Everyone didn't dare to stay for a moment, since they found traces of the Tang people, the Tubo soldiers and horses in Bison City would definitely organize a search. The footprints of the camels and horses left by more than 200 guards are very obvious, once the traces are found, there will be a large group of Tibetan soldiers and horses chasing them, and only the farther away from Bison City can safety be guaranteed.

In the evening, everyone hurried continuously, and finally stayed away from Bison City for more than ten miles. The crowd was also sleepy, and found a flat place under the dunes to rest and recuperate, and prepared for the night march.

When he was resting, Wang Yuan asked a few guides to talk, and several guides were very panicked when they witnessed everything that happened. They didn't understand why the marshal was calculating his own people, those soldiers and horses were obviously Tang Army, but they didn't dare to ask.

Wang Yuan sat in front of the old guide and a few low-eyed guides, smiled, and tore a few pieces of bread to satisfy their hunger, and said to the old guide with a smile: "Uncle, what happened just now didn't scare you." ”

The old guide hurriedly waved his hand and said: "No, no, the life of the old man is nothing, but the lives of the marshal and the military masters are valuable, if they are discovered by the Tubo people, it will be troublesome." ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said: "My husband is so bold, do you know who those Tubo people killed just now?" ”

The old guide and several guides were silent.

Wang Yuan nodded and said, "You have all seen it, they are all my Tang Dynasty's soldiers and horses." You must wonder why I not only did not save them, but instead led the Tibetan soldiers and horses to kill them, and there was a reason. ”

Several guides still did not speak, and they all understood that talking too much at this time was tantamount to looking for death.

"That's because they are traitors to my Tang Dynasty, intending to surrender to Tubo in exchange for glory and wealth in exchange for my Jiannan military aircraft. Otherwise, why did they go dozens of miles to the bison city in Tibet? Fortunately, the Tubo people in Bison City did not know that they were coming to surrender, so they killed them directly, which can be regarded as a scourge. Otherwise, I really can't do anything about them. Killing the spies of the Tibetans by the hands of the Tibetans is also a very happy thing, what do you think? ”

Several guides said yes again and again, although they felt that what the marshal said may not be the truth, but who would refute this matter? And you're not stupid, what do you care about all this idle thing?

"Don't talk nonsense about this matter, because the surrender of the Tang officials to Tibet is a disgraceful thing, I don't want to implicate too much and shake people's hearts, and all my brothers under my command will not say it today. Uncle, you should also keep your mouth shut and don't talk nonsense, otherwise I'm afraid it will not be good for you. ”

"No, no, don't worry, don't worry, how can the military affairs be of concern to the small people like us? I'm not a tongue-chewer, old man. Dashuai put 10,000 hearts. The old guide and several guides were busy kneeling and kowtowing.

Wang Yuan smiled and helped them up and said, "Why do you need to be like this, I know that you are all reasonable." Uncle, I want to ask you for help with something. ”

"Boss, please say, the old man is duty-bound." The old guide was busy.

"That's right, there are seven traitors who have escaped the pursuit of the Tubo, and the old man should have seen it."

"Dashuai, the old man doesn't think they can leave alive, although the seven people fled on camels, they have no water or food, and no one to lead the way, how can they get out of the desert? Sixty or seventy miles of desert, even if there is enough food and water, they may not be able to escape, and the old man looks at them, not like people who can survive in the desert. ”

Wang Yuan frowned and said, "This is exactly what I am worried about, if there is no one to help, they will die in the desert." I don't want them to die, so I'd like to ask if one or two of them can be used to save them and guide them out. ”

The old guide was stunned and said, "Didn't the big handsome say...... Are they all traitors to the Tang Dynasty? And what will you do to save them? Wouldn't it be better to die in the desert? ”

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "It's not a pity that they die, but if I want to investigate this matter to the end, I must have a living mouth to find out who is behind them, so as not to have important people behind me who have ill intentions towards my Datang." ”

The old guide suddenly said, "Are you going to take them and torture them?" As a witness? ”

Wang Yuan raised his big finger and said: "What the old man said is very right, it is not only a human witness but also a breakthrough to find out the traitor hidden behind it." ”

The old guide patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, old man, I can find them and bring them to Dashuai." ”

Wang Yuan waved his hand and said, "You don't have to bring them to join us, just take them out of the desert, and then the old man will leave it alone." ”

The old man hurriedly said: "Then do they have to run away?" ”

Wang Yuan laughed and said: "I know their names and official positions, can I escape there?" And I just want them not to know that it has been exposed, so that they can secretly follow the vine. In short, I need them to think that they have escaped from Ascension without suspicion, and remember not to let them be suspicious, otherwise they may kill you. By the way, what's the name of your little son? After leaving the desert, I asked him to report to Yazhou Taishou Yamen, Yazhou Taishou would send him to my side, and I asked him to be my personal guard, with a monthly salary of three times, and a monthly subsidy of three stones of white rice and a bag of white noodles? ”

The old guide was overjoyed and kowtowed in thanks. Next, the old guide hurriedly prepared two camels, loaded with water and dry food, and rode one horse to the north to find the seven guards.

Under the setting sun, Wang Yuan watched the figure of the old guide disappear behind the sand dunes, and a smile appeared on his face.

Liu Jun leaned up and asked in a low voice, "Father-in-law, I don't understand why my father-in-law sent someone to save those seven people." Am I too stupid. ”

Wang Yuan patted him on the shoulder and said, "Boy, you have to be meticulous and traceless, so that you don't show your handle." Didn't you always want to ask, why didn't we just besiege Wang Ji and Luo Xixiao in the middle of the desert? Now I'll tell you about it. ”

Liu Jun was overjoyed, followed Wang Yuan to a small sand dune, the two sat on the hot sand and watched the sunset, Wang Yuan slowly said: "You have always thought that this plan is too cumbersome, but in fact, I have a deep meaning. The reason why I didn't directly besiege Wang Ji and Luo Xizao but pretended to use the hands of the Tubo people was also purposeful. First of all, let's talk about the reason why I wanted to save the seven Nanya guards, I hope that they can return to the capital alive and report the death of Wang Ji and Luo Xizao at the hands of the Tubo people. ”

Liu Jun thought for a while and said, "Father-in-law is saying that it is more credible to say from them that Wang Ji and Luo Xixiao died at the hands of the Tubo people?" ”

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "The children can be taught." Exactly. After all, Wang Ji and Luo Xizao died in my Jiannan Dao, and it would be difficult to be convincing if I reported that they were killed by the Tubo people. A lot of people will point the finger at me, and they will be suspicious of me, both openly and secretly. And their guards witnessed it firsthand, and the news of their deaths was obviously more convincing. Although they still died in Jiannan Dao, and I was punished by the imperial court, they no longer suspected that we were responsible. That's the most important thing. The most important thing is to clear the suspicion of murder. ”

Liu Jun clapped his fist and praised: "My father-in-law is so thoughtful." ”

Wang Yuan continued: "Of course, this is only one of the considerations, and letting the imperial court confirm that it was the Tubo people who killed Wang Ji and Luo Xizao is also a foreshadowing for another thing for me. Do you know that I have been asking Zuo Xiang to apply for an increase in the number of troops in Jiannan Province? ”

Liu Jun said: "You know, hasn't Uncle Tang been fighting for us for this matter?" ”

Wang Yuan nodded and said, "But do you know how difficult this matter is?" Increasing the number of soldiers and horses under the jurisdiction of our Jiannan Jiedu envoy is a big deal for us, but even if every additional soldier is added, it must be equipped with armor, weapons, salaries and supporting materials. Every soldier spends at least a few dozen times a year on them. If the number of soldiers is increased by 10,000, the imperial court will spend hundreds of thousands of more yuan every year. This is no small matter. Moreover, the increase in the number of troops was determined by the imperial court according to the needs of each section, and it was not increased if it was wanted. The previous time we recruited troops on a large scale, strictly speaking, it was a violation of the law, because we were in the middle of the war, so we were allowed to do so. And when the war is over, the soldiers and horses collected by our Jiannan army will be ordered to be cut, and you also know this. ”

Liu Jun frowned and said, "I know, I haven't been able to figure this out." ”

Wang Yuan said: "You don't have to think about it, because this is the regulation of the imperial court." ”

Liu Jun said: "Why do we only have more than 30,000 troops in Jiannan, but there are as many as 70,000 troops in Fanyang Jiedu under the jurisdiction of An Lushan?" The number of troops in the three places he led was at least more than 50,000, and the place was still smaller than ours. ”

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "This is the key point, the number of troops under his jurisdiction is also added to him by the imperial court little by little, An Lushan asks for an increase in the number of troops every year, what is the reason why the imperial court allows him to increase every year?" It was nothing more than that he used the threat of the Khitans and Turks as a cover, and the imperial court had to agree in order to ensure the tranquility of the border towns. ”

Liu Jun said: "Then we can do the same." ”

Wang Yuan laughed and said, "What do you think I'm doing?" ”

Liu Jun blinked and thought about it, and suddenly realized: "It turns out that ...... It turns out that the father-in-law is ...... Take advantage of this incident to let the imperial court know that the Tubo people are rampant, and use this as a reason to ask for an increase in the number of soldiers? ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said, "You finally understand." The death of Wang Jiao and Luo Xizao at the hands of the Tubo people will surely arouse the wrath of the officials of the imperial court. At this time, I proposed to increase the number of troops, and the left minister made another suggestion to His Majesty, and this matter could be accomplished nine times out of ten. How can the imperial court be embarrassed by this, I will add oil and vinegar to say something about the rampant Tubo on the border, I am afraid that there is an intention to offend the border, will the court still sit idly by? ”

"Amazing, amazing, my father-in-law is really as deep as the sea, and his plan is beyond his reach. Liu Jun was taught. Liu Jun smacked his lips again and again, his face full of admiration.

Wang Yuan smiled and said: "Liu Jun, I don't have to play these tricks to deceive the court, it's because we are under too much pressure, if we don't work hard, we will end up in a miserable situation sooner or later." You also saw the purpose of Wang Ji and Luo Xixiao coming to Jiannan, if it weren't for the strong power of their backers, how would they dare to do this? We are one with your mother and even Zuo Xiang, and our Jiannan Jiedu is stronger, and Zuo Xiang will be more confident and powerful in the court. Do you understand the truth that one is prosperous and one is lost? ”

Liu Jun nodded solemnly and said solemnly: "I understand." ”