The war came earlier than expected, and it was more powerful than imagined.

When Li Ye and Nangong No. 1 arrived at Yangguan together, the preparations for the city had already been completed.

The Yang in front of him is not the same as the Earth Yang Pass in Li Ye's memory, and in general, it is much bigger and more majestic.

In fact, many cities in this world are larger than the earth, and the number of people in some places is several times or even ten times that of the earth. Li Ye has long been accustomed to this, after all, it is the world of monks.

The monks outside the city look boundless at a glance, no matter how you look at it, there are no less than 50,000 people.

That's 50,000 monks, not 50,000 ordinary soldiers.

There were only 12,000 soldiers on Yangguan, and most of them were ordinary armor soldiers, and on average, the monks were only at the level of the army commander.

God knows where Shimen got so many monks, but just looking at the people whose skin and facial features are obviously different from those in the Western Regions and the plateau, accounting for about half of the number, Li Ye is also relieved.

Of course, the monk is from Tianzhu, this is what Feihong said, the Holy Buddha broke his wrist, has abandoned Tianzhu, and the monks who can be transferred from Tianzhu have been transferred to the northwest.

With 50,000 monks, the combat strength is not comparable to that of the Uighur army of 200,000 or 300,000.

Since the civil strife in Tibet, the battle between the Liberation Gate and the Moon God Cult, the war between the slaves and the nobles, and the battle before Yangguan, the Guiyi army and the Uighurs have competed. Now, suddenly seeing such a huge and neat battle formation of monks, many soldiers feel uncomfortable.

The statement of maladaptation is somewhat subtle, or more precisely, fear.

In the final analysis, in the eyes of most ordinary people, monks are still a group worthy of respect, and if they are so-called enlightened monks, then they should be even more respectful, and even worship. Among these 50,000 or so monks, there must be quite a few high-ranking monks.

Li Xian was crouching behind the rammed-earth female wall, and was getting together with a young man, fiddling with a brand-new bed crossbow. This bed crossbow is a little different from an ordinary bed crossbow, not because of the difference in style and size, but because it reveals strong aura fluctuations.

So, it's a magic weapon.

Chu Nanhuai, Su Emei, Wei Xiaozhuang, Li Wenwen, Wei Xiaozhuang and others also gathered in front of several bed crossbows, exchanged heads with some veterans in the army, and turned a blind eye to the monk regiment three miles outside the city, which had obviously completed the formation and was about to start knocking.

Li Ye came to Li Xian's side, leaned forward, stretched his head over the heads of Zhang Changan and Chu Zheng, looked at the bed crossbow, and listened to Li Xian's conversation with the young man in his early twenties.

Magic weapons are nothing to monks, first-order magic weapons to ninth-order magic weapons, they are ordinary objects among Qi cultivation monks and true human realm monks, except for poor Jianghu monks, but who doesn't have one or two pieces of them who are backed by powerful organizations?

The best generals in the army, as long as the grade is sufficient, will have magic weapons and armor, all-round defense around the body, which can be called a sharp weapon on the battlefield. Of course, there are not many of these kinds of armor, and it is not enough to command the commander of 5,000 soldiers at this level, so don't think of it.

The Lu Gu Sword in Li Ye's hand is a superb magic weapon in itself, and later when he came to the territory of the demon clan, he was successfully promoted to a superb magic weapon, which is a treasure in the world.

But there are also restrictions on magic weapons, although there are all kinds of them, and the uses are also strange, but the power is actually about the same, and the volume is not large, overall, the mainstream is still swords, guns, swords, halberds, shields, bows, axes, and the like.

The bed crossbow, a weapon of great destruction in the army, itself maintains a certain deterrent effect on low-grade monks, and it has never been a magic weapon. The reason for this is nothing more than one, the process of manufacturing magic weapons in the world is not enough to support the emergence of mass destruction magic weapons.

Of course, the sword in the hands of the real human realm can indeed kill a large number of ordinary soldiers in one go. But in the final analysis, it was the power of the monk, not the power of the magic weapon itself.

This is also why, when the soldiers and generals arrive on the battlefield, relying on the field of battle formations, it is the root cause of the existence of vertical and horizontal battles. If the bed crossbow is turned into a magic weapon, the power is increased by several levels, and it can completely snipe the general, so what else is the soldier still playing?

Now that he saw the bed crossbow turned into a magic weapon in Yangguan, it is no wonder that Li Ye, King An, the first person in the Tang Dynasty, will also stretch his neck to look carefully, and when the battle is about to break out, he does not hesitate to listen to the explanation quietly.

"The reason why a magic weapon is a magic weapon is nothing more than two points, one is the material from which the magic weapon is made, and the second is the runes engraved on the magic weapon. ”

The young man said as he showed Li Xian the eye-catching but not dense runes on the bed crossbow, "The material is the foundation, it determines how much aura the magic weapon can withstand, and the rune is the finishing touch, it determines how much the aura injected into it can be brought into play." ”

These words are common sense for monks, and there is nothing to think about.

The young man, who was made of ordinary clothes, had dark skin, wore only a short coat on a cold day, and showed a large bulging muscles on his arms, continued to say with great interest:

"There are actually so many magic materials in the world, and there is not much difference between the various spirit stones produced by different mines. And the engraving of runes requires the monks to do it themselves, and in the case of the realm of monks in the world is not much different, the grade of the runes is actually about the same. ”

That's why the bed crossbow can't be a magic weapon: the material doesn't allow it, and the level at which the monk engraves the runes is just like that.

When the young man said this, his voice was two points louder, obviously to the point, and he was also very excited, "But after my continuous exploration with Master, we found that when making magic weapons before, the potential of the materials was not fully tapped, and the aura power they could withstand was actually more, and they only needed to improve the process of rune engraving!"

"On the other hand, after decades of exploration, Master has continued to read books on the manufacture of magic weapons, and has continued to forge various magic weapons, and finally discovered a way to elevate the engraved runes to a higher realm!

Speaking of this, the young man straightened his chest

, and sprayed the muscles to the point that ordinary women saw it, and their pectoral muscles were slapped with jealousy: "This batch of bed crossbows is the latest manufacturing result of me and my master! It retains the advantages of the bed crossbow is simple and easy to use, and increases the power by a large margin, even if it is a monk who practices the three grades of qi, if he is hit by a arrow, he will inevitably be penetrated through the body!"

Hearing this, Li Ye's pupils shrank suddenly.

He glanced back at Nangong first.

Not surprisingly, Li Ye found his stunned look in Nangong's first eyes.

To say that the shock is too subtle, to be precise, it should be horror!

Although the power of the bed crossbow is incomparable, in terms of damage, it has always been able to pierce the body of a monk on the first level of qi training, if it is a monk on the second layer of qi training, it will only be crooked by the huge impact force, and will not be injured too much, and when the cultivation reaches the third layer of qi training, it can already block the flying bed crossbow arrow.

Only samurai, martial artists, and martial sects, these monks who have not entered the realm of qi training, will be pierced through their bodies by bed crossbows!

If the current bed crossbow can even penetrate the body of a third-layer Qi cultivator, then the monks it can threaten will rise directly from below the second layer of Qi cultivation to below the fourth layer of Qi training!

Don't look at the gap between the two realms, the article here is too big.

In the words of Shimen, it is as much as the sand of the Ganges. In a language that the Tang people understand, it is as much as the sediment in the Yellow River!

However, the great cultivators of the real human realm, there are only a few hundred in the entire Tang Dynasty!

Li Ye's mobilization of the high-level Qi cultivation monks in Hexi is the team he has cultivated for many years, and he has the profound accumulation of Quanzhenguan, plus the Tsing Yi Yamen and the Phantom Sound Fang, the scattered cultivation networks in the rivers and lakes are all networked, and there are only less than 10,000!

Now there are tens of thousands of monks under Li Maozhen's command, but that includes all the Hexi Qi cultivators!

The vast majority of the monks in the world are at the low level of Qi training, that is, the first, second, and third levels of Qi training.

And now, the bed crossbow in front of him can directly shoot the monk of the third layer of Qi training!

Who is this muscular young man with a temperament similar to that of an ordinary blacksmith?

Who was his master, who could make such a sharp weapon?

As a traverser, Li Ye clearly knows that the progress of weapons manufacturing technology will change the face of war!

Li Xian stood up, and when he saw Li Ye, he smiled and said, "You came at the right time, just try these bed crossbows and see if you can equip the army on a large scale." Shazhou is a remote and barren land, although relying on the Western Regions, commerce and trade are prosperous, the materials are limited after all, even if Zhang Huaishen personally helps, there are too few various spirit stones available in the hands of their masters and apprentices, and the first batch of ten such bed crossbows were made. ”

Seeing Li Ye, Li Xian was not half surprised. The cultivation of this kind of temperament and state of mind, even if you see it in the immortal realm, you must admire it.

When Zhang Changan and Chu Zheng saw Li Ye, they hurriedly saluted and moved out of the way.

After Li Ye carefully looked at the bed crossbow, he suppressed the tide of heartbeat, glanced at the young man with an ordinary appearance, and then said to Li Xian: "Although there are many kinds of spirit stones on this bed crossbow, there are many kinds of things in the Tang Dynasty, and there is basically no shortage of them. Only the craft of engraving runes is really a stroke of genius, and I am afraid it will take time to hone. However, as long as it is a True Human Realm cultivator, after carefully figuring it out for a while, he should be able to master it. ”

This is tantamount to admitting that in the future, wherever there can be a bed crossbow, this kind of magic weapon bed crossbow can basically appear!

And that's exactly what happened.

Li Xian's answer to Li Ye was well understood, as the former King An, an extraordinary existence who controlled the military and political affairs of the Tang Dynasty, and how many cultivation resources there were in the Tang Dynasty, he knew very well in his heart. The reason for this question is nothing more than to disguise his identity.

In the northwest frontier, Lao Anwang, who has been fighting for a long time, was once a hero and hero who looked down on the world, and was known as the existence of hope for Zhongxing in the Tang Dynasty.

And now, even the veteran soldiers who have experienced one battle after another with him and the rest of his life don't know his true identity, and think that he is just a righteous man who is determined to fight on the border.

Li Xian raised his head and laughed loudly, laughing very heartily, his mouth was almost to the root of his ears, but the laughter was not loud, and it could even be said to be silent.

He is like this, accustomed to suppressing all his words and deeds, including emotions.

He was not like this before, when he was still King An, he was sharp, he did not hide his true temperament, he sat down what he wanted to do, he said whatever he wanted, and he was bright and bright, just like the sun in the sky.

He does have this capital, he is the Li Tang clan, and he has been cultivated by a generation of Ming Lord Xuanzong, he is destined to be the backbone of the Tang Dynasty. And he did it, whether it was a crusade against traitors, rebels, or the ruling side, he did it impeccably.

If he had been King An, I am afraid that there would not have been the Yellow Nest Rebellion.

It's a pity that after the death of Xuanzong, Li Xian did not meet a Ming lord, his emperor was a faint monarch, or a faint monarch who was jealous of the powerful ministers, and he unexplained "fall" in Bagong Mountain - in the battlefield where he fought bloodily, in the Tang Dynasty for which he fought all his life.

Since then, he's been a different person.

After Li Ye crossed, he saw Li Xian for the first time, and even if the other party overwhelmed the traitor, his figure looked so lonely.

Then, after seeing clearly that his son could inherit his own career and that he might be better than himself, Li Xian was willing to become an invisible man.

To this day, he has saved Li Ye, saved the Hedong Campaign, and saved Yangguan, but no one knows his name. No soldier knew that the righteous man in front of him was actually the one who existed in the sky of the Tang Dynasty like the sun in the past, King An.

Empathy is a, there is no similar experience, how can you feel the same?

No one can taste Li Xian's heart, and no one knows how lonely his spiritual world is

。

But he never said it, he never wanted to be understood, he just did what he believed he would, and did what he had to do. Even Nangong No. 1, who guarded Yangguan side by side with him and had been bloodied for a long time, fell into self-doubt and personal depression and left here.

He's still here.

His heart is as solid as stone.

Li Ye knows that no person's heart can be as strong as gold and stone for no reason.

In other words, Li Ye, if possible, he would not want to have such a mind.

Because, a hundred refining into gold.

What kind of hardship and hardship do you have to go through to achieve a heart like a golden stone?

Li Ye's eyes were red, and his throat was dry, but Li Xian himself didn't feel anything abnormal, and after laughing silently, he pulled the young man with a somewhat straightforward face in front of Li Ye and introduced: "The sixth disciple of Bailu Cave is the descendant of this generation, Peng Zushan. In their vein, the world's attack on craftsmanship, every disciple can be called a generation of masters. ”

When Li Xian said this, there was a glorious brilliance in his eyes, obviously proud of the achievements of Peng Zushan and his master.

This is normal, Li Xian himself has studied and practiced in Bailu Cave, and he is a disciple of Bailu Cave.

With such an outstanding disciple as Peng Zushan's master and apprentice, Li Xian can indeed be proud. People of insight say that the world does not know the White Deer Cave, and there is no teacher in the world.

However, at this moment, seeing Li Xian's glorious look, Li Ye's red eyes almost couldn't hold back and shed tears.

What are you proud of, having a disciple like you in the White Deer Cave is something worthy of other disciples and honor!

You are the most outstanding disciple of the White Deer Cave!

Li Ye couldn't say these words in public, so he could only bow to Peng Zushan, "Li Ye thanked Brother Tai, respected the teacher, and thanked Bailu Cave on behalf of the Tang Dynasty. ”

Hearing the word "Li Ye", Peng Zushan's eyes were as big as a bull's eye, King An was in front of him, how dare he slack off, and hurriedly turned sideways, saying that he didn't dare to accept Li Ye's salute, and at the same time he was busy clasping his fists, "King An must not be like this, he is in the middle of it! It is a blessing for us to be able to serve Datang!"

Li Ye opened his mouth, and in front of Li Xian, he couldn't say half a sentence for a while.

King An, I am indeed King An, but my prince is inherited from this middle-aged man in a tattered green robe and covered with yellow sand beside you! What are you afraid of with me, what should you be afraid of, it is this comrade beside you.

Li Xian seemed to notice Li Ye's discomfort, pulled him aside, and looked out of the gate through the loess female wall, looking at the monks who were ready to attack.

Li Xian pretended to be relaxed and calm, and said in a homely tone with Li Ye: "Master Peng Zushan has been in Shazhou for a long time, in order to help the Guiyi army hold the border fortress, they have not had an easy day, let alone a moment.

"Before the Magic Bed Crossbow was manufactured, they had already improved the longbow, Fuyuan crossbow, arm crossbow, horn bow and crossbow in the army, and even all kinds of armor, in the hands of their master and apprentice, became more powerful than before. ”

Speaking of this, the smile on Li Xian's face became more and more intense, he glanced at Li Ye, and said slowly: "Do you know why the army of the Tang Dynasty can be invincible, and why the border army of the four towns of Anxi can open up thousands of miles for the dynasty?"

Li Ye has many answers to this question, such as the wisdom and courage of the generals, the blazing martial arts of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor's wisdom and sharpness, the Tang Army is the bravest warrior in the world, and the Tang Dynasty is strong, but these answers are obviously not what Li Xian wants to say at this time.

So Li Ye bowed down and said, "I want to hear about it." ”

Li Xian smiled happily like a child, "I know you have answers in your heart, many answers, and your answers are actually right." But what I want to say today is that the sons and daughters of the Tang Dynasty can expand their territory, in fact, the core depends on three words: Han civilization. ”

Speaking of this, Li Xian paused, as if to give Li Ye time to think, "What is Han civilization? Why has the Han civilization always been strong and prosperous since the dynasties? Why did the wise monarchs among them choose to study the Han civilization in the end? Just to rule the Han people more conveniently? Of course not. ”

Li Xian looked at the monk corps that had begun to approach Chengguan, his eyes were always calm as water, and he continued: "In the final analysis, it is the Han civilization that is advanced and powerful. Advanced and powerful, this is the core truth that I have realized.

"Because it is advanced and powerful, all ethnic groups enter the land of Kyushu, as long as they have some knowledge, they will learn Han civilization. Advanced and powerful things will make them more invincible, and who would not choose? So the question is, why is the Han civilization advanced and powerful? Where are they manifested?

Li Ye didn't answer, just listened quietly.

He knew that Li Xian had the answer.

Sure enough, Li Xian continued: "The Han civilization is advanced, all-encompassing, and leading in all aspects, otherwise, there will be no alien races who occupy the Central Plains and are willing to rush to learn." And one of the most important of this is the process, all kinds of processes. Yes, you're right, what I'm talking about is craftsmanship.

"The Tang Dynasty army has traveled thousands of miles, and tens of thousands of border troops can expand its territory, and the most important thing it relies on is craftsmanship. We have the best armor, the most powerful bows and crossbows, and the most reasonable battle formations, so even if our steel-forging skills are not as good as those of Persia, even if our long knives are not as strong as theirs, Gao Xianzhi can still make them fearful!"

Speaking of this, Li Xian turned his head to look at Li Ye and asked solemnly, "Do you understand?"

Li Ye nodded, and replied solemnly: "In this battle, no matter how many monks there are in Shimen, Yangguan will not be lost." Because, the strength of our army is all-round, our armor, bows, and crossbows, and our magic weapons bed crossbows will make them pay the price of their lives!"

。 Nine Heavenly God Emperors