Chapter 369 A good bird chooses wood

Chapter 369 A good bird chooses wood

Linghu Yanbao looks to be in his early thirties and less than forty years old. He is not particularly tall, but he has broad shoulders and long arms, which makes him very eye-catching.

When the state officials ushered him into the hall, he first raised his head and glanced at Li Tai, then quickly lowered his head and bowed in front of Li Tai's table with a big salute: "Your servant, Hu Yan, pays homage to your husband. Dunhuang Gong's old office is in charge." Although I have not yet been able to live in my hometown, I am still deeply touched by its legacy. I am honored to be here before my husband, who has an unparalleled style, and I am deeply honored."

Although the Li family was based in Longxi, Li Tai's branch originated in Hexi. The Xiliang regime established by Xiliang Taizu Li Hao was based on Dunhuang. Although the capital was later moved to Jiuquan, Dunhuang has always been the core ruling area of ​​the Xiliang regime.

Xiliang itself was a separatist regime composed of a coalition of local large families and dominated by Han people in Hexi. The Linghu family of Dunhuang was also an important vassal of the Xiliang regime.

After Xiliang perished in the confrontation with Beiliang, Li Tai's great ancestor Li Bao established a regime in exile. After Beiliang was defeated by the Northern Wei, he returned to his hometown of Dunhuang. He paid homage to the Northern Wei and was named the Duke of Dunhuang. Soon after, he was called to settle in Pingliang, the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Later, under the leadership of Li Bao's youngest son Li Chong, he integrated into the Shandong gentry and became the Li family of Longxi, one of the famous families in the world.

Judging from this level of origin, it is reasonable for Linghu Yanbao to meet Li Tai as a disciple. But the problem is that Xiliang has been destroyed for so many years, and hundreds of years have passed since Li Bao left Dunhuang. How much restraint can such an ancient relationship between monarch and ministers, buried in sand and covered with soil, exert on people?

Of course, the origins of these stories can also bring them closer to each other. At least they will have more psychological identification than ordinary people. However, Linghu Yanbao regards himself as a servant at the first meeting and lowers his attitude so low. It still makes people feel sad. Li Tai was surprised.

Take him for example. Although he is quite unfamiliar with the Li clan in Longxi, he still feels some psychological closeness to him, and he recognized Li Yunxin as his eldest grandson. But if Li Yunxin came up and said that you are the grandson based on seniority, , then he still admits it!

The Linghu family of Dunhuang is certainly not an ordinary family. It is known as the crown of the Western Land. Moreover, during the series of riots in Guazhou that just passed, Linghu Yanbao's performance was worthy of such an evaluation. If not for his hard work, At present, the situation in Guazhou is definitely difficult to calm down.

Although he was quite suspicious in his heart, Li Tai did not dare to be too trusting and really consider himself the master of the other party. He quickly stood up from the table, went down to the hall to help Linghu Yanbao up, looked at the other party and said with a smile: "The world has changed. As time has passed, it is a great relief to see the characters from our homeland.

The general and I are both newcomers to this world. There is no point in dwelling on the past, and it is better to make friends in the present. The general's heroic deeds are not limited to Hexi, but are also famous in Longyou. I also feel very honored and look forward to meeting the general! "

Linghu Yanbao stood up, but waited until Li Tai returned to the table and sat down, then he sat down, still with a humble smile on his face, and clasped his fists at Li Tai and said: "Some deeds are not worth mentioning, only serving righteousness and defending the law" My ambitions stem from the education of my motherland and I dare not be self-effacing and belittling.

I know that today's visit is quite rash, but I can't restrain my desire to see my husband. The former met Ambassador Han Shizhong and his entourage outside Yumen Pass. When asking for advice, he heard many reports of Lang Jun's virtuous voice, and he was already filled with admiration. Now that I have been ordered to enter the country, I want to follow my husband and go with me, but for fear of being left behind on the way, I have to travel day and night..."

Li Tai knew that his current reputation and influence were not enough to radiate to the Hexi area, and his ancestral connections alone were not enough to make the other party make such a humble gesture.

As the saying goes, people must be courteous and must ask for something. Linghu Yanbao, as the most outstanding powerful representative in Guazhou today, is obviously not a stubborn old man who indulges in the old times. Every word and deed must have its own profound considerations.

Han Bao and Li Xian had previously promulgated and pacified the counties in Hexi, and Linghu Yanbao must have had some conversations with them. The content of the conversation between these two people related to themselves should have a great impact on Linghu Yanbao's attitude towards him.

Li Xian had always wanted to use the prestige of the Li family in Longxi to promote his own family. When facing the old officials of the Li family's hometown in Hexi and Longxi, he lured Li Tailai to praise them. It was an ordinary move.

As for Han Bao, he has no need to help Li Tai become famous. If there is any topic involved, it must be something that cannot be omitted about Li Tai. It is most likely his Sifang City and a series of plans to promote trade.

In this way, although Linghu Yanbao was a stranger to Li Tai, he learned from Li Xian that Li Tai was now a rising political star in the Western Wei Dynasty, and learned from Han Bao that Li Tai was taking over the throne. The rich bargaining chips and irreplaceable important role played in the Silk Road trade.

Political resources and economic resources are also the most important resources for a powerful family like the Linghu family who came from the local area and worked hard to get closer to the center of the Western Wei Dynasty. Therefore, the more earnest and respectful Linghu Yanbao's attitude is towards Li Tai, it means the deeper his thirst for these resources.

Li Tai was thinking secretly in his mind, and did not neglect Linghu Yanbao. After listening to his words, he smiled and said: "When you first enter a strange situation, people will inevitably feel hesitant. This is not because mediocre people are timid, but because they have never recognized Maintain a sense of respect for knowledgeable personnel.

Without a guide to guide you, it can be unsettling. I am not afraid that the general will laugh at me. Last year when I came to the customs for seeking justice, I saw that everyone and everything were unfamiliar. I was shy in front of others and worried about others behind me, which made me uneasy for a long time. Fortunately, Duke Langya paid great attention to Grand Master Heba, so I was gradually able to gain a foothold here and work diligently on the king's affairs, and now I have little influence..."

"It's not just a superficial skill! Although I live far away in the old land of Hexi, I have heard a lot about Lang Jun's reputation. Lang Jun is not yet weak, but he is already very ambitious. He established policies in Taifu, established honors in prefectures and counties, and is famous. He is so consistent with reality that no one else can match him. In just a few years, he has become a famous official who is deeply relied upon by the imperial court and the people at home and abroad! "

Linghu Yanbao hurriedly spoke again, without concealing his admiration and envy for Li Tai in his words: "I am old and frail, and I relied on the help of my relatives and fellow villagers to make a small contribution to the frontier, and I was able to see On the journey, I was both happy and frightened. I was afraid that the frontier soldiers would look down upon me, or that I would be abandoned because of this, and that I would not be able to disappoint the expectations of my fellow villagers. I deeply hoped that I could get the horse's head to look at it. Please use Lang Jun's command to perform meritorious deeds and protect the frontier soldiers. reputation."

Li Tai originally thought that Linghu Yanbao just came to visit and greet each other and get to know each other, but he did not expect that the other party actually showed his intention to follow him, which surprised him.

Last year Guazhou was lost and recovered, and this year the people in the state rebelled and were put down again. Linghu Yanbao was a core figure in it. It can even be said that without him, the imperial court would no longer have Guazhou.

After all, Guazhou is too remote, and the cost of sending troops to quell the rebellion is too high. Even sending troops from Longyou is unbearable.

The gains and losses in Guazhou not only meant whether the Western Wei regime could win over the people with great power, nor the gains and losses in Silk Road trade, but more importantly, it was related to the containment and resistance of Rouran and other northern barbarian forces.

Linghu Yanbao's contribution to being able to solve this major border problem at the minimum cost cannot be underestimated. Even when Li Tai and Li Mu happily returned to Beijing last year, the success of Shaanbei's victory was completely overshadowed by the loss and recovery of Guazhou.

Linghu's family is the crown prince of the West and has strong local capital. The long-term stability of Guazhou in the future must be deeply respected by his family. Therefore, in history, Yu Wentai also treated Linghu Yanbao very favorably. He gave him both a surname and a given name, which is recorded in history. There are several flatterers.

So when he heard that Linghu Yanbao said that he wanted to follow him, Li Tai's subconscious reaction was not to be happy, but to wonder if there was something wrong with this guy's head?

Are you going through all the trouble in Guazhou just to hug my little thin leg? Don’t Yuwentai’s big hairy legs look good on him? I was so uncomfortable being scratched that I couldn’t bear to let go!

But seeing the sincere expression on Linghu Yanbao's face, it was obvious that he was not joking. After Li Tai pondered for a moment, he determined the fact that there was no one in the Linghu family who was suitable to warm the bed of the powerful people in power in the Western Wei Dynasty!

In fact, the current situation of the Linghu family is similar to that of the Longxi Li family who was summoned to Pingliang by the Northern Wei Dynasty. The local brand in Hexi is naturally very strong, but looking at the whole world, it is so-so.

The so-called Xiliang royal family status does not add much to the Li family. Among the many famous Han and Hu families in the Northern Wei Dynasty, they are not very conspicuous. After all, they stand out because of their excellent service awareness.

The crown from the West would mean nothing to the East. To be honest, Linghu Yanbao was a little worried. Theoretically speaking, Guazhou's gains and losses should be of great significance to the Western Wei Dynasty, but in the past few years, Bafu's attitude has been neither salty nor indifferent, with a rather open-minded attitude of not being happy with gains and not sad with losses.

The more unsure you are, the more natural you want to add more certainty. Linghu Yanbao certainly didn't want to miss it when he happened to meet a suitable candidate like Li Tai.

Of course, aside from these considerations based on pros and cons, the people in Hexi generally have a rather nostalgic feeling for the Li family of Longxi, the former owner. After all, the reason why Li Hao was able to establish the Xiliang regime was because he was jointly recommended by the wealthy families in Hexi. . And when the Li family in Longxi became a first-class family famous all over the world, the people in Hexi were also very proud of it.

The last point is that Li Tai made Linghu Yanbao feel that he was a person worth following.

With his own efforts, he gained a high position in Kansai in just a few years. Senior officials such as Han Bao and Li Xian were full of praise and praise when they talked about him. In addition, he saw Li Tai with his own eyes. He is mature and steady in his dealings with others, and he is also charming and charming. He is the most talented young man he has ever seen in his life.

Before coming to visit Li Tai, Linghu Yanbao also visited the state. He saw the large-scale Sifang City, and heard the extremely positive comments about Li Tai from the people of Qinzhou, as well as the talents who fought for it. The atmosphere of the staff was so great that when I bowed before the banquet, there was no embarrassment in my heart, but only eagerness and expectation.