The Tang army pursued the defeated Turkic troops from the north of Heisha City, and soon discovered the terrifying small hill next to the road, which was actually built with corpses. At this time, the temperature was low in late autumn, and the climate on the grassland was dry and cold, so that the heads were not completely rotted here, and some of the eyes were still blankly open like dead fish eyes, and there was a stench in the air, and the gray color of the human face was covered with a layer of sand and soil, which added to the smell of death, as if this was not a place for human survival.

The soldiers on the road looked sideways, and the people around Xue Chongxun whispered: "The one who was killed must be the Han slave family in the Turkic tribe." Some of the staff members were angry: "The Turks are cruel and unkind, and they don't need to be treated like people!" Those Turkic captives we captured are wasting food, it's better to return the favor with a tooth for a tooth! ”

The people were filled with righteous indignation, and some people soon chimed in: "The Turks are building a 'Jingguan' to show off their martial arts? The country of the defeated army, it should be my Tang Empire that does this kind of thing. If the Turkic dead and captives are built into a Beijing view, it will be ten times more spectacular than this, and it will deter the barbarians with its martial arts. ”

Zhang Jiuling said: "The word martial arts means 'stop fighting', showing off martial arts is not the way of benevolence, we don't have to do brutal things like Turkic barbarians to attract criticism from all over the world, please King Mingjian." ”

Xue Chongxun's face was angry, and the murderous aura made the people around him also feel the biting coldness, a person who held the power of the army and the authority of the country, he had the possibility of bleeding and drifting when he was angry, so his anger at this time made everyone a little afraid.

And the Turkic princess Ashina Zhuo, who came with Xue Chongxun, was also bloodless, seeing the tragic situation in front of her must have been a bad thing done by her clansmen, she looked at Xue Chongxun in iron armor from the side, and opened her mouth and couldn't say a word.

At this time, Su Jin also opened his mouth to persuade: "The prince can't kill out of anger, and thousands of lives can't be hastily decided, why don't you make a decision after a little discussion?" ”

Xue Chongxun listened to Zhang Jiuling and said that Zhang Jiuling was a talented person as a prime minister, and most of his words were considered far-sighted. Coupled with Su Jin's persuasion, he calmed down a little...... But the most sensible thing for him to maintain is "self-confidence", one victory after another makes people find real self-confidence, not arrogance or pride, but a kind of confidence, believing that he can do everything better.

After a while, his mood calmed down, and he said with a sentimental look: "Order that the body and head of the innocent deceased be transported back to Datang for burial, so that the soul of the deceased can return to his hometown...... We have not been able to protect the Han people, and this is all we can do. ”

Everyone was greatly moved when they heard this, and even the staff members who were indignant and wanted to retaliate with it also agreed. Xue Chongxun was very satisfied when he saw this, and felt that he had a bit of the attainments of an emperor, and thought that sometimes his aggressive momentum did not necessarily show his strength, but the benevolence and righteousness that took a step back could show his invincible strength...... Of course, benevolence and righteousness at this time are just for show, Xue Chongxun said in his heart, whether it is in the north or in the interior, there are many mines, what is the difference between using those captives as coolies to squeeze their final value and killing them, the difference is only that the former is so that the world can accept it.

The darkness of his heart has never changed, just like a rainy day. But now he is undoubtedly more mature in his handling of things, and he is more and more aware that he must possess the image of a righteous and benevolent person in a high position, and it is the royal way to show people positively. Whether you are good or evil in your heart, in order to be in tune with the current, you must show the good side. The success of this attack on the Turks was the practice of this idea, the success of the Turkic Khanate in turning into a tyranny, and the army of the Xue Party fully catered to the interests of the vast majority of the people in the north, as well as showing the actions of the righteous army.

Xue Chongxun's momentary "performance" not only made Zhang Jiuling and other wise advisers nod in approval, but also moved Ashina Zhuo next to him without revealing a trace. Although Ashina Zhuo was a Turkic, seeing Xue Chongxun's sentimental appearance of enduring humiliation, he couldn't help but feel sympathy for him and the dead Han people, and even felt that it was really his own people who were sorry for the Han people.

Xue Chongxun said in his heart: A war that seems to be between justice and evil is actually just a struggle for living space.

…… The army camped at night, and Su Jin asked to see Xue Chongxun alone and entered the account to discuss the matter. Su Jinjin said: "The Turkic soldiers slaughtered innocents, why should the prince kill the prisoners in return?" It is a great opportunity to unite all ethnic groups once again to fight injustice. At this time, the general trend of the war situation is clear, how can all countries not obey the reason, and the prince is respected as the leader of the alliance. ”

Xue Chongxun nodded, and when he was thinking about it, he suddenly reported that Zhang Jiuling and others asked to see him, so he passed it in, and whispered to Su Jin: "Let's not mention the matter of the alliance leader first." ”

Su Jin understood and hugged his fists and said: "I understand my humble duties. ”

After Zhang Jiuling and the others came in, they saw Su Jin and Xue Chongxun alone inside, so they were a little surprised: "What is Su 'Shilang' discussing with the King of Jin?" ”

Xue Chongxun said indifferently: "During the day, you dissuaded me from killing prisoners, I thought so, complained that there was a debt to repay the master, and I was talking to Su Jin about joining forces to fight injustice again." This time, the alliance of all ethnic groups must be an unprecedented event. ”

Zhang Jiuling said: "It's just that winter is coming soon, and the northern ethnic groups rarely send troops to conquer in the cold winter, and the soldiers of the Tang Army are even more unsuitable for marching in the bitter cold. If you work hard again, I am afraid that the people will be difficult and costly...... The Turkic War failed and was greatly damaged, and it was difficult to threaten our country. ”

Xue Chongxun said in his heart: It's one thing to fight or not, what I value most is only the alliance. Even his cronies don't know much about his inner abacus, only Su Jin knows it.

"If the weather is bad, there is no need to rush troops. The purpose of the alliance with all ethnic groups and states to defeat the remnants of the Turks is to improve the relations around the imperial court, and the second is to make the Turkic remnants fall into the situation of being beaten by the water dogs. Xue Chongxun said.

The ministers thought so and echoed it.

After the staff finished saying goodbye, Xue Chongxun asked someone to go to the Tuyuhun camp to invite Murong Xuan to come over to play chess, and Murong Xuan came happily. Murong Xuan's age is only weak, and Xue Chongxun is about ten years older than him, but although this Tuyuhun Khan King is young, Xue Chongxun feels very wise, and the relationship between the two is very good.

The game is the popular Go game in the Tang Dynasty, Murong Xuan has just learned it for a short time, but he can already meet Xue Chongxun's opponent in chess, who can make a coincidence, and in time, I am afraid that Xue Chongxun will not be his opponent. After a while, Xue Chongxun suddenly asked him: "King Khan has learned Go, what do you feel about this Dao?" ”

Murong Xuan picked up a son and dropped it casually, thought for a moment and then said with a smile: "Win more and take advantage of the situation." ”

Xue Chongxun praised: "Confidant." ”

After a question and a question, there was silence in the big tent again, and they played chess quietly, as if they were very attentive. However, what Murong Xuan thought about the most was not the black and white pieces on the chessboard, but pondering the meaning of Xue Chongxun's words, and the confidant was nothing more than understanding each other without having to explain the matter.

When the chess reached the endgame, Xue Chongxun said again: "I haven't been with the princess (Murong Yan) for a long time, is she okay in Fuqi City?" ”

Murong Xuan, who was sitting opposite, said slowly: "The eldest sister often misses the King of Jin, and is worried that I am young, and I have not been able to come to Chang'an to meet the King of Jin several times. ”

Xue Chongxun said with a smile: "If she is worried that you are weak in Tugu, then tell her, I will not stand idly by at any time for the affairs of the Murong family." ”

Murong Xuan became even more calm when he heard this.

After a while, Xue Chongxun pointed to the chessboard and said: "Go is different from the chess of the Western Regions, there is no difference in size between the princes, but the position is different. I remember the Western Regions chess I played with the Khan, and it was interesting to see that each of them had an alliance leader. ”

Murong Xuan suddenly felt that there was something awkward in this sentence, and when he looked back, it turned out to be the term "alliance leader", there is only a king in the Western Regions chess, how can he be called the alliance leader? He wondered in his heart whether Xue Chongxun had used inappropriate words or did he say it on purpose?

Seeing that Murong Xuan didn't answer for a long time and bowed his head and groaned, Xue Chongxun smiled and didn't urge him to wait quietly.

After a long time, Murong Xuan finally said indifferently: "The Tang army has won a big victory, and even the Khitans have broken away from the Turks and returned, and the King of Jin is the leader of the whole game of chess?" ”

Xue Chongxun smiled but didn't answer, and said to him: "I am ready to invite the leaders and envoys of all ethnic groups to come to the Monan Grassland Alliance to fight against injustice, of course, the Tuyuhun Kingdom is also one of them. Murong Xuan said: "The enemy of the King of Jin is naturally the enemy of the Tuyuhun people. ”

Xue Chongxun was very satisfied after hearing this, so he didn't say it too thoroughly, he didn't want to make a fool of himself, and there was more room for maneuver if some things were not explained.

Murong Xuan returned to the Tuyuhun camp and secretly summoned his cronies to discuss, saying that the king of Jin hinted that he wanted to be the leader of the alliance, and said that he was playing chess, and asked them what their intentions were. The ministers said, "Doesn't this want the Khan to take the lead in supporting him as the head of all tribes and tribes?" "The King of Jin can't stand up and say that everyone supports him as the leader of the alliance, according to the habits of the Han people, this kind of thing has to be proposed by others, and they have to pretend to refuse a few times."

One of the ministers said: "Most of the Khan kings want to support the Jin kings in this matter, but before deciding, they have to look far away and figure it out: he and the Li Tang court are actually not the same thing." If we take the lead this time, it will be extremely difficult to repair the relationship with Li Tang in the future. ”

The other person smiled and said: "You don't inquire about the situation in Chang'an, the Li family is still comparable to the power of the Xue family?" ”

The man who spoke just now said, "Look into the distance!" In the past, Empress Wu Zetian was in charge of the Central Plains alone, and called the emperor to build the country, and finally returned to Li Tang, is there no such possibility now? If the Li family returns to power, we Tuyuhun will have to make the Tang people feel that Tuyuhun is disloyal, in their eyes, this kind of thing is more severe than rebelling against the imperial court and sending troops to harass, and our nobles in the Helong area will also be discriminated against by the Tang Dynasty scholars, and their status will fall to the third rate...... There are so many tribes and vassals in the world, why do we have to take the lead? ”

Murong Xuanxin said: The relationship between Tuyuhun and the imperial court, the relationship between the Murong family and the Xue family, isn't it very clear which of them is familiar with the Murong family? G