Chapter 256 Liaodong
Li Jiancheng talked with Tong Yehu for a long time and decided on matters such as jointly eliminating the remnants of Tuguhun, opening up trade routes, and setting up the Western Regions Commandery.

The most important thing is that Tong Yehu requested the Tang Dynasty to dispatch a troop to escort him and the princess back to Qianquan City safely.

Of course, it would be even better if His Majesty the Emperor could return the captured Western Turkic troops to him.

Tong Yehu expressed his request nervously, and Li Jiancheng agreed after hesitating for a moment. If Tong Yehu could not maintain his position after returning, the vested interests of the Tang Dynasty would not be guaranteed.

So, as a son-in-law, Tong Yehu lived safely in Chang'an. The only thing that made him uncomfortable was that due to the customs of the Central Plains, the princess could not see him before the wedding.

His last impression of the princess was the moment she turned around and nodded that day, which was deeply engraved in his heart.

Before the wedding, the princess still did not come to see him, but ordered the female official to bring a pretty little girl in a small skirt.

The lady-in-waiting said, "This is the princess's daughter."

Tong Yehu was very surprised. He naturally knew that the princess had been married, but he did not expect that the princess would let her daughter come to see him. What did this mean?

However, the little girl's eyes and brows resembled the princess very much, and Tong Yehu could not help but look forward to the future offspring he and the princess would have.

Tong Yehu really wanted to give some gifts. If he were still in his country, he would not be stingy with treasures, but at this moment he had nothing worth giving away.

The eldest granddaughter looked at the tall man in front of her and was a little scared, but she still bravely expressed her opinion.

The female official looked at her in embarrassment, but still translated: "The girl begs you not to take the princess away. She already has no father and does not want to lose her mother again."

The little girl had already started sobbing. Tong Yehu used to be a heartless man. He also had children, but he never took care of them because in his eyes, as long as he was alive, he would have as many children as he wanted, and it didn't matter whether one was alive or a few were dead.

But at this moment, he was moved by a child who was not of his own blood, probably because of the childish face that resembled the princess.

Tong Yehu frowned and asked the lady-in-waiting, "Can't she go back to the grassland with me and the princess?"

The female official hesitated and shook her head: "The girl still has her grandparents."

Tong Yehu probably knew why the princess sent her daughter here. He thought for a moment and said, "It is inconvenient for me to go out now. I hope you can help me convey that if they agree that the child can go to the grassland with her mother, I will guarantee with my surname that I will take good care of her, and I will choose the most handsome prince who will definitely inherit the kingdom as her husband among the countries in the Western Regions.

Of course, if she ever misses her hometown during these years, I will send my personal guards to escort her back to visit her family."

…………

In Pyongyang, Zhang Huli and Luo Yi were discussing how to control those cities that were still wavering and where to get some food and grass.

After all, by the beginning of next spring, we will most likely have to send troops to fight against Silla and Baekje. We cannot rely entirely on the court to dispatch food and supplies. Not only will the burden and loss be too great, it will also be very unstable.

The best thing would be to raise food and grass from within Goguryeo, but according to current estimates, the people have already reached their limit and are likely to rebel if they are not touched, let alone forcibly requisitioning food.

Luo Yi said, "Or just send out the troops and let them plunder whatever they need."

Zhang Huli shook his head: "If I didn't intend to occupy this place, I would have done so long ago, but since Your Majesty has ordered the establishment of the Andong Protectorate, this place is also part of our Great Tang, and the people here are also Your Majesty's subjects. How can you allow your soldiers to kill and plunder?"

Luo Yi took a few steps and said, "Those who still have food are the noble families who have surrendered to us." Zhang Huli's expression did not change. "Since there is no other choice, order them to pay the amount. If they cannot pay or shirk their responsibilities, we will send troops to confiscate their property."

"That's no different from forcibly confiscating the people. They will never touch their savings unless it's absolutely necessary."

"That's even better. The government is forcing the people to revolt, which gives them even more reason to take action."

Luo Yi smiled and said, "It's hard to explain to His Majesty, and Wei Zheng will be here soon. One of us will probably have to take the blame. After all, we have to show it to the remnants of Goguryeo who are still waiting and refusing to defend."

"That's a small matter. I won't be picky. It depends on whether you want to return to the Central Plains or stay here to serve as the Protector of Andong."

Luo Yi naturally wanted to stay, but he also knew that His Majesty trusted Zhang Huli more. The entire territory of Goguryeo plus Silla and Pyongyang was enough to make him a powerful empire.

Even if there will be restrictions on power decentralization in the future, the Protector General of Anton, who holds military power, will certainly still be the uncrowned king here.

Moreover, Your Majesty once said that he would grant this land to meritorious ministers. If this can be successfully implemented, many officials from aristocratic families will surely dispatch their children from other branches to come and manage it.

How big a fiefdom can one be allocated as the Commander of Anton?

Luo Yi couldn't help but said, "I want to stay."

"Alright."

Zhang Huli was not surprised to hear this, he really didn't care. The advantages of Commander Anton were obvious, but there were disadvantages as well. Being so far away from His Majesty, how could he not be suspected?
If there is suspicion, the final result will most likely not be good. What Zhang Huli wants to leave to his children and grandchildren is a stable and wealthy life.

After the two powerful generals had discussed it, the forced levy on the wealthy class began. As expected, they refused to carry it out at first and sent their sons and daughters to the capital to file a complaint.

However, the emperor was far away and the deadline set by Zhang Huli was not enough for them to hold out until the emperor's order arrived. So, unsurprisingly, they shifted the conflict downward and ordered their own servants to forcibly collect taxes from the people.

How could the people, who had long been impoverished by natural disasters and man-made calamities, be willing to do so? They began to rebel, and some aristocratic families simply took the opportunity to become independent.

But since Zhang Huli had anticipated what would happen, he naturally took precautions early on. His elite troops could even capture Pyongyang, so what could a small city of Goguryeo do to him?

After more than a month of back-and-forth probing and tug-of-war, the aristocratic family finally compromised and gave up their own stored grain.

It has to be said that the Goguryeo royal family could not even pay the food and wages to their subordinates, but these local families were rich beyond expectations.

When Wei Zheng arrived, he immediately had an argument with Zhang Huli, but after the argument Wei Zheng began to make suggestions. Since the collected grain was abundant, he should open the granaries in the name of Andong Protectorate to release grain to help the people.

Zhang Huli frowned and said, "We don't know how long we will have to fight with Silla and Baekje next year. If we run out of food and grass by then, it will be a big mistake."

Wei Zheng snorted, "The court doesn't know about your raising of food and grass. Your Majesty has already prepared food and grass for next year's expedition in Hejian County, so if there is a shortage, the court will make up for it."

………………

(End of this chapter)