At night, there was a sound of fighting in the barracks, and the army slept peacefully.

In the room, a pot of tea was boiling. Qin Mubai's eyes looked straight at the steaming kettle, in a daze.

"San Lang!" Qin Shubao suddenly shouted, which frightened Qin Mubai: "Huh? ”

"Seeing that you are in a trance, is it a demonic barrier?" Dad was obviously still a little angry, "Go, run a lap around the big school field, and come back sweating!" ”

"No need, Dad?" Qin Mubai smiled dryly, "We're not ...... We're talking about business! ”

"How do you get down to business? - Go! Uncle Qin's sword eyebrows were erected, obviously a little angry.

Qin Mubai smiled helplessly, so he had to jump up and go to the big school field for a run.

"It's all to blame for those little goblins, my legs are all weak, I want to lie down to sleep now, my brain is a little sluggish, and I don't want to move......"

After running around and coming back, wiping his face, Qin Mubai sat down energetically: "Dad, I'm done!" ”

"That's what it looks like." Qin Shubao said lukewarmly, "Husband, don't indulge in wine—okay, let's get down to business!" You just said that you are preparing to march into Dafeichuan, what's going on? ”

"Oh, that's right." Qin Mubai told his father about the emperor's dictation.

After hearing this, Qin Shubao pondered for a moment, nodded and said, "You should be right. Although His Majesty is the lord of the world, he cannot dominate the public opinion and reputation of the court alone. The eldest grandson Wuji, Fang Xuanling and others, representing the wishes of most of the courtiers, questioned together and constantly exerted pressure, His Majesty's life is indeed not easy. ”

"Regardless of the direction of the court, at the moment, I also think that taking Dafeichuan will also be useful for Lanzhou's overall strategy." Qin Mubai said.

Qin Shubao frowned slightly: "Tell me your opinion." ”

"Father, it has been more than half a year since the child came to Lanzhou. In the past six months, Lanzhou has been committed to production and development. Qin Mubai said, "But have you noticed a phenomenon?" Although Lanzhou's farmland and water conservancy have made rapid progress, the relocation of people to Lanzhou has also brought stability and population growth to Lanzhou. However, there has been little sign of an increase in tax revenues. ”

"That's right." Qin Shubao nodded, "As the population increases, so does the water conservancy and farmland, and at the same time, didn't you promulgate a policy to benefit the people and reduce taxes for the new population?" Lanzhou's population is already small, and it is normal that taxes have not increased. ”

"It's not normal, Dad!" Qin Mubai said, "This means that Lanzhou's business has not developed!" ”

"Business?" Qin Shubao frowned in confusion. Obviously, such a thing is strange enough to him. Even in his bones, he is disgusted with businessmen and businessmen.

"Business is the source of taxation. Lanzhou should increase taxes and develop commerce as the way to prosperity. Moreover, as Lanzhou's population increases, the demand for all kinds of daily necessities such as clothes, dishes, and mattresses is increasing. There are very few such workshops in Lanzhou, and self-sufficiency alone is far from enough. At the same time, many pastures in Lanzhou have many cattle and sheep in addition to raising military horses. We can't use up the milk, meat, fur and other things we produce ourselves. Qin Mubai said, "So, there is an urgent need for businessmen to communicate with each other." They can bring all kinds of specialties from the Western Regions, as well as tea, oil, and silk from the Central Plains, and take away our abundant cattle wool skins, and at the same time generate taxes. Moreover, most of the new population is now idle, just settling here as the families of the soldiers and doing nothing. They are also labor, and they can make a difference! Even if you don't have to let them do the heavy work of farming and herding, it's always okay to open a shop and run a business trip, right? This would not only house these idle people, but also enrich the families of the soldiers, and at the same time generate tax revenue. What a lot, father! ”

"I see what you mean." Qin Shubao nodded, "You mean to say that the existence of the Tubo army in Dafeichuan has hindered the flow of merchants?" They were afraid of war and had no confidence in Lanzhou's military strength, so they didn't dare to go through Lanzhou? ”

"Yes, that's it!" Qin Mubai nodded decisively, "Originally, Lanzhou was an important town and a necessary route on the Silk Road, a transit point between the Western Regions and the Central Plains, and it had a unique and huge advantage in obtaining tax benefits. However, precisely because the threat of Tibet is imminent, Lanzhou has been in frequent wars since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, so the merchants would rather take a more detour to Ganliang than take the shortcut to Lanzhou. As a result, Lanzhou became more and more impoverished and desolate, and what it needed needed was completely needed by the imperial court, so it developed a bad habit of not thinking of self-sufficiency and relying entirely on transshipment, and gradually formed a vicious circle of getting poorer and poorer, and the imperial court paid more and more to Lanzhou. In fact, as long as our army takes Dafeichuan, strongly consolidates Lanzhou's public security and border defense, and makes businessmen confident in Lanzhou - they will definitely be willing to come! ”

"But...... Shancheng is newly defeated, and it is not appropriate to use force. Don't you know? Qin Shubao said, "Killing a thousand enemies and losing eight hundred, we have to bear more losses than the Tubo people, which is very not cost-effective." ”

"The two armies are facing each other head-on, and this is true." Qin Mubai said, "When you fight, what you fight is money and food, and I am used to living in the city in the Tang Dynasty, as long as there is a war, the losses suffered are generally greater than those of the Hu people." However, if we locate the battlefield in a foreign land, keep our cities away from the flames of war, and use the tactics of surprise warfare to destroy quickly, we can minimize the losses! After taking Dafeichuan, we took the camp step by step, and set up a camp in Dafeichuan, and it was not impossible to open the plains in Tuntian. There is no shortage of fertile fields on the shore of Qinghai Lake, although the cold climate is not particularly suitable for the growth of crops, but there can be raised Tibetan plateau war horses, and their unique plateau boat - yak! ”

"Yak?" Qin Shubao's eyes lit up, "Do you want to...... Preparing for the future conquest of Tibet? ”

"Not to the worst, father! It's man-made! Qin Mubai said.

"But we Tang people are not used to life on the Tibetan Plateau at all." Qin Shubao shook his head, "The old man heard that his colleague who had made a trip to Tibet came back and said that when he went to the plateau, he felt difficult to breathe, so why talk about killing and conquering?" Obviously, the Tibetan people were born and grew up in Si, so they are all used to it. ”

"Not necessarily!" Qin Mubai said, "Actually, it is also a process of adaptation. In the area from Dafeichuan to Qinghai Lake, the terrain gradually rises. We can have the sergeants stationed in this area to train and get used to it. If that day really comes, my Datang has the strength to cross the plateau to attack Tubo itself, and use the step-by-step training and offensive method of the terrain transition to gradually adapt to the camp, it is not impossible to win! ”

"A very bold and innovative idea!" Qin Shubao was suddenly refreshed, "Although you don't have to be ambitious, but, from many aspects, it seems that it is imperative to win Dafeichuan?" ”

"Indeed!"

Qin Shubao nodded slowly: "It's okay." In fact, the old man wants to send troops to fight more than anyone else. Now that you have made up your mind, why don't you start deploying immediately, and then invite the Xue family brothers to discuss the strategy of entering the army. ”

"Good. The child will send a letter of order tomorrow, inviting the Xue brothers to come to Lanzhou to discuss the strategy of marching! ”

Early the next morning, Qin Mubai first wrote a letter of order, sent a messenger to the front line of Shancheng, and then continued to train soldiers and horses in the rear camp.

Princess Gaoyang's line is close to the Governor's Mansion, and the backyard is only one street away from the wall of the military tun. She was woken up early by the sound of soldiers and horses drilling, and she was still a little upset and wanted to scold, but suddenly jumped out of bed excitedly and hurriedly dressed.

"Quick, prepare the ladder, I want to see Mu Bai practice, hehe!"

With a group of maids, Princess Gaoyang came to the backyard excitedly. The servants and soldiers had already prepared a herringbone ladder for Princess Gaoyang to climb and look at.

On the field of the colonel, more than 1,000 iron horsemen were practicing riding and shooting, and the smoke and dust were billowing and the sound of killing shook the sky. A bright red Tang flag fluttered in the middle of the school field. The army sweated like rain and was majestic, and Princess Gaoyang opened her eyes.

"It's so majestic!! This is the scene of the army, and even I, a woman, feel a little enthusiastic when I see it! She was extremely excited, and her eyes widened and searched around, looking for Qin Mubai. But with thousands of troops, how easy is it to find someone? After looking for a long time, there was no one to see, and she was a little annoyed by her anxiety.

"Princess, the colt is a general, it should be very eye-catching and easy to find, right? Either observe on the general's platform, or wave the flag on the ladder to command, or it is not the freshly dressed and high-headed horse who is pointing and inspecting among the troops! The maidservants under the ladder said.

"Well, that makes sense!" When Princess Gao Yang heard this, she began to search for it purposefully. Sure enough, he saw a fluttering general flag that was unusually eye-catching, leisurely crossing among the troops. Like a noble leader, he strides tall and stands out among the sheep.

Under the banner, it was Qin Mubai in a golden apricot yellow robe!

"Haha, I found it! - Mu Bai is so majestic! Princess Gao Yang exclaimed excitedly.

Suddenly, a few soldiers ran from the opposite wall, shouting, "Who is making a noise here, spying on the drills of the army?" This is a great sin! ”

"Hey, bold!" Princess Gaoyang said angrily, "Which brigade and which team are you a little soldier, be careful I ask my family Mubai to clean you up, hum!" ”

"Your Mubai?" The sergeants couldn't help but be stunned, and suddenly came back to their senses - could it be Princess Gaoyang on the other side?

Immediately, the sergeants exchanged glances as if nothing had happened, and ran away in a line on horseback.

"Haha! It's so much fun! Princess Gao Yang shouted excitedly, "I'll frighten them by giving Mu Bai's name!" ”

The maidservants under the ladder laughed together and said, "Your Royal Highness, isn't your name as effective as the name of the horse?" ”

"I want you to take care of it,!" Princess Gao Yang's mouth curled, "I just like to report his name to scare people, how about it?" ”

The horsemen rode back and quietly told Qin Mubai, who was patrolling the army, about the matter.

Qin Mubai couldn't help but smile secretly, and ran towards the wall.

"Haha, Mu Bai! I can see you training here! Princess Gao Yang exclaimed excitedly.

"Stop making a fuss, go down. Climb so high, you can't fall flat. Qin Mubai said with a smile, "The army is drilling, how can you allow peeping?" If this is an ordinary person, it can be caught and cut down on the spot. ”

"Wow, that's so serious?" Princess Gao Yang cried out in surprise.

"Of course." Qin Mubai said, "Don't mess around like this in the future." Today, if you run into a few bad-tempered big-headed soldiers, you will shoot an arrow first. I'll see to whom you cry out. ”

"Huh? ......" Suddenly, Princess Gao Yang was still a little afraid. Although he has thousands of ways to kill those little soldiers, if he is killed by others first, no matter how much revenge he takes, it will be useless!

"Then I'll go down!" Princess Gaoyang responded with anxiety and palpitations, and hurriedly climbed down the ladder, and as soon as she climbed down a few blocks, she immediately climbed up and shouted, "Mu Bai, come and eat with me at noon!" ”

Qin Mubai's heart was cold, I don't want to stop encircling and annihilating! ……

"Come here! Father said, I want to dine with you. Qin Mubai said.

"I'm not going!" Princess Gaoyang stumbled, climbed down the stairs with a kick, and said angrily, "Villain, dare to push him when you call him over?" Who wants to eat with his old man, but he is restrained! ”

"Hee-hee!" The group of servants laughed strangely, "Your Royal Highness Princess, is it a ...... Scared? ”

Princess Gaoyang was stunned at first, then her face changed, and she was suddenly full of anger: "Cheap maid, it's all your fault!" See I don't pump you guys!! ”

"Woo! Princess, spare your life, we will do what you want! …… Hee-hee! A group of handmaidens giggled and began the great escape.

At noon, Princess Gaoyang still went to the Governor's Mansion and had lunch with the Qin father and son. After the meal, Qin Mubai accompanied her around the periphery of the barracks, which opened her eyes.

"Hey, I want to ride a horse!" Princess Gaoyang looked at the herd of horses and said excitedly, "Mu Bai, when you come to Lanzhou, you don't have the restraint in Chang'an, it's really comfortable!" You can do whatever you want, you teach me to ride a horse, right? ”

"Okay, you just have to say which horse you like." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "The Helong area is rich in good horses, and almost all of them are the best horses in Lanzhou, and there are few places in the Tang world that can compare with here." Except, of course, for the Imperial Court Supervisor. ”

"Hey, hey! You help me pick, I like what you pick! Princess Gaoyang smiled and said, "Pick it up, go to my line, you will teach me to ride a horse yourself!" ”

Qin Mubai felt a chill in his heart: "I have to go to your side?" …… But yes, it's not good to be seen by the sergeants here. ”

"Hey, you don't like going to me anymore?" Princess Gaoyang was about to change her face, and said angrily, "Why is this so?" ”

Qin Mubai smiled dryly: "It's not that I'm afraid of your ...... Cough! ”

"Hmph, if you get cheap, you'll be beaten!" Princess Gaoyang's face turned red, and she raised her embroidered fist to greet her.

"Stop! Near the barracks, watch out for the impact! Qin Mubai grabbed her fist and laughed, "Let's go, pick a horse for you!" ”

"Yay!" Princess Gaoyang cheered, like a child.

Qin Mubai smiled, his heart also swept away the depression and dullness of the past six months, and he felt that the whole world had added a little bright color, and his mood was much more relaxed and peaceful.

Gao Yang, still like a child, is easy to be satisfied and happy; And her happiness brought Qin Mubai's ...... It's a greater joy.

Two days later, the Xue brothers and their most important lieutenants came to Lanzhou. Although Xue Wanjun was seriously injured and never recovered, he also came with injuries. Hearing that it was a strategy to discuss the invasion, he was more excited and excited than anyone else for his meritorious service.

The generals gathered in the council hall of the Governor's Mansion, and faced the Dafeichuan sand table made by the hundred horsemen under Qin Mubai's strict inspection, and began to discuss the strategy of advancing into Dafeichuan!