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One of them held a sword, and the other a gun, both looking at the white-robed Guanyin with wary expressions.
The white-robed Guanyin always felt there was a strange smell in the air, but she had never smelled it before.
A year later, Li Chang'an's prestige had grown even stronger, making him quite imposing.
"The Six Beads of the Red Sect of Esoteric Buddhism have met the Tang Emperor before, and it is an honor to meet him again."
Li Chang'an looked at this stunningly beautiful woman and didn't mince words.
"I am very satisfied with the smooth handover of Yumen County. You did not play any tricks."
"I have already given the order to continue the attack on Gantai County, which is occupied by the Shanshan tribe."
Upon hearing this, the white-robed Guanyin asked, "Does Your Highness intend to destroy the Shanshan tribe?"
The Western Regions tribes were too desolate, but Li Chang'an would not allow any enemies to remain.
Therefore, he will not only destroy Shanshan, but also Yalong.
Finally, only the Red Sect of the White-Robed Guanyin and the Waleng tribe remained, and then the White-Robed Guanyin indirectly controlled the Western Regions.
At that time, this plan could not be discussed now.
"Why should I destroy Shanshan? Perhaps Shanshan will surrender to me soon."
The white-robed Guanyin remained silent, clearly indicating that Li Chang'an wanted to see who was more obedient before keeping them.
However, the initiative was in Li Chang'an's hands, and the White-Robed Guanyin was helpless.
Thus, the White-Robed Guanyin was placed under house arrest in the Shazhou Prince's Mansion.
As long as the White-Robed Guanyin is around, the Waleng tribe will be hesitant to act rashly.
It was only a matter of time before Li Cunxiao and Lu Xu were able to subdue Gantai County.
Winter had already arrived.
Winters in the Northwest are much colder than in Yongzhou.
While Li Chang'an was waiting for news from Li Cunxiao, Zhuge Liang rushed to the Prince's residence.
Covered in snowflakes, Zhuge Liang sat down by Li Chang'an's stove.
"Your Highness, this year's snow disaster is exceptionally severe. It is estimated that many of the refugees in Qingcang will freeze to death again."
Every winter is the most difficult time for the refugees of Qingcang to get through.
Huang Boren, who is usually indifferent, will never help the refugees under Xu Xiao's orders.
Two hundred thousand refugees, and it is common for thousands to die each year.
Zhuge Liang was anxious, but he couldn't figure out Li Chang'an's thoughts.
Although Shazhou is now relatively wealthy, those displaced people have nothing to do with Shazhou.
Let thousands freeze to death, then recruit them again the following spring; it will be more effective.
"Your Highness, this old minister does not know how to handle this."
Li Chang'an pondered for a moment and then said, "What's there to say? Of course we have to save them."
"You are in charge of allocating the funds, and have Zhang Yichao lead people to provide support."
Since we are still relatively wealthy, there is no need to let thousands of people die in vain.
Zhuge Liang stood up and bowed deeply, saying, "Your Highness is benevolent and righteous."
Li Chang'an laughed and said, "Kongming, Shazhou is different from Qingzhou. What I want is the hearts of the people."
He almost blurted out, "Those who accomplish great things must put people first."
"Since I have some free time in winter, I shall also make a trip."
Zhuge Liang nodded and said, "Your Highness's insight is brilliant; the people's hearts are with us."
That afternoon, Li Chang'an, Zhang Yichao, and Zhao Dingxiu left Jinchang with 5,000 Guiyi soldiers and winter clothing.
Qingcang County is the most desolate county in Shazhou, so desolate that no officials are stationed there.
There is no prosperity or hustle and bustle of Yongzhou here, only vast snowfields and endless mountains.
The mountains and rivers were covered in snow, a pristine white expanse, as if it were the purest existence in the world.
The biting north wind howled past, whipping up a flurry of snowflakes, like a thousand horses galloping by.
In this frozen world, one can occasionally see a few lonely thatched huts with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys.
In the heavy snow, Li Chang'an saw several strong, 11 or 12-year-old boys playing football.
Upon closer inspection, he realized that the soccer ball was indeed a skull.
The legend that the refugees of Qingcang kicked the heads of Beiliang soldiers like balls seems to be true.
As Li Chang'an's troops gradually approached, the children all fled back into the city.
On the crumbling city walls, poorly armed archers stood ready for battle.
Over the years, the Northern Liang army has repeatedly used refugees to train its troops here.
Zhang Yichao took the lead and shouted, "We are not the Northern Liang army!"
"His Highness the Tang Emperor has personally come to bring you winter clothing and food."
The news quickly spread that there were now hundreds of thousands of displaced people scattered throughout the county town.
Many of these refugees, dressed in tattered clothes and with their faces red from the cold wind, squeezed out of the city gate to watch.
Before long, a dozen or so elderly people from among the refugees squeezed out of the crowd.
They didn't dare to fully trust Li Chang'an, so they came to negotiate first.
Among these refugees were many remnants of the fallen kingdoms of Northern Han and Western Shu.
Some former officials recognized Zhao Dingxiu at a glance.
"Scholar Zhao, you're here too!"
Zhao Dingxiu also saw several of his colleagues, and his eyes immediately reddened. He dismounted.
Seeing his former colleagues now dressed in rags, trapped in this desolate northwest wilderness for years, Zhao Dingxiu felt a pang of heartache.
When colleagues and fellow townsmen meet, tears are always shed on the spot.
As a result, the elderly people in these guesthouses gradually lowered their guard and arranged for young and strong men to move their belongings.
Li Chang'an, along with Zhang Yichao and Zhao Dingxiu, began to inspect the city.
An old man said, "Your Highness, more than a dozen people froze to death yesterday."
"If it weren't for your help, tens of thousands of people might have frozen to death in Qingcang County this winter."
As Li Chang'an listened to the old man's rambling description of the current situation, his gaze was drawn to the displaced people scrambling to receive supplies.
A frail old woman, dragging a frozen leg, was leading a boy who looked a few years old.
Both of them were wearing straw sandals and were shivering in the cold wind.
Li Chang'an walked to the child's side and asked softly, "Are you cold?"
The boy's eyes darted around, clearly afraid of Li Chang'an, who was clad in armor.
"cold."
An old woman with a child couldn't even snatch anything good when they tried to grab it.
Looking at the child whose ears, hands, and feet were covered in frostbite, Li Chang'an felt a pang of pity.
He took off his cloak and was about to tie it on the child.
Looking at this poor child, Zhao Dingxiu, a scholar by training, was already heartbroken.
Upon seeing Li Chang'an's actions, he immediately knelt down.
"Your Highness is of noble birth; you mustn't do this!"
Li Chang'an shook his head and resolutely took off his cloak and draped it over the boy's shoulders.
"A mere robe for a brave young man from the sandbar, this king has made a profit!"
Chapter 215 Xue Songguan is besieged, and the Northern Barbarian Demonic Path invades the border!
The refugees were already deeply moved that Li Chang'an was able to send them clothes and food despite the freezing weather.
After all, Li Chang'an was a high-ranking prince, just like the Northern Liang King who had bullied them for years.
Now, Li Chang'an's move has completely won over the hearts of more than a dozen senior officials in charge.
The elderly people knelt down in the snow, tears welling in their eyes.
Gradually, all the refugees present knelt down in the snow.
More than ten years have passed, and finally someone remembers that refugees are also human beings.
"His Highness the Tang Emperor is merciful!"
"Thank you so much, Your Highness, for saving my life!"