"The First Jiedushi of the Tang Dynasty", also known as "The Jiedushi of the Tang Dynasty", the novel takes the birth and evolution of the Jiedushi system in the Tang Dynasty as the main line, focusing on the process of this military and political system that influenced the national destiny of the Tang Dynasty from its inception to its peak and then gradually getting out of control, especially focusing on the fate of the first generation of Jiedushi groups.
The story begins in the early Tang Dynasty, when the military system collapsed and the border crisis gradually emerged. The generals based on Wang Zhongsi and other early Jiedu envoys shouldered the important task of integrating the border troops and resisting the invasion of Turks, Tubo, Khitan and other foreign tribes during the periods of Gaozong, Empress Wu and Xuanzong. They were not only the sharp blades for the empire to expand its territory, for example, Wang Zhongsi once wore the Jiedu Seal of the Four Towns, controlled hundreds of thousands of strings, and built a strong defense line in northern Xinjiang with his illustrious military exploits; they were also the focus of the power game between the central government and the frontiers - Jiedu envoys held military power, financial power, and administrative power. They were not only an efficient setup to deal with the complex situation on the frontier, but also planted hidden dangers that could not be eliminated.
The work deeply depicts the loyalty and struggle of the first generation of Jiedu envoys: they took "protecting the territory and the people" as their creed, and worked tirelessly at the bitter cold border. For example, Wang Zhongsi strongly advised Xuanzong not to start the war lightly, and adhered to the concept of "securing the border rather than using force." However, they could not escape the squabbles in the court, or they might be jealous of their superiors due to their high achievements (such as Wang Zhongsi was demoted), or they had a difficult balance between imperial power and local forces. At the same time, through their perspectives, it shows the transformation trajectory of the Jieduzhi system from "a powerful weapon in border towns" to "the prototype of a vassal town", reflecting the key points of the Tang Dynasty's transition from prosperity to decline - from "Jiedu armies commanding all directions" in the heyday of Xuanzong's Kaiyuan Dynasty, to the undercurrent of out-of-control power during the Tianbao period, which ultimately paved the way for the Anshi Rebellion.
