Chapter 468: Blocking Tubo and the situation in the Western Regions
In the Yun Kingdom Palace, in the Yangxin Hall.
Xiao Cheng lowered his head to review the memorial, while Feng Bao on the side said at this moment:
"Your Majesty, there will be a great court meeting in a few days. Before the great court meeting, the Ministry of Rites will have to draw up many matters related to the Shule Kingdom. Once the regulations are fulfilled, Your Majesty still has to make the final decision, so that the Ministry of Rites can handle things easily."
Shen Wansan's Shen's Trading Company has been doing business with the Western Regions. Although Yun Guo doesn't know much about the situation in the Western Regions, it doesn't have a blind eye.
Therefore, the court of the Yun State knew very well that the current situation of the Shule State in the Western Regions was not good! The reason why the envoys were sent here was definitely not because they heard about Emperor Yun’s fame and came to pay tribute, but because they came to pay tribute to the Yun State. Ask for something else.
Then, whether Yun State rejects Shule State's request, accepts it, or handles it calmly or calmly, Xiao Cheng, the current Yun Emperor, needs to set the tone, and the talents below will be well-prepared.
Xiao Cheng put together the memorial in his hand, pondered for a moment, then nodded and said:
"Let's meet first... tomorrow afternoon, we will summon the Shule Kingdom envoy to see you!"
This Shule country has only one million people and less than 20,000 soldiers. It is a small country worthy of the name. Moreover, it is too far away from the Yun Kingdom. Whether or not to lend a helping hand to it has no bearing on the overall situation of the Yun Kingdom.
However, the location of Shule Kingdom is important. If Yun State wants to set its sights on the Western Regions in the future, it must control Shule Kingdom.
The contact at this time may not be useless, just think of it as preparation for the next strategy of the Western Region!
Seeing Xiao Cheng nodding in agreement, Feng Bao said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, another spy from Xiangzhou County has come to report that the Tibetan envoy has entered the country. The local government's detailed report and memorial are already on the way and will arrive in Beijing soon."
When Xiao Cheng heard this, he paused with his hands, turned to look at Feng Bao, raised his eyebrows and said:
"Tibetan mission?"
"yes."
Xiao Cheng frowned and said doubtfully:
"I remember that the Tubo royal court should be busy mobilizing troops and horses to confront Yang Tongjie Du Mansion right now. Are you bowing your head and giving in when you send an envoy here at this time?"
Tubo and the Yun Kingdom have a long national border. Although Tubo is weak in national power, it has the help of the plateau and the geographical advantage. The Yun Kingdom's army has difficulty adapting. It is equivalent to Tubo standing in an invincible position. Whether it is war or peace depends on Tubo's will.
Moreover, this contemporary Tubo Zanpu abandoned Nie Qi, and he was a monarch with great ambitions and outstanding abilities. Since he came to the throne, he has been strengthening the power of the Tubo royal family and reducing the rights of the great nobles.
After it completes centralization of power, it will inevitably set its sights beyond the Tubo Plateau!
When Xiao Chengzhi unified the Central Plains, he naturally did not want to be restrained by Tubo and distract his energy, so he had to take precautions.
When Tibet sent its envoys here, they consecrated Nie Chi, the leader of the Yangtong tribe, as Dayun Yangtong's envoy, and gave him a golden seal, official robes and honor guard, indicating that he could lead the tribes in western Tubo. Fight against the Tubo royal court.
At this time, with the arrival of the Tubo delegation, Xiao Cheng could not think of any other possibility besides abandoning Nie Qi and being willing to bow his head and submit.
But then he thought again, even if the Yangtong tribe had the secret support of Yun Guo, the power of the Tubo royal court would still have the upper hand.
Before the end of the line, Xiao Cheng never thought that Nie Qi would surrender so quickly...
Xiao Cheng narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice:
"I briefly flipped through a piece of information about the Tubo Royal Court that Dongchang handed over before, but I kept it without publishing it. Now go find it and give it to me!"
"yes."
Feng Bao was a loyal follower of Xiao Cheng when Wang Xiao came to power. He was also extremely talented, but he was not suitable for spying. Now that he has quit his job in the East Factory, Xiao Cheng asked him to help deal with the Yun Kingdom.
In government affairs, I started working as a secretary.
All the memorials from the court, the secret messages from the feudal ministers, and the secret intelligence letters from various government agencies... He assisted Xiao Cheng in collecting, arranging, and processing these important things. It can be said that he won the emperor's heart!
After a while, Feng Bao found the secret report from the East Factory that Xiao Cheng had left unpublished.
Naturally, this secret report was handed over by Lun Gongren, telling Nie Qi to secretly meet with Xiu Yi's spies.
After Xiao Cheng read through it carefully, he immediately sneered (This chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 9 Adding obstacles to Tubo and the situation in the Western Regions
With a sound, he said:
"Since Nie Qi has already been in contact with the Xia State, sending a delegation at this time is most likely just a deliberate show of weakness and has a big conspiracy!"
The national conditions of Tubo are special among all the countries in the world. Although the country is poor and weak, it has a plateau and a favorable geographical location, so compared to other small countries, Tubo always has some room for choice.
Facing the two big and powerful countries of Yun and Xia, if Ai Nie Qi didn't have the ambition to send troops out of the plateau, he should choose to waver between the two countries to strive for the greatest interests!
For example, now, Qi Nie Qi should take the initiative to disclose the fact that Xia State has taken the initiative to seek benefits from Yun State, for example, on the condition that Tibet does not fall to Xia State, in exchange for Yun State giving up its support for Yang Tongbu.
But now, Qi Nie Qi has hidden the fact that he is connected with Xia State...
Then what he is planning is probably to join forces with the Xia Kingdom to carve up the Yun Kingdom!
Xiao Cheng's eyes sharpened and he said in a deep voice:
"Shen Wansan has collected information about Tubo and other parts of the Western Regions for me, and made a detailed map. It has been placed in the treasury of the Ministry of War. Send someone quickly to get it with my instructions!"
"In addition, Wei Lang Wei Chi Sheng, a member of the Department of Ceremonies and Guests of the Ministry of Etiquette, is summoned to appear in court!"
"Yes!" Feng Bao responded quickly, bowed and exited the Hall of Cultivation of the Heart.
Xiao Cheng was sitting on the dragon chair with a solemn look on his face, and he didn't know what he was considering in his heart.
After a while, the little eunuch who hurried back from the Ministry of War had already fetched the map.
About half an hour later, Yuchi Sheng, who knew that His Majesty was summoning him, hurried to the Yangxin Hall.
As soon as they entered the Yangxin inner hall, they and Yuchi Sheng saw a huge detailed map covering Tubo, Tianzhu, and the countries in the Western Regions, which had been hung in the main hall. His Majesty was standing in front of the map.
Showing a pensive look.
Hearing the sound of someone entering the palace to pay homage, Xiao Chengfang came back to his senses, turned around and waved to Yuchi Sheng, who was saluting, and said:
"Come here!"
This was actually the second time Yuchi Sheng saw Xiao Cheng. He was suddenly called over like this, and he couldn't help feeling a little uneasy, so he walked forward cautiously.
Xiao Cheng pointed to the map in front of him and asked Yuchi Sheng in a deep voice:
"You were born in Khotan, the Western Region, and you know the conditions of the countries in the Western Region very well. Please show me if there are any omissions in this map regarding the Western Region!"…
After hearing this, Yuchi Sheng calmed down a little and quickly bowed in response. Then he took a few steps forward and carefully examined the map in front of him.
The Yun Kingdom had not paid attention to the Western Region before, so it naturally did not collect information in a detailed and systematic manner.
However, the Shen Trading Company of the imperial merchant Shen Wansan has been doing business in the Western Regions and between Tubo. Even though it was not intentional, it still collected a lot of information about the Western Regions for the Yun Kingdom court. Therefore, the map in front of you is very detailed.
After Yuchi Sheng read it carefully, he nodded first, then shook his head, bowed to Xiao Cheng and said:
"Your Majesty, this map contains very careful and detailed records of the countries in the Western Regions. It is sufficient for doing business. But if I, Dayun, want to use this to do business in the Western Regions, I am afraid there are still some omissions."
"Tell me carefully!" Xiao Cheng said immediately.
When Yuchi Sheng heard this, he immediately said:
"In this land of the Western Region, where the east and west meet, there are many countries. Unlike the Central Plains where people share the same culture and race, the countries have been fighting seriously since ancient times and do not recognize each other. Even if one country attacks and destroys another country, it is rare for them to directly annex it. .”
"The victorious countries always choose to establish a puppet emperor and then control the defeated country. So in the past three to four hundred years, no matter how fierce the fighting in the Western Regions is, which country dominates, the Western Regions will always be the thirty-six countries!"
Having said this, Yuchi Sheng pointed to the map in front of him and said:
"So the biggest problem with this map is that even though it divides thirty-six countries, in fact there are not that many countries in the Western Region that really have a say!"
Hearing this, Xiao Cheng nodded clearly and said:
"continue!"
Yuchi Sheng drew a small circle at the intersection of the main roads in the western region and said:
"Your Majesty, this is the Shule Kingdom, located at the intersection of the east-west trade routes. To the northeast is the Tea-Horse Trade Road, to the southeast is the Xia Kingdom, and in the direction of the Turks, countless goods are transported to (this chapter is not finished!)
Chapter 9 Adding obstacles to Tubo and the situation in the Western Regions
Controlling this intersection means controlling the east-west trade. However, the Shule Kingdom is weak and unable to protect this place, so it attracts the covetous eyes of others!"
"To the west of the Shule Kingdom, the kingdoms of Qiandu, Wulei, Yinai, Puli, and Zihe are the sphere of influence of the Dawan Kingdom."
"To the east of the Shule Kingdom, along the northern edge of the Tarim Desert, there are continuous oases. The Weitou, Wensu, Gumo, Qiuci, Wutanzi and other countries here are all controlled by the Turks."
"In the past ten years, both the Dayuan Kingdom and the Turks have wanted to control the Shule Kingdom, the most critical place for the east-west trade route, so they have launched wars against Shule one after another. The Shule Kingdom is surrounded by enemies from the east and west, and the country is in a difficult situation. The strong people suffered countless losses, and the country became increasingly impoverished and weak."
Having said this, Yuchi Sheng turned to look at Xiao Cheng, bowed and said:
"The Shule Kingdom has been resisting tenaciously for more than ten years. It has serious grievances with the two countries and has no room for turning back. If I guessed correctly, the Shule Kingdom must have known that it could no longer resist the aggression of the two countries, so it came all the way. Paying tribute, I hope to use the power of my Dayun to frighten the Turks and Dawan."
Hearing this, Xiao Cheng shook his head slightly and said:
"It can be considered that he was rushed to the hospital because of his illness!"
After all, the Yun Kingdom is far away from the Western Regions and beyond reach, so what does it matter no matter how strong the country is? It can't scare the Turks just by relying on its power. Dawan is just sick and seeking medical treatment in a hurry!…
Yuchi Sheng, perhaps because he had a good impression of the Shule Mission, could not help but feel a little heavy at this time, and said in a low voice:
"What your Majesty said is true, but Shule Kingdom is at a critical moment, and we are not willing to give up any life-saving straw easily..."
Xiao Cheng didn't pay attention to Yuchi Sheng's expression at this time, but carefully looked at the map in front of him, pondered and pondered.
On the map in front of us, this sheep is in the southwest and borders the southern part of the Western Region!
The Yangtong tribe is not weak in Tubo!
Tubo unified all the local tribes and divided them into "six wings". Among them, the Yangtong tribe and its subordinate tribes occupied one wing, which was equivalent to one-sixth of the entire Tubo population and occupied most of the southwest Tubo territory.
One-third of Tubo's war horses are from the Yangtong tribe. And the tribesmen are even more capable in fighting. The Yangtong tribe's cavalry was once the main force of the Tubo army.
However, the territory of the Yangtong tribe is mostly a cold and barren land. The reason why it is able to compete with the Tubo royal court today is entirely because of the support of the Yun Kingdom.
If one day they really fall out with Tubo, abandoning Nie Qi is very likely to directly cut off the tea-horse trade.
Once the Yangtong tribe loses the support of Yun State, they may not even be able to get the food, grass and weapons to maintain the army, and they will naturally be defeated!
Therefore, in order to continue to contain Nie Qi's energy and strength, Xiao Cheng had to rely on the power of the countries in the Western Regions to continue to support the Yangtong tribe so that he could continue to confront the Tubo royal court.
The reason why Xiao Cheng changed his previous neglect of the Western Regions was because of this reason!
"What about here?"
Xiao Cheng pointed to the countries in the southern part of the Western Region that bordered the Yangtong tribe, and continued to ask Yuchi Sheng:
"Who is under the control of the countries in the southern part of the Western Region?"
When Yuchi Sheng heard this, he quickly said:
"The southern edge of the Tarim Desert, starting from the Shache Kingdom here, and heading eastward to the thirteen small kingdoms of Xiye, Ronglu, Jingjue, Xiaowan, and Qiemo, are all under the control of my mother country, Khotan!
"
Xiao Cheng's gaze followed Yuchi Sheng's hand as it moved over the map, and his eyes couldn't help but light up slightly.
Isn’t this a coincidence? The Yuchi Sheng in front of me is the prince of Khotan!
Xiao Cheng turned to look at Yuchi Sheng, his eyes burning as he said:
"I want to manage the Western Region and set up a governor's office to coordinate the conflicts and disputes among the countries in the Western Region, stop the killings, and safeguard the Western Region. What do you think?"
When Yuchi Sheng heard this, he nodded and said without saying a word:
"Conquests have been going on in the Western Region for hundreds of years, and the killings are too heavy. If I, Dayun, go to maintain local order, it will be a good thing for the people of all countries..."
Having said this, Yuchi Sheng hesitated and said:
"It's just that Your Majesty, I, the Great Cloud Whip, are beyond our reach. I'm afraid I may not be able to convince all the countries."
Xiao Cheng waved it off indifferently (this chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 9 Adding obstacles to Tubo and the situation in the Western Regions
Hand, Tao:
"It's just my idea, I'm not in a hurry now..."
"But I remember that you were born as a prince of Khotan, so I want you to help me Dayun gain a foothold in the Western Regions!"
When Yuchi Sheng heard this, he quickly bowed and said:
"I am willing..."
Having said this, Yuchi Sheng thought again in his mind, if His Majesty sends himself back to the Western Regions now...
How could Yuchi Sheng, who had become accustomed to the prosperity of the Central Plains, be willing to return to the Western Regions?
For Yuchi Sheng, even being a minor official in Zhongqing City would be much more comfortable than returning to the Western Regions and becoming the King of Khotan!
Thinking of this, Yuchi Sheng quickly added:
"Your Majesty, the current ruler of the Kingdom of Khotan is my younger brother Yuchi Yao. I will write a copy of this book and ask him to fully assist me, Dayun, to establish a foothold in the Western Regions!"
Seeing Yuchi Sheng's expression of fear of returning to the Western Regions, Xiao Cheng couldn't help but feel happy and said with a smile:
"I still want to invite you to go to the Western Regions. Otherwise, some things cannot be explained clearly and there will always be some barriers. But I also know your intentions. When the errand is done, you can return to the capital immediately! As long as it is done, I will reward you.
How is your title?"
When Yuchi Sheng heard this, he quickly bowed and said:
"I shall accept your Majesty's orders. Just being able to serve His Majesty is a great honor for me. Any reward or title is not important to me at all!"
After all, Yuchi Sheng gave up the throne of Khotan and came to the Yun Kingdom, so although these words seemed like flattery, Xiao Cheng felt that there was some truth in them, and he couldn't help laughing...
Chapter 9 Adding obstacles to Tubo and the situation in the Western Regions
