Wang Pu compiled the investigation of himself and his partners during this time, spent another winter pondering carefully, and finally formed a strategy of more than 8,000 words, and then led his partners to meet Zhang Mai and explain his doubts.

"In the river, Tianzhu's long rule?" Zhang Mai put down his strategy and said: "This is an unsolvable problem, at least for now, it seems to me that it is unsolvable. ”

"I don't understand, the marshal is talking about ......"

"The river is thousands of miles away from the Central Plains, and the news comes and goes, not to mention that the Central Plains wants to be direct, even if you want to appoint officials over, it will not work. First, the people in the river may not be convinced, and the officials of the Central Plains may not be able to govern the river well, and second, how many scholars in the Central Plains are willing to go all the way to the river to be officials? In my generation, with my prestige and the relationship between me and Guo Luo, I should be able to guarantee that Hezhong will not rebel. But what about after Guo Luo and I are dead? Can our children and grandchildren still maintain this fragile relationship between the clans and vassals? I'm not optimistic about this myself. Without the support and blood transfusion from the Central Plains, the rule of the descendants of the river there could not escape two outcomes: localization, or expulsion by the natives. ”

Wang Pu was gloomy, he asked himself, if he wants to come to the Western Regions, he needs to make up his mind, if he wants to be an official in the river for several years, even if he is willing, his family, I am afraid that he is not willing. What goes against the needs of humanity can never last.

Zhang Mai said: "In addition, there is also the durability of force - the current stable situation in the Western Regions comes from the deterrence of our Tang Iron Cavalry. Now Tang is invincible in the world, but this situation is not the norm. Whether it is the Western Regions or Mobei, although the barbarian nation has been suppressed by us in the past few years, it is always impossible to kill all the weeds, one day. They will still grow back into a new calamity. Therefore, the problem of the Western Regions and Mobei is not only a problem of distance, but also a problem of barbarian force. If these two problems are not solved, all hidden dangers will only be a symptom but not a root cause. And to solve these two problems, unless ......"

"Unless what?"

"Unless we can shorten the distance between the Central Plains and the river, and abolish the force of the barbarian people."

"How is that possible!"

Several students shouted in unison.

How can the distance between mountains and rivers become shorter? It's not that there are immortal spells!

As for the abolition of the barbarians. How to scrap? If there was such a way, the Han Wu Tang Sect would have done it a long time ago!

"Well, it sounds impossible, but it's actually possible...... "The first problem is that the distance between the river and the Central Plains cannot be shortened, but if our transportation capacity becomes stronger, it is equivalent to shortening the distance." If it can be guaranteed that from Chang'an to the west of the Green Ridge, soldiers and supplies can arrive within a month. Then whether it is in the middle of the river or India, it will be included in the long-term rule. ”

"From Chang'an to Lingxi? That's not possible. The soldiers may be able to ride fast horses, but they can't fight at such a gallop of thousands of miles to the Green Mountains, let alone materials, how can they be transported to Lingxi in large quantities. Hundreds of miles do not sell wood, thousands of miles do not sell millet, can walk on the Silk Road goods. It's all about precious things like silk......"

"Of course, you can't rely on horses, nor can you rely on manpower to carry it, but you have to rely on ......," Zhang Mai said: "Science." ”

"Science?" Wang Pu said: "Does the marshal mean that the study of the imperial examination? ”

Zhang Mai had a look of crying and laughing on his face, but he didn't blame or explain. Just said: "See more in the Western Regions, learn more, and slowly, you will understand." Well, if you still want to stay with me for a long time. This is a subject that does not require mastery, but at least it must be understood. ”

――――――――――

For Zhang Mai, the far east.

For Zheng Wei, the far north.

Five thousand miles of Mobei was covered by a heavy snowfall.

is the so-called a few happy and a few sad. Under the rule of the Tang Dynasty, not all of them were happy, rich, but also painful and poor.

Compared with the gradual prosperity of the Western Regions and Hebei, and the recovery of Jingbei and Henan, the tribes in the north and south of the desert are still struggling on the verge of survival.

The investment in the construction of Tiance Datang is not in full bloom, and the main financial and material resources are invested in the maintenance of trade routes and the construction of several major central cities. From the perspective of policy inclination, the four major cities of Yan, Tianjin, Ye, and Bian have received the overwhelming financial support, and the rural areas of the Central Plains have received agricultural tax reductions and exemptions, but the north and south of the desert have been completely ignored.

From the autumn of the seventh year of Tiance to the present, for three full years, more than 300,000 young and middle-aged people of the tribe have been stranded in the Central Plains, or built a city in Yanjing, or dug coal in northern Shanxi, or mined in Yinshan, or opened a port in Tianjin.

An expedition to the north of the desert and a battle in Linhuangfu have already looted the wealth of the desert - most of them were taken to Liaodong by the Khitan, and some were brought into the Great Wall by Tiance, all of whom were poor to the end, but they continued to squeeze and suppress the last bottom line of the desert herdsmen.

The spring breeze of Tian Khan has been blowing through Yumen Pass, but it has not reached Mobei half a step!

The recovery of the Central Plains and the rebirth of the Western Regions were accompanied by the cry and decline of Mobei.

I don't know how many tribes can't survive the past three winters.

But the great Heavenly Khan, he did not pity the herdsmen of Mobei, this "Holy Lord of the Central Plains" did not have the character of the holy king advocated by Confucianism in the Central Plains. Most of the old and weak have died, the young and strong have also become weak due to malnutrition, and many women have been sold to the Western Regions to become wives and even slaves of new immigrants.

The number of tribes is decreasing, the size of the tribes is shrinking, and for three winters in a row, all of them have been disasters.

Of course, there are also a small number of tribes who live a decent life - that is on the bank of the Yuju River, Xinghua City established by Shi Jian, the city is one of the best grasslands in the whole Mobei for five hundred miles, the water and grass style, the soil is fertile, Shi Jian established more than 100 pastures there, grazing hairy sheep, collecting wool and transporting it to Dingliao in exchange for supplies in the south.

There was a similar situation in the south of Dingliao City to Dadingfu, where the inhabitants were either farmers or herdsmen, producing horses to be transported south in exchange for southern goods, growing grain for self-sufficiency, and acting as an intermediary between Xinghua City and the Central Plains trade.

But apart from a little bit of prosperity in these two regions. The rest of Mobei is full of mourning.

The four words of Marshal Long Xiang mean benevolence in the Central Plains, and the four words of Admiral Tiance mean tyranny in Mobei.

――――――――――

However, it was not without warmth, and the compassionate Buddha brought warm comfort from Tibet. The plateau Buddhism formed in Tibet is very suitable for the herdsmen of Mobei who live the same hardships.

Although they are all religions, Han Buddhism and Taoism, which were born in the Central Plains, have no influence on Mobei, but the plateau Buddhism born in Tibet has many internal things that can naturally resonate in the minds of Mobei herdsmen. Moreover, Buddhism is not a new affair in Mobei, and it has been precipitated for thousands of years in the past, and many of the Khitan nobles are Buddhists. Even ordinary herdsmen know the compassion and greatness of the Bodhisattva.

And now. In Mobei, the legendary human emperor Yelubei converted to the Buddha and became a living Buddha, which soon had a great impact on the depths of the hearts of the people in Mobei. Zanhua's northward journey wanted to light a spark on a bundle of dry firewood, and almost at a faster speed than the eagle's iron horse, he conquered the hearts of the people of Mobei.

The mantras handed down by the living Buddha enabled the herdsmen to endure extreme hardship. It also made them understand "cause and effect" and know the sins of their previous lives. And hope for the next life, even the most complete liberation.

The Han people who grew up in the affluent land of the Central Plains probably have a hard time understanding: with the hope of the other world, there are many sufferings in the world, such as hunger and cold. If they are sick, they become bearable.

Although it was only three years, the poor Mobei still built 25 large temples, known as the 24 Lanruo of Mobei - as for the last big temple, it is the Dari Mandala located outside the Yellow Dragon City - which is the holy place of the living Buddha of Mobei Zanhua in Xi. If the herdsmen can make a pilgrimage here, they will not fall into hell, evil ghosts, or other lives after this life, and if they can see the side of the living Buddha, they can eliminate the disasters of the three lifetimes, if they can hear the living Buddha's lectures once, they can eliminate the karma of the ten lifetimes, and if they can get the blessing of the living Buddha, the blessings and wisdom they will receive are immeasurable. If you become a monk and take refuge in the Dharma, you will be liberated.

There are more than 100 small monks and more than 1,000 large monks, and the herdsmen are still trying their best to support the monks in extreme poverty, because that is their last hope.

In the winter of the 10th year of Tiance, when a heavy snowfall covered the road and cut off the news of Mobei and the Central Plains, Yelu Ruan, who had already been ordained, quietly walked into the Dari Mandala and knelt at the feet of his master, and his father, the Living Buddha Zanhua.

The father and son are now masters and apprentices, but can the mystery of Buddhism really completely erase the bonds of blood?

Yelu Nguyen doesn't believe it!

His tongue is dry, for he has spoken for three hours!

He is suing his father, how painful Mobei is now, he is suing his father, the herdsmen are now struggling on the verge of life and death, he is suing his father, there are many tribes who can't bear it anymore!

Tiance's high pressure and Zhang Mai's ruthlessness made these tribal chiefs feel extremely desperate, and Yelu Ruan told his father that the despair of these tribes would be the source of their strength to resist Tiance!

"The heavy snow has blocked the road, this winter, there is enough time for us to do things, as long as the major tribes are integrated, the situation in Mobei can be completely reversed in one winter!"

"Moreover, Zhang Mai went to the Western Regions, and he didn't come back for a year or two, Yang Yi was sick and died in Dingliao, Yanjing was a woman in charge, and it caused ups and downs in the government and people's hearts! Now, it is the Buddha who has given us a good opportunity to restore Mobei! ”

"And we have foreign help! The Ghost-Faced Army has already pledged its allegiance to Erchen, and there is Yelu Cha Chai ......" Yelu Ruan said this, he couldn't help but be excited and excited, and even his face turned red: "Yelu Cha Chai also agreed, and he will serve me as the lord of the Khitan." In other words, what we have at that time is not only Mobei, but also Khitan! That is, the territory laid down by his grandfather, Emperor Tian, can basically be recovered! When the time comes, the father will be the living Buddha, high in the sky, and the son will be the emperor, governing the people, and the north and south of the desert, the Bohai Sea and the Liao River, will be included in a great Buddha country. Father, Master, Living Buddha, Father! Now, this Buddha kingdom is waiting for you to say yes! ”

When Yelu Ruan said this, the whole person knelt at the feet of the living Buddha of Zanhua and kissed his toes.

However, Zonhua did not respond to him, did not say a word, only silence.

There are some things in the world that sometimes "come true after a long time". Sometimes it's "indistinguishable from the fake".

For example, Marvel, when Yelu was shaved, everyone thought he was scheming, but now? Even Yelu Ruan knew that his father, the Buddha, had entered the Buddha deeply, so he had to persuade him by establishing a Buddha kingdom.

But Nikoyo closed his eyes.

Yelu Ruan retreated in disappointment, he really didn't understand. Why didn't Father Buddha say yes to such a great opportunity – not even respond!

Could it be that he has really become a Buddha and is no longer contaminated with the red dust of the world?

Just as he was exiting the abbot and about to leave, a voice stopped him, it was Zanhua's eldest disciple.

"Stay with my brother."

"Huh?" Yelu Ruan saluted: "Senior brother." But there was already a fierce glint in his eyes.

This senior brother in front of him was actually outside the door just now? In other words, your secret has been revealed!

On Zanhua's side, Yelu Ruan is not worried, even if his father Buddha does not agree with his own ideas. I don't think I would sell my son to Zhang Mai, but others are different.

The senior brother didn't seem to see the cold light in his eyes, but he said in a low voice: "The Living Buddha didn't promise the junior brother just now, but he didn't refuse the junior brother either." ”

Yelu Ruan's heart moved, and he raised his head suddenly: "Senior brother means ......"

"The poor monk means the grand plan of the master and the disciple. Obviously, it is also very helpful for the promotion of the Dharma. So. The Living Buddha did not refuse, and the Living Buddha did not refuse, so I think that the great cause of the junior and disciple can be carried out. ”

Yelu Ruan said: "But if this great thing is to succeed, the support of the father and Buddha is necessary. ”

"How could the Living Buddha not support it!" The senior brother said: "These two years. The affairs of the mandala are actually taken care of by the poor monks for the living Buddha, as for the secular side, is it true that the son of the human emperor still does not represent the human emperor? If you and I are one......"

Yelu Ruan smiled: "If you and I are one and the same." In other words, the Father Buddha is already supportive! ”

――――――――――

Liu Zhiyuan stood on the main hall and looked to the northwest - where Zhang Mai was located.

Under the pillars of the main hall, Sang Weihan stood, and he was very careful to look forward to Liu Zhiyuan's reaction.

In recent years, due to the extremely strict militarization of control, the area around Chang'an has become a large military camp.

From the military, to the civil, are strictly controlled, this situation is simply not long-term, there has never been a region can carry out this kind of tight rule for decades, but in the period of the five dynasties, the people generally live in hardship, and now under the rule of Liu Zhiyuan, there is just a little less freedom, but it is not that people are not given a way to live, so the soldiers here, half of the time training, half of the time tuntian, the people here, in addition to farming and working, also have no extra leisure and entertainment, but as long as there is a mouthful of food, Everyone is at peace.

Of course, if in a few years, all kinds of affluent winds in other parts of the Central Plains will blow, and it will definitely gradually touch and even "corrode" the hearts of the imprisoned people within the Iron Curtain, but in recent years, it will be really difficult for Zhang Mai to break this rule unless he plows and pushes over with all his strength.

So at this moment, although Liu Zhiyuan is trapped on all sides, he still has a huge strategic advantage, the most important of which is that he knows the dynamics of Yanjing, and even Zhang Mai's whereabouts, because the spies sent by Liu Zhiyuan are easy to inquire about all kinds of public events. But it is difficult for Tiance to know the reality here.

"Ling Gong, please make a decision quickly! Now that the Central Plains is not stable, Zhang Mai will follow the example of Emperor Yang of Sui to tour the west, and go farther than Emperor Yang of Sui. ”

It was Sang Weihan who spoke. After he escaped from Luoyang, he thought that if he went north to An Chongrong, most of them would be used by him to make contributions, so he turned west, came to Chang'an, and took refuge in Liu Zhiyuan.

But Sang Weihan encouraged Liu Zhiyuan to counterattack Tiance several times, but Liu Zhiyuan did not respond, just shrank like a turtle in the hard shell he had created.

In fact, Liu Zhiyuan also regretted it in the past two years, and he regretted it because he missed the best opportunity to surrender.

When the Guanzhong War had just ended, the news of Mobei's victory had not yet spread south, and Shi Jingjiao had just returned to Luoyang, if Liu Zhiyuan surrendered to Zhang Mai at that time, he would get a status at least equal to Guo Wei - Guo Wei promised so at the beginning, Zhang Mai also acquiesced, Liu Zhiyuan believed that it would be so, and it could even be said that Zhang Mai wanted to entrap him. The treatment given will surpass Guo Wei, and it is not too much to tear the soil and seal the country. Because at that time, if Liu Zhiyuan took refuge in Zhang Mai, fought back, and sent troops to Luoyang, then the reunification of northern China might be two or three years ahead of schedule!

But Liu Zhiyuan hesitated - under the circumstances at that time, it was normal for Liu Zhiyuan not to make up his mind to take refuge in Tiance, who was still at a disadvantage.

can wait until the news of Mobei's victory and Shangjing changing hands comes. Liu Zhiyuan suddenly became less important to Tiance, Zhang Mai did not actively recruit him after that, and Guo Wei was just strict against him. And Liu Zhiyuan also realized at this time: Zhang Mai's general trend of sweeping the Central Plains has been completed, and there is not much future for continuing to follow Shi Jingjiao. This is also the reason why Liu Zhiyuan did not mince words about Luoyang in the last years of Shi Jin.

If you surrender at that time, you will still have merit, at least the credit will be greater than Fan Yanguang, but Liu Zhiyuan is unwilling! It's like a person who has a chance to win two or three hundred million at the table. In a blink of an eye, it became only five million lottery heads, and this huge gap made Liu Zhiyuan unable to make a decision immediately.

What's more, he was originally Guo Wei's old boss, and it was okay to surrender and be a minister in the same hall with Guo Wei in the past, but in this case, he surrendered to the past, and when he went to Tiance, he had to succumb to it, which made it difficult for him to accept.

He decided to endure it a little longer. Wait a little longer, wait for a better opportunity. Even if you can't win back the two or three hundred million, at least you have to win back tens of millions.

Wait until Yanyun changes hands, Yedu changes banners, Shandong surrenders, and Hebei returns to his heart, but Liu Zhiyuan's heart is constantly sinking!

If you use an adjective in the Three Kingdoms Variation, Liu Zhiyuan at this time already feels that he is about to become "dry bones in the grave". He knew very well that if he resisted any longer. I'm afraid it won't end well.

But at this time, will surrender be a good end? Not to mention that he can be as high and powerful as Guo Wei, now that he has surrendered, it is difficult to say whether Zhang Mai will be seen. Even if it is possible to become a prisoner of the lower ranks and an exiled minister-Fan Yanguang is not far away, which makes Liu Zhiyuan even more daring to move.

So, even though I know that resisting any longer will not lead to good results. But Liu Zhiyuan had to swallow the bitter fruit.

Unless the world changes again!

He rectified Weinan into what it is now, just waiting for a chance, a last chance.

After all, there will always be variables in military affairs, until the last moment.

And now, is that variable coming?

"The so-called prosperity must decline, Kanglong has regrets!" Sang Weihan seemed to see Liu Zhiyuan's vacillation, and was making a generous statement: "Although the country is always destroyed by weakness, there are also those who die because of strength. Today's Tiance is also, the heroine is in power, the chicken Si Chen, the yin and yang are chaotic, the bachelor is derelict in his duties, the supervision is gone, inside and outside Yanjing, the people are panicked, and the signs of the death of the country are also one of them; In the local area, the business and travel are mixed, and the spies are everywhere, the old ministers of Shi Jin are salty, and the Zheng Wei businessmen do not know the overall situation, and when the chaos is about to arise, they do not know how to tighten and be strict, and still govern the country with leniency, so that internal and external enemies can detect its reality and the signs of the country's demise, and this is the second one; Outside, the desert is poor, people's minds change, as long as someone ascends to the heights, the mutiny will rise, the Eastern Khitan, the heart of revenge has never been extinguished, the south Li Qi, lest the new Tang Dynasty unify the world, if there is a change, it will also raise troops. In this way, the desert is in chaos, the Liao soldiers attack Yan and Jin, and the troops attack Chen and Lu, if the Linggong is waving the flag to the east, Luoyang can go down overnight, and Tiance thinks that the flawless Jin Ou is also bound to fall apart! In this critical autumn, at this time, Zhang Mai also ignored the advice of the ministers and toured west! Once there is a change in the Central Plains, how can he have time to deal with it? This is the courage of the sky, and give a big opportunity to Ling Gong, I hope that Ling Gong will take advantage of the situation! ”

Liu Zhiyuan groaned and asked, "Can you be sure about the affairs of Mobei and Liaodong?" ”

Sang Weihan said: "Yes! Unless Zhang Mai comes back quickly, it will be early this winter, and late will come spring, and there will be great changes in the north! ”

――――――――――――――――――――

Liaoyang Mansion.

Jeruya, who had returned from the south, disembarked in a state of worry.

A few days ago, he got the news that Yelu Chacha, who had never been willing to set foot in Tokyo for half a step, suddenly went south, preparing to come to the court to meet the Empress Di and the crown prince, and the Empress Di had decided to appease this general who controlled nearly one-third of the forces of the Liao State, but Yelu Wuzhi was full of doubts and worries about Yelu Chacha's sudden change of mind.

He didn't believe that this meeting would be so simple!

―――――――――――――――――― (To be continued......)