In the Han Empire, there was an official position that was between the central appointment and the hereditary position of local commanders. This position was the Inspector.
The position of Inspector was only seen in the border areas of the Han Empire. In order to facilitate the management of ethnic minorities and tribes in border areas, eliminate border risks, and strengthen the authority of the Han Empire, the Han Empire set up the position of Inspector in many border areas.
In the beginning, the post of Inspector was entirely appointed by the central government of the Han Empire, and there was no hereditary system. Only in later practice did this post gradually evolve into a hereditary system with the color of local command. The son of the Inspector continued to serve as Inspector, and then he only needed to obtain symbolic consent from the central government of the Han Empire. In order to stabilize the border areas, the central government of the Han Empire acquiesced to the long-standing hereditary system of the post of Inspector.
In Yan Liqiang's previous life, the closest position to the governor was the governor of the colony. However, the governor directly commanded the army, and his military power was greater than that of the governors of many countries and colonies that Yan Liqiang knew in his previous life. In the Han Empire, in addition to military power, the governor also represented the Han Empire in charge of the diplomacy of the ethnic minorities in the area under its jurisdiction and the appointment of tribal leaders. As a symbol of accepting the rule of the Han Empire, these governors only needed to pay a symbolic amount of taxes and tributes to the Han Empire every year.
The Han Empire established many protectorates in many frontier areas in the southeast, northwest, northeast and southwest directions. These protectorates were large and small. The large protectorates governed an area equivalent to several states or one state of the Han Empire, such as the Southern Xinjiang Protectorate, Yibei Protectorate, Black Mountain Protectorate, and Baiyue Protectorate of the Han Empire. There were even more small protectorates, which were simply numerous. The areas under their jurisdiction varied in size. The smallest protectorate might only cover the area of a county, and the smallest was only the size of a few villages and towns.
Therefore, the position of Inspector had no rank in the Han Empire, because among all Inspectors, the best ones could be comparable to or even surpass the first-rank officials in the court and rule a region, while the worst ones could not even be as good as a county magistrate or even a village head.
In the history of the northwest of the Han Empire, there was once a Protectorate, which was called the Qiyun Protectorate.
The jurisdiction of the Qiyun Protectorate includes the vast area of Qiyun Mountain and Gulang Grassland outside Ganzhou and Lanzhou. Before the seven Shatu tribes moved to the area east of Gulang Grassland and Qiyun Mountain, this area was inhabited by five or six small tribes and clans that migrated from various countries in the Western Regions, such as Wusu, Cheshi, Pilu, Shali, Dayue, etc. The Qiyun Protectorate was the leader of these small tribes and clans, but later, with the migration of the seven Shatu tribes, all this changed. After the seven Shatu tribes settled down in the Gulang Grassland and Qiyun Mountain area, the former Qiyun Protectorate was "suddenly attacked by bandits". Overnight, the entire Protectorate was killed without a trace, and the former Qiyun Protectorate clan was directly wiped out. The so-called Qiyun Protectorate became an empty shell.
In recent decades, Yan Liqiang read in the book that the Han Empire once again appointed a Qiyun Protector. However, just a few days after Qiyun left Baishi Pass in Pingxi County, his and his entourage's heads were put in boxes and sent to the Ganzhou Governor's Office. The reason was also "suddenly attacked by bandits". Since then, both the local and central governments of the Han Empire have selectively forgotten the Qiyun Protectorate, as if the Qiyun Protectorate had never existed. Only the establishment of this official position has always existed...
The position of Governor Qiyun is hereditary. In the ruling system of the Han Empire, the entire Qiyun Mountain area and the entire Gulang grassland area are under the jurisdiction of Governor Qiyun, which is equivalent to the territory of Governor Qiyun. In terms of breadth, this area is almost larger than Ganzhou and Lanzhou combined. Moreover, all ethnic groups living in this area, even including the seven Shatu tribes, must, at least in theory, accept the leadership of Governor Qiyun.
Looks wonderful!
But in fact, everyone knows that the authority of the Han Empire in this area is close to zero. Now the only ones who really have the final say in this area are the seven tribes of Shatu and their curved swords. The presence of the Han Empire in this area is already very low...
Yan Liqiang never expected that the second choice given to him by the Emperor would be the position of Qiyun Governor.
What does His Majesty mean by this? Is he going to let me go back to Ganzhou to retire with an honorary title, or is he expecting me to make a difference in this position and turn the strategies I talked about with Sun Bingchen before into reality to deal with the Shatu people and give him a big surprise? If it is the second one, His Majesty is too proud of me.
Being the supervisor of the Ganzhou Artisan Workers' Camp was a stable and lucrative job with few variables. It was a high-ranking position with little responsibility, high pay, little work and close to home. However, this so-called Supervisor Qi Yun was a job between heaven and hell!
Yan Liqiang's brain was working quickly, weighing the pros and cons of choosing these two positions.
If the Han Empire is peaceful in the future, Yan Liqiang would rather choose the job of supervising the construction of the Ganzhou Artisan Works, where he can live a simple life and wait for death until he grows old. But now, knowing that the entire Han Empire will change in four years, and that the seven Shatu tribes will take the opportunity to invade Ganzhou and massacre Pingxi County, Yan Liqiang's choice has gradually become clear...
From a certain perspective, Yan Liqiang was just about to go to sleep when the Emperor brought him the pillow.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to return to Ganzhou and take over the post of Qiyun's governor!"
After just a moment's thought, Yan Liqiang spoke firmly to the Emperor.
"Hahaha..." His Majesty the Emperor laughed loudly, looking very happy, "I really was not wrong about you!"
"My ability is limited, and I can only do my best. If I cannot meet your Majesty's expectations, please don't be disappointed!"
"Of course I know how difficult it is. This position is given to you with the possibility of advancement or retreat. Just let it go and don't worry about anything! You are fifteen years old this year, and you have plenty of time. I can give you ten years to see your performance!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"In addition to this position, when you return to Ganzhou this time, I will give you 100,000 taels of silver as the start-up cost of your Qiyun Protectorate!" His Majesty the Emperor looked at Yan Liqiang, waved his hand, and said generously, "If you have any requests, just ask!"
At this time, Yan Liqiang suddenly remembered what Eunuch Liu said. He pondered for a moment and then spoke, "If you want to manage Qiyun Mountain and Gulang Grassland, you must have support from the rear. Various military equipment, supplies, and money and food are indispensable. My hometown, Pingxi County in Ganzhou, is adjacent to Baishi Pass and the Seven Tribes of Shatu. I would like to ask Your Majesty to hand over the craftsman camp of Pingxi County in Ganzhou to me. I will be in charge of everything as the foundation of my rear!"
His Majesty the Emperor smiled softly, "Hahaha, it's just a craftsman camp, a small matter, I will reward you, do you have any other requests?"
He was indeed the emperor. A Pingxi County craftsman camp, such a large territory, and so many people, was given to him at the first opening of his mouth. Yan Liqiang was secretly amazed. He could certainly make more requests, but the more requests he made, the greater his expectations would be, and the more interference he might have in the future. The backlash and resistance from the local governments in Ganzhou and Pingxi County might also be greater. So, after thinking about it, Yan Liqiang wisely chose to stop here.
"This is my only request. As for the rest, I will figure it out myself when I return to Ganzhou!"
"Good!" His Majesty the Emperor looked at Yan Liqiang approvingly again. Yan Liqiang's grasp of the measure made him very satisfied. "Then when will you leave to return to Ganzhou?"
"Let's do it on the 20th of this month. I will say goodbye to my friends in the Imperial Capital in the next few days, make some preparations, and then leave on the 20th!"
(End of this chapter)