Ha, interesting. She's actually going to marry Yang Zaixing?
Zhao Huan reviewed the latest intelligence report on the Northwest submitted by Xie Dahai.
He casually asked, "How did Feng Ziqing's older sister, Feng Zilan, meet Xue Donglai?"
"Your Majesty, we met by chance when Xue Donglai went to Gaochang Kingdom to do silk business."
"Just a chance encounter?" Zhao Huan frowned. The longer he was emperor, the more suspicious he became.
"The information we have so far is just a chance encounter, but it is clear that the Feng family wants to use Xue Donglai to expand their business to our Great Song Dynasty. In recent years, the imperial court has invested heavily in Chang'an, and business opportunities are as numerous as the stars. The Feng family's ancestors were a family of merchants who traveled from the Central Plains to Gaochang."
Feng Ziqing had only met Yang Zaixing a few times, yet she was already willing to offer herself to him and curry favor with him. She must be quite cunning.
"Yang Zaixing agreed?"
"That Feng Ziqing stayed in the military camp all day, saying that he could lead our army to find Bilege's gold and silver mountains. That's why Princess Yifu thought of telling Commander Yang not to directly refuse him."
Zhao Huan chuckled to himself, wondering when his younger sister had become such a money-grubber.
"Your Majesty, should we issue an order to send Feng Ziqing to Chang'an and hand him over to Xue Dong for disposal?"
Xie Dahai sensed from Zhao Huan's words that the emperor seemed to dislike the woman, so he asked this question.
"No need. If I interfere in such a trivial matter, how can my generals focus on fighting at the front? Let Yang Zaixing make his own decision. I will not interfere in other people's family affairs."
"yes!"
Zhao Huan changed the subject and asked, "What about Tibet? What's the situation there?"
"Both Qingtang City and Huangzhou have captured Tibetan spies; this is their confession."
Xie Dahai then presented it.
Does the Prince of Shunyi harbor rebellious intentions?
Zhao Huan closed his eyes and meditated, while Xie Dahai stood to the side, not daring to make a sound.
The Imperial Guards secretly reported that there were unusual movements among the various Tibetan tribes under the jurisdiction of the Longyou Protectorate.
During the Xining era of Emperor Shenzong, Wang Shao opened up the border at Xihe. The Song Dynasty successively recovered six prefectures: Dang, Die, Tao, Min, He, and Lin (Xi). Sixty-six years have passed since then.
When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact.
In orthodox history, the Jingkang Incident led to the collapse of the Central Plains, and Longyou was naturally unable to survive alone. The Jin Dynasty invaded and seized the land of Longyou.
Zhao Gou, who fled south, was too busy running around to look west, and from then on, Longyou fell into the hands of foreign tribes until Zhu Yuanzhang restored the country.
However, during Zhao Huan's era, because the Jingkang Incident was avoided, Longyou remained under the control of the imperial court.
This is not the first or second time that there has been a rebellion in Longyou.
The various Tibetan tribes have always wanted to recreate the glory of Tibet during the Tang Dynasty, but unfortunately, they have remained fragmented and disorganized for many years.
However, according to this secret report, a mysterious figure has emerged in Qinghai, who has the ambition to unify Tibet and is very capable. The various ethnic groups in Qinghai have already united as one.
The Imperial Guards have been tracking this mysterious figure for some time, but still have no clue.
Who is helping Prince Longzha of Shunyi?
Zhao Huan recalled that the Tubo of this era was scattered into fragmented tribes, completely incomparable to the unified Tubo of the Tang Dynasty, and it never rose again after that.
It is even less likely that unification will be possible.
This trend should not be occurring in Qingtang.
Zhao Huan said calmly, "You may step down."
Xie Dahai bowed and left.
Zhao Huan walked up to the huge map of China.
Inside Yanfu Palace, five large maps were hung, all of which Zhao Huan had painstakingly drawn over the past twelve years.
Of course, he only drew the outline.
One is a map of China, which is the most detailed.
The map of China mainly covers the land of the Han Chinese, but also includes Japan, Korea, Dali, and the islands in the South China Sea.
One is a map of the southern landmass, mainly including Jiaozhou and Siam to the west.
One is a map of the Western Regions, starting from the Jade Gate Pass, including Gaochang, the Karakhanid Khanate, Tibet, the Abbasid Caliphate, India, and even further afield, all the way to the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.
One of them is the Fusang territory that Shen Lang discovered beyond the Eastern Sea.
One of them is a drawing of the continental territory of the Southern Hemisphere based on his own memory.
The last image is a map of the European continent.
The map of the Western Regions is mostly blank, Fusang only has the outline of the continent, and the continent in the Southern Hemisphere is also blank.
The continent of Europe only has one outline.
Zhao Huan looked at the map of China and saw the Hexi and Longyou areas.
The map is marked with Xingqing Prefecture, Liangzhou, Xuanhua Prefecture, Suzhou, Shazhou, and Yumen Pass, all important military strongholds in the Hexi Corridor.
It also marks important military towns in Longyou such as Qingtang City, Huangzhou, and Chongzhou.
The Hexi Corridor runs along several important military towns, extending northwest from Xingqing Prefecture, resembling a slightly curved scimitar.
Longyou is located to its south, and its shape is exactly the same.
During the Han and Tang dynasties' expansion of the borders, both of these areas were strategic locations fought over by military strategists.
Especially during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, acquiring Longyou and Hexi was tantamount to severing the right arm of the Xiongnu.
Zhao Huan also adopted this policy, believing that if he wanted to open up the Western Regions and destroy the grasslands, he would have to obtain the Longyou and Hexi regions.
Staring at the map, Zhao Huan's gaze sharpened: "As long as Tibet is not destroyed, a sword will always hang between China and the Western Regions!"
No one can stop me!
Sunlight streamed in through the tall palace gates, casting a long curtain of light within the spacious Yanfu Palace.
Zhao Huan had been living in Yanfu Palace for some time now.
The original imperial study could no longer meet his office needs due to its limited space.
"Go and invite Marshal Zong here."
Shao Chengzhang hurriedly went out.
As evening approached, Zong Ze arrived at Yanfu Palace.
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