Zhongyun's return to obedience was not due to the might of the Tang army, but because of the legacy of the Han and Tang dynasties. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

From Puchanghai to Stone Town, along the way, Li Shaocheng felt the enthusiasm of Zhongyun people and their love for the Chinese king. After leaving a part of the garrison in Datuncheng and Shizhen, Li Shaocheng did not stay long, replenished food and drinking water, and continued to march west. As for the canonization of Zhongyun, it would have to take Zhongyun's people to Luoyang, but the plan has been decided, and these are just a process.

The next thing Li Shaocheng has to face is the well-known Khotanese state.

Khotan has a long history, connecting Shanshan in the east and Shule in the west, and has always been a big country along the southern side of the Tarim Basin, an important hub of the Silk Road.

During the march, whenever he was resting, Chai Kehong found Li Shaocheng and asked the latter to tell him about the situation in Khotan.

At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, the imperial court placed the capital of the Western Regions under protection, and Khotan belonged to China, and was later destroyed by the Shache Kingdom, one of the 36 countries in the Western Regions, and soon restored to the country. Ban Chao to this, his people killed the Xiongnu envoy and surrendered to Han, Ban Chao attacked Gumo, Xiping Shache, Shule, Khotan all sent troops to help. After that, it gradually became a powerful country that was 'obeyed from the Northwest to the Thirteen Kingdoms of Shule', and until the Wei and Jin dynasties, it continued to pay tribute to China. ”

"After I set up the Anxi Protectorate, I was in Khotan Town, which was one of the four towns in Anxi. Subsequently, the Tibetan invasion several times, my garrison border army and the Khotanese army, several times to repel the Tibetan, because of the imperial court's policy, the town of Khotan has fallen, but still by the king in time to recover. ”

"During the Tianbao period of Xuanzong, Chi Sheng, the chief lieutenant of Khotan, entered the court, Xuanzong married the daughter of the clan, during the Anshi Rebellion, Wei Chi Sheng personally led the elite soldiers, the king of Wanliqin, after quelling the chaos, the old Chang'an. Later, the Tibetan invaded on a large scale, and Khotan defended the military town together with our border army, and was defeated and fell. As for the civil strife in Tibet, Zhang Yichao revived the Guiyi Army, took advantage of the situation in Khotan to restore the country, and then had exchanges with the Guiyi Army. ”

Chai Kehong asked: "Who is the lord of Khotan today?" ”

Li Shaocheng smiled slightly, "The current lord of Khotan, who has been on the throne for more than 20 years, is Wei Chi Poba, who calls himself 'Tang Zhizong', and takes 'Li' as his surname, named Li Shengtian. ”

Chai Kehong was surprised: "Xuanzong once married the daughter of the clan to Wei Chi Sheng, this Wei Chi Po Bao called himself 'Tang Zhi Zong', but he did not get His Majesty's gift, and he dared to use the surname 'Li', which is too rude, and the name 'Shengtian' is really too arrogant!" ”

Chai Kehong's thoughts, Li Shaocheng can understand, but he obviously knows better, so he is not very angry at this time, and continued: "Since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Chinese Fujie edict has been passed down by its king, so it can be said that the Fujie edict given by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to the lord of Khotan is equivalent to the jade seal of Khotan, which shows the weight of China in the eyes of Khotan. Since the name of Yu Chi Po Ba changed his surname, Khotan was called the 'Li Dynasty' by the people of the Western Regions, it is said that Yu Chi Po Ba Han is very knowledgeable, and the official system of Khotan also imitates my Tang Dynasty. Because Yu Chisheng once married the daughter of my Tang clan, the lord of Khotan has always recognized this 'uncle and nephew' relationship with my Tang Dynasty, and I won't tell you that this Wei Chi Po also married Cao Yijin's second daughter and was named queen. ”

Chai Kehong didn't know that there were so many stories in it, and he couldn't help but be surprised, "There are still such things!" In this way, Khotanese is extremely loyal to my Tang Dynasty! ”

Li Shaocheng said with a smile: "Since the beginning of the Han Dynasty, for thousands of years, Khotan has always been the king of the Wei Chi clan, and it is not an exaggeration to say that they have been subjugated to our China for thousands of years. ”

......

Khotan.

The palace of the lord of Khotan is not facing south, but facing east. The architectural style is no different from the Central Plains, it is called "Golden Book Palace", there is a building on the side of the hall, it is very tall, there is the wind of Ming Hall, it is called "Seven Wind Building".

It is now the twenty-seventh year of the celebration of Khotan.

The famous Li Shengtian was sitting in the Golden Book Hall at the moment, frowning and reading a military intelligence report. Look at his clothes, the clothes are all Tang costumes, his people are elegant, and his facial features are quite Tang people's appearance, if he says that he has Tang blood, I am afraid that no one will not believe it.

Outside the main hall, in addition to the waiters who bowed, there were dozens of purple-clothed monks.

After reading the military newspaper in his hand, Li Shengtian put down the fold, took a sip of the wine on the table, and suddenly frowned, probably because he felt that the taste had changed after a long time, so he beckoned: "Come here, change the green wine." ”

The waiter hurriedly bowed down to greet him, took the cup in Li Shengtian's hand, and respectfully reported: "King, it's time for dinner." With that, he waved his hand, and a waiter came in with a tray, and in the plate was not only wine and meat delicacies, but also millet coated with cheese and japonica coated with honey.

Li Shengtian only took the wine glass, and then waved his hand, indicating that he had no appetite. Although he succeeded to the throne for more than 20 years, he was not very old, it was the peak age of the Spring and Autumn Period.

From time to time, a young man came to the door, saw Li Shengtian contemplating, and after seeing the salute, he asked, "Why is the king frowning, but he is worried about the war in the west?" ”

The person who came was called Li Congde, who was Li Shengtian's son, Li Shengtian glanced at him and gathered his thoughts, "The war in the west has not stopped, but there is nothing serious, it is just disturbing people's hearts...... You are in a hurry to come at this time, but what is the important thing to report? ”

Li Congde couldn't hide the joy on his face, "I just received the news that the envoy of the Tang Dynasty has arrived in Jinzhou!" ”

"Oh?" Li Shengtian's eyebrows flew, "It's here so soon?" Have the officials who went out to greet you have been arranged? How is the wine and meat prepared by the labor army? ”

Li Congde hurriedly said: "After receiving the report of the Tang envoy's ranger, the officials of Jinzhou immediately went out of the city thirty miles to greet him, waited for half a day, and received the Tang envoy. According to a report from Ganzhou officials, the Tang army arrived in Jiangzhou five days later, and the belongings of the labor army in Jiangzhou had been prepared...... The things we went out to welcome the officials and the labor army in the city of Khotan have also been arranged, the king does not have to worry! ”

"Good! Good! Good job! Li Shengtian had forgotten to drink the wine in the cup, he turned around and walked into the hall, and before he sat down after coming to the desk, he said: "The officials who received along the way should go out to greet the people together, and when the envoy and the king arrived in Khotan, they must raise the city to greet each other, and we must let the envoy and the king see our enthusiasm!" ”

Li Congde hurriedly agreed, Li Shengtian finally sat down behind the desk, his expression was still excited, "A few years ago, this king kept sending envoys to the east to explore the way to China, just to go to the court to meet the Son of Heaven, I never thought that the secret envoy met the Chinese officials stationed in Shazhou, and was introduced by the Cao Jie, and my secret envoy in Khotan finally met with the Chinese officials, this is really providence!" In the past two years, this king and His Majesty the Tang Dynasty exchanged letters, knowing that today's His Majesty the Tang Dynasty is a benevolent and peaceful king, but I didn't expect that the king would pacify the thieves east of Guazhou so quickly, and so soon re-came to my Khotan country. Good! All right! After more than 100 years, Wang Shi has finally arrived here again, and in the future, this will inevitably be the world of Wang Shi again, and the day when I fight side by side with Wang Shi in Khotan is not far away! ”

Speaking of this, Li Shengtian paused, and suddenly, for some reason, tears fell in his eyes, and he looked up at Fang Liang, "First King, have you seen it?" The king is here in Khotan again! When you were canonized by the Son of Heaven as the general of the right Weiwei, during the civil strife in China, led me to the Khotanese elite soldiers Wanliqin King, since he died in Chang'an with tens of millions of Khotanese elite soldiers, that is how loyal and courageous, generous and tragic, and now, China has not let us down, the king is here again, the four towns of Anxi are bound to be rebuilt, and this land will usher in glory again! First king, do you see it? ”

Looking at Li Shengtian with tears streaming down his face, Li Congde was also deeply touched, and couldn't help but redden.

Originally, in the Later Jin Dynasty, during the Tianfu period, Li Shengtian sent an envoy to Luoyang after a lot of hardships to pay tribute to red salt, jade, tulips, white and other things, in order to show the meaning of obedience. The Later Jin Dynasty then sent Gao Juhai and others as envoys, and as for Khotan, Li Shengtian was canonized as the "Great Treasure of the King of Khotan" - that was the third year of the Later Jin Dynasty, which is "two years later".

......

Li Shaocheng led his army to Khotan.

As the commander of the Southern Route Army marching into the Western Regions and the deputy marshal of the 100,000 forbidden army, Li Shaocheng knew a lot about the situation in Khotan. When he was in Lingzhou, Li Congjing had an in-depth explanation of the affairs of Khotan, but as a military commander, he led the troops to fight outside, and instinctively prepared for big battles and vicious battles, so this time he arrived in Khotan so smoothly, which made Li Shaocheng feel too surprised and surprised.

This is really normal, after all, Li Shaocheng has no contact with Li Shengtian, and even the people of this era do not have a deep understanding of Li Shengtian, and only Li Congjing knows what kind of character Li Shengtian is who has left a lot of history, so if Li Congjing gets the news that Li Shaocheng's soldiers are bloodless, he will not be half strange from Yangguan to Khotan.

——Li Shengtian sent an envoy to Luoyang, expressing his intention of obedience, being canonized by China, and wholeheartedly loyal to China, which is nothing compared with his later deeds and Li Congde's achievements.

"At present, Khotan is a veritable big country with 3,000 miles from east to west and 2,000 miles from north to south. Outside the city of Khotan, before meeting Li Shengtian, Li Shaocheng said to Chai Kehong.

From time to time, Li Shaocheng and others met Li Shengtian, who was personally leading the Khotanese officials and was about to go out to greet him.

Behind Li Shengtian, in addition to a group of officials, there are also the people of Khotan, who have no end in sight, the momentum is huge, the excitement is extraordinary, both the officials and the common people, all are clothed in cloth, most of them are in Tang costumes.

Seeing this scene, Li Shaocheng returned to the Central Plains with suspicion.

Dismounted and drove forward, Li Shaocheng, who was dressed in armor, and met Li Shengtianma in front of him.

"General Lee!" Li Shengtian made a move.

"Lord of the Kingdom!" Li Shaocheng clenched his fists.

This lively and simple meeting kicked off the prelude to the two sides fighting side by side in the following decades.

......

Riding into the city with Li Shengtian, Li Shaocheng was shocked by the crowds of people on both sides of the street, singing and dancing, some people dressed as ghosts and gods, some people wore Buddhist clothes, and the whole world celebrated together, as if they were having the most solemn festival.

On the same day, Li Shengtian held a banquet in the Golden Book Hall to entertain the generals of the forbidden army, and at the same time, outside the city, the officials and soldiers of Khotan were also comforting the soldiers of the forbidden army.

A few days later, Li Shaocheng moved out of the guard of honor, took out the edict that Li Congjing asked him to carry, and officially canonized Li Shengtian as the king of Khotan. As a result, the Tang army was stationed in Khotan.

Less than two days later, Li Shengtian was feasting on Li Shaocheng, and suddenly received a military report, Li Shengtian did not shy away from Li Shaocheng, and watched it with him.

"There has always been a war in Green Ridge?" Reading the strike report, Li Shaocheng asked in surprise.

"The Uighurs of the Green Mountains, the so-called Qarakhanid dynasty." Li Shengtian snorted coldly, "A bunch of barbaric pagan thieves! ”

"Heretic thieves?"

"I believe in Buddhism in Khotan, and these Uighurs don't know where to get out of 'Muslims' and 'Islam'......