General Ashina also felt that General Guo was too extravagant and child's play, but he didn't say anything, he just said to his deputy: "Restrain the soldiers, train strictly these days, we will go to Kucha soon."
The deputy responded and asked: "An old nobleman from Gaochang is visiting..."
"All rejected," General Ashina said indifferently, "except for military affairs, the rest of the people will not be seen when they come to visit."
Because General Guo loves luxury, the local nobles liked it very much. In fact, the local people in Xizhou also liked General Guo very much.
Although he is extravagant, he seldom asks for money and food from them. He always intercepts the spoils during the war, or asks passing merchants for some beautiful utensils to play with.
He didn't take money from the local people, and he was able to maintain local law and order, so he was naturally loved. It was only after Liu Huan and the others came here that the local people in Xizhou began to read General Guo's jokes.
In the past, although everyone vaguely felt that he was extravagant, they didn't feel that there was anything special, thinking that all nobles in the Central Plains were like this.
After all, their royal family was also very extravagant before, wasn't it
Also because of this, General Ashina didn't want to express too much opinion on General Guo's words and deeds. He just came to conquer Kucha and left after the battle, but this place still needs General Guo to manage it.
He thought that no one would be able to disturb him after this order, but unexpectedly someone came to report the next day, "General, there are people outside asking to see you."
General Ashina frowned slightly, "Who is it?"
The soldiers sent a post and said: "It is a mission sent to the Western Regions by the emperor's order to search for vaccinia."
General Ashina took the post, opened it, looked at it, and asked, "What are they coming to see me for? The general is only going on an expedition, and does not manage local affairs. They should go to the Protectorate."
The soldier said: "General, there is Princess Mingda's future son-in-law in the mission."
General Ashina retrieved the post he left behind, glanced at it again and asked, "I remember that the head of the mission is an imperial physician from the imperial hospital?"
"Yes, I heard that her treatment of smallpox is the first meritorious service, and the disease of His Royal Highness was cured by her."
General Ashina said: "Please come in."
After a pause, he felt that it was not good to meet guests here, and said again: "Please go to the lobby."
The soldiers went.
Mr. Zhuang and Nie Canjun didn't come, so the six of them brought a box of tea by themselves.
In terms of public status, Zhou Man's status is enough; in terms of private status, Bai Cheng's status is just right, it would be inappropriate for him to come too.
So there were six people standing in the lobby.
General Ashina was also surprised by them when he came out. Except for Zhou Liru, no one had a simple identity.
Especially Liu Huan.
Now they still need money and food from the Ministry of Households to fight the war. It is conservatively estimated that this battle will last until the end of the year or next year, and they will need a lot of food and grass.
Thinking of the document I received last time, the Ministry of Household Affairs was crying for poverty. The smallpox epidemic occurred at the beginning of this year, and there was a flood in Jinzhong in June and July. Stretch out your hand for food, but you can't pay the national tax for a penny, so the Ministry of Household Affairs is also very difficult this year.
General Ashina knew that if it hadn't been for going too far in Kucha this year and colluding with the Western Turks to cut off the trade route, His Majesty would not have wanted to conquer Kucha.
After all, last autumn, when Dajin and Qiuci were in love with each other, they exchanged documents and gifts. At that time, the King of Qiuci generously invited General Guo’s Duhu Mansion to be placed in Qiuci, as if he wanted to change the country into a feudal town. Who knew that after only one year, Xiazhou had smallpox, and Qiuci would turn his face and deny anyone
Thinking of these powerful relationships, General Ashina smiled at Liu Huan, and also showed a friendly smile to Zhou Man and Bai Erlang, and after asking them to excuse him, he said gently: "Please sit down."
He looked at them and felt that they were not very old, only two or three years older than his son, so he became more cordial, "How long have you been in the Western Regions? Have you been safe all the way? Are you used to it here?"
Finally, they asked about their errands, "Is there any news about the cowpox?"
Seeing that he was so kind, Man Bao put most of his heart down and answered one by one, especially highlighting the two horse thieves they encountered when they came, and the Tubo soldiers once, which caused heavy casualties.
Finally, I mentioned the return trip together by the way.
General Ashina didn't expect that they had already thought about the return of the class teacher, so he couldn't help laughing, thinking that they were still children.
Fighting a war is so simple, how can one know what will happen tomorrow, let alone what will happen so far later, he himself does not know when the war will end.
So he said with a smile: "This time, the business route back to Yumen Pass has been opened. When we came here, the bandits on the road were suppressed by the imperial army. From Liangzhou to Suzhou, and then to Yumen Pass, even the desert connected to Yumen Pass was destroyed. General Guo Xiao and the others have turned it over three times, you have soldiers to protect you, and if you play the banner of the Great Jin, forgive them, no matter how brave they are, they will not dare to attack you again."
Bai Shan then mentioned Jin Kui'an, who caused them heavy losses, "I heard that he has some influence in the Western Regions, and now he is serving General Guo. If we go back this time, if he intends to harm us, I'm afraid he will succeed." .”
Such a clear complaint, but General Ashina didn't hate it, but was a little dissatisfied with General Guo, frowned and said: "Such a vicious person, why does General Guo use him?"
Bai Shandao: "Perhaps because of his bravery, this person can stand up to ten, very powerful."
General Ashina sighed, thought for a moment and said: "If you want to go back at this time, I will send a small team of soldiers to escort you. General Guo will restrain his subordinates when he finds out. Just rest assured."
He looked at the young men, smiled slightly and said, "If you want to stay longer and come back with me, you will probably have to wait for a long time. It will snow here after September, and it will snow on October 10th." It snows heavily in January, and it will be difficult for you to think of the grassland, and you have to wait until next year, so you can think carefully about it."
Man Bao and Bai Shan looked at each other.
The two said: "We have to go back and ask the mission."
The opinion of the mission is to listen to them.
Nie Canjun said: "Since Mr. Zhou said that the vaccination method can be tried, why don't we try it here and then leave? If there is something wrong, we can continue to investigate, but if we return to the capital and find something wrong, we always Can’t you travel thousands of miles to the Western Regions again?”
Wei Xingren and the others thought so too.
Their goal this time is the vaccination method. If this method works, they will make great contributions when they go back. Now Zhou Man and the others have only inquired about some steps, but the specific prescription is still unknown, let alone confirmed, so they will go back like this. I'm afraid that it will be useless, but it will be a crime.
But this matter still has to listen to Zhou Man.
Coincidentally, Man Bao also thought so, so he said: "It seems that we have to find General Guo and talk about this cowpox experiment."