This is the Mogao Grottoes? Zeng Hua looked at the Mingsha Mountain in front of him, the cliff at the eastern foot of his mountain, which is nearly 100 miles southeast of Dunhuang County, facing the Danquan River and standing facing the east.

"Yes, the great general, this is the famous Buddhist holy place in Dunhuang, Hexi." Xie Ai replied respectfully. He was once regarded as the minister of the army by the former advocate of Liangzhou, but he belonged to the kind of minister who had something to do with the envoy and the governor to levy the military, and he was the minister of the Jiuquan County Taishou if he had nothing to do. Xie Ai had spent several years in Fulu City, Jiuquan County, when he was fine, so he was very familiar with Dunhuang County, which was not far to the west.

"More than 100 miles to the west of here is Dunhuang County to govern Dunhuang City, and then cross the water to the west and you can go straight out of Yangguan to enter Gaochang in the Western Regions. In the first year of Xiankang (335 AD), Zhang Jun, the former Liangwen Gong, set up Dunhuang, Jinchang (Yonghe year, governing Ming'an, now southeast of Anxi County, Gansu), Gaochang three counties and the Western Regions Duhu, Xuji Captain, and Yumen Protector Army were all set up as Shazhou, and the state was governed in Dunhuang. Xie Ai is indeed an important minister in Liangzhou, and he knows the situation here well, but he is more concerned about geography and culture, which is completely different from Zeng Hua's concern.

"This Dunhuang County is backed by the snow mountain as the city, the far Qinghai is the pool, the sand is the ring, the belt is placed, the front Yang is closed and the back jade gate is controlled, the cool west is controlled and the desert is controlled, the throat of the whole Hexi, and the key to the extreme edge." Xie Ai continued to sigh.

"Mr. Bingtai, is there a monk temple in this Mogao Grotto?" After looking at Mingsha Mountain up and down, Zeng Hua turned his head and asked.

"I heard that there is a temple, but the specific situation is not very clear." Xie Ai told the truth.

"Back to the Great General. The subordinates know a thing or two about this desert cave. Qian Fugui, who had been listening silently on the side, suddenly spoke. Since being opened by Zeng Hua as the logistics secretary of the march chief of the Lingling South Road, Qian Fugui has been trying to integrate into the Zeng Huadi shogunate, fortunately, it is only a "condensed version" of the shogunate that accompanied the army to the west, if he joins the complete version of the shogunate in Chang'an now, it will take a long time just to remember hundreds of names.

Qian Fugui once wondered if he should quit to concentrate on his own business, because he really couldn't think of what he could do in the shogunate? Everyone here is a handsome man for a while, and when he is a famous person, he can't compare with him at all. But Qian Fugui does not have the courage to do so in the first place. At this time, it was an official act to be turned into a staff member. Comes with mandatory. Qian Fugui is not a celebrity, he does not have the capital, nor does he have the courage to oppose the government and Zeng Hua. And entering the Beifu Shogunate is a good opportunity for many people to make a name for themselves and make contributions, if Qian Fugui dares to withdraw from Zeng Hua's shogunate, it is estimated that he will be despised and killed by everyone before he goes home.

After Qian Fugui figured it out, he settled down and honestly stayed in this aura shogunate. Slowly. Qian Fugui adapted to the new environment of the shogunate, and gradually liked the atmosphere here. Especially by Zeng Hua's side, Qian Fugui felt that he had learned a lot, especially the general had a very unique view on many things, and secretly agreed with Qian Fugui's thoughts.

"Fugui, it seems that you are familiar with this place." Zeng Hua turned his head and said to Qian Fugui. Qian Fugui is an outsider, and it is already good to have a Chinese name, so it is impossible to have any words.

"Yes, the Great General. His subordinates traveled to and from Gaochang and Liangzhou several times because of business. I've visited here before, so I know a little bit about it. Qian Fugui replied humbly.

"In the second year of Yonghe, (the plot needs to be advanced.) History should be the second year of the former Qin Jianyuan, 366 A.D.), the great monk Le Xuan entered Liangzhou from Qiuzi, passed through this mountain, suddenly saw the golden light shining, such as ten thousand Buddhas, so he dug a cave on this rock wall, called Mogao Grottoes. And the monk Lexu also stayed here to open the altar and discuss the scriptures, and in a few years, it became an important place for Buddhism in Shazhou. Qian Fugui said calmly.

"Oh," everyone nodded in understanding. Everyone knows that Qian Fugui is a devout Buddhist, and his attainments in Buddhist scriptures are not low. So it's not surprising that Qian Fugui can be so clear.

Looking at everyone's disapproving expressions, Qian Fugui sighed secretly in his heart. His gaze swept over the faces of the people who were sighing, and then fell on Zeng Hua's face. Zeng Hua stood there with a solemn and admiring face. Unlike others, he seems to be standing in front of history, in the eyes of this world-famous general, there is no bystander, cold look, and disdain that others have, only a kind of standing alone by the long river of history.

What is this great general worried about? Qian Fugui was thinking secretly. But Qian Fugui sighed even more that it was a Buddhist thing in Liangzhou. Buddhism has always been very prosperous in Liangzhou, because it was the bridgehead for Buddhism to be introduced from the Western Regions to the Central Plains. However, after the Beifu and the Holy Religion became stronger, Buddhism in Liangzhou began to flourish for a short time while feeling great pressure, because many monks from Guanlong and the Central Plains "fled" to Liangzhou because of "religious persecution". But as Liangzhou fell into the pockets of Beifu, the prosperity of Buddhism in Liangzhou suddenly collapsed.

Buddhism lost its advantage without the protection of the Liangzhou government, and the people who had previously believed in the Buddha turned to the court under the temptation of the holy religion. Many temples where incense flourished have also fallen, how can today's Liangzhou not be tomorrow's Western Regions? How can Qian Fugui not be saddened?

"General, what are you thinking?" Xie Ai is also one of the few people who saw Zeng Hua's feelings and speculated secretly, but he was the only one who dared to ask directly.

"Mr. Bingtai, I stood here and suddenly thought. Sometimes, the feeling of making history is really completely different from the feeling of sighing about history, really different. Zeng Hua replied with a smile. But for this answer Xie Ai

They couldn't figure it out, because they didn't know what Zeng Hua was doing in his heart

Standing in this "primary version" of the Mogao Grottoes, Zeng Hua couldn't help but think of another Mogao Grottoes he once visited, which was a trip to take advantage of the opportunity to go home from the Hefei campus and stop halfway. At that time, Zeng Hua saw those mutilated murals and listened to the stories of Wang Yuanqi, Stein and others, and his heart was full of sighs for history.

The glorious civilization and history left by China for thousands of years make Zeng Hua, as a descendant, sincerely proud and proud, but more importantly, it is the shame brought about by the decline of these civilizations. The more glorious the history. When it declines, it is more likely to be coveted and plundered by others, which also makes those who love it feel more distressed.

I hope that the history I have created will not end like this. Zeng Hua was secretly thinking in his heart.

The setting sun casts over from the west, enveloping the entire Mingsha Mountain into a kind of orange red. A bell sounded faintly from the Mogao Grotto, so that everyone standing at the foot of the mountain couldn't help but look over. I saw dozens of lonely figures standing quietly in front of the Mogao Grottoes, doing the evening service they still insisted on in the echoing bells and floating dusk. The gentle chanting of the Buddha was far and near in the wind of Qilian in Hexi, just like their backs, beating gloomily in a trance.

"Fugui, why don't you believe in the Holy Religion?" Zeng Hua suddenly turned his head and asked. Everyone's eyes were all focused on Qian Fuguidi.

Qian Fugui was shocked. But in the end, he struggled to answer, "Go back to the general." His subordinates were raised by their loving mothers since childhood. I am deeply taught, so I wish to serve the Buddha without regrets. ”

"I know," Zeng Hua nodded, he saw Qian Fugui's panicked expression, knew what he was afraid of, and said, "Fugui, don't be so nervous. We don't force others to believe. Religion is something for faith, not for superstition. ”

As he spoke, a majestic trumpet sounded slowly, and the high-pitched singing of a priest in the army also came from the needle.

"The Holy Father opened the heavens and the earth, and the Holy Lord helped all the people......"

This was the beginning of the Prayer of the Holy Church, and everyone turned to hear this voice. I saw tens of thousands of people standing there in front of the crowd, looking up at the sound of singing, and then kneeling to the ground. Three kneels salute. Even Zeng Hua couldn't avoid it.

Qian Fugui was one of the few people who stood aside to watch the ceremony. He watched tens of thousands of people in the setting sun and the sand, singing hymns and worshipping their faith in this almost fanatical worship of the Father and the Lord. Let these people have confidence in their hearts, confidence in themselves and their future. Maybe that's the benefit of faith.

Looking at the people in front of him who were all over the mountains, Qian Fugui turned his head to look at the few people standing on the side, they were the same as himself, full of complicated expressions. In contrast, they seem so helpless and lonely, echoing the monks standing in the desert caves on the mountain, gradually disappearing into darkness under the crumbling sunset and in the majestic sacred chanting.

Qian Fugui has been in Beifu for a long time, and he knows the power of the Holy Sect, which is very effective in uniting the people of Beifu and giving them great confidence. Under God's call, any difficulties and enemies that lay in front of them were paper-masked. Qian Fugui also knew that now the direction of worship of the Holy Believers has been changed to face the Holy Land - the Mausoleum of the Holy Lord Yellow Emperor. This change was proposed by Archbishop Fan Zhe of the Archbishopric on the second Sunday of February in the 12th year of Yonghe, voted by the Archbishopric Council, approved by King Zeng Hua of the Ming Dynasty, and finally written into the Holy Church Day Constitution and began to be implemented. The reason is that the Father opened the heavens and the earth, and the heavens and the earth are full of His miracles, and you can worship there. The Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor is the place where the Holy Lord ascends to heaven and returns to the kingdom of heaven, and it should be the closest place to the Holy Father and the Holy Lord, so it should be worshiped here.

"General, my subordinates are here to wish you victory in the Western Expedition, and on the day of triumph, my subordinates are still waiting for the general here!"

In Yangguan, Xie Ai and a group of logistics officials who stayed in Fulu City, Jiuquan County, bowed to Zeng Hua and the others, and after they sent Zeng Hua and the others here, they should return to Fulu City to perform their duties.

"Okay, with Mr. Bingtai in the back for me, I can go straight to Akiti Castle!" Zeng Hua rode on a horse, bowed to Xie Ai and the others, and laughed loudly.

"Goodbye!" After Zeng Hua finished speaking, he raised his whip and left, leaving Yangguan and heading for the Western Regions.

"This is the Western Regions, you see, the sky is so high, so blue, the wind is so pleasant, so pleasant. Look at the vast grasslands where deer can't run, and the vast desert where eagles can't fly. As soon as you think of this, your heart is constantly stretching. There are also majestic mountains beckoning to you, and the rugged Gobi Desert shouting to you, you will definitely be amazed by the majesty and vastness of this place. The clear spring of snow can wash away your solidified hot sweat and fatigue. When the sun goes down in the evening, we sit under the breezy poplar trees and watch the moor turn from orange to purple and finally black, and you feel like your whole life is with this moor. ”

Hearing Zeng Hua describe the Western Regions in poetic sentences, Qian Fugui couldn't help but be amazed.

"General, your subordinates really can't imagine that the Western Regions are so beautiful in your heart, in that case, why did the general still lead troops and horses here?" Qian Fugui said suspiciously.

When Zeng Hua heard this, he couldn't help laughing loudly, and finally raised his whip and pointed at Gao Changcheng in front of him and said, "It is precisely because the Western Regions are so beautiful that I came here." ”