"It is incumbent upon you to share your Majesty's worries!" Zhang Bao'er nodded, he thought about it and said: "It's no problem for the minister to go to the Western Regions, but the minister has three requests, and I hope Your Majesty can agree." ”

"Tell me about it!"

"First, the matter of the minister's going to the Western Regions is limited to the three of us, please give your majesty a secret decree to the minister, and after the minister arrives in the Western Regions, he will make a decision according to the specific situation."

"No problem!" Li Longji agreed very happily.

"Dingguo Gong, it should be fair and honest to be the imperial court's envoy to inspect, why should you be so timid?" Yao Chong was puzzled.

"Lao Yao, you don't have a backache when you stand and talk!" Zhang Bao'er glanced at Yao Chong: "There are so few troops in the Western Regions, you let me be so swaggering, won't I become the target of everyone, and I still want to come back alive?" Besides, with Ashina in the open, I just have to hide in the shadows, and maybe I can become a surprise soldier at a critical moment! ”

Yao Chong asked, "Dingguo Gong, what is the second article?" ”

"I hope that Your Majesty will bring the Luzhou regimental training to the Western Regions!" Zhang Bao'er joked: "I don't have my own soldiers in my hands, I don't have a bottom in my heart, with them, I can't do it, and the ministers can run for their lives and come back!" ”

Although Zhang Baoer was joking, Li Longji's heart was heavy. The situation in the Western Regions is so erosive, it stands to reason that Zhang Baoer can not go at all, but he has no excuses. Ashina Xian and Su Lu must have a lot of dissatisfaction with the imperial court now, except for Zhang Bao'er, Li Longji really can't think of anyone else who can replace him to appease the two.

Thinking of this, Li Longji nodded and said: "No problem, the burden of the Luzhou regimental training will be fully borne by the imperial court, and I can also select some sergeants from the Yulin Army to accompany you." ”

Zhang Bao'er smiled and waved his hand: "The imperial court now has a lot of places to use money, so there is no need to spend money on it." The burden is still solved by the minister himself, although the minister is not wealthy now, but he still has a lot of silver in his hand, and he has to spend it anyway, and he spends it wherever he spends. ”

Li Longji became more and more reluctant when he heard this: "Bao'er, you went to Bianzhou to control locusts, and you have already spent a lot of money for the imperial court, and this time you ...... again."

"Your Majesty, this silver is not a white flower, let's say it, and when Your Majesty is rich, we have to return it to the minister."

"Return, must be returned!" Li Longji nodded.

Zhang Bao'er seemed to suddenly think of something, and he said to Yao Chong: "Old Yao, there is something I still need your help with!" ”

"Dingguo Gong, please speak!"

"Since the Han Dynasty, there has been a silk road in the Western Regions, these years, the Western Regions have been a little chaotic, and many merchants dare not get involved, I want to take this opportunity to let the Cen family form a caravan, re-enter the Western Regions, and open up this trade road for the Tang Dynasty."

Yao Chong approvingly: "This is a great thing for the benefit of the country and the people, how can I disagree?" ”

"I want Lao Yao to give you a message to the prefectures and counties and garrisons along the way, just say that the Cen family is assigned by the imperial court to go to the Western Regions to do business, let them give convenience all the way, don't make it difficult!"

"This ......" Yao Chong hesitated, Datang has always despised businessmen, and there has never been such a precedent.

"I agreed, Yao Ge Lao quickly handled this matter!" Li Longji said categorically.

Yao Chong was slightly stunned, Li Longji has always been polite to him, and it is the first time that he has spoken unceremoniously like today, could it be that His Majesty is angry.

Li Longji was indeed angry, Zhang Baoer stepped forward at a critical moment, not only did he not have any complaints to solve this big trouble for the imperial court, but he also paid out of his own pocket. Li Longji is also a good-looking person, he originally felt very indebted to Zhang Bao'er, but when he heard Yao Chong being so unhappy, he felt that he couldn't get over his face, so he directly responded to the matter on his behalf.

Yao Chong is also a smart person, after a little thought, he figured out the joints, and he smiled: "Dingguo Gong, this matter is handled by the old man!" ”

Zhang Bao'er said with satisfaction: "Then thank you, my public identity is the leader of this caravan, with this identity, wouldn't it be justified to walk in the Western Regions?" ”

"Bao'er, you originally wanted this name!" After listening to Zhang Bao'er's words, Li Longji suddenly realized, and he simply became generous again: "Since this is the case, I will give this Cen family firm the royal business name, so that it will be more convenient for you to act." ”

Yao Chong was stupid when he heard it, this is too out of line, he has never heard of the royal business name since ancient times, which makes the common people listen to it, don't you think that Your Majesty wants to compete with the people for profit, how can this be made. But Li Longji's words have been exported, and Chrysostom can't change them.

Yao Chong was unhappy, but Zhang Bao'er was happy in his heart, Li Longji was indeed different, and he could come up with such an idea, isn't this an unexpected joy? With this name, the Cen family will not be able to become famous in the future.

Yao Chong was afraid that Li Longji would say something out of the ordinary again, so he hurriedly interrupted: "Dingguo Gong, what is your third request?" ”

"After I leave, the imperial court should pay close attention to the movements of the Tubo people, and if there is a situation, don't start a war without authorization, with the situation that the Tang Dynasty is facing now, it is not suitable to fight two wars at the same time, everything must be calculated after the affairs of the Western Regions are over."

Li Longji nodded: "Bao'er, don't worry, I will send someone to contact you if there is something!" ”

"Your Majesty, the minister has retired first!"

Looking at Zhang Bao'er's departing figure, Yao Chong couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "Dingguo Gong is really worthy of being the pillar of the country!" ”

Li Longji didn't say anything, just meditated silently, and no one knew what he was thinking.

……

At dawn on August 23, the third year of Kaiyuan, the sky was already slightly bright, and the city gate of Tingzhou was routinely opened every morning. Since the Turks had already entered the Western Regions, the soldiers defending the city received orders to strictly check the people entering and leaving the city, but it was quite tricky to actually carry it out. Tingzhou is located at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, connecting Yizhou and Shazhou in the east, Xizhou in the south, and Gongyue City and Broken Leaf Town in the west.

Just as the city gate was opened, the soldiers guarding the gate suddenly heard a strange sound in the distance. The sound of horses' hooves like thunder came from far and near, and there were more than 300 riders listening to the sound.

"Enemy attack!" The captain on the city wall apparently heard the voice as well, and he shouted: "Close the gates quickly, beat the drums and call the police!" ”

The soldiers were nervous, but they were busy.

The gates were closed again, and the sound of a loud drum for the alarm resounded throughout the city.

When the cavalry reached a place more than a hundred paces from the city gate, it suddenly stopped. The knights on the horses were all draped in broad black cloaks, and their faces could not be seen clearly, blending with the darkness of the night, and like a black whirlwind.

They sat upright on their horses, not moving, and none of them made a sound, and the soldiers, noticing the anomaly, raised their torches in their hands, and shone them down, but found in vain that they could not see anything clearly.