Li Xun, Fan Zhongyun, Sima Tu, and Chen were warming up around the charcoal stove.

There were several sweet potatoes placed on the charcoal stove. As the temperature slowly rose, bursts of fragrance came out. Li Xun picked up the sweet potatoes and gave them to Fan Zhongyun, Sima Tu, and Chen He. Li Xun didn't eat them himself. He was very interested in the sweet potatoes.

No cold.

"I said, Lao Fan, have you ever thought about this current situation?"

Li Xun asked with a smile.

To be honest, Li Xun never had the idea of ​​sending troops to the Western Regions from the beginning to the end. It was Fan Zhongyun who persuaded Li Xun.

.

Li Xun is such a person. He does not have so many complicated ideas, but as long as what others say makes sense and Li Xun can think clearly about the reasons, he will do it and do it decisively.

Fan Zhongyun took the sweet potato and smelled it, but did not eat it. Listening to Li Xun's question, Fan Zhongyun smiled and shrugged his shoulders and said: "The war is changing, it depends on the opportunity. I am not a god, how can it be possible?"

You can think of it all? But, with Chen Tu’s power, this land of seven countries in the eastern part of the Western Region can be easily captured. I have thought of this, and I am sure that we can do it. As for today’s situation, I

There are conjectures in this regard, but they are just conjectures. If Zhan Bai underestimates the enemy and rushes in, and is defeated by us in one fell swoop, it is possible that the Western Region can be easily won. Right or wrong, it may change, who knows?"

"Now it seems that James is not a fool. At least he has smart people around him to give him advice. Although we are now in a confrontation, James's troops are at an advantage after all, and he has the convenience of occupying the home court. Where is our hope of winning?

?”

Li Xun looked at Fan Zhongyun. The two had known each other for so many years. Li Xun was very clear about Fan Zhongyun. This time he sent troops to the Western Regions, such a big move, what Fan Zhongyun was thinking could never be simple. There must be deep-seated thoughts.

with intention.

Fan Zhongyun glanced at Li Xun, was silent for a moment, and then stretched out three fingers: "Three points, human heart, nature, and the overall situation."

Li Xun nodded: "I would like to hear the details."

"After the Second Longyou War, the Longyou Road was in dilapidated state, with countless civilian casualties. The internal response was inadequate. The imperial court was also suffering and could not help us. This was internal, but externally, the imperial court gave you the power to take charge of the military affairs in the western part of Longyou.

, and sent 50,000 elite soldiers, which gave us an opportunity. What is an opportunity? If we want to get out of the broken situation, we can only go to the outside world. Where is this external contact? It is difficult for Tubo to make progress, and it cannot be done for the time being. The Hu tribe is powerful, and it is also

It is not something we can consider in the short term. As a result, we have only one goal, which is the Western Region. As long as we capture the Western Region, we will have everything and can develop greatly and extend our influence to the outside world. Zhan Bai’s thoughts are related to ours.

Similarly, the Persian Empire had just been established and was at its peak, so he did not dare to compete with it. However, the western part of Longyou had just ended its war with Tubo, suffering huge losses and weakening its strength. In Zhan Bai's view, this was also an excellent opportunity.

Being able to capture the western part of Longyou will give Zhan Bai an excuse to continue to control the military. This will be an immeasurable boost to his unification of the Western Regions. Therefore, we will have a battle with Zhan Bai sooner or later. It is better to move early than to move late. Take action first, at least

Be able to take the initiative into your own hands.”

Fan Zhongyun once said this, and in fact it was true. It was confirmed by Chen Tu that if it weren't for some internal problems, Zhan Bai would have been ready to take action as early as two months ago.

Fan Zhongyun stood up and said loudly: "The thirty-six countries in the Western Regions have different ideas. This is related to their governance concepts and their political interests. Zhan Bai was able to gather all the military power of the Western Regions through extraordinary means.

After three years of fierce fighting with the Dashi Empire, the high-ranking nobles of the Western Regions have suffered heavy losses. This is not in line with their interests. We are not willing to continue to wage war at all. When we come on this trip, the Western Regions have no idea what they want, so they can only gather together to seek safety.

.”

Sima Tu intervened at this time and said: "The countries in the Western Regions value profits. The first Lunar Eclipse Empire, the later Chu Dynasty, or the Dashi Empire. No matter who rules the Western Regions, they don't care. They just care about whether their own interests will be harmed.

, Therefore, we fully clarify its meaning and allow it to be autonomous, and will never harm the interests and politics of intervening countries."

Li Xun nodded: "I'm afraid it doesn't make much sense to say this now. Zhan Bai, a stumbling block, will never sit back and watch the situation develop in this direction."

Fan Zhongyun said in a deep voice: "You are right, so we must get rid of Zhan Bai, the stumbling block, and force peace through war."

After speaking, Fan Zhongyun continued: "Secondly, by nature, people can share hardships most of the time, but it is difficult to share wealth and honor. Before Zhan Bai, the countries in the Western Regions, no matter how big or small, were under the rule of the Dashi Empire.

Everyone is equal. Now that Zhan Bai is the leader and has defeated the Dashi Empire, firmly holds the military power, and has the idea of ​​unifying the Western Regions, it may be difficult for the senior leaders of the Western Regions to balance it, because once Zhan Bai unifies the Western Regions, he will definitely

It will implement a centralized and dictatorial emperor system. I am afraid that most of the top officials in the Western Region are not willing to see a country with a dictatorship and centralized power."

Li Xun said: "The people at the bottom of the Western Regions are probably yearning for a unified dictatorship and centralized power in the Western Regions."

Sima Tu smiled and said: "My lord, the main financial and physical resources in the Western Region are in the hands of a few high-level officials. If Zhan Bai does not get the support and help of these people, he will not be able to accomplish great things by relying on the people at the bottom."

Li Xun nodded. What Sima Tu said makes sense. Whether it was the ancient times of that world or the ancient times of this world, several large-scale people's riots had shaken the foundation of the country. Even the Chu Dynasty was directly involved in the people's rebellion.

Although the country was destroyed, most of the regimes established by the common people eventually failed. What is the reason? Without the support of the gentry and landlord aristocratic groups, their regimes cannot last long. This is true for all countries.

Fan Zhongyun stretched out his third finger: "Third, the overall situation, what is the overall situation of the Western Regions? Although the countries in the Western Regions defeated the Dashi Empire under the leadership of Zhan Bai, what is the direction of future development? Regarding this, Zhan Bai has

Ideas and plans, but they are just Zhan Bai's wishful thinking. The thinking of the countries in the Western Regions is still inherent, that is, they do not want to make progress and protect their own interests. Zhan Bai recruited troops on a large scale to fight against the Dashi Empire, and now he is fighting against us.

When the war started, where did the money and food come from? It didn't come from the high-ranking nobles of the Western Regions. After the war in the past few years, Zhan Bai gained great success and reputation, but what about the high-ranking nobles of the Western Regions? Apart from them,

Besides losing a lot of money and food, what do you get?"

Li Xun smiled and said: "According to your opinion, we are still prepared to disintegrate Zhan Bai from within."

Fan Zhongyun smiled lightly: "Subduing the enemy's troops without fighting is a good thing."

Sima Tu also smiled and said: "Although the Dashi Empire was wiped out, there are still a large number of Dashi people in the Western Regions. Coupled with the invasion of the Persian Empire, a large number of Dashi refugees poured into the Western Regions. To deal with these Dashi people, the countries in the Western Regions adopted cruel oppression methods. Dashi

People are like pigs and dogs. Now all the main forces of the countries in the Western Region are concentrated here. The power of each country is empty. We only need to provoke it a little..."

Sima Tu didn't finish speaking, but the meaning was already clear.

Li Xun squinted his eyes, a smile appeared on his face, and he suddenly had many thoughts in his heart.
Chapter completed!