The generals of the various legions of the Zhenjiang Army, some with their arms behind their backs, some with their hands on their waists, and some with their shoulders in their arms, were all huddled in the shade under the eaves, watching the bustle of the small square in the distance. scene.
There, Li Jiangyao was surrounded by the kings of Western Xinjiang like stars holding the moon, talking happily while walking.
"It's really unexpected." Yudala couldn't help but sigh: "The day before, we were enemies who were fighting to the death. Today, we are like old friends, sitting face to face and drinking and talking."
Du Jian frowned: "There is a problem that I have never understood. The countries in Western Xinjiang are now extremely weak. Not to mention the entire Xinjiang Army, even sending our Second Army alone to fight is enough to sweep them all. But why do you still want to negotiate peace with these grandsons?"
Horiyah smiled and shook her head: "You don't understand this. This is called politics, and your brilliance is reflected in it."
"Oh? Then tell me." Du Jian glanced at the small square, then turned to look at Holia: "Princess Princess, you killed Alik Jiang with your own hands a few days ago and avenged the whole family. I am happy. Delian treated us to drinks for three days. At that time, I thought that the leader was going to start a big war in Western Xinjiang by operating on Loulan, but I didn't expect that he was just killing chickens to scare monkeys. Is this necessary?"
Huoliya was about to speak when the little prince of Shenhua next to him, Kuliban, said: "General Du, compared with the Ghost Desert of Western Xinjiang and the Central Plains of the Holy Tang Dynasty, there are great differences in many places, especially in terms of religion and politics. It can be said that Completely different concepts. A vassal state has existed for hundreds of thousands of years. A country is often a nation, with unique national symbols and blood relationships. The king and nobles are not only representatives of national power, but also tribal or religious leaders. Leaders, they have unusual status and influence in their own countries. Although the long-term war has made the countries in Western Xinjiang very weak, if you want them to quickly recover and rejuvenate the entire Western Xinjiang, in the end It depends on these kings who are rich in ruling experience and prestige.”
"The little prince is right." Xie Tanzhi smiled and nodded: "Our goal is not to completely eliminate the countries in Western Xinjiang, but to unite them and let them return to the right path of loyalty to the Holy Tang. Only in this way can we truly gather the strength of the entire Western Xinjiang to deal with the next war with the Turks."
Xu Youchang agreed: "Lao Du, from a military point of view, it is indeed not difficult to defeat them. The most difficult thing is to win over their hearts. No matter how powerful our Xinjiang Army is, we cannot treat everyone as Dead enemies are eliminated in turn. In that case, it is equivalent to pushing the countries in Western Xinjiang into the arms of the Turks, but it will make Gema and Ashina happy. This is what the princess calls politics."
Du Jian nodded thoughtfully: "Well, I understand. Back then, Governor He often reminded us of the Protectorate of Zhenjiang, saying that Shengtang and Xijiang are a family, Shengtang is the parent, Xijiang is the child, and the child If you make a mistake, you should teach him a lesson, but you can’t beat him to death with a stick, you must give him a chance to turn back from his lost ways.”
"Oh, your brain has finally come to its senses!" Holia said with a smile: "General Du actually used such a refined word as "returning after getting lost."
Everyone couldn't help laughing when they heard this, which immediately attracted the attention of the kings in the distance. Seeing this, Li Jiangyao waved to them from a distance, motioning for everyone to come over.
The generals quickly arranged their clothes and walked quickly to the small square.
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"Come, let me introduce you to your highnesses. This is the deputy commander-in-chief of our Zhenjiang Army and the chief general of the First Army, General Xu Youchang." Li Jiangyao pointed to the majestic Xu Youchang and said to the kings.
"Oh - it turns out you are the famous General Gale, whom I have admired for a long time!"
"Oh, General Xu, I'm disrespectful. Today I can see a real person! Back then, I was beaten badly by your armored cavalry army!"
"The Gale Legion is so famous in the Western Border that even the Turkic Blood Guards admire them. This is all due to General Xu."
"General Xu, do you have a family? My daughter is only 28 years old..."
Li Jiangyao quickly reached out to stop him: "Okay, okay, this king who is begging for marriage, please shut up first. Everyone, please look over here. His name is Du Jian, and he is the commander-in-chief of the Second Army of Zhenjiang."
"Ah, it's General Du. He is indeed tall and mighty!"
"Are you General Du Jian of the Second Army? The fierce general who ranks first in the war in Metasequoia City without his life?"
"That's great, brother Du Jian, we have never known each other before. I think you are very close to each other. Let's meet up when you have time?"
"What do you want me to do? General Du, my king's daughter is only twenty-eight years old. Why don't you think about it..."
Li Jiangyao pulled away the king who was begging for marriage: "Everyone, this is the heroine of our Xinjiang Army, the third army general Huoliya."
"Oh my god, isn't this Princess Nanhua of Shanshan Kingdom? She's getting more and more beautiful!"
"Holia, do you remember me? When it comes to kinship, you have to call me cousin. Oh, my sister is a general now, that's incredible."
"Your Highness, the third army is mainly composed of soldiers from Shanshan, right? How is General Paletahong? Last time we arranged to have a drink together."
"Princess, my daughter... I won't consider it. I also have a son who is seven years old this year. If you don't dislike it..."
Li Jiangyao said angrily: "Shut up!"
After some introductions and greetings, the main generals and officials of the Zhenjiang Army got to know the kings of Western Xinjiang one by one. Li Jiangyao warmly greeted everyone and went to the main hall of the city guard house to sit together and talk while drinking milk tea.
Everyone bustled into the main hall, and under the guidance of the white-robed guards, the guests and hosts took their seats. Li Jiangyao looked at Tajik, the king of Shule who was closest to him, and asked in a relaxed tone: "Your Highness, how long has it been since the chaos in Western Xinjiang until now?"
Tajik coughed awkwardly and replied slowly: "Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, if we start counting from the time Loulan Shule raised troops...well, it has been five and a half years, almost six years."
"Time flies so fast," Li Jiangyao said with emotion: "In the past five or six years, what have we experienced, what have we gained, and what have we lost?"
Faced with this series of questions, not only the old king Tajik, but everyone present, including the generals of the Zhenjiang Army, fell into deep thought and did not know how to answer for a while.
Li Jiangyao glanced at everyone and continued: "I personally feel that we have experienced a terrible and sad nightmare together, learned a bloody lesson, and paid a huge price for it, losing a lot of things we cherish. thing."
He turned to look at Tajik and Gerhan: "In the Battle of Crescent Bay, my brothers, comrades, and seniors all died for our country. It stands to reason that we are sworn enemies, right?"
The two stopped talking and nodded silently at the same time.
Li Jiangyao shook his head: "But think about it on the other hand, didn't you also lose your brothers and comrades? Take His Highness Geerhan as an example, your brother died at the hands of Li Come on, I can be considered your biggest enemy."
"Don't mention it, don't mention it anymore," Geerhan waved his hand sadly: "Your Excellency, Commander, the battlefield has no eyes, so don't mention those things... anymore."
"Why don't you mention it?" Li Jiangyao said lightly: "Your Highness Geerhan, no matter how buried and forgotten what happened, it happened after all, and no one can recover it or change it. It's like a nightmare in this world. In the past five years, you and I have both suffered unforgettable pain, and at the same time, we have both caused deep trauma to each other."
Tajik couldn't help but said: "Your Excellency, Commander, we know that we have made unforgivable mistakes. Oh no, it should be said to be a crime. We must apologize to you and the soldiers of Shengtang!"
Li Jiangyao waved his hand and explained: "Your Highness, you may have misunderstood. The reason why I mentioned the past things is not to settle accounts with you, but to tell everyone that we are also victims. We have all lost too much. So from now on, no one should resent anyone, and no one should owe anyone anything!"
As soon as these words came out, the kings present could not help but be greatly moved. Before coming here, everyone had guessed that Li Jiangyao would probably use his powerful military power to settle old scores with them. Even for the sake of Emmeni and the Persian Empire, he would not kill himself on the spot, but at the very least he would have to peel off his skin.
However, they never expected that Li Jiangyao would actually say such words in front of everyone. Moreover, his way of expression is not the alms and pity of the winner from above, but standing on an equal position and telling the similar painful feelings of both the enemy and ourselves.
This is a sign of true reconciliation!
Li Jiangyao saw everyone's reactions in his eyes and continued: "As I said just now, we have experienced nightmares together and lost our loved ones, but at the same time, we have also learned a bloody lesson together, that is: brothers killing each other. , there is no winner! Everyone, please think about it carefully. In addition to bringing pain to us and endless harm to the people of Western Xinjiang, five years of melee, what else has it done? Shengtang and Xijiang, we have done Good brothers for hundreds of years, our fathers and ancestors have been close, supported each other, and gone through countless ups and downs side by side. Even our bodies are mixed with blood that is difficult to distinguish. People say that time is The magic weapon that tests true love. Is this how we deal with past feelings? With swords? With blood? With the lives of brothers? In this war, did you get what you wanted? Or did Shengtang get what he wanted? need?"
Tajik sighed: "Your Excellency, Commander, I haven't heard the name brother for a long time. You are right. No one has won this protracted war. To be honest, in the past year, I have always been They all live in deep regret. At the beginning, I foolishly thought that as long as I relied on war and the support of the Turks to completely get rid of the Holy Tang, I could bring a better life to my subjects and bring a better life to future generations. Children and grandchildren will create a freer future. But I was wrong. It wasn’t until countless men died in Shule Kingdom and black veils were hung at the door of every house that I suddenly realized that what the people wanted was not some illusory freedom. , but a peaceful and peaceful life. This kind of life is exactly what we have always had, but we destroyed it with our own hands!"
The king of Qiuci covered his face with his hands and cried bitterly: "My two brothers died on the battlefield, but they did not die to protect their homeland. They raised their swords and guns against their former brother Zhenjiang Protectorate." , they didn’t deserve to die..."
"What have we done?" King Khotan sighed: "For five or six years, why did we fight? For whom? If it is really to protect the peace of Western Xinjiang, I, the Khotanese man I will never regret it even if I die! However, what we Western Xinjiang people killed were the Holy Tangs who regarded us as brothers, and what we helped were the Turks who regarded us as pigs, dogs and beasts!"
