"Holy Lord, the 'Silk Road Alliance' and the Black Ice Platform have sent a similar piece of information." Ling Jing arched his hand.

Yang Tong asked, "What's the matter?" ”

"It's about the Western Turks!" Without Yang Tong asking, Ling Jing continued, "Since the Yehu Khan was killed by the Holy Lord, the Western Turks fell into the chaos of the division of the heroes, and the royal family established the son of Yehu as the Yehu Khan. However, he soon aroused the dissatisfaction of his subordinates and was attacked and killed. After the death of the Khan, the clan Ashina Ni was proclaimed as Khan, that is, the Dulu Khan. Soon after, he died in the war, and his younger brother Ashina Tongru ascended the throne as the Dulu Khan. The Dulu Khan was also a relatively talented British lord, and was known as the Western Turk Twin Heroes along with the self-reliant Geluluq, but this man, like the Tongye Hu Khan, was a tyrant, and he extorted tyranny and oppressed the nine Sogdian states and his subordinates too harshly, and it was this heavy tax that forced the Sogdians to rebel. ”

Yang Tong nodded, and asked again: "Lu Khan suppressed the rebellion?" ”

"No, it's more serious now. At first, it was just an ordinary herdsman's choice, but now it has spread to the kings of the nine Sogdian states, and the Dulu Khan is unstable internally, and there is a great enemy of Gollulu outside, and the war is quite fierce. In addition, Persia, Tocharian and other countries conquered by the Western Turks broke out against the Western Turks, and the waves of troops were surging, and the armies of various countries killed the officials of the Western Turks and attacked the garrison of the Dulu Khan, which made him so anxious that he had to transfer the army fighting against the Golluqs to suppress the uprising in the West. ”

Ashina Simo established his Khan court east of the Altai Mountains, and west of the Altai Mountains was the Western Turks, and Ling Jing told the situation of the Western Turks in order to let Yang Tong have a reference when he met Ashina Simo.

"In this way, Ashnasimo is prepared with two hands, one is to unify the East/Turks, and the other is to develop westward?" Yang Tong understood what Ling Jing meant.

"Weichen does think so, but Weichen and Yang Shangshu have tried many times, and his goal is to unify the Eastern/Turkic, as if he doesn't know the changes in the Western Turks."

"Someone, invite the southern khan!" Yang Tong pondered for a long time, thinking that instead of guessing? Why don't you just ask clearly? However, the change of the Western Turks has become a direction for his development? If it works properly? Da Sui could have gotten a piece of meat from it.

"Whoa." Outside the tent came the voice of the herald.

Soon, the 'head snake' Li Keshi brought Ashina Simo into the big tent? When he approached, he bowed down and bowed: "Ashina Simo to see the saint?" Congratulations to the Holy Lord on his victory. ”

He went from a concubine to a khan? It was completely a gift from Yang Dong and the Great Sui, and the title was also given by Yang Tong, and he was given the golden wolf flag of "Heirloom Jade Seal", which made him both in awe and grateful to Yang Tong? Therefore, he has always regarded himself as a courtier. But what is the so-called demand for others? The heart is empty, and when facing Yang Tong, there is a different feeling in my heart.

"The Southern Khan is excused, please be seated."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ashina Simo bowed respectfully, and then took his seat.

The purpose of his visit is very simple? Is it hoped that with the support of the Great Sui, he can become the overlord of the grassland? But the premise is to defeat the forces of Jieli Khan, Xue Yantuo, Qibi He Li, and Huanggasi.

Defeat a force on your own? It's not impossible, but it's costly? What if you go weak? I'm afraid it will only cheapen others? If there was a strong Sui army to help, it would not be a problem. It's just that Yang Shidao and Ling Jing's attitudes are very ambiguous, and they don't express their stance at all, and Ashina Simo knows that only Yang Tong can make decisions about this kind of major matter.

"I know the intention of the Southern Khan." Yang Tong glanced at him and said with a smile: "You have to silently support the Great Sui all these years, and in return, I am also willing to see you unify the Eastern/Turkic and end the strife on the grassland." ”

Yang Tong's statement made Ashina Simo overjoyed and made him see a ray of light, but Yang Tong's voice changed, and he said: "But you also know that the battle between the Sui and Tang Dynasties is about to happen, and we will not be able to enter the grassland for the time being, please understand my difficulties and wait patiently." ”

Yang Tong's attitude is very obvious, you fight for life and death by yourself, and you don't have half-dime headlines with me, but if you want the Great Sui to send troops, there is no crack in the door, which makes Ashina Simo's hope completely disappointed.

But Ashina Simo didn't want to give up so simply, he not only came by himself this time, but also in the name of rewarding the Sui army, he paid tribute to three million cattle and sheep in one go, and the jade, jewelry, and gold of the Altai Mountains were all sent to Daxing, which can be said to be a lot of blood, this is the wealth he has collected through continuous wars in recent years, although it will not make him break his muscles and bones, but it has also cost seventy or eighty percent, if he runs back like this, I am afraid that the generals under his command will also be greatly dissatisfied, doubting his leadership ability, It's just because these belongings are not Ashina Simo alone, but everyone donates them very painfully in order to get more returns.

He arched his hand and said: "The minister can understand the saint, but Jieli has been ready to move all these years, and the minister is worried that he will collude with the Western Turks again, if the Western Turks return to the grassland, we will be enemies on both sides, and we are not their opponents at all, and please understand the minister's feelings." ”

"You can rest assured." Yang Tong understood what Ashina Simo meant, he was not afraid of Jieli Khan, but worried that he would be attacked on both sides, since this was the case, it would be easy to do. He smiled and said: "As far as I know, Persia, Sogdia, Tocharian and other countries enslaved by the Western Turks are all rebelling, and the tide of rebellion has swept the entire Western Turks. The Western Turkic Khan, the Lulu Khan, could not send a single soldier. ”

Ashnasimo was overjoyed and hurriedly asked, "Holy Lord, is this true?" ”

"Am I going to lie to you?"

"Of course not, the minister is so excited." Ashina Simo hurriedly said, what he was most worried about was that Jieli and the Western Turks would form an alliance again, if the Western Turks advanced eastward, he would definitely be defeated, Yang Tong's news made him overjoyed, but what made him extremely depressed was that just one news would cost them seventy or eighty percent of their wealth, which was too expensive, and it was not an exaggeration to say that it was sky-high.

Yang Tong said again: "However, Jieli and Yi Nan are related by marriage, if you attack Jieli, Yi Nan may send troops, I suggest that you reach an alliance with Qi Bi He Li, so that he can contain Yi Nan's Xue Yantuo from the east." ”

"Thank you for your advice." In fact, Ashina Simo also thinks so.

"Your strength is not much different from Jieli, you are in a situation of equal strength, the odds of victory are not very large, I suggest that you conquer the northern Quegasi first, first, the strength of the Rigas is weak, easy to conquer; The second is that when you advance eastward, your Khan court will be able to have one less evil neighbor full of variables; The third is to use the wealth and manpower of the Gaz to enhance their own strength. ”

"Thank you for your advice." Ashina Simo thought about it carefully, and felt that Yang Tong's method of eating small and enlarged was indeed quite suitable for him, he bowed very gratefully, and asked with an attitude of seeking advice: "When the minister attacked the Huanggas, do you think Jieli would send troops?" ”

"Jieli will not sit idly by and watch you grow, and the possibility of sending troops is extremely great. But don't worry, although the Great Sui will not send troops to help for the time being, he can station an army in Yicheng City to contain Jieli for you from the south, so that he will not dare to act rashly. ”

"Thank you." Ashina Simo was very excited, although Yang Tong did not agree to send troops, but his attitude was very clear, that is, the Great Sui never was impartial and neutral, and changed to support him Ashina Simo, instead of Jieli Khan, who also paid tribute to the Great Sui, which was a good start.

。。。。。。

After sending Ashina Simo away, Yang Tong took Yang Shidao and Ling Jing to inspect the salt-making workshop, let them see the whole process of salt-making, and then went to watch the sheep and horse pens east of the Chaka Salt Lake, which were paid from the battlefield, Tuyuhun, and the ransom redeemed by the kings of the three kingdoms of Tubo were raised here, not to mention more than 2 million cattle, sheep and horses, which were guarded and stocked by slaves.

"The Holy Master intends to assist Ashnasimo in unifying the grassland?" The change in Yang Tong's attitude made Yang Shidao very worried, and he was worried that Yang Dong would raise tigers and make Ashnasimo and his grandson become the second Shibi Khan.

"I know in my heart that it is absolutely impossible for the Eastern/Turkic Turks to be unified again." Yang Tong said with a smile: "The two brothers are similar in strength and evenly matched, but in terms of ruling ability and personal charm, Ashina Simo is far inferior to the wise and brave Jieli Khan, if there is no Great Sui containment, Ashina Simo will be defeated." Presumably, he himself doesn't have much confidence, so in addition to annexing small and medium-sized tribes over the years, he has been developing silently, and he does not dare to take the initiative to provoke Jieli Khan, which is the conflict between the two sides, and it is mostly provoked by Jieli. If I don't give him a little courage, how can the Eastern/Turkic fight each other? ”

"......" Yang Shidao and Ling Jing had a black line, and they all felt silent for the excited Ashina Simo.

Yang Shidao asked, "The Holy Lord is worried that Ashnasimo will be defeated too quickly and will not be able to achieve the effect of severely damaging the Eastern/Turkic bones, so he instigated Ashnasimo to annex Igas to increase his chances of victory?" ”

Yang Tong nodded and said: "I'm not afraid of the Eastern/Turkic trouble, I'm afraid that the situation will develop too quickly, and the dust will settle before my Great Sui vitality recovers, and the new overlord will be decided." Now sit back and watch them kill each other, and when the strength of both sides is almost weakened, we will be peacemakers again, and let them be in the middle of war all the time. ”

Yang Shidao's spirits perked up, if this was the case, then his worries would not come true, he smiled and asked again, "Has the Holy Lord ever thought about occupying the Eastern/Turkic steppe?" ”

"Not only the Eastern and Western Turks, but even the Western Regions, Tibet, Nanzhao, Goguryeo, Silla, Baekje and other countries, I want to occupy them all, and I want to run them into counties like the Central Plains."

Yang Tong sighed: "It's just that we have many internal contradictions, and the southerners are estranged from the imperial court, if the southerners can't completely return to their hearts, I am worried that the south will recur at some dangerous moments, so before the people of Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Jiaozhou, and Yizhou return to their hearts, we can only let the neighbors maintain the status quo." After the annihilation of the pseudo-Tang Dynasty, I decided to spend ten or even twenty years to recuperate and recuperate, and build the interior into a country like an iron bucket. ”

"The Holy Lord's decision is really surprising."

"What's the surprise?"

Yang Shidao said truthfully: "In our thoughts, unifying the world is only the first step of the saint, and then the conquest of the four wildernesses will be made, who would have thought that the saint would stop the pace of conquest." ”

"Do you really think I'm a war maniac?" Yang Tong said speechlessly: "There are indeed many places in the world that we need to conquer, but whether a dynasty is strong or not is not determined by the size of the domain, but whether the people can live a good life." ”

"Holy Wisdom." Yang Shidao and Ling Jing secretly breathed a sigh of relief. These ministers, what they are most afraid of is reckless military force, just because Yang Tong gives everyone the feeling that he is a war maniac, and now it seems that Yang Tong is more far-reaching than they think.

"When we recuperate for more than ten or twenty years, these places will be incorporated into the territory of the Great Sui, not only the Eastern and Western Turks, the Western Regions, Goguryeo, Silla, Baekje, Tubo, Tianzhu, Nibrata, but also the more distant West will be conquered one by one, this is my dream, I hope to have this day in my lifetime." Yang Tong sighed deeply, his dream was to run the Great Sui Dynasty more brilliant than the Tang Dynasty in history, richer than the Song Dynasty, and more extensive than the places conquered by Genghis Khan.

"The Holy One is still very young, there must be this day." Yang Shidao is full of confidence.

"I also think so, in fact, after we unify the world, we can still take care of both internal and external, on the one hand, we can rest and recuperate, and on the other hand, we can let the eleventh army and the navy take turns to attack, to nourish the war with war, to train the troops with war, and we must not let the country we know become strong."

"......" Yang Shidao was speechless.

He was so moved before!

However, all of a sudden, the previous words were overturned, and the next thing was to fight.

It's all unpredictable and fickle, but it's inevitably becoming too fast, right?

The words of recuperation echo in my ears.

But he didn't say anything.

Just because everyone has tasted the fruits of war by war, it is not impossible to harvest the fruits of foreign labor every year or two in the future.

As long as the Great Sui keeps winning, the army will become stronger and stronger, and the enemy will become weaker and weaker.

"See the Holy One." At this time, more than a dozen officials saw Yang Tong coming and saluted one after another, they were all officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce who came with Yang Shidao and Ling Jing to take over the cattle, sheep and horses.

Yang Tong motioned for them to be even, and ordered: "Starting tomorrow, you will bring some slaves, drive all these cattle, sheep and horses to Daxing, and I will send 2,000 county soldiers to protect them." ”

"Holy Lord, if all these cattle, sheep and horses are handed over to the imperial court, it will be difficult for the imperial court to bear it." Yang Shidao suddenly became anxious: "The cattle and horses are fine, and they can be divided into farming." This sheep is like locusts, they eat when they see green, if these millions of sheep pour into Daxing, I am afraid that it will not be long before the land of Guanzhong is gnawed bare by them. On the contrary, the West Sea and the source of the river are suitable for sheep grazing. ”

Ling Jing was also anxious, "Yes, Holy Lord, the more than 300 cattle and sheep that Ashina Simo paid tribute went all the way, all the way to the scourge, and the scourge in Guanzhong was not in shape, if you add this gang, it won't be long before Guanzhong will become a desert." ”

"......" Yang Tong couldn't cry or laugh, he was a human being in two lives, and it was the first time he heard people compare sheep to locusts, but it was not unreasonable, because overherding sheep led to a great loss of vegetation and soil erosion.

He hurriedly explained: "Don't be captive by the imperial court, as long as the imperial court distributes it." ”

Seeing that everyone didn't quite understand what he meant, he said: "The people of the Han Dynasty enthusiastically supported Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in his western expedition against the Xiongnu, but when the Han Dynasty army returned triumphantly, they brought back tens of millions of cattle, sheep, horses and other trophies, but Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty would rather these cattle, sheep and horses die than give one to the people and soldiers, causing the people to boil over; When Emperor Wu of the Great Sui Dynasty made his first northern tour, the Qimin Khan and the Tiele tribes also paid tribute to tens of millions of cattle and sheep, most of which were buried by death, and the waste was very amazing, and we must learn these lessons. ”

Yang Tong said the treatment plan and said: "According to the previous principle, the cattle and horses were distributed to the people of Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou counties to cultivate the fields; As for the sheep, they will all be distributed to the soldiers of the Great Sui, whether it is the soldiers of the 11th Army Corps, or the soldiers who are temporarily recruited, whether it is the soldiers of the south or the soldiers, they will get a share, so as to motivate the soldiers, and also let ordinary people see that the soldiers are well paid, so that the wind of martial arts spreads all over the world. ”