Nu Yalang of Tang Dynasty

After sending Guo Ziyi away, Zhou Jun found Liu Zai again.

Unlike others, Zhou Jun and Liu Zai have known each other for a long time, and their relationship is more like close friends than superior and subordinate.

Zhou Jun first looked at Liu Zai and asked, "How is the wound?"

Liu Zai rolled up his sleeves and said with a smile: "Erlang's medicine is also amazing. Originally, the wound worsened and the pain and itching were unstoppable. After using that bottle of medicine, the scabs formed in just three or four days, and there is no more discomfort."

Zhou Jun nodded first, and then said directly to Liu Zai: "I have informed the court that I intend to let you serve as the governor of Dunhuang."

Liu Zai was startled at first, then shook his head mockingly and said: "Dunhuang Governor... let's forget it. The aristocratic families are fighting with the powerful, and the people are suffering. I have seen too much, and I have no intention of having an official career. I met Erlang today, and I plan to resign.

Officer, go to the mountains to practice Taoism."

Zhou Jun wanted to talk.

Liu Zai said first: "I know you want to persuade me, please listen to me first... Zai originally expected to benefit the people with his skills. Now it seems that his original idea was too naive. The world is like this, I

How can one know the great road if his will is not firm and he only relies on his passion?"

Zhou Jun was silent for a moment and said to Liu Zai: "Two years."

Liu Zai was puzzled: "Two years?"

Zhou Jun: "You only need to serve as governor of Dunhuang for two years. After two years, no matter where you want to go, I will support you. But in these two years, I need you to guard Dunhuang and stabilize the situation in Shazhou."

Liu Zai: "Why did we make this two-year agreement?"

Zhou Jun: "Two years from now, something big may happen in the world. If you ask me carefully, I won't be able to answer you. Just treat it as an acquaintance between you and me, and ask your help as a friend."

After Liu Zai heard this, he looked at Zhou Jun for a long time, and finally sighed and said, "Since Erlang said so, Zai will stay."

At the beginning of September in the twelfth year of Tianbao, the gate tower of Shicheng Town.

Kang Randi, the garrison of Shicheng Town, clasped his hands behind his back and looked toward the desert in the east, silently.

Kang Kejing stood beside him, constantly looking around, and pacing back and forth on the tower from time to time.

Kang Randi glanced sideways at Kang Kejing: "Young people should stay calm and don't let others look down upon you."

Kang Kejing stopped and said to Kang Randi: "The prince-in-law is coming soon. Have you thought about how to respond?"

Kang Randi said quietly: "How to answer... The world is in turmoil. Shicheng Town is like a small boat in the sea. It only wants to protect itself."

Kang Kejing looked at her father and said seriously: "When the world is in turmoil, you will have the opportunity to show your talents; in the peaceful and prosperous times, you will sink into a lifetime of doing nothing."

Kang Randi was a little surprised when he heard this. When he looked at Kang Kejing again, there was a bit of relief in his eyes: "It's rare for you to have such an ambition."

As soon as he finished speaking, Kang Kejing looked into the distance. On the boundary between the desert and the sky, a group of knights came from the dust.

Kang Kejing took a deep breath and said to Kang Randi, "Here we come."

Kang Randi straightened his clothes, nodded and said, "Come down with me and welcome your consort."

Later that day, a banquet was held in the Shicheng Shoufu to entertain Zhou Jun and his party.

Sitting in the upper seat, Zhou Jun looked at the Kang family and his son and said: "Since the Daqi trade road was interrupted last year, the towns in Anxi have been in constant turmoil, but Shicheng Town is safe and secure, and we have never heard of any residents rioting."

Zhou Jun's words initially sounded like he was praising Kang Randi for his good governance, but upon closer inspection, there was something more in his words.

Kang Randi cheered up, raised his hands and said: "The residents of Shicheng Town are all honest people who keep their own laws. They work hard and do business on weekdays. They have never had any second thoughts. I ask the prince-in-law to learn from this."

Zhou Jun stared at Kang Ranti and said: "During the Battle of Dunhuang, the state government conducted an investigation and found out many internal spies of the Tubo army. Among them was a family named Kang, who was the intelligence leader of the Tubo army in Shazhou."

Kang Randi's hands trembled slightly and unnoticeably.

Zhou Jun: "Following the clues, we uncovered many lurking spies, including many members of the Nine Zhaowu surnames."

Kang Randi lowered his head, and there were faint beads of sweat on his forehead.

Zhou Jun asked in a deep voice: "Before the chaos broke out in Anxi, you met Kang Zongchang, right?"

As soon as these words came out, Kang Randi could no longer keep calm, and he muttered, not knowing whether he should tell the whole story.

At this moment, Kang Kejing stood up, came to the center of the hall, bowed to Zhou Jun and said, "I'm telling you, Prince Consort, the fugitive Kang Zongchang has indeed been to Shicheng Town before."

Hearing this, Kang Randi opened his mouth, intending to scold and deny, but finally gave up with a long sigh.

Zhou Jun: "What's Kang Zongchang doing here?"

Kang Kejing: "I came as a lobbyist to persuade Shicheng Town to switch sides, connect with Tubo, and fight against the Tang Dynasty."

Zhou Jun: "How did you answer?"

Kang Kejing: "My father sternly refused, but Kang Zongchang saw that he couldn't do what he wanted, so he retreated to the next best thing and asked us to open the customs place and provide convenience to those who caused trouble."

Zhou Jun: "You agreed?"

Kang Kejing: "At that time, the Battle of Talas was over, and Tubo captured Ziting Town. The situation in the towns was unstable, and the Anxi Army was unable to rush to rescue. Kang Zongchang had private soldiers in his hands who could instigate riots in the town, and the Tubo

People are asking for help, so Shicheng Town has no choice but to agree."

Zhou Jun touched his chin and said nothing.

Seeing this, Kang Kejing knelt down and said: "Please think about it, Prince Consort, the Daqi Trade Road has been opened, the Datang Silk Road has taken the southern route, and Shicheng Town, as the southern gateway to the Western Regions, can be said to be like a fish in water and profitable. It is no exaggeration.

It can be said that the Daqi Trade Road is as precious to Shicheng Town as a well in the desert. If it were not for the persecution of outsiders, how could Shicheng City do anything to collude with the enemy? Wouldn't this cut off its own financial path?

?”

When Zhou Jun heard this, he nodded slightly and asked, "Do you know the cause of the civil strife in Anxi?"

Kang Kejing: "In the towns of Anxi, there are only a few people who really want to break away from the Tang Dynasty. The reason why most people rebel is because, in the final analysis, there is only one word - fear."

Zhou Jun: "How do you say this?"

Kang Kejing: "Gao Xianzhi coveted the wealth of the Shi Kingdom and led the Anxi army to plunder and destroy the country, which made the nine surnames of Zhaowu and everyone in danger. In order to preserve their property, the nine surnames of Zhaowu had to look for foreign aid. It coincided with the Battle of Talas, Anxi

The army was defeated by Dashi, and the Tubo army captured Ziting Town and Shounan County. The towns in Anxi were afraid that the Tang Dynasty would abandon them, and they were also worried that Tubo and Dashi would use this opportunity to invade, so they became confused."

Zhou Jun looked at Kang Kejing and asked, "How did Kang Zongchang hook up with Tubo?"

Kang Kejing: "Buddhism."

Zhou Jun: "Tell me carefully."

Kang Kejing: "There are Bon religion and Buddhism in Tubo. Tubo Buddhism is Tibetan Buddhism, also known as Tantric Buddhism, which originated from the ancient country of Zhangzhong. Over the years, the power of Tantric Buddhism has gradually grown stronger, gradually overpowering Bon religion, and began to expand outwards.

."

"As for Anxi, there is also Buddhism in the territory. It is the Mahayana Buddhism that came from the country of Tianzhu. After the Tibetan esoteric religion entered Anxi, it expanded its followers through Buddhist temples and ancient temples, and gradually squeezed out the local religion. It relied on the support of the Tubo people.

, train the monk army, and recruit devout believers to form a protective group. Their combat power cannot be underestimated, and ordinary small countries cannot compete with it."

Zhou Jun heard this and asked: "The riots in Anxi, Shazhou, Beiting and other places have Buddhism as a cover?"

Kang Kejing: "Yes."

After listening to this, Zhou Jun pondered for a long time and said to Kang Kejing: "As the governor of Anxi, I intend to rectify the towns. As a native of Shicheng, the Kang family understands the twists and turns and can naturally help... Kang Kejing

Jing.”

Hearing Zhou Jun call her name, Kang Kejing responded quickly.

Zhou Jun: "You have clear ideas and are quick-witted. Please follow me to Qiuci. I will find a suitable job for you in the Protectorate's Mansion."

Hearing this, Kang Randi and Kang Kejing both breathed a sigh of relief.

Regarding Shicheng Town's previous actions, Zhou Jun intended to forget about the past.

Zhou Jun pointed to the old man standing next to him and said to the Kang family father and son: "This is Uncle Shen, the steward of the Jin family. He has an old relationship with the Kang family. I plan to temporarily leave him in Shicheng Town to be responsible for coordination and liaison work."

."

Kang Randi quickly bowed and replied.