As soon as Li Xueyan left, Qin Mubai sent a fine horse to Lanzhou without hesitation and reported the news to Li Daozong.
In two lifetimes, it was the first time that he had done things like "betrayal" and "selling out" so confidently and cleanly.
"Don't be so stupid! The two countries are fighting, and you, a woman, want to change the overall situation just because of your wishful thinking? That's not possible!" Qin Mubai thought very clearly, "Although I don't hate you, Li Xueyan, in this kind of situation In the face of great right and wrong, even if you, Li Xueyan, were replaced by Chen Yan, Wu Meiniang, Princess Gao Yang or even my mother and sister, the result would be the same!"
"No one can stop the wheel of history!"
"No one can stop me, Qin Mubai, from fighting to the death with Gar Qinling!"
"No one can erase the blood feud in my heart and eliminate the ambition of an empire!"
"nobody!… "
At dawn the next day, soldiers and horses began to drill in the army camp. The majestic roars were like a mountain and a tsunami, making it impossible for anyone to sleep peacefully. The already worried Princess Li Xueyan was no exception.
A large military tent was allocated to three girls. The two Tantai sisters were sitting on the couch, wiping their swords, and chatting. Li Xueyan couldn't get a word in, and she felt even more lonely.
"You two, can you come out of the camp and see if Marshal Qin has time to come over for a chat?" Li Xueyan said.
The two Tantai sisters looked at each other and said, "Princess, when the young marshal arrives in the military camp, he will be very different from when he was in the governor's mansion in the past. I am afraid that he will not be able to get away from the busy military affairs."
"That's true..." Li Xueyan smiled bitterly, feeling ashamed and lonely, and said, "Two good sisters, tell me frankly, do you also think that I am very annoying and ignorant of current affairs?"
"This..." The two sisters were startled together and said, "Princess, please don't say that. As the saying goes, people have their own ambitions and should not be forced. The princess's ambition is actually quite admirable..."
Listening to the somewhat feeble praise from the Tantai sisters, Li Xueyan felt even more miserable.
At this moment, Qin Mubai's voice sounded outside the tent, asking the soldiers outside the tent, "Has the princess gotten up? Was she well served last night?"
"Mubai, I'm up, come in quickly!" Li Xueyan shouted without thinking.
As soon as she finished shouting, her face turned red to her neck. The Tantai sisters looked at her with meaningful smiles.
Qin Mubai pushed the tent in, and Li Xueyan collected his thoughts and said with a smile: "Young Marshal is busy with military affairs, why do you have time to see me?"
"It's not particularly busy." Qin Mubai smiled to himself, looked around and said, "Are you still getting used to living there?"
"Young Marshal, I miss you. Everything is fine. It's really troublesome." Li Xueyan whispered cautiously.
The Tantai sisters very wisely found an excuse and left the tent, leaving Qin and Li alone.
"Princess, I thought about it all night yesterday, and I think it is necessary to persuade you one last time." Qin Mubai said, "As the saying goes, 'the trend of the times' cannot be reversed by human power. Do you think that you can stop the Tang Dynasty and Tubo with your wishful thinking?" A collision between two empires?"
"Actually, I've thought about this too..." Li Xueyan nodded slightly and said, "I know I'm a bit overestimating my abilities. But, I really won't give up if I don't give it a try. The strongest desire in my heart is I hope there will be two fewer wars and fewer deaths.”
"Then do you know what the meaning of war is?" Qin Mubai said.
"..." Li Xueyan was startled for a moment and said, "The fight for interests? Is it a repetition of admiration or hatred?"
"None of them." Qin Mubai smiled slightly and said, ""Sima Law" says, 'Killing to stop killing, killing is okay'. The implication is that the real purpose of war is to quell war and prevent more changes. The outbreak of many wars.”
"Isn't this a contradiction?" Li Xueyan said blankly, "War always requires death and bloodshed."
Qin Mubai was not in a hurry, and still said gently, "Although you are extremely smart, you are still young after all. It is normal for you not to understand these principles. Have you ever thought that even if you successfully marry Tubo, you will bring three benefits to the two countries?" Fifty years of peace, but what will happen after thirty to fifty years?”
"..." Li Xueyan was speechless again.
"If you can't think of it, I'll tell you." Qin Mubai said, "There is an old saying, although it is extreme, it is not unreasonable - people who are not of my race must have different thoughts. The Tubo people live on the plateau and are always calm about the wealth. The Central Plains are salivating. Their purpose of launching the war is simple, clear and primitive. To put it more bluntly, it is for money, food, cattle, sheep and women. From the current position, you, Princess Wencheng, plus a few. Gold, silver, wealth, and silk were quite a bargain in exchange for thirty years of hypothetical peace in the Tang Dynasty. However, the contradictions and antagonisms between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo were like the relationship between two tigers on the same mountain, which could not be reconciled even if they were thirty or fifty years old. Years from now, war will still break out, and if it breaks out again in thirty or fifty years, it will only be more tragic than it is now. Moreover, no one can guarantee whether the Tang Dynasty will be as prosperous and powerful as it is today. Is it possible to compete with Tubo again?"
Li Xueyan looked at Qin Mubai with wide eyes, unblinking.
Qin Mubai smiled slightly and said: "These similar words were mentioned to your father when I visited Chang'an earlier. I said that at the beginning, and I still think so today - if you want to eliminate it, The only effective way to resolve the conflict between Tang Dynasty and Tibet is to completely conquer and integrate them. War and peace constitute and promote history. This is an established law throughout the ages, and no one can change or stop it. You are a princess, and even the current emperor cannot prevent the war from happening. I advise you to think clearly."
"..." Li Xueyan fell into silence. After a long time, she said, "Thank you, Mu Bai. I know you are doing it for my own good. But... please forgive me for my willfulness and stubbornness, or my stupidity and ignorance of current affairs. I really ... It’s decided! Xueyan is a woman who is insignificant. What’s the point of dying if I don’t give it a try?”
"Okay then!" Qin Mubai wasn't angry, or in the mood to be angry with her. He just smiled and said, "Since you have mentioned this, I am also responsible and have to deal with business matters."
"Please tell me..." Li Xueyan looked at Qin Mubai with some hesitation, and his heartbeat suddenly accelerated. Although she had expected such a situation to happen, she was really afraid of hearing some heartless words from Qin Mubai's mouth. Even she herself was very conflicted. She knew clearly that doing so would arouse Qin Mubai's resentment and betrayal, but she couldn't help but do these things... She secretly cursed or even cursed herself not once - "Am I serious? Are you jealous of Wu Meiniang and Princess Gaoyang, or is it just the word "cheap" that's causing trouble? "
"Princess, then listen carefully." Qin Mubai said almost expressionlessly, "Originally, out of my duty, the two armies are facing each other. I, the commander, must never let anyone go to the enemy camp. This is because of my duty. Regarding the need for military secret security, you can definitely understand this.”
"Well... don't worry about this. I will never do anything to treason with the enemy."
"But now that you are so determined, for the sake of getting to know each other, I have no choice but to help you." Qin Mubai said sternly, "Choose a day, I will give you a horse, and you can go to the Tubo military camp by yourself! Yes! , you can only be alone, without any entourage, maids, or dowry. If you go, you can only represent you, Li Xueyan, and you cannot represent the Kansai Army or the Tang Empire, let alone Princess Wencheng. One thing, you must think clearly.”
Li Xueyan's face gradually turned pale, and she bit her lip tightly with her teeth. She didn't dare to look directly at Qin Mubai anymore, lowered her head, and nodded lightly.
"Okay, I'm done." Qin Mubai sighed softly, "Finally, for the sake of the prince, I will not hesitate to advise you again, think twice before you act - leave!"
"Wait!" Li Xueyan suddenly called out and stopped Qin Mubai.
"What else can you do, princess?"
"..." Li Xueyan took two steps forward and walked to Qin Mubai, raised her head slightly and looked at him, and said, "As the saying goes, people who are different will not work together. It is my ignorance of current affairs and my stubbornness that has caused you a lot of trouble. ,Feel sorry!"
"Forget it!" Qin Mubai raised his lips and smiled indifferently, "Everyone has his own ambitions."
"Mu Bai... After this farewell, I'm afraid we will never see each other again." Li Xueyan stopped talking.
Qin Mubai wanted to smile but not cry, "Your Highness, what do you want to say?"
"It's nothing..." Li Xueyan turned her head and said softly, "I really like listening to you playing the pipa, especially the song "May I Live Longer"..."
"Let's talk about it when we have the opportunity in the future!" Qin Mubai raised his hand, "I still have military affairs, so I'll take my leave first!"
Qin Mubai left. The Ruoda military camp was so empty and quiet that Li Xueyan could almost hear his own breathing.
"Am I really wrong?"
"Why do I live in such pain, hesitation, and dilemma?"
"Why, my ideal is so far out of reach, why can't I follow the person I like?"
"Am I too stupid, or is fate too tricky?..."
Qin Mubai secretly sighed as he walked out of the tent. Looking back at the military tent, Li Xueyan's figure was faintly revealed from the tent flaps that were blown away by the wind. Between light and dark, he could still see the hesitation and confusion on her face, with a hint of depression and sadness.
Qin Mubai shook his head, smiled helplessly, and thought to himself: Li Xueyan, if you were just a simple woman from a good family, you would be a pretty good woman. Unfortunately, you are too thoughtful. There is nothing wrong with this originally, but it is a pity that your ideals are too "idealistic", that is, you are ignorant of current affairs and have too many whims. But you can say that you are loving, selfless and kind, or you can say that you are stupid and unreasonable... But no matter what, I will still respect you. Whatever you want to do, I won't stop you; as long as you don't get in my way!