Aspirations for Nation and Beauty: Chapter 29: Continuing Cross

The biennial joint meeting of the countries of the Western Regions was held as scheduled on January 28, 695 in the Chinese calendar in the suburbs of Bega, the capital of Bega. The meeting site is located on the shore of the beautiful Lake Baikal. Thousands of acres of green and lush pines and forests are particularly spectacular. This Yunxiu Villa is the private property of the king's family of Baikal, covering an area of ​​more than 1,000 mu. A small canal was introduced from Lake Baikal into the villa, forming a small lake. The scenery is very beautiful, and the willows beside the lake are graceful Pleasant, but different from the bold and majestic style of the ancient pines and cypresses on the outer layer.

The joint meeting of the countries of the Western Regions is a meeting held by the countries of the Western Regions to strengthen the ties between countries, promote economic and commercial exchanges between countries, discuss major issues related to local affairs, and resolve conflicts among countries. The meeting is held at the beginning of the single year, and the participants include the monarchs, crown princes and important ministers of various countries. In the past dozens of joint meetings, the countries of the Western Regions did not make any major breakthroughs on any major issues. The monarchs of various countries regarded it more as a vacation, and they came here with their wives and children.

However, the atmosphere of this year's meeting of countries in the Western Regions is different from any previous one. In view of the increasingly tense surrounding situation, the countries have reached an agreement in the early preparatory meeting, and they are going to discuss some issues at this meeting. Important and deep-seated issues are discussed in secret, and the number of people attending the meeting has increased a lot compared with the previous session. Neighboring countries and regions also sent delegations of various sizes to attend the meeting as observers. For a while, the shores of Lake Baikal were surging.

With his hands behind his back, Su Qin quietly looked at the sparkling lake outside the window, "It's good to be sunny when the water is shimmering, and the mountains are also strange when it's empty and rainy. If you want to compare the West Lake to the West Lake, it's always suitable to wear light makeup and heavy makeup." Reciting the famous sentence of Su Shi, a famous poet of this dynasty and his ancestor of his own clan, Su Qin was intoxicated by the beautiful scenery outside the window, "The scenery of this little Baikal Lake is really no less than that of the West Lake in Yuhang."

"My lord." The door rang softly.

"What's the matter?" He frowned slightly, obviously a little unhappy that someone interrupted his elegant mood at this time.

"I'm sorry, my lord, His Royal Highness Watt is here to visit you." The person outside the door replied cautiously.

"Oh, please come in." Su Qin sighed. After all, he came here on a mission, and now is not the time to enjoy the scenery.

"Lord Su, it's been several months since we parted." Watt walked in with a majestic appearance. He walked up vigorously and held Su Qin's hands tightly according to the etiquette of the Tang people.

"I haven't had time to congratulate Your Highness. I only heard about it before I came here. Lord Li has returned to Beijing to report on his duties, and Lord Xiao is sitting in Qingyang again. I am here to congratulate you on behalf of them." Su Qin waved and the door opened. The attendant outside immediately presented a wooden box, gently lifted the lid, and a delicate and lifelike jade embossed image lay quietly inside, shining brightly.

"Thank you, sir. Please thank Master Li and Master Xiao for me." Watt's face showed a grateful expression. No matter what is in this wooden box, as long as someone has this new thing, it will not be easy. What's more, I can become one of my uncle's successors, and they have also played a great role, especially Doni, the internal affairs officer under my uncle, has contributed a lot, but Doni has a relationship with Li Wufeng, Xiao Tang and this Lord Su in front of him. Maintained a very good relationship.

He didn't refuse, just took it solemnly with both hands, observed it carefully, and then handed it to the attendant behind him outside the door.

"Your Highness, the scenery of Little Lake Baikal is pleasant, how about the two of us going out for a walk?" Su Qin suggested.

"Okay, I'm also planning to take some time to have a private chat with Mr. Su." Watt readily agreed, thinking that he knew that Su Qin's suggestion must have meaning.

Walking along the lake, Su Qin and Watt's entourage fanned out to guard the surrounding area. After all, this place is in someone's land. Although Bega has strengthened security measures, it is better to be more vigilant for careful consideration. .

"Your Highness, what do you think of this joint meeting of the countries of the Western Regions?" The lakeside is an oval embankment made of white stones. Although it is still a bit cold in the Western Regions in January, the lakeside is cleaned very clean and looks natural and harmonious. Full of a kind of simple beauty. Su Qin and Watt did not speak for a long time, and after walking a long distance, Su Qin raised the topic.

"I'm afraid this joint meeting is a bit different from the previous ones. The topics of discussion will probably focus on our two families. Last year we asked the countries in the Western Regions to provide more food and grass than in previous years. Although they reluctantly agreed in the end, But the seeds of contradictions have been planted, and our demand for food and grass this year will definitely not be lower than last year, and I guess their reaction will definitely be stronger by then, maybe they will discuss how to deal with it." The corner of Watt's mouth floated faintly With a wry smile, he gently raised his leg and kicked a small stone under his feet into the lake, and ripples suddenly appeared on the calm lake surface.

"The seeds were not planted last year. In fact, they were planted a long time ago. They were planted when you asked them for free assistance. No one is willing to give money and materials to others for free, let alone not for a year No one welcomes such a neighbor.” Su Qin corrected Watt’s statement, “It’s just that the conflicts intensified last year.”

"We don't want to either. If the people in our clan can live on, we don't want to do this kind of thing. But the climate on the prairie is changeable. If God doesn't open his eyes, we have nothing to do with the drought and snowstorm. This is the only way to survive. The year before last, we lost the war with the Chidi people and suffered heavy losses. The elders and nobles in the clan have long been dissatisfied. If we don’t seek some compensation, I’m afraid my uncle will not be able to sit still.” Watt explained.

"Your Highness, I don't intend to criticize your actions. For the sake of the survival of our own nation, it is understandable to do some actions that hurt other nations. It's just that this time the countries in the Western Regions seem to be in harmony. We have to guard against any big moves." Su Qin shook his head to indicate that Watt had misunderstood him, and reminded him.

"Oh?" Watt immediately became alert, "Could it be that the countries in the Western Regions still want to unite against us?"

"Things are not that simple. Take a closer look. Where else have people come this time? I heard that the Mott and the Quer people sent people, and even the Chidi people in the west A representative is here." Su Qin glanced at Watt meaningfully.

Watt was shocked when he heard the words, but he immediately replied: "It seems that the visitor is not kind, but I also heard that the surrounding areas in the northwest are very vigilant against Mr. Li's military expansion, especially when he heard that Mr. Song formed an army of three divisions, and also wanted to form a cavalry division in the northwest, including the people of Yinchuan Mansion and Xisluo, who were very sensitive to this move, so they also sent people to the joint meeting here Ah."

Su Qin smiled slightly, "Now that Northern Luzon has been incorporated into the empire's territory, it is natural to establish an armed force to defend the security of this area. It is not surprising. As for the establishment of a cavalry division, Master Li has this intention and also for Strengthening the protection of business travelers will make the troops more mobile."

The two exchanged glances and smiled knowingly. The alliance of the five countries in the Western Regions is a result that neither side wants to see, especially the Namot and Chidi people are also involved. If they really form an alliance, it is equivalent to forming an alliance against the Luobei people from the east, west and south. Although this encirclement is not stable, it is also intolerable to the Luobei people; and the Mote people have been uncharacteristically, they have been living in harmony with the Sithrow people last winter and this spring, and they have not fought each other like in previous years. One side felt a certain amount of pressure, if Sun Yuanliang from Yinchuan Mansion got involved again, it would pose a serious threat to Li Wufeng's base area.

"It seems that our goals are the same, Mr. Su, I think we should work hard according to our own ideas." Watt suggested with a smile.

"Hey, very good, just do as you said, I think the arrival of the two of us may make many people feel uncomfortable." Su Qin laughed.

In another villa at the same place, Haibal, the lord of Loulan Kingdom, who is full of energy, is having a secret conversation with Altay, the lord of Bega Kingdom, who is the guest of honor.

"Brother Altai, this joint meeting can be described as a gathering of talents. Not only did the Mott people and the Sithrow Empire send special envoys, but the Luobei people also sent one of their highnesses, and Li Wufeng's side even sent them Su Qin, one of the core figures of the team, seems to have really touched the nerves of all parties." Haibal said worriedly.

Altai, the lord of Bega, is also over fifty years old, with a huge ruby ​​gleaming on the kerchief on his head, a fat face full of red light, and he looks like a kind person. Among the monarchs of the Western Regions, he is only younger than Haibal, and his prestige is also higher.

"My brother is right. In the past, our joint meeting did not attract so many people's attention. Even the people from Luobei and Tanghe used to send random representatives to have a look, but this time It's quite different, but all the people who came here are heavyweights, and our Yunxiu Villa can be said to be a meeting of the wind and clouds." Altai still had that smiling look.

"Let's get down to business, brother, what do you think of my proposal last time to speed up the defense integration process of the countries in the Western Regions and form a joint force?" Haibar set his sights on Altai's fat face.

"Right now the Luobei people are advancing step by step, their appetites are getting bigger and bigger, and they ask for more and more 'aid' every year. The people of our five countries are complaining, but if they are not satisfied, then the Luobei people will We will take this opportunity to stir up trouble, originally we wanted to use the strength of that guy Li Wufeng to compete with the Luobei people~IndoMTL.com~ I didn’t expect this guy to be a wolf-hearted dog, and he would collude with the Luobei people for his own benefit, and instead refused to fight with us Forming an alliance, our situation is very difficult now. To meet the requirements of the Luobei people, they will inevitably push forward and demand endlessly, and our people will not agree. We will suffer even greater losses in the end." Altai's face was still rosy, but there was a cloud over it.

"Also, Li Wufeng in the east is frantically expanding his army and preparing for war. I heard that they have started to form a cavalry division in Northwest County as their independent quick-response force. In Northern Luzon in the south, they also have large-scale Forming an army and conducting military exercises there has already formed a situation of encircling the five countries in the Western Regions. From the bottom of my heart, I agree with the formation of a joint force, which can strengthen our strength. Once a war really breaks out, it will also be convenient Unify the command and give full play to the role. But I was thinking, can the formation of this joint force plus our respective armed forces be able to resist the aggression of the Luobei people and Li Wufeng?" Altai finally asked.

"That's a good question. Our own strength alone is not enough to fight the Luobei people. But you have to see this. Since the Luobei people were defeated by Li Wufeng and the Chidi people in succession a few years ago, their The strength has declined obviously. You can see from the current performance of the Namot people that the control of the Luobei people over the Mote people has been declining day by day. The status of the Luobei people is a threat, we are forming a powerful joint force, even if we cannot completely get rid of the Luobei people, at least we have a strong weight in our hands.” Haibar knew that Altai would not be persuaded to form a joint force His thoughts are just castles in the air, so he tried his best to analyze the gains and losses for him.