Qin Xiao's heart trembled, but he pretended not to understand and asked: "Brother Fat Fish, which court are you talking about?"
Fat Fish's lips moved slightly, but he suddenly smiled and said, "I'm talking about the small imperial court in the south."
"Little imperial court?" Qin Xiao said: "Are you talking about Murong in Southern Xinjiang?"
Fat Fish nodded and said: "Not bad."
"The King of Jingnan, Murong, is far away in southern Xinjiang. How come his tentacles reached Xiling?" Qin Xiao said in surprise: "Brother Fat Fish, this shouldn't be the case."
Fat Fish said calmly: "Everyone in the world knows that King Jingnan will rebel, but the court can't do anything about the Murong family. In recent years, the court has opened the horse market in the north. In fact, it is a show of goodwill to the Tusun people in the north. At the same time, it also
In order to let the Tusun people stay in peace and contentment, the barbarians in the grassland are really unwilling to go south to fight for their lives if there is a good year and the warehouses are full of cattle and sheep. Their purpose of going south has never been to occupy the land, but to plunder the Tang Dynasty
It’s just the property.”
"Silk, porcelain, tea and even medicinal materials of the Tang Dynasty are all scarce among the Tusun people." Qin Xiao nodded: "And these goods are expensive in the grasslands, and ordinary herders cannot afford them."
"There are so many good things in the Tang Dynasty. Before the horse market was opened, they could only loot." Fat Fish said: "When the horse market was opened, they could exchange cattle and sheep skins and other goods for what they wanted. In this way,
Naturally, there is no need to start a fight, so the north has been relatively peaceful these past few years. Although the new chief of Duer's tribe claims to be the Chosen Son, he has expanded his strength in the grasslands in recent years and annexed many tribes.
If he can't do it, it will take at least a few years before he can become a threat. He doesn't have the guts to go south to harass Datang yet."
Qin Xiao frowned and said: "If he really becomes popular in the desert, he will definitely be a powerful enemy of the Tang Dynasty."
"The imperial court doesn't have the energy to take care of him now." Fatty Fish said: "It doesn't even have the energy to take care of Xiling. The Murong family did not surrender after being defeated by the imperial court, but negotiated for peace. In recent years, the imperial court has made various preparations, and everyone knows that it is
In order to prepare for the conquest of the Murong clan, the Murong clan naturally knew everything about it."
"Are you saying that Murong is afraid that the imperial court will really send troops to conquer southern Xinjiang, so he wants to provoke turmoil in Xiling and force the imperial court to divert its energy here?"
Fat Fish said with a smile: "That's not just to stir up turmoil in Xiling. That King of Jingnan is cunning and cunning, otherwise he wouldn't be able to control southern Xinjiang, and even the imperial court can't do anything about him. Stirring up turmoil in Xiling is not just to attract the imperial court
The attention of the people, and more importantly, the attention of the Wutuo people. Brother Narusheng is eyeing Xiling, but he has no chance to make a move. If the turmoil in Xiling starts and chaos breaks out, do you think Brother Narusheng will miss such an opportunity?
"
"When the Wutuos invaded Xiling, the Tang army naturally could not turn a blind eye." Qin Xiao said: "The Tang army had no time to worry about southern Xinjiang after they left the border."
Fat Fish nodded and said: "King Jingnan knows very well that the confrontation between Southern Xinjiang and the Tang Dynasty is to fight against one country in one corner. The longer the time, the more fully prepared the court is, and the greater the threat Southern Xinjiang faces, so he provokes
The turmoil in other places consumes the imperial court's strength, so that Southern Xinjiang can survive."
Qin Xiao understood and nodded: "From this point of view, it is not impossible for Southern Xinjiang to stir up turmoil in Xiling."
Fat Fish sighed: "No matter who is behind the scenes, Xiling must quickly find out the truth, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous."
Qin Xiao thought that although Xiling was under the control of the three great clans and was rich in resources, it was actually just a competition ground for all forces. The three great clans could enjoy prosperity and wealth in Xiling, not because of how strong their own forces were.
, it’s nothing more than checks and balances between all parties.
Being caught between the Tang Dynasty and Wu Tuo is like a piece of fat in the eyes of two tigers. No matter which side has enough strength to swallow this piece of fat, it is only because both sides have their own fears that the Xiling clan can survive.
When we returned to Fucheng, it was already late at night.
The materials for the convoy mainly include grain and weapons. The grain has to be transported to the granary in the city. The granary is managed by the Yuwen family, but the weapons have to be transported to the armory under the jurisdiction of the Duhu Mansion. The convoy can only be divided into two groups. Fat Fish leads the people.
After sending the weapons to the armory, Qin Xiao took the remaining people to the granary.
"King's Riding School!" Qin Xiao was riding in front. Hearing footsteps coming from behind, he turned to look and saw Chen Zhitai running forward with a smile on his face.
He was also carrying two axes, which were naturally found later.
"Is something wrong?"
"The eldest son asked me to collect the silver reward, where should I go to collect it?" Chen Zhitai asked.
Qin Xiao shook his head and said: "I really don't know about this. You can ask around again later. Since the eldest son has promised, of course he will not break his promise."
"I know, I know." Chen Zhitai said with a smile: "I just found out from them that you are from the riding school of Baihuying. My dear, that's really amazing. You are already in the riding school at such a young age. No wonder you are so good at kung fu.
, even I am no match for you. I’m still surprised myself. I’m not bad at it. Ordinary twenty or thirty people can’t get close to me. How could you defeat me with one strike? Now I understand. I was defeated by the White Tiger Camp Riding School.
There is no shame in my subordinates.”
Qin Xiao smiled and said, "Do you have anything else to do?"
"Well...!" Chen Zhitai hesitated before saying, "I do have a small matter to discuss with you."
"Say it." Qin Xiao said: "But the ugly thing is the first thing to say. I don't have money. I don't have women. I don't have them all myself."
"How could that be possible? Who does Wang Riding School think of me?" Chen Zhitai followed Qin Xiao's horse and said as he walked: "Actually, I am also an ambitious person. I really don't care about money and beauty.
.Wang Cavalry School, can you also let me join the White Tiger Camp as a soldier?"
"You?" Qin Xiao said in surprise: "You want to be a soldier?"
Chen Zhitai looked back at the convoy behind him and said: "They said that if you serve as a soldier in Baiying, an ordinary soldier will get five taels of silver a month, and if you perform meritorious service, you will be rewarded heavily...!" It felt like he was wrong.
What did he say? He looked up and saw Wang Qizheng looking at him with a strange look. His heart sank and he thought to himself that he really couldn't talk nonsense. It would affect his official career. He smiled and said:
"Of course, money is nothing. What matters is that after serving as a soldier, you can protect your family and country."
Qin Xiao sighed: "Lao San, yesterday you were still the third boss in the mountain, plundering everywhere and harming the people. In just one day, you want to protect your family and the country?"
"In the riding school, everyone makes mistakes sometimes." Chen Zhitai said boldly: "As long as he can change, he is still a good person. When do you think I will report to the military camp?"
Qin Xiao shook his head and said, "It's not that easy to enter the White Tiger Camp."
"Riding School, I have also seen the soldiers under your command. Their bodies are not as strong as mine, and they are not as majestic and brave as me." Chen Zhitai immediately said: "If I enter the White Tiger Camp, I must be your right-hand man, how could you miss it?
"
Qin Xiao glanced at him and said: "If you enter the White Tiger Camp, I dare not say anything else, but there is one thing that will definitely beat everyone else."
"Did the riding school see my strengths?" Chen Zhitai's face lit up: "I wonder what you are talking about?"
"Shameless." Qin Xiao smiled and said, "You are thicker than anyone else."
As soon as Chen Zhitai was stunned, Qin Xiao had already shaken the reins of his horse and quickly opened the distance between him and him.
The granary is located in the northeast corner of the city. It covers a large area. It is guarded by people sent by the Marquis Mansion. The precautions are extremely strict. Several roads leading to the grain and grass are guarded. It is impossible for ordinary people to get close.
Qin Xiao brought the grain over, and the guards knew that it was the result of suppressing bandits, so the convoy was able to move smoothly.
When they arrived at the granary, someone came out to carry it, counted the quantity, and then registered it on the side. Qin Xiao was invited to a small room to drink tea and have some snacks.
Qin Xiao was not polite about this. He was really thirsty. Someone brought him tea and two plates of pastries. He had just taken two bites when he heard a cough from behind him. He turned around and saw only one person under the firelight.
A man in gray robe walked in from outside the door.
This man was about forty-seven or eighteen years old, with a plump build, a mustache, and thin skin and tender flesh. At first glance, he looked like a pampered person.
Qin Xiao thought that he should be an official of the granary. He put down the cakes, stood up and cupped his hands, saying: "I am Wang Xiao of Baihu camp, how should I address you?"
"The King's Riding School." The middle-aged man walked to the table with a smile: "Sit down and talk. You're welcome. I've heard that the King's Riding School won the White Tiger Camp for a long time. When I saw him today, he was indeed a young hero."
When Qin Xiao saw that the other party did not return the gift to him, he thought to himself that even if you are a grain officer, I am still the riding school of Baihu Camp, so I may not be lower than you in terms of status.
He always respected others with a foot of respect, and since the other party was so rude, he ignored him, sat down again, took a cake and put it in his mouth.
"How does it taste?" The middle-aged man sat at the table, stroking his mustache, looking at Qin Xiao like he was appreciating antiques, half-smiling but not smiling.
Qin Xiao said casually: "It's okay."
The middle-aged man smiled and said: "Wang Riding School may not know that this pastry has seven or eight steps, including green plum, sugar, jujube paste, honey, osmanthus and more than ten kinds of condiments. How can you eat this pastry?"
Human beings are rare.”
Qin Xiao was startled, glanced at the pastry in his hand, and then said with a smile: "Then I'm lucky."
"Some people are born rich and have everything they want. Some people choose the right path and can have everything they want." The middle-aged man sighed: "But most of the living beings in the world are just snakes, insects, rats, and ants. They live from birth to death.
, there is no choice at all." He looked at Qin Xiao and asked: "Do you know who is the most pitiable person in the world?"
Qin Xiao put down the cake in his hand. How could he not hear the meaning in the other party's words and asked: "Please enlighten me!"
"To be a poor person is to have the opportunity to make a choice, but choose the wrong one. Not only do you lose all your glory and wealth, but you may even lose your fortune." The middle-aged man sighed: "This is the most pitiful person."
Qin Xiao remained calm and asked: "May I ask who you are?"
"My surname is Meng!" the middle-aged man said with a smile: "Everyone calls me Uncle Meng, and you can call me the same!"