The dilapidated streets, collapsed houses, disheveled residents, and the empty sheep and horse city undoubtedly do not tell the story of the desolation of Balashagon.
Ordinarily, such a big river city would not be so depressed even if it was besieged by Bugra Khan Saktu for four months!
And Zhang Zhao keenly smelled an unusual smell, a smell of conspiracy.
Just after the grand welcoming dinner, Duke Zhang moved into the palace that originally belonged to Arsleng Khan of the Kara Khanate.
Although this throne has been vacant for decades, the palace is still well-preserved. It obviously has the style of the Tang Dynasty. It seems that it should have been built by Pang Teqin who came here from the west.
Of course, the palace is only based on the standards of the Hezhong area. In fact, it is the size of a Central Plains minister's residence. Not to mention the Taihua Palace of Li Shengtian in Khotan, even the Guiyi Army Festival Palace in Dunhuang cannot be compared. .
But that’s it! There are also things that are stronger than the Guiyi Army. For example, as soon as they entered the palace gate, dozens of colorful orchids of various colors knelt on both sides of the gate to see another owner of the palace.
A man who looked like a palace official and several guards stood in front of the prostrating women. Next to him was a monk wearing a purple monk's robe. When the official saw Zhang Zhao, he put on a natural look on his face. A slightly flattering smile.
"I'm..." Before the official finished speaking, Barbarian Bear stepped forward and directly lifted him up and walked out of the palace gate. Several guards were shocked and were still hesitating whether to draw their weapons or not. He was targeted by countless hand crossbows.
"Jun Gong Zhang, this... you... what are you doing?" The monk, who had a kind smile on his face, was stunned. He looked at Zhang Zhao with his mouth open.
"Master Titsigu sincerely invites the Duke to come to Balasagon and will come to visit him in person later. We are all Buddhist believers. Does the Duke have any misunderstandings?"
"The master is confident that his Hinayana Buddhism is different from our Chinese Tantric Buddhism. It's too late today, so I would like to ask this master to inform me. Tomorrow, I will invite Master Titsiko to read the meaning of my Buddhist scriptures!"
Zhang Zhao curled his lips. He just didn't want to have too much contact with the ancient master Titusi before he understood the situation. Of course, he would not listen to the purple-robed monk.
The purple-clothed monk was shocked when he heard this. Only then did he see that there was a curly-haired Uighur beside Zhang Zhao. He seemed to be Burke from a small tribe. At this time, Zhang Zhao was holding his wrist and could not leave. He could only look pale. Smiling wryly at him.
Then the purple-robed monk suddenly remembered that Zhang Zhao was right, the Buddhism of Balashagon and the Buddhism of Khotan were not the same sect at all.
Most people in the Hezhong area believe in Hinayana Buddhism. Most people in Central China and Anxi believe in Mahayana Buddhism since Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty went west to seek Buddhist scriptures. The Chengshi Sect, which represents Hinayana Buddhism, has been almost extinct in Central China.
You must know that heretics are more hateful than heretics. Although the sectarian struggle in Buddhism is not fierce, it is only compared to Tianfang Sect and Daqin Sect.
"Ma Yaozi, send the mage out!
Fanshun, disarmed all the guards in the palace and put them under strict supervision.
Fan Quan imprisoned all the maids here.
Cousin, lead the B team to seal the door! Li Ruotai and Bai Congxin arranged defense. "
Zhang Zhao didn't say much and directly began to order his soldiers to take over the palace confinement.
This time he brought two thousand people to Balashagon. Among them, in addition to the soldiers of Hanshandu and the Yue cavalry commanded by Hu Cile, there were also 300 light cavalry of the Bashmi tribe led by Ashinaduo.
Li Ruotai also followed with one hundred and fifty armored cavalry. The largest number was the thousand Khotan palace guards assigned by Li Shengtian himself.
Among them, Zhang Zhao abandoned a thousand Khotan palace guards and the light cavalry of the Bashmi tribe outside the city in the stronghold, commanded by Yan Jin, while he led about 700 people into Balashagon.
"Mr. Zhang, please let me go. I'm really too drunk. There's an old mother, wife and children waiting at home. Please be merciful and let me go!"
This curly-haired Uighur who was begging for mercy was Hu Duwuxi, a descendant of Li Sizhong who was holding the flag of the Guiyi Army envoy outside the gate of Balasagon, hoping to curry favor with the angel of the Kingdom of Jin.
However, his flattery led him directly to the pit. Zhang Zhao was worried that he had no breakthrough, and this guy came to his door, so Zhang Zhao directly detained him during the banquet.
Hu Duwuxi wanted to give himself a few slaps. He was quite smug at the banquet. As expected, the people of Khotan and Jin were more inclined to Tang'er. He was right to fly the banner of the Guiyi Army Envoy.
This prince didn't even care about the ancient master Titesi and the majestic virtue Xuanqing, and just took him to drink. He will definitely become prosperous in the future.
But now Hu Duwuxi realized that it was not about getting rich, but about being unlucky!
Duke Zhang obviously came here with bad intentions, and Master Titsigu also had other plans. His family was just a small role in Balasagon, how could he withstand the ups and downs of these noble people!
With a bang, the palace door was locked, and Hu Duwuxi burst into tears. What should I do? Look at Zhang Jungong who is still holding his wrist. There is still a hint of drunkenness from the banquet on his face.
Zhang Zhao looked at the old curly-haired Uighur man who was crying in front of him, and was secretly glad that he had seen the right person.
If he were a rough man, he would probably be thinking about the future wealth of a beautiful woman with wine. How could he understand what Zhang Zhao wanted to do? These tears were because he was worried about his future fate!
In fact, Zhang Zhao decided to cut off the trouble quickly when he entered the city, because the atmosphere at the banquet was very wrong, and Balashagon was obviously divided into two sects: Buddhism and Nestorianism.
Moreover, the conflict between the two factions seems to be quite deep. Even when Zhang Zhao was around, they could not suppress their hostility to each other.
More importantly, the Buddhist believers headed by Titsigu were not in the majority, but they seemed aggressive. The Nestorians were more numerous, but the majestic and dignified Xuan Qing had an attitude of giving in in everything.
Something weird!
However, Zhang Zhao has no interest in engaging in any palace struggle with a bunch of bastards in this place in the middle of the river. There are only 200,000 to 300,000 people in this big place, so it is not worth spending too much energy.
Originally, he was a little worried about Balasagon's force, because they had withstood Saktu's four-month siege.
However, after entering the city and analyzing the intelligence collected by Fan Shun, Pei Tongyuan and others, it was found that not only did Balashagon's military strength be lower than that of Saktu, but the people's hearts were not unified, so there was no need to be polite to them.
"Tell me! What's the plan of Titsigu, that majestic virtuous man, and all the leaf guards in this city?
How could you think of surrendering to the Kingdom of Khotan? And why is this Balasagon so depressed? "
Zhang Zhao's questions were very direct, and there was no beating around the bush like a big shot.
Hu Duowuxi became even more frightened when he heard that, it was over! Not to mention entering the wolf's den, Duke Zhang is still a dazed young man. I'm afraid that not only will something happen to him this time, but the entire clan will be killed as well.
Thinking of this, the tears on Hu Duwuxi's face became even more unstoppable. He lowered his head and said nothing. He just regretted in his heart that he had beaten out the banner of the Guiyi Army. Until now, my life is in danger.
Zhang Zhao smiled faintly, then patted Hu Duwuxi on the shoulder, "It doesn't matter if you don't want to say it. As soon as the palace door opens tomorrow, I will go directly to find trouble for Titsigu. You guess he will think that it is me who wants to force him to do something." Are you going to touch him, or what did you say?"
Hu Duwuxi raised his head angrily, his gray beard covered with tears trembling continuously, and even the curly hair on his head seemed to stand up with anger.
"Why did Duke Zhang do this? Master Titsi sent people thousands of miles to express his surrender out of sincerity. After all, they are all meritorious ministers of the Great Sage and Emperor. Aren't you afraid of being blamed by the Great Sage and Emperor for doing this?
Besides, wouldn’t it be disrespectful for a nobleman like you to persecute a commoner like you? "
"Well said!" Zhang Zhao clapped his hands, "But it's of no use, why don't we try another way.
As for me, I don’t want to waste much time in Balasagon, because there are more important things waiting for me to do.
But I don’t want to be a careerist’s knife. If anyone can save my energy, then he can get a golden opportunity! "
