When Zhao Dun woke up, he found that he was not in the palace, but in a grassland where wild sand was raging. The wild sand flying in the sky proved that this place was no longer the Central Plains.
Zhao Kai said:
"What do you think?"
Zhao Dun looked at this environment that only existed in books and said:
"Beiliang?"
"That's right."
Zhao Kai didn't explain too much, and casually threw him a set of clothes worn by ordinary people. After all, this was Beiliang, and he couldn't be allowed to wear a dragon robe.
After changing into ordinary people's clothes, Zhao Kai took him for a walk around Beiliang.
The three continents of Beiliang have a population of only one million households, with a population of three to four million. The population is not even comparable to that of Xishu, but there are 350,000 troops here.
It can be said that there are not many young and middle-aged people in ordinary households in the entire Beiliang Three Continents. Basically, every household is left with old and weak women and children to support the family. The elderly in their sixties and seventies, down to the children in their teens, all have to make a living for the family.
, coupled with the harsh living environment, the difficulties can be imagined.
Even if there is a man in the family, he is a veteran who was injured and retired on the battlefield. Although life is difficult, his life is considered stable.
The two of them walked through many cities in Beiliang, including Hutou City, Jinji Ridge, and Hulukou. Although Beiliang was bitter, the military discipline was strict.
What the two saw and heard along the way seemed to open a new world to Zhao Dun.
Zhao Kai then took a piece of cake and handed it to Zhao Dun, which was the daily ration for ordinary people in Beiliang. He broke off a piece with difficulty and put it in his mouth to chew carefully. Even though he was hungry, Zhao Dun still found it difficult to swallow.
Normally he wouldn't even look at such food, but seeing that Zhao Kai was eating it with gusto, he didn't dare to throw it away casually.
"This is what ordinary people eat every day. Although it is unpalatable, you know what? Even this most ordinary cake cannot be eaten every day. This is the Beiliang you are afraid of, ordinary people
In our home, we are lucky enough to have three meals of food and clothing. If a war breaks out, we may not be able to guarantee even food and clothing."
After Zhao Dun swallowed the dry food with difficulty, he took a gulp of water and calmed down. To be honest, after being the emperor for so many years, this was the first time he learned about the strange place of Beiliang.
"Over the years, I...no...I have been living in a deep palace. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't have seen such a scene. All along, in the hearts of people in the capital, Beiliang has always been regarded as...
Everyone is on tenterhooks about the fierce beasts, fearing that the Beiliang cavalry will attack Tai'an City.
The three continents of Beiliang have always been outside the jurisdiction of the imperial court. In the eyes of many people, Beiliang is no different from a foreign race. Now it seems that it is not easy for Xu Xiao."
Zhao Kai said coldly:
"Aren't you always afraid that Xu Xiao will rebel? But why do you plot against his family again and again? If he really rebels, you can't defeat him, so why are you still forcing him? Do you think that on your own?
Can you stop Beimang?" Qian Qianqiannu
Zhao Dun said:
"This is the emperor's helplessness. As an emperor, he will never allow his underground ministers to be stronger than him. It doesn't matter whether you rebel or not. What matters is that you have the ability to rebel. That is the biggest fault.
Even if Xu Xiao and his son are truly righteous and loyal, I, the Zhao family, cannot allow Beiliang to have such a powerful and uncontrolled army. If it were not for the existence of Beimang, a serious enemy, Liyang's water transportation to Beiliang would have been cut off long ago.
Already.
I know you have a good relationship with Beiliang, but you have to know that Beiliang is an uncontrollable tiger. Even if he doesn't rebel now, can you guarantee that his descendants won't rebel? That is a hidden danger after all. As an emperor, you can't
Just look at the present and consider the future of the Zhao family."
Throughout the ages, it is difficult for generals with great achievements to end well. This is almost an eternal truth that has lasted for thousands of years in feudalism. It is just that it is foolish to rush to kill before foreign troubles are eliminated.
Zhao Kai smiled and said:
"I can understand what you are doing. Since ancient times, I am afraid that there have been few emperors who can tolerate people like Xu Xiao. But you also don't think about it. An emperor who only knows how to destroy donkeys and cross rivers is still embarrassed.
It’s said that it lasts forever, is it possible that you don’t know what people’s hearts are like?
How many people have you lost over the years without realizing it? Zhao Zhuan has seen this more clearly than you. Look around you, how many people are truly obeying you now?
I have no foundation in the capital. It has only been less than two months since I returned to the capital, but I was able to take you, a ninety-five-year-old person, away in front of everyone in the palace without any effort. Is it possible that they are really afraid of me?
Strength?
Don’t you think about your own reasons? You don’t even know where you went wrong.
Instead of killing the donkey, what you should do more is to gather people's hearts."
Zhao Kai's words made Zhao Dun fall into deep thought. He had always been conscientious in his role as emperor and never acted arbitrarily. Some things were implemented after discussing with his subordinates.
He also reviewed the mountains of memorials in the imperial study on time, did not indulge in drinking and sex, and had a very good relationship with the queen and her children. All along, he felt that what he did was no worse than the late emperor, but the fact was that he did
There are so many, but it seems that there are fewer and fewer people who are loyal to themselves. It turns out that these people have selfish motives.
Zhao Dun said:
"Is it possible that I am really a mediocre emperor?"
Zhao Kai chuckled and said:
"Otherwise? Do you really think you are a wise king?
You are stupid because you cannot see the situation clearly and do not know how to employ people. When you came to the throne, you had ministers like Zhang Julu, Huan Wen, and Xun Ping who cared about the world, and were upright and upright. You had loyal generals like Xu Xiao, King of Northern Liang, and Gu Jiantang in the military.
, counselors and counselors as amazing as Yuan Benxi.
These people are hard to find throughout the ages. With these people, even if you do nothing, your music every night will be better than it is now.
It's fine if you don't put them to good use. You're still killing people here. Are you going to get rid of Zhang Julu and Yuan Benxi after Xu Xiao's death? How can you hide this little thought from them?
You indiscriminately kill people who are loyal and good, but you still have the nerve to say that you are not a fool? Only by looking at the results can you know whether you are right or wrong."
Zhao Dun was speechless by Zhao Kai. Just as Zhao Kai said, he originally planned to get rid of Zhang Julu and Yuan Benxi later.
Zhao Dun let out a long sigh and said:
"Then what do you think I should do? Is it possible that we really want to make Beiliang bigger and make the entire court become Zhang Julu's sole proprietor? I don't have as much strength as you. There are some things that I can't do with such peace of mind."
Zhao Kai waved his hand gently, and the scenery in front of Zhao Dun instantly began to change. The next second, Zhao Dun was directly in another world.
In this world, he saw a Beiliang filled with gunfire. Beimang's 600,000-strong army invaded across the board. The 600,000 black armors were like the tide of the Guangling River, and they were as black as the three continents of Beiliang.
War smoke was everywhere, and 350,000 Beiliang soldiers rose up to fight. This battle was fought in darkness. The Beiliang soldiers were not afraid of death. In the end, at the cost of nearly 100,000 casualties, they held on to Beimang's offensive.
After leaving behind 200,000 corpses, Mang retreated.
In the first battle between Liang and Mang, Beiliang won the victory after paying a huge price.
But soon, the second invasion of Beimang struck again. This time Beimang was almost desperate, with millions of troops dispatched. Without any reinforcements, Xu Fengnian dispersed all the belongings of the Beiliang Palace to raise food and grass.
The world is divided into the Xu family.
Outside Jubei City, Xu Fengnian was dressed in a python robe. In front of him were Beimang's 400,000 troops and the Tuoba Bodhisattva who had been gifted by the immortal to reach the realm of Lu Zu. Xu Fengnian shouted:
"Xu Xiao's eldest son Xu Fengnian is here to seek death!"
This battle was fought in darkness, with no light from the sun or the moon. After nearly two years of fierce fighting, it finally ended in Beiliang's tragic victory. More than 200,000 soldiers died in this battle.
On Qingliang Mountain, 300,000 stone tablets are engraved with names: Qi Dangguo, Lu Dayuan, Zhou Kang...
There were two great battles in Liangmang, and all the Xu family's wealth was wiped out. All three hundred thousand soldiers died facing the north, and no one retreated. There were millions of households in Beiliang, and how many people were wrapped in plain clothes and withered bones! How many people were lost?
The mainstay of the family, even so, the powerful Xu Fengnian still did not choose to take action against Li Yang who was just watching from the sidelines, but took his relatives to live in seclusion...