Chapter 178 Governor of Xiazhou
When Li Chengqian arrived in Xiazhou, the Xueyantuo army was still a day's journey from Jinshan Road where Zhishi Sili was.
"Your Highness! Xiazhou City is ahead." Qiu Shenji pointed to a city not far away.
Li Chengqian looked in the direction Qiu Shenji pointed, and an ancient city that had experienced many hardships came into his eyes. That ancient city was Wantong City, Shuofang County, the capital of Xiazhou.
Wantong City was first built during the Sixteen Kingdoms period of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Helian Bobo, a member of the Tiefu tribe of the Xiongnu, established the Huxia Kingdom and called himself the King of Xia. He built Tongwan City as the capital of the Huxia Kingdom.
Later, the Northern Wei Dynasty destroyed the Huxia Kingdom and first changed Tongwan City to Tongwan Town. Soon after, it was changed to Xiazhou, with Yanlu County as its capital.
During the Sui Dynasty, Xiazhou was changed to Shuofang County, and Yanlu County was still its capital.
In the early Tang Dynasty, Shuofang County was changed back to Xiazhou, and in the second year of Zhenguan, Yanlu County was changed to Shuofang County.
Li Chengqian saw a group of people waiting for them outside the gate of Tongwan City. Because they were far away, they could not see clearly who they were.
But from their clothes, they should be officials of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Chengqian continued to move forward and soon came in front of these people.
The leader immediately straightened his clothes and saluted to Li Chengqian on horseback, saying: "Your Highness, Liu Lan, the governor of Xiazhou, and the officials of the governor's office of Xiazhou, come to see Your Highness!"
"Your Highness, Tian Renhui, the general of the left guard, comes to see Your Highness!" The middle-aged general in his forties next to Liu Lan saluted.
"Your Highness, your Highness!" The officials behind the two of them followed and saluted Li Chengqian.
"No need to be polite!" Li Chengqian said, "I came to Xiazhou to appease the troops this time,
so don't be nervous." "Your Highness! I have already held a banquet in the Governor's Mansion in the city to welcome Your Highness. Please move to the Governor's Mansion." Liu Lan said.
"That's too much trouble for Governor Liu. My soldiers and I have been hungry for a long time. Now that we hear that there are fine wines and delicious food, our stomachs are actually growling. How embarrassing!" Li Chengqian laughed and secretly looked at Liu Lan.
Liu Lan was originally from Beihai County in the late Sui Dynasty. He had worked as a secretary in Poyang County. In the 13th year of Sui Daye, he joined the leader of the rebel army, Qi Gongshun, and became his mastermind.
Later, in the second year of Wude, Liu Lan surrendered to the Tang Dynasty with Qi Gongshun, and was promoted to Shangshu Yuanwailang. In the beginning of Zhenguan, he served as Sima of Xiazhou Military Governor's Office, and attacked the Turkic army led by Liang Shidu.
Because of his merits, he was promoted to Xiazhou Governor, Right Army General, and in the eleventh year of Zhenguan, he served as the Chief of Xiazhou Military Governor's Office. At that time, the governor of Xiazhou was Li Chengqian's younger brother, King Li Yin of Shu.
According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, the prince was generally appointed as a military governor remotely, and did not go to the local office. The affairs of the military governor's office, no matter how big or small, were handed over to Liu Lan, the chief of the military governor's office.
During this period, Liu Lan alienated the Turks through his own outstanding abilities, and then led troops to defeat the Turks.
Li Er was very happy when he learned about this. He praised Liu Lan for his ability and appointed him as the governor of Fengzhou. He was later transferred to the governor of Xiazhou and was granted the title of Duke of Pingyuan.
At the end of the Zhenguan period, Liu Lan was executed for treason.
Now, no matter how you look at it, Liu Lan doesn't look like he would rebel.
No matter how you look at it, it is an indisputable fact that Liu Lan rebelled. No matter whether he is loyal now or not, he will definitely rebel in the future.
In this case, after solving the problem of Xueyantuo, send the Jinyiwei to keep a close eye on Liu Lan. Once he makes any move, he will be arrested directly, and he will never be given any chance to rebel.
"Your Highness! We have arrived at the Governor's Mansion! Please dismount! Follow me into the mansion." Liu Lan's voice pulled Li Chengqian back from his thoughts.
Li Chengqian came to his senses and found that he had arrived at the gate of the Governor's Mansion.
Li Chengqian turned over and was about to dismount, and immediately two guards came forward, stretched out their hands to support Li Chengqian and helped him dismount.
Li Chengqian had a leg disease, which made it inconvenient for him to get on and off the horse. He needed someone to support him so that he could ride a horse.
Usually, Li Chengqian traveled in a carriage, which was not only convenient, but also more comfortable than riding a horse. If he had not been in a hurry to come to Xiazhou this time, he would not have ridden a horse.
Li Chengqian's leg disease was actually not as shown in later TV dramas, that is, a leg broken while riding a horse.
If he broke his leg, the medical conditions in the Tang Dynasty would not be able to cure it at all. He would only end up with a lifelong disability and would never be able to walk.
Li Chengqian's leg disease was actually related to the hereditary headache disease of his old Li family.
Li Chengqian got off his horse and followed Liu Lan into the Governor's Mansion. Liu Lan led Li Chengqian to the upper seat, and he sat at the first seat on the right.
Next to Liu Lan was Tian Renhui, and then the high-ranking officials such as the Chief Secretary and Sima of the Governor's Mansion.
Opposite Liu Lan sat Wang Fangyi and other military generals of the Eastern Palace who accompanied Li Chengqian to Xiazhou this time.
"I toast your highness!" Liu Lan raised her glass to Li Chengqian, and Li Chengqian raised his glass in return.
After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Li Chengqian asked Liu Lan about the situation of Xueyantuo.
"I heard that Xueyantuo Bazhuo has assembled an army of more than 100,000 and is heading towards Xiazhou. Is this true?"
"Your Highness! Yes, I have sent out scouts in the city. Bazhuo ordered the tribes to gather their troops at the royal court a few days ago."
"The tribes were quite dissatisfied with Bazhuo's attack on the Tang Dynasty, so they did not actively respond to Bazhuo's call."
"Bazhuo managed to gather an army of 100,000 by scraping together 50,000 of which were from the Xueyantuo tribe, and the remaining 50,000 were from various tribes." Liu Lan said.
The scouts sent by Liu Lan would report the situation of the Xueyantuo army back to the Governor's Office every once in a while, and the Governor's Office would then decide what to do!
"Now, where is the Xueyantuo army? How many soldiers are there in the vanguard army? Who is the vanguard general? How far is it from Xiazhou?" Li Chengqian asked.
Li Chengqian was not good at marching and fighting, so he could only ask Liu Lan some simple questions.
"Your Highness! I don't know the specific situation of the Xueyantuo army. If you want to know, you should ask the right general, Anguogong Shishishili." Liu Lan said.
"Since Commander Liu doesn't know much about the Xueyantuo army, then send someone to invite Anguogong Shishishili to tell you." Li Chengqian said.
Shishishili was the chief of the Turkic Shishi tribe. After surrendering to the Tang Dynasty, he was deeply loved by Emperor Li II and was loyal to him.
Emperor Li II also married his sister, Princess Jiujiang, to Shishishili.
In terms of relationship, Shishishili, the chief of the Turkic Shishi tribe, was also Li Chengqian's uncle.
Shishishili was also the chief commander of the defense against the Xueyantuo invasion, and was fully responsible for coordinating the overall situation.
"Your Highness! Before Your Highness arrived, I had already sent someone to An Guogong in the morning. According to the time, they should have entered the city now!" Liu Lan said with a smile.
He had expected that Li Chengqian would ask about the Xueyantuo army when he came to Xiazhou, so he made preparations in advance.
Shi Shisi was the highest commander in this fight against Xueyantuo. Although Liu Lan was the governor of Xiazhou, he
, like Tian Renhui, the left guard general beside him, was assisting Shi Shisi.
He was a relative of the emperor, so naturally, outsiders like them could not compare to him.