Chapter 341 Banquet and Chat

In the Liangyi Hall, Li Chengqian hosted a banquet for Xue Rengui, Di Renjie, Xu Jingzong, Long Zhi, Du He, and the new partner Li Yifu.

At the banquet, in addition to eating, drinking, and enjoying singing and dancing, everyone inevitably talked about some past events.

When talking about unpleasant things, it is inevitable that some complaints will be made.

"Since I ascended the throne, I have been diligent and conscientious, fulfilling my duties, and I have personally handled all the important affairs of the court, and I dare not slack off."

"But in the past year, in the second year of Yonghui, so many bad things have happened. First, Yaochi Governor Ashina Helu intended to rebel."

"I took the initiative and ordered Liang Jianfang, Qili Hebi and others to lead troops to attack. I also sent veterans like Duke Lu to join the attack, and we will attack from multiple directions to encircle and suppress Ashina Helu."

"But in the past year, Ashina Helu has not been killed. I don't know how long this war of pacification will last." Li Chengqian said.

How much money and food does it cost to fight every year? Whenever Li Chengqian thinks of these expenses, he feels distressed.

Only when you are the head of a household do you know how expensive firewood and rice are. Now that it is his turn to be the head of a household, he knows how difficult it is.

"Ashina Helu has been managing the Western Regions for many years, so naturally he has a lot of connections. In addition, he has become the governor of our Tang Dynasty. Relying on the prestige of the Tang Dynasty in the Western Regions, he has taken the opportunity to accumulate strength. His actual strength is far beyond our imagination."

"If you want to completely eliminate Ashina Helu's influence in Mobei, it will take at least three to five years. It will be difficult to do it."

"Fortunately, the saint anticipated the enemy's opportunity and made plans in advance. He sent troops before Ashina Helu rebelled. I believe that within two years, Ashina Helu will be pacified." Du He said.

Du He's analysis was spot on. After all, Mobei was the home of the Turks. The Turks had lived in the Western Regions for hundreds of years and were too familiar with the area to the Han people.

"Not to mention the matter of Ashina Helu, not many things have satisfied me in the past year."

"Since August, the Baishui Barbarians rebelled in Langzhou and invaded Mazhou, so I asked Zhao Xiaozu to lead troops to suppress the rebellion." "In the

following months, earthquakes occurred in Jinzhou and Dingxiang, and the barbarian leader Li Baocheng in Douzhou and Yizhou rebelled against the court, so I sent Liu Boying, the governor of Guizhou, to attack them." "

These have made me unable to sleep or eat. How many people have died from natural disasters and man-made disasters, and how many people have been separated from their wives and children, and their families have been destroyed because of this." Li Chengqian said.

The past six months have been extremely difficult, with natural disasters and man-made disasters happening one after another, which has put the entire court in a situation where it is exhausted to deal with them.

"Don't worry about this, Saint! This is a test from God. As long as the Saint can survive this difficult time, God will definitely favor the Saint and send down auspicious signs. From now on, our Tang Dynasty will have smooth sailing." Li Yifu, the secretary of the Central Secretariat, laughed.

"Li Sheren is really good at joking. Where in the world is there such a test? What is your intention in talking nonsense like this?" Du He said.

Li Yifu originally wanted to take the opportunity to flatter him, but unexpectedly, the flattery did not go well, and instead attracted Du He's sarcasm.

Li Yifu was naturally very unhappy about being teased by Du He. He did not dare to act wildly here, and he could do nothing about Du He.

"Although the barbarians have submitted to the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty has also established vassal states in the barbarian tribes to manage them. The barbarians submitted only because the Tang Dynasty was strong and they were weak."

"That's why they had to submit to the Tang Dynasty. What was in their mind? Who knows? People who are not of our race must have different hearts."

"If you want to rule these barbarians like you rule the Central Plains, you must completely eliminate them and turn their territories into the territory of our Tang Dynasty." Xue Rengui put down his wine glass and said.

The maid next to him stepped forward, filled Xue Rengui's wine glass, and then retreated.

"Since August, although there have been earthquakes and wars, there have also been some good things. The leader of the Telang Qiang tribe, Dong Xifengqiu, and the leader of the Pihui Qiang tribe, Pi Yanmo, each led more than 10,000 households from their tribes to Maozhou to request to submit to the Tang Dynasty."

"In this way, the north will be more peaceful. The Tang Dynasty will not have to station troops for defense, and these Qiang people can guard the border for us." Di Renjie said.

The submission of the Telang Qiang and the Pihui Qiang is a happy thing for the Tang Dynasty, and even for the emperor and his subjects.

If the border is peaceful, who would want to keep fighting? This will consume a lot of money and grain from the treasury.

If the border is peaceful, there will be no need to send so many soldiers to guard it, and the treasury can indirectly save money.

"Indeed, the surrender of the Telang Qiang and the Pihui Qiang has solved the border risks of our Tang Dynasty, and they can also become a barrier for our Tang Dynasty border to prevent others from attacking, and the Tang Dynasty will not need to station a large army on the border for a long time." Li Chengqian said.

Everyone nodded, this is a good start.

"Not only that, when Zhao Xiaozu was fighting against the Baishui barbarians, he not only put down their rebellion, but also submitted a memorial to me."

"It said that the winter was too cold, and there happened to be heavy snow, so the barbarians were starving and cold, and most of them were frozen to death."

"The Baishui barbarians were encircled and killed by our army, and they were frozen or starved to death. They no longer pose any threat to our Tang Dynasty."

"I established the third autonomous region where the Baishui barbarians are located, and officials appointed by the court will go there to serve as administrative officials and military generals of the third autonomous region."

"Retain their original customs, they can also become officials of the court, and they are allowed to form security groups to maintain public order." Li Chengqian said.

From now on, all the barbarians who submit to the Tang Dynasty will no longer use the Tang Dynasty's original system of vassalage, but will be replaced by the autonomous region system of strengthening control and management.

Seize every favorable opportunity to proceed. As long as the Tang Dynasty encounters an opportunity, it will immediately grasp the policy of changing the natives

to the Han people. "I heard that the envoys of Baekje are very dissatisfied with this tribute. It seems that they intend to break away from the tribute system and no longer be a vassal of the Tang Dynasty." Long Zhi said. "Baekje

came to pay tribute this time, and the items presented were less than before. I did not dislike it, and the rewards to them were no less than in previous years."

"Where does a small foreign country get such courage to despise the prestige of the Tang Dynasty? Aren't they afraid that I will send troops to attack them?" Li Chengqian said dissatisfiedly.

Now, no one dares to disrespect him, even a small country like Baekje dares to take itself too seriously.

"I heard that Baekje was rebuked and warned by the saint, and perhaps it felt uncomfortable, so it wanted to break away from the Tang Dynasty and no longer be a vassal of the Tang Dynasty." Long Zhi said that the Jinyiwei not only monitored the territory of the Tang Dynasty, but also monitored foreign tribes.

"This year, envoys from Baekje came to pay tribute. I heard that Baekje, Silla and Goguryeo were often fighting each other, so I warned them not to attack Silla and Goguryeo. Otherwise, my Tang Dynasty will mobilize a large army to attack them."

"Perhaps, it is because of this incident that Baekje wants to break away from the Tang Dynasty and no longer be a vassal. It wants to find another way out. This is undoubtedly a dead end." Li Chengqian said.