Daming Super Dimension Company, President Zhu Yuanzhang!

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a long time and couldn't figure out how to describe it.

In the end, he just said: "I guess you have other plans!"

Xiao Ran quickly waved his hand and said: "What are you thinking about? Whoever goes out has to dress up. Besides, I'm going to see him later, but he's a person I admire very much!"

After saying that, Xiao Ran disappeared instantly, leaving only Zhu Yuanzhang with a confused look.

Zhenguan Dynasty

Li Zhengdian

This time, Xiao Ran reached Li Shimin's side in a serious manner. It was just a coincidence that Li Shimin happened to be in the Li Zheng Palace.

However, there was also a misfortune, that is, Li Lizhi was not here, so it could be said that Xiao Ran's outfit was in vain.

Seeing Xiao Ran coming over, Li Shimin was a little surprised, "Why are you here?"

He had just returned to court and had not yet begun to deal with today's political affairs. He came over to have dinner with Queen Changsun.

Xiao Ran said: "Isn't this an order from Datang? Come and ask if you want to go."

Li Shimin immediately made the decision: "Go!"

Empress Changsun looked a little amused at the excited Li Shimin. She patted Li Shimin's arm and said, "Even if we go, there's no rush, right? At least we'll finish the meal first."

After saying that, she looked at Xiao Ran again and asked, "Has Xiao Ran eaten?"

Xiao Ran chuckled and said, "Not yet." He originally wanted to come over to have a meal, and with Zhu Yuanzhang's teasing, naturally he didn't eat.

Empress Changsun smiled and said, "Just right, let's have some together."

Xiao Ran nodded and sat down at the desk with Queen Changsun and Li Shimin. The palace officials began to serve the dishes in an orderly manner.

Seeing that Queen Changsun and Li Shimin were about to use their chopsticks, Xiao Ran hesitated and asked: "Princess, don't you eat together?"

Empress Changsun immediately understood that it was a lie to come over to Li Shimin to take the order together, but it was true that she took the opportunity to come over to see Li Lizhi.

So she asked deliberately: "Which princess are you asking about?"

Xiao Ran choked for a moment.

Li Shimin glanced at Xiao Ran and said, "Good boy! I asked you why you were so arrogant today! It turns out that was your intention!"

Although they all thought Xiao Ran was good, when they saw someone coveting his daughter, Li Shimin suddenly couldn't stand Xiao Ran.

Seeing that they seemed to have misunderstood, Xiao Ran quickly explained: "No, no, I am doing this because of the order. As for the princess, I am looking for her because I have something to give her."

Empress Changsun first gave Xiao Ran a piece of food, and then said: "Li Zhi, I don't know what she has been busy with these past few days. She should be in her palace now, but you want me to help you call her out?"

Xiao Ran waved his hand quickly, "No, no, no, let's eat first. There's no rush. I'll have to talk to His Majesty about this list later."

After hearing this, Queen Changsun just nodded with a smile.

After eating, Empress Changsun waved her hand and asked everyone in the palace to go down, and also had the door closed.

Li Shimin then asked: "Whose order did you take?"

Xiao Ran straightened his face instantly and said, "It's Guo Ziyi's nephew, Guo Xin!"

Seeing Xiao Ran's serious look, Li Shimin was a little surprised, "It's rare for you to look serious like this."

Xiao Ran said: "That's Guo Xin, I really admire him, and the Anxi soldiers he led! They have been guarding the border for forty years! From a high-spirited young man to a gray-haired man, and finally to the whole city. White hair, never lose Mo Dao! How can such a person not be admired?"

Li Shimin was also a little shocked and asked quickly: "What is going on? Please tell me in detail."

Xiao Ran said: "This matter is a long story. After the Anshi Rebellion, most of the garrisons in Beiting, Hexi, and Longyou were transferred to the interior. The Tang Dynasty border was empty, and Tubo took the opportunity to occupy the Longyou and Hexi states."

“In the first year of Daizong’s Dali, facing the weakly defended Western Region, Tubo sent troops to attack the Anxi Protectorate in a massive attempt to annex the entire Western Region in one fell swoop. Under the leadership of general Guo Xin, the Anxi Protectorate repelled the invading Tibetan troops many times. , not one of the four towns in Anxi was lost."

"But after that, Tubo changed its strategy, and its offensive and defense became even weaker. Hexi and Longyou areas fell one after another. The fall of Hexi caused Tubo to cut off the connection between Anxi and Beiting and the Tang Dynasty. Anxi and Beiting became a piece of land outside the Central Plains. enclave."

Li Shimin frowned, "In this case, wouldn't Anxi have lost contact with Datang?"

Xiao Ran nodded, "Yes, there is no information at all in Anxi during this period, so even Guo Xin can't find anything, because they can't contact Datang at all, so how can there be records?"

Li Shimin frowned and suddenly said in shock: "They have persisted for forty years under such circumstances?!"

Xiao Ran pursed his lips and nodded seriously.

Li Shimin was very shocked. This is forty years! How did they persist for forty years without supplies from the court, without additional troops, and with enemies on all sides?

No wonder Xiao Ran's face was full of admiration when he mentioned this person. Only then did Li Shimin believe that Xiao Ran was not dressing up like this for his daughter.

Retracting his thoughts of outer space, Li Shimin asked: "Didn't the imperial court take the initiative to rescue them?"

Xiao Ran said: "How could he have that ability during Daizong's time? By the time of Tang Dezong's time, they didn't even know that there were still people in Anxi defending. Because there was no contact, they all thought that Anxi had fallen long ago."

"In the second year of Emperor Dezong's reign, the Anxi garrison organized a breakout and sent envoys via the Uighurs in the hope of getting in touch with the Tang Dynasty and increasing their troops in the Western Regions. This could be said to be their last hope, just to be able to Send the message."

"After the envoy arrived in the Tang Dynasty, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty learned that Anxi and Beiting had not fallen for more than ten years. The soldiers of the Tang Dynasty were still fighting bloody battles to defend the territory. The emperor and his ministers were all in tears. Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty issued an edict to make Xiangxin the capital of Anxi to protect Wuwei County. King, Li Yuanzhong is the Protector of Beiting, and all the soldiers guarding the city have been promoted to the seventh level."

Li Shimin said in an appreciative tone: "This is what it should be! My soldiers of the Tang Dynasty have been fighting bloody battles for decades, so such a reward is not a light one!"

Xiao Ran sighed and said in Li Shimin's doubtful eyes: "But what's the use? At that time, the imperial court had no ability to send troops to reinforce Guo Xin! At that time, the traitor Lu Qi was in power. Because of his series of wrong decisions, the national income was halved. , and Dezong was busy cutting down the feudal vassals, where would there be troops to reinforce Guo Xin!"

"So what the envoys brought back was only the appointment and Dezong's condolences. The Tang Dynasty could not give them a single soldier. The defenders of Anxi still had to face a Tibetan army several times their size. They could risk their lives to send this message out. There have been heavy losses, but unfortunately the reality is disappointing.”

Xiao Ran couldn't even imagine how desperate it would be when the soldiers fought tooth and nail to break out of the encirclement, just to be able to send the news to the court in order to have a chance of survival, but found out that it was all in vain.

Li Shimin closed his mouth tightly and said nothing.

After all, Queen Changsun is a woman and needs to be more emotional. At this time, she couldn't help but start wiping her tears.

Li Shimin patted Empress Changsun on the back and said nothing.