In the twelfth year of Tianbao, Ge Shuhan attacked Tubo, Keqi Hongji, Damomen and other cities, collected the Jiuqu tribe, and seized the logistics base of Tubo to the east in one fell swoop.

After Zhang Huan led the Xiliang army to recapture Hehuang and Shibao City, he did not stop, and ordered Wang Siyu to be the governor of Jiuqu, and led 20,000 troops to continue to attack the empty Jiuqu area, Wang Siyu reversed the strange and rapid capture of Shibao City, and adopted a steady and steady strategy, after nearly a month of encroachment war, Lianke Hongji, Damomen, Wanxiu, Baigu and other cities, beautifully and cleanly took the entire Jiuqu region, by the end of June, the Tang army once again restored the eastern border of Tang and Fan in the twelfth year of Tianbao.

It was July 2nd, and the first day of exams began at the Ha Long Academy in Jincheng County, and the weather was hot, but the city was very quiet.

But in the vast Hehuang area has rained misty, the chaotic rain brings a trace of coolness and comfort to the hot summer, at noon, on the green and vast low grass knoll, a cavalry team of 3,000 people appeared on the north bank of Huangshui, about ten miles away from Huangshui City, this is the Longyou Jiedu made Zhang Huan leave Hehuang for more than a month, once again arrived at this beautiful and fertile land, facing the drizzle, Zhang Huan's eyes were calm and deep, a series of political arrangements made him gradually out of the cumbersome government affairs, The day before he left Jincheng County, Shi Huyong, the governor of Longyou Jiedu, officially took office, taking full charge of the government affairs of Longyou District, and supervising the independent existence of Du Mei. put a tight spell on Hu Yongdi's power.

Walk in the vast wilderness. In the distance, snow-capped mountains, thick and soft meadows drown horses' hooves, flocks of sheep grazing on the grass leisurely, hundreds of slender horses stretching their necks to drink water by the river, and the rain can give people peace of mind, especially the drizzle, which is like a veil. It is more like a brush that cleanses the soul, cleaning the loss caused by pain and confusion, and the impetuousness brought by happiness and hatred.

"Huanlang, what are you thinking?" Cui Ning, who was sitting in the carriage, asked in a low voice. She has Zhang Huan's name has been decided. In view of the simplicity of Pei Ying's marriage. Cui Ning also got married quietly a few days ago, although there was no hot and festive wedding, and there was no much-anticipated bride entry, but a glass of light wine and a vow had already satisfied Cui Ning, who had been looking forward to it for many years, wasn't it? The pearlescent luxury and grandeur of the wedding venue can certainly satisfy the vanity of the moment, but life is more of an ordinary day.

"I wasn't thinking about anything, my mind was blank. I've never felt so relaxed as I do today. Zhang Huan smiled. He turned back to Cui Ning and asked, "What about you!" What are you thinking?"

Cui Ning's face rose with a touch of shyness, and she pursed her lips and chuckled, "Guess what." "Do you want to go back to Chang'an?"

Cui Ning shook his head.

"That's the group of little ladies who can't rest assured?"

Cui Ning still smiled and shook his head.

Zhang Huan suddenly smiled ambiguously. "Then are you thinking" Before he finished speaking, Cui Ning brushed down the car curtain

Zhang Huan shrugged his shoulders, how can women have the ability to predict the unknown, it is really incomprehensible, at this time, a messenger came from afar, "Governor, Chief Li Jinge sent his son to ask for a meeting." ”

Li Jinge is the leader of the Qiang people in Hehuang and Hexi region, the Qiang people have lived in the vast grassland of Hexi and Hehuang for generations, they do not have the strong aggression of the Hui people and the Tubo people, and they do not have the cunning and repetition of the party people, the Qiang people are more like old cattle on the grassland, docile and easy to get along with, they are full of nostalgia for the grassland, and do not care who is in charge of Helong.

Therefore, whether it is the Tang Dynasty or the Tibetans, there is no hostility to the Qiang people, only collect taxes from them, and still let them live freely on the grassland, due to the long-term war between the Tang and Tibetans, the Qiang people sandwiched between the Tang and Tibet have gradually diverged, and many tribes have appeared, or attached to the Tibetans, or biased towards the Tang Dynasty, among which the largest one of the Guzang tribes lives in the north of Huangshui, the vast area south of the Guzang Mountain, the chief of the Guzang Department is also the common leader of the Qiang people, his original name is Jinge, in the thirteenth year of Tianbao, Li Longji named him the governor of Guzang and gave him the surname Li.

This time, Zhang Huan came to Hehuang, on the one hand, to inspect the newly occupied Jiuqu area, and on the other hand, at the invitation of Li Jinge, he came to discuss with him the status of the Qiang people in Hehuang and appease the Qiang people's worries.

Just as he left, Cui Ning secretly opened the car curtain, she looked at Zhang Huan's back, and suddenly turned her head to look at a drizzly plateau grassland, what she thought was that one day, she and Zhang Huan could live in this fairyland that was so pure that it was not stained with a little human breath.

"Villain Ugao Geri, my father ordered me to come to welcome Zhang Dudu to the banquet." Here came Li Jinge's seventh son, who was not tall but very strong, with a long bow on his back, a long red face, and a shy smile on the corner of his mouth.

"Please be sure to appreciate the light!"

After speaking, he presented a huge horn with both hands, which is a way for the Qiang people to invite distinguished guests, the horn is equivalent to the invitation card sent by the Han people, a personal soldier stepped forward to take the horn, Zhang Huan looked back at the crowd, and said with a hearty smile: "Then trouble the Gerry warrior to lead the way." ”

The cavalry of the brigade turned around and headed north, and at this moment, a group of military horses suddenly rushed from the west, about 2,000 people, and the momentum was like thunder, "Dudu, it's General Wang Siyu." One of the soldiers recognized one of the generals at the front.

Suddenly, the cavalry rushed to, the head of the general was a foot tall, a big iron spear was horizontal on the saddle bridge, it looked majestic, it was the general Wang Siyu who had just recovered the Jiuqu region, he just arrived in Huangshui yesterday, heard that the governor had arrived, and rushed to greet him, and happened to meet Zhang Huan to go to the Qiang tribe to attend the banquet.

Wang Siyu saw Zhang Huan from afar. He rolled over and dismounted. Ran to Zhang Huanma, knelt down on one knee and said in a deep voice: "The last general, Wang Siyu, is here to greet the governor." ”

Zhang Huan saw that his love was about to arrive, so he hurriedly dismounted and helped him up, "Recovering Jiuqu, you can make a great contribution." ”

Wang Siyu listened to the praise of the governor, and hurriedly said modestly: "The last general went all the way to Jiuqu, and the Tubo army he encountered was a sporadic small army. The real main army has long been wiped out by the Governor in the Valley of Knights, and it is not a great achievement to clean up the aftermath for the Governor. ”

"Pick up the aftermath for me?" Zhang Huan smiled dumbly.

Wang Siyu knew that he was speechless, and he scratched the back of his head embarrassedly, "I didn't mean that!" ”

Zhang Huan laughed. "No need to explain. I understand! He affectionately grabbed Wang Siyu's arm. Pointing to the smiling Ugaogri not far away, he said, "The Qiang people will hold a feast and let the brothers go together." ”

The Qiang people of the Gu-Tibetan tribe are nomadic between Hehuang and Hexi, they live without a fixed place, living in pursuit of water and grass, about 100,000 people, and composed of more than a dozen smaller family tribes.

The place where Chief Li Jinge invited him today was at the foot of a hill about fifty miles north of Huangshui City, which was the summer place of the Tibetan Ministry. The terrain is flat and the pastures are abundant for hundreds of miles. The melting snow of the icebergs in the Qilian Mountains brings abundant water to the area, and there are dozens of rivers of all sizes.

Near dusk. Zhang Huan's brigade arrived at the camp of the Qiang people, and when there were still two miles to go, an old man in his sixties was greeted by a hundred big men.

Ugaogli hurriedly introduced to Zhang Huan: "That is my father, the chief of our Guzang Department. ”

Although Li Jinge is nearly sixty years old, he is still as strong as an ox, he is very bold and enthusiastic, and he stretched out his hands and laughed loudly: "I have admired the name of Zhang Dudu for a long time, and I only have to meet today." ”

Li Jinge's family has been a Qiang nobleman for generations, he has been recognized as the leader of the Qiang people for decades, he has always been the object of the Tubo people, and even did not hesitate to marry the two Tubo princesses to him as his wife, but Li Jinge is not optimistic about Tubo, after the death of the first Tubo princess the year before last, he did not agree to the second marriage request of Tubo, until Zhang Huan recovered Hehuang, Li Jinge saw that Zhang Huan wanted to monopolize the ambition of Helongdi, and would become the eighth largest family in the Tang Dynasty.

After repeated consideration, Li Jinge resolutely decided to form an alliance with Zhang Huan.

Zhang Huan jumped off the horse, according to the customs of the Qiang people, also stretched out his arms and hugged him tightly, next to Li Jinge there was a woman in her thirties, with a beautiful face, decorated with gold beads and silver chains, very gorgeous, she was the eighth wife of the chief, she also stepped forward to Zhang Huan and gave a salute, "Welcome guests!" ”

Zhang Huan hurriedly introduced Cui Ning to her, "This is my second wife Cui's." The chief and the chief's wife seemed to know Cui Ning's identity, and the two hurriedly stepped forward to salute, "Cui Xiangguo has always taken care of the Qiang people, and we thank you here." ”

Cui Ning smiled slightly and saluted: "The Tang Dynasty uses General Zhang to celebrate Longyou, and General Zhang also represents the imperial court, you can only thank General Zhang." ”

Li Jinge understood what Cui Ning meant, he snorted, waved his hand to Zhang Huan and said: "It's getting late, but we are here to delay the beautiful scenery, it's really a sin, the governor and his wife, please!" ”

"Chief, please!"

The 5,000 Tang Army was not as fascinated by wine and meat as Zhang Huan said, they were the most elite in the Xiliang Army, with strict discipline, and the army was stationed in a mile away, except for 500 guards who protected Zhang Huan, none of the 5,000 Tang Army left the barracks, and they were always vigilant for possible changes under the leadership of Wang Siyudi.

The venue of the banquet is 300 acres large, dozens of huge round tents have been lit in front of dozens of bonfires, drums are bursting, laughter is noisy, the firelight reflects a happy smile, in front of the main tent, the bonfire of two zhang high is flying with red flames, nearly 100 Qiang girls are dancing in front of the bonfire with rhythmic drums, dozens of Qiang strong men are killing cattle and slaughtering sheep not far away, and the large pieces of beef and mutton are grilled on the fire, the fat is overflowing, and the meat is fragrant.

The attentive master had already arranged the seats, and a thick blanket was spread on the floor for people to sit on, and several rows of low tables were filled with fruit and wine, and in front of each of them was a large silver platter and several handfuls of delicately made short

Zhang Huan and Cui Ning sat to the right of the chairman, and next to him were Chief Li Jinge and his wife, and the Qiang priestess also sat on the throne. Below, on the throne sat a dozen Qiang tribal leaders and their local wives who had arrived from all over the country.

Cui Ning suddenly noticed a very young woman sitting to the left of Chief Li Jinge. About sixteen or seventeen years old, with a round goose egg face, black eyes, red cheeks, and a youthful and lively atmosphere around her body, she hid behind the chief's burly body like a bird, and had been secretly looking at Zhang Huan, and suddenly saw Cui Ning smiling at her. Her gaze immediately ducked in a panic, and her head lowered.

Cui Ning seemed to understand something, and quietly snickered in Zhang Huan's ear: "Huan Lang, could it be that the chief wants to choose a son-in-law for his daughter today?" ”

Zhang Huan was stunned, and he couldn't see the girl from his perspective. He didn't understand what Cui Ning was talking about. Cui Ning smiled and shook his head gently. But he refused to say anything.

At this time, Li Jinge stood up, he raised a bottle of gold wine glass and said loudly: "Today is our most honored guest, Longyou Jiedu envoy General Zhang is here, let us pay tribute to the general with the strongest wine, the most fragrant mutton, the most beautiful and moving girl, and our most sincere heart." ”

"Cheers!" Everyone shouted together, raised their glasses and drank them all, and Zhang Huan drank all the wine in the cup. Cui Ning also drank a small glass shallowly. Dozens of waiting girls next to them immediately carried wine jugs and walked in front of and behind everyone like butterflies. Poured all the wine in their cups, at this time, the girl sitting behind Li Jinge walked up to Zhang Huan with a pot of wine, and when she got closer, she found that her skin was soft and graceful, like flowers and stamens blooming in the rain, and her expression was shy and charming.

She knelt in front of Zhang Huan, filled the cup in front of him, picked it up and handed it to him gently, and motioned for him to drink it.

But Zhang Huan didn't seem to find the special girl in front of him, he just thought that she was the leader of dozens of wine-pouring girls, he picked up the wine and stood up sincerely with a smile, raised a glass to the chieftain and his wife, and then raised the wine glass to everyone: "Today I am fortunate to be invited by the governor of Li Jinge, Zhang Huan uses this glass of wine to pay tribute to the Qiang brothers, there are more than 40,000 Qiang people in my Xiliang 180,000 army, we can be said to be blood-linked, I hereby assure you in the name of the heavens and the earth, the Qiang people are the same as the Han people, are equal and free, As the people of the Tang Dynasty, as long as you support my Tang Emperor as the Khan, you can live in your own land for generations, and this glass of wine will let us pay tribute to the beautiful land that feeds you and me. ”

After speaking, he slowly spilled the wine on the ground, although everyone knew that Zhang Huan should accept the third princess's heart and drink this cup of wine, but everyone was still moved by his sincerity, and they spilled the wine on the ground.

Only the girl was a little at a loss, standing there in a daze, but Mrs. Li Jinge kept looking at Zhang Huan, seeing that he didn't put the princess in his eyes, knowing that things couldn't be rushed, he stepped forward with two glasses of wine, handed one to the girl, and took her to Cui Ning and introduced: "This is the third princess of the chief, we all call her the princess of the silver bottle, and we will give Mrs. a cup." ”

Zhang Huan next to him knew that it was the princess who poured wine for himself, according to the rules of the Qiang people, if the woman took the initiative to pour wine for the guest, it would show her admiration, Zhang Huan suddenly faintly understood Li Jinge's true intentions, did he want to form an alliance with himself by marriage?

The alliance with the Qiang people is the main purpose of Zhang Huan's visit to Hehuang this time, but he is not very reluctant to form an alliance by marriage, but the Qiang people are the first major ethnic group in Hexi and Hehuang regions except for the Han people, if they can get the support of the Qiang people, it will play an extremely important role in his future seizure of Hexi, and even stabilize the rule of these two regions, especially Li Jinge, he is actually the king of Qiang, but unfortunately his son is too young, otherwise it is feasible to marry his family, if Li Jinge really means this, he can only reluctantly accept her into the account.

Not to mention that Zhang Huan was pondering on the side, Cui Ning next to him picked up the wine glass and stood up, she is a woman, and she can better understand the good intentions of the chief's wife, knowing that they all misunderstood Zhang Huan, thinking that they had to nod their heads, in fact, Zhang Huan wanted to marry a wife and concubine, don't say himself, even Pei Ying can't stop him, he is a man who does big things, how can he be bound by women.

Cui Ning is the daughter of the right minister, of course she knows the importance of this political marriage to Zhang Huan, she took a sip of wine, and smiled softly at Mrs. Li Jinge: "Thank you Madame for the toast, but the affairs between men should be discussed by themselves, we women should not be too involved, what does Madam think?" ”

Mrs. Li Jinge immediately understood what Cui Ning meant, she pushed the princess of the silver bottle, although this is a political marriage, but has always respected women is the tradition of the Qiang people, Li Jinge also hopes that the princess of the silver bottle can take a fancy to Zhang Huan, so before talking about this marriage, he let his daughter choose by herself, the princess of the silver bottle took a fancy to the young and heroic Zhang Huan at a glance, he is not the rude soldier he imagined, let alone the old and unbearable Tang Dynasty high-ranking official, she was secretly happy, and a wisp of love quietly wrapped around Zhang Huan's body.

The princess of the silver bottle mustered up the courage to walk up to Zhang Huan again, poured a glass of wine for him, she picked up the wine glass and handed it to Zhang Huan, blushing and saying, "Please accept a piece of my heart." ”