Zhang Xiu stood next to the fire, watching the crackling wood and strange flames emerging, and thinking about the Qiang people in his mind. After Ma Teng died that year, Ma Chao led his men to surrender to him, and the Qiang people also surrendered with Ma Chao.
In order to appease the Qiang people, Zhang Xiu specially provided many welfare conditions for them.
In the past, the root cause of conflicts between Han and Qiang people was that the Qiang people were too poor to survive. They could only survive by robbing the Han people of food and grass.
The Qiang people are poor not because of laziness, but because of geographical constraints.
The Qiang people's territory is mostly in mountainous areas. They cultivate and graze at the same time. However, there is little arable land. The grain and grass produced every year is not enough to feed the Qiang people, and grazing is extremely unstable. In the bitter cold land of Liangzhou, in the event of natural disasters, cattle and sheep will be lost at any time. They might freeze to death.
Later, Liangzhou experienced the vicious hands of Dong Zhuo and Han Sui, which made the originally poor Qiang people even worse. Moreover, Liangzhou is the source of Xiliang war horses and an important production area of cavalry. Its importance is inaccessible.
In order to allow the Qiang people to survive, Zhang Xiu specially developed land for them, built roads and canals, and introduced Han people who were familiar with farming techniques among the Qiang people, so that the Qiang people had food and hope to survive.
The Qiang people were also grateful to Zhang Xiu, and there was no sign of rebellion again.
Unexpectedly, Dajing officials were killed because of trade.
Whether this matter is big or small depends on the real outcome.
It would not be simple if it was provoked by outsiders.
Zhang Xiu leaned against a big tree and thought silently. He could only wait for the results of Jia Mu's investigation. However, the supervision of the Qiang people should be strengthened, so let’s recruit troops!
Recruit 30,000 Qiang soldiers from among the Qiang people.
Use their own troops to contain the Qiang people.
At this time, Xiao Qiao came over with the fragrant barbecue, nestled in his arms, and asked softly: "Your Majesty, what are you thinking about?"
Zhang Xiu smiled and said: "It's about the court, is the meat I grill delicious?"
"Yeah! It's delicious!" Xiao Qiao nodded vigorously, which was really cute.
Zhang Xiu kissed her little head lovingly.
——
Lingshikou.
On the fifth day of their eastward journey, Zhang Xiu and the others arrived at Lingshikou.
The traces of the war that broke out at Lingshikou last year have long been washed away, and the city walls have been repaired. There is no trace of the war last year. The place where the souls of thousands of soldiers returned disappeared as the war subsided.
The city at Lingshikou is not high and the walls are not thick.
It is hard to imagine how Mu Gong and Cheng Peng could hold on here all night in the face of the Wei army's surprise attack. Cheng Peng and Mu Gong also had decisive contributions to the victory of this battle, but it was a pity that they never had the chance to meet.
The secret message he received when Lingshikou was lost clearly appeared in his mind. The message briefly stated: Generals Cheng Peng and Mu Gong were beheaded by the enemy general Zhang Yan, and their heads were hung above the city gate. Arriving at Lingshikou today, Zhang Xiu looked at the city at Lingshikou and was moved in his heart.
The loyalty plaques of Cheng Peng and Mu Gong were hung in the Wuying Hall.
The Wuying Hall built in Chang'an was already filled with the names of loyal and brave soldiers. According to Dajing's system, every New Year, all officials must go to the Wuying Hall to pay homage to the warriors who sacrificed for Dajing. There are also many soldiers. Come to pay homage to your comrades.
The tombs of Cheng Peng and Mu Gong are on the hillside on the right side of Lingshikou.
After Gan Ning recaptured Lingshikou, he buried the two of them here. Later, after the war subsided, Zhang Xiu repaired the tomb and buried them generously. Passing by here today, I was struck by the scene. Zhang Xiu brought several guard generals and Prince Zhang Biao to pay homage to the two generals.
There are lush trees on both sides of the hillside. There is a stream on the right side of the hillside, and clear mountain water flows from the foot of the mountain. The tombs of Cheng Peng and Mu Gong were recently repaired. The two tombs are still very new. The positions and names of the two people are clearly engraved on the tombstones.
Mu Gong was a student at the same time as Tian Jing. Tian Jing had already served as the governor of two states. If Mu Gong was still alive, with his ability, he should be the commander of the first battalion.
Cheng Peng is more senior and has many military exploits. It is a pity that he can only be appointed as a general after this battle is over.
Zhang Xiu looked at the two new tombs with some regret and asked Zhang Biao next to him: "Biao'er, do you know who these two generals are? Why did they die?"
Zhang Biao: "I know, it was our Dajing generals Cheng Peng and Mu Gong. Last year, the Wei army and Zhang Yan's troops came out of the Taihang Mountains and prepared to attack Lingshikou and break through Chang'an. It was only the two generals who fought to the death to buy Chang'an time to react. Without them, Chang'an would be in danger, and I, Dajing, would be in danger!"
Zhang Xiu nodded: "They are our Zhuguo generals in Dajing. They are posthumously named Zhuguo generals and meritorious marquises. Their titles are hereditary and irreplaceable. You must bear in mind their contribution to our Dajing."
At that time, Zhang Biao was supervising the country in Chang'an. He knew about this and the contribution they would make to Dajing. He nodded solemnly: "The soldiers shed blood for the country, and my sons and ministers will remember it in their hearts!"
What makes Zhang Xiu most distressed is Cheng Peng.
At that time, the Maharaja-Korean coalition forces made a surprise attack on Xiaoguan under the instigation of Cheng Yu. If Hu Ji hadn't fought so hard to buy Chang'an enough time to react, the Dajing Kingdom would not be what it is today. Unexpectedly, Cheng Peng, who was replaced by Hu Ji, also fought for Chang'an's reaction. Death by time.
The deaths of Cheng Peng and Hu Ji were almost the same.
One is at Xiaoguan in the west, and the other is at Lingshikou in the east.
"well!"
Zhang Xiu sighed.
In the chaotic era of the late Han Dynasty, one battle would lead to the souls of many soldiers returning to the West. Suddenly, Zhang Xiu remembered what Cao Cao said when he paid homage to Yuan Shao in later records: "It's really like an arrow! Once this arrow was fired, it caused the corpses of many heroes to sink on the battlefield, and their souls returned to the west. I, Cao Cao, will not accept this arrow, and the heroes will be safe." It can summon souls to the earth and sleep under the blue light at night."
Zhang Xiu felt this and said unconsciously: "The stars are shining brightly and are as bright as words. If I had not come to this sacrifice, Xiu'an would be able to mend the sky with blood!"
Suddenly, Zhang Xiu felt a leisurely admiration for Cao Cao.
Lord Don't laugh while lying drunk on the battlefield. How many people have fought in ancient times?
Zhang Xiu took the Zhenjing wine that he had prepared long ago and poured it in front of the graves of Cheng Peng and Mu Gong. "Two generals, the war has come to an end. Thanks to the efforts of these two generals, I, Dajing, destroyed Cao Wei and gained Ji." , Youzhou. In this battle, the two generals have made great contributions to Dajing, the country, and the world. They will be remembered in history. Under the Nine Springs, the two generals can rest in peace!"
After saying that, he placed the precious wine flask on the stone carving table.
After paying homage to Cheng Peng and Mu Gong, Zhang Xiu took his son to climb a nearby mountain. The mountain here is quite steep, which is not difficult for Zhang Xiu, but it is quite a challenge for Zhang Biao. Nowadays, Zhang Biao is about 1.7 meters tall in later generations. He was considered tall in ancient times, but compared with Zhang Xiu, the gap is not small.
By the time he climbed to the top of the mountain, Zhang Biao was out of breath and his cheeks were red.
