Chapter 176: A foreign land

The Anxi Protectorate was located in Kucha (now Aksu area in Xinjiang). From the Western Han Dynasty, it was the center of the rule of the Western Regions by various Han dynasties. After several twists and turns, in the 22nd year of Zhenguan, the Tang Dynasty destroyed the Kucha Kingdom and officially established the Anxi Protectorate here.

Kucha is the densest place in Anxi, with 15,000 troops garrisons, accounting for 60% of the entire Anxi Protectorate. Since the 25th year of Tianbao, the Tang Dynasty has gradually begun to professionalize the garrisons in the Western Regions, moving their families from the Central Plains, and becoming military households. Anxi is far away from the Central Plains and food is inconvenient, so the soldiers will farm for self-sufficiency. This is the historical origin of the current construction corps. There are very diverse races here. In addition to the local indigenous people, there are Han people, people from the Jiu surname of Zhaowu, and people from the Lushuihu. In addition, there are Tuqi Shiren, people from the Khotan, Uighurs, etc.

Li Qing walked for five days, and finally saw Kucha City from afar in the evening. This area was filled with rivers, green trees, and the snow-capped Tianshan Mountains were like the broad arms of their mothers. They embraced their four children, Anxi Town, into their arms. The faint sunset in the distance reflected the face of Han Tenggeli Peak into royal blue, and the outlines clearly appeared in front of them.

"Governor, that's Kucha City!" Li Fei Yuanli shouted loudly. He pointed to the city ahead, and everyone cheered. Under the golden light, the city walls stood majestic. The soldiers of the Tang Dynasty stood tall and stood high on the city tower, staring at the ten thousand miles of the Tang Dynasty.

Their cheers caused passers-by to stop and watch. There were already crowds of people here, with low flat roofs, either made of bluestone or yellow mud. There were shopping malls and silk from Chang'an in a bunch of shops. From time to time, there were business trips leading long camels. Missions from various countries in the Western Regions passed by them, leaving behind a strong fishy smell. The wind here was even stronger than Shazhou. The north wind blew hard, and it was full of cold at dusk. The local Hu people had already put on thick furs early, and the costumes of the Han people had already turned into Hu. Only from their greeting accents, could they vaguely hear some Bashu sounds or Chang'an official dialect. Several rough-skinned women stared at Li Jingyan who was looking at him, as if watching the fairy of the snow mountain descending on the earth.

Li Qing slowed down his horse and approached Li Jingyan's carriage and smiled: "Aren't you here to see the scenery? When you passed by the sea of ​​fish, you didn't feel excited at this time."

Finally arrived at the destination, Li Jingyan was in a good mood. She was weak in physique and could not bear the cold wind. She had already worn a crane cloak in big red fox skin, wearing a white Zhaojun cover on her head, and whispered to Li Qing with a light smile: "Li Lang, I have been walking in the wastelands and deserts for so long. Actually, I think it is more friendly to many people in the town!"

Li Qingyi smiled and said, "Actually, I feel this way too. Not only me, but everyone's eyes are excited, I guess everyone is so tired."

He saw that there was no one around, and whispered to Li Jingyan: "I'll settle down later. Let's go shopping tonight, and we'll be the two of us."

Li Jingyan looked ashamed and nodded slightly.

I handed in the document at the city gate, and the group entered the city. The city became more lively. There were about 100,000 residents in Kucha City, about half of which were Han people, most of them were family members of the army. Many landless farmers from the mainland came to make a living. I saw that the city was lined up with shops, the city was medium, and there was no plan. It felt a bit messy. The tone was mainly grayish white, and the leaves were all gone, making the whole city look monotonous and crowded, with a very exotic style.

It was dark and all the yamen had closed the doors. Gao Zhandao and Gao Shi who came to pave the road in advance were nowhere to be seen. Helplessly, Li Qing had to book a inn to give everyone a rest.

There are many merchants in Kucha City, and all the inns are full. Only this inn has a bad business and most of the rooms are empty. It is a bit strange. The shopkeeper is a fat white man in his fifties, with his surname Wu and from Chang'an. He has been here for nearly ten years. The arrival of Li Qing and others made the shopkeeper Wu's eyes narrowed into a slit, his mouth couldn't be closed, and he almost always grinned. Meeting fellow villagers in a foreign land is a pleasure, but it is even more icing on the cake to be able to book an inn.

He quickly ordered the guys to boil water and cook and clean the house. He was afraid that the guys would not serve him well, so he went to supervise the guys to work in person.

"Shopkeeper, please take a step slowly!"

Li Qing stopped him, waved to him and said with a smile: "I have something to ask you."

The personal soldiers found a chair for the governor to sit down. The shopkeeper saw that although he was young, he had an extraordinary demeanor (of course, he threw a ingot of gold for him as soon as he entered the door, which made his eyes still shine with golden light).

Manager Wu walked forward with brisk steps, lowered his hands and smiled, "If you have anything to do with the general, just ask!"

"I'll ask you, can Gao Dashen be in the city?"

This is what Li Qing is most worried about. If Gao Xianzhi goes out to inspect the territory of Anxi, he doesn't know when he will come back. When he entered the city gate just now, he forgot to ask the soldiers.

"It would be a coincidence for the general to find General Gao Dashui. I heard that a civil unrest occurred in the Kancheng Guard. General Gao led his troops to suppress him. He only saw his horse team back this morning."

"What kind of civil chaos?"

Li Qing asked in surprise: "Does there often civil chaos in Anxi?"

"People's chaos is common!"

Manager Wu smiled bitterly and said, "There are many brothers in harmony with each other! What's more, there are dozens of countries, various ethnic groups and tribes in Anxi, which are as numerous as cows, fighting for water sources and ranches. This is common thing to cut and kill. Marshal Gao has at least half of his time to solve these headaches."

Li Qingzheng wanted to ask about the local customs and customs again. At this time, Li Jingyan's personal maid walked over quickly and whispered: "Governor, Miss, I have something to do to find you." Since Li Jingyan left Chang'an, she has no longer allowed the maid to call her princess, but only called her an ordinary family.

Li Qing nodded and said gently to Manager Wu: "My men may have to stay here for a while, so that your guys can serve you, and give them rewards together when you leave."

Manager Wu nodded repeatedly and quickly went to the inner room to arrange it. Li Qing followed the maid to the backyard. Li Jingyan's room was on the edge, two inside and outside, and was the best room in this inn. Although it was the best, in Li Qing's opinion, it was no different from the most ordinary room in Chang'an. There was a white coarse porcelain tea cup worth five cents each on the table, and a copper basin was used, but the basin was bumpy and the bottom was full of green spots. Perhaps it was an antique used by Zhang Qian of the Han Dynasty.

The floor is covered with the worst quality carpet. I don’t know how many years have been used, and several places have decayed, but the bedding is soft and the bedding is all new. Only this is barely eye-catching.

The lights in the room inside were dim, with only one oil lamp. There might be no more oil inside. It was shaking, stretching and shrinking the figure on the wall. The wind outside was whistling, and the sound of "bang! bang" slamming the door from time to time. Li Jingyan was sitting at the head of the bed, and his eyes seemed a little nervous.

Hearing the sound of Li Qing's footsteps from outside, she ran out in three steps. In a strange place, women were particularly dependent on men.

"The conditions for this inn are not very good, but we have a lot of people and can only live here. I feel sorry for you."

Li Jingyan shook her head, pressed her chest with her hand and said, "It doesn't matter if the conditions are worse, but I'm just a little scared."

"I'm here! I'm next to you, don't be afraid."

This is, a sound came from ‘gulu!’. Li Qing touched his stomach and smiled and said, “Let’s go! I’ll take you out to eat.”

Li Jingyan was happy in her heart, and hurriedly asked the maid a few words, then went back to the house to put on a dress, and followed Li Qing out of the inn. Kucha City was originally the capital of Kucha Kingdom. The palace and the official office were in the north, and the civilian settlement area was located in the south. There was a street separated from the middle, which became the most prosperous and lively place in Kucha City. The inn where Li Qing and the others lived was a bit off. After walking through an alley for a long time, the two of them came to the street, and followed a few personal soldiers from behind, trying not to disturb them, but it was impossible to get out alone.

The streets were very lively, with taverns and restaurants everywhere. There was a guru standing at the door of almost every tavern. He was trembling in the wind, but he also tried to be happy to attract customers. All the shops were brightly lit, and the bright lights were vented from the doors and windows of all sizes with laughter and scolding.

"Li Lang, I never heard you talk about your parents and hometown. I asked Sister Lian'er, but she didn't even know."

Li Jingyan smiled and said, "If you don't want to say it, then I won't ask."

Li Qing looked up at the stars in the sky, recalling his past life, just like these brilliant stars. The past seems to be vivid in his mind, but they have become extremely far away. He smiled slightly, "Actually nothing. I am from Suzhou. I have been an orphan since I was a child. I don't know how I grew up, wandering around and then went to Shu."

He remembered something and smiled and said, "Zhengyan, in Langzhong, did you not take me as the little shopkeeper seriously at all?"

When Li Jingyan heard his past talk, he felt a little embarrassed and said coquettishly: "You don't know what happened to me back then. Those people in Chang'an are like flies, so I have to hide in my father's place, which will take you, the stinky brat in my eyes."

After a meal, she smiled and said, "Although you are smelly, the snow mud you make is quite sweet. Later, although Dad learned your recipe, he just couldn't make the taste of you."

Li Qing smiled and said, "Did you want to marry me just to eat my snow mud?"

"Bah! The snow mud is made by Xiaoyu. What's the use of marrying you? Isn't it for this?"

"Then what do you mean?"

When Li Jingyan heard this guy's mouth was unstoppable, she felt shy and sweet in her heart. She wanted to beat him, but someone next to her looked at him, so she quietly flipped her long nails and pinched them into his flesh, and said quietly: "I'm not allowed to think about it in the future, nor do I ask again, do you know?"

The night in Kucha was cold, but the two of them were like spring breeze blowing on their faces. Li Jingyan sighed happily and whispered: "Li Lang, aren't you going to go back to Chang'an to report your work after the New Year? Go and have a good talk with my father, okay?"

"Yeah!" Li Qing nodded slightly.

The sky was clear and full of stars, and stars were blinking happily. The air was fresh and cold, and the white breath could be exhaled from the mouth. The two seemed to have forgotten to eat and walked slowly on the street side by side. Their hands had already been held together unknowingly. No one spoke, and they were savoring the sweetness of mutual affection.

Li Jingyan secretly glanced at him, her eyes full of love, his tall nose, his clear contoured face, his confident and strong eyes, his optimistic and calm smile, every move and every detail of him attracted her so deeply, making her feel extremely safe, making her obsessed and unable to extricate herself. At this moment, in this strange city, her heart was completely open and there was no longer any restraint. She leaned her head gently on his shoulders, leaning against him wholeheartedly, hoping that this moment would last forever and not disappear.

Walking past a big tree, Li Qing stopped. He held her waist tightly and stared at her eyes with a smile. At this moment, he had already felt Li Jingyan's body trembling slightly, but her eyes became deep and warm. Her soft and wet lips seemed to be telling the same word over and over again. Suddenly, she turned around and put her hands around his neck, trembling all over, slowly closed her eyes, and her beautiful face bravely greeted him. At this moment, she forgot the reserve and shyness. She loved him to the extreme. Li Qing was her life, her heart and liver, and this love force seemed to shine, surrounding her, asking her to forget all the troubles of the past, and asking her to completely eliminate all the ghostly doubts, fears, depressions, worries, helplessness, and completely abandon them.

It took a long time before the two of them slowly separated their lips, staring at each other, smiling knowingly with their heads. At this moment, there was no barrier in their hearts, and they all understood each other's love.

Li Qing hugged her soft body, her heart was filled with infinite love, and kissed her earlobe and whispered: "Aren't you scared at night? I'll sleep in your outer room tonight, how about watching you for the night?"

Li Jingyan nodded gently, "Then I'll ask the maid to sleep with me."

Suddenly, a slight cough came from beside her. The two turned their heads and found that about three steps away from them, there was a guest who was looking at them with awkward look on them. She was standing here. The shadow of the big tree covered her. She didn't dare to speak, and didn't dare to move half a step, as if she was a primary school student who was punished by the teacher. She looked at this couple of selfless couples with a long time, but her eyes were full of envy.
Chapter completed!