"Don't worry, my lord, I will find a chance to talk to Zhi Lanying." Huang Yue's English is not high, but she is full of determination.

Several people walked slowly on the bluestone road, Liu Zhang felt extremely weak, and a sense of oppression came from time to time in his mind, as if he was about to faint at any time, Liu Zhang had to lift his spirits.

"The affairs of the Central Plains and the northern grasslands need you to worry more, but the Western Regions cannot be ignored, and I will tell you the truth." Liu Zhang paused for a moment, feeling that there was nothing to hide at this time, and said calmly: "In fact, in the heart of this king, the Western Regions has always been the inherent territory of my Han Dynasty. ”

Huang Yueying and Pang Tong were stunned at the same time, they didn't know where Liu Zhang's idea came from, the Western Regions were just a vassal state, and they were too far from the inherent territory, but both of them tacitly did not refute it.

Liu Zhang knew what they were thinking, so he didn't explain, but continued: "So Yueying went back and told Xun'er that in the Western Regions, the Great Han must not be lost, and the Yue Empire and any country west of the Western Regions must not be allowed to get involved.

But the Western Regions to truly become our inherent territory, we still have a long way to go, this king has now established the Tianshui Metropolitan Protectorate, reorganized the Wuji Captain's Department, and in Loulan, Shanshan, as well as Jingjue, Shache, Wusun, Dawan area, as long as it is the main area of the Western Regions, will establish the Metropolitan Protectorate, and collect the military power of the countries in the Western Regions.

It is not the goal to regain military power, it is the goal to monopolize the talents of the Western Regions through the four imperial examinations with the positions of the Imperial Protectorate, and to assimilate the Western Regions through the subjects and immigrants of the four imperial examinations.

I hope that this will continue to be implemented as a national policy, and that no matter what difficulties are encountered, it will not be allowed to be interrupted, unless the Sichuan army is destroyed. ”

Huang Yueying and Pang Tong were really looking at Liu Zhang in shock now. How ambitious is this king? More ambitious than the original Qin Emperor and Han Wu.

The Central Plains fought to overthrow the Shiclan. Take control of the northern steppes. Now it will take several generations, or even more than ten generations, to bring the Western Regions to the Han Dynasty, which is unimaginable for others.

It's a pity that the great cause is not finished......

"Your Highness." Pang Tong came to his senses and frowned: "Listen to the lord's will, at least eight capital protectors will be established in the Western Regions, and so many capital protectors." Need a co-ordinator, right? ”

The eight capital protectorates are much larger than the Tuntian area established by the Han Dynasty in the Western Regions, the Wuji Captain's Department, and an all-inclusive Western Regions Metropolitan Protectorate.

However, the problem of feeding the army is smaller than before, because now the kingdoms are supporting the army, and they do not need the money of the Han Dynasty, and they can be completely self-sufficient.

But it is impossible for so many protectorates to be without a co-ordination.

And what Pang Tong asked was also what Liu Zhang thought, and Liu Zhang decided to have a general protectorate from the beginning. But this selection of the protector of the metropolitan government is a difficult question.

The first is to be both civil and military, and think in detail. The Western Regions Metropolitan Protectorate model has just been established, and there must be many unstable factors and many contradictions that need to be dealt with.

It is also necessary to be loyal enough, if it is a few decades later, the Western Regions Protectorate will definitely gradually reduce its power, because at that time, the Western Regions model has taken shape and is difficult to shake.

However, at the beginning of its establishment, the power of the Western Regions Protectorate was not small, and without power, how could it be said to resolve contradictions and control such a large force, in addition to the necessary institutional constraints, the personal loyalty of the candidates for the Protectorate must also be a factor that cannot be ignored.

"Here's my plan." Liu Zhang walked as he walked, Xiao Furong felt that Liu Zhang's strength was getting bigger and bigger, because he had been martial arts since he was a child, and he didn't have to work hard, but Xiao Furong was even more worried about Liu Zhang, and now Xiao Furong really wanted to ask Liu Zhang to go back and rest, don't say it anymore, Xiao Furong only felt that every time Liu Zhang said a word, she would be angry and drained a little.

Liu Zhang said: "Set up about eight lower-level capital protection offices, which are equivalent to the county level of our Central Plains, and add a Western Regions capital protection office, which is equivalent to the state level, but the Western Regions capital protection is different from the state pastor, and has the right to deploy the army." ”

Huang Yueying and Pang Tong frowned at the same time, the right to deploy the army, this is simply a copy of the state pastoral system of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, and the capital of the Western Regions is the protector of the government, it is simply a huge warlord, and he can establish himself as a king.

However, they also knew that Liu Zhang was forced to do so, the Western Regions were far away, and if there was a rebellion in the kingdom, they would have to report to the Central Committee of the Han Dynasty before they could send troops, which was a pure joke.

You must know that now the military power of the countries in the Western Regions has just been incorporated into the Han Dynasty, and the countries that have been accepted for military power, how many are convinced? If a country rebelled, the Han did not suppress it in time.

It was definitely a spark of fire, and when the order of the central Han Dynasty was transmitted to the Western Regions Protectorate, the daylily was cold.

Moreover, the power of this capital protection cannot be too restrained, and in such a sensitive place, if the Shangguan cannot absolutely exert his power, and he must consult with others everywhere to reach an agreement, it is also very dangerous.

If many years after the establishment of the Western Regions Protectorate, all the countries in the Western Regions have acquiesced to the rule of the Protectorate, even if a country has a careerist, it will not incite many people, and then it will be possible to restrict and restrain the power of the Protectorate.

Therefore, this candidate for the first Western Regions Protector is very important, with both talent and loyalty, Huang Yueying and Pang Tong both looked at Liu Zhang, wondering who Liu Zhang would choose to be the protector of the Metropolitan Domain.

Liu Zhang looked at Pang Tong, and after three seconds, he said to Pang Tong: "Shiyuan, are you willing to serve?" ”

"I ......" Pang Tong looked at Liu Zhang in surprise, he didn't expect Liu Zhang to appoint himself, although his own talent, even Pang Tong, who had already reined in his edge, still felt that he could take up the post of protector of the Western Regions.

But loyal, Pang Tong was still a little surprised, after all, he had not really served in the Sichuan army for a day, and he had never been a member of the Sichuan army.

"Your Highness, do you really plan to appoint the grass people to be the protector of the Western Regions?" Pang Tong asked Liu Zhang solemnly.

"As long as Shi Yuan is willing to call me my lord." Liu Zhang said in a positive voice.

Pang Tong looked at Liu Zhang for a long time, and bowed to Liu Zhang: "Thank you, the lord trusts." ”

Pang Tong said the word "lord" heavily, and the words couldn't help but flow with emotion, Liu Zhang smiled with relief, and Huang Yueying said to Pang Tong: "Brother Shiyuan, we are finally in the same hall as ministers, congratulations." ”

"It's gratifying." Pang Tong straightened up and faced Liu Zhang: "But the lord, Pang Tong is grateful for the trust of the lord, but for the position of the protector of the Western Regions, Pang Tong already had a suggestion before he came to Jingjue."

The subordinates feel that the Western Regions Protectorate should be divided into two parts, one focuses on internal affairs and the other focuses on the military, after all, the Western Regions also has a border, and we can set up border troops like Wuxi and Dianzhou.

Specifically, the lord sees whether it will work, the Western Regions Protectorate is located in the Qiuzi area, where the land is better, which is convenient for Tuntian immigrants, and the Western Regions Protectorate is responsible for managing the lower-level Protectorate, settling the countries of the Western Regions, and has the power to deploy the defenders of various countries. ”

Liu Zhang listened quietly, what Pang Tong said now is the same as what he said, they all have military power, but Liu Zhang knows that Pang Tong still has something to say.

Pang Tong continued: "In addition to the protector of the Western Regions, his subordinates suggested that the lord should add a general to protect the Western Regions, stationed in the area of Dawan or Green Ridge, to command the border army and guard against the Yue Empire, Khorezm and other countries.

The composition of the border army was drawn from the countries of the Western Regions, that is, the eight lower-level protectorates, and the soldiers were replaced regularly.

I believe that just to guard against the Yue clan and other countries, it does not need too strong combat power, and the replacement of the border army in turn can ensure that the commander of the border army, that is, the Zhonglang of the Western Regions, will not have the power to expand.

In the event of a rebellion in the countries of the Western Regions, it will be faster to call on the border army to suppress it, and at the same time achieve the counterbalance between the Zhonglang of the Western Regions and the protector of the Western Regions.

Does the lord think this plan is feasible? ”

Liu Zhang and Huang Yueying thought about Pang Tong's plan, the border army was separated from the Metropolitan Protectorate, the border army was rotated, and the eight lower-level Metropolitan Protectorates themselves still had some troops left, so that it was impossible for them to sit on the throne whether they were the generals of the Western Regions or the Metropolitan Protectors of the Western Regions.

At the same time, the suppression was more rapid, which could prevent external threats, and the establishment of the border army also helped to enhance the cohesion of the Western Regions and adapt to the rule of the Han Dynasty more quickly.

It is completely in line with his vision of the Western Regions, which can be called perfect.

"Shiyuan, your plan is very good, more thoughtful than mine, but there is a difficulty." Liu Zhang said to Pang Tong with certainty that because he had never thought of a large-scale battle with Guishan, he didn't expect the border army, but Pang Tong had already thought of it.

"What's so difficult?" Pang Tong asked.

"In this way, two important candidates are needed, although the border army can be balanced with the capital protection, but the border army and the capital protection are undoubtedly very important positions, and they are far away in the Western Regions, and they also need both civil and military skills, where can I find such two people?"

Huang Yueying will definitely stay in the Central Plains, and Fa Zheng will also stay, Liu Zhang's idea is that Huang Yueying is in charge of the Central Committee, and Fa Zheng is in charge of Jingzhou.

And although Zhou Budo is white, he is still Liu Xun's arm, without Zhou Budo's assistance, Liu Zhang is not very relieved, after all, Liu Xun is only ten years old.

In addition to these three people, there is one Pang Tong left to serve as one of the border troops and the protector of the capital, and Liu Zhang can't find a talent who is both civil and military, thoughtful, and has a sense of the overall situation.

Pang Tong bowed to Liu Zhang: "Pang Tong is not talented, I am willing to recommend myself as the general who protects the Western Regions, and another person can be the protector of the Western Regions." ”

"Who?" Liu Zhang asked curiously.

"Du Wei."

"Du Wei?" Liu Zhang and Huang Yueying were stunned at the same time, and they both thought of the hermit they saw in the south, this time Liu Zhang invited Du Wei to go out of the mountain, but they never got the news.

Speaking of which, Du Wei is still his benefactor, without his medicine, he would not have his own half a year, although in the end he still can't change his fate, but this half a year is also very precious, at least except for Guishan's invading army, the Western Regions are roughly pacified in front of his eyes.

And Du Wei is indifferent to fame and fortune, when he invited him out of the mountain, he only said that he was only external, not internal, but the foreign war hates the civil war, and he has no children, so he is really a suitable candidate for the protection of the Western Regions. (To be continued......)