Li Xiang quickly reported this victory, and the entire court was very satisfied.
Arabs had appeared in Chang'an City before. According to their accounts, their territory seemed to be very large. The Tang Dynasty had conquered countless countries over the years, so they were not very interested in these small countries. Even if they were defeated, everyone would just listen to it for fun and would not have much feeling.
But the Arab Empire is different. Whether it is the merchants coming and going or Li Xiang's exports, everyone knows that the Arab Empire is very vast, even larger than the territory of the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, the people of Chang'an City are still very happy about defeating such a country.
The court also praised the Western Expedition Army, especially the Gaochang Army. The court has decided to reward this army and allow the people of Gaochang to live in the inland area of Chang'an City.
This can be said to have given the people of Gaochang supreme glory. In the past, they were afraid that they would infiltrate, so these vassal states on the border were strictly controlled. Except for those with marriage relations with the Tang Dynasty, people from other countries were not allowed to enter the interior. Now that Gaochang has won this victory, it has set a precedent for them.
Li Shimin also exchanged views with Li Xiang on this matter. If we continue to strictly control the people of various countries in the border areas, then we will never be able to integrate with them, and various rebellions will still occur.
Now that the Tang Dynasty is strong, there is naturally no need to worry. But if time goes on for a long time, the Tang Dynasty will eventually become weak, and then these people will find ways to rebel.
But if the people of both sides intermarry, they will be able to merge into one nation. After a few decades, these people will no longer have the idea of rebellion, but will instead identify themselves as Tang people from the bottom of their hearts.
Li Shimin was very opposed at first, thinking that this might lead to the impurity of the bloodline of the Tang Dynasty. However, Li Xiang also gave an example, what is the bloodline of our Li family? I am afraid only we ourselves know that there is also the blood of the Xianbei people in this bloodline.
But aren't we the emperors of the Tang Dynasty now? As long as we work together, there's no need to exclude any particular ethnic group. The Tang Dynasty has a broad mindset that allows it to continue to develop. However, at the core, we must trust our own people and not overly trust those outsiders. This will take at least a few generations.
Li Shimin was finally convinced by Li Xiang's statement, which led to the arrangement of allowing Gaochang people to live in the interior. Of course, if you are willing to marry a Gaochang person, the court will also provide subsidies, which will accelerate the integration between the two ethnic groups.
In addition, the imperial court will also mobilize 20,000 musketeers to the Western Regions. These soldiers have just completed training. There is no use keeping them in Chang'an City, so it is better to transfer them all to the Western Regions.
Since Gaochang's army had gone to the west to fight, the entire Western Regions must have someone to keep the situation under control. That was why Li Shimin sent the 20,000 newly trained musketeers over there, along with 6,000 cavalrymen.
With these 26,000 people, Cheng Chumo is no longer so short of money. Cheng Chumo is now in charge of Gaochang. Although he has recruited more than 20,000 people in Gaochang again, these people have not been trained. It is more reassuring to use our own people.
For the Tang Dynasty court and the common people from all over the country, this was like a small whirlpool in the ocean. It would only last for two days at most, and many people would have forgotten about it. They were still thinking about the greater victory. When the Andong Governor's Mansion was captured, perhaps it would be something worth celebrating for them.
As for the two thousand captives who were about to be sent to the court, the common people had also started to work. In recent years, various farms had been exploited, and there was a large shortage of labor. If the court did not go to war, where could it find so many free laborers?
For the entire Tang Dynasty, two thousand prisoners are really not enough. Even these two thousand prisoners are not enough to reward the fighting soldiers. But this is a good start after all. Two thousand is just a beginning. In the future we will have twenty or two hundred thousand.
So many people are looking forward to the next victory. It is said that the next battle will involve a hundred thousand people. If our Tang army can still win, then the number of prisoners will be at least forty to fifty thousand. Together with some disobedient civilians from various countries in the Western Regions, at least tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people can be transported back. Then our farms will be saved.
After returning from court, Li Xiang was about to ask someone to change his clothes, but he didn't know that there were guests at home.
Qu Tu Gai, the Imperial Guardsman...
If you were talking about this person, Li Xiang probably wouldn't be able to recognize him even if he tried his best. But if you were talking about this person's brother, then Li Xiang would remember him, because this person was the younger brother of Qu Tutong, a famous general in the early Zhenguan period.
After conquering the country, everyone was rewarded, but unfortunately Qu Tutong died too early, so his family began to decline and Li Shimin didn't even think about them.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
When this person saw Li Xiang coming out, he knelt in front of Li Xiang early. How did Li Xiang feel about letting the brother of a meritorious official pay him such a great tribute? He hurriedly helped him up. This was obviously Li Shimin's dereliction of duty. Although the person was dead, the contribution he made to you in the past was not small.
Qu Tutong made great efforts in the battle against Wang Shichong.
"Please stand up, sir. I wonder why you came to see me today?"
Li Xiang looked at Qu Tugai, who was already in his fifties. Could it be that he still wanted to go back to the battlefield? Although his strength was not bad, the court was now full of talented people. If he appointed a man in his fifties to go to the battlefield, Li Xiang would not be able to explain it.
"I'm a rough man, so there are some things I won't say. After my eldest brother passed away, my two nephews have been unemployed at home. Last year, my eldest nephew passed the martial arts exam, but he hasn't..."
Qu Tugai had no other choice. He had asked everyone he needed help, but no one was willing to speak for a fallen noble like him. Seeing that the imperial court was about to send troops to the Western Regions, this was a very good opportunity, so he stopped asking anyone and came directly to His Highness.
When Li Xiang heard that this guy was not asking for an official position for himself, but for his two nephews, he was also very moved. There are not many such responsible uncles these days...
