Xianyang County, in the cold snowstorm night, a team of camels from the Western Regions slowly walked into the city gate, the camels were loaded with all kinds of goods from the West, this is a typical Hu caravan, composed of more than 200 small merchants, each merchant has his own one or two camels, led by the most experienced elders, along the way everyone takes care of their own food and lodging, the account is very clear, and each person also needs to take out a sum of money as public expenses, such as bribing guards, paying road and bridge tolls, etc., although the distance is far away, The expenses are very huge, but when they arrive in Chang'an, each person's goods are sold with a ten-percent profit, and then buy goods from Chang'an and sell them back to the Western Regions, which comes and goes, it takes more than half a year, but the profits are considerable.

The leader of the camel caravan was a man in his fifties, his face was full of deep wrinkles full of vicissitudes, his name was Muta, from the capital of Kang State, Samad Jian, more than two months ago, it was his camel team on the bank of the Pearl River that encountered the attack of the Qarluqs, after more than two months of trekking, they finally came to Chang'an.

Muta has been back and forth to Chang'an many times, each time he spent the night in Xianyang County, he is very familiar with this place, he pointed to a big inn in front of him, and said to everyone: "It's still the old rule, live in ten thousand inns." ”

After speaking, he smiled at the young man on the second camel and said, "Tonight may be the last time we have dinner together, how about Brother Cui have a drink together?" ”

The young man also thanked him: "I have been taken care of by Uncle Muta along the way, Xiao Cui is grateful, and I am willing to give Uncle a glass of wine." This little Cui is naturally Cui Yao, he did not ask the Tang army to escort him, but returned to Chang'an on Kang Guo's camel caravan, which was already mid-December.

"Good! Everybody speed up. Go to the inn to drink hot soup and sleep in a warm bed. Muta shouted a few words, and when he spoke to the hearts of the people, they were in high spirits, and urged the camels to speed up and run towards the inn.

It only took a moment to reach the inn, and in the snowy night, hundreds of camels blocked the door of the inn, and the innkeeper had already heard the news and ran out, he and Muta were old acquaintances, and the two hugged each other affectionately as soon as they met.

"Let's take a few more steps. Enter the camel into the backyard through the side door. Muta shouted loudly, and the merchants led their camels to a gate more than twenty paces away, and Cui Yao also led the camels to the side door. But he had barely walked a few steps when he suddenly noticed two people in the darkness on the other side rushing towards him. And behind them, it seems, there are more than a dozen people chasing after them.

"Uncle, help us!"

When the two of them saw that there was someone here, they shouted desperately, and it seemed to be a man and a woman. And it was Turkic, and the Hu merchants were stunned. Cui Yao stayed in the Western Regions for seven months, and then returned with the Hu merchants, and he could speak and listen to simple Turkic language.

When he saw someone crying for help, he immediately went up and shouted, "Come here." ”

The two helpers heard that someone was willing to save them, so they accelerated their speed and ran towards Cui Yao, and in a moment they came closer, and in the dim light of the lantern, these were two very young men and women, the man was about eighteen or nineteen years old. Dressed in a white robe, his face was pitch black, and his red hair was scattered. She was wearing long leather boots on her feet, and the woman was the same age as Cui Yao. He wore red hair in braids and wore a green dress, blue eyes, and a slightly dark face.

The two of them rushed to Cui Yao, and before they could take a closer look, they begged: "Ask uncle to save our lives." ”

At this time, more than a dozen black shadows had chased twenty paces away, they were all dressed in black, holding sharp blades, seeing that there was a large group of camel merchants here, they couldn't help but slow down, the Hu merchants saw that the situation was critical, they all drew their knives and surrounded the two young men and women, at this time, Muta rushed over and asked, "What happened?" ”

"Uncle, someone is going to kill them." Cui Yao pointed to the two young men behind him, and the two of them realized that Cui Yao was also a very young young man, but he called him uncle just now, the man was a little embarrassed, and the woman lowered her head embarrassedly.

Muta glanced at the two men, and when he saw that the man had a gold belt of ten thousand nails around his waist and all kinds of jewels on it, he knew that this man's identity was unusual, and he nodded, and stepped forward and shouted to the dozen or so men in black who were chasing him, "Go away!" Otherwise, we'll report to the police. ”

More than a dozen men in black were silent for a long time, then suddenly turned around and ran into the darkness, and disappeared in a moment. ”

Seeing that the matter had subsided, everyone walked into the inn through the side door, and Muta took the reins from Cui Yao's hand and said to him: "Brother Cui, you can take these two to eat something first!" Camels, I'll arrange it for you. ”

"Then thank you, uncle." Cui Yao handed him the reins of the camel, then turned back to the two young men and smiled, "You can come with me!" ”

"My name is Dottle, and this is my sister Gudai." At a small table in the lobby of the inn, the young man introduced himself and his sister in fluent Chinese, and he bowed to Cui Yao, "May I ask your surname?" ”

Cui Yao was a little surprised that he was fluent in Chinese, but he still bowed his hand and said: "Under Cui Yao, a native of Chang'an, you can call me Xiao Cui." ^^, UC eBook, First Release ^^"

"What about the uncle?" The man named Dotter bowed to Muta again and asked in Turkic, "May I ask your uncle's surname, where is he from?" ”

Muta smiled and said, "I'm Kangguo Sama Jianren, called Muta, why are you two being hunted down by those men in black?" ”

Dotter sighed and said: "Don't hide it from the two beneficiaries, we are from the Tunis, and there are more than 20 followers, this time we went to Chang'an, but we were tracked by the Hui people, and they chased them to Xianyang and started to move, we can't resist, the entourage is dead and wounded, our brothers and sisters are desperately fleeing, thanks to your help." ”

"Why do the Hui people want to kill you?" Cui Yao asked with some curiosity.

"Engong doesn't know, we have been rebelling against the rule of the Hui people for decades, and we have had a blood feud with the Hui people for generations.

Then. Next to the ground Muta suddenly saw a pair of golden phoenix bracelets on the woman's wrist, he was secretly taken aback, he was well-informed, knew that this was the custom of the noble women of the Huangjias, they were really not ordinary people, they must have hidden things when they entered Beijing, he hurriedly kicked Cui Yao, signaling him not to ask more.

Cui Yao is an extremely smart person, and immediately understood the meaning of Mutadi, so he smiled and said, "We are also going to Chang'an." It's better to go together tomorrow, but for now, let's eat a full meal first. ”

He turned around and said loudly to the shopkeeper, "Little Er, get two pots of good wine." A few more appetizers. ”

"Okay!" The shopkeeper shouted and ran into the inner hall. After a while, two jugs of wine were served, and soon seven or eight plates of hot dishes were served, and Cui Yao poured a glass of wine for Muta and Dotel, and poured another glass for himself, and the jug was just about to be put down. But suddenly he thought of something, so he picked up the flask and looked at Dotle's sister Gu Dai and smiled slightly. Gu Dai hesitated, then picked up the wine glass with both hands and handed it over and said with a smile: "Then let's have a glass!" ”

Gu Dai also speaks Chinese, a little jerky, but the voice is sweet and glutinous, and there is a bit of the boldness of a grassland daughter, under the light, Cui Yao has the opportunity to look at her carefully this time, her face is dark, except for a pair of big blue eyes that reveal a bit of cleverness and cuteness, nothing else is distinctive. But her hands and wrists were crystal white and boneless. ^^^^ nails are neatly trimmed, but the nails of the little finger are like a thin piece of jade. It was bright red like a cocoon, and Cui Yao was stunned for a while.

Cui Yao filled her cup with wine a little embarrassed, and slowly woke up, he put down the wine jug, picked up the wine glass and said with a smile: "Everyone has a fate to meet today, just toast to this fate." ”

"!" The four of them drank the wine in one gulp, Gu Dai drank the wine in one gulp, but snatched the wine jug to pour wine for everyone, but she didn't drink it herself, Dotter toasted Cui Yao again, and then asked tentatively: "Just now Cui Gongzi said that he was from Chang'an, I don't know if Cui Gongzi knows the officials of Datang?" ”

Cui Yao smiled heartily and said, "Living in Chang'an, how can you not know a few officials?" If there's anything you need my help with, just let me know and I'll do my best. “

"Thank you very much!" Dotter didn't say anything to help, he toasted Muta with a glass of wine, but chatted about the customs and customs along the way, Cui Yao was the most talkative, telling them about the history of the Tang Dynasty and local customs, witty words, and attracted more than a dozen Hu merchants who were eating together next to him to listen, which caused everyone to marvel from time to time.

The girl Gu Dai held her cheeks and listened with relish, and she looked at the young polymath from time to time, her eyes full of admiration.

Early the next morning, when everyone set out, the Dottel brothers and sisters changed into black clothes, borrowed two camels, and mingled among the Hu merchants.

"Cui Gongzi is early!" Gu Dai came over to greet him, and her eyes were a little shy.

Cui Yao hurriedly smiled and said, "Miss Gu Dai is early." ”

Suddenly, Cui Yao found that the complexion on her face seemed to be darker, and he suddenly realized that she had painted her face, and remembered that her slender hands and wrists were crystal white last night, Cui Yao's heart jumped up for a while, and he couldn't help but sneak a glance at her, and it happened that she also peeked at it, and the two of them touched, Gu Dai couldn't see the expression on her face, but her eyes were flustered, and she immediately turned the camel around, and soon disappeared in the Hu Shang group.

Watching her slender back disappear, Cui Yao suddenly felt a joy in his heart that he had never felt before, drive! Drive! He urged the camel loudly and strode towards the east towards the rising sun.

From Xianyang to Chang'an has been very close, as long as half a day can arrive, the wide official road is full of people, very lively, all the way, no longer see the black-clothed man who chased and killed the Dotter brothers and sisters last night, the merchants traveled across the Wei River, through the old site of Chang'an City in the Han Dynasty, at noon, the Chang'an city wall has been vaguely visible, Cui Yao trekked in the Western Regions for seven months, after wind and frost, and now finally went home, I don't know if his grandfather is healthy, he was anxious for a while, eager to put on his wings and fly home.

"Cui Gongzi." Dotter quietly appeared beside him at some point, Cui Yao glanced at him, and suddenly remembered his temptation last night, so he smiled quietly: "Brother Duo, what is the matter with me?" ”

"My Chinese name is Shi Muhua, and Cui Gongzi directly calls me Muhua."

Shi Muhua saw that there was no one on either side, so he lowered his voice and said: "Don't hide it from Gongzi Cui, I am actually the prince of Huangjiasi, and my sister and I were entrusted by my father to secretly envoy to Chang'an. If I wanted to seek the support of the Tang Dynasty, I should have gone directly to the Honglu Temple, but I heard that the envoy of the Hui was also in Chang'an, so we didn't dare to be careless, so we wanted to ask Cui Gongzi to introduce Datang officials for us, I don't know if Gongzi was willing to help with this. ”

Cui Yao's heart moved, he knew a thing or two about the current situation in the Western Regions, Huangjiasi was located in the northwest of Huifu, and there were hundreds of thousands of people, which was equivalent to the strength of the Qarluqs. They have a century-old feud with the Uighurs, and they have been repeatedly oppressed by the Qarluqs, if the Tang Dynasty can support them

Then. Shi Muhua took out a gold medal from his waist and said to Cui Yao sincerely: "This is the gold medal that Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty canonized my grandfather as Ye Hu. Take this as a letter. ”

"How could I not trust Brother Shi." Cui Yao smiled and waved his hand, and he also said in a low voice: "Since Brother Shi is so honest, then I won't hide it from you, my grandfather is the former right minister of Datang, although he is sick and retired at home." But it also has a little influence on the Tang Dynasty politics. ”

Cui Yuan? Shi Muhua felt a burst of ecstasy in his heart, and he was so excited that he grabbed Cui Yao's arm. He said urgently: "This Fellow Cui Gongzi must help me, and we 500,000 people will be grateful." ”

"Please rest assured, Shi Gongzi, I will try my best to convince my grandfather, but if it doesn't work, I will go directly to my aunt and ask her to introduce you to His Majesty the Tang Emperor." Cui Yao glanced at Gu Dai, who was secretly looking at him from afar, and he suddenly made up his mind to help their brother and sister complete their mission no matter what.

The business traveler circled Chang'an City for half a circle, and slowly entered Chang'an City from Chunming Gate, and a noisy and lively atmosphere suddenly came to his face. Shi Muhua once came to Chang'an. His demeanor is also calm, but his sister Gu Dai is here for the first time. Faced with such a magnificent and bustling city, her eyes were full of shock.

When the camel team arrived in Dongshi, Cui Yao said to their brothers and sisters: "Let's get off the camel!" ”

The three of them pulled the reins, the camel knelt down, they jumped off the camel, Cui Yao bowed his hand to Muta, the leader of the camel team, and thanked him: "Uncle Muta, I will go back, if there is any difficulty, please come to Xuanyangfang to find me." ”

Muta also smiled and said: "Brother Cui, I hope you can be named on the gold list next year, and you will also go to Anxi to be an official." ”

"Uncles, take care!" Cui Yao waved his hand to everyone, and all the Hu merchants also waved goodbye to him

"Let's go!" Cui Yao turned around and strode in the direction of Xuanyang Fang.

"Thank you, Uncle Muta, thank you, uncles." Shi Muhua and Gu Dai saluted and thanked the Hu merchants, they turned around and chased after Cui Yao, and the three of them gradually disappeared into the vast sea of people.

Muta watched their backs disappear, sighed secretly, and had a trace of reluctance for Cui Yao in his heart, he turned his head to look at the towering city wall of Dongshi, and his heart suddenly became excited, and he turned back and shouted to everyone: "Let's go directly to the city office to register, and strive to get rid of the goods today." ”

Cui Fu is still in Xuanyangfang, in three years, Cui Yuan has become even older, his hair has all fallen out, he is wearing a hat, his body has become skinny, and he stays in the study all day and does not go anywhere.

At this moment, the old man of the Tang Dynasty is sitting in front of the bookcase to read a book of folds, which is the emperor specially sent someone to give him the fold, and it is the request of the Hui Loyal Khan to marry the princess of the Tang Dynasty, which is also a way for Cui Yuan to exert his residual heat, and the emperor will send someone to send a copy of the fold to Cui Yuan to solicit his opinions, such as the two tax laws that began to be implemented last year, which are of great importance, and Cui Yuan also participated in the entire decision-making process.

The Hui asked to marry the Tang princess, which was also a big deal, and the Hui reached an understanding with the Great Food three years ago to advance westward, and the Great Food persuaded the Qarluq people to cede a large area of territory east of the Yibohai, so that the forces of the Hui people could reach the Yibohai, which provided great convenience for the Hui to surround the Huangjiasi people.

It was under this opportunity that the Uighurs and the Great Eclipse became closer and closer, and last year the Great Eclipse and the Uighur exchanged protons with each other, and at the same time, under the dual influence of Sogdian merchants and Manichaeism, the traditional Uighur aristocracy began to lose power, and the national policy of westward expansion had been quietly abandoned.

Now the Hui people proposed marriage, which must be a manifestation of the Hui Hui and want to mend the relationship with the Tang Dynasty, a typical double-headed eagle strategy, Cui Yuan pondered for a long time, and finally wrote his opinion on the copy of the fold: The minister thinks that the rejection of the marriage between the Tang and Hui will completely push the Hui to the big food, so that I will be broken and the enemy will be the enemy, which is not conducive to the national policy of the westward expansion of the Tang Dynasty, which is really unwise. There is also a pro-Tang family in the Hui country, and the princess of the Tang Dynasty will go north, which will surely make the Hui and pro-Tang family deeply encouraged, and then expand the influence on the national policy of the Hui Dynasty. But at the same time of marriage, it is necessary to increase troops in Beiting, and only by using both soft and hard can the Hui people dare not despise Yu Datang.

Cui Yuan put down his pen and blew dry the ink. I read it carefully again, although it was written simply. However, he believed that His Majesty the Emperor would understand his own intentions, and even if he could not completely turn the Hui to the Tang Dynasty, he would have to keep it neutral, so that the Tang Dynasty could gain time to accelerate the pace of westward expansion.

"Sir," a rush of footsteps sounded. The old butler's excited voice came from outside the door: "Young Master Yao is back!" ”

"Ahh Cui Yuan was pleasantly surprised, and his eldest grandson went to Broken Leaf seven months ago to investigate the silver mine. It is said that on the way back, he was attacked by the Qarluqs, which really worried him, Cui Yuan's eldest son Cui Xian is currently the assassin of Guangzhou, and the eldest grandson has been raised by him since he was a child, and the relationship between the grandfather and grandson is very deep, and the mediocrity of the son makes Cui Yuan pin almost all his hopes on the eldest grandson.

"Hurry up and bring him to see meAs soon as Cui Yuan's voice fell, Cui Yao ran in like a gust of wind, "Grandfather! Cui Yao knelt down when he entered the house, and his voice was a little choked: "The child is not filial, and he will not return home until seven months." ”

Cui Yuan's nose was also a little sour. He hurriedly waved his hand and smiled: "Silly boy." Men have ambitions in all directions, and you can go to Broken Leaves to investigate. It's too late for my grandfather to be happy! How can I blame you, hurry up. ”

Cui Yao stood up, Cui Yuan saw that his grandson had grown taller again, although his skin had become dark, but his body was much stronger, and his former weakness was gone, and there was a bit of fortitude and courage between his eyebrows and eyes, and he was very relieved in his heart, this is his grandson, much stronger than his father back then.

"You sit down, grandfather has something to ask you." Cui Yuan asked the eldest grandson to sit down, and he immediately asked, "Your land strategy can be written." ”

"Back to my grandfather, my grandson has already written it, and I will give it to my grandfather tomorrow after making a slight revision tonight."

"You don't have to give it to me, just hand it over to Guozijian." Cui Yuan pondered for a moment, and the topic turned to the Qarluqs, "I heard that you encountered a sneak attack by the Qarluqs when you came back, what is going on?" ”

Cui Yao remembered the horrific massacre that night, it was the first time he had seen such a bloody scene since he grew up, and he still had lingering palpitations, he sighed and said: "The Qarluqs are just a bandit attack this time, not the southward migration of their entire clan, but I am worried that this incident will become an excuse for the Qarluqs to move south. ”

Cui Yuan nodded, "It's not bad that you can have this vision, but grandfather hopes that your vision will be farther and wider, Broken Leaf discovered the Great Silver Mine, making it a place related to the strategic interests of the Tang Dynasty, and similarly, the Great Cannibal will not tolerate the nail inserted into the Zhaowu region, so whether it is the southern migration of the Qarlu people or the wavering national policy of the Hui people, these are all appearances, in fact, the fundamental point is the contest between the Tang Empire and the Great Food Empire in the west of the Green Ridge, maybe five years, maybe ten years, When the interests of the two countries cannot be reconciled, there will be a war between the two empires. ”

Speaking of this, Cui Yuan took a book and handed it to the eldest grandson: "This is the scripture written by Du Huan, which records in detail the situation of the country of Dashi, which is no less than the empire of the Tang Dynasty, with a vast area and a large population, we cannot take it lightly, you take it and read it carefully, you can better understand this big western country, grandfather hopes that you can also be like Shi Yang in the future, and contribute to the westward expansion strategy of the Tang Dynasty." ”

"A child will not disappoint his grandfather."

Cui Yao understood his grandfather's expectations of him, he respectfully took the book, pondered for a moment, and then said to his grandfather: "The child has one more thing to report to his grandfather. “

"Say, what's the matter?"

Cui Yao then talked in detail about the incident of Shi Muhua's brothers and sisters being chased and killed by the Hui people in Xianyang County, and finally said: "The child thinks that the Huangjia people have a century-old feud with the Hui people, and our Tang Dynasty can use it to contain the Hui Hui, which is a wonderful chess piece, so the child took it upon himself to bring their brothers and sisters and asked his grandfather to consider this matter." ”

Cui Yuandi's brows furrowed slightly, he found another clue from his grandson's narrative, those Hui people who chased and killed Shi Muhua's brothers and sisters, could they be the Hui people who suddenly disappeared three years ago? This is a clue.

However, Sun Tzu's idea of using the Hui people to contain the Hui people is indeed feasible, so that the Tang Dynasty can deal with the Hui people in a multi-pronged manner, marriage is Huairou, food aid is temptation, Beiting army increase is a military threat, and supporting the Hui people is to stick a knife in the back of the Hui people.

"Alright! You let their brothers and sisters come to me first, and if it is really feasible, I will personally lead them into the palace to make a pilgrimage to His Majesty the Emperor. ”

(Historically, the Uighurs perished at the hands of the Tunjas, who are the ancestors of the present-day Kirgiz.) ）