Seriously, these gifts were not given to Xu Ping alone, but to the Marshal Mansion of Qinzhou, and they had to be given back to the envoy just like the imperial court. This in itself is a special trade that requires a detailed valuation of the gift before deciding how much to return. Xu Ping accepted the gift list, and then asked the third division to calculate the price in detail afterwards before deciding how much to pay.

After asking for tea, Xu Ping asked the envoy An Gezhi: "Hexi Prefecture is still under the management of the party, can you still be calm this way?" ”

An's Heshi saluted: "Thanks to the blessing of the Scriptures, the kingdom won a great victory in Zhuoluo City, which extinguished the arrogance of the party members. Along the way, although the state and local areas are still in charge of the party, as long as they don't enter the city, the road is unimpeded. ”

Xu Ping nodded: "That's fine." The party thieves betrayed the court, the heavens were angry and resentful, and they couldn't support it for many days. You and the people in Hexi, wait for a few years with peace of mind, and the imperial court will definitely exterminate the party traitors. ”

After chatting a few words, Jin Sanxing from Khotan on the one hand: "Xiaomin has been doing business in Khotan for generations, and he is quite wealthy, and he was sent by the Great Khan more than ten years ago to pay tribute to Bianjing. This time, I happened to be doing business in Shazhou, so I arrived with their envoys. In the northwest of Gongwei Town, Siyi is in awe, and it is a good time to re-manage the surrounding Fanguo. Xiaomin is willing to ask for a little justice, allowing caravans from various countries to trade in Qinzhou, exchange what they have, and also show the favor of the Heavenly Empire. ”

Xu Ping looked at Jin San, nodded with a smile, and didn't speak for a while.

In fact, the state of Khotan had already been destroyed decades earlier, and it was the Black Khanate, also known as the Qarakhanid, that conquered them and maintained their rule there. After the occupation of Khotan, the Qarakhanid State has always used the name of Khotan to pay tribute, and the tributary trade with the Great Song Dynasty, especially the frankincense trade, was an important source of income for the Qarakhanid. The Great Song Dynasty didn't know what was going on with the various ethnic groups and countries in that area, and basically followed the historical conventions, and they received them when they entered the court to pay tribute, but they were actually confused about who they were and what their identities were.

Xu Ping is not as confused as his predecessor, and Li Zhang's subordinate Ji Yisi, using the identity of the caravan as a cover, has already roughly sorted out the surrounding relationships. What is going on in the current Khotanese country, Xu Ping knows in his heart.

Shule, located northwest of Khotan, was an important center for the spread of Islam to the east, and there was a decades-long war with Khotan, a Buddhist state. At first, Khotan had the upper hand, once captured Shule, and also supported a puppet regime. However, the Qarakhanid later transferred the main force from the west, and after several major battles, he finally destroyed Khotan during the reign of Zhenzong Dazhong Xiangfu.

The Qarakhanid Shule forces, which occupied the Khotanese region, continued to pay tribute because they relied on the tributary trade with the Great Song Dynasty. A large number of Khotanese tribes were scattered in all directions, and many of them gathered under the command of the Uighurs, who had been exiled to Gaochang when they were young, and were inextricably linked with the Uighurs.

The Qarakhanid state is now also facing splits, and the so-called Khotanese state that paid tribute was actually the original Zheng Khan branch in its east, and the Song people called it the king of Heihan. The western part of the Qarakhanid was originally a branch of the deputy khans, but at this time its power grew and it no longer recognized the eastern khanate as its suzerain. The situation in that area is extremely complicated, and trade between the two sides does not matter, but once the politics are involved, it is necessary to be extremely cautious.

The spread of Islam to the east and the collapse of the Buddhist countries in the northwest were accompanied by one war after another. There is a poem in the Turkic language: "We rushed into the city like a flood, demolished the temples, and on the statues." In fact, in Xu Ping's previous life, the place where the Han people were the main people in the northwest was roughly the place where the Song Dynasty expanded, and other political forces had no intention of cultural expansion and persistence. Realizing this, Xu Ping was extremely cautious about this so-called Khotanese state. Now the Great Song Dynasty is dealing with the party, but after the party is exterminated, the power will inevitably extend to the Hexi region and even the Western Regions. The Buddhist kingdoms in the Western Regions, which were facing the danger of annihilation, were almost 100% sure that they would seek the protection of the Great Song Dynasty, and at that time, they would not be able to reconcile with the mud.

After pondering for a long time, Xu Ping said to Jin San: "Setting up a field, whether it can be or not, whether it is for this dynasty or for you, it is a good thing." However, this matter has to be reported to the imperial court, if you don't mind, you can stay in Qinzhou for a few more days. ”

Jin Sanhe saluted: "In addition to entering the Central Plains as an envoy, Qinzhou is the largest metropolis that Xiaomin has ever seen, it is naturally good to be able to stay for a few days, and what is there to mind!" If you can open up the scene, it is a great merit. ”

Xu Ping nodded with a smile, and said to An Gezhi and Li Ji: "The imperial court has a decree, and all envoys from the northwest must stop in Qinzhou, and they are not allowed to go east without an edict." If there is a tribute to the imperial court, it will be escorted by the local army. Shazhou Xinfu, your identity is different from that of ordinary envoys, how to deal with it, I also have to go to the imperial court, you first rest in Qinzhou. ”

The two saluted together: "Everything is subject to the orders of the Minister." ”

After chatting for a while, Xu Ping ordered someone to send several Fanbang envoys to the post house and entertain them. In fact, people were sent to monitor them, and they were not allowed to move around at will. Qinzhou is the front line of the war, and the people who came said that they were envoys, who dared to guarantee that they would be true?

Sending people away, Xu Ping deliberately left Liu Jian behind, and said to him: "In the second year of Da Shi Xiangfu, the king of Khotan sent the Uighur Rothin to pay tribute, and this king of Khotan did not match the name of the previous Khotanese royal family. Now we know that Khotan was actually destroyed decades ago, and it was the Black Khanate that paid tribute. The Black Khanate did not believe in Buddhism, and was an enemy of the surrounding Gaochang Uighurs, the Yellow Uighurs, and the Tibetan tribes, so we should be extremely cautious in dealing with them. ”

It was only after Liu Jian arrived in Qinzhou that he sorted out the chaotic relationship between these small countries, and nodded again and again after listening to Xu Ping's words: "That's true, after a little reminder." However, if this is the case, why did you agree to pay three places? ”

"There is no harm in putting the two sides in trade, and each side has its own benefits, and it is only natural that he should be agreed. However, it is still necessary to be cautious and not to let the logistics of weapons, copper and iron go out, so it is best not to be in Qinzhou City. Moreover, the Western Regions have produced famous horses since ancient times, and after setting up a farm, we can find a way to buy some good horse breeds. Moreover, we are now fighting against Hao thieves, we must attract people's hearts, avoid making enemies on all sides, and no matter what, we must not make the surrounding countries resentful. ”

Liu Jian nodded: "Understood." I don't know what to ask me for. ”

Xu Ping said in a deep voice: "Because of the remoteness of the Western Regions, this dynasty has no intention of passing through, and has never sent envoys there, and does not know much about the situation there. After we break the party's items, we will inevitably regain the land west of the river and bring it under the rule of the imperial court, and at that time, these small countries can no longer ignore it. Since they want to open up a field for trade, I simply sent a letter to the imperial court and set up a special place in Qinzhou for trade between the northwestern countries and the various Tibetan tribes. You have chosen competent men to trade with the Western Regions, understand the situation there clearly, and prepare for the future. ”

Liu Lian nodded again and again, the small countries in the northwest actually use businessmen to understand the situation in various places, they can do it, and of course the Great Song Dynasty can do it. In the past, there were no suitable talents, and it was unreliable to recruit from the private sector, but now there is a business system of three shops, and the talents who do business are ready-made. As long as you promise a generous gift, or even increase the official to the knighthood, you will not worry about finding someone who is willing to go.