"Captain, Captain!"

There was a shout from the watchtower, Yang Hao looked down at the railing, and saw two men with leaning arms and leather robes standing below accompanied by several soldiers, and a captain was shouting to the "watchtower" with his hands together, Yang Hao took a closer look and said with great joy: "Xiaoliu, they are back, let's go, let's go down." ”

After Xiaoliu and Tie Niu left the Khitan and went to Beijing, they did not return to Luzhou immediately, they first transmitted the news back to Luzhou through the "Flying Feather", and then went all the way south, and after getting the accurate news of the king of the Southern Courtyard sending troops, Feishu reported to Yang Hao, and then according to Yang Hao's instructions, they rushed to contact Ono Kerr, Chibangsong and others, and did not meet Yang Hao until this moment.

Yang Hao rushed down the watchtower, the three brothers hugged each other and excitedly recounted a few words of farewell, Yang Hao mentioned the Khitan trip again, and asked seriously: "When the Khitan Xiao Hou asked you to come back, uh...... How does she dress? ”

Xiao Liu and Tie Niu wondered in their hearts, I don't know why the eldest brother cares so much about Empress Xiao's dress, thinking about it for a while, Xiao Liu replied: "Empress Xiao, I was wearing a white robe that day, hmm...... Beautiful......

Tie Niu scratched his head and said with a smile: "Yes, yes, yes, a white robe, very charming, it makes people itch at first glance, the eyes, the expression is ......, lazy, oh...... By the way, just like the Persian cat raised by Princess Ya, she has a good complexion, and she is much more polite than when she saw us the day before. ”

Xiaoliu and Tie Niu didn't care much about women, but when the two described the situation when Empress Xiao met them, they actually talked about how touching her demeanor was, and it was conceivable that she was really amorous at that time. Yang Hao thought of Xiao Xuan's enchanting and charming appearance, and his heart was also moved, and he hurriedly asked, "Well......, what jewelry was she wearing at that time?" ”

Tie Niu and Xiao Liu looked at each other, not knowing what Yang Hao cared about this, Xiao Liu thought carefully for a long time, and hesitated: "This...... I really didn't look closely, it was Xiao Niangniang, how dare my brother keep staring at her, get angry, she will really kill. Well, ......, she seemed to be ...... that day It's like you've never worn any jewelry, Iron Bull, do you remember? ”

Tie Niu stared at a pair of bull's eyes and blinked a few times, and said in a humble voice: "Yes, I didn't wear anything." ”

Yang Hao's heart suddenly cooled, the relationship between him and Xiao Xuan was constantly cut and messed up, with their identity, it was impossible to be together, Xiao Xuan was struggling to resist the feelings in his heart with reason, why wasn't he? However, no matter how rational Xiao Sui is, as long as he has affection for him, he will be more or less concerned about his existence in deciding on the northwest policy in the future, and if he can get more help from this Khitan ruler, his future road will undoubtedly be easier.

In about sixty years, a child named Henry will be born in the far west, and when he grows up, he will establish a dynasty called Plantagenet. The foundation of his strength came from inheritance, from his mother he inherited Normandy, from his father he inherited Anjou, and from his queen he inherited Aquitaine. It was these that made him a powerful monarch in the end, and his country was not something he fought out of nothing, but history has his place, it was he who established the grand jury system, and is revered as the father of English law.

Those who have achieved great things since ancient times, who can conquer their opponents by non-war means such as marriage, alliance, and discord, no one is willing to make it easy, and they have to use the blood of their subordinates to prove their ability, they are stupid idiots, and they are only worthy of being a mountain king. Yang Hao thought that his road to hegemony in the northwest, in the Song Dynasty, there was a legal identity that embarrassed Zhao Guangyi, in the Khitan, there was a grievance that was difficult to distinguish, it would be easier for him to deal with the deep roots of the Xiazhou Li family in the northwest, and now it seems that if he can't get the tacit understanding of the Khitan, I'm afraid that the fisherman will benefit from the second uncle Zhao.

At this time, Xiao Liu suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "By the way, Empress Xiao also specially asked me to bring the box back to my eldest brother." ”

Yang Hao's spirits perked up: "She brought the box back for you?" Where, pick it up quickly. ”

Xiaoliu walked to a horse, took a box from the horse's back, and brought it to Yang Hao, Yang Hao took it in his hand, and found that it was much lighter, when the original built-in cement sand table, it could weigh sixty or seventy pounds, Yang Hao was happy, and quickly put the box on the ground, pulled open the seal and opened it to see, there was a pile of silk inside, open it and take a look, there were only a few things wrapped in the middle: an earring, a bracelet, a jade pendant...... Yang Hao was suspicious, and it was difficult to understand Xiao Xuan's meaning: how could half of the original pairs of jewelry be returned? She's already discovered the secret in the box, so she really cares about me, but...... What does it mean that she returns half of everything in pairs?

Yang Hao was frowning and thinking, Ke Zhenwei came with Zhe Ziyu, and when he saw Yang Hao squatting on the ground, with a box open in front of him, Yang Hao was still holding a jade bracelet in his hand, Zhe Ziyu couldn't help but ask curiously: "What is this?" ”

Yang Hao's eyes flashed, he slowly threw the jade bracelet back into the box, slowly stood up, glared at Xiao Liu and Tie Niu, his eyebrows gradually locked, and shouted in a deep voice: "You two are really promising, look at the good things you have done!" ”

The scimitar Xiaoliu and Tie Niu looked at each other and were stunned, and Tie Niu said authentically: "Big brother, the two of us ......"

"How are you two? Dare to talk back! ”

Yang Hao pointed to the contents of the box, and shouted with dignity: "I want to base myself in the northwest in Luzhou, and I want to win the trust and support of all ethnic groups in the northwest, not by strong force, but by virtue of the military discipline and the rules of treating everyone equally. What if you're a Khitan merchant? Then you can take their possessions captive? And what is the difference between us and the robbers? ”

Yang Hao waved his hand angrily and said sadly: "If you are not the brother of Captain Ben, I will engage in military justice for the two of you today!" Take it away, return it immediately, and if you do it again, you will not be spared. ”

Tie Niu was stunned, and said authentically: "Big brother, you ...... You asked us to return the stuff...... Still...... Who else? ”

Yang Hao shouted: "You still dare to pretend to be stupid, believe it or not, big brother beat you up?" ”

The scimitar Xiaoliu was alert in the end, and quickly grabbed the iron bull, nodded and said, "Big brother, don't be angry, we ...... We just thought, anyway, they are not the people under the rule of the eldest brother, and it is good to grab something as military funds, don't be angry, eldest brother, our brother will not dare to commit it again. ”

Yang Hao showed a look of approval in his eyes, and raised his big finger at him with Zhe Ziyu behind his back, and his tone became more and more severe: "Return it immediately, otherwise I don't want to recognize you as brothers again, go quickly!" ”

The scimitar Xiaoliu closed the box and clamped it under the ribs, and said cooperatively: "Yes, yes, we will return it immediately......" After speaking, he left with the confused Tie Nian.

Only then did Yang Hao turn around and say to the fold casually: "These two things that are not successful, alas, make the fifth prince laugh." ”

Yu Yanran said: "Captain Yang is really strict in governing the army, in fact, ...... It is also fair to take away the property of the enemy country for one's own use. Autumn has not committed any crimes, and it is for the people of their own country. But...... Taiwei is now attacking Yinzhou with the Khitan, but it is indeed not suitable to have many disputes with the people of other countries. ”

"Yes, hehe, it's just that these truths, you don't need to say it to those two bastards, scold them, they will understand. Oh, by the way, we just looked upstairs, and saw that the defenders in the city were moving frequently, and seemed to have noticed our movements, and were making contingencies, so let's go up to the 'watchtower' and take a look. Fifth son, please. ”

The iron bull was like a second King Kong, and he was pulled by the scimitar Xiaoliu in a daze, and walked a long way, and still wondered: "What kind of madness did the eldest brother just make, when will we rob the Khitan merchants?" The treasure in this box is obviously Empress Xiao'......"

"Shh......h

The scimitar Xiaoliu looked around, and the thief smiled and said: "I already understand a few points, the eldest brother said that this thing was robbed by us, that is, we robbed it, you must not talk nonsense, especially in front of the folding girl, otherwise ......, the eldest brother is unlucky, and the two of us must also eat melons and brand ......"

The scimitar Xiaoliu said a few words to Tie Niu, Tie Niu's eyes widened in surprise, and he lost his voice: "No, that's ...... That's the ...... Queen......"

The scimitar Xiaoliu smiled and said, "The queen is not a woman?" I want to listen to them when I was in Lijiazhuang, don't you also say that our sister-in-law was originally three chaste and nine fierce, and no one dared to beat her idea? It's not for our big brother to coax him to death. ”

Tie Niu smacked his mouth, looked back, and muttered: "Then it's no wonder that our eldest brother wants to cover up in front of the girl, hey!" Big brother is really ...... It's too insidious. ”

The scimitar Xiaoliu smiled: "What is this? I think that the eldest brother designed Xu Muchen and let him dig a pit to bury himself, that would be insidious enough. ”

Tie Niu retorted: "In my opinion, that's not insidious, this time the eldest brother and the Khitan jointly attacked Yinzhou, it is really insidious, not only borrowing other people's soldiers to help him attack the city, but also borrowing other people's soldiers to help him recruit troops, you can also see what Chi Bangsong is doing, hehe, it is still a means to make the wisher take the bait, the eldest brother is really too insidious, too insidious." ”

The scimitar Xiaoliu hugged the box and said enviously: "When will I be as insidious as my big brother......

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※ Central Plains countries like the Tang Dynasty and the Great Song Dynasty, which regard themselves as orthodox in the world, mainly rely on logistics and heavy transportation and distribution to the local people when marching and fighting, if the military discipline is not strict enough, or the main general does not know how to sympathize with the people, wanton plundering often occurs in the process of distribution, which still refers to the territory of the country, if it is in the territory of the enemy country, when the accompanying supplies are not enough in wartime, plundering the local people is inevitable.

Even the famous generals who were touted by later generations and their army known as the division of benevolence and righteousness have done such things when the military rations are really insufficient, and the safety of their own army is always the first place, without this awareness, don't want to be a general. And once the commander orders to plunder the rations of the people of the enemy country, burn, kill, and rape women, it becomes an inevitable occurrence, and the lord will certainly turn a blind eye to such a thing, and the bitter lord will not have the courage to sue the officials, the local officials, or even the officials with his life.

There is only one circumstance in which the people of an enemy country can be spared, and that is when the enemy country has intended to turn them into its own people. Zhao Kuangyin frequently pursued the holy decree and strictly ordered the army attacking the Tang State to avoid unnecessary killings and pokes as much as possible, which was out of this political consideration. Later, when the cruel and murderous lord of the Jin State Wan Yanliang attacked the Southern Song Dynasty, he was strict with military discipline, and the autumn did not commit any crimes, and the soldiers set fire to the houses of the Song people, and he was beheaded in public, which was also out of this intention to buy people's hearts.

The same is true for Yang Hao, his purpose is not to raze Yinzhou City to the ground, but to take this city into his own hands, what is the use of an empty city, of course, it only makes sense to have the people of this city, so from the beginning, he did not think of plundering grain from the Han people, Qiang people, Tubo people, and Hui people near Yinzhou, so he did not hesitate to spend a lot of manpower and material resources to buy a large amount of grain and grass from the Central Plains and transport it here.

However, the Khitans did not have such concerns as him, and the Khitans did not even have military salaries. When Emperor Taizong of the Khitan led his troops into the Central Plains, the generals of the Later Jin Dynasty surrendered one after another, and later asked him for military salaries, His Majesty the Emperor replied inexplicably: "There has never been such a case in our country." "Up to now, there is still only one army in the Khitan State that has military salaries, that is, the Han army under the rule of the Southern Courtyard, and the Khitan army still has no military salary.

The army brought by Yelu Xian this time was the elite soldiers of the Sixth Courtyard of Diela, all Khitan warriors, so according to their glorious tradition, they plundered all the way and rushed here. After arriving at the garrison under the city of Yinzhou, they sent small forces to search around, and the Han, Qiang, Tubo, and Hui people all suffered, and they robbed grain, cattle and sheep, raped women, and even robbed men. In addition to asking them to build buildings and dig trenches, the robbed men sometimes stuffed guns into him and pushed them into the battlefield as cannon fodder.

The nearby tribes are complaining of hardship, their pastures and crops are in this area, and now at this time, it is the time to start fattening cattle and sheep, storing forage, and preparing to harvest crops.

The Yalong tribe is such an example, this tribe is not too big, the tribe has more than 1,300 tents, because of their proximity to the Han border, they have gradually been assimilated, whether it is clothing, language, or living habits, the tribe has also changed to a half-herding and half-farming way of life. Their tribe is very close to Yinzhou, only separated by a Luosa tribe in the middle, when the Khitan soldiers and horses besieging Yinzhou entered the Luosa tribe to "beat the grass valley", the leader of the Luosa tribe fled with his family and cronies and took refuge in the Yalong tribe.

Tenzin Banjul, the leader of the Yalong tribe, was shocked when he heard the news, and immediately fled up the mountain with his clan, but he saw the opportunity early, and not long after the whole clan fled into the mountain, the Khitan iron cavalry arrived, and they searched around the empty tribe, and did not get anything useful, so they cut off the crops that were not fully ripe, and burned them all in a fire if they couldn't bring them.

Tenzin Banjul stood on the top of the hill, looking at the location of the tribe in the distance with thick smoke billowing and wanted to cry without tears, although he escaped, and the tribe's cattle, sheep and horses were also brought out, but can these things alone survive a cold winter? When the Khitans leave, it must be winter, and how many people in the entire tribe will survive?

Just when he was cornered, he met a nobleman, and this nobleman was really a very noble person, because he was a descendant of the king of Tubo Yalongjue, Chibangsong.

"Distinguished guest, it is a great honor for me to meet the descendants of King Alongjue A, but ...... We are ashamed that our tribe has suffered misfortune, the wolves of the Khitan have come to our grassland, burned our crops, razed our villages, and are unable to feast on adults, not even a glass of wine. ”

After inviting Chibangsong into the felt tent, Tenzin Banjul was ashamed.

Chi Bangsong smiled: "Tenzin Tou is too polite, I have met many unfortunate tribes along the way, I already know the misfortune you have encountered, and I can be treated by you, Chi Bangsong is deeply gracious. ”

Both of them use the Tibetan language, Tenzin Banjul Pingsu speaks Chinese, his mother tongue is not very proficient, listening to the pure Tubo language of Chibangsong, Tenzin Banzhuer can't help but feel agitated, and said with emotion: "Alas, I think my Tubo was also the hero of the Western Regions, but since the assassination of Langdama Zangpu, my Tubo has been divided, and now it is only a hundred years, and the overlord of the Western Regions grassland in the past has fallen to the point of being bullied everywhere, and the Khitans and party members are bullying us. When will we Tibetan people be able to live a peaceful and prosperous life again? ”

Chibangsong said: "Xiazhou Li, Fuzhou Zhe, Linzhou Yang, the three feudatories stand on their feet, the Hui has declined, we do not surrender to each other among the Tibetan tribes, and it is also a sand that cannot be grasped, and now the Qing King Yelusheng fled to the northwest, and attracted the wolves of the Khitan, and it is becoming more and more unpeaceful here......

Speaking of this, he perked up a little, and said: "Fortunately, Mrs. Yang has come to Luzhou, whether my Western Regions can be peaceful or not, the top ten will fall on him." Captain Yang, you know, right? Yes, he is the lord of Luzhou and the lord of Hengshan. ”

Chi Bangsong looked left and right, approached him a little mysteriously, and said, "Have you heard?" Yang Taiwei is the reincarnation of Gangjin Gongbao. ”

Chi Bangsong clasped his hands together, recited the Buddha's name, and said: "This is confirmed by my master Dacuo Living Buddha himself, Gangjin Gongbao is our protector god, bringing us peace and tranquility, according to me, the person who will unify the Western Regions in the future must be Yang Taiwei." ”

Tenzin Banjul hesitated: "My lord, that Captain Yang...... It's Han Chinese, right? ”

"Don't talk nonsense, blasphemy."

Chibangsong said solemnly: "Gangjin Gongbao is a god, in the eyes of the gods, how can there be a distinction between Han people, party members, or Tubo people? I see that Tenzintou people also wear Hanfu, and they usually speak Chinese, so what? The important thing is your inside, as soon as Yang Taiwei appeared, Fuzhou and Linzhou competed to make friends with him, and the two Jiedu made the adults worship him as brothers, and I, I was also guided by the Living Buddha to worship brothers with him. The eight clans of the party, except for the Xiazhou Tuoba clan, are now also courting him. ”

Chibang Songming said: "Along the way, I saw that many suffering tribes rushed to Luzhou Yang Taiwei, Yang Taiwei is the reincarnation of Gangjin Gongbao, with his protection, I believe that these tribes can survive the difficulties and live a good life." Looking forward to it, one day in our northwest, Dangxiang, Xianbei, Han, Tubo, Hui ......, all the believers who believe in our Buddha will be attached to Gangjingong to protect the car, so that the grudges and disputes can be reconciled, and everyone will live a peaceful life for a few days. ”

"That's right......" Tenzin Panjul pondered, touching his beard.

His tribe has been difficult to survive this winter with its own financial and material resources, the Tubo Empire has long ceased to exist, his tribe in order to survive, took refuge in the Khitan, took refuge in Yinzhou, the tribe and the nearby tribesmen married and intervened, now the tribe has Han people, Khitan people, Hui people, Dangxiang people, and it is no longer so pure.

He has also heard the legend that Gangjin Gongbao has been born, and now even the people of Chibang Songtou say so, and the living Buddha of Dacuo has certified his identity, and in Tenzin's heart, Yang Hao is already the incarnation of the Bodhisattva. Gangjin Gongbao, Songtsen Gampo Zampo, Gyalwa Rinpoche Tsangpo, ...... these powerful emperors are the reincarnated spirit bodies of Gangjin Gongbao, could it be that Yang Taiwei came into being and really wants to become the king of the grassland? ”

"Lord Chibangsong, you mean...... Many tribes have taken refuge in Luzhou? ”

"Yes, the Hui people, the Qiang people, the Han people, not to mention the Han people, and then there are our Tubo people. It's all to survive, besides, Taiwei Yang is the incarnation of a Bodhisattva, if you don't take refuge in him, who else can you refuge? ”

Tenzin Banjul hesitated: "This ......, I don't know if there are so many people like our tribe, will Luzhou accept it?" In addition, if you serve Luzhou, I don't know what requirements you will have for us? ”

Chi Bangsong looked at him and hesitated: "If you have already thrown yourself to Luzhou, there must be no problem, now...... I can't say well, there are already many tribes rushing to Luzhou, although Luzhou is full of grain and grass, I'm afraid it can't supply so many people. ”

Tenzin Banjul originally wanted to ask Luzhou if he would make any excessive demands on them, such as the worry of breaking up their tribe and depriving him of the position of the head of the tribe, but when he heard that he wanted to take refuge and was afraid that the people would not want it now, he couldn't help but get anxious, and hurriedly said: "Venerable Lord Chibangsong, you and I are both from the Tubo tribe, but we can't bear to watch our fellow tribes be displaced and face a dilemma of life and death." My lord is the sworn brother of Yang Taiwei in Luzhou, and he is also a disciple of the living Buddha of Dacuo, if you can say a word......"

Chi Bangsong was a little embarrassed, hesitated for a long time, and then reluctantly said: "That...... Okay, after drinking the milk tea of Tenzin Touren, I am a friend of Tenzin Touren, I can't see death without saving it, I will write a letter to Touren when I go back, you take my letter to Luzhou, I believe that they will still give me this little face. But...... You have to move faster, and if the other tribes have taken the lead, then I can't help it. ”

Tenzin Banjul said happily: "This is very good, this is so good, please drink tea." ”

Chi Bangsong smiled and raised the tea bowl.

The longer this battle was fought, the more surrounding tribes were harassed and harmed by the Khitans, so under the persecution of the Khitans and the glorious inspiration of Gangjin Gongbao, more and more people would throw themselves to Luzhou. Yang Hao is not short of money now, he is short of people, he wants to count on Luzhou to reunite on its own, and if he doesn't have 20 years of hard work, he will have enough population, so there is only recruitment in addition to annexation. In order to obtain sufficient manpower, this profiteer surnamed Yang squeezed the surplus value of the Khitan allies to the extreme.