After completing his tour in Lingzhou, Emperor Liu once again faced a choice, whether to continue his western tour or return home. This tour lasted for a whole month, and it took quite a long time, and it also deviated from the original purpose, which was to patrol Guanshan in the north and then to the northwest.
During the camp, many of the civil and military officials accompanying him suggested to Emperor Liu that they hope Luan Jia would return to the capital. The reasons they gave were nothing more than the same. The emperor should sit in the capital to calm the hearts of the people inside and outside the country. He should not stay outside the country for a long time, let alone the emperor and the prince together.
Coupled with the remoteness of the northwest, the season has entered deep winter, and the climate has become increasingly harsh, making it difficult to travel far. The locals have stayed at home to avoid the winter, and what's worse is the large group of people traveling to camp.
If we continue to travel westward, the risk of the journey will be great. If something unexpected happens to the emperor, it will definitely endanger the country and the country, and affect the stability of the country...
When these suggestions were presented to the emperor, Emperor Liu's attitude became firmer. Due to the previous turmoil on the westward journey to Fengsheng, his first reaction was that the dignitaries and nobles who were camping were afraid of the bitter cold in the northwest.
They wanted to go back, but Emperor Liu refused and insisted on giving them a hard time. In Emperor Liu's view, the entire northwest was under the rule of the Han Dynasty, and the road ahead was smooth. What should he be afraid of and worry about in his own country?
Their concerns were even less worth mentioning to Emperor Liu. Why should the emperor not stay outside the capital for a long time? He went on several patrols and went on personal expeditions. Which time did he stay shorter?
As for winter, whether it was the southern expedition to Huainan or the northern expedition to Khitan, they both survived the entire winter. No matter how bitterly cold the winter in the northwest is, can a normal patrol be more difficult and strenuous than marching to fight?
Talking about risks, in Emperor Liu's view, was just an excuse for comfort. Therefore, the more the ministers objected, the more determined he became.
Furthermore, since we decided to tour the west, we finally reached Lingzhou. Now that we have arrived in Lingzhou, why not continue to the west and visit the Hexi Corridor?
The cost of Emperor Liu's patrol was not low at all. He didn't know if he would ever have the chance to go such a long distance again in this life. Since he had already walked half of the way, he had to grit his teeth to finish the rest of the way.
As for the entire northwest, it has only been under the rule of the Han Dynasty for a short period of time, so it is still early to talk about stability and peace. Emperor Liu made a tour and went there in person, not only to see the scenery of the northwest and realize his wish to travel across the territory, but also to comfort people's hearts. The political significance of this should also be taken into consideration.
Therefore, Emperor Liu, who had made the decision, directly issued an edict in front of a group of ministers, regardless of their helpless and bitter expressions. On November 1, the emperor set off to continue his western tour. And, make a decision directly, go to the end if you want to go, and don’t look back until you reach Yangguan.
However, despite the decision, practical problems still have to be faced, and the biggest problem on the Western Patrol is the weather. Although Emperor Liu was not afraid and even showed an attitude of man conquering nature, he had never experienced the winter climate in the northwest.
Therefore, two extra days of camp were allowed to purchase various supplies for the journey, especially supplies to keep out the cold. This matter was left to Li Ye, who conducted a large-scale purchase in Lingzhou. For this purpose, many materials that the people had stored for the winter were purchased, and a batch of government warehouses were also requisitioned.
Although according to Emperor Liu's wishes, every transaction must be paid by the bank, it also caused de facto intrusion to local officials and people. Moreover, due to the change of route for the westward patrol, the cost of traveling and camping was far beyond imagination. The previous budget for this patrol was almost spent in Lingzhou.
It is conceivable that when we officially embark on the journey to the west, we will have to pay the local government to buy materials...
According to the edict, without any delay, they set off again on November 1, heading towards more distant territories. However, this time, not everyone was accompanying them.
Prince Liu Yang was left behind by Emperor Liu, who asked him to take his place and patrol Longyou Road in the southwest. Among the four northwest roads, apart from the Guannai Road as the foundation, Longyou Road was operated by the imperial court for the longest time.
After all, it was from the beginning of Baoguo Duke Wang Jing that the land was expanded and consolidated. Coupled with the continuous encroachment and progress during the Kaibao years, the territory expanded a large area to the west. Due to the division of Tubo and its inability to resist, it can be said that the power of the Han Dynasty west of Longyou has exceeded that of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, both in terms of territory and influence. After all, there is no unified and powerful power on the plateau. Opponent threatens.
Regarding the results achieved in recent years, we cannot just listen to the reports. Liu Yang went to inspect them on behalf of Emperor Liu, and immersed himself in the situation to see where the limits of the Han Dynasty's territory were today.
At the same time, Liu Xiao, the eleventh son of the emperor, was also kept by Emperor Liu because Emperor Liu loved his son. Liu Xiao was only eleven years old, and his body had always been weak. He had endured the journey for the past few months without any complaints. However, Emperor Liu was still worried that he would not be able to bear it if he continued to follow him, so he sent him to the hospital. Stay in Lingzhou to recuperate.
As for the others, they did not have this kind of treatment. They could only grit their teeth, endure the strong sand and wind from the northwest, immerse themselves in the car, and drive on silently. of
Head south from Lingzhou and proceed along the upper reaches of the Yellow River to cross the river in Zhongwei County. Zhongwei County is a major thoroughfare in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, but it has been abandoned for a long time, and it has only been nearly ten years since the imperial court reinstated 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, we 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 and lingering. It is full of desolation. If it were normal, that would be fine. In this winter, the desert Gobi can only be avoided.
The long and narrow Hexi Corridor is filled with nothing but wind and sand, dry and cold air, and freezing temperatures, making people extremely uncomfortable. The business trips and camel caravans reported in past memorials were completely missing.
Maybe it was because of the untimely weather, but it still made Emperor Liu feel monotonous, and as the ministers reminded him, the Western Tour was not easy.
By the time we arrived at Chenggu Zang in Liangzhou Prefecture, it was already mid-November, and nearly 30% of the more than 8,000 people accompanying us were exhausted and sick, and hundreds of them even died, mostly because they were not acclimatized to the climate. , the livestock also froze to death and suffered a lot of frostbite...
Facts have proved that in the face of the power of nature, the power of individuals is too small. Just an ordinary climate in the northwest caused the loss of so many people in Emperor Liu's camp!
Emperor Liu himself felt equally uncomfortable. He was naturally averse to the cold, and with his old cold legs, even if he tried his best to keep himself warm and full, he was actually suffering all the way.
That is to say, after arriving in Liangzhou, there were cities, houses, and cotton couches, which made him feel better. Lu Duoxun, the chief envoy of Hexi Province, was very considerate and arranged all the affairs properly, saving a lot of trouble, which was praised by Emperor Liu.
Emperor Liu couldn't help but associate his western tour with Emperor Sui Yang's western expedition to Tuyuhun, and then he had to sigh, that was really a tyrant. Hundreds of thousands of people walked through Qinghai and climbed over mountains and ridges. It was a truly dangerous road 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 must know that the straight-line distance from Guzang to Yangguan is still about 1,300 miles.
I have to say that after personal experience, Emperor Liu still hesitated in the face of practical problems. However, if he withdraws his life and gives up the Western Tour, then where will his face be? Wouldn't the previous statement of "no turning back until Yangguan" become empty words, and wouldn't the previous sufferings and sins be in vain?
However, if they continue to march westward and camp with soldiers and accompanying them with civil and military forces, there will probably be some trouble again. Even if they dare not show it, they will always have something in mind.
At the same time, the waves of dull pain in Emperor Liu's own legs were also reminding him and discouraging him...
