Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 911
Ye Chen listened to the opinions of Duanmu Zhongren, a great Confucian in the Western Regions. As early as the beginning of spring in March, he began to try his best to build Xiangfu Kingdom into a Buddhist holy place that worships and worships Buddha. Moreover, this matter has already been passed through the merchants under the arrangement of the Ministry of Security. spread throughout the West.In addition, the Master Yunyue sent by Ye Chen has also made a name for himself in the Hexi Corridor and even the entire Western Region, and has become a symbol of the Buddhist holy land in Xiangfu Kingdom.

In addition, Master Yunyue intends to show that he does not only respect Tantric Buddhism, but respects and refines both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. Now that the forces of the Guiyi Army in Guasha and Shazhou are extremely shrinking, the influence of Mahayana Buddhism in the Western Regions is also getting smaller and smaller. , this is not the result of the competition between the disciples of the Sutra Buddhist sect and the disciples of the Tantric sect, but due to the shrinking power of the Guiyi Army. Therefore, the Buddhist circles in Gua and Sha states believe that if the states in the Hexi Corridor can be classified as the Xiangfu Kingdom, they will not Being suppressed, and they can be carried forward, under such circumstances, one can imagine their attitude towards the arrival of the army of Xiangfu Kingdom.

Cao Zhongheng said: "It's not just that the Buddhist circle has an ambiguous attitude. Father, the child just received a piece of secret news, and I haven't had time to report it to my father."

Cao Xuefei said, "Is there any worse news?"

Cao Zhongheng showed a bitter smile on his face, and said: "Father, I, Duanmu Zhongren, a great scholar in Guazhou, went to Xiangfu Kingdom secretly three months ago in the name of traveling, and was personally received by the emperor of Xiangfu Kingdom."

Cao Xuefei's complexion changed suddenly, and he lost his voice and said, "Duanmu Zhongren...that bastard, so it is."

At the same time, five miles away from the Cao Family's Jiedushi Mansion, there was a manor house with the name "Duanmu Mansion Courtyard" hanging on the main entrance.

"What is Cao Xuefei doing now? Brother Zhong, do you know?" Duanmu Zhongren casually asked Zhong Sanhe who was sitting opposite him.After more than three months of contact, Duanmu Zhongren discovered that this man who was No. 1 on the list of good people in Xiangfu Country last year, was named Baron of Ping'an County by Ye Chen, honored as Zhongdu School, and a man with strong martial arts is not what he seems on the surface. It's as simple as being a powerful warrior.

Zhong Sanhe chuckled and said, "Although Cao Xuefei sent [-] reinforcements to Suzhou, he doesn't really have much confidence in himself. He's been very nervous these past few days, and he can't sleep or eat well. He has to personally check the defense of Guazhou every day. Boost the morale of the army."

Duanmu Zhongren smiled slightly and said: "So, Brother Zhong has already contacted the people from the Security Department."

Zhong Sanhe said: "To tell you the truth, sir, the Ministry of Security has always been in touch with you, and now Mr. Kou Minglu, the envoy of the Western Region Branch of the Ministry of Security, is also in Guazhou City."

Duanmu Zhongren nodded, no longer talking about this matter, but pondered for a while, and said: "Cao Xuefei has trouble sleeping and eating, which shows that he still has self-knowledge. The Uighur Khanate in Ganzhou was easily taken down by His Majesty's army. The Uighur Khan Pang Teqin I heard that it even ended up a miserable end with no bones left, so it's no wonder he wasn't in a hurry."

Zhong Sanhe thought for a while, and asked, "From the point of view, sir, will Guazhou and Shazhou still have foreign aid in this Western Region?"

Duanmu Zhongren said: "Now in the Western Regions, the only country that can support Gua and Shazhou is the Yuhe Kingdom, but now King Li Shengtian of Khotan is busy fighting with the Karahan Dynasty, which is fighting the jihad. It is not optimistic at all, and it is impossible to send troops to rescue Cao Xuefei at this time. Therefore, judging from the current situation, if there are no accidents, there will be no more reinforcements. In addition, after these days of hard work, the interior of Guazhou is no longer monolithic. The Buddhist circle and the Cao family have no common hatred for the enemy; the low-level officers and soldiers of the Guiyi Army marched westward against His Majesty's heavenly army, first defeated the Tubo Panluozhi in Liangzhou, and then destroyed the Uighur Khanate in Ganzhou. How could Cao Xuefei not be in a hurry?"

Zhong Sanhe remembered something, looked solemn, and said: "Just now Kou Minglu sent news that Mr. Cao Xuefei probably knew about the secret trip to Xiangfu Kingdom three months ago. Most of the [-] disciples come from aristocratic families in Guazhou and Shazhou, and many of them serve as civil and military officials in Guazhou and Shazhou. I am worried that Cao Xuefei will recruit people who are close to Mr. and who are not reliable. , or provocateurs to dismiss from office, all of them have been driven away from important positions in the military and political circles."

Duanmu Zhongren shook his head and said with a smile: "Brother Zhong, don't worry, it's a big taboo to change generals just before the battle, but it's even more taboo to replace so many civil and military officials at once. Which of these people doesn't have trusted staff? Which one doesn't have three relatives and six friends? If Cao Xuefei doesn’t do this, he doesn’t feel at ease, but if he does, there will be even more undercurrents and turmoil in Guasha and Shazhou. As for the safety of the old man, it will be up to Brother Zhong and the hundred warriors sent by His Majesty.”

Zhong Sanhe immediately said solemnly: "Don't worry, sir, I was sent by His Majesty to protect my husband's safety, even if I risk my life, nothing will happen to my husband."

Duanmu Zhongren patted his forehead and said: "Oh! I forgot, there is an important guest to meet."

As soon as he finished speaking, Duanmu Shu, the eldest son of Duanmu Zhongren, who is already well-known as a Confucian in the Western Regions and also known as Xiao Duanmu, walked in, first nodded to Zhong Sanhe as a greeting, and then said in a low voice : "Father, Zhang Sansheng, the eldest son of the Zhang family...has arrived."

Duanmu Zhongren was refreshed, he got up quickly and said: "Bring him in through the corner gate, please enter the flower hall of the back house, I will be there soon."

"Yes!" Duanmushu replied with a bow, and walked out again.

Duanmu Zhongren tidied up a bit, then left the study and went back to the house.

Half an hour later, Duanmu Zhongren got up, smiled at the mysterious Zhang Sansheng: "Cao Xuefei has noticed the old man, and his behavior will inevitably be noticed by others, so he will not personally send Sansheng away."

"Teacher Duanmu is too polite, so don't disturb the students. I will tell my father what Teacher Duanmu said, and I will do my best to make it happen." Zhang Sanxing stood up and returned the salute with a smile on his face.He is about thirty years old, with a white face and a slight beard, and a good-looking talent, but he looks a little weak.

"Sitting in the midst of planning and planning, decisively winning thousands of miles away, the four directions are rough, but they seek peace with each other; eight guests, worship and dance in front of the steps. In the north, the hooves of young horses; in the south, Tufan, Present the white jade from Kungang. Hexi has been in ruins for more than a hundred years, and the road is blocked by Xiao Guanyan. The geese are rare. General Lai opened the old road and became famous all over the world! The general is General Zhang Yichao. Today, the Xiangfu army marched west, It may not be adhering to the legacy of General Zhang. If this is done, it will benefit millions of Han people in the Western Regions. It will benefit the present and contribute to future generations. It is an unworldly achievement. Today, I hope that Mr. Zhang can revive the survivors of our ancestors and raise the flag of righteousness. I will be grateful, and the millions of Han people in the Western Regions will be grateful.

Zhang Sansheng listened to him recite the poems praising his ancestors, and mentioned the name of his ancestors, he couldn't help but straighten his back, with a proud look on his face, after hearing Duanmu Zhongren finished speaking, he gave him a big fist, and said excitedly : "Teacher, don't worry, after returning home, the students will do their best to fulfill their mission."

Duanmu Zhongren also said solemnly: "Old man, I wish the three provinces a victory in the opening of the banner, and success!"

Zhang Sansheng clasped his fists at him again, and followed Yang Shu hurriedly.

After the Anshi Rebellion at the end of Tang Dynasty, Tubo took advantage of the rebellion to capture Hexi and Longyou.In the second year of Jianzhong, Shazhou fell into Tubo.

In the second year of Dazhong, Zhang Yichao led the people to form the Guiyi Army to expel Tubo and recover Guazhou, Shazhou and other places; he also sent envoys Gao Jinda and other letters to Chang'an.In the fourth year of Dazhong, Zhang Yichao led the crowd to recover Xizhou.In the five years of Dazhong, Shazhou (today's Dunhuang), Guazhou (today's Anxi), Yizhou (today's Hami), Xizhou (today's Turpan), Hezhou (today's Linxia), Ganzhou (today's Zhangye), Su Eleven prefectures, including Zhouzhou (now Jiuquan), Lanzhou, Shanzhou (now Ledu, Qinghai), Kuozhou (now Hualong, Qinghai), and Minzhou (now Minxian, Gansu), sent his elder brother Zhang Yitan to the court with his territory and household registration. Tang Xuanzong then granted Zhang Yichao the defense envoy of Shazhou.In the second year of Xiantong, Zhang Yichao recovered Liangzhou.In the eighth year of Xiantong, Zhang Yichao entered the court, and was granted the title of envoy for observation and disposal within the management of the eleven prefectures in Hexi, doctor Jin Ziguanglu, minister of the Ministry of Inspection and Officials, and doctor of imperial history, and Marquis of Wanhu in Hexi.

These three provinces are the descendants of the famous Zhang Yichao. When Zhang Gongcheng became the king, Cao Rengui, the long history of Dunhuang and the official secretary of Jinshan State, claimed to be the envoy of the righteous army and established the Cao family's dominance in Shazhou. , and jointly rule Shazhou with Zhang Chengfeng.From then on, Zhang Yichao's descendants were only Jinshan Kings in name, while Cao Rengui was the real Jinshan King.

Since then, the power of the Cao family has expanded and stabilized step by step, until they have replaced the descendants of the Zhang family and become the real helmsmen of Jinshan Kingdom, both in name and in reality. A big family outside the core.However, the Zhang family is the founder of the Guiyi Army after all. Although they have lost their actual power, the Zhang family's prestige in Gua, Shazhou, and even the Han people in the entire Western Regions cannot be replaced. Even today's Guiyi Army, the Zhang family is still Is the spiritual leader.

In normal times, it would be difficult for the Zhang family to have any influence on the Guiyi army, but this does not include special periods.For example: Guazhou and Shazhou have internal and external troubles, and the hearts of the people are unstable. The Cao family cannot bring peace and hope to Shazhou. On the contrary, it will bring destruction and death. The rich and powerful family needs a new spokesperson. When the family challenged.

In fact, according to Ye Chen's thinking, he didn't think about letting Duanmu Zhongren play a role when Yang Jiye attacked the states in the Hexi Corridor. It was mainly after the entire Hexi Corridor was conquered that Duanmu Zhongren played a big role.

Duanmu Zhongren is a great Confucian in the Western Regions. In such a difficult environment, Duanmu Zhongren accepted apprentices and passed on his teachings, making Duanmu Zhongren a very practical person who knows how to change his abilities. He is not only talented, but also an official. The smelly problems of some Bo Hongru in the Central Plains.

(End of this chapter)