Du Qi took the letter and quickly opened it. Du Ruhui started the letter by asking about Du Qi's development in Yizhou and telling Du Qi to pay attention to his safety. Then, he mentioned his mother's concern for the Jeong Clan and the Jeong Clan's questions about whether Li Yanyun and Li Yanyun were pregnant.
After a short prelude, Du Ruhui praised Du Qi's actions in Suzhou and also praised Du Qi for taking down Yizhou in such a short time.
After this short prelude, Du Ruhui changed the topic and talked about how the Imperial Court was preparing to set up the Anxi Protectorate.
There was too little information about Su Dingfang.
Du Qi didn't know the situation.
Only in Du Ruhui's letter did he explain the situation clearly. The idea of the Anxi Protectorate wasn't originally suggested by the emperor. It was proposed by Zhangsun Wuji to govern the region outside of Guazhou.
In truth, it was targeted at Du Qi.
After Du Qi established himself in Yizhou, Zhangsun Wuji was worried that Du Qi would grow too powerful and become too powerful to be removed. Thus, he wanted to set up the Anxi Protectorate. When this suggestion was made, Du Ruhui didn't express his opinion because it involved his son. Fang Xuanling was also against it.
Fang Xuanling felt that the Imperial Court setting up the Anxi Protectorate would make people feel that they were going back on their words and would harm Li Shimin's prestige. Even Wei Zheng had voiced his opposition to the idea of establishing the Anxi Protectorate.
After debating over this matter for a period of time, Zhangsun Wuji finally convinced Li Shimin to establish the Anxi Protectorate Manor in the Western Regions.
This led to another argument, and that was the choice of officials for the Anxi Protectorate.
This became the focus of the argument.
Throughout the Imperial Court, there was endless debate over the choice of successor for the Anxi Protectorate. All sides had proposed candidates and suggestions, but none of them could come to a consensus.
While everyone was arguing, news came from the palace that Li Yuan had personally sought out Li Shimin and decided that the first Jiedushi of the Anxi Protectorate would be Du Qi.
Henceforth, the matter that had been debated endlessly in the Imperial Court was finally decided.
There was no more discussion.
Du Ruhui explained this matter in his letter and also said that the Imperial Court would issue an edict in the future. At that time, the order for him, Pacifying West King, to take on the role of Jiedushi of the Anxi Protectorate, would be issued.
Du Qi frowned after reading it.
He had obtained Li Yuan's assistance in this matter, so he had been chosen to lead the Anxi Protectorate, but what if Li Yuan had not been there? Moreover, what Du Qi was concerned about was not the fact that he had been appointed as the Anxi Protectorate Regional Commander, but the description of his first post.
If there was a first, there would naturally be a second.
This meant that the territory that Du Qi conquered in the Western Regions would not be under Du Qi's control, but under the supervision of the Anxi Protectorate Regional Commanders of the Imperial Court. It would still belong to the Tang dynasty.
Back then, Li Shimin had promised that as long as Du Qi conquered the region to the west of Guazhou and Shazhou, it would belong to Du Qi. But now, he had created an Anxi Protectorate.
Even if this was not Li Shimin's suggestion but Zhangsun Wuji's, it would at least conflict with Li Shimin's promise.
This was a sovereign.
This was an emperor.
What he considered was the overall situation.
Even if the Anxi Protectorate Regional Commander was arranged to be Du Qi. But from this arrangement, Du Qi could infer the future direction of the Imperial Court.
But for Du Qi, since he was the first Anxi Protectorate Regional Commander, he still had several years to run it. A few years was enough for Du Qi to run the Western Regions like an iron bucket.
At that time, even if there was a conflict with the Tang dynasty, Du Qi would not fear it. And for Du Qi, he estimated that there would be a battle between him and Li Shimin in the future. Because only a true battle on the battlefield would let Li Shimin know of Du Qi's strength.
Only then would Li Shimin truly value him.
In reality, one's status was obtained through one's fists.
This was Du Qi's view.
But Du Qi was not in a hurry, because he had enough time to operate. Du Qi did not dwell on this matter. When the time came, there would be a way. When the time came, he would make his move.
At noon, Du Qi ate his lunch and rested for an hour before the group set off for Yizhou.
Du Qi's deployment of troops to Tufan, or rather, it could not be considered deployment. Just by sending Yi Fusheng, he earned two thousand warhorses and ten thousand jin of highland barley wine. No matter how one looked at it, it was worth it.
Now that it was winter, the weather was getting colder, and there were snowstorms, so the speed of the journey was slightly slower. In the middle of the eleventh month, the group finally arrived at Yiwu County in Yizhou.
The army returned in triumph, and Liu Zhengxi and the others all went out of the city to welcome them.
As the army entered, the horses and wine were all taken away, and Du Qi's group returned to the Wang Residence.
The guests and the host sat down.
Du Qi looked around at the group, and then at Liu Zhengxi and asked, "Guardian Liu, has anything happened in the Wang Residence recently?"
Liu Zhengxi replied, "Your Highness, many things have been dealt with. But there is one important matter. Two days ago, the Imperial Court sent a decree to the Wang Residence, appointing Your Highness as the first Anxi Protectorate Regional Commander, in charge of military affairs in Yizhou and the west. "
Du Qi nodded and said, "I've already received the news on the way here and know about this matter."
Liu Zhengxi continued, "Your Highness, after this lowly one received the news and discussed it with Registrar Guo and the others, we believe that this matter isn't good news for us."
Everyone present was Du Qi's direct subordinates.
There were no people from the Imperial Court, so Liu Zhengxi didn't have any qualms about speaking and directly said it.
Du Qi said, "Sir Liu, please speak freely."
Liu Zhengxi's expression was solemn as he continued, "The reason why this lowly one says that this isn't good news is because since the Imperial Court has appointed Your Highness as the first Anxi Protectorate Regional Commander, this arrangement can't be permanent."
"Your Highness's title of King was conferred by the Imperial Court, and it can only be Your Highness. But the position of Anxi Protectorate Regional Commander can be taken over by someone else at any time. "
"Thus, we all believe that the Imperial Court is starting to set up a chess piece in the Western Regions. At the very least, they have to set up a chess piece in the Western Regions. When the time comes, the Imperial Court will want to interfere with the regions west of Guazhou and Shazhou. "
"After all, when the time comes, the Imperial Court can transfer Your Highness to another position and transfer Your Highness away. Since the position of Anxi Protectorate Regional Commander has appeared, it won't be abolished. There will definitely be someone else taking up the position. "
Liu Zhengxi said, "This deduction is the result of our discussion."
Du Qi smiled and said, "Your considerations coincide with this prince's. This prince is also thinking of the same thing. "
A bright light flashed in Liu Zhengxi's eyes as he said, "Your Highness, why don't we take the initiative and establish a country in Guazhou? This way, Your Highness can rightfully occupy this place. "
Guo Xiaozheng said, "Your Highness, the Tang Emperor is heartless, so you can't blame us for being unjust. The Tang Emperor clearly set up the Anxi Protectorate Regional Commander specifically to target Your Highness, so that you can control the Western Regions in the future. "
"Previously, the Emperor promised that the territory that Your Highness conquered would belong to Your Highness."
"It hasn't been long since these words were spoken, and now there has been a change. From this, it can be seen that the Tang Emperor cannot be trusted. This lowly one agrees with Registrar Liu's suggestion to establish a country. "
Guo Xiaozheng said, "With our current strength and the new weapons we have, we also have a geographical advantage in the Western Regions, enough to contend against the army of the Tang dynasty."
The others also spoke.
They all hoped that Du Qi would establish a country.
For everyone, this wasn't a bad thing. The reason was very simple. The more power Du Qi had, the more benefits they would receive. Once Du Qi truly established a country, it would be a great achievement.
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