According to Yuan Zhao, the status of the Tianshan faction in martial arts is very special. When the Cheng Dynasty was first established, it also set up the Western Regions Protectorate like the Han Dynasty before and after the Han Dynasty to govern the countries of the Western Regions. However, more than 100 years ago, the Qiang people rose rapidly, moved south from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, occupied the fertile plains of the Hexi Corridor, cut off the communication between the Central Plains and the Western Regions, and the Cheng Dynasty failed to crusade several times, so they could only acquiesce to the Qiang people's occupation of the Hexi Corridor.

The Western Regions states, which had been vassals in the Central Plains, were subject to the pressure of the Qiang people, and instead claimed to be vassals to the Kangju State in the West, and the Western Regions Protectorate was in vain, so the imperial court canceled the Western Regions Protectorate and ordered subordinate officials at all levels to return to the Central Plains. The last protector of the Western Regions was cut off by the Qiang people on the way back, so he led everyone to the foot of the Tianshan Mountains and founded the Tianshan Sect, a martial arts sect.

Because it is inextricably linked with the Central Plains, although it is located in the Western Regions, the Tianshan faction has always been regarded as the same sect by the Central Plains martial arts sect. In addition, the proximity to Xiqiang made it convenient to spy on news, so the Tianshan faction communicated closely with the imperial court and often reported the movements of Xiqiang to the Central Plains.

"Oh, I see. After listening to Yuan Zhao's explanation, I understood why Yuan Zhao believed in Ge Dongxiao's words. But I still have a slight question in my heart: Could it be that Xiqiang is ignorant of what the Tianshan faction is doing, and why are they so "magnanimous" to the spies around them?

"The Tianshan faction is not located within the borders of Xiqiang, and since all the countries in the Western Regions are under the protection of Kangju, Xiqiang does not dare to act rashly against them, so as not to promote Dacheng and Kangju to join forces and fall into a situation of being caught between two sides. ”

Faced with my question, Yuan Zhao gave an answer. "Isn't it just that Xiqiang cuts off the traffic between the east and the west? Yuan Zhao shook his head with a smile and said, "Wouldn't that be self-cutting off your own financial route?"

Yuan Zhao saw that I didn't understand, so he explained in detail: "Xiqiang is a nomadic country with limited financial resources, and the Hexi Corridor is the only way to pass through the Silk Road, and there are a lot of caravans going back and forth every year, and the toll tax on the caravans is an important economic source for Xiqiang, so Xiqiang will never cut off traffic." ”

"Isn't that a bitter merchant?" I could not help but interject. Yuan Zhao took the reins of the horse and nodded and said: "Yes, the tax burden in Xiqiang is extremely heavy, and the goods passing by are taxed according to the standard of three out of ten and four out of ten. I heard that this alone can make a profit of tens of millions of taels of silver a year. ”

"So much!" Yuan Zhao's words caused me to shout loudly, and I couldn't help but worry in my heart, if I allowed Xiqiang to expand its strength, would it be like the Mongols and Jurchens to invade the Central Plains?

"Now there are Xianbei in the north and Qiang people in the west, surrounded by barbarians, and it may not be a good strategy to defend with heavy troops alone. In this regard, Yuan Zhao was very pessimistic.

For a long time, I have always had a question in my heart, why can only a few hundred thousand or even tens of thousands of nomads drive directly across the vast land of the Central Plains without anyone being able to stop them, while the Han people with a population of tens of millions are often unable to resist the attacks of the other side? "Senior brother, why do you say we can't defeat the Qiang and Xianbei people?" I asked Yuan Zhao angrily.

Yuan Zhao sighed and said slowly: "I talked to Master about this problem before, and Master told me at that time that Barbarians have learned riding and archery skills since they were young, which we Han people cannot compare with, and another reason is the lack of good horses. ”

Yuan Zhao glanced at me and suddenly changed the topic: "Senior sister, have you paid attention to the horse that Ge Dongxiao is riding?" "Pay attention to it," I hurriedly replied: "His horse is tall and strong, and he has more spirit than us to ride." I gestured and patted the mane of the horse I was riding underneath me. My horse seemed to understand what I meant, and snorted twice.

"That's the sweaty BMW he was riding from the Western Regions!" "What's this," I felt dissatisfied with Yuan Zhao's words, since Xiqiang didn't cut off the traffic, wouldn't it be enough to spend some money to sell some from the Western Regions. "You think those barbarians are all fools, wait for your strength to grow before you fight him, they will never let the Central Plains get a chance to get a good horse. Yuan Zhao's words pulled me back to reality.

"Whether it is the Qiang people or the Xianbei people, it is strictly forbidden for horses to flow into the Central Plains, and if they are caught, they will be beheaded. Yuan Zhao said and made a head-killing gesture with his hand. "Senior sister, think about it, can a Han man riding a short and small horse defeat a barbarian riding a tall horse?" I shook my head.

After talking about state affairs with Yuan Zhao for a whole day, my mood couldn't help but be a little heavy, Yuan Zhao and I didn't talk for a long time, and the atmosphere seemed very dull, and at this time, God also seemed to be in a bad mood, and pulled down his face gloomily. "Senior brother, where did you hear about these things?" In order to adjust the atmosphere, I changed the topic to a lighter topic.

Yuan Zhao was also very cooperative, and said with a relaxed face: "Last year, I accompanied Master to visit the head of the Tianshan faction, and I came from hearsay at that time. That's right!" Yuan Zhao seemed to remember something, and his voice suddenly rose an octave: "Senior sister, the jade bracelet I gave you is the one I bought by the way." Yuan Zhao's words reminded me, anyway, it's almost home now, so just take out the jade bracelet and put it on.

I told Yuan Zhao what I thought, and Yuan Zhao smiled at me noncommittally and said, "Whatever you want." "Ula~ I immediately took off the burden on my shoulders and put it on my chest to rummage through. Yuan Zhao looked at me with a smile on his face.

Due to the excessive excitement, I forgot that I was actually riding on a horse, and both hands released the reins of the horse, and I was so concentrated on finding something that I almost fell off the horse without paying attention, but Yuan Zhao was quick and helped me.

"Found it!" I held the jade bracelet high and carefully slipped it over my wrist. Looking at the crystal clear jade bracelet, although I am very happy in this era, I do not deny that I have always held the hope that when this jade bracelet can send me back again. "Senior sister, I didn't expect you to like this bracelet so much. Seeing my excited face, Yuan Zhao said with a little emotion on the side: "It seems that I am not a failure as a person." ”

"What do you mean?" Yuan Zhao said for no reason, I am like a monk of Zhanger. "I finally gave you something you like. Yuan Zhao's answer was very unexpected to me, I didn't expect me to have such a weight in his heart, and I couldn't help but blush.

"Please, big brother, your life ideals are so low, you should dream of dominating the martial arts and being the leader of the martial arts alliance like the Sword Saint..."

Yuan Zhao seemed to see through my mind at a glance, smiled mockingly and said, "What's so good about being a sword master, in the end, it's not that the hairy boy has cleaned it up." With that, the two of us looked at each other and giggled. After some laughter, Yuan Zhao and I gradually improved our mood, and since it was getting late and there were signs of rain, Yuan Zhao and I hurried to the next town.

"Come on, junior sister, after passing the ridge in front, you should be able to get there. Yuan Zhao grabbed the reins of the horse and pointed forward with a horsewhip to cheer me up for my panting. "Okay... I can finally rest again...", I replied breathlessly as I lay on my horse. "Hold on for a few more days, and we'll be able to get to Hanzhong, and the rest of the road will be easy. Yuan Zhao said and took out the bamboo tube, unscrewed the lid and took a sip of water.

I lazily stood up from the horse, and was about to ride forward, when I suddenly felt that Yuan Zhao on the side looked a little wrong, and his face was ugly, I panicked in my heart, and hurriedly stepped forward to ask about the situation: "Senior brother, what's wrong with you?"