The Stone King's Palace in the middle of the night is eerily quiet. The scenery is very different from the Central Plains, silently showing their mystery and weirdness under the firelight.

If there are ghosts in the world, then there must be countless ghosts roaming here. The souls of those who died in the war and plunder have no rest for a moment.

But Fang Chongyong is obviously not afraid of ghosts, because everything he has done along the way has a clear conscience.

At this moment, Fang Chongyong was carrying an angry wind lamp, rummaging through the warehouse full of various books for the books he needed.

These books are very different, and no matter how you look at them, you can see the spark of the clash of civilizations.

They use different materials as carriers, including papyrus and bamboo paper, as well as bamboo slips and wooden boards.

They are written in different scripts, including Turkic, Dashiwen, Tubo, and most often Chinese.

Tocharian is the tribes of northern Afghanistan in Fang Chongyong's previous life, and they have deep ties with the Central Plains and have very early contacts. Among the countries in the Western Regions, it belongs to the wall-riding faction that favors the side of the Tang Dynasty, is poor and can fight bravely, and is famous for its mercenaries.

Where to go, please consider it. ”

Even if the saint fully supports and trusts the Jieshuai, once he dies, how will the Jieshuai deal with himself? It is unreasonable to follow the dragon's skill, and it is not that whoever has the ability can be in a high position.

Then the last general found out that many of the old cannibals of our captives knew that there was this road, but they couldn't take it, and they followed the army to take this road in the first place. ”

Jie Shuai, this saltpeter can be used to make gunpowder, but it is an embargoed thing, and the owner of the ship actually reported ordinary stone. ”

It's just that now, there is something important in the end, and I have to talk about it with the marshal, which may ruin the marshal's interest. ”

They vary in variety, from scriptures to maps, to notes, and to some instructional texts on farming. Overall, a lot of dross, but also a lot of good stuff.

Shiguo is a transit point for exchanges between the East and the West, although the place is small, the degree of cultural development is not small, and the horizon is broader. Scholars from all over the world who traveled from the south to the north, and Hu merchants who exchanged ideas and haves, intentionally or unintentionally, left a lot of classics here.

Somewhat similar to ancient Egypt and modern Egypt, the unification is called Egypt by the Chinese people, and they don't pay much attention to their ins and outs.

After sitting down, Fang Chongyong smiled and said, "What else do you want to talk about here?" ”

Fang Chongyong sighed helplessly.

At the beginning, Gao Xianzhi only thought about gold, silver and jewelry, and completely disdained these ghostly books. Now, after Fang Chongyong's "rescue excavation", most of the books in the Shiguo treasury are well preserved.

Fang Youde was confused, just relying on memory, he no longer knew who was a loyal minister and who was a traitor; Who's the good guy and who's the bad. Even Li Linfu is going to be famous for a hundred years, and now in this situation, Fang Youde doesn't know how to evaluate it!

Fang Chongyong stood up, patted Che Guangqian's shoulder, and then walked out of the study.

"You have a point."

Che Guangqian said worriedly.

Fang Youde asked suspiciously: "Where did the ship come from, where are you going?" ”

When the army returned to Jinmancheng, it may be the time when the marshal was transferred.

During the Anshi Rebellion, Tocharian mercenaries followed the Anxi Army to the Tang Dynasty to quell the rebellion, and in the decades after the war, there were also high-ranking tribal officials in the Tang Dynasty.

It's like there is no Fang Chongyong, Che Guangqian is still just the leader of the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army, and it doesn't matter what others will think of him.

So you just need to understand a lot of things in your heart, the road has to be walked step by step, and the meal has to be eaten one bite at a time.

If you have to sum it up in one sentence, then these are the inheritance of civilization!

"Gao Xianzhi didn't have a fire to burn the Shiguo Imperial Palace to ashes, which can be regarded as a great deed to accumulate yin virtue."

In fact, I don't know what will happen in the end.

Moreover, the army is pressing, and the Tocharian departments will also worry about the Tang Army's bad intentions, and it is very likely to change their position.

Since you've come here, you can't leave a big disaster for your own comfort, right? ”

Fang Chongyong rolled up a rough map of the Mulu area and put it away, and said to Che Guangqian, who was looking around beside him.

Che Guangqian suggested with a calm face, and her eyes seemed to have deep meaning.

If the previous exploits are regarded as "performance appraisal", then after the change of coach, these performances are basically cleared.

This is the reason why He Chang has such a big mouth and can mix well under him.

"The marshal is gracious, and the end will not be repaid. It is said that the last general will say more good things and pat himself on the back, which should be more trusted by the commander.

We just don't have the energy to deal with them.

And what those people will think and choose, this section is not known. ”

It would be easier for them to control someone with little prestige and qualifications, and that person would not need to deal with the threat of cannibalism anyway.

"The last general thought that it would be enough to sweep away Anxi, Guishan and other places in the northwest of Samad City. Further down the road, the risk is too great and you need to cross the great desert.

The ancient information was not developed, so that it misled Fang Chongyong with false rumors, and of course, it also misled many Tang Army guides who only knew a rough idea of the local environment.

Fang Chongyong said in a low voice.

Without the Anshi Rebellion, there would be no Li Linfu's notoriety!

This is what Fang Youde didn't expect, and now the things in his memory have long been unrecognizable, and he can't find the corresponding coordinates.

The Mulu City that Fang Chongyong knew continued to go far on the northeast bank of the Wuhu River, while the Mulu City in the hometown of Abu Muslims was not far from the southwest bank of the Wuhu River, not only blocked by a river, but even separated by a large desert in the middle!

Seeing his expression, Che Guangqian suddenly realized.

"Jie Shuai, there will be a sentence at the end, I don't know if I should say it or not."

Che Guangqian hesitated for a moment, with a tangled expression on her face.

"Say, how can this section shuai stop your mouth?"

Li Linfu is the same, when he was alive, many people thought he was in the way, and he refused to come down in the phase. After he died, these people couldn't help but say a few more kind words to him.

I am waiting for a lot of courage and loyalty, there is nowhere to show, please think twice! ”

Fang Chongyong shook his head, then sighed and said:

"These words you said to this section commander today are probably not only in Zhezhi City. I'm afraid that in Youzhou City, in Taiyuan City, in Yingzhou City, and in Lingzhou City, there are people like you, talking to people like me. Under the sun, there is nothing new.

Now that the saint is old and handsome, he remembers how much he doesn't say.

Li Linfu is a god when he dies! It just doesn't make sense!

Whether it is the tone set by the imperial court or the prestige of the people, Li Linfu is definitely a well-deserved virtuous minister!

Che Guangqian said worriedly.

"Jieshuai, if the big cannibal is beaten and unable to fight back, and it is impossible to come back for twenty years, then the court should not need Jieshuai to be like this, so that the big cannibal is afraid of the festival.

A lot of things, point to point, don't need to say too clearly. Fang Chongyong has already hinted at it obviously.

Moreover, it is impossible for the feudal officials to be on the frontier all the time. The last general thought that within a year, the army would definitely return to Beiting, and it was impossible to stay in Shiguo.

Both cities are large cities in Uzbekistan, and Tashkent is the capital.

However, the border army must obey the orders of the imperial court, where does Fang Chongyong's self-confidence come from?

Che Guangqian didn't know, but he still clasped his fists and saluted: "The last general understands." ”

This journey is more than 2,000 miles! If we really fight all the way like that, we won't be so passive now, at least the Tocharian tribes will become our hardcore allies.

The other Mulu City is southwest of the Wuhu River, and that Mulu City is the hometown of Abu Muslims. There, the power of the Great Cannibal is extremely strong, and it can be said that it is deeply entrenched. These were inquired about by the last general from Hu Shang. ”

Loyalty and goodwill have boundaries, and it is impossible to allow one party to do whatever it wants.

This is very true, although he didn't know that Datang might not even have ten years of stable life, so he was worried about the "unprepared" Fang Chongyong.

After all, it doesn't take much to say nice things!

Fang Chongyong knew that now the other party really understood.

It is not advisable to speak to a sinner.

He said very vaguely, Che Guangqian was stunned for a moment, and then showed a look of shock.

It can be said that if the Tang army did not come to Tochar, it would be very easy to find them to borrow troops. But if Tang Jun hits the door and wants to "borrow the way", the matter can be said in two ways.

Che Guangqian stood up and marked a location in the southwest corner of the map on the wall.

The place had long since been cleaned up, the gold, silver and jewels had been swept away, and a large-scale map hung on the wall, clearly marked with the town of Shattered Leaves, Atami, the city of Talas, and even the city of Sama in Kangguo.

Fang Chongyong turned around, patted Che Guangqian's shoulder and said, "This section is very optimistic about you, you are different from He Changqi, you are a person who has read books." There are a lot of things that this section can't tell them, so I can tell you. ”

He really didn't say how it should be and shouldn't be, but in and out of his words, he said "point to point".

Che Guangqian hurriedly thanked him:

Mulu City, there are actually two. One is not far northwest of Samma, where the Great Cannibal Army is still entrenched, but it is not large in number and morale is not high.

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and said disapprenosingly: "It's okay, you just say it directly." ”

Should we continue to attack, how far to fight, and how long to fight. This is actually a very deep question, and it is more important than whether or not we can win.

But the marshal has to make a career as well as a career.

"Those from Hanzhong are going to Hebei!

There are countless ways for a manager to "take care" of his own people and exclude those who are not in his lineage and who are capable. There are more or less similar things, and the skills and ways of acting are different for different commanders, and the degree of eccentricity is also different.

Fang Chongyong naturally understands this truth.

The real Mulu City is an abandoned ancient city on the border of Turkmenistan in his previous life, which was abandoned due to the diversion of the river.

The festival marshal is so high and powerful, and he does not participate in the succession, he is bound to be taken out as soon as possible.

"You are a person who has read books, and this section commander has always believed that a person who can read with a knife has a limitless future.

"This is not the place to talk, please move to the study."

In recent years, gunpowder has been used to make fireworks, and although there are many doorways, saltpeter is a necessity.

This is already a clear pull.

Or it can also be said that these cronies of them have been branded as the "Fang Clan's Tribe", and after the change of coach, those people also have their own cronies.

Che Guangqian echoed Fang Chongyong and said.

Li Jiaqing said quietly.

Che Guangqian bowed and pleaded.

It's a bit similar to "a son of heaven and a courtier". No matter how good you are up front, in the eyes of the new manager, or his own cronies, you are more reliable.

"Brother Nu was actually assassinated!"

"What the section commander said is that Gao Xianzhi is rude and rude, how can he understand the value of these things. It is foolish to give up the beauty of jade and take the tile. ”

This Datang, this world, what should come will always come, you can't stop it. ”

At this moment, the tenth general Li Jiaqing asked to see him, and as soon as they met, the other party said with virtue:

"Commander, the sons and daughters found a lot of saltpeter on a boat today. There are too many of them, and it's a bit abnormal, and now the ship has been impounded. ”

"If the presence of water to march is taken as the basis for judgment, then the great cannibals would have to pass through the mountains where the Tocharians were located, and make a great circle from Persia to reach it.

"There are some things that are not easy to talk about right now. But you can rest assured that this section has already been arranged, and it will not be without plans, but it makes no sense to say it now. ”

In a small courtyard in Kaifeng County, Fang Youde put down the newspaper published by the imperial court today (not called this name at this time), and he couldn't believe it for a while!

"You're trying to say that you can't do it, right?"

Fang Chongyong started to work in local government affairs, and now he has already understood the most simple truth: the dog that really bites people, it never barks. You can't just stop the mouths of the people below because you have to listen well.

The owner of the ship was hesitant, first said that he was going to Beizhou, then changed his words to Bozhou, and finally admitted that he was sent to Youzhou.

"Jie Shuai, the last general has inquired about one thing clearly.

Che Guangqian said with a fist salute.

Therefore, the last general guessed at the beginning that Mulu, Kushan, and Anxi, in the northwest of Samad Mountain, went to the southwest, crossed the Wuhu River, and perhaps there was a relatively safe shortcut in the desert, which could bypass a series of mountains and hit directly.

Take another path and continue to the south, which is all mountainous. Although there is water, the detour is too far. What's more, there are also Tocharian tribes along the way, which are poor and independent, and difficult to manage.

"You know what you said about this section, but you have to eliminate the evil!

If they don't hurt the big cannibals and intensify their domestic contradictions, then in another three or five years, the big cannibal army will make a comeback.

It does seem that there is something important.

But we don't necessarily have a chance to come back, it's too far away from Chang'an.

Killing too hard, of course, can bring peace to the country and the people, and reassure the saints.

Fang Chongyong asked in a deep voice, in fact, what Che Guangqian said, although it was unexpected, it was also reasonable, and it was not surprising.

In other words, this is not the main direction of the big cannibals' progress, as for the Tang Dynasty, Bai Juyi's sentence "Usually Anxi Wanlijiang" can explain all the problems.

The last general has not heard of the prince who is very close to the prince on weekdays, and once the commander is relieved of his military power in the future, he will return to Chang'an and become an official in the center, just like a dragon swimming in the shallows, but I am afraid that the consequences will be unpredictable.

In that case, it is really only one person's wisdom and vision to fight against this sinister world.

Fang Chongyong did not doubt him, and led Che Guangqian to the study that was supposed to be the special office of the king of Shiguo.

Because the opinions and suggestions that can be expressed are helpful to themselves. As for distinguishing which opinions have ulterior motives and which are unintentional, it is one of the most important abilities of the superiors.

Che Guangqian looked at his departing back, and on his broad shoulders, it seemed to be carrying a mountain!

"No, you don't understand."

In fact, the "big cannibal" is a great insult to the Arabs, because the big food in the mouth of the Tang Dynasty is actually an opponent defeated by the Arabs, also called "Tajikistan".

……

It's better to eat sand than to die of exhaustion over the mountains.

Of course, whether it is Mulu or the capital of Shiguo Kangguo, it is actually not the basic plate of the black-clothed food, although the Shiite uprising arose from here. The core of the Black Food is in Baghdad, in Damascus.

Che Guangqian is worried about Fang Chongyong's future, and she is also worried about her future when she was promoted by Fang Chongyong. These are all human nature, and they are also the boundaries of their loyalty to Datang.

If it weren't for the sake of throwing the pot, people would always be more tolerant of the dead, after all, the dead don't take the jobs of the living!

A general who can fight wars, when he is alive, is a threat to the emperor, and after he dies, he is the pillar of the empire, and people often do not talk about his ambition, but will focus on "using soldiers like gods".

Saltpeter?

and the Zhezhi City of Shiguo is Tashkent; The city of Samad in Kangguo is Samarahan.

For example, Gao Xianzhi, Li Siye, Bai Xiaode, Xi Yuanqing, they are in a circle, although it is not the kind of relationship that is like brothers, but once there is an opportunity to be promoted or rewarded, these people are preferred.

Fang Chongyong laughed and raised his hand to signal Che Guangqian not to be nervous. He has always been very tolerant of people who give him advice on weekdays. Even if you get angry at the time, you won't be held accountable afterwards, or you wear small shoes in secret.

Our cronies, even if they are loyal to the marshal, do not have the uniform of the silver spear filial piety army, and do not have an official body, they are just private troops. The family that can protect the handsome man will break the sky.

Loyalty needs to be escorted by interests, and without tangible benefits, there is no so-called loyalty.

Because the white-clothed food had been entrenched in the city of Samad for decades, and even at the beginning of the Kaiyuan Dynasty, few people paid attention to where they came from. I only know that a large area to the northwest, including the city of Samma, is a large cannibal territory.

There are also people (especially the army) who use gunpowder to ignite fire, which has long been popularized in the army, but it has not yet been included in the standard equipment of the Tang Army. Li Jiaqing is an old man, so naturally he doesn't know what the basic formula of gunpowder is.

The amount of saltpeter used in a boatload is simply incredible! It's obviously not okay not to ask!

Fang Youde's pupils shrank suddenly, and then he nodded and said, "Take this section commander to have a look." ”

(End of chapter)