Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 878 Master Yunyue
Fan Changcai said: "Your official came to see Mrs. Xiang today mainly to report this matter. According to the analysis of various information collected by our spies, it is basically confirmed that Xiangfu Kingdom will send troops to the Hexi Corridor in the near future."

Zhao Pu nodded and said: "The Hexi Corridor has been fighting for many years, and anyone who can occupy a state for many years is a powerful man with tens of thousands of elite soldiers. You send people to the Hexi Corridor, before the Xiangfu Kingdom sends troops, take Xiang If the news that Fu Kingdom intends to seize the Hexi Corridor by force spreads, those overlords in the Hexi Corridor will naturally prepare early, and it will not be so easy for Xiangfu Kingdom to take down the Hexi Corridor."

Fan Changcai said, "Your official understands."

Zhao Pu said, "What else has Xiangfu Kingdom done recently?"

Fan Changcai said: "Reporting to Mr. Xiangfu, Xiangfu Kingdom has done two major things recently. One is that Xiangfu Kingdom has carried out military reforms. The army has stipulated a military honor system, established a military academy for training officers, and newly established the Tianwei Army and the Volunteer Army. In addition, a month ago, the major armies of the Xiangfu Kingdom suddenly sent troops to wipe out dozens of foreign tribes in its territory, and forcibly converted hundreds of thousands of foreign tribes into their lands."

Zhao Pu said with emotion: "I remember that this is the third military reform in Xiangfu Kingdom. You should inquire about the contents of the three reforms in detail as much as possible, and send them back to the Privy Council, so that they can also study it to see if there is anything we can learn from it." place. Among other things, their military academy is very good in my opinion."

Fan Changcai respectfully said yes.Zhao Pu added: "I remember that most of the alien tribes in the Hengshan Mountain of Xiangfu Kingdom were Tubo and Qiang. Ye Chen forcibly reformed them and brought them back. Longxi, Longnan, Xiningzhou, Liangzhou, etc. What is the reaction of the big clan, the An clan, and the Yan clan?"

Sweat appeared on Fan Changcai's forehead immediately, and he said, "This subordinate has neglected his duties, and the news has not been inquired yet."

Zhao Pu frowned. It's not that he didn't know that Fan Changcai was well-regulated and lacked in ability. He was not the best candidate for the intelligence officer of the Song Weifu. However, there is an example of Ye Chen, which is of course due to the fact that Ye Chen's ability is too strong. But he also knows how important a spy and killer organization like Song Weifu is. Once it becomes a privileged organization controlled by someone, it can turn the clouds upside down, and even play with the emperor and prime minister on his head. In the palm of your hand.Therefore, it is necessary to give full play to its role, and at the same time try to avoid that in the process of development, it gradually becomes the personal tool of a powerful person in Song Weifu.After comprehensive weighing, Zhao Pu chose Fan Changcai.

Zhao Pu sighed inwardly, looked at Fan Changcai and said: "Use your brain more when you do things, and inquire about the news of Xiangfu Kingdom, not all of them are concentrated in Xiangfu Kingdom, and the various forces around Xiangfu Kingdom can produce more than [-] troops. Always keep an eye on their movements.”

Fan Changcai said with a face of shame: "The next official will keep in mind the teachings of my husband, and make arrangements after I go down."

Zhao Pu said: "Actually, based on the habits of the Tubo people, it is not difficult to deduce this matter. At least their hostility towards Xiangfu Kingdom will definitely intensify. Send competent personnel to always pay attention to the movements of Xiangfu Kingdom and Tubo people, and report to me in time. .Okay, let's go down and do things!"

Fan Changcai took his leave respectfully, and after Zhao Pu pondered for a while, he said, "Come and prepare the chariots and horses, and go to the Cao Mansion."

...

...

When Zhao Pu came to Cao Bin's residence, Cao Bin, who had received the news in advance, welcomed him into the living room in person.After the fruits and refreshments were served, Cao Bin retreated to the left and right.Zhao Pu first told the news that Xiangfu Kingdom wanted to send troops to the Hexi Corridor, and after Cao Bin digested the news with a frown, he said: "Xiangfu Kingdom forcibly reformed the small tribes in the territory of Tubo, and it will definitely make Longxi and Longnan Most of the Tubo tribes around Xiangfu Kingdom are hostile to Xiangfu Kingdom. Now if Xiangfu Kingdom sends troops to the Hexi Corridor again, these Tubo tribes will be afraid, worrying that they will become the second Hexi Corridor. Or even if they don’t With this idea, we also need to send people to lobby them to convince them that after Xiangfu Kingdom takes down the Hexi Corridor, their next target will be them."

Cao Bin said: "Mr. Zhao means to use these Tubo people to deal with Xiangfu Kingdom."

Zhao Pu nodded and said: "That's right, Ye Chen once said in the Song Dynasty that 'the enemy of the enemy is an ally', which I deeply agree with. Therefore, I think we should secretly support Shangboqian of Tubo The Tubo tribe, the Dashi tribe, the Xiaoshi tribe, the An family, and the Yan family tribes, and when Xiangfu Kingdom attacked the Hexi Corridor, they encouraged them to attack Lanzhou. The strength of most of the Tubo tribes should not be underestimated, and each tribe has a total of [-] troops. Yes. When Xiangfu Kingdom is attacking the Western Regions, its military strength will inevitably be tight. If there is another stalemate in the war and the Tubo people win the battle, the Empress Dowager Xiao of the Liao Kingdom may not take the opportunity to send troops to avenge her revenge. At that time, there may not be no chance to wipe out in one fell swoop. Xiangfu country."

After Cao Bin thought for a while, he nodded and said, "Yes, what Xianggong said is very reasonable. Let's go to the palace immediately and report this matter to His Majesty. Come on and make a decision on this matter, and start implementing it!"

Zhao Pu smiled slightly, shook his head, and said: "Your Majesty is now afraid of Ye Chen like a tiger, and he has become ill. Otherwise, the last time the Liao Kingdom and Xiangfu Kingdom fought, Xiangfu Kingdom was in a critical situation. At that time, we strongly advocated sending troops, but Your Majesty would Hesitate again and again, not daring to provoke Xiangfu Kingdom. Therefore, His Majesty will definitely not agree to this policy, and instead obstruct it, making this difficult."

Cao Bin looked deeply at Zhao Pu, and the latter looked at him calmly. After an unknown amount of time, Cao Bin said in a deep voice, "I know that His Majesty will not be able to take on such a great responsibility, but after all, he is the only blood of the late Emperor. I, Cao Bin, have been greatly favored by Your Majesty. As a minister, I don’t want to see someone usurping the throne. In ancient times, there were Wang Mang and Cao Cao who usurped the throne to replace the Han Dynasty, and there were Zhou Gong who made rituals and fun. I don’t know if my husband wants to be Zhou Duke, or Wang Mang and Cao Cao?”

Zhao Pu's expression remained unchanged, and he said solemnly: "I can assure you that I will never be that Wang Mang and Cao Cao."

Cao Bin calmed down a little, and said, "Since that's the case, let's follow my husband's wishes! Afterwards, you and I will report this matter to His Majesty."

...

...

"I've heard for a long time that your majesty values ​​practical work and merit in employing people. I haven't made any achievements so far. Please don't give me any post for the time being. After I help your majesty take back the ancient golden road in the Hexi Corridor, it won't be too late to be a court official." In the government affairs hall, Duanmu Zhongren said to Ye Chen on the throne.On the opposite seat, Bai Canghai drank wine by himself.

Ye Chen nodded and said, "Alright, when will Mr. Duanmu leave?"

Duanmu Zhongren said solemnly: "The old man will leave tomorrow."

Ye Chen said with a smile: "I have found an eminent monk, and I will go to the Western Regions with Mr. Duanmu in two ways. Mr. Duanmu might as well meet this eminent monk first."

Duanmu Zhongren was stunned for a moment, feeling a little puzzled in his heart, because he hadn't heard of any high-ranking monks in Xiangfu Kingdom that could be obtained, and in just a few days, it was too late to find suitable monks in other places.As he was thinking like this, Ye Chen clapped his hands, and a monk with a fair face, a slender figure, wearing a gold-rimmed jade cassock, about 40 years old, with a dignified and sacred expression, walked in from the side door.

"Amitabha! Poor monk named Yunyue, I have met Your Majesty, Bai Benefactor and Duanmu Benefactor." The monk came to the hall, raised his hands, sang the Buddha's name, and saluted the three of them one by one.

Ye Chen looked at the monk and smiled slightly, but Bai Canghai shook his head emotionally and said nothing. Duanmu Zhongren saw the solemn and dignified appearance of this monk, Fan Chuan, who was an accomplished monk, dared not neglect him, and returned a salute.

Ye Chen said: "Mr. Duanmu has lived in Guazhou, a place where Buddhism flourishes for a long time, so why not exchange Buddhism with Master Yunyue."

Next, Duanmu Zhongren and Master Yunyue began to exchange Buddhism on the spot. Mr. Duanmu was soon overwhelmed by the superb Buddhist attainments of this Master Yunyue who appeared from nowhere. After being overjoyed and surprised, he said: "Old man I know a thing or two about the famous Buddhist monks in the world, please forgive my ignorance, but I have never heard of the name Yunyue. I don’t know where the Buddhist temple Master Yunyue came from.”

Master Yunyue smiled lightly, with a convincing inexplicable sacredness in his expression, and said inscrutablely: "After all the states along the golden ancient road in the Hexi Corridor become your majesty's lands, Mr. Duanmu will know about the poor monk origin."

What else did Duanmu Zhongren want to say, Ye Chen said: "These days I have translated and printed a large number of scriptures in Xiangfu Kingdom, and the reputation of respecting Buddhism has gradually spread. Now there is another master like Yunyue who is proficient in Buddhist teachings." The eminent monk went to the Hexi Corridor to preach. From what Mr. Duanmu saw, can Master Yunyue’s reputation spread far and wide in the Hexi Corridor, can he pull all the living Buddhas in the Hexi Corridor to my side, and after conquering the Western Regions, he will issue an order, Can I get the help of these living Buddhas and temple masters in implementing governance?"

Duanmu Zhongren said from the bottom of his heart: "As far as I can see, among the eminent monks and living Buddhas in many famous temples in the Western Regions, there is almost no one who can surpass Master Yunyue in terms of Buddhist teachings. Therefore, this old man thinks that Master Yunyue should be able to do the job." This matter."

Ye Chen said happily: "That's good."

Master Yunyue said: "I would like to trouble Mr. Duanmu to tell the poor monk more about Buddhism in the Western Regions."

Duanmu Zhongren said politely: "Master Yunyue, you are too polite. If the old man knows something, he will not keep it private."

Ye Chen said to Bai Canghai: "Choose a hundred experts from the special brigade, dress up in various identities, and follow Mr. Duanmu to Guazhou tomorrow to protect Mr. Duanmu's safety."

Bai Canghai nodded and said, "Your Majesty, how about asking Zhong Sanhe to lead the team?"

Ye Chen hesitated for a moment, and said, "Zhong Sanhe! Yes, let him be!"

Duanmu Zhongren felt a little uncomfortable, because in his opinion, Zhong Sanhe and his party intended to protect him, but they probably also intended to monitor him.

(End of this chapter)