Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 89: Heaven Sees and Earth Hears
Just as Lu Shang and others were discussing how to persuade the remaining Hephthalites to make good use of this special force to severely damage or even behead them.

In an unknown place, two old men were playing chess in a bamboo forest, and the bamboo leaves were rustling.

An old man in a plain robe, slightly hunched over, with a long face and a big forehead, picked up a black piece and casually placed it on a corner of the chessboard. An old man in a dark robe, with a slender face and a heavy back, frowned slightly, stroked his long beard, stared at the chessboard for a long time, and then slowly placed the white piece.

After making his move, the old man holding the white pieces suddenly laughed and said, "Listen, someone is discussing your family affairs!"

The slightly hunched old man listened attentively and sighed, "Everything in this world is a family matter. Let them discuss it."

The old man, with a sallow face and a heavy back, smiled and shook his head, asking, "Old Master, did your father, Kong Ji, really practice witchcraft? I remember you hated witchcraft and kept your distance from ghosts and gods. I didn't expect your father would leave behind a witchcraft artifact."

The hunchbacked old man heard this with a calm expression. He stared at the chessboard and said slowly, "My father had his reasons for doing what he did."

After saying that, he placed another piece slowly. When he looked up, he saw the old man with a sallow face and a heavy back, looking at him curiously.

The hunchbacked old man thought for a moment and said, "That one-legged bronze figure is indeed my father's relic."

"My elder brother, Mengpi, was born with a foot disease and was unable to inherit the family line. This troubled my father greatly, and he sought many solutions, ultimately even resorting to the shamanic methods passed down by our ancestors. That one-legged bronze spear was cast during that time."

"They say my father became a powerful warrior during the Spring and Autumn Period because of his practice of witchcraft. That's completely wrong. My father was born with supernatural strength, a natural gift. To him, witchcraft was just an attempt to cure my brother's foot disease."

"Unfortunately, my brother's foot disease was never cured. My father, in order to continue the family line, married my mother, Yan Zhengzai, at the age of sixty-six. I was born when he was seventy-one. Because of the huge age difference between my father and my mother, Sima Qian said it was a child born out of wedlock."

"That guy Sima Qian is so annoying!" Although many years have passed, the hunchbacked old man still feels a little embarrassed and annoyed when he thinks of the passage in "Records of the Grand Historian: The Family of Confucius" that says "He had a wild affair with a woman from the Yan family and gave birth to Confucius."

The old man with a pale face said nonchalantly, "Master, please don't be upset. The pen of history is as sharp as a knife. When has the pen of a historian ever spared anyone? He also said that my doctrine was pedantic and impractical, but didn't I just let it go?"

At this time, a gentle breeze blew through the bamboo forest, and the leaves in the bamboo forest rustled and fell. The old man with a sallow face looked at the falling leaves and said with emotion: "The world is about to change again. I don't know when we can see the world of great harmony that we all hope for."

"Old Master, the world today is no longer what you and I saw back then. But the good and evil, the beauty and ugliness of people's hearts, it seems that not much has changed."

"Shakyamuni said that the people of Jambudvīpa were greedy, lustful, and happy to cause trouble. He wanted to preach the sutras and save all living beings. Do you think his Mahāyāna Buddhism can really live up to his wish and persuade people to do good? Although I often say that human nature is good, there are still too many non-human beings in this world."

"These non-humans will not listen to the Buddha's teachings."

Everyone knows that Mencius once said that human nature is good at birth, but few people know that Mencius also said that those who have no compassion are not human beings; those who have no sense of shame and disgust are not human beings; those who have no sense of courtesy and humility are not human beings; those who have no sense of right and wrong are not human beings.

"Look and listen,"

The hunchbacked old man held on to the black piece and made another move.

------

In the camp,

Lu Shang sat cross-legged, listening to the generals' suggestions and weighing the pros and cons.

Finally, he narrowed his eyes, looked at Boluhun, and said, "You just said that the White Xiongnu really want to move to Jishishui, but they are vassals of Datou. Although they want to get involved, they dare not act rashly because of Datou's intimidation."

Boluhun said in a clear voice, "Indeed, the White Huns have long coveted the Jishi River. That area, with its abundant water and grass, is a natural pasture. If the White Huns can claim it, it will greatly enhance their tribe's strength."

Lu Shang asked again, "Where is Ji Shishui?"

Boluhun knew that Lü Shang was moved, so he replied, "South of the Tianshan Mountains and east of the Pamir Mountains."

Lu Shang nodded and said, "So it's in the Tianshan area. Then it's not a loss to use a trick that is not under our control to exchange for the defection of the White Huns." Everyone in the tent nodded. The area south of the Tianshan Mountains was controlled by the Western Turks. Both the Sui Dynasty and the D Turks were out of reach.

It was indeed a good deal to be able to use a trick of water to win over the White Huns to their side.

Especially after they carefully studied the strength of the White Huns, they felt that this deal was a sure win.

Although the White Huns were a vassal of Datou, they were once powerful and still had some foundation.

Lu Shang glanced at everyone in the tent and continued, "Since we've decided to use Ji Shishui to win over the White Xiongnu, who among you is willing to be the lobbyist?"

Just as the generals were silent, Boritechi stood up. He looked calm and saluted and said, "General, Boritechi is willing to go."

Seeing Boritechi stand up, Boluhun said: "General, Boluhun is willing to go too."

Seeing these two Turkic generals volunteer, Lü Shang nodded gently. All the generals in the tent, except for these two, were Sui soldiers. It would be difficult to persuade the White Xiongnu to revolt against Datou with the appearance of a Sui soldier.

He appointed: "Boluhun is rough and uncouth, while Boritichi is steady and prudent. Let Boritichi go!"

"Yes,"

Boritechi responded.

Lu Shang said again: "Boluhun,"

Boluhun immediately said, "Yes,"

Lu Shang said in a deep voice: "Wei Cheng, Shang Silang, Xin Yongfeng,"

"exist!!"

Wei Cheng, Shang Silang and Xin Yongfeng immediately stood up and responded.

Lu Shang said, "Each of you should select 800 cavalrymen and go with me to Jinshan."

Boluhun, Wei Cheng, Shang Silang, and Xin Yongfeng bowed and said, "Yes."

"General, isn't it too risky for you to rush to Jinshan with 3,200 cavalry? Datou has at least 200,000 to 300,000 troops in the Jinshan area."

Military officer Fang Zi'an frowned and said, "Furthermore, Shaboluo Khan has handed over the entire military command of the Yazha to you. He has asked you to hold the golden wolf-head banner and command the Turkic troops, yet you only have 3,200 cavalry."

"It doesn't matter. Quality is more important than quantity."

Lu Shang said calmly, "I will have Boluhun and his men carefully select these 3,200 cavalry from the 50,000 troops in the Yazhang."

"I only want the most capable and powerful 3,200 cavalrymen. I want to use them to give Datou a big surprise."

Lu Shang paused briefly, his sharp gaze sweeping across everyone's faces before he said, "Once these 3,200 elite troops have been assembled, we will march day and night to Jinshan."

"Yes!!"

(End of this chapter)