I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 227 The Value of the Western Regions

(PS: I made a mistake in the name and location of the place when I wrote the previous chapter. I have changed the next few hundred words, which should not affect reading.)
"Is there anyone still holding on in Loulan City?" Hu Zhen suddenly became excited after hearing Suo Zhan's words.

He had initially heard that in the past few years when news had been cut off, both the Western Region Chief Shi and the Wuji Colonel had become vacant, and he had no hope at all, but he never expected to get such an answer from Suo Zhan.

Loulan City and Liuzhong City, one is the bridgehead of the Han people in the Western Regions, and the other is a strong city that prevents the Western Regions countries from uniting with the Hu people in the north. Giving up these two places means completely giving up the garrison in the Western Regions.

As early as two hundred years ago, the Loulan Kingdom was defeated by the Han general Fu Jiezi, and the country was renamed Shanshan Kingdom. The royal capital moved south, and the Loulan City left behind became the focus of the Han army's garrison.

He could imagine that after losing their leader, these soldiers who stayed in the Western Regions had to gather together in one place, surrounded by foreigners. Only a few descendants of the Han people who survived there could provide some slight help, and the rest depended on them. Own……

At this moment, Hu Zhen really wanted to fly over, but he knew that the distance between this place and Loulan City was more than a thousand miles - if the troops were to travel thirty miles in a day, and they brought their own baggage, even if the risks on the way were not taken into account, a single trip would take more than one person. It’s been months. This is a mission that he and his Qiang people cannot accomplish alone.

Although Liangzhou is chaotic, there is some order, and there are also counties and Qiang tribes that allow them to obtain supplies.

But it's different outside the Great Wall, with a harsher environment and people with even less bottom line...

Hu Zhen asked Suo Zhan: "In recent years, there has been no prefect in Dunhuang. Since no one has taken back the garrison troops who stayed behind in Dunhuang, I'm afraid no one has gone to Loulan City to contact the garrison troops."

But understanding doesn't mean he can accept it, because he was once a member of Tuntian City.

To put it bluntly, if it were not forced by the imperial court, how could these local wealthy families invest the county's resources in matters that had nothing to do with them.

If anything happens, the heads of the wealthy family will discuss it together. Not to mention how prosperous their life is.

Whether the Han troops who stayed in Loulan City are still there now may be a problem.

"Suo Jun told me the truth, and I don't want to deceive Suo Jun." Hu Zhen gritted his teeth and decided to do something, "I came here to collect the seeds of Bai Diezi as a gift to the army who was leading the army to regain Hexi. General Zuo was ordered by Duke Huangfu. And General Zuo was ordered by the Emperor."

Since Zhao Zi, the then governor of Dunhuang, resigned due to illness six years ago, his successor Zhao Qi has not been able to take office.

The wealthy families in Dunhuang were not courageous enough to establish themselves as governors, so the governorship has been vacant to this day.

Hu Zhen said seriously: "In addition to Bai Diezi, I also have an order to see how the people in Hexi will deal with themselves after the government orders are cut off."

Hu Zhen's family background was neither high nor low. Members of his family had been in the army for generations and had produced several captains and commanders. He could actually understand the practices of these wealthy families.

He wanted to use this status to suppress the local wealthy families. It's probably not possible to send troops to Loulan City, but at least let the wealthy families think of a way to understand the situation in Loulan City.

Suo Zhan remained silent.

Seeing Suo Zhan's statement like this, Hu Zhen knew that his idea was half-formed.

"The reason why we attach so much importance to Duke Hu is because we want him to take the county's top officials to Luoyang! I can't tell you how serious I am!"

"I dare not deceive Mr. Hu. Since we cut off contact with the imperial court, we have not been able to sleep well every night. We only hope that one day the road will be clear."

However, although there is a shortage of prefects, the governance of the county has not been neglected. Several powerful families are in power together. There is almost no need to support the Western Regions and far less need to pay taxes to the court.

The so-called Hexi refers to the west side of the zhao of the Yellow River, and is often used to refer to the four counties in Hexi - Wuwei County, Zhangye County, Jiuquan County and Dunhuang County in the west of Liangzhou.

Suo Zhan was shocked after hearing this. He quickly dismounted his horse and bowed his hands in greeting: "Zhan pays homage to General Zuo's envoy!"

Not to mention replenishing ordnance. In the past, these were the duties of the Dunhuang governor.

Hu Zhen understood the answer as soon as he saw Suo Zhan's expression.

In fact, the wealthy families in Dunhuang County did not reject the arrival of the new governor. There was a more important reason for this - the wealthy families in Dunhuang were the beneficiaries of the East-West trade on the Silk Road.

Dunhuang County was once an important node for Han and Hu trade goods on the Silk Road, and they naturally had the final say in their territory.

Nowadays, due to the lack of merchants and goods from the east, of course Hu merchants from the west rarely come, and the volume of Han and Hu transactions in Dunhuang County has almost disappeared. The wealthy families who could have benefited from both sides have lost such a big piece of fat. Of course they hope that the road can be opened again, even if they have to feed the new governor.

But as long as the roads are clear, the meat is big enough that it doesn't hurt to separate some.

……

In Luoyang, Liu Bian is trying to persuade his important ministers.

“The Western Region is very important!”

"In the past, since Emperor Xiaowu's military expedition to the Western Regions, our dynasty either connected or eliminated the Western Regions, all for military purposes and for the stability of the border areas."

Even if Jia Xu proposed to send envoys again this time, it was to use the countries in the Western Regions to weaken Xianbei's power.

"However, the benefits of the Western Regions are not only to contain Xianbei, but also to trade with other countries in Parthia and even further away."

In the past, the Han Dynasty only considered the military value of the Western Regions and never considered the commercial value of the Western Regions.

We need all the countries in the Western Regions to fight against the Xiongnu, so why don’t we spend more people and money, and have a little sweet every time we don’t need it? Then it can only be Mrs. Niu.

From this perspective, it is easy to understand that the Western Regions Protectorate Palace will be downgraded to the Western Regions Changshi Palace, and even the three connections and three unique features of the Western Regions since Guangwu.

Chang Shi, the assistant officer of the border prefect. Therefore, later on, the chief historian of the Western Regions was under the control of the Dunhuang prefect and the Liangzhou governor, as was the Wuji captain.

Significantly diminished in importance.

In the past, the interests of trade on the Silk Road had never been related to the imperial court, so the appeal of the Western Regions was naturally not great.

But now, Liu Bian is here!

But the result of his persuasion...

It seems unsatisfactory.

Especially Lu Zhi, although he kept saying, "Your Majesty is right."

But Liu Bian always felt a little strange looking at the smile on Lu Zhi's face.

Liu Bian also knew that it would be difficult to convince Lu Zhi and the others by just relying on empty words.

But it's okay.

He will take action!

Whether it is to use the countries in the Western Regions to deal with Xianbei or to control Liangzhou, the court will need to continue to invest forces westward. At that time, Liu Bian can use Mi Zhu and Zhen Yan to work with the Han army to restart the Silk Road.

Thus proving his foresight.

Full of such expectations, Liu Bian once again prepared to go to the Central Palace in the evening.

Once something starts, it's hard to stop.

Liu Bian felt more than once that it was too early to have frequent contact with women, but when things came to pass, he could always convince himself that he would do it next time.

Only this time, he was stopped halfway.

With a smile on Sun Zhang's face, he bowed: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager have specially ordered me to invite you."

(End of this chapter)