Chapter 4932: Puzzled
"...However, Qin Ling is not a fool, so how can he risk his own death? The only explanation is that the six tribes of Cang have united with him privately, and will jointly send troops to these cities at the most critical moment, so that they can surround Wei and rescue Zhao Qin Ling In a fatal situation, they can join forces with each other to threaten Luosucheng..."
The praise of "the best strategy in Tubo" has fallen on Lun Qinling for a long time. This is almost a fact recognized by the entire Tubo. Therefore, Lun Qinling's reputation in recent years has even been praised by his father, "the most wise man in Tubo" Lu Dongzhen. above.
Would such a man make a strategic mistake that would lead to his own death?
Absolutely impossible.
Su Liangsi agreed with this: "According to our informants in Fuqi City, Lu Dongzan's eldest son Zan Xiruo has disappeared for a long time, and no one knows his traces. Presumably, he must have sneaked into Tubo territory early and secretly contacted Nacang. Six departments, and has received the commitment of the six departments of Nacang.”
Pei Xingjian sighed: "If this is true, the situation in Tibet will change drastically, and our plan may not work."
The original instigation of Bolunzanren to assassinate Gongri Gongzan in the formation of the three armies not only made Seru Gongdun into a dead end and forced him to cooperate with the Tang Dynasty, but also caused Songtsen Gampo to lose his successor. The entire Tibetan high-level officials triggered a chain reaction and were about to fall into Civil unrest.
However, if Lun Qinling and the six tribes of Nacang join forces to force Songtsen Gampo to abdicate, it is very likely that the Tubo political situation that is about to fall apart will be stabilized again... The so-called "Tubo strategy" planned and promoted by the Tang Dynasty will end without any problem and completely fail.
Su Liangsi hesitated for a moment and said: "But until now, we have not seen the six tribes of Nacang raising troops to respond."
"So this is where I have my doubts. Does the Cangliu tribe want to wait until spring before taking action? But if by then, Songtsen Gampo has stabilized the crisis caused by the death of Gongri Gongtsen, wouldn't the Cangliu tribe want to wait until spring? Missed the opportunity? It’s just that they were stupid and couldn’t see the opportunity, but Zan Xiruo is still there, how could Zan Xiruo not see it?”
This is the crux of the problem. No matter how you look at the behavior of Qinling and Nacang Liubu, it is self-contradictory.
Really weird.
The soldiers outside the door came in: "Defender, the imperial edict from the imperial court has arrived."
"Oh, prepare the incense case and receive the order together."
"Here."
……
The content of the imperial edict is not complicated. It almost completely affirms Pei Xingjian's treatment of Cheng Yaojin and An Yuanshou, but adds at the end "Initiate the widespread planting of cotton in the Western Regions and Hexi"...
"It seems that Bai Diazi is indeed a treasure. If Taiwei and Sinong Temple had not come up with favorable arguments for its living habits, yield and use, it would definitely not be so widely sown. But the name cotton... More vivid.”
Baidiezi has been cultivated in the Western Regions for a long time, but it has never been able to form a large scale. Gaochang State, which attaches great importance to it, only cultivates it on wasteland outside the city. Although cotton batting has a good thermal insulation effect, it is It is difficult to get the seeds right and is not taken seriously.
Su Liangsi said: "Before Xiaguan set out from Chang'an, he heard that craftsmen from the Foundry Bureau had developed a seed-removing machine. You only need to put a mature cotton sleeve into it and turn it to remove the cotton seeds, leaving clean cotton wadding. It can be processed on a loom that spins wool, and the resulting cotton thread is tough and delicate, and can be woven into very high-quality cotton cloth, which is wear-resistant and warm. ”
Nowadays, the status of the Foundry Bureau continues to improve, and it has become the birthplace and experimental place of "high technology" in the Tang Dynasty. Every time a new achievement comes out, it can change a certain industry. In the past, Confucian students who only focused on reading sages and sages are very interested in it. , pay close attention.
After all, no matter how much you study, the ultimate goal is nothing more than "goods and the emperor's family". The ultimate pursuit is nothing more than getting an official position and benefiting a place. If new technology can truly improve the economy of a certain region, no one will object. .
Pei Xingjian smiled and said: "This is Taiwei's unique skill. Throughout the ages, various schools of thought have had the concept of 'studying things to gain knowledge', but only Taiwei has carried it forward and benefited all people. This alone is enough to compare with the sages." Side by side.”
As an official who grew up next to Fang Jun, he knows the power of "studying things to gain knowledge" very well. If Confucian culture is the magic weapon for governing the world, then "studying things to gain knowledge" is a sharp blade that can run rampant in the world!
When "investigating things to achieve knowledge" truly becomes a prominent science and is recognized by the whole country, the Tang Dynasty can use the strong ships and cannons built by "investigating things to achieve knowledge" to spread Confucian culture to all the lands where the sun shines, making Confucius and Mencius Learning leads the world, and foreign countries and foreign lands regard the Tang Dynasty as their suzerain.
Today, some people have called "investigating things to achieve knowledge" as "new learning", and all those who focus on the application of science and technology, headed by Fang Jun, are called "new schools" to distinguish them from those who are still "the same school". The "old school" who "rules the world with this Analects of Confucius"...
This is another situation of "divergence between the old and the new" after the "different paths of civil and military affairs".
*****
The heavy snow stopped for a day and then fell again. The vehicles on the Silk Road were cautious but still flowing in an endless stream, and business was not suspended due to the approaching New Year.
In the Tang Dynasty, the Spring Festival was not the most important festival, but the Winter Solstice was.
Since the Zhou Dynasty, the winter solstice has been used as the beginning of the year, and the day with the longest "sun shadow" in the year is selected as the beginning of the new year. The name Spring Festival has existed since ancient times, but since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty reformed the calendar and formulated the "Taichu Calendar", the first month of the first lunar month has been designated as the beginning of the year.
But among the people, the important festival of Winter Solstice has continued. Even in the Tang Dynasty, there were more holidays during Winter Solstice than during Spring Festival. It’s just that the official records and operations all start with the Spring Festival, so the importance of the Spring Festival gradually increases...
Therefore, for merchants, even during the Spring Festival, many did not return to their hometowns for the New Year.
On the evening of New Year's Eve, An Yuanshou and his party arrived outside Guzang City.
Looking at the majestic archery tower and city wall in the distance, An Yuanshou stopped the team, took off his heavy cotton clothes on the carriage, put on his armor, tied the horizontal sword around his waist, and told the team to go to the inn, alone in the heavy snow. Walking towards Guzang City.
A group of followers quickly stopped him: "Why is the commander going here?"
An Yuanshou said in a deep voice: "My brother is in trouble in Guzang, and I want to save him. The wealth my family has accumulated over the years has been misappropriated by evil people, and I want to get it back."
The followers were frightened: "The commander-in-chief, think twice. The discovery of prohibited items in the treasures of the commander-in-chief's house is the root cause of the commander-in-chief's punishment. If he goes to ask for it again, wouldn't he bring up the old matter again? The consequences are unpredictable!"
"The Yin family betrayed their promise and shamelessly embezzled family property and framed my brother. If I can't get it back, how can I stand between heaven and earth? Moreover, the An family left Guanzhong in poverty and embarrassment. If there is no money or silk with them, how can I rebuild the family? Karma? I have made up my mind, you don’t need to say anything more!”
"We are willing to go with the commander-in-chief!"
An Yuanshou shook his head: "I'm going alone. Cheng Yaojin always has to sell some face. Even if he breaks into the Yin family's house, it's just a personal grudge. If you accompany me, the nature will change drastically. Go to the inn and wait for me. I'll go Go and come back.”
The relatives and followers looked at each other in shock, not daring to stop him.
Before arriving at the city gate, An Yuanshou stopped and raised his head to look at the unmoving city tower amidst the snowflakes in the sky, with a myriad of thoughts and mixed feelings in his heart.
This city, where the An family has lived for hundreds of years, will probably never have the chance to set foot again from now on, or even for the rest of my life.
"Who's stopping here? Show me your credentials!"
Several city guards saw that he was tall, had a horizontal sword on his waist, and was even wearing armor, so they quickly stood up to stop him.
An Yuanshou stood still and said in a deep voice: "The Duke of Fanhe, General Youxiaowei, and An Yuanshou would like to see Duke Lu. Please convey your information."
Several soldiers were startled to see the former master of Guzang standing in front of them, and they hurriedly said: "Please wait a moment, sir, we will go and report it right away!"
Then one person was separated and rode back to the city to report, while the others stared at An Yuanshou eagerly.
After all, the two sides have just fought a battle. They are enemies, not friends, and they dare not neglect and slack off...
After burning incense, the soldiers returned on horseback: "The commander-in-chief invites the prince to come to the city to meet you!"
An Yuanshou nodded slightly, walked into the car and walked into Guzang City.
……
The snow is falling heavily, but there are many pedestrians on the street. There are many shops on both sides, all kinds of disguises are swaying in the wind and snow, there are cars and horses, and there are endless pedestrians. The vendors are selling along the street, and the aroma of food fills the heavy snow. The soothing smell of fireworks fills the air.
An Yuanshou was walking quietly in the car, looking around, and suddenly realized that although he was born and raised here, he seemed to have never seen such a scene before, let alone the current feeling. It seems that the thousand-year-old city is not all about fame and wealth...
"Eh? Isn't this a handsome man?"
"Is he a handsome man?"
While walking, someone spotted An Yuanshou in the shops and hawkers on both sides of the road. At first they were surprised and muttered, and then someone asked loudly.
An Yuanshou held the sword on his waist with one hand and strode forward with a reserved smile on his face, nodding slightly to the people asking questions on the street.
"What a handsome guy!"
"Commander, I heard that I am going to live in Guanzhong. I wonder if it is true or false?"
The smile on An Yuanshou's face froze slightly, but he was relieved immediately. Now that he has reached this point, what else do he need to worry about about his face?
Being beaten all over the head by others, do you show your authority to the people you once ruled?
He smiled casually and replied: "I made a mistake before. Fortunately, your majesty is generous. Instead of taking it as a crime, he sympathizes with the An family's hard work in guarding Liangzhou. He was able to move to Guanzhong and live in the capital. But it will be difficult in the future." Come back and see if you have the chance.”
Still need to whitewash it...
A wine shop owner ran out of the shop, carrying a wine jar and a wine bowl in his hand. He came close and blocked An Yuanshou's path. He bowed first, then poured a bowl of wine and handed it to An Yuanshou: "Please, please." The commander drank this bowl of wine, and his journey to Chang'an has been smooth, and the princes will live forever!"
An Yuanshou was stunned, stopped and looked at the wine bowl in front of him. Suddenly his heart was touched and his eyes turned red. (End of chapter)