The Hexi Corridor Zhenyi and the Gaotai Garrison Qianhu Office in the Ming Dynasty

地处西北边地的镇夷、高台二守御千户所是明代设置于“河西走廊”中北段的基层地理、军事单位，属“军管型政区”。二所终因边疆形势的变化及战略位置的重要性最终固定、延续，至清雍正时县制变革，镇夷所归入高台县。所在地方社会的人口数量、屯田水利、儒学教育的发展状况不仅是自身地方社会的重要内容，在一定程度也折射出河西地区的历史发展。二所依托山川行胜、资源条件因地制宜，构筑起一整套御边工程，其目的意在迟滞来犯之敌，且与邻进的肃、甘二边卫形成联合防御的犄角之势，牵制着故元贵族的进一步深入南下的步伐，是明政府卫所在管控河西、防范虏患的缩影。Located in the northwest borderland, Zhenyi and Gaotai Garrison Qianhu Office are grassroots geographical and military units set up in the central and northern section of the “Hexi Corridor” in the Ming Dynasty, and belong to the “military management political region”. Due to the changes in the border situation and the importance of the strategic location, the two institutes were finally fixed and continued, until the county system was changed during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, and the Zhenyi Institute was subsumed into Gaotai County. The population of the local society, the development of Tuntian water conservancy and Confucian education are not only important contents of the local society, but also reflect the historical development of the Hexi region to a certain extent. Relying on the victory of mountains and rivers and the resource conditions according to local conditions, the two institutes have built a complete set of border projects, the purpose of which is to delay the invading enemy, and form a joint defense with the neighboring Su and Gansu border guards, and restrain the further southward pace of the ancient Yuan nobles, which is the epitome of the Ming government’s guard office to control Hexi and prevent captivity.