Belus is only in his fifties now, but he has been on the run for many years. The wind and frost have carved countless wrinkles on his face. In addition, the fact of national subjugation is before his eyes. Under huge pressure, even if he has been living in poverty for the past few years, Director An did not relieve the pressure in his heart.
Therefore, a man in his fifties looks like an old man in his seventies or eighties, with a gray beard, a dark complexion, a dusty look, and an endlessly lonely appearance, making him look absolutely He is a person with a story.
Narciye is in his thirties, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He is not very tall. When we first met two years ago, he seemed a lot fatter. Obviously, the good food in the Tang Dynasty still nourishes people, Li Hong thought evilly.
"Your Highness, I heard that the Great Food Kingdom has begun negotiations with the Tang Dynasty because its princess was kidnapped, and plans to take this opportunity to send troops to the Tang Dynasty." At Li Hong's signal, Belus sat down again. Xia said.
"Well, I heard about it too. Do you think Datang has no chance of winning, or do you have any good strategies?" Li Hong looked at Belus relaxedly and asked.
Belus smiled humbly, and then said: "I think that the iron cavalry of the Tang Dynasty are invincible, but the Great Shi Kingdom should not be underestimated. The destruction of my Persian country by them is enough to prove their strength. "
"Go on, I don't like guessing what others want to tell me. It gives me a headache." Li Hong looked at the steaming tea and was placed next to Belus by the palace maid, and continued.
"Yes, Your Highness." Belus felt a little confused. Seeing the relaxed and leisurely attitude of the prince of the Tang Dynasty, it seemed that he didn't care about the hostility of the Food Kingdom at all. This made him unsure about his next persuasion. I feel a little unconfident.
"Your Highness, although the Great Food Country is powerful, there is Tocharo between us, the Tang Dynasty and them. Although Tocharo is weak, it has been relying on its terrain advantages in recent years to stop the Great Food Country. We cannot continue to expand eastward, and I have made some friends in Tocharo over the years. If the Great Food Kingdom wants to attack our country, these friends of mine may be able to provide you with some unexpected help." Lu Si looked at the eagle-like sharp eyes of the Tang Prince and said calmly.
"Do you think the four strong towns of Anxi cannot stop the cavalry of the Food Kingdom? Or... what do you want?" Li Hong asked in a deep voice, looking at Belus' somewhat cloudy and flickering eyes.
Facing Li Hong's sharp, knife-like gaze, Belus felt that he had no advantage at all in the city, and even felt that all his thoughts could be sensed by His Highness the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty.
I couldn't help but feel that facing a young man who was thirty years younger than me, I felt flustered and helpless for no reason. I even began to doubt myself: Will he agree to the conditions that he had planned for a long time when he came
"My condition is very simple but very difficult. I ask your highness to help me restore the country. From now on, I and Narshiye are willing to lead all the Persians to surrender to the Tang Dynasty and to your highness forever." Belus faced Li Hong. With his sharp eyes, he felt that when he finished speaking this sentence, his whole body was shaking in his chair.
He couldn't imagine that if he had said these words while standing, he would have collapsed on the ground after finishing speaking.
"Why do the people of the Great Eaters invade eastward? You, me, and the people of the Great Eaters all understand the truth that it is beyond the reach of the whip? So why are they so confident to continue to expand eastward, even at the expense of becoming our enemy, the Tang Dynasty? Really? Is it just because King Pei kidnapped their princess?" Li Hong asked, staring at Belus.
The great cannibalism in history continued to expand eastward, causing Iranian-speaking people in later generations of Iran and Central Asia to gradually convert to Christianity, and Iranian-speaking people were also regarded as Arabs.
There were many conflicts with the Tang Dynasty, but for more than two hundred years, although there were always more victories and fewer losses, many craftsmen were even taken away from the Tang Dynasty, thus making papermaking, embroidery, silk and other technologies Great strides have taken place there.
But before the Great Eclipse weakened, he had never been able to take a step into the four towns of Anxi. This is why when Li Hong established Anxi, he used the four towns of Anxi as the border of the Tang Dynasty and did not continue to take a step westward. reason.
In his opinion, the four towns of Anxi were like the Great Wall across the territory of the Tang Dynasty. They would exist like a fortress and a fortress of the Tang Dynasty, maintaining the stability of the Tang Dynasty.
Belus didn't understand what the prince of Tang Dynasty meant by asking such a question, but he still vaguely felt that this question was obviously not asked casually, so he didn't know how to answer it for a moment.
Li Hong looked at Belus who was silent and said with a smile: "Even if King Pei hadn't kidnapped their princess, they would have attacked us in the Tang Dynasty. The reason for this is that General Youwei Wei must not be able to escape. Does it matter?"
"Your Highness, minister..."
"Your Highness, what do you mean...? Join forces with father's friends to defeat Tochara first?" Narshiye, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
Li Hong was shocked. He didn't expect that there were three people sitting in the room. Apart from himself and Belus, there was also an understanding person.
"Yes, compared to Dashi, Tocharor poses a greater threat to us, so if you are sincere, you can only help Datang defeat Tocharor first, and then you can talk about letting Datang recover for you. As for the country, the longer the supply line, the harder it will be for our soldiers of the Tang Dynasty. If we are the enemy of Dashi, our supply line will be cut off by Tocharor, or your so-called friends of Tocharor will be defeated by the other side, we will be defeated by the other side. What should Tang do in the face of the attacks from Dashi and Tocharo?" Li Hong turned to look at the wise man and asked.
"Your Highness, with the cavalry in your hands, although it will not be easy to defeat Tochar, it will definitely be easier than the cannibals. But these years, you have been guarding the four towns of Anxi and have never taken a step west. Now that you say you want to defeat Tochar, I think... maybe... that's not your ambition, right?" Narshiye asked cautiously.
Li Hong had the same smile on his face as before, nodded and said: "Yes, defeating Tocharo is just to stabilize the tribes around Suiye Town in the Tang Dynasty. They are now ready to make moves, mostly with Tocharo and Huala Zimo is related, so do you think I should give Tocharo some color? "
"Is it that simple?" Belus glanced at Narciye, then looked at Li Hong, and said with some disbelief.
"Yes, it's that simple." Li Hong confirmed.
As mentioned just now, Li Hong never felt that there was any benefit in continuing the Western Expedition now. The cannibals brought their beliefs with them, thus forming a large belief system in Central Asia.
If the Tang Dynasty wanted to get involved there, it would have to bring its own culture and beliefs with it, just like it did with Tubo.
But does Datang have it? The Buddhism that is prevalent in Chang'an today is still imported. Could it be that Taoism was brought there? The Tao can be Tao, but it is not Tao; the name can be named, but it is not named.
Does this profound thing, which only Easterners and even Han people understand, have an advantage over the Quran? It seems not
Bring Confucianism with you? Look at the Persians in Chang'an today. They stick to their beliefs. Even if they lose their land, doesn't anyone touch the Confucianism
Although Li Hong is willing to give Kong Laoer's things a try.
But one of the key points is, what kind of suitable candidate should we find
Among the two people in front of me, Belus or Narciye, who is more suitable
How could they unknowingly accept Confucianism, then pass it on to the Persians in Chang'an, and then continue to spread it to the West with them? To resist the sharp sword of the Quran
If he wants to truly expand his territory to the west, Li Hong's most ideal thing is to spend a few more years dealing with domestic political affairs. Then when Li Chunfeng's fleet returns and the Tang Navy has grown vigorously in the past few years, When it became a huge sea beast, wouldn't it be easier for people to accept Confucian culture when it expanded westward with a two-pronged approach
But of course, I can't tell Belus and Narcie about this now.
Subjugation of the country and annihilation of the species has been the fate of those who have truly subjugated their country since ancient times. Although Belus and Narshiye will not reach that stage for the time being, if they can be used to accept Confucianism in the past two years, can they conquer the Persians or Should their beliefs be completely wiped out and replaced with Chinese civilization
And destroying Tocharo and directly confronting Dashi can also prevent Dashi from spreading their Quran smoothly on that land, right
"Ah? What did you say?" Li Hong was awakened from his meditation by several anxious shouts from His Highness, and looked at the two people in front of him and asked.
Belus was stunned, the Prince of the Tang Dynasty was really distracted just now.
"This... I need some time to give His Highness a clear answer. I need to discuss with my friends in Tocharo before I can reply to Your Highness." Belus said solemnly.
"It's okay, don't worry. It's freezing in Anxi right now. If you want to go cannibalistic, it's Tocharo. You won't be stupid enough to attack our Tang Dynasty at this time. When spring comes, all I need is your reply." Li Hong said with a smile.
"Yes, I will give His Highness a clear answer after the first day. If Tochara agrees, I hope His Highness will not break his promise." Belus said solemnly and respectfully.
"A gentleman's words are hard to follow. If Tochara is defeated, the cavalry of the Tang Dynasty will no longer have to worry about anything. Helping you restore the country will become a natural thing, right?" Li Hong stood up and looked at Belus and Nar. Xiye walked out of the study room and began to wonder, who should he send there
At the beginning, Tubo had an old die-hard named Dai Zhide to help them spread Confucian culture. It is said that it is still in full swing now, and the whole people have set off a craze for learning from men.
But if the Western Expedition continues, there will not be many old antiques left in the court, not to mention those few, whether they can successfully reach the four towns of Anxi is...
Wait a minute, old antique? It seems that in the past two days, haven't there been a few old antiques asking to see me in the East Palace
"What are you laughing at? You're smiling so obscenely!"
"Ah? Father?"
(End of chapter)