When he left Qiongyu Villa after taking a bath and changing clothes, Qin Mubai felt that this place was quiet and pleasant, and the wind and moon were boundless.

"Mei Niang, you know more about romance than me, and you can enjoy it more." Smiling slightly, Qin Mubai left this gentle township and went to the Dadu Governor's Mansion.

Since coming to Lanzhou, I have been busy for days. Recently, all the work has gradually stepped onto the right track, and Qin Mubai has finally been a little more relaxed. After Su Dingfang came to Lanzhou to serve as the governor of the Governor's Mansion, most of the military affairs could be handled by him, and Xiao Liang was not allowed to take care of civil affairs and civil affairs, and Qin Mubai, who had the help of his left and right arms, was finally relieved.

Today, he came to the Governor's Mansion much later than usual, but he was not in the way at all. In the morning, Su Dingfang and Xiao Liang had already handled the day's matters properly, leaving only some important things for Qin Mubai to come to the district to decide.

Fang just entered the Governor's Mansion and was bumping into Su Dingfang head-on.

Su Dingfang doesn't speak much on weekdays, but his mind is extremely meticulous and sophisticated. At first glance, he looked at Qin Mubai, and when he saw that there was no one around, he smiled and said: "Mubai is proud of the spring breeze today, and he must have been sad last night." ”

"Senior brother will only make fun of me." Qin Mubai smiled easily, then sat down to get a cup of tea to drink, and asked casually, "Is there any important military affairs to be approved?" ”

"Not really." Su Dingfang replied, "However, there are a few things that need to be reported to the young marshal. ”

"Tell me about it." Speaking of business, the two of them resumed their identities as superiors and subordinates, and Qin Mubai's expression became a little solemn.

"First, Liu Shanyin, the Qing of Honglu Temple, has set off this morning and went to Tubo via Dafeichuan to discuss peace and marriage." Speaking of this, Su Dingfang paused and said with a smile, "The young marshal has not had much contact with that Liu Shanyin. This person is a wonderful person. ”

"How?"

"Clever tongue and strong strain. Meticulous and thoughtful, wise and foolish. Su Ding's dialect said succinctly, "It is appropriate for the imperial court to send him as an envoy." Regardless of this, some subtle actions when he was about to leave were of great interest to the lowly office. ”

"What did he do?"

Su Dingyi smiled and said, "He has prepared four portraits of Princess Wencheng, with different beauty and ugliness and different expressions. Before leaving, he asked the king of Jiangxia which painting he should show to Tubo Zampu. King Jiangxia is such a delicate character, naturally he will not explain it clearly. So he glanced at him with a cold face, and only threw down the sentence 'You look at it'. Then Liu Shanyin burned the other three portraits. ”

"The ugliest one left?" Qin Mubai laughed.

"The young marshal is smart." Su Dingfang also smiled, "How else to say it, this Liu Shanyin is a wonderful person?" When he came to Lanzhou, he should have known that Lanzhou was at least handsome, and it was all a main battle. I can't say, although this person is pedantic and weak on the surface, he also has a bit of manly blood in his bones, and he is probably inclined to the main battle faction. Just because of his humble words, he is not conspicuous in the court. His actions when he was about to leave were nothing more than to make his position clear to the king of Jiangxia and the young marshal. There was such an envoy who sent an envoy to Tibet, and he thought it was ......."

Qin Mubai's eyebrows sank, and a star flashed in his eyes. The two of them nodded in understanding, and stopped picking and talking.

"Young marshal, now that I am in Lanzhou, I have to prepare for both." Su Dingfang said, "First, if the harmony is achieved, then Tubo will become the country of my nephew of the Tang League, and the defense center and main force of my Lanzhou can be moved to the northwest, and the main energy will be focused on the establishment of the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate through the Western Regions." Second, if peace and intimacy fail, war is imminent. At present, my troops in Kansai are too scattered and the front is too long, whether the young marshal can discuss with the marshal, can temporarily withdraw to the Gaochang stronghold and retreat to be conservative, but can first stand undefeated, and then Xu Tu will forge ahead. After all, the Western Regions are vast and thousands of miles wide, and the situation is complicated, and the two courts of Tibet and the Western Turks in the north and south are strong. With the power of Lanzhou County, it is not able to compete for the time being! ”

"I've been thinking about this matter for a long time, and I've always wanted to ask my father to withdraw it first." Qin Mubai twisted his eyebrows, shook his head in embarrassment, and said, "However, even if Father understands such a truth, he will definitely not withdraw it." Otherwise, he would not be the Tang Shangzhu Kingdom with the name of the God of War. ”

"That......'s right," Su Dingfang sighed with deep feelings, and said, "The hero of Yiguo Gong I is bright and fair, and only His Majesty the Emperor is the first to look forward. If His Majesty the Emperor hadn't asked him to withdraw his troops, he would never have taken half a step back. ”

"Wrong. This time, even if the emperor asked him to retreat, he might not retreat. Qin Mubai shook his head with a wry smile, "Otherwise, at the beginning, he would not have resisted the order and raised the eighteen formations of the Western Invasion and killed Gaochang in one go." My old father is probably acting out the last glory of his life, and he is not willing to live and die for it. At this moment, who can persuade him to pull him down? ”

"Since it is impossible for the commander to retreat, then we must follow as soon as possible." Su Dingfang said, "Xue Wanche of Liangzhou has been transferred to Yuyang Erguan and Puchanghai, but it is still hundreds of miles away from Gaochang. If something happens to Gaochang, he may not be able to rush to help. Moreover, Yuyang Erguan and Puchanghai are the key points and hubs of the Western Regions, which are not only the throat of my Lanzhou's military strategy, but also the gateway of a pair of fists. It is surrounded by enemies on all sides, and once the troops are scattered and the interior is empty, it is easy for people to take advantage of the weakness. At that time, not only will the previous efforts be wasted, but the belly of Lanzhou may also directly face the threat of the enemy. ”

"Senior brother is very worried. That's what I'm thinking about right now. Qin Mubai said with a worried face, "Say a thousand things and ten thousand, the biggest problem in Lanzhou now is that the battle line is too long and the troops are too small." In the past, my Lanzhou army of 100,000 people was firmly held as a group, guarding Dafeichuan and Liangzhou, and even if a million troops attacked, they could not be in a hurry. Now it's different, we have to attack cities and plunder land, but we also have to hold on to our territory, and we are still attacking the enemy thousands of miles by ourselves. So, although it is calm for a while, I always feel that there is a huge potential danger lurking. Once it erupts, it may not be able to be cleaned up. ”

Su Dingfang nodded solemnly and asked, "Then, what is the young marshal's clever plan?" ”

Qin Mubai raised his head, looked at Su Dingfang with burning eyes, and said word by word: "To tell the truth, I want to recruit soldiers!" ”

"Huh?" Su Dingfang was stunned, "Recruitment? ”

"Hmm." Qin Mubai snorted, his eyebrows sank and he said with some annoyance, "When I left Chang'an, the imperial court only gave me 10,000 soldiers and horses, and I had such an idea at that time. Previously, Lanzhou had a total of 100,000 border troops, and my father took away 20,000, and I brought back 10,000, plus the losses of the successive battles, saying that we now have 100,000 troops, which is just an imaginary number. With just such a few men and horses, it would be good to be able to resist the hundreds of thousands of plateau iron horsemen in Tibet. What to use to strategy and dominate the Western Regions? If you want me to say, some of the birdmen in the court are really full men who don't know how hungry men are hungry. When I was leaving, I gave me 10,000 soldiers and horses and tens of thousands of grain and grass, which should be a great favor, for fear that someone in Qin would support the army and redraw the territory. Now, apart from recruitment, I can't think of any other way to cure the symptoms and cure the root cause. ”

"You've finally said something useful!" As soon as Qin Mubai's voice fell, a high-pitched voice suddenly sounded outside the door.

Qin Mubai and Su Dingfang were both stunned, "Hou Junji? ”

At this time, Hou Junji had already pushed the door in uninvited, glanced at Qin Mubai and Su Dingfang left and right, and sneered: "Heh! It's all here, it's good, it's good! ”

Qin Mubai and Su Dingfang looked at each other and smiled, and arched their hands: "Senior brother." ”

"No, I can't afford it." Hou Junji replied with a big smile, then picked up a pot of tea, drank half a pot of tea, shook a horsewhip in his hand, sat down on all fours and snorted, "Qin Mubai, what kind of soldiers are you picking!" I don't practice anymore! ”

"What's wrong?" Qin Mubai asked.

"One by one, they are like pampered big girls, with fine skin and tender meat, they can't beat or scold, their subordinates don't have any work, their mouths are very hard, and they are not good at anything except eating, drinking, and Lazar." Hou Junji scolded repeatedly, "Such a soldier, that's in the bones, I Hou Junji can't take it." Even if Hou can nod his head into gold, it must be a stone first! You can't give me a lump of for me to get some! ”

"Haha!" Qin Mubai laughed, "Last night, who boasted about Haikou and said that it would be effective in just twenty days?" It's only been half a day, why did you give up? ”

"Mu Bai, you probably misunderstood what Senior Brother meant." Su Dingfang smiled faintly, arched his hand at Hou Junji and said, "Actually, Senior Brother is probably here to persuade you to recruit soldiers." ”

"Well, you kid is smarter than Qin Mubai." Hou Junji patted the dust on his legs and stood up, his eyes were sharp, his eyes were bright, and he looked at Qin Mubai, and said, "Qin Mubai, Guanlong was originally a place where Han and Hu lived together, and the people were fierce and strong, and the knights were majestic, and there were many heroes and martyrs since ancient times. If you don't recruit here, you're the best fool in the world. In addition, you have the largest horse farm in Datang - Longyou Horse Supervisor, and you can get 10,000 good horses at your fingertips. Believe me, in less than three months, I can train you 50,000 new elite iron cavalry - just add these 50,000 cavalry, sweep the plateau and level the Western Regions, no problem! ”

"Sweeping the plateau and leveling the Western Regions?" Qin Mubai couldn't help but smile and asked, "Senior brother, I'll ask you." In those days, you have been out of breath and dizzy? ”

"It's a little bit, but it's just that the water and soil are not adapted, what's wrong?" Hou Junji didn't care.

"The reason why the Tibetan Plateau is difficult to conquer, in addition to their fierce iron horses and frozen snowy regions, another important reason is because the air there is thin and ordinary people cannot adapt to it." Qin Mubai said, "The reason why I let Xue Wanjun garrison Dafeichuan work hard there is to use it as a big stronghold for counterattacking the plateau. Anyone who wants to set foot on the plateau in the future must be there for at least three months. Then, step by step, advance inch by inch. This is the general strategy formulated by Qin for Tubo. Of course, it's just a story for now. I'm telling you this just to illustrate one thing – what kind of period and what kind of environment, we can do what we should do, and we don't have to be too ambitious. ”

"Humph! Look at Ji Qingqing, but he is also so old-fashioned and can teach people. Hou Junji snorted depressedly and said, "Okay, when I didn't say it." I'm too lazy to point fingers at you. You are the Grand Duke, and everything is under your command. I'm just making a suggestion, it's going to work, right? ”

"Naturally." Qin Mubai said, "You also heard it just now, recruiting soldiers, I also thought of this." But it is not easy to implement it. ”

"That's your business! Hou can't take care of it! Leave! With that, Hou Junji strode away.

After Hou Junji left, Su Dingfang smiled and said: "Young marshal, Hou Junji is such a character, don't care." He actually had good intentions. The words are not rough, and they are quite reasonable. ”

"I know that." Qin Mubai smiled slightly and said, "How can the Sixteen Guards Army in the Guannei be compared to the strong knights of Guanxi in Helong?" Here the Han and Hu live together and produce good horses, people take horses as their families, and the people are fierce, and all of them are born good riders. Actually, I've had this idea for more than a day or two. But now, my Tang Dynasty implements the government military system, and there are only a very small number of imperial forest troops, which are recruited soldiers supported by the imperial court. If I want to set this precedent in Lanzhou, it will be a big disapproval. At that time, I don't know how many rumors and rumors said that I, Qin, was really going to support the army and stand up with self-respect. ”

"But if you don't recruit soldiers, it's really difficult for Lanzhou to support it right now." Su Dingfang's eyebrows were tightly locked, and he said, "This is really a big trouble!" ”

"Actually, even if the imperial court allows me to recruit soldiers, I may not be able to recruit many soldiers and horses." Qin Mubai said, "When you fight, you fight money and food. This time, if it weren't for Mei Niang privately raising a lot of grain and grass, our Lanzhou soldiers and civilians would have to run off cooking. In this situation, what does Qin use to recruit and raise soldiers? Hey, it's a vicious circle! The war not only blocked the trade routes, but also the poverty of Lanzhou. If Lanzhou is poor, it will not be able to develop and raise troops. On the side of the imperial court, he is always on guard against Lanzhou's every move. At the moment, it can be said that the situation is stalemate, unless, there can be a surprise army that suddenly breaks this balance and injects vitality into my Lanzhou. In this way, there is a future. ”

"Where did you come from such a surprise soldier from heaven?" Su Dingfang smiled bitterly, "Now, we are using the power of Lanzhou County to fight against the Tubo, Western Turks and Western Regions. To say what the young marshal doesn't want to hear the most, Su is sometimes too angry, and he hopes that he will succeed and give Lanzhou a chance to develop first, and then talk about other things. ”

"Why did you think about it? Princess Wencheng's biological father, King Jiangxia, also has such a contradiction in his heart, and has told me more than once. Qin Mubai sighed, "Of course he is a million unwilling to marry his daughter to the plateau." But at the moment, there seems to be no other way to delay the war except to negotiate and give marriage, so as to win a respite for my Lanzhou. What a contradiction, what a contradiction! I suddenly felt that no matter who was in front of the overall situation, it seemed so small and powerless. ”

"Young marshal, about the recruitment of soldiers, can you write to the court to test it?" Su Dingfang did not give up.

Qin Mubai's eyebrows tightened and pondered for a moment, and said, "I will definitely be tempted." However, no matter how you tempt, you can't go the ordinary way. If you write a recital and submit it to the court, you will definitely die when you see the light. Some people will even use my recitals as a lever and maybe even impeach me. After all, this is a deviant approach that violates the current Tang military system. ”

"Then, what about the request for reinforcements?"

"Stop dreaming! If I could give it, I would have given it when I was in Chang'an. Now that I am not in Chang'an, it is even more impossible. Qin Mubai sneered, "People are cold before they leave, not to mention that I am still far away?" ”

"That's good, hey!" Su Dingfang spread his hands and sighed heavily, and he was also worried.

Qin Mubai's mind suddenly lit up, "My God! How did I forget my killer feature! ”

"What? Why did the young marshal suddenly remember, your Qin family's golden outfit? Don't you want to practice martial arts? Su Dingfang was confused.

"Haha! Don't divulge it! Qin Mubai laughed and walked away, saying as he walked, "Senior brother, I'm going out for a few days." In recent days, the military and political affairs in the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion have been handed over to you and Xiao Liang to be responsible! ”

"Where is the young marshal going?" Su Dingfang asked in surprise.

"I'm leaving!" Qin Mubai threw down this sentence, and there was no one left.

Su Dingfang was at a loss, naturally he couldn't figure out a clue.

Leaving the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion, Qin Mubai went to the princess's trip, and said goodbye to Li Daozong and Princess Wencheng that he would go out for a few days, and he didn't have time to ask every day. As the head of a county, he naturally has a lot of things to do, and Li Daozong didn't ask much, but just told Qin Mubai, saying that he had told the envoy Liu Shanyin, saying that he would go to the plateau and whether the proposal and marriage would succeed or not, and that he would delay as long as possible. If he can delay for a day, he will be credited, and when he returns one day, the prince and the young marshal will not treat him badly.

Qin Mubai laughed and said, "It's still the prince's work to be safe and thorough!" Time is of the essence for us right now! Liu Shanyin is an inconspicuous little role, maybe he can play a decisive role in the future! The prince's words are priceless! ”

Li Daozong blinked suspiciously and looked at Qin Mubai, and said, "Do you have any plans?" ”

"Not yet, but maybe soon." Qin Mubai smiled mysteriously and said, "The prince will wait for a few days, and when Qin returns, he will talk to the prince in detail." ”

"Okay, you can get busy first!"

Later, Qin Mubai invited the four treasures of the study, wrote a letter and asked his henchmen to send them to Dafeichuan to Xue Wanjun, and then brought a henchman guard composed of only ten people, dressed up in civilian clothes, and left the Dadu Governor's Mansion to Qiongyu Villa.

Wu Meiniang was really resting in bed and didn't get up. Although it is not as exaggerated as the sick face, it is indeed a little haggard. If it weren't for the peach blossom with spring dew in her eyes, Qin Mubai would really think she was sick.

When Qin Mubai came, Wu Meiniang was lying on the couch with a book in her hand and flipping through it. As soon as he entered the door, Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "It's broken, it's broken!" ”

"What's wrong?" Qin Mubai was stunned and said, "What's broken?" ”

"You've only been away for an hour or two and you've come back, and you're so attached to your boudoir that you haven't ruined your ambitions?" Wu Meiniang quipped, "Is there nothing going on in the Governor's Mansion today?" Why did you come back so early? ”

Qin Mubai walked over with a smile, took her hand and held it in the palm of her hand and said softly, "Are you better?" ”

Wu Meiniang's face turned red, and she couldn't cry or laugh a little, and said angrily: "Why is it very strange to hear you say this, as if I was seriously ill or had given birth to a child?" ”

"Haha!" Qin Mubai patted his forehead and smiled, and said, "Mei Niang, come with me and go to an important place." ”

"Where?"

"That's a place where no one else can come and go freely except for me, Qin Mubai, not even the prime minister or even the prince." Qin Mubai's mysterious and unpredictable way.

Wu Meiniang blinked her big smart eyes, and said with a smile: "If you do this, does it mean that Mei Niang is already a very important person to you?" ”

"You've always been." Qin Mubai smiled, "Not only that, you are like my other half." You say, can I let half of Qin Mubai go there? ”

"Okay, it's sweet talk in the sea and the sky again!" Wu Meiniang pursed her lips and smiled, but she smiled very intoxicated and gratified, she stretched out her arms and leaned up, and said in a rare coquettish voice, "Don't you hug me up?" ”

Soon after, several inconspicuous carriages drove out of Lanzhou Prefecture and looked northwest.

In the carriage, Qin Mubai and Wu Meiniang were enjoying lunch. Just because he was in a hurry, he took all the food and wine to eat on the road.

"Mei Niang, you said that you have something important to discuss with me, can you talk about it now?" Qin Mubai asked while eating.

"Hmm." Wu Meiniang solemnly put down the chopsticks and cup, and said seriously, "Mu Bai, I did a few things without you, I hope you don't get angry." ”

Qin Mubai paused in his hand and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

"I ended all my business in the Central Plains, and everything I could pawn and sell was exchanged for money and brought to Lanzhou." Wu Meiniang said, "Except for an old mansion in Chang'an, I have almost nothing left. In a few days, I'm going to pick up my mother. As for my brother and the others, they all stayed in Chang'an to guard the old house. ”

"Huh?" Qin Mubai frowned in surprise and asked, "Why are you doing this?" After so many years, it has been hard for you to work hard to make a little appearance, Qinxian Pavilion in Chang'an, businesses and wine shops in Xiangyang, that are all rumors and waters. What a pity! ”

"It's not a pity." Wu Meiniang smiled slightly and said, "During that time in Xiangyang, I understood a truth. A woman, no matter how capable she is, is still inseparable from a man's shoulders after all. Doing business in Xiangyang is a hundred times easier and easier than in Chang'an, and you can make more money. In the final analysis, it's not that I, Wu Meiniang, have become capable, but because of the foundation laid for me by you and Li Ke before, and your protégé is opening the door to me. In just one year, I, a foreign Beijing businessman, have become the leading giant in Jingxiang. Outsiders say how shrewd and capable I am Wu Meiniang, in fact, only I understand, in the final analysis, I am just one of your shopkeepers, and you are the real big boss. ”

"Mei Niang, the two of us don't have to be so finely divided, right? More than one child! Qin Mubai said with a smile.

"I don't really mean anything else." Wu Meiniang smiled and said sincerely, "I just want to say that no matter what I do and how much money I make, half of it may have been for myself before, and from today on, it must be all for you." Because, Wu Meiniang is already Qin Mubai's person; You say I'm half of you, but you're all of mine! ”

Qin Mubai's hand froze, and he smiled slightly: "Mei Niang, what do you want me to say?" …… Well, any kind of words seem hypocritical and pale in the face of real actions. Over the years, I've given you very little, and I've been ashamed of that. Now you can tell me, since you have decided to take root in Lanzhou from now on, what do you want to do and what do you want? ”

"I want to be Zheng Fengchi of the Helong Western Region!" Wu Meiniang said categorically, almost word for word, "I still want to surpass the Zheng family and reach heights that they have never reached!" ”

"Hmm!" Qin Mubai nodded, "Don't worry, I will do my best to assist you." To help you is to help myself. ”

"You are wrong Mu Bai, it's not that you assist me, but that I assist you." Wu Meiniang said, "Don't underestimate businessmen. Although the merchants are lowly and insignificant, the money and grain in a place like the Helong Western Regions will have unpredictable power. You have a heavy responsibility on your shoulders to dominate the Western Regions through Luohelong, and it is difficult to move an inch without money and food. All I want to do is do it for you. Mu Bai, I said something that shouldn't be said, you have heroic ambitions, but when it comes to acting, you still need a heroic courage to do it! ”

"What do you mean, heroic and heroic?" Qin Mubai asked with interest.

"Heroic ambition, with a grand ambition in mind; Courageous, indomitable and vowing not to give in. Wu Meiniang said, "Although the days of coming to Lanzhou are not long, I can see it." Although you are full of ambition, you have many constraints that you can't use your fists and feet. At this time, you need to be ambitious - why bother with so many old rules? Those who often achieve great things are all winners who challenge the shackles! The question is, do you have the courage, Mubai? ”

"Heroic, heroic...... Qin Mubai took a sip of wine and took a deep breath, his eyes became brighter and brighter, and said, "Mei Niang, you are really my female Zhuge . You're right, ambition and ideas are not enough. The key is to see if there is the confidence and courage to move forward! …… I'm ashamed that I've always obediently bound myself to the rules and regulations, and I don't dare to cross the thunder pool by half a step. I was even accustomed to such mediocrity and forbearance, and I was proud of it. ”

"Mu Bai, you don't have to blame yourself. Of the 10,000 people in the world, 9,999 are like this. Wu Meiniang looked at Qin Mubai, her expression was mostly gentle, but there was a trace of indelible sharpness and fortitude, she said, "But you are Qin Mubai, you must be different." Otherwise, why would Wu Meiniang marry you? ”

Qin Mubai was stunned for a moment, and then laughed, "I kind of understand why so many men have been angry at the crown throughout the ages!" Mei Niang, Mei Niang, in the future, if I Qin Mubai has any achievements, it must be thanks to you; If there are big ups and downs, or even a stench for 10,000 years......"

"Wu Meiniang, I'm with you!"