At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty

At the end of May and the beginning of June in the fourth year of Yande, the Wei Empire entered a short period of rest.

The war in Yizhou will not be fought for a while, the war against bandits in Yangzhou is basically over, and the war in the south of the Yangtze River has come to an end.

Mr. Guo can finally not invest a lot of energy and resources in the south, and the treasury can take a breather. Instead of continuously exporting to the south of the Yangtze River, more resources can be sent to the Hexi Corridor, enhancing the strategic position of the Hexi Corridor. and strategic strength.

Not to mention that during this period, someone Guo was planning a big conspiracy against Wusun.

Ma Yuan followed the business travel team that left Luoyang and returned to Guishuang Empire all the way to Hexi. In Dunhuang County, Ma Yuan and Long Lihe, who had returned with a full load, bid farewell to Putiai and Saqi.

Ma Yuan asked Sa Qi to do a good job as an interpreter, and helped the foreign ministry envoy officially sent by the Wei Empire to the Guishuang Empire to conclude an alliance agreement to successfully complete the task.

"Don't worry, I will definitely complete this task."

Saqi was appreciated by Guo Peng because of his proficiency in multiple languages. Guo Peng felt that this was a rare talent, so he wanted to keep him.

So Guo Peng planned to appoint Sa Qi as an official in the Wei Empire, and allowed him to enter the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an official to train language talents for the Wei Empire, and asked him if he would like to come to Wei to be an official.

Sa Qi was flattered, he never expected that His Majesty the Emperor of the Heavenly Kingdom would appreciate him, and he immediately expressed his willingness to serve the Wei Kingdom for the rest of his life.

Then I plan to go back to Dawan and talk to the king of Dawan and his family, and then bring the family, and then return to Luoyang with the Wei Empire envoys to serve as officials.

Ma Yuan was very happy about this, and the two agreed to see each other in Luoyang.

After parting, Ma Yuan took Guo Peng's secret warrant and found Cao Ren, who was wearing a coarse cloth bunt and helping the civilian husband to build the road with the soldiers on the road construction site in the west of Dunhuang County.

Like Le Jin, Cao Ren was also idle and bored, so he took off his general's armor and joined the soldiers to help the peasants build roads, maintain law and order and speed up road construction.

When Ma Yuan found Cao Ren, Cao Ren was waving tools and digging non-stop.

Knowing that the emperor's secret envoy had arrived, Cao Ren turned his head, saw Ma Yuan, and immediately smiled.

Then Cao Ren wiped the sweat off his face, drank a large bowl of water, and sat down with Ma Yuan under the shed some distance away from the road construction site, chatting while resting in the shade.

"Your Majesty intends to use force against Wusun?"

Cao Ren was a little surprised at once. He looked around and saw that there was no one around, so he felt relieved and lowered his throat: "Didn't you say to wait until the road is repaired?"

"It's natural to wait for the road to be repaired, but there are a large number of countries in the Western Regions, and some countries have stronger military power and larger populations. If we fight together at that time, His Majesty is worried that the general will have some problems in fighting, so he intends to start the war as much as possible. The biggest obstacle was weakened before."

"The biggest obstacle..."

Cao Ren narrowed his eyes: "It's Wusun. I heard from Wen Lie before that Wusun Guoshao said that he also has a population of 40. If there is a decisive battle, the big and small Kunmi join hands, and they may be able to pull out 5 people." The troops with more than one man are still cavalry, which is indeed a challenge for our army."

"Therefore, Your Majesty cannot allow the big and small Kunmi of Wusun Kingdom to have the opportunity to unite."

Ma Yuan said in a low voice: "Your Majesty intends to use a trick to let the big and small Kunmi fight first, and then find a chance to kill a few people, and put the blame on the big or small Kunmi, and then Cao Duhu will lead the armies of the Western Regions." Attack Wusun to consume the military power of the countries in the Western Regions."

"What kind of plan?"

Cao Ren asked.

"Anything out of nothing."

Ma Yuan smiled: "Wusun Kingdom once had a story of getting married with Princess Xijun and Princess Jieyou of the former Han Dynasty. The big and small Kunmi were split from the joint efforts of Emperor Xiaoxuan and Princess Jieyou of the Western Han Dynasty. I don't know if the big Kunmi is There is also the blood of Princess Jieyou, but he claims to have the blood of Princess Jieyou.

Wusun has such a past, so he must know what it means to get married with Wei, so I suggest that Your Majesty go to the territory of Da Kunmi and Xiao Kunmi to spread rumors, saying that the big and small Kunmi went to Luoyang to propose marriage to His Majesty, asking for a marriage Intend. "

"what?"

Cao Ren was taken aback: "Your Majesty's eldest daughter is only nine years old. The Guo family's daughters are fine, but... wait! It doesn't seem right, why are they fighting?"

"How could His Majesty agree to Wusun's marriage?"

Ma Yuan had a mocking look on his face: "Emperor Xiaowu of Han used to win over Wusun to fight against the Xiongnu, so he let the princess go to marry him, but now that the Huns are no longer there, and Xianbei fled to the north, what is the value of Wusun? It's just an obstacle Forget it, obstacles, how can you have the right to make peace with the daughter of Emperor Wei?"

"Then what do you mean?"

Cao Ren looked at Ma Yuan.

"It's just a cover-up. Spreading the news to their territories will inevitably lead to competition between the two sides. They will definitely prepare each other and set off to Luoyang first with the pro-team. Let's ambush people on their only way, kill them! Then... ..."

Ma Yuan didn't finish his sentence, but Cao Ren already knew what it meant.

"I see. Is it really feasible to provoke a civil war between Kunmi and Kunmi? They won't doubt it?"

"So what about doubts? But if there is a slight possibility, who would dare to bear such consequences? And as far as I can see, the tense atmosphere between the big and small Kunmi is no less than the state before the war.

The state between them is a state where war will inevitably start if there is any disturbance, doubt?This is an upright conspiracy. He has no choice but to choose him in front of him. At that time, it will be the time for me to reap great benefits during Wei's intervention. "

Ma Yuan took a deep breath: "Your Majesty asked the general to send more weapons, horses, and fodder to Cao Duhu, and let Cao Duhu make some preparations so that he can better deal with this matter at that time."

Cao Ren nodded.

"No problem, I'll arrange it right away."

After Ma Yuan and Cao Ren continued to discuss some matters, it happened that it was lunch time, and Cao Ren asked Ma Yuan to stay and have lunch together on the construction site.

"The grace given by His Majesty, the people who come to participate in the road construction are given three meals a day, one meal is dry and two meals are dry, and the salt is enough, so the locals are willing to come as long as they have extra labor at home, and some are young and strong. women, or little dolls who can do some light manual labor have come."

Cao Ren pointed to the people who lined up for cooking: "It can be regarded as giving them a full meal and saving some food. After all, the four Hexi counties have not had time to do more development since the end of the war, and the food production is very low."

Ma Yuan nodded.

"Your Majesty's benevolence, this is the blessing of the world."

With that said, Ma Yuan and Cao Ren had a meal together, simple barley rice and some pickled vegetables, not big fish or meat, but enough.

"You came here at the wrong time. You will be given a meal of meat every five days. You just ate it yesterday, but today you don't have it."

Cao Ren held the rice bowl and gulped down the grilled rice, the kind of barley rice that didn't even remove the shell, the taste was quite rough.

Ma Yuan asked with a smile: "The general also eats this kind of food? Will he not get used to it?"

"I've gotten used to it a long time ago. I have been eating wheat rice in the army for so many years."

Cao Ren shook his head: "Your Majesty, as long as you lead troops in the army, you will eat the same food as the soldiers. This kind of food was considered the best food back then.

You don't know, at the earliest time, when His Majesty brought me to work in Shanggu County, what we ate at that time. "

As he spoke, Cao Ren sighed.

"Earlier, when we were in the army, we couldn't have enough to eat. Later, His Majesty spent money to buy food, and took us to cultivate the fields. After exhausting his energy, he supplied the food in the army so that everyone could eat. Serve with porridge, or rice with rice.

After fighting for so many years and meeting so many enemies, every time the captives came, they said that they didn’t have enough to eat in the army. Except for our Wei army, which army in the world can pat their chests and say that they didn’t suffer a meal. too hungry?

It’s good to have rice and wheat. It’s really not delicious, but it’s enough to fill your stomach. There are enough pickles and pickles in the team.Thought this was Luoyang? "

Cao Ren shook his head, and continued to gorge on the rice, eating in the same way as the soldiers and common people around him.

As far as Ma Yuan knew, Cao Ren's family did not own property.

Cao Ren relied on Guo Peng's reward and his military position's own generous salary and food town to live, and his life was quite affluent, and he would not be short of money.

It is worth noting that the more than 3000 mu of land awarded by Guo Peng to Cao Ren was rejected by Cao Ren.

So Guo Peng added Cao Ren's food town, making his food town the highest among the officials.

Then he rewarded his two sons with titles and salaries, making him stable and rich.

Ma Yuan didn't know why Cao Ren refused to accept the land rewarded by Guo Peng, but Guo Peng was very happy about it and praised Cao Ren.

Apart from other things, Ma Yuan has a very bad feeling towards courtiers and generals who have tenants, land and manors in their families.

And Cao Ren, as one of the few high-ranking imperial officials who do not receive land rewards and do not own private property, is very rare in Ma Yuan's view.

Especially in the case of other relatives in his clan who all have countless fertile land manors and tenants, such as Cao Hong, who has countless family properties and industries all over the states of the Central Plains, this kind of thing is even more rare.

But this can only prove that Cao Ren's personal integrity is better. In the entire Cao clan, the only one who can compare with him in integrity is his younger brother Cao Chun.

Who are the other Caos?

One is richer than the other, and one has more property than the other.

After all, they are descendants, relatives of the emperor, how could they be short of money?

Thinking about it, even if Cao Ren or Cao Chun fell into trouble and the middle way was defeated, their descendants would not be treated harshly by the Cao family.

With the backing of the clan, personal conduct becomes relatively easy. Anyway, there must always be someone who is a good person, and someone who will always be a bad person, giving people a feeling that the same clan is not of the same mind.

But in the final analysis, no one will lose anyone if they are united in the same spirit.

The lecturers in the training camp were right. Every smart clan always has some unusual ones.

So Ma Yuan continued to bury his head and gorge on the rice.

This rice is delicious.

Chapter 1035 unity does not exist

After a meal, Ma Yuan left Yumen Pass in the afternoon.

Leaving Yumen Pass for the Western Regions, he soon met up with the spies from the Linzi camp who had arrived earlier in Liuzhong City, and started his own operation.

It was the beginning of June in the fourth year of Yande.

Around the end of June, a news of unknown origin suddenly spread in the territory of Wusun Dakunmi.

Little Kunmi Atami is planning to send people to Luoyang with gifts to ask Wei Tianzi Guo Peng to marry the princess. He is willing to be the son-in-law of China, guard the border of the Western Regions for China, and be a vassal forever.

The news spread quickly. Although the source was unknown, it quickly reached Da Kunmi Xinlimi's ears.

It has only been two years since Xinlimi inherited the position of Da Kunmi, and he is only in his 20s. He is still a young Da Kunmi.

Compared with Atami, who is in his 40s and has been on the throne for more than ten years, his ruling foundation is not so solid.

Therefore, at the beginning when he inherited his father's position, a thousand families in the Great Kunmi Territory were deceived by Atami and moved to Atami's Small Kunmi Territory, which made Xinlimi very annoyed, and once led troops to question , the two armies were at a stalemate.

Later, the elders of the big and small Kunmi came forward to mediate between the two, saying that they are both from Wusun, and there are distinctions between the big and the small Kunmi, but there should be no distinction between the enemy and the enemy.

Little Kunmi's behavior is a bit unethical, so she should apologize, and big Kunmi should not resort to violence, both sides are at fault.

In the end, Xiao Kunmi presented Da Kunmi with [-] cattle and sheep each as an apology, and the [-] households lost by Da Kunmi belonged to Xiao Kunmi.

Obviously, this is Sony's loss.

It's not that Xinlimi doesn't want to take revenge, but Atami's army is stronger and more prestigious than him.

He came to the throne not long ago, he was still very young, and his prestige was not enough. If he really wanted to fight, it is estimated that Da Kunmi's subordinates might not wholeheartedly fight for Xin Li Mi.

After feeling the internal doubts and weakness, the veteran of Xinlimi's father came forward to find the old man on Atami's side to do crisis public relations and launch a diplomatic offensive.

It was hard to save some face for Xin Li Mi, otherwise, if there was a real fight, Xin Li Mi would probably be defeated.

However, after this incident happened, some of Da Kunmi's subordinates directly believed that Xinlimi was weak and not a reliable hero, and they had feelings of distrust towards him.

This can't be blamed on Xinlimi, the big and small Kunmi has had some problems since its birth.

Da Kunmi was established entirely with the support of the Han Empire, which is equivalent to a slave regime and a puppet regime of the Han Empire.

The original intention of the Han Empire was to have the first Great Kunmi be the Lord of Wusun, but the Wusun people refused to recognize it and strongly resisted, so they had no choice but to toss out the big and small Kunmi.

But because the emergence of the Great Kunmi relied on the prestige and coercive power of the Han Empire, the little Kunmi was the real master of Wusun in the hearts of the Wusun people, so although the big Kunmi was powerful, the little Kunmi had the hearts of the people.

For hundreds of years, there have been constant conflicts and disputes between the big and small Kunmi, but the moral disadvantage of the big Kunmi runs through all the time, while the small Kunmi has traditional moral advantages.

After so many years, the power of the big Kunmi is actually weakening, but the power of the little Kunmi is growing. The population of the big and small Kunmi is almost the same, and the little Kunmi still has the upper hand.

Because of this, when the Wei Empire returned to the Western Regions, Big Kunmi was more active and proactive than Little Kunmi.

Xinlimi is planning how to use the prestige of the Wei Empire to benefit himself.

For this reason, he even brought up the blood of Princess Jieyou, whom he didn't even know existed, in order to gain some benefits from the Wei Empire.

In the end, I suddenly heard that little Kunmi Atami was going to send someone to Luoyang to marry Princess Wei, please become the country of Weng and son-in-law with Wei, and guard the border forever for Wei.

As soon as the news reached Xinlimi, Xinlimi was immediately overwhelmed with shock.

He immediately called the elders of the clan to discuss this matter with the elders of the clan.

The incident happened suddenly, and the elders of the clan were also very surprised. After careful inquiry, they found that the news spread without a specific source, and they expressed doubts about it.

"I only know that Emperor Wei has established a crown prince, but I have never heard that Emperor Wei has appointed a princess. Who is Atami asking for marriage? Is this news true? Isn't it a rumor?"

A highly respected elder offered his opinion.

This view is recognized by everyone, and they feel that this news is not reliable, and the source of the news should be further investigated, so as to determine whether it is true or not.

Xinlimi seemed a little impatient.

"I'll send someone to investigate immediately, but no matter whether the news is confirmed or not, we have to be prepared. If Atami really has that plan, no matter what, we can't let him go to Luoyang!"

There was a cold light in Xin Limi's eyes, and his words were full of murderous intent.