The climate in the Western Region in this era is relatively humid, many vegetation has not been destroyed, and the water source is more abundant than in later generations.
At this time, Lop Nur was still a huge saltwater lake, and there were also some large and small freshwater lakes.
Countless snows were stored on the snow-capped mountains.
Every year when spring warmed and the flowers bloomed, the snows would melt and turn into gurgling water, flowing along the river.
Mountain streams and valleys gurgled down.
People at this time could even develop water transportation in the Western Regions, which would be hard to imagine in later generations.
It is precisely because this place is so rich that it is always on the minds of surrounding countries, and so is the Central Plains Dynasty.
When it comes to war, Luo Yong also agrees that unification can promote exchanges and development between places more than division.
Those truly successful unification wars often have far-reaching influence and significance.
But war is always very cruel, especially when the forces of all parties are at loggerheads.
Even if the battle is won, a true merger may not be achieved.
The Western Regions and the Central Plains are so far apart that they are only connected by a Hexi Corridor.
To the northeast of this corridor is Xue Yantuo, to the northwest is the Western Turks, and to the south is Tubo.
In such a complicated situation, if the Tang Dynasty had the troops, it would definitely have to deal with Xue Yantuo and the Western Turks first.
Songtsen Gampo married Princess Wencheng two years ago, and the relationship between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo became friendly, but the relationship between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo became friendly.
People must also know that such friendship is difficult to be passed down from generation to generation.
If these problems are not solved, it will be difficult to defend the Western Region even if it is conquered.
Once the Hexi Corridor is cut off, the previously conquered territories in the west will become isolated islands and be swallowed up by other forces.
Such a war would not bring any actual benefits to the Tang Dynasty, but it would require countless soldiers to sacrifice their lives and bring disaster to the local people in vain.
Looking at the time, it is already the spring of the 18th year of Zhenguan.
If history does not change with the arrival of Luo Yong, Li Shimin will send troops from Luoyang to attack Goguryeo this year.
Although Goguryeo was not a big place, Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty basically fell into the hands of Goguryeo.
At this time, if Li Shimin could send troops to capture it in one fell swoop, it would naturally be a bit of an honor.
This time Li Shimin not only led the expedition himself, but also brought the prince Li Zhi with him.
Li Shimin was also an excellent general in the past.
In recent years, the country's power has become stronger, and the generals of the Tang army have become even more invincible, rarely losing a battle.
It's just that after being a king for so many years, he is probably no longer suitable to be a general.
This belongs to both the emperor and the prince.
Once something happens, the whole country will fall into chaos, making the military officers and soldiers tied up and unable to free their hands and feet to fight.
Later, seeing that the situation was not good, the army withdrew, and the group returned to Chang'an City in disgrace.
After all, Li Shimin was much more restrained than Yang Guang.
He found a step by himself and went down without fighting with Goguryeo.
Luo Yong discussed matters with Tang Jian that day.
After talking about the main topic, Luo Yong said: "I heard that the saint built a Lingyan Pavilion earlier.
I wonder if I have begun to miss the old military life."
"Who knows."
Doctor Tang took a sip of hot tea and sighed: "Right now, Goguryeo and Baekje are working together to attack Silla, and the saint seems to be very enthusiastic about this matter."
Doctor Tang is always able to grasp the key points, but in his opinion, it is better to leave the things in Chang'an City to the people in Chang'an City to worry about.
They still have their own things to do at the moment.
Although Tang Jian still holds the fictitious title of Doctor Guanglu, he only has one serious position, that is, the dean of Changle Academy.
This time Luo Yong proposed to arrange a team to go to the Western Regions, and Tang Jian also supported it.
He looked forward to the day when the Central Plains Dynasty could incorporate all the Turks, Tubo and Goguryeo into the Chinese territory.
He and Luo Yong could concentrate on managing the Western Regions here, and they would be able to play a big role by then.
However, the king seemed to be in a daze at this time, insisting on staring at a small Goguryeo, which was really worrying.
In the east, he wanted to attack Goguryeo, and in the west, he wanted Guo Xiaoke to attack those small countries in the Western Regions.
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It looked like he was specifically trying to pick soft persimmons.
I wonder if the earlier rebellion against the prince had finally dampened the king's will and made him mentally weak.
The weakness of the king is definitely not a good thing for a country, and Tang Jian hopes that he is just worrying too much.
What Tang Jian and Luo Yong were discussing that day was about Guo Xiaoke.
They had had some unpleasant troubles with Guo Xiaoke earlier because of the biogas lamp.
Tang Jian planned to go to Gaochang in the next two days.
Although Guo Xiaoke is greedy for merit and money, and a bit domineering, he is not a bad person.
One is one and the other is two.
He is relatively straightforward in doing things and does not like to engage in any intrigues.
Overall, he is still worth getting along with.
Earlier, Guo Xiaoke sent someone to ask for the method of making biogas lamps.
If Luo Yong didn't give it, he wouldn't give it to him.
He doesn't plan to give it to him now, but this doesn't mean that they can't get along well.
There will always be more.
Other methods are not.
A few days later, Tang Jian took several of his students and bodyguards to Gaochang City.
There are very few scholars in this era, and those who have the opportunity to study mostly receive an elite education.
They are all capable of literary and military skills, including horseback riding and archery.
They are also very capable of working part-time as guards occasionally.
Their group took a wooden carriage all the way, first to Dunhuang, and then from Dunhuang to Gaochang.
In Gaochang City, Guo Xiaoke heard that Tang Jian had come in person, so he also had a banquet hosted to receive him.
After all, Tang Jian is a capable man and his family is very powerful.
There is no guarantee that Guo Xiaoke will ask him for help one day.
Even if he was a little angry because of the biogas lamp incident, he can't look too ugly at this time.
But here At the banquet, there was not so much enthusiasm.
"Why is it that Governor Guo is still angry about what happened before?"
After drinking for three times and saying some polite words, Tang Jian got down to business.
"No one cares whether I'm angry or not," Guo Xiaoke said.
"How come no one cares?"
Tang Jian smiled and said, "Look, I'm just going to apologize to you today."
"Why didn't Luo Yong come by himself?
Instead, he asked Doctor Tang to make the trip himself," Guo Xiaoke said.
Guo Xiaoke was indeed not very angry with Tang Jian.
His status, knowledge, demeanor, and family heritage were all there, and it was rare for him not to flatter the emperor.
Guo Xiaoke, who came from a reckless background, honestly admired him a little.
Besides, Tang Jian was really not angry at this incident.
Guo Xiaoke was angry at Luo Yong.
He was a junior official and didn't take himself as a superior official seriously at all.
"He's just a coffin board.
Why are you angry with him?
I'm in front of him every day.
If I hadn't seen clearly, I would have been pissed to death by him."
Tang Jian said and poured wine for Guo Xiaoke: "Come on, let's have wine and wine."
While eating wine, he was able to bury Tai Luoyong: "That coffin board has been unpopular for a day or two.
Otherwise, he would have been thrown to Changle County to become a small-time county magistrate."
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After hearing these words, Guo Xiaoke felt a little relieved.
Even the emperor dared to criticize the coffin board.
It is not unusual to do this now.
It's just that when it comes to being unpopular, Guo Xiaoke also feels sad.
After all, he, Lao Guo, is also a typical example of being unpopular.
While they were enjoying the meal, Guo Xiaoke poured bitter water on Tang Jian, saying how difficult his current situation was.
There was no battle to fight.
He had a lot of strength, but he had no place to use it.
The emperor was already a little dissatisfied with him.
The last time he replied to his official document, he had already implicitly hit him in his words, saying that Hexi was now prosperous and asked him not to covet comfort and so on.
Alas, he is not coveting comfort.
He is on pins and needles.
If he can't make any achievements, if the emperor is unhappy, he might be able to suppress him.
The old Guo family only relies on him, Guo Xiaoke, and he is not like the nobles.
If this person fails, there are others who can help him.
There are seniors and juniors on him, and the burden on his shoulders is very heavy.
Heavy.
Tang Jian expressed his deep understanding and sympathy for his situation, and then told him that even if Luo Yong's method of making biogas lamps was obtained, it would be of no use in this situation.
"You heard that the railway track is being built between Chang'an and Luoyang," Tang Jian said to Guo Xiaoke.
"Of course I have heard about it, but it has nothing to do with me."
Guo Xiaoke waved his hand, indicating that he was not interested in this topic.
"The Zheng family in Xingyang got the news from Luo Yong early and purchased a lot of iron mines in advance.
Recently, Chang'an and Luoyang were building railway tracks, which was a time when a lot of iron was used.
The Zheng family didn't even know how much money they made just by selling iron.
How much money did you get?"
Guo Xiaoke said.
"It's a pity that the mines here are all small mines."
When talking about this matter, Guo Xiaoke also felt a bit regretful.
At this time, Tang Jian told Guo Xiaoke an old story: "Last spring, when I was meeting friends in Jinchang City, I met an old Taoist.
The old Taoist told me that there is a road in the mountains southwest of Jiuquan.
Ore veins and ores can be found everywhere.
The place has long winters and short summers, and is covered with ice and snow all year round.
You can only go in during the short few months in summer.
From what I saw in the tone and demeanor of the man's words, it seemed like the truth."
When Guo Xiaoke heard this, he immediately became energetic: "There really is a mineral vein over there in Jiuquan."
"There should be some."
Tang Jian nodded and said, "I just don't know where it is.
If you are interested, why not wait until summer this year and send your men to the mountains to search for it."
Guo Xiaoke was very touched.
He and Tang Jian were neither relatives nor friends, and they had no friendship in the past.
He did not expect that the other party would reveal such important information to him.
Tang Jian said that it was nothing.
The iron ore in the mountains was not so easy to find.
If he really found a big mine, then Guo Xiaoke would be able to report to the court.
Without military exploits, it would be fine to find a big mine.
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One piece of credit.
Speaking of which, the reason why they can feel so at ease in Hexi now is precisely because Guo Xiaoke is here to take charge.
Luo Yong also said that if Guo Duhu's mining area needs lampshades produced in Changle County, he will sell them at cost price.
Not long ago, Tang Jian and others returned to Changle County.
Guo Xiaoke started organizing a team to go into the mountains to search for minerals.
He asked his eldest son to lead the team himself.
We can’t wait until summer, so we’ll go there now.
If we can’t get into the mountains, it’s okay to get in as far as we can.
It’s also good to get familiar with the terrain in the surrounding areas first.
Guo Xiaoke and his son warned: "I heard that there are many dangers in the mountains, so be careful not to lose your life.
Whether or not you can find the veins this time is not only related to whether you and I can pay tribute to the saint, but also maybe also It is related to the future future of my Guo family."
If there really is a big mineral vein hidden in that mountainous area, then the people of the old Guo family will really become prosperous this time.
In this way, it doesn't matter whether they have military exploits or not.
Regardless of the men from big families, even if they don't have any military exploits, they can still thrive in Chang'an City.
In this way, Guo Xiaoke's original intention of looking for some trouble and taking the opportunity to start a war was completely stopped.
And Luo Yong did not deceive him this time.
The place he asked Tang Jian to reveal to Guo Xiaoke was the location of the Jingtieshan Mine in later generations. gd1806102: