Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 546 Soldiers Entering Cullen City

After daybreak, the sky in the wilderness became gloomy for a while, and clear for a while.The grassland, which was still green and full of vitality yesterday, has now turned into a chill, and the air is filled with the smell of death.

In the Battle of the Tula River, more than 4000 Khalkha Mongolian cavalry died.Since most of the people and horses fell within 1000 meters of the North Navy's position, at first glance, the scene was really a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood.The Tushetu Khan and the rest of the Chechen Khan stationed in Chaomodo were all terrified. They dared not stay here any longer, but immediately began to pack up their tents and prepare to head south to Sai Khan thousands of miles away. Erwusu station.

Among the green weeds and wild flowers swaying in the wind, you can see the corpses of fallen people and war horses everywhere. The red blood flowing in the grass has become dry and black and purple.The craters blasted by hundreds of shells are densely packed, like big silent mouths, but the surroundings of the big mouths are full of broken limbs.

Unknowingly, a large number of black-brown vultures appeared in the sky. They made sharp calls, as if they were celebrating a feast.For these giant birds of prey, blood and carcasses are the most delicious food; they never care about human life or death, and they don't care why they die.These vultures saw the right time, circled down from the sky in groups of three or four, and landed on the grassland full of human and war horse corpses, waiting for an opportunity to take a bite, and then rushed away while being chased by the soldiers of the Northern Navy who were searching for survivors Dispersed, and then repeated.

On July 7, the representative sent by Kulun came to the front-line command of the Taipei Navy in Kui, and conveyed the request of Khenpo Nomon Khan Lob Sundarja and Shanzhuo Tebadam Tharabuja to Fan Tong and Liu Sheng .

Liu Sheng showed up this time. He was sitting in the tent with a strong horse, and watched Zhang Qibuerduoji, who was wearing a Bassen hat and cassock, followed a staff officer into the tent.The young staff officer introduced to Zhang Qiburduoji: "This is Commander Liu of our Northern Navy's Eastern Front."

Zhang Qiburduoji, who had been bowing all the time, clapped his hands together to salute Liu and Fan, but when he got used to the light in the tent and saw Liu Sheng's appearance clearly, he was startled, thinking that this person's figure It is really different from ordinary people, sitting there is like a demon god descending into the world; compared with him, the "Committee Fan" who has met at the side is simply a fat boy.

"My name is Liu Sheng. Master, please sit down." Liu Sheng raised his hand, signaling Zhang Qibuerduoji to sit across the table.

"The poor monk was entrusted by Nomen Khenpo Khan, and came here to convey his old man's meaning to the two generals." Zhang Qibuerduoji then conveyed Lobsang Darja's set of rhetoric.

"Master, I don't think it's necessary to go to the city to talk!" Liu Sheng listened calmly, shook his head slightly and said: "In the ten agreements I gave you before, we have fully considered your special situation and promised various This system remains as it is. The only requirement is to stand on our side, that is, to oppose the Qing Dynasty. Before you agree and sign the agreement, I personally don’t think there is any need to continue talking.”

Zhang Qiburduoji nodded when he heard the words, and said calmly: "The general said this, and the poor monk expressed his gratitude on behalf of the tens of thousands of believers under the great lama. But to let the general know that the great living Buddha is not currently in Khalkha, but Went to Rehe. Both Khenpo Nuomen Khan and Shanzhuo Teba are just acting on behalf of the management, and they cannot and dare not make decisions for the Great Living Buddha."

"Since this is the case, is it necessary for us to continue talking? Please go back and tell Khenpo Nuomen Khan that the Northern Navy will enter the city tomorrow morning. But don't worry, we are not interested in the temple properties of various monasteries. As long as the monks Keep your duty and do what a monk should do, we will not send troops into the monastery."

Zhang Qibuerduoji was silent for a moment, and then said: "Okay. The poor monk will tell you when he goes back. There is one more thing, I hope your army can allow it."

"please say."

"Currently there are many monks in the monasteries in Kulun City, and the food trade has also been cut off. What the Dalai Lama means is that he wants to disperse some monks and believers to Qingning Temple and the fiefdom of Lake Kuvsgul."

want to run?Liu Sheng shook his head and refused: "This is not possible. Right now our army is attacking everywhere, and you cannot guarantee whether there are any spies from the Qing Dynasty among the monks and herdsmen. You cannot afford this risk!"

Fan Tong suddenly changed the subject and asked Zhang Qibuerduoji, "Who did you buy your food from?"

Zhang Qibulduoji said: "Shanxi merchants in Kulun Trading City, Mr. Song before, oh, the minister appointed by the imperial court, he let all Shanxi merchants evacuate from Kulun, leaving no one behind. Now the trade route is also broken. Not to mention that the food and cotton are far away, and even the tea is out of stock. I waited for the monks to get used to the hard work, but it was nothing. Pity the tens of thousands of people in the city. Alas!"

The corner of Liu Sheng's mouth twitched slightly, and he said to himself, just pretend!As for you upper-level lamas, your life is comparable to that of prince Taiji, and no one will starve you if you are hungry.

You must know that only in the territory of the Tuxietu Khan tribe, the nomadic land with the best aquatic plants belongs to Jebtsundamba Hutuktu.In the Khuvsgul Lake area of ​​the Tangnu Ulianghai area, Jebtsundamba even designated more than 27 square kilometers of grassland as his own.As for the surrounding Qingning Temple in the north, there are 10,000+ square kilometers of pastures.

The herdsmen who graze these top lamas and monks are called "black gangsters". All the natural reproduction of the grazing animals and most of the livestock products belong to Hutuktu, the Living Buddha or the great lamas of the temple, and the black gangsters can only rely on It is very difficult to make a living from the milk and fluff of livestock.In addition, the worship income from various classes in Khalkha Mongolia accounted for a large part of the monastery's income.From princes and nobles to ordinary herdsmen, a large amount of livestock, people, food, land and gold and silver treasures flow into the pockets of great lamas every year.

Temples covered with gold and silver were erected one after another, but the upper lamas were still not satisfied. They also controlled the salt road, and even used silver and tea bricks to lend usury privately.Living such a life of rich clothes and fine food, you still have the nerve to say that there is not enough food?
However, Zhang Qibuerduoji's calculations were obviously wrong. The most important thing Beihai Town lacks right now is food;Worst of all, there is Zhao Xin, right?

Fan Tong frowned on purpose, and then put on an indifferent expression and said: "It's okay for Shanxi merchants to leave. With our Beihai Navy here, the business will still be open. Food, tea bricks, pots and pans, and even stitches, what do you want? What is there? The herdsmen have nothing to eat, so we give porridge!"

Zhang Qibuerduoji smiled, put his palms together and praised: "The two generals are truly bodhisattva-hearted! If so, the poor monk thanked the tens of thousands of people in the city!"

At dusk, when the two great lamas in charge of Kulun City, Dornier Lama Dhamcha Labuja and Lob Sundarja, listened to Zhang Qibuldoji’s reply, the former smiled, while the latter remained silent. language.

At this time, a lama said sarcastically: "What do you want? Haha, what a big tone! I don't believe that they can be more powerful than Shanxi merchants?"

"That's right! The tea roads are all broken right now, so I don't believe how many tea bricks they have! Where is Kulun City, I dare say that even if there are tens of thousands of boxes, it's just a splash!"

"Be careful! Everyone, the Beihai Navy is like a wolf and a tiger. If you really annoy them, it may lead to disaster!"

"Catastrophe? Didn't their previous 'Ten Agreements' say that they should protect the temple and serve as usual? I don't believe it. They dare to go against their own words! The Great Living Buddha only needs to say a word at that time, and there are many means."

"What's the hurry, the imperial court will definitely send troops to encircle and suppress, we just need to sit on Mount Tai and wait for the good show."

A group of monks of the upper classes were chattering, and the more they talked, the louder they were, the chaotic Buddhist hall was almost turned into a vegetable market.Lama Dornier Dam Tsarabuja picked up the sandalwood stick on the table and knocked on the copper bowl.

"Om~~~~~~"

Only then did everyone stop, looked at the big lama, and waited for the other party to make a statement.

Damucha Labujia coughed a few times, and said in a deep voice: "Kulun City is a holy place, so please don't mess around here. Go and inform the Gesigui Lamas everywhere that from tomorrow onwards, all monks should not go out and just wait and see. Change."

In the early morning of July 7, it began to rain lightly in the sky.At 23 o'clock in the morning, under the guidance of a Northern Navy flag, 8 and 1000 fully armed Northern Navy cavalry divided into several groups and walked into Kulun City along the narrow streets.

As I said before, Kulun City is said to be a city, but it is actually a large residential area on the river bank, and it is divided by fence walls made of wooden planks everywhere.The streets between the gate walls were narrow enough for only four horses.On the potholed streets, there was no pedestrian except for the occasional prayer wheel.Those wooden fence walls that have been blown by rain and wind have turned gray-brown, and the local herdsmen are hiding in the dirty yurts inside the fence walls, looking out for movement outside through the cracks.

According to the guidance of the guide, the cavalry of the two companies entered the city of Kulun, where the Manchu government office was located, and the trading city where there were many merchants. As for the monastery, Kulun, the gates were closed.In the empty field in front of the gate of Danba Darji Temple, several old herdsmen muttered something and kowtowed to the gate of the monastery.Even the intensive sound of horseshoes behind them could not interrupt their piety.

At 9 o'clock in the morning, Liu Sheng and Fan Tong who came from Kuytai, under the escort of a group of cavalry, rode their horses to the front of the government office of the minister in charge of Kulun.The two walked into the courtyard where the signing room was located, looking around at the colorful buildings around, even Liu Sheng couldn't help feeling nostalgic and brooding.

Fan Tong murmured: "I can't lose anything this time."

At the same time, Zhao Xin, who had disappeared for seven or eight days, quietly returned to Beihai Town.

As soon as he came back, he went to the hospital to find Liu Siting, and told him about Lao You's situation.Only then did Director Liu feel relieved, and then he told Zhao Xin about Dr. Hong.

"I said, when do you plan to let him come back from our family? Yaya yells and misses her father every day. If this continues, I might as well take the child to the south."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xin hurriedly said: "Don't tell me! Your doctor Hong is now famous all over Southeast Asia, and he is called 'Bian Que reborn'."

"Zhao Xin, I heard that the king of Annan sent a lot of beauties to the three of them in order to thank Deng Fei and the others for helping him restore the country!"

Zhao Xin blinked, and said with a confused face: "Huh? There's another matter? Why don't I know! I'll send a telegram tomorrow to ask."

"Hey~~ Playing stupid with me, aren't you?" Liu Siting looked resentful. She and Hong Tao had been separated for more than half a year, and she was really afraid that the other party would bring someone back one day, and the day would be difficult.

Seeing that Liu Siting was really angry, Zhao Xin hurriedly said: "Don't worry, don't worry, I will send a telegram tomorrow to inquire about the situation. If there is nothing wrong, I will bring Doctor Hong back in a few days."

"That's what you said!"

Under Director Liu's gaze like a knife cutting flesh, Zhao Xin left the hospital with his butt dripping. When he walked to the door of his house saying hello, A Miao, who had heard that he had come back, was waiting for him at the door.I haven't seen her for a while, but Ah Miao seems to have grown taller again, and her head can already touch Zhao Xin's chin.

"Yo? Braided?"

"Does it look good?" A Miao turned around in front of Zhao Xin, smiling like a flower.Immediately, the irritability he had accumulated due to running back and forth these days was swept away.

"nice."

"Is it done?"

"It's done."

"Miss Wang has been here before, and I have dealt with it."

The two spoke tacitly, knowing what the other meant.

The subsequent procedures are as usual, coaxing the wife, coaxing A Miao, coaxing the son, handling official business, talking to someone, and petting the cat by the way.Over the past year, Zhao Xin basically came back every two weeks.After the family had dinner, Shen Xuan handed her son over to A Miao, and said unusually that she wanted to discuss something with Zhao Xin.So when A Miao went to another room with Momo in her arms, the husband and wife had the following conversation.

"I said, what are your plans for those few?"

"Which ones?"

"Stop pretending, do you want me to count for you? A Miao, that Miss Wang, Tang"

"Why are you talking about this?"

"After all these years, I've figured it out too. If someone guards you like a jade, you have to give me an explanation."

In fact, Shen Xuan had to think for a long time before mustering up the courage to say this today.Shen Jingdan and Wu Shi have talked to her several times about this matter, mainly considering Zhao Xin's son.For the ancients, with Zhao Xin's status, a child would not do it at all. It is the kingly way to have a dozen or twenty dozen children.

After all these years of marriage, the couple finally sat down to face this issue.

"That's it, the key is that the law against taking concubines is made by me."

"You are different from others. And you are the only one in your Zhao family in your generation, so you have to spread your branches and leaves."

Although Shen Xuan made up her mind, she was still a little uncomfortable sharing her man with other women.So she added: "I have one condition,"

"Tell me." Zhao Xin put his arms around his wife's slender waist, feeling guilty for a while.

"Except for A Miao, no one else can live with me. Beihai Town is so big, if you arrange them to go elsewhere, I won't be out of sight, out of mind."

Zhao Xin nodded after listening, so the conversation stopped here.After Shen Xuan finished speaking, she snuggled up to her husband and remained silent for a long time, her eyes sparkling.

Seeing this, Zhao Xin whispered a few words in his wife's ear, which made Shen Xuan's face turn red, and finally gave a chuckle, turned to look at Zhao Xin and said softly, "You."

Afterwards, a long separation is better than a newly-married couple, so the affairs of the boudoir are justified.

(End of this chapter)