Since the Tang Dynasty destroyed the Eastern Turks and the Xueyantuo Khanate in the Zhenguan Year, the main enemy has been in the west.

From Emperor Gaozong to Wu Zetian, and now in the Kaiyuan Tianbao Year, the Western Regions have always been a thorn in the side of the Tang Dynasty. Especially after Tubo and other small countries in the Western Regions united, the Tang Dynasty’s control over the Western Regions continued to ebb and flow, creating a see-saw stalemate.

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The negative consequences of the powerful landowners' encirclement and valuing of land are shown in foreign wars. Land encirclement caused an increase in landless peasants, and the military system was gradually destroyed. The emergence of the mercenary system reduced the combat effectiveness of the army. Therefore, although the Tang Dynasty is now in a state that has not been seen for thousands of years,

The prosperous age, but the victory and defeat rate in foreign wars was much lower than that during the reign of Taizong and Gaozong.

More and more battles are being lost, morale is getting lower and lower, wolves are lurking in the Western Regions, and the pressure on the soldiers of the four towns of Anxi is getting heavier and heavier. The monarchs and ministers of Chang'an are immersed in the singing, dancing and wine of the prosperous age, but they have no regard for thousands of people far away.

The Anxi Protectorate inside and outside paid little attention, and even logistical supplies were intermittent.

This is the current situation of the four towns in Anxi.

Zhang Jiuzhang talked a lot with Gu Qing, and his tone was full of pessimism.

"Gao Xianzhi is a famous general of his generation. Unfortunately, he was too headstrong and conceited, which led to the defeat of Talas. I speculated on the Holy Will, and His Majesty may have intended to transfer Gao Xianzhi away from the Western Regions, but Gao Xianzhi is in the hearts of the soldiers in the four towns of Anxi.

He has a high prestige, so rashly transferring him might lead to a mutiny..." Zhang Jiuzhang shook his head and sighed: "Your Majesty is already wary of Gao Xianzhi. If he is transferred back to Chang'an, he will most likely be given a senior official title and placed in the cabinet."

Gu Qing thought for a while and said: "I think Gao Xianzhi's strategy for the Western Regions is wrong. My grandnephew asked Zuo Wei some of the soldiers who had been in Anxi. They all said that General Yungao was too strong and tyrannical towards the Western Regions. Any small country or tribe would

If they were a little unruly, they would destroy their countries and clans at every turn, which made the countries in the Western Regions dare not express their anger towards Anxi in the Tang Dynasty. The destroyed Shi Kingdom attracted the Great Shi Kingdom to the Western Regions to fight against the Anxi Protectorate, leading to the defeat of Talas.

"

Zhang Jiuzhang pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "Your understanding of the Western Regions is quite unique. Yes, Gao Xianzhi's oppression and tyranny of the countries in the Western Regions was one of the reasons why the Tang Dynasty gradually lost people's hearts in the Western Regions. Since you realize this, to

There may be something to be done for Queen Anxi..."

Then Zhang Jiuzhang sighed again: "Gu Qing, if you can refuse, you'd better refuse. The dangers and complexities of the four towns in Anxi cannot be explained in a few words. After entering Anxi, there are murderous plans at every step. Not only must we beware of sneak attacks and assassinations from the countries in the Western Regions,

, and even beware of the hostility towards you from the soldiers within the Anxi Protectorate."

"I am an official transferred by imperial decree. Why are the officers and soldiers of the Tang Dynasty hostile to me?"

"Because the soldiers in the Anxi Protectorate are not only my descendants from the Guanzhong of the Tang Dynasty, but also many soldiers from foreign races and foreign countries, who are hired by the Tang Dynasty and obey the orders of the Jiedushi. These people are not of my race, are unruly, and are hostile to outsiders.

They are quite hostile, and there are even many people who secretly collude with the countries in the Western Regions. This is what I heard at Honglu Temple. I don’t know whether it is true or not, but you must listen carefully and be prepared in advance.”

Gu Qing nodded.

I have long heard that the Tang army during the Tianbao period was a mixed bag, and later historians even jokingly called it the "United Nations Army." Today, there are many foreigners in the Tang army, including Khitan, Xi, Turks and even cannibals.

The inclusive policy is one of them, and the other is that after the government army system was destroyed, barbarian soldiers had to be recruited into the army to increase combat effectiveness.

Thinking that he was about to face the internal and external troubles in the four towns of Anxi, as well as all kinds of overt and covert struggles, Gu Qing's head got big.

He even began to think seriously about whether it was too late to go back on his word with Li Longji, or whether he could just change places.

The thought was fleeting, and he didn't dare to say anything about going back on his word. If Li Longji moved him to Anlu Mountain's territory, he might as well go to Anxi, surrounded by wolves. At least he could use his brain and throw him to Anlu Mountain.

On our territory, it's like entering a tiger's cage with nowhere to run.

Zhang Jiuzhang could only say this about things in Anxi. He actually didn't know many things. After all, he was just the minister of Honglu Temple who had been in Chang'an for a long time. Zhang Jiuzhang could only tell part of what he heard from hearsay. There were too many true and false words.

He was afraid that it would affect Gu Qing's judgment and cause irreversible consequences.

Gu Qing originally planned to leave, but then he thought of something and sat down again. After hesitating for a moment, he said softly: "Second uncle, Huaiyu is in trouble with her parents..."

Zhang Jiuzhang smiled calmly and said, "It's not ours to worry about."

"He is your nephew after all, don't you care?"

Zhang Jiuzhang stroked his beard and said with a smile: "My nephew has a mediocre temperament. Fortunately, he married a good wife. She comes from a noble family and has a quite fierce temper. Since she is so capable, why should I take action? I believe she can solve the problem perfectly.

of."

Gu Qingle is very old, but he still speaks in such a bad way. It seems that Zhang Jiuzhang is also quite dissatisfied with Zhang Zheng's wife. This time, seeing his nephew's family property in trouble, he is unwilling to help.

Mostly because of the royal wife.

Gu Qing only met her once, but Zhang Xie gave him the impression of being domineering, with an inexplicable sense of superiority in her words and deeds. Maybe it was her background that gave her the confidence. If she was a child of the same family, she might be used to it.

Her behavior was so cool, but in Gu Qing's eyes, she just felt tired and uncomfortable.

…………

After saying goodbye and walking out of the front hall, Gu Qing also planned to go to the backyard to meet Zhang Huaiyu and invite her to go to Qujiang Pond with him.

Walking into the backyard garden, Gu Qing heard someone talking not far away on the left, so he slowed down and frowned.

There was actually a male voice speaking.

"Zhang Huaiyu, what's the use of the Zhang family raising you? The family is in such a desperate situation, and you actually stand by and watch. Have the Zhang family's food been fed to the dogs in these years?" The man's voice was hoarse and unpleasant, and he was very emotional.

Zhang Huaiyu's cold voice came: "When I was in the Zhang family, how could you treat me as a Zhang family member? Everything about the Zhang family has nothing to do with me. Zhang Huaisheng, you have found the wrong person."

Gu Qing suddenly realized that he was his brother-in-law in name only.

His voice sounded unsatisfactory, a bit like Fang Tangjing's, "Come on, come on, hit me, you idiot."

"Zhang Huaiyu, if I don't ask you for anything else, my parents will be embarrassed. Please go and ask the second ancestor. He is one of the Nine Qings. If he takes action, our family's property will definitely turn around."

Zhang Huaiyu said coldly: "My parents are juniors, why don't they ask the second ancestor themselves?"

"They asked for help when they first came to Chang'an, but the second ancestor was unwilling to help."

Zhang Huaiyu snorted coldly: "Will he agree if I go and beg him? Zhang Huaisheng, this is the trouble you caused. Solve it yourself and don't involve others. Even if it can't be solved, it doesn't matter. Without three silk and satin shops, our family can still

There are hundreds of hectares of fertile land, and the Zhang family will not starve to death."

Zhang Huaisheng was silent for a moment and said in a low voice: "At the worst, you can also ask Gu Qing for help. He is a highly favored minister by His Majesty. He is a lieutenant general and a county marquis. It is said that His Highness the Crown Prince has an impression of Gu Qing.

It’s also true that Du Feng’s father Du Hongjian is quite loyal to the East Palace. If Gu Qing tells the prince, maybe the Du family will restrain themselves..."

Zhang Huaiyu sneered and said: "Zhang Huaisheng, you are not an ordinary thick-skinned person. It is you who caused the troubles in these three silk and satin shops. You were set up by others, fascinated by beauty, and you lost all your money gambling with others. Today

But you have the nerve to let me help you beg for help, you are worthy of being the Qilin'er of the Zhang family, with a good future."

Zhang Huaisheng finally became angry and said: "Zhang Huaiyu, you just won't agree, no matter what, the Zhang family has really raised an unfed wolf in these years!"

Zhang Huaiyu's voice became colder and colder: "My mother and I live under the roof of the Zhang family. How have you ever treated us as human beings? Zhang Huaisheng, the Zhang family raised you in fine clothes and fine food since you were a child, but you suddenly became

You have ruined the Zhang family’s property, and you are the real wolf.”

Zhang Huaisheng was furious: "This humble servant is looking for death!"

Gu Qing's heart skipped a beat and he hurriedly rushed out. He saw a young man of medium height in front of Zhang Huaiyu raising his hand and slapping Zhang Huaiyu in the face.

Gu Qing was furious and kicked the man without thinking, sending the man flying backwards. He flew four or five steps before falling heavily to the ground.

Not bothering to see what happened to Zhang Huaisheng, Gu Qing turned around and looked at Zhang Huaiyu and said softly: "You're not injured, are you?"

Zhang Huaiyu rolled his eyes at him angrily and said, "What are you doing here? With his skills, do you think he can get close to me?"

Gu Qing suddenly felt a little embarrassed: "...You should at least give me a chance to be a hero and save the beauty, otherwise I will appear to be too incompetent and it will be difficult for me to be a good husband in the future."

Zhang Huaiyu blushed and turned to look away, with a shy chuckle on his lips.

Gu Qing then turned and looked at Zhang Huaisheng.

Zhang Huaisheng's appearance is extraordinary, somewhat similar to Zhang Huaiyu's eyebrows. Zhang Zheng's genes are very strong, but at this moment Zhang Huaisheng is acting very unbearable. He is lying on the ground holding his stomach, shouting ouch, ouch, ouch, forehead

There were even a few drops of sweat oozing out, with a look of pain on his face, and he lay so plainly.

Gu Qing was a little strange.

My kick just now wasn't heavy, so it wouldn't be so painful, right?

"You...who are you?" Zhang Huaisheng shouted for a while and finally remembered the perpetrator.

Gu Qing squatted in front of him and smiled: "My name is Gu Qing. You just said that your sister is a wolf, so I will soon be a wolf's man."

Zhang Huaisheng's expression suddenly changed: "Are you Gu Qing?"

"Yes, I was the one who kicked you just now. If you are not convinced, you can fight back."

Zhang Huaisheng did not dare to fight back. Although he was the son of the county magistrate, he was quite familiar with the officialdom of Chang'an for some reason. Who is the popular person in front of the emperor today, who has great power, and whose family background is deep, Zhang Huaisheng is

When he was drinking with a group of dandy boys in the small county town of Yique, he talked about all kinds of treasures, as if the big shots he talked about were all his close friends.

This problem of flattering big people while simultaneously exalting oneself still exists after thousands of years.

Gu Qing is also someone he often talks about to his fair-weather friends recently, especially the old friendship between the Gu family and the Zhang family, which he never gets tired of talking about.
Chapter completed!