The night in the Western Region is lonely.
?Zhang Liao was sitting by the campfire, with the light and shadow on his face looming.
?Different from later generations of animation, or movies and TV shows, big men do not wear cosmetics. Wind and frost will leave marks on people''s faces and hands, and will also settle under light and shadow.
No one has spoken for a long time.
??The bonfire was crackling.
There seemed to be wild wolves howling in the wilderness in the distance.
Ever since the forward scouts reported back the situation of Lu Bu''s troops in Qiuci, no one has spoken.
?Zhang Liao didn''t want to say anything, and others didn''t know what to say. He marched silently, set up camp silently, cooked dinner in silence, and listened silently to the howling night wind and the howling of wolves around him.
?Everything was really beyond their expectation!
?Lu Bu actually attacked Kucha? Lu Bu not only attacked Qiuci, but also massacred the royal city of Qiuci! Not only that, Lu Bu also killed the monks in Kucha, pushed down the Buddha statues, and chopped off the Buddha''s head...
?Such behavior brought a strong backlash. Not only the people of Kucha were resisting, but even the countries in other areas, such as the Yarkand area, seemed to be secretly gathering to prepare to fight against Lu Bu.
This is a terrible thing.
What''s even more frightening is that Lu Bu doesn''t seem to care at all about all this.
??Lu Bu just kills people, kills more people, kills everyone who stands in front of him...
These unimaginable pieces of news jumped out of the mouths of the forward scouts one after another. The group of people, including Zhang Liao, almost seemed to have lost the ability to speak when faced with so much shocking news at once.
Especially Zhang Liao.
??Lu Bu is no longer what Zhang Liao thought he was.
To kill.
Before Lu Bu was in the north and in Jiuyuan, he often killed barbarians. However, at that time, Lu Bu only killed those barbarians who came to Han to burn, kill and plunder. On weekdays, if he met ordinary barbarians in the grasslands and deserts, , Lu Bu didn''t know how to do anything, and even ate, herded sheep, raced horses, and competed with them...
Now, it’s just killing people.
Kill the Kucha people, saying that the Kucha people are rebelling.
Kill the monks and say that the monks are deceiving the people.
Even the Buddha statues were pushed to the ground and their heads were chopped off to kill them. What can a Buddha statue do? Made of clay or carved from stone, they neither bite nor scream...
Lü Bu seemed to be in complete chaos.
? Lu Bu seemed to have no idea what such behavior meant.
??Lu Bu seems to have lost the kind of judgment that an army general should have.
By killing people, can the place be stabilized?
? ? Killing people will lead to eternal achievements?
?If this were the case, it would not have been the Yan-Huang Alliance in ancient times, but Chi You would have dominated.
The surrounding area is very quiet.
It was so quiet that you could hear everyone''s heavy breathing and rapid heartbeat.
In such an extremely depressing silence, with every crack of the bonfire burning and the occasional snort of the war horses, Zhang Liao looked at the guards around him and whispered, "The Protector of the Western Regions is no longer what it used to be." For example...it''s someone who made a mistake, trying to dissuade him here may not be effective..."
??The guard beside Zhang Liao nodded, and then looked at Zhang Liao.
?Most of them didn''t have any special ideas, they just knew to follow Zhang Liao, listen to Zhang Liao''s orders, and protect Zhang Liao. There are also a small number of people who have some ideas, but most of the time, their ideas are not important, except when even Zhang Liao himself is a little confused.
‘I want to hear your thoughts…’ Zhang Liao said.
Zhang Liao hesitated.
All the fearless acts in history have a fear of death behind them. Fear of death, fear of failure, fear of the unknown is human nature. Analyzing the pros and cons and weighing the pros and cons is the basis of most people''s behavior except for reckless people.
Before Zhang Liao came to the Western Regions, he thought that Lu Bu''s problem was not too big. It might be due to poor communication, being deceived by Wei Xu in the Western Regions, or some other carelessness. After all, Lu Bu''s character was like this. From being an official to becoming the current Protector-in-Chief, he was impulsive, irritable, soft-eared, and lack of opinion, which almost accounted for most aspects of Lu Bu''s personality. Therefore, at first Zhang Liao felt that he still had a chance to persuade Lu Bu to come back. As long as he came in front of Lu Bu, talked about the past, talked about their friendship, and communicated well between Fei Qian and Lu Bu, maybe this disaster could be solved. Eliminated.
But when he arrived in Xihai City, Zhang Liao discovered that things had actually worsened. The rotten officials have eaten up the Western Region like moths, and the greedy generals have ruined the original prestige. Lu Bu, the Great Protector of the Western Regions, seemed to be sitting on a bone throne that could collapse at any time. It looked huge, but in fact it was decayed.
??This was beyond Zhang Liao''s surprise, but Zhang Liao still felt that there might be a glimmer of hope, for the Hussar, for Lu Bu, and for himself...
?But now, after Zhang Liao received the news from the forward scouts, Zhang Liao could not even see this line of life.
Let’s fight…
Yes, conquest is indeed important, but endless conquest will only lead to destruction.
The army is very important, but only the army. A country without construction is very fragile and does not have any self-regeneration ability. As long as there is a small wound, it will eventually bleed to death because it cannot be healed.
??So Lu Bu had no problem killing horse thieves, rebels, and enemies, but he couldn''t point the butcher knife at ordinary people.
Even if it is sophistry, lies, or nonsense, these people are thieves when they get on their horses, so they must be killed before they get on their horses...
?This is like grabbing a random person on the street, pronouncing a sentence and reprimanding him, and then indicating that this person will be guilty in the future and should be executed.
Can all people really guarantee that they will not do anything wrong in their lives? If the answer is no, then of course he will be killed. If the answer is yes, then he is lying and killed.
?This kind of random killing of civilians is disgusting and outrageous no matter what era it is in, and may even trigger large-scale resistance.
Because this behavior is very absurd and naturally violates the basis of all order.
??And once there is no order, where is the Great Protector of the Western Regions who was established as the defender of order? Where is the protection?
The Great Protector of the Western Regions is a banner of the Han Dynasty!
Now Lu Bu is almost destroying this flag. Even if the Hussars send people to rebuild and erect the flag again in the future, it will definitely be more difficult, more troublesome, and more costly.
?Zhang Liao exhaled and said in a low voice: "We have already taken action in Xihai City. Now if we catch up with the Great Protector... what do you think?" 』
?Most of the guards knew what Zhang Liao meant.
?Everyone''s heart suddenly tightened.
?However, no one was swayed by this. They are Zhang Liao''s guards, Zhang Liao''s sword, and Zhang Liao''s shield. So they all looked at Zhang Liao and did not answer this seemingly complicated yet simple question.
全二. 』
『My subordinates are here! ” Quan Er straightened up and responded.
What do you think? 』
Everyone listens to the command of the Lord! Zhang Liao nodded, then turned to ask another person, "Sun Laosan, what about you?" 』
『I also obey all the orders of the general! 』
Han Zheng? 』
“Subordinate, I don’t have any ideas. I will do whatever the master says.” 』
??The guard beside Han Zheng saw Zhang Liao''s eyes turning to him, and said in a deep voice, "We all obey the general, and we will obey the general''s orders in everything!" 』
Zhang Liao smiled, then shook his head, "This is the biggest problem..."
"ah? ” All the guards were stunned and looked at each other, confused.
Zhang Liao lowered his eyes and watched the light and shadow of the bonfire dancing under his feet, either to himself or to the guards around him, "You are my guards. Of course you listen to me. There seems to be no problem... Then Dadu Naturally, the guards of the guards listen to the guards of the capital... The guards of the hussars also obey the guards of the hussars... Of course there is no problem. You can''t have the guards of the guards listen to me... Haha..."
?Zhang Liao laughed softly twice, and the guards around him also laughed inexplicably, but they still couldn''t quite understand what Zhang Liao meant.
Zhang Liao suppressed his smile and said, "One person can''t do much. After all, one person only has twelve hours in a day... This is what Qiao Qi said. If you want to achieve great things, you must have more people working together." To do something... is like building a house. If only one person builds a wooden house, it may take a year, but if there are ten people, it may only take a month. If there are a hundred people, it may only take a day, or even Half a day... This is what Hussar calls "unity"..."
?Taking building a house as an example, all the guards could understand and nodded.
“But what if...the people who came to build a house were divided into two groups, and one group said they should start from the left side of the house first, and the other group said they should start from the right side? ” Zhang Liao said slowly, “Those who want to build from the left will only listen to the leader on the left, and those on the right will only listen to the one on the right. Both sides have reasons... So, how are we going to build this house? 』
The guards were stunned for a moment.
?Han Zheng hesitated and said, "Let the owner of the house choose from the left or the right?" 』
『The owner of the house said that he would start building from the foundation. ” Zhang Liao smiled, but his smile was a little bitter.
…” All the guards looked at each other in confusion.
??Han Zheng guessed something about Zhang Liao''s meaning and said: "General, you mean...the Western Regions?" Are you building a house too? 』
"Um. ” Zhang Liao nodded and took a breath, “I know that some of you have had some friendship with Da Duhu’s men...”
Zhang Liao''s bodyguard was also with the bodyguards of Lu Bu, Gao Shun and others when they were in Luoyang. Although it was said that it was lost or supplemented later, some of them knew Lu Bu and were also with Lu Bu''s bodyguards. More or less a friendship.
It is like the friendship between Zhang Liao and Lu Bu.
Zhang Liao looked around and said, "But friendship is friendship. Now... the Great Protector is obviously not following the orders of the hussar... So... when it is really necessary for you to raise your swords and guns against your old friends... will you obey my general order?" 』
The faces of the guards, including Han Zheng, suddenly turned pale. They did not expect Zhang Liao to say this.
Zhang Liao brought a scepter, not a yue.
The scepter can be used to kill officials below a thousand stones first and then punish them, while the official rank of the Great Protector is two thousand stones.
The Jie Yue is only available to the Hussar, so the Hussar can appoint an official with two thousand shi, which is no problem, but Zhang Liao cannot.
The guards did not expect Zhang Liao to say this at all. They have never imagined what they should say and do in this situation...
The friends of the past may no longer be able to sit together.
?Han Zheng tightened his face and straightened his back. He swallowed several mouthfuls of saliva and still didn''t know how to answer. He secretly looked at Quan Er and the others, but he found that to his disappointment, these people didn''t seem to have any answers. Han Zheng tried to look at Zhang Liao''s face, looking for an answer from Zhang Liao''s face, but he found that Zhang Liao''s face was like a wood carving and clay sculpture, as indifferent as the Gobi beaches in the Western Regions. A thick layer of sludge and dust, like a mud shell, hid all the expressions on Zhang Liao''s face.
?Zhang Liao lowered his eyelids and lowered his gaze, stopping at a stone in front of him. He seemed to be suddenly very interested in the stone, watching the stone''s shadow grow longer or shorter, left or right, under the swaying of the bonfire.
?Sun Laosan coughed, and it seemed that he made his choice not long after, "Subordinate, naturally I will follow my lead..."
Zhang Liao raised his head, with no expression on his face. He neither nodded to confirm Sun Laosan''s decision nor commented on Sun Laosan''s statement. His eyes slowly but resolutely moved to Quan Er''s face. Zhang Liao didn''t speak, but looked at Quan Er with a very calm look.
Not only the houses in the Western Regions have a group of people on the left and a group of people on the right, but even Zhang Liao''s own guards are actually divided into several groups.
Zhang Liao''s own relatives, such as members of the Zhang clan like Zhang Chen who had been killed in battle, have been defecting to him one after another in recent years, and they are considered to be the group of people who have the closest relationship with Zhang Liao.
Quan''er class is a group of people recruited in the Heluo area in the early days. There are people from Bingzhou and Xiliang. They are considered to be the guards of the older generation.
?? Sun Laosan was expanded by Zhang Liao in Hanzhong. He had only been with Zhang Liao for a short time and did not have much affection for Lu Bu. He was considered a new generation of Zhang Liao''s guards.
Han Zhengze is different again. He has nothing to do with the so-called old and new. He is from Xiliang in Longyou. He has read books, studied scriptures, and knows some arithmetic, so he represents relatively knowledge. The group with a higher level and a relatively better background...
Han Zheng did not look at Zhang Liao. He lowered his head and said: "The Great Protector is personally appointed by Hussar. If the general does not have the order of Hussar... After all, the responsibility of the Great Protector can determine the advance and retreat of the Western Region Army... General, if this is the case, Come and accuse the Protector-General. The Protector-General and his subordinates will probably not listen to the general..."
"Yes, the Great Protector does have the authority to command the soldiers of the Western Regions..." Zhang Liao nodded and said, "But this is not what I want to pursue..."
??Han Zheng was silent, and after a long time he said, "General...the officials in Xihai City...are different from the Protector of the Great War after all...it''s really different...if one day in the future...General, you also reach the position of Protector of the Great..."
Zhang Liao was not angry. He nodded, "I know this... so when I killed those officials in Xihai City, I did not hesitate, but now I hesitate... This is not a good thing. It can even be said that arrogant Han San For four hundred years, this cannot be considered a good thing..."
Zhang Liaoxu said, but his tone gradually became heavier, like the night wind whistling on the fields, "I can really just take a trip like this, just a trip, and then meet with Dadu... No, It may not even be necessary to meet... In view of our past friendship, the Protectorate may not embarrass me. Then I can return to Chang''an to resume my life, express that I can''t do anything, and let the Qiusi take action... In this way, I don''t need to carry the "good skills" on my back. You don''t have to take too many risks even if you commit the crime of "killing"... Isn''t this great? But I can''t do it...I can''t do it! 』
?Zhang Liao''s voice rose, bringing out a faint anger, rising like a flame, "I must go there myself!" I need to see if it''s the Great Protector... or this **** Wei Xu! 』
Wei Xu! Shuzi! ” Zhang Liao called Wei Xu by his first and last name, obviously unable to suppress his anger, “Who is this Wei Xu? ! He deceived the superiors and subordinates in Xihai City. Apart from being arrogant and domineering, apart from grabbing credit, apart from deceiving and lying, apart from embezzling money, what did he do? What good things did he do in the Western Sea? What good things did he do in the Western Region? 』
?Zhang Liao said angrily, with anger burning in his eyes, "I need to bring the charges against Wei Xu collected by Inspector Zhang to the Great Protector!" Let the Great Protector know how many evil things this Wei Xu has done behind his back! 』
"No matter what happens to the Great Protector..." Zhang Liao''s eyes swept over the guards, "I will deal with Wei Xu first!" Even if this makes Da Duhu dissatisfied, I must deal with Wei Xu first! 』
?Zhang Liao said this, but he actually knew in his heart that without Lu Bu''s acquiescence, Wei Xu might not be able to do such a disgusting and hateful thing, but this is Lu Bu''s only way out. A strong man cuts off his wrist, puts down his sword and spear, and returns to the mulberry fields. He may not be able to live forever. The blame can only be borne by Wei Xu, and it can only be attributed to Wei Xu. If it falls on Lu Bu, the trouble will be big.
Zhang Liao did not want Lu Bu to take the wrong path again.
Lü Bu took the wrong path before, but there are other paths he can take...
After all, Lu Bu was still young and still had the opportunity to try and make mistakes, but now Lu Bu is no longer young and has no chance to try and make mistakes. Now Lu Bu is not only the Great Protector of the Western Regions, but also involves more...
Including involving Zhang Liao himself.
So, if all the problems can be controlled on Wei Xu, there may be hope.
Zhang Liao sincerely hoped that this would be the case.
?Quan Er looked at Han Zheng, then at Sun Laosan, "We all listen to the general..."
Sun Laosan nodded and said, "That''s right, listen to the general!" 』
?Han Zheng was silent for a while and said, "General, we all listen to you...but if anything happens...most of them will protect him..."
?Zhang Liao exhaled and fell silent. After a long time, he said with an indescribable heavy tone, "That''s really a bad thing..."