A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 1145 Destruction of the Country
North of Gaochang City,

There is a red mountain standing in the middle of the oasis in the Gaochang Basin, stretching over 200 miles from east to west.
Anyone who sees this mountain for the first time will be shocked and amazed, especially in the summer, when the exposed surface can reach 70 or 80 degrees under the scorching sun, and the heat waves roll, turning it into a flaming mountain.

"Is this the mountain of fire mentioned in the Classic of Mountains and Seas?"

"Yes, it is this mountain. The locals also call it Red Stone Mountain and Flame Mountain."

Due to rain erosion, weathering and other reasons, the Huoyan Mountain has become a large single-sided mountain with a gentle north side and steep south side, as if a huge city wall suddenly stood in the north of Gaochang City.

The thousands of gullies and ravines on the mountain slopes look like burning flames.

"This is the hottest place in the Western Regions. It has almost no rain all year round. In the summer, you can roast eggs directly in the sand pit."

Gaochang Basin is a typical graben basin. It is the lowest place in China and the hottest place in summer.

But this place, which seems to be incomparable to the Yili and Suiye River Valleys in the north of the Tianshan Mountains, is the most prosperous and lively place in the east of the Tianshan Mountains.
This is not only due to the promotion of the Silk Road, but also because although it is hot and dry here, there are fertile oases. The edge of the basin is surrounded by mountains, and the top of the mountain is covered with snow all year round. The meltwater from the ice and snow nourishes the fertile oasis.

A long time ago, people here used the karez to draw on the abundant groundwater resources, so Gaochang had very developed agriculture and animal husbandry.

"In fact, the people of Gaochang have had a hard time these years," Qu Yong told Wu Huaiyu when he accompanied him back to Gaochang.
Gaochang was a small country with a small population. Although it had abundant groundwater and karez water diversion canals, the oases were limited and most of the land was in the hands of nobles and powerful people. The common people had very few fields and could only rent other people's fields.

In recent years, the Western Regions have been in turmoil and wars have been frequent.
Gaochang also had to maintain a large army, and even had to hire Turkic, Sogdian and other Hu soldiers. Maintaining the army was very expensive, and also required a large number of war horses and draft horses.

Gaochang State therefore required the people of Gaochang to raise a horse for the country. The burden of raising horses was not small. Coupled with the increasingly high taxes and levies, as well as the annexation of land by nobles and temples, the people of Gaochang were burdened with heavy expenses.

The price of land in Gaochang was not high, generally only five or six coins per mu, which was equivalent to one hundred and fifty or sixty coins per mu in Kaiyuan Tongbao coins of the Tang Dynasty.

The taxes in Gaochang were similar to those in the Central Plains before. The largest tax was the head tax, also known as the Ding tax. The Ding tax included Ding transport, Ding bundles, Ding wood firewood, etc. Not only was grain collected according to the number of people, but also firewood, charcoal, silk and cloth, etc.

In addition to taxes, there were also labor services. There were Taoist labor services and secular labor services. Taoist labor services were for temples, and secular labor services were for government offices. Gaochang was a must-pass place on the Silk Road, so there were also labor services for herdsmen and merchants.
In addition, Gaochang also required people to pay silver and money based on the amount of land they owned. Different levels of silver and money were levied according to the land grade. The land tax was not light and had been increasing in recent years. This also led to the intensification of land annexation and a large number of people fleeing their household registration and seeking shelter from the powerful.

Taxes were levied under various names, such as wheat collection, miscellaneous surcharges, and wine rent.

Various taxes were levied more and more, and there were also various labor and military services, as well as the need to raise horses for the court. Ordinary people in Gaochang were suffering terribly. If it were not for its location at a node on the Silk Road, where everyone could work and earn money, they would not have been able to survive.

Gaochang had cotton planting and cotton cloth weaving industries, as well as grape and winemaking industries, as well as iron ore and smelting industries. In addition to their agriculture and animal husbandry, Gaochang was also famous for its horses.
In addition to trade,

On the surface, Gaochang maintained its prosperity, but the middle and lower class people lived a hard life and were completely drained of their wealth.

Gaochang was an oasis city-state in the Western Regions, mainly populated by Han people. Whenever there was civil unrest in the Central Plains, many people from the northwest would come to Gaochang, the Han regime, to avoid the chaos. People also came from Hexi, Longyou, and even Shuofang and Guanzhong.

Everyone who comes here wants to seek a safe and secure life.
But Gaochang made them more and more tired.

Many people gradually became proletarians, becoming retainers, tenants, or even slaves.

"The difficulties that the people of Gaochang have been through in recent years are actually closely related to the Central Plains," Qu Yong said honestly.
"Oh, tell me."

Qu Yong gave an example, for example, Gaochang used to grow white floribunda and weave white floribunda cloth. This industry was very prosperous in Gaochang before. The white floribunda cloth they produced was circulated through the Silk Road and exported to Persia, Fulin and the Central Plains. It sold very well, and its fine white floribunda cloth was more expensive than silk.

This industry alone has supported many Gaochang people and even provided them with a good income.

But later, the Central Plains also planted white floribunda and spun cotton cloth.

"You call it cotton, and the cloth weave is called cotton cloth," Qu Yong sighed. In the past, Gaochang's cotton planting and textile industry was always positioned as a high-end luxury industry, with niche products, so the production capacity was also limited.

However, under the leadership of Wu Huaiyu, the cotton planting in the Central Plains increased year by year, and soon the planting area far exceeded that of Gaochang, even surpassing Gaochang by many times.
The cotton spinning technology led by the Wu family was countless times ahead of Gaochang, with both production capacity and efficiency far exceeding Gaochang.

As a result, the Tang Dynasty's cotton textile industry, with its high quality and low price, quickly impacted Gaochang's backward traditional cotton textile industry, just like when the Wu family improved the sugar production process and overturned the high-end sugar market that was previously monopolized by Indian merchants.
The cotton mill industry in Gaochang collapsed all of a sudden.

Their white folded cloth could not be sold, so the cotton cloth from the Central Plains was sold to Gaochang along the Silk Road. It was better and cheaper, and the supply was also sufficient. They could get as much as they wanted, and the variety of new products was dazzling.

How many Baidie cloth weaving workshops closed down, how many Gaochang people working in related industries lost their jobs, and how much money did the Gaochang people lose.

"Later, Yanqi wanted to open the Loulan Ancient Road, which also had a huge impact on Gaochang. The new Silk Road was a shorter route, which diverted a lot of commercial goods and seriously affected Gaochang's trade and taxation."

This was also a big reason why Gaochang fell out with the Tang Dynasty.

Gaochang was hit hard in all aspects and everyone had a hard time. The King of Gaochang made the wrong choice to oppose the Tang Dynasty. As a result, he had to pay tribute to the Turks and recruit soldiers on his own, which of course passed the burden on to the people.

Wu Huaiyu just laughed when he heard this.
This is partly true.
But so what.

"Now that Gaochang has submitted to the Tang Dynasty, the Han people and the Hu people of Gaochang have also returned to China. From now on, this place is no longer Gaochang, but the Western Province of the Tang Dynasty. The five counties of the Western Province will fully implement the system of the Tang Dynasty.

There will be no heavy taxes, no heavy labor service,

In the future, this place will implement the two-tax system just like the Central Plains, with a simple tax system and light burden, so that everyone can live and work in peace and contentment. "

In the 14th year of Zhenguan,
The ninth day of the sixth month of the leap year,
Wu Huaiyu arrived at Gaochang City.

Gaochang was very peaceful under the scorching wind. Outside the city were the Tang troops surrounding it like an iron barrel, while inside the city were the Gaochang soldiers and civilians who were honest but somewhat hesitant.

They were trapped in the city.
Now Wu Huaiyu has finally arrived, and their prince has also come back with him. The prince is still alive and in good condition.

A group of Tang generals came outside the city to greet and pay their respects.

Wu Huaiyu glanced over them.

Guo Xiaoke, whose military position was taken away by him, lowered his head and his expression could not be seen.

She'er, who was temporarily taking over the military power, had a complicated expression when he saw Kou Ji-sung following him.

In the end, they were unable to swallow that piece of fat meat.

"Where is General Qibi Heli?"

Wu Huaiyu did not notice the figure of General Youlongwu.

Upon hearing this, She'er took a few steps forward and answered somewhat helplessly, "General Qibi insisted on leading his troops to take Khan Futu City three days ago."

"You didn't stop him?"

"He is determined to go, and we can't stop him." She'er was helpless. He was the consort of Princess Hengyang, Duke of Bi, and the Right Wise King of the Eastern Turkic people. This time he was accompanying the expedition to Gaochang and commanding the Eastern Turkic troops.
Qibi Heli was the Right Dragon Warrior General, commanding the Tiele Qibi tribe. He married a princess of the royal family, the Princess of Lintao, and was granted the title of Duke of Liang.

She'er, the temporary commander, could nominally control He Li, but He Li was not an obedient person. When fighting against Tuyuhun, he did not listen to the general manager Xue Wanjun and his brothers and marched alone. Later, the two of them even competed for merit and made a scene in the Golden Palace.

"If he insists on going, you will let him go. Don't you take my orders seriously?"
The tent was quiet.

She'er pleaded guilty, and he was indeed guilty of dereliction of duty.

Guo Xiaoke continued to lower his head. Anyway, he had been dismissed from his military post long ago. Whatever He Li and the others did, it had nothing to do with him.

Silence in the tent,

After a long while, Wu Huaiyu asked, "Has Qibi Heli sent back any news?"

"A messenger just came from Khanfutu City this morning. General Qibi has already entered Khanfutu City. However,"

"General Qibi had a conflict with the Chuyue Zhuxie tribe,"

The so-called conflict was that the Chuyue Zhuxie tribe had obtained a promise from Wu Huaiyu that whoever captured Futu City first would get the largest city in the northeast of Tianshan Mountain. In order to compete with the Shatuo tribe for this city,
To this end, he divided his troops into two groups, one to attack Mohe City in the west, and the other he personally led to attack Futu City.

As a result, the attack was fierce and many casualties were suffered.

Qibi Heli led his troops here, and he also brought with him Gaochang's general Qu Shiyi.

He sent troops to escort Qu Shiyi into Futu City, and quickly informed the Gaochang defenders in the city of the latest situation: the king was dead and the crown prince had surrendered, so there was no point in defending any further.

So the defenders surrendered to Qibi Heli.

The Zhuxie tribe was not happy about this. They said, "We have been fighting for so long, and you are here to take advantage of us. How can this be justified?" They surrounded Futu City. They could surrender, but Futu City would belong to them according to the agreement.

Why didn't Qibi refuse?

There were reasons why he came in such a hurry and even disobeyed military orders. During the Sui Dynasty, the Western Turkic Khan Choro killed more than 600 Tiele leaders. The Tiele tribes rose up in resistance and jointly elected He Li's grandfather Qibi Geleng as Yiwuzhenmohe Khan, and elected Xueyantuo leader Yishibo as Yeshe Little Khan.

The Khitan tribe moved eastward to the Tankhan Mountain, established their headquarters in Khanfutu City, joined forces with the Tiele tribes, killed the Western Turkic Khan Nili, and established the Tiele Khanate.

Gaochang, Yanqi, Yiwulu and other places all submitted to him.

Ge Leng was friendly with the Sui Dynasty and once led troops to conquer Tuyuhun for the Sui Dynasty and defeated Fuyun Khan. Unfortunately, he died of illness soon after. His son succeeded him and restored the power of Shekui Khan of the Western Turkic Khaganate. The Khitan tribe was defeated and moved to Rehai.

When He Li was nine years old, his father died and he succeeded to the throne of Khan and was demoted to Dashilifa.

At the beginning of the Zhenguan period, Qibi Heli and his mother led more than 6,000 tents of their own tribe to Shazhou to submit to the Tang Dynasty. Their tribe was settled in Gan and Liang areas. He was summoned to serve as an official in the court, and his younger brother Qibi Shamen was appointed governor of Helan Prefecture and continued to lead the tribe. His mother was also named Lady of Guzang County.

After He Li entered the court, he was still deeply appreciated and trusted by Li Shimin. Now he was the Right Dragon Warrior General of the Northern Ya Imperial Guards, and he was granted a princess from the royal family to marry him.

He Li surrendered to the Tang Dynasty and served as an official in the court for ten years.

But he still remembered that their Khitan tribe was in the Western Regions, that his grandfather Geleng had once established himself as Khan in Khan's Futu City, and that his grandfather had once set up Buddhist statues in Futu City.

Wu Huaiyu did not allow them to take Gaochang City, which was within their grasp. Qibi Heli was very dissatisfied, but with She'er and others there, he had no way to enter the city.

So he was furious and forcibly brought his own Qibi soldiers to Futu City.

When Chu Yue Zhuxie tribe blocked his way, he led his troops to attack Zhuxie tribe without hesitation, broke their encirclement, forced his way into Futu city, and took over the occupation.

Wu Huaiyu listened quietly without saying anything.

This was another surprise.

Does Qibi Heli want to enter Futu City to pay tribute to the traces left by his grandfather, or does he have other ambitions? For example, he wants to take the opportunity to let the Qibi headquarters that moved to the Ganliang area in Hexi ten years ago return to Tanhan Mountain and occupy Futu City again, or even gather all the Qibi tribes that remained in the Western Regions and make them stronger again.

Do they also want to establish their own autonomous governorate in the Western Regions?

This is really not impossible.

But Qibi Heli repeatedly disobeyed Wu Huaiyu's military orders, which was absolutely not allowed.

"Get ready, go to Gaochang City first and accept the surrender."

Wu Huaiyu spoke.

Qibi Heli must be dealt with, including Khan Futu City and Zhuye tribe, but now we should enter the city first.

Complete the surrender ceremony first.

The surrender ceremony was not grand or complicated.
Gaochang had surrendered for several days.

This is just a ceremony.

The gates of Gaochang were wide open.

Qu Zhisheng returned to the city first, then changed into white clothes, and took Gaochang Lingyin, Changshi, Sima, generals, and the Qu royal family out of the city to surrender.

The Queen of Gaochang, Yuwen, also surrendered in white clothes.
She called herself Princess Li of the Tang Dynasty.

This Yuwen clan, who was still in mourning for Qu Wentai, no longer had to marry Crown Prince Qu Zhisheng because of the demise of Gaochang.

Qu Zhisheng had originally wanted to defend Gaochang and repel the Tang army before officially succeeding to the throne as king. But now he has no chance to be king anymore.

Wu Huaiyu took the seal of the King of Gaochang, the surrender letter of Gaochang, the household registration and land accounts, and the map of Gaochang presented by Qu Zhisheng.

These represent Gaochang State.
Now offering it to Wu Huaiyu means complete surrender and allegiance to the Tang Dynasty.

Wu Huaiyu accepted these.
He also accepted the surrender of Gaochang State.

Then he announced publicly,

"From now on, Gaochang State will be renamed as Western Province of the Tang Dynasty, with five counties under it. The soldiers and civilians of Gaochang will all be citizens of the Tang Dynasty."

Wu Huaiyu entered the city,
Qu gave up the palace, but Wu Huaiyu did not move in. He ordered the palace to be sealed up first and everything inside was registered one by one.

"Let Qibi Heli come to Gaochang City immediately,"

"Invite Zhuye Shijin and Shatuo Shijin as well."

(End of this chapter)