Many people know the system of military service, but few people know that in fact, the "official" in the system of military service is divided into three types.

First, the prefecture, the ordinary Zhechong Prefecture. Second, the governor's office, also known as the General Administration. In the early Tang Dynasty, the leaders of the army were the general manager or the general manager. The governor's office was set up in important places to control the nearby Zhechong Prefecture. After Li Shimin ascended the throne, in order to reduce the authority of the general, most of the governor's offices in the Central Plains were abolished, leaving only places like Bingzhou, Jizhou and other places, and there were still the governor's offices near the border. For example, Li Ji was named the governor of Bingzhou, so he was asked to command the military of Bingzhou, guard against Xueyantuo in the north, and supervise the Eastern Turkic tribes.

The third is the Protectorate. The Protectorate’s duty is to “control the various foreign countries, comfort and conquer and punish the merits and punishments.” Compared with the Governor’s Office, the general difference is that the Governor belongs to the internal, while the Governor’s Office belongs to the external, involving diplomatic affairs.

The ranks of the archer and the governor are both genuine "grass officials". According to the official system, they must be at least a third rank. Li Mu's rank is barely enough, while Li Siwen is far from that. Li Mu wanted to promote his brothers, but he did not have such an promotion. Moreover, Li Siwen did not have the ability to serve as a archer, so Li Mu did not force him. He took the archer himself and asked Li Siwen to take the title of Chief Secretary. Even the Chief Secretary, Li Siwen was not of the level, but Li Mu could not find someone to take the position of the position. Therefore, although the level was not enough, he was also "extra promotion and appointment".

Li Mu taught Li Siwen the potatoes he brought, and asked Li Siwen to set up a farm, hire refugees to plant potatoes, and ordered Bai Gensheng to be responsible for the farm, so as not to run around as he gets older, becomes wild and becomes more and more entangled.

At the same time, he received envoys from the Western Regions. These envoys seemed to have agreed and wanted to follow Li Mu to Chang'an to meet Li Shimin.

This is not surprising. Previously, due to the relationship between the Western Turks, the countries in the Western Regions faced war teams. Many countries did not dare to interact with the Tang Dynasty. Even if they had any contact, they were still sneaky. Now that the Western Turks and the Tang Dynasty have become brotherly countries, there is naturally no such grudge. It is a natural thing to do when they get along with the Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin likes this kind of pomp, and Li Mu will naturally do this kind of favor, asking Li Siwen to gather all these envoys together and take them all with him when he returns. Nishu also sent an envoy to go back with Li Mu, and while he testified for him, he also had to hand him the letter of the country.

There is no banquet that will last forever. Four months after Li Mu left Chang'an, he finally set off to return to Chang'an. Before leaving, Li Mu left behind a Taoist stone so that it would be convenient for Fei Ge to send letters and contact information in the future.

Li Siwen sent Li Mu to Mayi and wanted to follow him, but Li Mu refused. Li Siwen cried endlessly. He was just a little cowardly, but he was not stupid at all. He knew what kind of desperate situation Li Mu would face after returning to Chang'an. It was even unknown whether he would have a chance to meet him this time. Therefore, he was extremely reluctant to let go and hugged Li Mu and was unwilling to let go.

Li Mu patted his back gently and said, "Siwen, don't cry. Remember the words of the elder brother, men must dare to face it when they live in the world. Crying cannot solve any problem. If they face it, even if they fail, they are still a man with a hand!"

"Brother, I--"

"Remember what I said to you, do what you should do, brother is gone!"

...

Fei Ge delivers a letter.

After reading the words on the note, Li Shimin threw them into the brazier and burned them. Eunuch Gao came in from outside and said, "Your Majesty, the Prince of Hejian has arrived."

"Please come in with my cousin."

Li Xiaogong entered the Tai Chi Hall and wanted to salute. Li Shimin helped him up and said, "Cousin, I don't have to go around. I have something to come to find my cousin this time, I want my cousin to worry."

Li Xiaogong was stunned and wanted to refuse. He didn't know whether Li Shimin was sincere or false. If it was a test, he would agree again, but something was wrong.

"Don't worry too much cousin." Li Shimin saw what Li Xiaogong was thinking and took the lead: "Li Mu went to the Western Regions this time to solve a confidant problem for me." At this moment, he roughly told Li Xiaogong about the situation in the Western Regions. The news is still blocked in the court. Only Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling and others know it. Li Xiaogong doesn't usually go to court, so he naturally doesn't know it.

After hearing Li Shimin's words, Li Xiaogong was completely stunned. He looked at Li Shimin in a daze and said, "Your Majesty is not kidding, are you?"

"I didn't say it clearly enough?"

"No, no, no," Li Xiaogong waved his hand quickly and said, "I just can't believe it - this is too bizarre. How did Li Mu do it? The Western Turks are in turmoil and the Nishu are still trusted. But how could he convince the Western Turks to the Tang Dynasty to make a covenant, and he actually let his father-in-law become the King of Gaochang? How did this do it?"

"I don't know either." Li Shimin smiled bitterly, "But Li Mu can always be surprised and has never hidden me in major matters. I still believe him. I have sent a letter to Li Ji and Hou Junji, asking them to obey Li Mu's orders and let him decide on everything."

"I still can't believe it--"

"Let's not talk about this." Li Shimin said seriously: "I believe in Li Mu, so I have to make some preparations. If it is true that the Western Regions have been settled, I plan to set up a Protectorate in Dingxiang to take charge of the affairs of the Western Regions. Dingxiang Protectorate was the first Protectorate when the Tang Dynasty established a country. Moreover, the affairs of the Western Regions are as heavy as a tremendous amount. After thinking about it, I must be my cousin, and I can't believe the other people."

Li Xiaogong thought to himself, who can believe this? It seems that the person you trust the most is me, right? The thoughts turned around in his heart. Li Xiaogong said: "Your Majesty, I have not led troops for many years, and my military preparations have been abandoned. Besides, this kid Chongyi went to Zhenla privately and almost died outside. I have been educating him recently, but I have no intention, for fear of delaying Your Majesty's major affairs. Your Majesty should choose others, such as Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong. If you really don't go to Jin, aren't they all idle?"

"General Yuchi is old and Dingxiang is more than 6,000 miles away. I really can't bear to let him run around. Qin Qiong is injured, and the climate in the Western Regions is uncertain, so it is not advisable to recover from injuries, nor should I. As for Cheng Yaojin's slutch-" Li Shimin smiled and said, "I can't trust him, so don't refuse. I've asked my cousin to come back to Chang'an before, and I admit that I had had concerns. But that was all in the past. After all, my cousin is my cousin. What I can count on in major events must be my relatives. Only with a cousin staying in Dingxiang can I rest assured."

"this……"

Li Xiaogong was in his youth and strength. How could he be a idle prince? But he was leading the army and was really worried that Li Shimin would be afraid and could not make a decision for a moment, so he said, "Can your Majesty let me think about it for two days?"
Chapter completed!