The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 357: The World as a Chess Game (Part )

Although the bamboo forest of Gaya Monastery is not as large as the one in Zangbing Valley that spreads across the mountains, it is extremely beautifully maintained. Planted and arranged by monks themselves, it has a very Zen feeling. It is very quiet when walking in it, and one can't help but feel at peace here.

But Shi Yao could not feel at ease. She walked behind Yuan Tiangang with her hands on her stomach. She wanted to say something several times but stopped herself and fell silent. She looked up at the commander-in-chief, but found that he was walking on the path in the bamboo forest. It seemed that he was just looking ahead without any attitude of appreciating the scenery.

"The tiger in the tomb is terrifying..."

After a long time, this laughter rang in Yuan Tiangang's ears.

Then, an illusory white-haired figure appeared beside Yuan Tiangang, twisting the ends of his hair and walking with him. He said with a smile, "The young are to be feared. Who knows if the future ones will not be as good as we are now? If someone is still unknown at the age of forty or fifty, then he is not to be feared."

Li Chunfeng looked rather frivolous, and said with a sigh, "Brother Yuan, could you have predicted your opponent three hundred years later, three hundred years ago?"

As he spoke, he patted Yuan Tiangang on the shoulder and said with a smile: "You have been playing chess for three hundred years. After the reign of Emperor Taizong, you have always looked down on the younger heroes. Do you understand today that the river is surging and the waves behind push the waves ahead?"

Yuan Tiangang remained silent, just put his hands behind his back and walked up the steps to the wooden pavilion on the top of the mountain at a leisurely pace.

But Shi Yao, who was following behind him, could clearly sense that the Marshal seemed to be stunned for a moment just now, but it seemed to be just an illusion.

The three of them climbed to the top together and stepped into the wooden pavilion. The mountain behind the Gaya Temple cannot be called majestic. Looking from afar, one cannot even see the city of Taiyuan in the north. But leaning on the railing to the south, one can vaguely see the Fen River like a jade belt, dividing the Three Jins in Hedong into two halves.

On the bank of the Fen River, there are ripples of water, one wave after another. The waves in front are constantly disappearing, but you can hear the endless growth of the waves behind.

"The upper six, dragons fight in the wild, and their blood is dark yellow." Li Chunfeng walked to the railing, stretched lazily towards the south, and then picked up a few peach blossoms out of thin air. He spread them out casually, and the peach blossoms seemed to float away irregularly.

He pointed at the hexagram formed by the arrangement and said with a smile: "Now it seems that I won the hexagram between you and me last year. Although Shujiu is a minister, he has power over the world. As the saying goes, a gentleman should be between the wooden geese, and there will be changes like dragons and snakes. If it weren't for Brother Yuan's pressure, Shujiu might have to wait between the wooden geese for three to five years...

It's just a pity that Brother Yuan wanted to start a war between Jin and Liang, destroy the Central Plains, and let Shi Ju ascend to the throne, but he forced Shi Ju to make a dragon and snake change ahead of time. This timing was really exquisite and decisive, hasty but meticulous, and it was really similar to Sima Yi in the past. "

After he finished speaking, he seemed to pause for a moment to observe Yuan Tiangang, and then he smiled and said, "Brother Yuan, Brother Yuan, now I am the head of the ministers, where is your Majesty?"

Yuan Tiangang said indifferently: "Power over the world? It's too early to say."

Li Chunfeng smiled and counted on his fingers, saying, "Central Plains, Hebei, Qidi, grassland... Hey, what Brother Yuan said makes sense. If I really don't have power over the world, then I'd better have power over half of the world. Oh, I have to give the little guy some time. I have to eat the world one bite at a time, right? If I have a big appetite and can't digest it well, I will get a stomachache."

Hearing the words "Brother Yuan is right", even Yuan Tiangang couldn't help but twitch his lips.

Even if Li Chunfeng has been dead for two hundred years, even if he only lives in his mind, his talking skills are still as amazing as ever.

"Half the world?" Yuan Tiangang sneered, "That also requires my consent."

Li Chunfeng helplessly spread his hands, held his forehead and said: "Yuan Tiangang, you are really hopeless. I just told you so much, but you just pretended you didn't hear it, right?"

He walked over, grabbed Yuan Tiangang's shoulders tightly, and shook him back and forth violently.

"Yuan Tiangang, can you please wake up?

In this world, in this world, it is impossible that your method is the only right one! Yes, yes! I admit that it was with your guidance that the Xuanzong Dynasty prospered, even comparable to the Zhenguan Reign! But it has been nearly two hundred years since the Xuanzong Dynasty! "

He cursed loudly, "Two hundred years! Two hundred years! Two hundred years ago, you failed to save the old Emperor Xuanzong. How many emperors did you save after that? How many times did your way of governing the country succeed after Emperor Xuanzong's reign? You said Emperor Xuanzong was old and senile, but I think you, an old man, have been senile for a long time! Why can't you hand over this world to future generations themselves?"

"Your governance, your tyranny, and your ideals were not enough to support Emperor Xuanzong in his old age, and they are still not enough to support the king you chose! The word 'world' is not something you can write with just a few strokes!"

Li Chunfeng roared out these words in one breath, his handsome face became a little ferocious, his eyes were filled with anger, but behind the anger was endless regret, disappointment, and an undisguised pleading.

That pleading seemed to be telling Yuan Tiangang, his old friend, what he hadn’t said: “Stop, you really can stop.”

Yuan Tiangang stood still for a long time, facing Li Chunfeng's gaze, and pushed his hand away without hesitation or emotion.

"I have let go before."

Yuan Tiangang stood with his hands behind his back and said indifferently, "In the late years of Emperor Wu, Emperor Xuan, Emperor Xian, Emperor Wu, Emperor Xuan... After Zhenguan, these so-called renaissances, without me, how many of them could have lasted long? I don't trust them."

Li Chunfeng laughed: "Without you to lead the way, there will be no prosperity in this world? Without you, there will be no real hero in the next thousand years?"

Yuan Tiangang did not respond, but just stood with his hands behind his back and looked into the distance.

He had witnessed too many so-called heroic rulers. He had witnessed how wise and brave Emperor Xuanzong was in his early years and how he closely followed Emperor Taizong. He had seen too many of them, but without exception, these people would only push the dynasty into the abyss.

He doesn't trust anyone. He only trusts himself and the plum flower that he has chosen.

Looking at Yuan Tiangang's appearance, Li Chunfeng finally laughed in frustration, and then just pointed at Yuan Tiangang's nose, and his figure gradually disappeared.

"No wonder Shujiu asked that question—"

"He fought for the world to bring peace and order to the world. And you, Yuan Tiangang, what exactly are you fighting for?"

"This article is really a good one to criticize Yuan Shikai!"

Li Chunfeng's disappointed and angry words rang in his ears, but Yuan Tiangang remained calm, as if he was not touched at all.

"..." Shi Yao stood at the entrance of the wooden pavilion with some uneasiness. She clearly noticed that the Marshal's breath had fluctuated several times just now, but she did not dare to ask.

After Xiao Yan let her go, she hesitated whether to tell Yuan Tiangang what Xiao Yan had said, but as a subordinate, she had the responsibility to do so. She thought that concealing any information might affect Yuan Tiangang's judgment, so in the end, she could only say everything without reservation.

But Yuan Tiangang remained silent from beginning to end.

So Shi Yao now can't tell whether her greater sin is that she lost the Xuanming Sect, or that she told Yuan Tiangang what Xiao Yan said.

Finally, Shi Yao bowed behind him and said, "General, I failed in my duty and failed to detect the intention of the Dark Star in time, which caused the 30-year plan of the Central Plains to go to waste. I know that I deserve the death penalty, and I ask the General to execute me."

"Dark Sky Star..." Yuan Tiangang finally spoke, saying indifferently: "Since Xiao Yan has already created the so-called Night is not collected, where does the Dark Sky Star come from in this world?"

Shi Yao remained silent.

"Stand up. Even I am attracted by the actions of Qiguo and Mobei, let alone you. Thirty years of planning..." Yuan Tiangang snorted emotionlessly: "What I have the most is time. You have worked hard for the past thirty years." Shi Yao felt even more ashamed. She really wished Yuan Tiangang would sentence her to death, but she also knew that the Marshal was in need of people at that time. Even if she was to die, she should let the Marshal make use of his talents before dying.

So she just sighed and said, "Then... Xiao Yan forced Zhu Wen to abdicate and usurped the power of Daliang. Although Daliang is still not stable, I think Xiao Yan is now deeply rooted. He also said those words to me. I am afraid he has far-reaching plans. I wonder how the Marshal will respond? I am guilty and I only hope to die for you."

Unexpectedly, Yuan Tiangang turned his back to her and asked, "In your opinion, how should I respond?"

"I am stupid and dare not guess what the commander is thinking."

Yuan Tiangang said indifferently: "One Meng Po who revived the Xuanming Sect is stronger than ten Shi Yaos who hibernated in the Hidden Soldiers Valley. Do you understand what I mean?"

Shi Yao was startled, and then said carefully: "But the Xuanming Sect is out of my control, and Xiao Yan is cleaning up the bad people in the Xuanming Sect. I am afraid I will not have the opportunity to return to the Xuanming Sect..."

"Who said there is none?" Yuan Tiangang smiled coldly: "Xiao Yan wants to use Xuanming Sect for his own benefit, but he is afraid that I will plant people in it, so he has only one way to go, which is to kill people. If Xuanming Sect is a mess, of course Xiao Yan can slaughter them at will. But if there is a Meng Po who borrows the name of the Dark Emperor to rally people's hearts..."

Shi Yao hesitated for a moment, then said carefully: "But if this is the case, those bad people who didn't have time to withdraw from Xuanming Sect will be killed by Xiao Yan..."

Yuan Tiangang didn't even turn his head, nor did he answer.

Shi Yao was silent for a moment, then folded her arms and saluted: "I understand, but everyone knows that Zhong Xiaokui used the identity of Meng Po to lead the Xuanming Sect to surrender to Xiao Yan. If I use the identity of Meng Po again, I am afraid it will be difficult to convince the remaining forces of the Xuanming Sect."

"Xiao Yan's trick will be exposed sooner or later. No one in the world can hide it from him." Yuan Tiangang said calmly: "The Xuanming Sect does not want Meng Po, but Meng Po's name who can replace the Dark Emperor and lead them to fight against Ye Bushou."

Shi Yao nodded in understanding, then hesitated for a moment and asked again: "I will obey the orders of the Marshal even if I die, and I will return to the Central Plains immediately. However, Xuanming Sect is only a Jianghu force after all. Now Xiao Yan controls the Daliang court. In Daliang, Xuanming Sect is no longer worthy of its name, and now it has become a pile of loose sand. The use it can play is really limited. If you want to use Xuanming Sect to control Xiao Yan, it will be difficult. And the world's situation will be decided by the court after all..."

She said: "Now, Mobei and Qi have actually turned to Xiao Yan. I know that the commander-in-chief is using Shu to balance Qi. However, if the grassland is not restricted, it will continuously provide horses to Xiao Yan. The Central Plains is short of cavalry, so this will make up for the shortcoming. In the long run, I am worried that relying only on the Three Jins, I may not be able to defeat Xiao Yan, who owns the Central Plains, Hebei, and the grassland..."

As she spoke, she hurriedly added, "It's not that I don't believe in the Marshal's ability, but when Xiao Yan told me that day that he declared war on the Marshal, he was quite confident, and I really..."

Yuan Tiangang said without even turning his head, "On the grassland, no one can hold it except Emperor Taizong back then. The tighter Xiao Yan holds on now, the deeper the thorn will pierce him."

Shi Yao was shocked and said, "The Queen Mother of Mobei would not dare to abandon Xiao Yan..."

"As long as it is beneficial, people will have the courage." Yuan Tiangang said indifferently, "The word 'human heart' is just a hook made of interests."

Shi Yao pondered for a moment, then bowed and said, "I admire your mastery of this art, Marshal."

Yuan Tiangang did not respond, but said: "You can go down and prepare. I want to meet a guest here."

Shi Yao bowed and retreated, but just as she stepped down the wooden steps, she suddenly hesitated and bowed.

"General, there is something I don't understand. I would like to ask you to enlighten me."

"speak."

"Xiao Yan said that peace comes first and then prosperity. I have a narrow vision and do not understand the deep meaning of it. I wonder what the Marshal thinks?"

Yuan Tiangang replied: "That is true, but the one who created peace may not necessarily be able to rule the world, let alone be the ruler of a prosperous era."

Shi Yao hesitated for a moment, then continued, "I am afraid that even if Xiao Yan is defeated by His Highness Li Xingyun, the world will not be at peace..."

Yuan Tiangang suddenly turned around and stared at Shi Yao from afar.

Shi Yao smiled and said, "Of course, with the Marshal's assistance, His Highness Li Xingyun will surely be the ruler of a peaceful and prosperous era."

"That's not something you should worry about."

"Subordinates retire."

Shi Yao finally bowed and left towards the foot of the mountain. She was silent. When she left the bamboo forest path, she looked back at the top of the mountain, but she could no longer see the square wooden pavilion.

She sighed, and said those last words with all her courage.

Since leaving Bian Jing, she has been making arrangements for the bad guys who were dismissed by the Xuanming Sect. At the same time, she inevitably received information about Bian Jing. Naturally, she had heard about all of Xiao Yan's policies.

It seems that there was nothing wrong with Xiao Yan overthrowing Daliang and governing the people.

But what does this have to do with her? She has already failed once, and she cannot fail a second time.

As the Marshal said, these are not her concerns.

Before leaving, she saw a middle-aged man wearing a bamboo hat and ordinary linen clothes walking towards the back mountain. She knew that this was the guest Yuan Tiangang wanted to meet, but he did not show up. She just looked at him from a distance. She wanted to leave directly, but she saw the man tearing off the skin on his face at the foot of the mountain, revealing a very familiar face.

Li Siyuan?
Shi Yao frowned, not knowing how the Saint Master of Tongwenguan could become the Marshal's guest, but she could only leave with this thought in mind. The Xuanming Sect was falling apart, and she didn't know how many old members of the branch sects she could win over in the name of Meng Po.

------

Li Siyuan climbed to the top of the mountain, but did not go directly into the wooden pavilion. Instead, he straightened his clothes first and then bowed in a very elegant manner.

"Li Siyuan from Tongwenguan, here to see the Marshal."

"I heard that you were ambushed and killed by people from Mobei?" Yuan Tiangang looked over with his hands behind his back and asked, "What's the situation?"

"It's just a minor injury, not a serious one." Li Siyuan stroked his beard and laughed, "I will avenge this sooner or later... I wonder if the Marshal summoned me here for that matter?"

"There is no rush to help you get to the top."

Yuan Tiangang said calmly: "There is another important matter that needs your attention right now."

Li Siyuan felt sorry for a moment, but he was not anxious. He just smiled warmly and said, "Just follow the commander's orders. I will definitely go through fire and water to fulfill them."

Yuan Tiangang looked at him and said calmly, "Go to Mobei in person and give my regards to the Mobei Queen Mother on my behalf."

(End of this chapter)