Han Shizu

Chapter 1236 Are you still going?
After finishing his tour in Lingzhou, Emperor Liu once again faced a choice, whether to continue his west tour or go back home.This trip has already lasted for a whole April, and the time spent is not short, and it also deviates from the original purpose, from the north to Guanshan, and then to the northwest.

During the camp, many civil and military personnel who accompanied him suggested to Emperor Liu that they hoped that Luan would return to Beijing.The reasons they gave were nothing more than the following. The emperor should sit in the capital to reassure the hearts of the people inside and outside, and he should not stay outside for a long time, let alone the emperor and the prince.

Coupled with the remoteness of the northwest, the season is also entering deep winter, and the weather is getting worse and worse, which is not conducive to long-distance travel.

If you continue to travel westward to the Absolute Territory, the risk of traveling will also be great. If something happens to the emperor, it will definitely endanger the country and the stability of the country
When these suggestions were presented to the imperial court, Emperor Liu's attitude became resolute instead. Due to the previous turmoil on the way westward to Fengsheng, his first reaction was that the high-ranking officials and nobles who were camping were afraid of the bitter cold in the northwest again.

They wanted to go back, but Emperor Liu refused to allow it, insisting on grinding them.From Emperor Liu's point of view, the entire northwest is under the rule of the great Han, and the road ahead is smooth. In his own land, what are we afraid of and what are we worried about?
Their concerns were even more trivial to Emperor Liu.Why can't the emperor live outside Beijing for a long time? He has made several tours and personally visited several times. Which time did he stay for a short time?
As for the winter, whether it was the southern expedition to Huainan or the northern expedition to Khitan, they survived a whole winter.No matter how bitter the winter in the Northwest is, can normal patrolling be more difficult and strenuous than marching and fighting?
Talking about risks, in Emperor Liu's view, is just an excuse for coveting comfort.Therefore, the more the ministers objected, the more determined he was.

Furthermore, since I decided to tour the west, I have finally reached Lingzhou. Now that Lingzhou has arrived, why not go west and visit the Hexi Corridor?

The cost of Emperor Liu's tour is not low at all. In this life, he doesn't know if he will have the second chance to go this far. Now that he has already walked half of the way, he has to grit his teeth and finish the rest of the way.

As for the entire Northwest, the rule of the Han Dynasty is still short, and it is still early to talk about stability and tranquility.Emperor Liu took a tour and went there himself, not only to see the scenery of the Northwest, to realize his desire to travel all over the territory, but also to Enweiqi to comfort people's hearts. The political significance of this should also be taken into consideration.

Therefore, Emperor Liu, who made the decision, issued an edict directly in front of a group of courtiers, regardless of their helpless and bitter expressions. On November 11, the emperor set off to continue his western tour.And, make a direct decision, go to the end if you want to go, and don't look back until you reach Yangguan.

However, although the decision was made, practical problems still had to be faced, and the biggest problem on the west tour was the weather.Although Emperor Liu was not afraid, and even showed an attitude of man's determination to overcome the sky, he had never experienced the winter climate in the northwest after all.

Therefore, two more days were given for the camp to buy various supplies for the journey, especially supplies to keep out the cold.This matter was handed over to Li Ye, and a large purchase was carried out in Lingzhou. For this reason, many people bought all the materials they had stored for the winter, and a batch of government warehouses were also recruited.

Although according to Emperor Liu's wishes, every transaction was made, there was a line of payment, but it also caused actual harassment to the local officials and people.Moreover, due to the change of lanes for the west tour, the cost of the camp far exceeded imagination. The previous budget for this tour was almost spent in Lingzhou.

It is conceivable that when I officially embark on the journey to the west, I am afraid that I will have to give a white note to the local government if I want to purchase materials.
According to the decree, without any delay, he set off again on November 11, heading for a more distant territory.However, this time, not everyone accompanied them.

Prince Liu Yang was left behind by Emperor Liu, and asked him to take his place to inspect Longyou Road in the southwest.Among the four roads in the northwest, apart from the Guannei Road as the foundation, the Longyou Road has been operated by the imperial court for the longest time.

After all, it was from King Wangjing of Baoguo that the land was expanded and governed. Coupled with the continuous encroachment and progress in the first year of Baoguo, the territory expanded to the west by a large area.Due to the division of Tubo, they were powerless to resist. It can be said that the power of the Han Dynasty in the west of Longyou has surpassed that of the Tang Dynasty, regardless of its territory and influence. After all, there is no unified and powerful country on the plateau. Adversary threats.

Regarding the achievements made in recent years, we can't just listen to the report. Liu Yang, on behalf of Emperor Liu, went to inspect it, personally, and see where the limit of the Han Dynasty's territory is today.

At the same time, Liu Xiao, the eleventh son of the emperor, was also left behind by Emperor Liu because Emperor Liu loved his son.Liu Xiao is only 11 years old, and his body has always been weak. He has endured the journey for the past few months and has never complained of exhaustion. Stay in Lingzhou to recuperate.

As for the others, they don't have this kind of treatment. They can only grit their teeth, endure the fierce sand and fierce wind in the northwest, bury their heads in the car, and drive silently.of
Go south from Lingzhou, advance along the upper reaches of the Yellow River, and cross the river in Zhongwei County.Zhongwei County is a major thoroughfare of the upper reaches of the Yellow River, but it has been abandoned for a long time, and it has been nearly ten years since the imperial court restored officials to manage it.The territory is densely covered with ferries, which is also the origin of the "Nine Crossings of the Yellow River" in later generations.

After passing Zhongwei, he went straight west, along the edge of the desert, along the Great Wall, and headed towards Liangzhou.There is not much delay, and there is no interest in stopping to stay nostalgic. The sight is full of desolation. If it is normal, it will be fine. In this winter, the desert and Gobi can only be kept at a respectful distance.

In the long and narrow Hexi Corridor, in addition to the wind, there is sand, dry and cold air, and the cold temperature makes people extremely uncomfortable.The business trips and camel caravans reported in the memorials in the past are completely gone.

Maybe it was because of the untimely timing, but it always made Emperor Liu feel monotonous, and as the ministers reminded, the west tour was not easy.

It was already mid-November when we arrived at Chengguzang, Liangzhou Prefecture, and nearly [-]% of the more than [-] people who accompanied us were exhausted and sick, and even hundreds of people died, mostly because of acclimatization. , Livestock also froze to death and suffered a lot of frostbite.
Facts have proved that in the face of the mighty power of nature, personal power is too small. Just an ordinary climate in the northwest has caused so many people to lose so many people in Emperor Liu's camp!
And Emperor Liu himself was also uncomfortable. He was already afraid of the cold, and with his old cold legs, even if he tried his best to keep warm, he was actually suffering all the way.

That is to say, after arriving in Liangzhou, there are cities, houses, and cotton couches, which made him feel better.Hexi Chief Envoy Lu Duoxun was very considerate, and arranged various affairs properly, saving a lot of trouble, which was praised by Emperor Liu.

Emperor Liu couldn't help but associate his tour to the west with Emperor Sui Yang's expedition to Tuyuhun, and then he had to sigh, that is really a tyrant.A few 100,000 people traveled to Qinghai and crossed mountains and ridges. That was the real dangerous journey, with countless casualties. Compared with it, Emperor Liu felt that he was more rational.
However, after arriving in Liangzhou, the old question was posed in front of Emperor Liu, whether to continue walking, you know, the straight line distance from Guzang to Yangguan is still about thirteen hundred miles.

It has to be said that after personal experience, Emperor Liu still hesitated in the face of practical problems.However, if he withdraws his life and gives up the west tour, then what is his face? Wouldn't the previous release of "not turning back until Yangguan" become empty talk, wouldn't the suffering and suffering before be in vain?

However, if they continue to march westward, with soldiers in the camp, accompanied by civil and military forces, there will probably be some disturbances again, even if they dare not show it, they will always have something in their hearts.

At the same time, the dull pain in Emperor Liu's own legs was also reminding him and dissuading him.
(End of this chapter)