Chapter 3039 Ambitious
Xue Rengui was very dissatisfied. You, a small captain, dare to speculate on military aircraft?
What does your judgment mean? If you make a mistake in judgment, the entire Western Region will suffer war. Can you afford this responsibility?
Yuan Wei had a cold sweat on his face and said tremblingly: "General Qi, this matter...may be related to some Guanzhong aristocratic families."
Xue Rengui's face was as dark as water: "How do you say this?"
Yuan Wei was heartbroken and said: "Before, in my humble position, I met a member of a Guanzhong family and helped recover a sum of money..."
Half of the words were ambiguous, but he believed that Xue Rengui understood.
Of course Xue Rengui understands.
The Anxi Army guards the Western Region. In addition to guarding against enemy attacks, it is also responsible for combating smuggling. However, everyone knows that smuggling is highly profitable. Since the aristocratic families in Guanzhong and Longyou are unable to engage in maritime trade, smuggling has been a business that has lasted for hundreds of years.
Even the Anxi Protectorate cannot seriously put an end to smuggling in all families without giving any face. There are always some powerful or aristocratic families in the same camp who have privileges. Although it is impossible to obtain the express permission of the Anxi Protectorate, it is normal to turn a blind eye and close a blind eye.
Similarly, any shady business is bound to be more dirty, and from time to time there will be incidents of gangsters taking advantage of others. Generally speaking, the Anxi Protectorate will not directly intervene in this matter, leaving it to each family to handle it themselves. Only when the trouble is too big will the Anxi Protectorate get involved.
Xue Rengui asked: "Whose family is it?"
Yuanwei gritted his teeth and said, "I don't know how humble my position is."
Xue Rengui snorted dissatisfied.
Where is the ignorance? Obviously I dare not say it!
But even if he didn't say anything, Xue Rengui could still make a guess. The Yuan family belongs to the Guanlong lineage, and those who smuggle the most through the Silk Road are the Guanlong nobles. Although the Yuan family has declined, the relationship in the past still exists.
Moreover, it is unusual for many of the Guanzhong disciples in the Anxi Army to collude with the Guanlong nobles in private. Generally, as long as they don't go too far, even Xue Rengui can only treat them as invisible.
If everything was serious, then he would not do anything else all day long...
After thinking about it, Xue Rengui sat down again, picked up the tea cup and asked: "Have you cleaned up the finishing touches?"
After all, he is a cannibal. If things get into trouble, it will be difficult to deal with.
Yuan Wei hurriedly said: "Don't worry, Sima. Those big cannibals indeed have no identity documents, and they were exterminated because of arrests. They are reasonable and legal, and there are no omissions."
Xue Rengui raised his eyelids and said: "In that case, clean up your hands and don't leave any future troubles. Go ahead."
Since it was not the spies sent by the Great Cannibal who coveted the Western Region, he naturally didn't bother to pay attention to the dirty things of the family members.
When the water is clear, there are no fish. He is just a Sima of the Anxi Protectorate. There is no need to hold on to this kind of thing, let alone get involved too deeply...
"Here! I resign from my humble position."
Yuan Wei stood up and saluted, took two steps back, then turned around and walked out of the government office.
When he got outside the door, he looked up at the dark sky, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, let out a long breath, and mentally greeted all eighteen generations of Zhang Sunyan's ancestors.
Mother!
If your family is vying for the position of the heir apparent, then let's fight for it. We will just watch from the sidelines, but why bother dragging us into the water?
Changsun Wuji, that old dog, always eats people without spitting out their bones. He is the only one who bullies others. How could anyone interfere with his Changsun's family's business?
Now he just hopes that this bastard Zhang Sunyan can quickly secure his position as the heir apparent, otherwise once this matter comes out, he will die without a burial place...
*****
Damascus.
Since Muawiyah succeeded Ali after his death and Ali's death was inextricably linked to him, he did not dare to live in Medina, the capital of the Arab Empire. Instead, after he ascended the throne, he moved the empire to The capital was moved to Damascus.
The city he conquered personally was filled with loyal supporters, making his position as Caliph as solid as a rock.
In addition, compared to the sea and desert surrounding the holy city of Medina, Damascus's geographical location is more advantageous. Not only is it close to the vast Mediterranean Sea, but also to the east is the vast territory of the Persian dynasty. Beyond Persia, which has been conquered by him, is The fertile Central Asian plains, and further away are the countries in the Western Regions that lead directly to the Tang Dynasty in the east. To the north is the Eastern Roman Empire in turmoil.
No matter which direction, there is fertile and rich land, but it allows the empire to obtain endless financial resources, and the population is not comparable to that of Medina.
……
In the palace, which was much simpler than that in Medina, Muawiya drank wine and sighed quietly as he looked at the mighty and strong eldest son Yezid in front of him.
This child is extremely brave and is indeed a rare warrior in the world. However, he has not inherited his shrewdness and acumen in terms of intelligence. He is very slow about politics. None of the elders in the sect are convinced by him.
According to the rules of succession of the caliphate, it requires the election of the elders. With Yazid's political talent, taking this path is simply wishful thinking.
If he wanted to pass on the position of Caliph to this son and continue the glory of the Umayyad family, he would have to find another way...
"Father, Azmi has been to the Tang Dynasty for a while. It should have returned long ago, but now he has not been seen. Could it be that he was killed by the Tang people?"
Ye Zide knelt down and sat down, with some worry on his face.
Muawiya drank the wine and said calmly: "What does it matter whether Azmi is alive or dead? This battle must be fought after all."
He doesn't care about the gold, nor does he care about Azmi's life or death, but if Azmi can get back the Tang Army's garrison map in the Western Region, then the empire's chances of winning the Western Region will be greatly increased.
But even without the garrison map, he still decided to attack the Western Region.
Ye Zide said: "But what if the Tang Dynasty Prime Minister regrets and kills Azmi? Then the Tang Dynasty may take precautions against us, and we will definitely suffer heavy losses in the war."
He still hasn't forgotten the disastrous defeat he suffered when he attacked the Western Region last time.
Although the more reason is that the sudden changes in Medina forced the army to retreat at full speed, thus giving my father an advantage in the fight for the position of Caliph, but to be fair, the Tang army was not only well-trained, but also well-equipped, especially That kind of "sky-shaking thunder" will definitely cause huge casualties to Arab soldiers.
He felt it was too difficult to meet head-on...
Muawiya shook his head and said: "How could Changsun Wuji regret it? The letter he asked his son to write to me is still in my hands. As long as this letter is given to the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, ten heads will not be enough to chop him off. I would not be so stupid as to go to the Western Region. The journey is long and there are too many dangers along the way. Azmi encounters unexpected events. It is very possible. However, no matter what, this time we must take advantage of the Tang Dynasty's full-scale Eastern Expedition to recruit troops and invade the Western Regions. Even if they cannot overthrow their country, they must open up the road to Chang'an and hold the entire Silk Road in their hands! Only in this way can you establish your position in the empire.”
Since it is difficult for a son to advance politically and win the support of those elders, why not simply establish his status in the empire with his outstanding military exploits, use the power of the "Supreme God of War" to overwhelm everyone and become the Caliph? What about his successor?
Ye Zide understood his father's intention to support him, but he was puzzled: "My father asked his son to establish himself in the military, but why did he abandon the near for the far, leaving Constantinople unconquered, but went all the way to capture Chang'an? ?”
Muawiya glanced at his son, put down the wine glass, picked up a white handkerchief to wipe his hands, and patiently explained: "How can the status of Constantinople be compared with Chang'an? Today's Eastern Roman Empire is still yesterday's Huanghua, that Constant II sitting in the palace of Constantinople is a fool, who has made the country miserable and poor. Compared to his grandfather Heraclius, who was a great hero in his generation, he was a waste. As for the Tang Dynasty, it was a golden country where wealth flowed everywhere. As long as it was conquered, it would be an unprecedented military feat. For thousands of years, Who among those sages and saints has achieved such feats? One battle can establish your position in the empire!”
After a pause, he continued: "A particularly important point is that despite the fact that the Eastern Roman Empire is deteriorating under the rule of that idiot Constant II, Constantinople is the strongest fortress in the entire Europe. The Eastern Roman region is desolate, but hundreds of thousands of troops have gathered... It will take thirty years to conquer it."
If Constantinople could not be captured, even occupying all the territories of the Eastern Roman Empire would be meaningless. However, as long as it advances to the vicinity of Chang'an, it will be considered a monumental achievement. How to choose, why bother?
(End of chapter)