Chapter 61: A Scholar Does Not Serve for Rice and Salary (Part 3)

"Such a major threat as the Mosu tribe should be eliminated as soon as possible." Han Gang spoke with righteous indignation.

Wang Zhao shook his head: "The Mosu tribe is just a minor threat, with only eight or nine hundred households. Once the imperial army arrives, they can be wiped out with a single gesture. The true major threats are the Western Xia and the various Tibetan tribes, all of which are difficult to eliminate and pose hidden dangers. I wonder what your thoughts are on this, my young nephew?"

Han Gang knew this was a test. If he passed, everything would be fine; if he failed, Wang Zhao would likely turn and walk away. Fortunately, he had done some preparation in recent days. The content of Wang Zhao's "Plan for Pacifying the Barbarians," which he submitted to the emperor last year, was not a secret. Moreover, while serving as a military judge in Weizhou under Zhang Zai, he had recorded many pieces of information and data, so he would not appear timid in front of Wang Zhao: "The specific measures are all detailed in your 'Plan for Pacifying the Barbarians.' It mainly involves using the barbarians to control the barbarians, subduing the Tibetans, and attacking the Tanguts."

Wang Zhao nodded slightly, saying nothing. Han Gang knew that what Wang Zhao wanted to hear was not just this. He waved his hand and began to discuss ancient and modern affairs: "The Tibetans rose to power at the same time as the Tang Dynasty. They caused great harm to the Central Plains, breaking into Chang'an three times, with a severity far greater than that of the Western Xia. Fortunately, their downfall was almost simultaneous with the Tang Dynasty, and now they are no longer a threat. However, although the Tibetan state has fallen, the tribes remain. Today, there are thousands of large and small tribes in the four western routes, with the most in Qinfeng. Along the border of Qinfeng, there are thirteen forts, 123 large tribes, and 590 small tribes, with a population twice that of the Han people, and the Tibetan tribes make up more than 90% of them."

"Yes, there are too many Tibetans in Qinfeng. There are even more to the west," Wang Hou interjected from behind, helping Han Gang set up the context for the next part.

Han Gang turned and smiled knowingly at Wang Hou, then continued: "However, the Tibetans have one advantage, which is their respect for noble blood. The lineage passed down from Songtsen Gampo is the most revered by the Tibetans. Otherwise, Li Lizun would not have gone to the Western Regions to bring back Nianzong, and then establish him as the king of the Tibetans to claim a legitimate position."

Li Lizun was one of the major leaders of the Tibetan tribes in the Hehuang region several decades ago, but he did not have the bloodline of the Tibetan royal family and could not become the king. Therefore, he went to Gaochang in the Western Regions to bring back Nianzong, who was a descendant of Songtsen Gampo, to serve as a puppet. He even married his two daughters to the twelve-year-old Nianzong, fully embodying the strategy of controlling the emperor to command the vassals. This move proved effective, as another major leader of the Hehuang Tibetans, Wenbugi, had to nominally submit to his orders.

"Unfortunately, Li Lizun was arrogant and even thought of deposing Nianzong and declaring himself king. However, Nianzong acted first and turned to Wenbugi."

At this point, Wang Zhao sneered: "It's not that easy to be a Wei Wu."

"Indeed, after falling out with Nianzong, Li Lizun's power greatly diminished, and he no longer had the same influence as before. After Nianzong joined Wenbugi, he abandoned Li Lizun's daughters, but he learned from Li Lizun's mistakes and did not marry into the Wenbugi family. Instead, he married a daughter of the Qiao family, a major Tibetan clan, which further expanded his power. However, this expansion was not tolerated by Wenbugi, leading to a final confrontation where Wenbugi was killed, and Nianzong became the true ruler of Hehuang, even defeating the rebel Li Yuanhao and forcing him to retreat to the Liupan Mountains."

Wang Zhao seemed to be moved: "Fortunately, his family was not peaceful, or he would have been another Li Yuanhao."

"Indeed. Nianzong's family was not harmonious. He abandoned Li Lizun's daughter, leading to a falling out with his eldest son, Xazheng, and his second son, Moyan. In the end, it was his youngest son, Dongzhan, who inherited his position, while the other two declared independence. Xazheng and Moyan even secretly aided the Tanguts, forcing Nianzong to leave the capital of Qingtang and retreat to Lijing. Now that Nianzong is dead, Dongzhan's abilities are far inferior to his father's, and the Hehuang region is trending towards division. The Western Xia are eyeing Hehuang, and if the court does not pay attention, Guanzhong will be in danger!"

Wang Zhao was very satisfied with Han Gang's words, which clearly showed his deep understanding of the Hehuang situation. Knowing oneself and the enemy ensures victory in every battle. If one does not even know who the target is, how can they be used?

"Then, according to your opinion, how should we deal with the Qingtang Tibetans?"

The second test question came, and Han Gang was still confident: "In the Han dynasty, the Fuqiang Commandant was set up to use the Qiang people to attack the Qiang people. In the Tang dynasty, the Anxi Protectorate was established to stabilize the Western Regions. In my humble opinion, we should use the Han method of military garrisons as the foundation, using those who are loyal and attacking those who are not. We should subdue Dongzhan and unite the various tribes, so that a hundred thousand troops can be gathered with a single gesture. This would be like cutting off the right arm of the Western Xia. When the imperial army advances to Xingling, the Hehuang Tibetans can attack from the west. Thus, the Western Xia can be defeated, and Xingling can be recovered! The national humiliation can be avenged, and the annals of history will record the names of those involved..."

Wang Zhao lightly clapped his hands, but his expression was calm. Han Gang's words were almost a replica of his "Plan for Pacifying the Barbarians" submitted to the emperor, aligning with his thoughts. However, there were many empty words, and any scholar with some knowledge of the Western affairs could say such things. Wang Zhao needed someone who could handle practical matters, and such broad strategic discussions should be left to him to present to the emperor and the prime ministers.

"However, it's not easy to establish garrisons in Hehuang!" Wang Zhao seemed to be nitpicking. "It's not a good place for farming."

"Hehuang spans two thousand miles, covering the territories of the Han dynasty's Longxi, Nan'an, and Jincheng counties. During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, Zhao Chongguo established garrisons in Jincheng and pacified the Qiang people. In the Eastern Han dynasty, Ma Yuan also said that the land in Hehuang was fertile and well-irrigated. With such rich land, as long as there are people, how can garrisons not be established? The real challenge is subduing the various tribes."

"How is it challenging?"

"With the Tanguts present, the Tibetan tribes have another option. If we push them too hard, they might join the Tanguts, which would be counterproductive. We must focus on winning their hearts and use incentives as a supplement. Military campaigns should only be used against one tribe to intimidate the others."

"How do we win their hearts and offer incentives?"

"Currently, the Tibetan tribes are devout Buddhists, and Nianzong's name means 'son of the Buddha' in Tibetan, which is a clear indication. We should request that the court send high-ranking monks with great courage, talent, and medical skills to Hehuang to spread the Dharma. For every disciple they gain, our empire gains a loyal Tibetan tribe. With more loyal tribes, Hehuang will naturally remain under Chinese control. As for incentives, they include enfeoffment, rewards, and trade."

"Then, which tribe should we attack?"

"Hezhou is the center of the northern Hehuang region, located at a strategic water and land junction. Its ruler, Muzheng, is the son of Xazheng and the eldest grandson of Nianzong. He has always been arrogant and disrespectful, not obeying his uncle Dongzhan's orders, and has even colluded with the Western Xia, harboring ambitions to replace Dongzhan. Eliminating Muzheng and capturing Hezhou will show goodwill to Dongzhan and also intimidate him. Hezhou is in the north of Qingtang, and if the imperial army controls this area, Dongzhan will be unable to communicate with the Western Xia and will have no choice but to rely on us..."

Han Gang spoke confidently, with everything well-prepared. Wang Zhao's questions were all within his preparation, and more precisely, he deliberately steered the conversation towards areas where he was well-prepared, influencing Wang Zhao's line of questioning. This advanced technique in debate, which Han Gang had practiced in his previous life, involved calculating his voice, gestures, and eye movements, making it difficult for Wang Zhao to see through.

The question-and-answer session finally came to an end, and Wang Zhao had to nod in approval: "Zhang Zihou truly knows how to teach his disciples."

Tired from walking, Wang Zhao comfortably sat on a long bench by the roadside. Han Gang and Wang Hou did not have the right to sit and could only stand on either side. Wang Zhao lightly stroked the unpolished bench and smiled at Han Gang: "This long bench is quite nice, suitable for both sitting and lying. I'm impressed you thought of it."

Han Gang smiled and bowed slightly. He had already passed the test, and now it was time to get to the main topic. He could see that this was just Wang Zhao's opening, so he did not respond.

Wang Zhao did not wait for Han Gang to reply and continued: "Just by looking at the layout of the convalescent hospital, it's clear that you have great potential, not in vain for Zihou's teachings. Zhang Shouyue recommended you for an official position, and there is a reason for it. However, abandoning literature for military service is always considered a dishonor to the scholarly tradition. You have studied under Zihou for many years. Are you willing or unwilling?"

"As a disciple of Confucianism, I prioritize benevolence. I cannot abandon those who are injured and dying. As for the distinction between literature and military, I cannot afford to be so particular." Han Gang's response was flawless.

'Little fox!' Wang Zhao cursed inwardly but had to reveal his hand: "You have a compassionate heart. However, the management of the convalescent camp falls under the jurisdiction of the Military Commission, and it does not necessarily require a military official to oversee it. Even a civil official can do the job."

"What do you mean, Sir?"

"A ninth-rank assistant official. In charge of the affairs of the Qinfeng Military Commission and the management of the wounded in the region. The affairs of the Military Commission are complex, and the position of assistant official is multifaceted. Adding the responsibility of managing the wounded is a challenging task, but with your abilities, it should be easy." Wang Zhao offered the position straightforwardly and waited for Han Gang's response.

Han Gang pondered silently, comparing Wang Zhao's offer with Zhang Shouyue's.

In the game between Xiang Bao and Zhang Shouyue, Han Gang was the wildcard. Now that Zhang Shouyue had revealed this card, if Xiang Bao opposed it, Zhang Shouyue could legitimately send a memorial to the Military Council or even the emperor, exposing Xiang Bao's slave's interception of the supply convoy during the crisis in Gangu City.

Given the widespread knowledge of the arrow Han Gang shot in Fucheng, Xiang Bao's power could not hide this. Once the court learned of this, Xiang Bao would likely be disgraced and demoted. Even if Xiang Bao did not oppose it, his agreement would likely harbor resentment, and he might seek revenge against Han Gang in the future, which would lead to the same outcome if Zhang Shouyue found someone to expose it.

Being used as a tool, Han Gang was not so generous. If Wang Zhao had not given him a recommendation, Han Gang would have fought for an official position, even if it meant being used as a tool. However, now, Wang Zhao's recommendation for Han Gang was also the lowest ninth-rank, but it was a civil official position, not a military one. As a military official, Xiang Bao could not interfere, and Han Gang would not further offend Xiang Bao, especially considering the status difference between civil and military officials...

Han Gang knew how to make the right choice.

Page break for ads

Page break for ads