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Jiang Jiong had returned to Xiliang a few days ago. He submitted Liu Jing's handwritten letter to Qiang King Nangong. It was obvious that Nangong was very unhappy with the letter, so he ignored Jiang Jiong and ordered him to go home to rest, and there was no news again.

After Liu Jing wiped out the Song Jianmen, he did not immediately lead his army to Guanzhong. Instead, he continued to stay in Hehuang and consolidated his control over the Hehuang area. The Han Dynasty established Poqiang County and Linqiang County in the Hehuang area. During the Wangmang period, Xihai County was established, but the effective management was only in the Hehuang Valley east of the Xihai Sea. It was not until a few years later that the entire northern part of the plateau was incorporated into the Central Plains dynasty, called Xihai County.

In the past ten years, the central court's management of Xiping County has been in name only. The Xiping County government was nominally appointed by the central court, but in fact they obeyed the orders of Song Jian, King Pinghan.

Song Jian and the Central Dynasty also maintained this tacit understanding, giving the Central Dynasty a side, but he got the Li, Xiping County was his sphere of influence. Since Liu Jing put down Song Jian in one go, Xiping County has successfully returned to the Han Dynasty. However, Liu Jing's ambition was not this. He wanted to continue to expand westward, incorporate the entire Xihai area into the territory of the Han Dynasty, and establish Xihai County.

The West Sea is the Qinghai Lake in later generations. During the Han Dynasty, the West Sea was vast and radiant, with a radius of thousands of miles. The lake water was blue and pure. It was a pearl on the plateau. The lakeside was surrounded by endless plateau pastures. At this time, the West Sea Lake was still surrounded by sparsely populated places, and a small number of Qiang people lived.

The Qiang branch lives here, but it is slightly different from the Qiang people in Zhangye and Hehuang areas. It is called Shengqiang, which means Qiang people who have not been sinicized and maintained their original life form. They originally lived in the Hehuang area. Due to repeated rebellions, they were suppressed by the Han Dynasty again and again. This Qiang people fled to the plateau west of the West Sea. On the plateau, they made a living by grazing and fishing, and lived a poor and peaceful life for several years.

But there were also merchants who worked tirelessly and traveled thousands of miles to the plateau to exchange horses and gems with them. In particular, the horses produced here were sweat-blooded BMWs obtained by Emperor Wu of Han from Dayuan. They were stocked here, and the oxygen-deficient and cold climate of the plateau made the war horses produced here not only tall and vigorous, but also have good endurance. They can be called horse treasures and have always been the BMWs that the Central Plains generals dream of.

However, the arrival of King Liu Jing of Han led the army to break the peace of the plateau. Although there were also ambitious heroes among the Qiang chiefs, the original surname of the Qiang people was relatively docile and kind, far from invading and brutal like the northern nomadic peoples. Although they were driven away by the Han army, they swallowed their anger and dared not resist. They lived on the plateau for two years and reproduced their grandchildren.

There were about 20,000 Qiang people living on the Xihai Plateau, divided into tribes, distributed around the West Sea, and implemented the primitive tribal elder system. At this time, Liu Jing led 15,000 Han cavalry to be stationed on the south bank of the West Sea. This time he entered the plateau, on the one hand, he wanted to use the plateau conditions to train cavalry, and on the other hand, he planned to establish Xihai County.

Of course, the plateau area is not suitable for farming, and he could not move the Han people here to live. This area is mainly based on animal husbandry. He was considering taking the Western Qiang people as subjects of the Han Dynasty, expanding the animal husbandry, and making this place a source of war horses for the Han army.

There was constant laughter in the tent, and several warriors in the army performed sumo wrestling in the tent. There were meat, wine and wine on the tables around them, and various fresh fruits in the Central Plains were placed. Liu Jing sat in the middle, and there were more than a dozen elders of the Qiang tribe on both sides. They were invited by Liu Jing to visit and were warmly entertained by the King of Han.

However, not all of these elders were very happy. A few of them seemed to be worried. They were wise. The Central Plains army was on the plateau and was definitely not as simple as visiting. I am afraid they were attracted by this plump plateau ranch.

The Qiang elder named Abao, who was slightly familiar with Chinese. He said to Liu Jing in unskilled Chinese: "Your Highness said that you want to restore Xihai County from the former Han Dynasty, but Xihai County was only in the Hehuang area, and even the westernmost Jiaocheng was on the east coast of the West Sea. The Central Plains dynasty has never involved the plateau area. How could Your Highness consider that the entire plateau area was included in Xihai County this time?"

Liu Jing smiled and said, "The Xihai County set up by Wang Mang actually includes the plateau area. It is just the county seat on the east coast of the West Sea. I am just restoring the territory of the Han Dynasty in the past. What's wrong with it?"

A Bao's face changed. He sternly said to the other elders in Qiang language. The laughter disappeared, and the atmosphere of the big tent suddenly became solemn. A Bao said coldly again: "There is nothing wrong with your highness to restore the territory of the Han Dynasty, but we have lived in this area for nearly two miles. We have long regarded this place as our home, live and work in peace, and never invade Hehuang. Your Highness wants to take back the land now. Do you still drive us westward?"

Liu Jing laughed, "The elder is worried that the climate here is bitter and cold, and it is not suitable for farming. I will take back the land to live for whom I can lead the tribesmen to live here. No one will drive you away, but you will also become subjects of the Han Dynasty and be managed by the government."

"Why do the government manage us to collect taxes or labor, and do we still want to be exploited by the government like our ancestors?"

A Bao translated a few more words to everyone, and more than a dozen elders were silent. Looking at them, the government was to exploit them, and they could not accept it no matter how much.

Liu Jing was not angry, but still smiled and said, "Why does it take the government to manage it, and why does it have to be taxed and constrained? Why do I have to send someone to manage it? Can't I appoint your people as guardians? For example, Elder Abao, I think it is the most appropriate to let you be guardians. You don't need to pay taxes or pay taxes, nor do you need to serve labor. I exchange your war horses, cattle and sheep with food and cloth. If I need labor, I will also get you the reward you deserve. What do you think?"

A Bao's face calmed down a little, and he translated Liu Jing's words to everyone. There was a buzzing sound in the big tent, and everyone was talking in a low voice. At this time, A Bao said to Liu Jing: "Your Highness, can we discuss it in another account?"

"Can"

Liu Jing immediately ordered his subordinates to take them to the next door to discuss the matter. After all the elders left, Fa Zheng smiled at Liu Jing and said, "Actually, I think Military Advisor Pang's advice is also good. The surname is to expand Xiping County and include everything west of Xihai. There is no need to set up Xihai County alone, so they will not be so resistant."

Liu Jing shook his head, "If that is the case, what's the difference between it and the past is still a nominal territory. The key is not land, but people. The Qiang people here must become subjects of the Han Dynasty, so that they realize that they are also people of the Han Dynasty. After decades of assimilation, they gradually paid taxes like the Qiang people in the Hehuang region."

"What if they don't agree"

Liu Jing smiled coldly, "My army has already reached the plateau. I will use gentle means to them first. If I don't know what to do, don't blame me for being rude."

Fa Zheng smiled bitterly and said, "This Abao is very smart. Since he has made a discussion, he should understand the benefits and interests. I think they want to seek the best interests."

"As long as they don't violate my bottom line, it's okay to give them benefits. I think as long as their grandson tastes the benefits of being a subject of the Han Dynasty, they will give them freedom and restore their previous poor life, they may not do it themselves."

At this time, more than a dozen elders walked back to the tent. Everyone knew very well that Liu Jing led 15,000 cavalry to the plateau. If they dared not agree, they would not be able to go back today. Their tribe would worry about extermination. The Han army would move the more docile Tuyuhun people to replace them. They knew this very well. After some discussion, everyone finally made a decision that it would be better to compromise than to be destroyed.

Abao clasped his fists and said, "Report to His Highness the King of Han, we have discussed it. We have a condition. If Your Highness can agree, we are willing to surrender to the subjects of the Han Dynasty."

"Please say, I'll listen."

"The first condition is His Highness the King of Han's promise just now, that we do not need to pay taxes or work hard. Is this short-term or long-term?"

Liu Jing stretched out five fingers, "A fifty-year period, fifty years later, will be paid according to half of the taxes of the Hehuang Di people, and will never change. I can make a promise in writing."

Everyone looked at each other, and Abao thought to himself that the conditions were actually good, at least not worth it. He nodded and said, "The second condition is that the guard must be elected by our tribe members. It is not necessarily our tribe members, but it is also possible to be a Han Chinese, but we need to support it unanimously."

Liu Jing smiled, "There is no problem with this condition. In addition, I need to send a few officials to serve as county magistrates. I think you should be able to accept it."

"We can send officials, we can accept it."

A Bao took a deep breath and said the crucial article, "Our first condition is about the garrison."

"Wait a minute"

Liu Jing's face changed and he interrupted, "I will talk about the ugly things first. Since it is the territory of the Han Dynasty, I must garrison the troops in Xihai County. This is my bottom line. The only thing I can discuss is the number of troops."

Everyone showed disappointment on their faces. They originally didn't want the Han army to station troops, but now Liu Jing refused to agree. They could only settle for the second best. Abao said: "In fact, your highness has already stationed 1,000 troops in Dadoubagu in the north of the Xihai Sea. This is the garrison of Xihai County. Do you need to add more troops?"

Liu Jing said solemnly: "The army stationed in Dadoubagu is to control this important passage, and it has little to do with the army stationed in Xihai County. I plan to build a military city in Haixi and Haidong, each with 1,000 troops. In addition, a military city is also built in Hequ area, with 1,000 troops stationed in Xihai County. There will be 4,000 troops stationed in the entire Xihai County. The military expenditure and food do not need to be burdened by you, and I will not bother you in normal times. If your brother is willing to join the army, I welcome it. This is a plan I have already decided."
Chapter completed!