Chapter 28 Chapter Three

"Get out of the way!" Balu and Bazaar jumped off the galloping horses, embraced Asule, and strode towards the golden tent. "Who dares to break into the golden tent!" The guards drew their swords together, and the leading centurion shouted, and the iron heart of the warrior clanged on the ring armor. "My son, it's my son, we are all my son's companions." Baru shouted loudly. The sound of the Kui drum became more and more urgent. The two drums had already been beaten, and the third drum had also come to an end. "Your Majesty goes in, you can't be a companion!"

"Why?" Bazaar raised his eyebrows, "We were able to go in before." "Didn't you see that the kings of Khan and the leaders are all waiting outside? The Maharaja sent an order, and everyone is waiting outside, only the prince enters the account." Balu and Bazaar looked around, and saw that the four Great Khans, dozens of leaders of the big families, and the generals leading the troops were all kept out of the tent, and they gathered in a small group to discuss.The Kui drum is set there, and it is not struck frequently. Every time it is struck, it is for urgent matters.The kings of Khan and the leaders have countless servants in the northern capital, and no news can escape their eyes and ears, but this call came so suddenly.

"My lord, go in quickly! We'll wait for you here." Balu pushed Asule. Asule gasped with difficulty, tried to push away Bach's supporting hand, threw off the snow fox fur, and rushed towards the golden tent.The guards dodged to make a gap for him to pass through, and immediately surrounded him with an iron wall. Baza looked at his back, then at the silent brother beside him, hesitated for a while, and said in a low voice: "Brother, isn't it... you want to abolish the prince?" "What nonsense?" Baloo widened his eyes ferociously. It is said that it has not been a day or two since the Maharaja wants to abolish the youngest son and re-establish a new crown prince.Although the Tie brothers were young, they were not deaf, so they couldn't help but feel uneasy.If he is the Maharaja's companion in the future, he may be a general who will be passed on to future generations, but what is a deposed companion?Just a stray dog ​​that no one wanted.

"It's because of our bad fate," Baza said with a flat mouth, "Being a companion to the eldest son, if it's with the eldest prince..." "You're still talking nonsense!" Baloo stared fiercely at his younger brother, his face flushed red. The most taboo of the barbarians is betrayal of the master.Baloo felt that he had many reasons to refute his brother's outrageous thoughts, but he couldn't express every thought that came to his lips.What's wrong with Bazaar's thinking?After all, everyone can only live once. Baza's riding and archery is so good. He should be a general. Is it necessary to give his whole life to a weak and incompetent prince just for the word of loyalty?

In private, Balu himself thought that it would be good if he followed other princes, not to mention the first and third princes, even the second and fourth princes, who were also wearing the blue silk robes of the Eastern Continent and riding on the poles of the Far West. The steed, who has the opportunity to follow the army to fight the enemy, raises its head high before and behind others. But this is just an idea, Balu never really thought about leaving this prince with no future.There is always a feeling of being different about this master, which makes Baloo feel that it is what he should follow.When Danhu's companions came forward, it was Shizi himself who insisted on standing in front of everyone.Balu wanted to rush out, but Shi Zi opened his arms and blocked the three of them like a little eagle.

Being a companion to take the beatings for the master is something that should be done. In the future, when you go to battle, you shouldn't have any complaints about helping the master with the arrow and the knife.Even Balu felt that it was pure stupidity for Shizi to do so.But at such times, there is always a warmth rising from his chest, which makes him not afraid of anything. Baloo thought it was stupid, but he couldn't refuse the stupidity. "I..." Bazaar pursed his lips, "I just want to, just want to..." "Stop talking. The prince... is a very good person," Balu patted his younger brother on the back, "he is different from others."

"Boom!" The last drum sounded. The aftermath was like thunder coming from far away in the sky.Asule lifted the sheepskin curtain at the door of the tent, knelt on the carpet with his hands on the ground, panting heavily. The golden tent was surprisingly quiet.The four elder brothers who arrived first also half-kneeled on the ground waiting for their father's call. The maharajah sitting on the bed in leopard skin didn't even look at them.He was sitting there, leaning on a small case. Opposite the case was a man in a black cloak, with a hood covering his face. The silver plate on the small case is roasted lamb, and the silver bowl is goat milk.Being able to be enthroned on the bed and eating and drinking with the Maharaja is the highest reward for a barbarian.Only when the meritorious person is in the extreme position and can no longer be given other rewards, will there be the grace of "giving enthronement to participate in politics".As far as the princes can remember, only King Taigor the Great Khan has had such an honor.

"It's been a long time since I left my hometown, do you miss the grassland?" The Maharaja smiled. "I don't really miss the grassland." The man in the cloak cut a large piece of lamb ribs and chewed them in his mouth, "But I miss Mrs. Ying's otter meat and yellow lamb steak. If the majesty doesn't keep me, I'm already here In Muli’s tent.” "Dahesa!" The princes all recognized the voice. The man in the cloak took off the hood on his head, with a shiny bald head and long pure white beard. "Get up." Maharaja waved his hand.

His eyes swept across the faces of his sons: "Dahesa brought good news. I want to tell my sons first, so the Great Khan, the leader and the generals are all waiting outside, telling you to come in first. But to hear this good news, you must first answer my question. Whoever answers well will be rewarded." "Yes!" the princes answered in unison. The majesty nodded: "You are not young anymore, you should know about military affairs, so who is the biggest enemy of us barbarians?" Bi Mogan hesitated for a moment, and went to see Tie You, who spread his hands, expressing that he had no idea.The barbarians are located in Hanzhou, with Kuafu in the west, Yuguo in the east, and Lu Yinchao in the south outside Tiantuo Gorge.

"It's Kuafu!" A voice broke the silence. "Guimu? Okay, tell me, why Kuafu?" "Many of our barbarians are cavalry, and they are good at archery. Although the feathered people have strong bows, they can't ride horses. The Donglu people have good weapons and good armor, but they don't run as fast as us. Thirty thousand cavalry killed one hundred thousand of them. Donglu is learning from us to build cavalry, but how can it compare with our tiger and leopard cavalry?" Guimu said loudly, "Only Kuafu is our opponent. They don't ride horses but run as fast as war horses, without armor , but he is not afraid of being hit by our arrows. So the son thought it was Kuafu, and if he could get an army horse, the son would be willing to lead troops to the west to garrison Huta River, so that Kuafu would not dare to cross the river and step into our pasture!"

"Kua Fu is a strong enemy." Maharaja shook his head, "But, that's not right." "Eastern people!" "It's Yuren!" Bimogan and Tieyou said it at the same time, but they gave different answers. The majesty nodded: "Bi Mogan said he was from Donglu, and Tie You said he was from Yuren. What are the reasons for each?" "My son thinks..." Tie You was a little at a loss for words, he had been convinced of Bi Mogan since he was a child, but now his answer was different from his brother's, so he was at a loss what to do. "You say what you want!" Bimo laughed dryly. "My son thinks that Kuafu is terrible, but the population is very small and the birth rate is slow. It takes a long time to recuperate after a battle. Even if we are defeated, we can still regain the land in a few years. Although the Donglu people have a large number of people and excellent weapons, But the divisions are scattered, and since Emperor Fengyan, there hasn't been a decent attack. The only enemies we have left are the Yuren." The majesty still nodded: "It also makes sense, Bimogan you say." "My son said he was from the Eastern Land. Although Yuren and Kuafu have their own strengths, the combined total of more than a dozen vassal states in the Eastern Land has millions of strong soldiers. Our barbarians claim to have 300,000 cavalry, but we really met Donglu's iron armor and long spears are one less than one death. The Donglu has a large population. If you want to recruit, you can raise an army of millions. If it weren't for this, Emperor Fengyan would not be able to invade us twice in seven years. Beilu. That's why my son thinks that our confidant's serious trouble is Donglu." "That's right!" The majesty patted the table, "Your knowledge is higher than that of Tieyou and Guimu. What we are afraid of is not the millions of troops in Donglu, but the tens of millions after Donglu's million troops. People, that is a constant source of soldiers.” "Xu Dahan," he finally turned to the silent third son, "Your uncles said that you are the smartest general among my sons, why are you silent?" "My son's answer is the same as that of my elder brother. Our biggest enemy in the Northland is the people from the Eastland." "Really?" Maharaja shook his head, "It's a pity that you said it late. But your brothers and younger brothers have finished everything that can be said, so I can't blame you." "No!" Xu Dahan raised his head, "My son said he was from Donglu, but my son has a different opinion." "Is it?" "Yes!" Xu Dahan took a step forward, "My son wants to ask my brothers and sisters, who has the largest land and who is the richest in the Kyushu countries?" Bi Mogan frowned.There is no need to ask, Donglu Yin Dynasty occupies four states, almost half of the land, and is the largest country in the world. Xu Dahan didn't want to hear the answers from his brothers at all, and then said: "The territory of Kyushu, the nine states are about the same size, but the difference between rich and poor is huge. My son calculated that day, our Hanzhou's annual production, if converted into east Lu gold baht is about 30 million. However, the production of the four states of Donglu, Zhongzhou alone is no less than 80 million gold baht. It is said that the output of Wanzhou is more than that of the other three states of Donglu combined. The people from the Eastern Land occupy the four most fertile states, while the seven tribes of our barbarians only have one barren and cold Han State, why aren’t our enemies the Eastern Landers?” "What exactly are you trying to say?" Maharaja shook his head, "I'm asking about enemies, but you're talking about wealth." "Father," Xu Dahan knelt on one knee, "What is the wish of our barbarians? Of course, it is to establish the achievements of King Tieqin. We want to travel all over the land and sea. What is it to defeat one or two enemies? We want to defeat all People! But relying on the production of Hanzhou, we don't have the strength to fight in all directions. Only by occupying the richest Donglu, and relying on the production of Donglu, can we complete the achievements that Pantar God directed us! So our enemy must be Donglu people!" "It's too simple." The majesty shouted coldly, "When the Fengyan Iron Brigade invaded our grassland, don't say you haven't seen it, I just heard about it. During the short seven months of the actual battle, we No less than 200,000 young people died in the battle of Qibu. Most of the young and strong died on the battlefield. They had to rely on women and children to herd herds. So far we dare not cross the Tiantuo Gorge. You want to occupy the Eastern Land, why do you enter the Eastern Land? Do you have the bravery of your grandfather, King Qindahan?" "My son is not as brave as grandpa, but we can do it with decades of accumulation of our barbarians." Xu Dahan took a step forward, "Our barbarians suffered heavy losses in the battle of Emperor Fengyan's iron line, and the current division of the Eastern Land is also inevitable. It may not be because of this. As long as they split up, we can break them apart, Donglu is not one now, if we wait any longer, this excellent opportunity will be lost!" He walked to the door and lifted the sheepskin curtain, pointing to the south: "The enemy we barbarians want to see is the entire Kyushu. If we want to become the emperor of this world, what does it matter if we defeat Kuafu in the west and Yuren in the east? Only Winning the rich Eastern Continent is the foundation of our barbarian people's long-term success!" The golden tent was strangely quiet, Bi Mogan let out a little breath, and nodded. "Okay! This is what my son should say, and he should be rewarded." The majesty took off the black horned bow on the wall and threw it to Xu Dahan. "What I want to reward is Xu Dahan's ambition!" The majesty looked around at his sons, "I only see that the ones right now are not heroes. Only when you have the world in your heart can you occupy the land of the world. Before King Xun raised his troops, he was just a herder Why can he unify the seven tribes? It’s because he has the idea of ​​unifying the seven tribes! If you only want to guard this grassland, you can’t be heroes!” "Yes!" the princes answered in unison. "Abba, my son thinks..." Asule, who was at the end of the row, said in a low voice, but his voice was swallowed by the loud responses of his brothers. The majesty turned to Dahesa: "Dahesa, tell them what you have seen and heard in Donglu." Dahesa just stuffed the tobacco pot with tobacco and took a deep breath.He grabbed his bald head and got off the bed, and lifted the curtain on one side of the tent with his hand. A huge map is exposed under the curtain, it is drawn on light yellow raw silk, mountains are drawn in ochre, and rivers are drawn in blue.The thin green lines marked the borders of the vassal states, and the red dots scattered on the map were important passes and cities. "This is the map of the Eastern Land," he pointed to the territories of the Eastern Land states: "The four states of the Eastern Land, Zhongzhou, Wanzhou, Lanzhou, and Yuezhou. Generals and followers, at that time there were twelve vassal states, six duchies and six vassal states, and the great emperor only ruled a piece of royal territory around Tianqi City, which was not as large as the large vassal states." "In the next 700 years, the princes fought, some two countries merged, and some countries split. Up to now, there are a total of sixteen countries. Among them, there are five big princes, namely Chun State in the north of Zhongzhou, Lanzhou In the north is Jinbei Kingdom, and there is also the Xiatang Kingdom in Wanzhou, which is known as the "Three Kingdoms in the South of Heaven", the Liguo in Yuezhou, and the Chuwei Kingdom between Wanzhou and Yuezhou." "I am on an envoy to the Xiatang Kingdom in Wanzhou." Dahesa clicked on a city in the south of the map, "This is Nanhuai, the capital of Xiatang. There is a Duke in Xiatang, named Baili Jinghong, who wants to join us. Make allies." "How can we form an alliance with the Donglu people who have no faith?" Tie You shouted in shock, "Those people are not as strong as the wolves on the grassland!" Maharaja nodded: "What do you guys think?" "My son also thinks it's not right. People from Donglu formed an alliance with us, and Xiatang is far to the south. No one knows what the plan will be." Bimogan said. "Son, I think it's better to discuss the alliance with the Great Khans," Xu Dahan said. "son……" Maharaja interrupted Tie You with a wave of his hand: "You must also feel bad." "yes." "I know that if the news spreads, the movement will be much bigger than it is now, so I will see you first." The majesty said firmly, "The alliance with Xiatang cannot be changed! He is my son, and he will follow me." Queen of the Horse!" "A son will follow his father!" Xu Dahan knelt down. "The son will follow the father's horse!" The other three princes also suddenly came to their senses and knelt down together.Only Asule was left kneeling quietly at the end without making a sound. "I'm very happy that you can say that." Maharaja said this, but he was not happy. He didn't ask his sons to get up, his cold eyes swept over the heads of his sons, when Tie You raised his head slightly, he was frightened by his father's gaze, and hurriedly lowered his head again. "Donglu's rule is that if the two countries form an alliance, they will send princes and nobles to each other as hostages. Since you have courage, who would dare to go to the Tang Dynasty to be a hostage?" The princes looked up at their father in amazement, their minds blank.They are not just big talkers, Bi Mogan has also been in battle, and braved the rain of arrows in the battle with Zhenyan.But going to the Tang Dynasty is really disturbing. After thousands of miles away, he is no longer a noble prince, but a helpless hostage, like a bird trapped in a swamp, who can only do whatever he wants. At the mercy of people. And the most important thing is to leave the northern capital, perhaps before the new maharaja ascends the throne, he will not be able to return. "Why don't you talk anymore?" The majesty stepped down from the bed and looked at the sons who bowed their heads and said nothing, "Don't you have the guts to hear that you are going to Donglu as a hostage?" The golden tent was silent for a while.Tie You was lying there, only daring to stare at the small area in front of his knees. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his father's heavy boots pacing silently in front of him, as if he could feel the sharp sword-like eyes scratching his back. In the past, the whole body was cold for a while. "Although they are hostages, the Lord of Xiatang Baili has promised to teach the knowledge of the Eastern Army and let you personally follow the army. If you are willing, you can not only see the customs of the Eastern Land, but also make friends with the nobles there, and even inquire about it. Is it true that we can gain the strength of the Eastern Continent. Isn't this our unique opportunity?" The princes still bowed their heads. "Tie You, you told me a few days ago that you want to learn how to handle soldiers like your elder brother and third younger brother, and you don't want to go to Donglu?" Tie You tremblingly raised his head: "Son...son... what the son thinks is..." His head seemed to explode, and he felt that his father's gaze had forced him to the edge of a cliff. The Maharaja had no intention of waiting for him to reply, and glanced away: "Bimogan, you are the big brother, Xu Dahan, you are our wise general in Qingyang, don't you dare? There are precious trees, precious trees, precious trees, you seven He dared to kill wolves when he was young, he is my bravest son, you lower your head now, is it more terrifying to go to Donglu than a big wolf that wants to eat you?" Unlike his elder brothers, Guimu kowtowed fiercely: "Father, my son is not going!" "Heh!" Maharaja was startled, but laughed instead. "My son is a descendant of the Lu family, a prince of Qingyang, and he will never embarrass his ancestors. Ride on horseback, if you are greedy for life and afraid of death, take half a step back, and my father will kill me with a sword. But he is a hostage," Guimu gritted his teeth , "The son is unwilling to do it!" "A joke!" The majesty sneered, "The envoys from the Tang Dynasty escorted a descendant of the Baili clan from the Tang Dynasty to our Qingyang as a hostage in a few days. There is no one left to go to Tang Dynasty. This is our good man from Qingyang? You look down on the weakness of Donglu people. When I see this, you are not as good as the young people in Donglu! No! Not even a woman, King Xun sent Aganda as a hostage, and Aganda rode a white horse without turning back once. You are also men of our Pasur family!" The allusion mentioned by the Maharaja comes from the famous long poem "Biography of King Xun" by the barbarians.Xun King Akanti was the first person to hold the Kulig Conference on the grassland more than 500 years ago. He was a lowly warrior who was born as a slave. The most beloved woman, Aganda, was taken as a hostage in exchange for three thousand cavalry.Aganda then rode on the white horse and never looked back from the beginning to the end.When Akanti came back from sweeping the grassland with these 3,000 cavalry, he realized that Arganda had been accepted by his adoptive father as a woman under his tent. He jumped up and down to commit suicide.Akanti suddenly realized, and his heart was twisted like a knife, and finally killed his adoptive father and became the first maharaja of the barbarians.The earlier history of the Northland grassland has long been beyond verification. The so-called "Biography of King Xun" is just a long poem that tells a story, but the story of Arganda is sad and sad, and has been sung endlessly. No one doubts its truth.Aganda is also called "Mother of Light" by the people on the grassland, and they admire her for her steadfastness and bravery. Guimu's face turned pale, and he suddenly turned his head aside: "That's what cowards and women do!" "Cowards and women..." Maharaja's tightly pursed lips trembled. Guimu was also afraid in his heart, knowing that his father was angry. Tie You gritted his teeth and kowtowed: "Father, who thinks he is smart on weekdays, who likes to talk about the situation in Donglu most in front of princes and parents, and who made bold words just now? Why don't you speak now? Woolen cloth?" He glanced at Xu Dahan behind him. Maharaja nodded: "Xu Dahan, your brothers are asking you, why didn't you say it?" Xu Dahan looked calm: "Second brother wants to protect eldest brother, so he should stand up by himself. The son is not afraid, but he is unwilling. It is not that the son has nothing to do. The son thinks that the place where men start their careers is the battlefield. Hostage is not what the son wants to do." "What if father lets you go?" Maharaja stared at him. "Third brother can't go!" Guimu became anxious, "Father will know when he goes to the capital city to ask. The matter is whether the eldest brother does more or the third brother does more. The eldest brother is either playing ball or hunting. Other tribes Nine out of ten times when envoys came, it was the third brother who dealt with it. How many times did the third brother sleep in the middle of the night? The roster of the soldiers and horses in the nine tents, the third brother and I sorted out the list for two days. For more than a month, my eyes are red. Where are those two brothers? Pulling wild horses on Huoleiyuan!" He glanced at Brother Bimogan: "Father asked who could go. The son said that both of them could go! Tie You clamored to take charge of the army, would he know how to take charge of the army? Why can't he go to Donglu to learn? Bimogan hands Just leave it to the third brother, anyway, if you stay in the capital city, you won’t be able to find anyone! Father, tell me, don’t you have to go on a hard job if you don’t have the ability or don’t care about things? Should it be unlucky instead?" "Guimu," Xu Dahan said in a low voice, "you don't need to shout. Father knows what we have done, so you don't need to say it yourself!" "Nonsense!" Tie You couldn't help it, "Who is a person without skills?" "Hmph!" Guimu sneered, "How is your sword technique? So what if you can read and write? It's a matter in everyone's eyes!" He strode over to the side of the bed, grabbed the silver jug ​​of goat milk from the table, and pulled out the long knife at his waist with a bang.He glanced around, threw his hand away, and the silver pot suddenly left his hand.At the moment when the jar was suspended in the air, his long knife vibrated violently and shattered into chaotic iron lights, intertwined and slashed across the water jar, but was blocked by his knife force, and the jar hovered in the air for half a moment.Only the sound of the long knife being sheathed was heard, and the hand-hammered silver pot was completely shattered into pieces, and a splash of water turned into splashes in the air, and pieces of broken silver fell down. "Tie You, don't tell such jokes. If you want to talk about skills, first look at the sharpness of the knife in my hand or yours!" Tie You couldn't stand the excitement, he stood up and pressed the waist knife: "Your knife is sharp, but mine may not be bad. It's just cutting a jar, do you have the guts to try my treasured knife?" Guimu didn't even look at him: "I'm afraid my knife is too sharp and I can't hold it back, but your neck is not as strong as this jar!" "You!" Tie You pointed at his nose, his fingertips trembling, "Shuo Beixue bastard, don't forget your identity! I don't care about you in front of my father, but don't think I dare not kill you!" "Kill me?" Guimu broke out violently, pulled off his shirt to expose his chest, and patted hard, "There is a kind of stabbing in to see what kind of blood it is, it's all father's son, I'm from Qingyang!" The brothers stared at each other viciously, and there was a momentary stalemate. A loud bang suddenly broke the silence.Everyone was startled, and found that the fist from the majesty was clenched tightly, and the nails were deeply sunk into the flesh, as if trying to scratch through the palm.The princes had all seen their father angry, and knew how terrible it was. The four brothers threw down their swords and knelt down together, regardless of their hostility. "You...you!" Maharaja's face twisted slightly, "Get out of here!" The princes withdrew, and Asule walked last. Maharaja called him: "Asule, you are still young, but Dad also wants to know what you think." Asule was silent for a while, then turned around and kowtowed: "Abba, is there going to be a war again?" Maharaja was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to answer, Asule had already got up and left the tent. Dahesa smiled: "You don't have to be so anxious, Majesty, you should have known this reaction a long time ago." "It's not their reaction that I hate. Shahan, can't you see it from them?" the Maharaja whispered, "The biggest enemy of the barbarians is ourselves!"