. The land of Anxi is not useless, but very useful. Li Linfu stroked his beard and smiled, ending his tirade.

Xuanzong laughed and said: "Xiangguo is really eloquent, I haven't heard Xiangguo speak so generously for a long time." It is said that when Xiangguo took over the phase, I often heard your long and lofty arguments. I've rarely heard your high arguments in the past few years. ”

Li Linfu arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, the old minister is old, and there are still so many passionate tirades there. Besides, His Majesty's ears are calloused. Today, I met General Gao Xianzhi Gao, and this is what I feel. Like a general like Gao, the imperial court should vigorously reward him. He single-handedly opened up a great situation in Anxi Town. ”

Xuanzong smiled: "That's still natural, isn't it just to reward these two heroes today?" ”

Wang Yuan watched with a smile on his face, Li Linfu's performance today was unusual, in connection with the situation that he took the initiative to invite Gao Xianzhi to meet outside the main hall just now and Gao Xianzhi's position of being the envoy of the two sections, Li Linfu's acting today was indeed painstaking. Obviously, he wanted to win Gao Xianzhi's favor, and at the same time he further approached Gao Xianzhi. A person of Gao Xianzhi's status, once he joins a certain camp, then the weight of his speech in the court is not the same.

Xuanzong was in a very happy mood, stood up and said with a smile: "You should all know who these two are, I won't be long-winded, I'm afraid that the two heroes are already anxious about waiting." Wrestlers. ”

Gao Lishi bowed and said, "The old slave is here." ”

"Read the decree." Xuanzong waved his hand.

"The old slave obeys."

Gao Lishi put the dust in the crook of his arm, stretched out his old fingers from his sleeve and shook it a few times, and the attendant on the side hurriedly opened the brocade box he was holding and presented it, and Gao Lishi took out the holy decree from the brocade box and walked down the steps.

"Wang Yuan, Gao Xianzhi took the order." Colliers said loudly.

Wang Yuan and Gao Xianzhi hurriedly knelt on the ground, bowing their heads to listen to the holy decree. The ministers in the palace were also silent, quietly waiting for what kind of reward His Majesty would give to these two triumphant ministers.

"The Tang Dynasty is brilliant and famous; The heroes are clear, and they are divided into four directions. The Anxi Army Festival Gao Xianzhi, the Jiannan Army Festival Wang Yuan, led the army to defeat the Kou, and the results were shimmering. Today, the leader is triumphant, and he should be rewarded to show the emperor's grace. After I was left and right with the political affairs hall, the six imperial history of the hundred officials discussed together, and specially entered the Anxi Town Jiedu to make Gao Xianzhi the title of champion general, and also led the Hexi Province Jiedu envoy. Squire of the Reinforcement Department. Awarded the Duke of Kaiguo County, and gave 1,200 households. The reward is 100,000 yuan, and the cloth is 100 horses. Enter the Jiannan section to make Wang Yuanzhen the general of the country, and the envoy of the right section of Long. Add the imperial history in the middle. Awarded the Duke of the founding county, and gave 2,000 households. The reward is 100,000 yuan, and the cloth is 100 horses. Chin this. ”

The holy decree is not surprising, and the two most important positions are the concurrent leaders of the Hexi Jiedu Envoy and the Longyou Jiedu Envoy, and this time it is logical to get it. And what was a little surprising was that Gao Xianzhi was awarded the position of the squire of the military department and the position of Wang Yuan's imperial history. Although the two of them were guarding one side outside, it was impossible for them to perform the duties of the military department squire and the imperial historian, and these two positions were also more symbolic, but once the local chief was awarded such a core position, it pointed out the direction. That is to say, these two people may be transferred to the capital at any time to enter the core of the imperial court's power, which is a conventional hint.

And after Wang Yuanye's military attache rank was awarded to the general of Zhenguo, he also officially entered the ranks of Zheng Erpin. If the distinction between military attache positions is not discussed, the position of Zheng Erpin is already tied with Li Linfu, Yang Guozhong, An Lushan and others. And the official position of the six Shangshu is only on the third grade, which is one level worse than Wang Yuan. Gao Xianzhi's official position has soared, although he is the champion general on the third grade, but before Gao Xianzhi was only a general of Guide under the third grade, not to mention jumping three levels in a row, he was also awarded the county marquis title and had a food town. This was already beyond Gao Xianzhi's expectations.

Wang Yuan and Gao Xianzhi thanked the emperor for his decree and kowtowed to thank the emperor for his grace.

Xuanzong smiled and said: "You two have made great contributions to the country, and I have never been stingy with the rewards of meritorious officials. You must continue to work hard and live up to my high hopes. ”

Wang Yuan and Gao Xianzhi agreed and thanked each other.

"What Wang Yuan said yesterday, I have also thought about it for a long time. Although Ge Shuhan and Li Guangbi were at fault, they were also loyal and good generals. I have already ordered someone to go to Hexi Longyou to give them an order, comfort the two of them, and give them a reward. For the rest of the meritorious ministers, the list of the two of you will be submitted to the Ministry of War, and I will approve it after being reviewed by the Political Affairs Hall. In short, I will reward all the heroes who have contributed to this battle. ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty, the Emperor's grace is magnificent, and the ministers thank Your Majesty for the generals and soldiers in the army." Wang Yuan and Gao Xianzhi thanked each other again.

Xuanzong got up and said with a smile: "That's it, let's stop here today, I'm a little tired." You two will go with you to celebrate, and I will not disturb your interest. ”

Gao Lishi said in a loud voice: "Retreat." ”

The hundreds of officials knelt down one after another and waited for Xuanzong to get off the throne and enter the side hall, then they got up one after another, and the atmosphere in the hall finally became active. Those officials who dozed off immediately became in good spirits as soon as they retreated, some stepped forward to congratulate Gao Xianzhi and Wang Yuan, and some had nothing to do with themselves, and they made an appointment in groups of three or five to have a pastime, and in an instant, the dead fish in the hall turned into a pond of water ducks.