Chapter 19

Guzhu, known in later generations as Taizhouwu, is located five miles away from Baiwang Mountain, corresponding with Heilongtan.

In the 19th year of the Zhen Guan era, Emperor Taizong of Tang established the Dai Prefecture here, gathering the Khitan, Xi, and Turkic nomadic tribes who had submitted to the Tang Dynasty.

Although the Tang Dynasty's administrative system was followed, from top to bottom, it was governed by the non-Han people themselves.

There were no towering city walls here. On the vast grasslands, lakes were scattered like stars, and rivers crisscrossed. The lush pastures made it a paradise for grazing. In the past, when Emperor Taizong was on the throne, he was known as the Heavenly Khan, and the surrounding tribes submitted to him. A large number of non-Han people migrated to the Central Plains, putting immense pressure on the central government. Taizong was also concerned that these non-Han people living around Chang'an might pose a threat, so he ordered them to return to the border and established the system of indirect rule.

Yang Shouwen stood on the carriage, looking around.

Although Emperor Taizong was capable, he seemed to have made the same mistake as the Eastern Han Dynasty in ethnic affairs.

Recalling the Eastern Han period, the Han people defeated the Xiongnu and pacified the north.

It was a great opportunity to expand territory, but because the Southern Xiongnu surrendered, the Eastern Han government allowed them to govern the Hetao region autonomously, which eventually led to the Five Barbarians' invasion. Emperor Taizong's system of indirect rule, while temporarily stabilizing the non-Han people, allowed them to settle in the fertile grasslands and rest, which might eventually lead to a similar situation. Historically, didn't the Khitan people rise in the border regions?

It cannot be said that Li Shimin lacked ability, nor that his advisors lacked wisdom.

It can only be said that in this era, people had not truly realized the greatness of Chinese civilization and its immense inclusiveness. Only after countless trials would the brilliance of Chinese civilization shine in the sky.

"The entire Guzhu has about 60,000 non-Han people, five times the population of Changping."

Yang Chenglie's eyes sparkled as he said softly, "Here, various ethnic groups such as the Khitan, Turkic, Xi, and Xianbei gather, with many contradictions among them. The court tolerates their existence partly because there are over ten thousand troops stationed at Juyong Pass, and Changping County is a natural barrier to their southward advance. To pacify them, starting from Emperor Taizong, the court allowed them to retain their customs and live here freely."

After saying this, Yang Chenglie exhaled and urged the horse to move towards Guzhu.

"Once we arrive in Guzhu, I will visit the county magistrate.

You can walk around and observe the situation. But remember, do not provoke any conflicts."

Yang Shouwen nodded and said, "Father, don't worry, I know my limits."

The carriage slowly entered the Guzhu settlement from the hillside, encountering no obstacles along the way.

The entire Guzhu was like a large market.

However, it was already late, and the market was rather quiet. When the carriage entered, some people looked over, but no one came to question or inquire. It was no wonder, as the people coming and going in Guzhu were diverse, including merchants from the Central Plains.

Dressed like Yang Chenglie and Yang Shouwen, they looked like small merchants, and no one paid much attention to them.

The father and son stopped in front of a tent.

Yang Shouwen got off the carriage, tied the horse, and then followed Yang Chenglie into the tent with his spear.

The tent was large, with many tables and chairs inside. On one side, there was a long table about ten meters long.

Two non-Han women were dozing off behind the table, and they opened their eyes when they heard the sound.

"Is there a clean and quiet tent available?"

As soon as Yang Chenglie spoke, Yang Shouwen smiled inwardly.

Originally, in Changping, Yang Chenglie spoke in the dialect of Youzhou, even with a Changping accent.

But now, he spoke fluent Mandarin.

The non-Han women, who were already drowsy, immediately smiled brightly upon hearing Yang Chenglie's Mandarin.

In those days, speaking fluent Mandarin was a symbol of status, just as speaking fluent foreign languages is highly regarded in later generations. For the non-Han people in Guzhu, Mandarin was a symbol of nobility.

"What kind of room do you want?"

"Only a place for my son and me to rest is enough... but if it can be cleaner and quieter, that would be even better."

As he spoke, Yang Chenglie took out a gold ingot and placed it on the table.

The non-Han woman's smile became even brighter, and she quickly said, "Sir, rest assured. This is the best place in Guzhu. If you are not satisfied here, you will not be satisfied anywhere in Guzhu."

"Luozhu, why are you just sitting there? Quickly show the guests to their room."

The non-Han woman, who was about thirty to forty years old, smiled, and the powder on her face fell off.

The woman named Luozhu, who was also around thirty, had a natural beauty without makeup, and she must have been a stunning beauty in her youth.

She agreed and picked up a lamp to lead the way.

Yang Chenglie and Yang Shouwen followed Luozhu out of the tent and soon arrived at a small tent.

Luozhu lifted the curtain, stepped into the tent, and lit the oil lamp. She then stood at the door and asked, "Sir, is this satisfactory?"

Yang Chenglie walked in, glanced around, and nodded. "This will do. Thank you, sister."

Luozhu smiled and bowed, then left the tent.

Yang Shouwen leaned his spear against the door and looked at the tent's interior, smiling. "Father, the environment is quite good."

"Of course!"

Yang Chenglie sat down, smiling. "Guzhu is the largest indirectly ruled prefecture within the pass. The non-Han merchants from the border and the merchants from the Central Plains mostly conduct their transactions here. If the environment were poor, how could it attract people?"

As he spoke, he pulled a mat from the floor and lay down.

"Go to sleep early. I will find someone tomorrow morning. If everything goes smoothly, we can finish the business tomorrow and return home early the next day."

"Understood!"

Yang Shouwen agreed and lay down on another bed.

Yang Chenglie blew out the lamp, and the tent fell into darkness...

Yang Shouwen lay on his back, still thinking about what Yang Chenglie had said on the way.

If the Yang family offended Wu Sansi, how did they offend him?

What happened that made the entire Yang family move to Changping and live in this remote place for ten years?

Sigh, it really seems troublesome!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Prince, save me; Prince, come and save me!"

The familiar yet strange voice echoed in his ears again.

Yang Shouwen opened his eyes and found that the scene before him was different from his previous dreams.

In a desolate wilderness, a group of people were fighting to the death. Suddenly, an old man descended from the sky, holding a large spear. The spear moved like a dragon, and the old man fought like a tiger, charging through the crowd and reaching Yang Shouwen in an instant.

Hmm, Hu Teng?

Yang Shouwen immediately recognized the spear in the old man's hand as the Hu Teng spear.

And the old man...

If he remembered correctly, wasn't that his grandfather, Yang Dafang?

A woman was lying nearby, holding a newborn baby. A young child walked to the woman's side, took off his cotton robe, and covered the baby. Following the child's gaze, Yang Shouwen was stunned.

"Youniang?"

The baby looked exactly like Youniang, but she looked at Yang Shouwen with a strange expression.

Suddenly, a long sword appeared in the baby's hand, and she viciously stabbed at Yang Shouwen. The sword light flashed, and Yang Shouwen's body seemed to freeze, watching the sharp blade approach, unable to move.

"Youniang!"

Yang Shouwen shouted and suddenly opened his eyes.

The glaring sunlight shone through the small window of the tent, blinding him. He quickly closed his eyes and raised his hand to block the light.

"Little master, you're awake?"

A gentle voice sounded at the tent's entrance.

Yang Shouwen quickly sat up and looked in the direction of the voice, seeing a non-Han woman cleaning the mat at the tent's entrance. It was the same woman, Luozhu, who had led him and Yang Chenglie to the tent the previous day.

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