The night was surprisingly quiet, but there was no sound of insects around.

A lamp is like a bean, shining on a father and a son, a monk and a secular person in the big tent...

The reason why Yelu Ruan was ambitious to win the Khitan throne was because he was the eldest son and grandson of Yelu Abaoji, the founding emperor of the Khitan Kingdom. His appeal among the Khitan tribes and the Donghu tribes in the north of the Mo came from his father Yelu Bei. Therefore, during Yelu Bei's exile, Yelu Ruan did not dare not not pay close attention to his father's behavior. This attention was not only because of a father-son relationship, but also because Yelu Bei was the source of his prestige.

Therefore, Yelu Ruan was very clear about the process of Yelu Bei becoming a monk in the northwest. He knew that his father was not only extradited to Liangzhou by Lu Jialing during the chaos in the Central Plains, and became a monk, but also was named "the great master of the Vajra of Holy Consciousness". However, in Yelu Ruan's heart, he believed that all this was a political act. He looked at what happened to Yelu Bei from a political perspective, believed that Zhang Mai was using his father, and also believed that his father was forced to rely on Zhang Mai for survival.

But now, Yelu Ruan was a little shaken. Zanhua was right in front of him, but he was talking about Buddhist words. Even his expression was filled with pity, as if it was the compassion of a Bodhisattva. This compassion made Yelu Ruan very uncomfortable. He felt that it was not like his father. He subconsciously looked around and Zanhua asked, "What are you doing?"

Yelu Ruan lowered her voice and said, "Father, can anyone monitor you around?"

Zanhua smiled and said, "Why don't you take a look at it yourself?"

Yelu Ruan pulled up and saw no one in the patrol tent. He pondered slightly. He opened the door of the tent. Twelve pillars were erected outside the tent, with torches burning on the pillars, guarding the twelve directions. It formed a regular lotus shape, and the tent was in the center of the lotus. At a glance, there was no figure around the big tent, and only soldiers were patrolling outside the lotus column. In addition, there were two gatekeeper monks sitting upright outside the tent.

Yelu Ruanwei pondered and said to the two monks: "I have something to say to the master, please step down." He wanted to try whether they were obedient.

He was not careful for a moment and used Khitan dialect. When he wanted to use Chinese, he heard one of the monks answer in Khitan dialect: "Yes." Yelu Ruan felt his heart moved. When he looked at the two monks carefully, he found that they were still vaguely acquainted. He called out one of them: "Agala, yes!"

This monk is the knight who once served him! Looking at another person, he is not young and seems to be a Khitan. After careful consideration, he was not the trusted guard who escorted his father to the sea.

Agala saluted and said, "Prince, I am defeated and captured in battle, which is a humiliating Wu Ge, but I am also lucky to have the Living Buddha as a disciple and serve him."

He was not yet slandered for a long time. His Buddhist practice was not deep, and at this moment, he suddenly saw his old master and tears couldn't help but slump.

After meeting Agala, Yelu Ruan changed his understanding of Zanhua's situation greatly and thought to himself: "These two people are obviously the confidants of the father, not sent by Zhang Mai to monitor the father. It seems that although the father is in Zhang Mai's army, he still has a certain degree of autonomy."

When Agala was about to retreat, Yelu Ruan said instead: "No need, please be careful of the tent and do not allow others to approach. If someone approaches, you must give a voice to remind you."

Agala had already responded: "Yes." Another monk looked into the tent, but listened to Zanhua in the tent and said: "What does he tell me, do you do whatever he wants." The monk then responded: "Yes."

Yelu Ruan said in his heart: "The prestige of the father can command Agala, but my prestige cannot command the old people of the father." With Agala and others guarding the gate, he was no longer worried and turned around and entered. At this time, the clothes were still the same set of clothes, but the person no longer looked like a prisoner, restoring his dignity and confidence as a prince.

He went straight into the room, and first knelt down to Zanhua with Khitan etiquette and said, "Children, please see the father." This is a hint of kneeling down. This etiquette has a hint: it is to tell Zanhua that the next conversation is no longer a prisoner and a hostage, but a father and son of the Khitan royal family.

Zanhua did not change anything, raised his hand and said, "No need to perform common etiquette anymore."

Although Yelu Ruan was a little uncomfortable, he probably had been accustomed to the etiquette of monks since his father entered Buddhism, so he sat down in front of Zanhua. The father and son were separated by a small table, and there was still a butter lamp like beans. Yelu Ruan looked at Zanhua again and saw that his eyes and forehead were full of wrinkles, no longer the style he had when he left the Khitan. He couldn't help but feel a little sad, but this pain lasted for a short moment. Then he looked at Zanhua's eyes again, but Zanhua's eyes were as bright as gems. It was not dimmed as it was getting older, but instead was soaked with a light that could not be described in words. Under the sagging of these eyes, it made people feel like a Bodhisattva was drooping.

Yelu Bei had already deeply accepted the Han culture when he was in the Khitan. His father was like this, so his son was naturally affected. Therefore, Yelu Ruan did not understand Buddhism at all. At this time, he thought to himself: "The father may not be forced to enter Buddhism. It seems that he has really practiced in the past few years. To be fair, his father's martial arts skills are really inferior to his second uncle, and he cannot be compared with his grandfather. However, his essay skills are a genius in the Khitan tribe that has not been produced in a century. With such talent, wisdom and talent, it would be fine if he did not enter Buddhism. Once he entered Buddhism, it is not a strange thing to achieve great success. Zhang Mai's enthronement and the respect of all people, his father deserves it!"

When he didn't speak, Zanhua didn't speak. It was not until Yelu Ruan thought about how to speak that he said: "Master, what is the purpose of your trip north to Mobei this time?"

Zanhua's expression remained unchanged when facing the yellow lamp: "I just said that this trip was to uphold the compassion of my Buddha and to save the millions of people on the grassland and desert! Resolve the dispute between Hu and Han that is bound to occur every hundred decades under this sky!"

This is almost the same as before, but at this time, Yelu Ruan's feelings were completely different. When he heard this, his first reaction was that Zanhua was perfunctory to him. Then he guessed that Zanhua had to say such excuses because he was under surveillance. However, when he thought deeper, he suddenly had a new interpretation and thought to himself: "Zhang Mai may not be able to defeat my Khitan army, but even if he has a million troops in the Han family, he must not be able to stave off Mobei! Otherwise, Emperor Wu of Han would have turned this place into a county. I believe that his father had reached a secret discussion with Zhang Mai: Zhang Mai supports his father and seize control of Mobei, and after his father takes over Mobei, he will naturally cut off his second uncle!"

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel a conflict in my heart. If his guess was established, the Khitan would inevitably split at that time: Yelu Deguang, which was greatly weakened, and Zanhua, who was infiltrated and controlled by the New Tang regime in the west. At this point, the Khitan established two generations of hegemony, which would be completely overturned. Zhang entered the Central Plains, and the general trend of power towards Hu Han would be irreversible!

As a Khitan, this is something Yelu Ruan absolutely does not want to see. But one of his father and son is an exile and the other is a prisoner of war. If we look at the perspective of personal interests, will he and Yelube have better choices?

Thinking of this, Yelu Ruan couldn't help leaning forward and pressed one hand on the table. He said, "Master, if this matter is done, my father and son may become eternal sinners of the Khitan tribe. He will not have the shame to see the Emperor (A Baoji) after his death in the future!"

Zanhua smiled slightly. He stretched out his hand on Mayalu Ruan's head and said, "I still haven't realized it. The northern spread of Buddhism is the only right way. There is no other way! Mobei is in the hands of the Emperor. It is just a tool for conquest, and the people suffer. It is infinite merit to save the people from this suffering. Although the Emperor of Heaven is invincible, he has killed a lot throughout his life. I made this great vow, both for sentient beings and for the dead Emperor of Heaven. May one seventh of the meager merits I have accumulated, and can be dedicated to the father, so that he can escape the infinite sea of ​​suffering on the other side."

After hearing this passage, Yelu Ruan was a little confused again. Zanhua ended here tonight, without any divine words. "Does your father really want to do Buddhism? That's a ghost!"

But Zanhua's eyes made Yelu Ruan feel unquestionable! Suddenly, Yelu Ruan became a little irritable again. He felt that Zanhua was engaging in Buddhist accents, which made him feel that communication between father and son was a big obstacle! Now there are no outsiders, why can't the father and son say something well, but have to cover such a thick layer of Buddhist wisdom?

None of the bloodlines passed down by A Baoji had a good temper. Yelu Lihu wanted to kill people at any time, and Yelu Ruanke was no worse than his third uncle. It was just that he was facing his biological father at this time and tried his best to restrain himself.

Yelu Ruan thought for a long time, and finally found the eight characters "There is no other way" in Zanhua's words, and said to himself: "The father must think that Zhang Mai's dispute with his second uncle, and the second uncle will be defeated. He knew very well that my Khitan was in the northwest for a long time, and most of him knew Zhang Mai's background. He made such a judgment, and most of his reason. Well, even if I can escape back to the Khitan, the clan will look down on me again. I don't even want to win the throne of the emperor, even if I want to keep the three words "Yongkang King"."

Think about it, Yelu Deguang has always regarded Yelu Li and Hu as a snake or a scorpion, and he regards himself as a tiger or a wolf. He has to find an opportunity to get rid of himself without making any mistakes. Moreover, he has become a prisoner and a shame for the Khitan royal family. In this time, the worst will be dismembered from the corpse, and the worst will be exiled to the extremely remote and cold place and will never be able to turn over for the rest of his life.

Thinking of this, Yelu Ruan suddenly shuddered, and had a new understanding of Zanhua's "No other way" horoscope, and said: "The child already understands the master's mind and hardship, but Zhang Mai's side... is he really trustworthy?"

Zanhua took back the palm that was placed on his son's head and said in one's tenfold: "Marson Zhang is the only wise king I met in my life. Even in history, I have never seen such a wise king."

Yelu Ruan said: "No matter how wise the king is, he is still a Han person! There is a saying by the Han people: If you are not my race, your heart will be different! It is better to hold your life and future in your own hands. But I don't know if there are soldiers and horses in the hands of the master now?"

Zanhua shook his head and smiled again. The smile seemed to think that Yelu Ruan's words were wrong, and it was outrageously wrong: "I have no soldiers or horses at hand." Yelu Ruan was disappointed, but Zanhua said: "And what the donor said is very wrong! No one can grasp the future of life. Only with my Buddha's wisdom eyes can you see through it. Only by seeing through can you calm your mind, calm your mind, enter into concentration, and realize your concentration, and develop wisdom, and see your true future, and also have the original life."

Yelu Ruan said these words again, and asked, "Please give me advice."

Zanhua said: "Mobei is a useless and harmful place to the Central Plains: the useless is a hundred times more barren than the Central Plains. Because its land is poor, its land is a hundred times more powerful than the Central Plains. Otherwise, it will not be able to survive here; the harm is the poor, and the people are strong. Once the grassland is deserted, the herdsmen have evil thoughts and gather together. It will cause a disaster in the Central Plains. Because it is useless, the Han people are actually unwilling to come, and they have no way to invade profits. Because it is harmful, the Han people regard the people here as snakes, scorpions, and tigers. Seeing that there are snakes, scorpions and scorpions on their side, people always want to kill snakes and scorpions first. In order to protect themselves, they protect their descendants. All the Han masters of the Han family have used troops to the north of the Mobei.

Yelu Ruan said: "Not bad. But the tribes in Mobei are not dead snakes and scorpions. It is not easy for the Han people to kill us!"

Zanhua also said: "However, even if the Huhu in the north of the desert gained power for a while, how could there be any good results in the end? Reading the history of the Han family and the songs of the Huns, in the end, they were just the bones of the people of the two tribes, and the flesh and blood were sank into the Yellow River. It was just to show the reputation of the heroes of the two tribes. Amitabha, good, good."

After chanting the Buddha's name, he said again: "Thus, I made a vow to use Buddhism to widely spread the northern part of the Mobei tribes. Impact the harms and evil thoughts in the nature of the tribes in the northern part of the Mobei tribes. Marshal Zhang also made great ambitions. He wished to overthrow the Central Plains to make up for the shortcomings of the northern part of the Mobei. He allowed the good people here to avoid the difficulties of bitterness and coldness. In this way, the sky of the Hu Han Dynasty could bring peace and the great merits of the eternal period could be expected."

When Yelu Ruan heard this, she felt that she had vaguely grasped the core of what Zhang Mai and Zan Hua had planned, and asked: "The child could roughly guess what Zhang Mai promised, but he just doubted how long he could last. But the master said that he wanted to destroy the harm of Mobei, but he didn't know where to start."

Psychichua said: "The World Honored One (Sakya Mani Buddha) teaches: There are three poisons in a person's heart, namely greed, anger, and ignorance. The herdsmen in Mobei still claim that the two poisons of greed and anger are the easiest to be taken by the two poisons of greed and anger. When they gather together and think that they are invincible by the iron horse and golden sword, they will have the thought of greed and desire. However, they do not know that this greed and righteousness are the source of hungry ghosts. When they encounter wasteland and difficulties, they will have anger and anger as their nature. However, this anger is the door to hell. If the two poisons of greed and anger are done together, it will cause a great disaster - not only the great disaster for the Han people in the Central Plains, but also the beginning of the great disaster of Mobei. From ancient times to the present, those who have attacked the Central Plains have not had a five hundred years of prosperity. If they want to destroy the Central Plains, they will definitely be destroyed by the Huaxia within five hundred years. It is not that God blesses the Han Dynasty alone, but that all evil karma will be borne by himself in the end. Therefore, if they want to destroy the Mobei, they need to first cure the two poisons of greed and anger."

Yelu Ruan said in his heart: "Only greed has ambition, and only evil has force! Without ambition, one becomes a slave, and without force, one becomes a cow and sheep." He was not interested in Buddhist reasoning, but said: "How to cure these two poisons."

Zanhua said: "Use Buddhism!"

Yelu Ruan smiled and said, "The Buddhist scriptures have been introduced to Mobei. Even the stupidest herders in Mobei can often recite a few words of Amitabha. It is not useful. If some monks were sent to recite scriptures, they could solve the harm of Mobei, and the Central Plains emperor had already done this for thousands of years."

Zanhua smiled slightly and said, "The teachings and receptions of Buddhism also talk about fate and Dharma. The great way points to the same direction, but there are thousands of Dharmas. The Han Buddhists in the Central Plains have broad arguments and exquisite thinking, but they are neither practical nor difficult to accept for the herdsmen in the north of Mobei. However, the Tubo Buddhism has different methods from the Central Plains. However, the three teachings of classics, precepts, and Dharma veins are available. The method can make the herdsmen in the bitter and cold areas restrain their hearts, eliminate their evil desires, forget the difficulties of poverty and coldness, and turn the peace of mind, return to simplicity and piety, in order to seek joy in the next life and even detachment on the other side."

Yelu Ruan still had doubts and said, "Master! Can the Buddhist teachings taught by Tubo really be like this?"

"This matter is very difficult," Zanhua said firmly: "However, I believe that: Yes! The people in the Central Plains are smart and easy to understand the essence of Buddhism, but difficult to keep the precepts and return to piety. On the contrary, the herdsmen in the north of the world have simple nature and may not be able to quickly become enlightened by the sutras and treatises. However, once they believe, piety will be ten times better than the people in the Central Plains. If they have firm beliefs in their hearts, then the poverty and suffering that the body suffers are nothing. If they have to get rid of greed and anger, be content with suffering, and be happy with cold, then the two poisons of greed and anger will be eliminated."

When Yelu Ruan heard this, he thought deeper, and suddenly there was an indescribable thrilling moment. He suddenly jumped up. Seeing that Yelu Ruan seemed to be touched, Zanhua stretched out his palm and rubbed it on his head for a while, shouting: "Since you have realized it, don't sink again!"

Yelu Ruan seemed to have to accept Zanhua's theory for a while, but seemed to be still struggling with contradictions for a while. After a long time, he said: "This matter seems reasonable, but if it really succeeds, it is not just about preaching. Zhang Mai must have a cooperative political strategy."

Zanhua said: "Dharma is a transcendental law, and behaviors enter the worldly practices. If I want to achieve this great merit, Marshal Zhang's guardian will naturally be indispensable."

"Zhang Mai must be prepared." Yelu Ruan said: "But if we really convert to Buddhism and become good people and gentle people, then... wouldn't we let the Central Plains slaughter?"

Zanhua laughed and ordered Agala outside the tent to get a stone. Agala took a stone and then withdrew. Zanhua took the stone and handed it to Yelu Ruan and said, "Cut a piece of meat."

Yelu Ruan said: "This is a stone, where is the meat?"

Zanhua smiled and said, "Yes. Yes, there is meat in a stone? Since there is no meat, why should I start slaughtering?"

Yelu Ruan Youwu, and then said, "Although the stone has no flesh, Zhang Mai can crush the stone into pieces."

Zanhua said: "You can also crush this stone, but you can crush all the stones in Mobei to try."

Yelu Ruan said: "The stones in Mobei are as numerous as stars. They cannot be crushed."

"The herdsmen in Mobei are also invincible. If they are killed, there will be no Huns after Huo Qubing, and there will be no Turks after Emperor Yang of Sui. There will be no Uighurs after Li Jing." Zanhua said: "A blind killing will only bring about a counterattack of hatred for generations. Marshal Zhang is a wise man, and his plan is also the foundation for generations. He is not so ignorant."

Yelu Ruan realized this greatly. He put the stone in his palm and said, "The child has realized it. May the master give this stone to the child."

Zanhua took back the stone and pulled out a piece of silk. He said, "The Han people were called Huaxia in ancient times. Huaxia was a clan with beautiful clothes and clothes." He wrapped the silk in stone and said, "The north of the desert is bitter and cold, and does not produce silk, but you can borrow the Han Dynasty's clothing to serve the Buddha. Amitabha!"

Yelu Ruan knelt down three times, took the stone wrapped in silk devoutly, and replied: "Good, good."

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Just when Yelu Ruan and his son met, on the battlefield in the east, the head coaches of both sides were in a state of terror at the same time.

The reason for fear is the plague!

————————————

In the Tang army's tent, Shi Ba had a calm face, and Chai Rong was also in deep thought, Ba Ye was a little uneasy.

Three days ago, the plague was discovered in the prisoner camp and spread at a terrible speed as the epidemic spread.

The first person who was found infected was quickly isolated and was diagnosed as quickly as possible with the military doctor. However, although the patient was isolated, new patients appeared one after another, so that the entire prisoner camp began to experience panic. Shi Ba had to use a cross knife and a bow to temporarily suppress the irritability and anxiety of the crowd.

However, this situation cannot last. The entire prisoner camp is in extreme depression. Although the prisoners are afraid of swords and arrows, the plague is even more terrible. Although they may be killed when they rush out, they will not be able to end up in the camp. If Shi Ba cannot take effective means in a short period of time, then the panic of the crowd may lead to the collapse of the entire prisoner camp from within.

"What kind of epidemic is, it's not entirely certain."

The military doctor stood outside the big tent and was far away. The door of the tent was opened, and Shi Ba and other generals sat in the tent. The military doctor had to raise his voice and speak. It was not because he did not respect him, but because of the provisions of military law. Since the military doctor had contacted patients, it was difficult to say that he had no virus on him. In order to avoid the virus spread to the generals, he had to sprinkle lime to disinfect before he could repay the situation, and then he had to get away from him to give it back.

"The epidemics that have been discovered are several people with high fever and are all uncomfortable. The head and throat are painful, the limbs are sore, the stools are thin, and the temperament is irritable. The first epidemics are already at the critical moment of life and death, and other epidemics are also very urgent." The military doctor of the Tang army was created by Zhang Mai, and introduced the concept of physiological and hygiene. From the far west, they have gradually absorbed many civilized medical skills such as the Uighurs, Tubo, Persian, Ming Cult, Zoroastrian, Tianfang Cult, and other civilized medical skills. In addition, they have been constantly injured and trained with the army to practice and practice. In recent years, they have become one of the few military doctors in the world.

But I don’t know how many types and numbers of plagues are in the world, especially when I come to a strange place, facing the sudden outbreak of the epidemic, the military doctors are not sure about it.

"The symptoms found are similar to some patients I encountered before, but... I dare not be completely sure." The military doctor said: "In addition, there is still a concern. Judging from the current situation, not all the plague patients found are, but they are afraid that some of the prisoners and even the soldiers are infected without knowing it."

The general in the tent and the soldiers outside the tent also showed a look of horror on his face. Hu Zhen shouted: "Don't talk nonsense!"

Shi Ba said in a deep voice: "What a panic! I heard from the Marshal that plague is actually a virus. Whether a virus can invade the human body is not only related to whether the virus is powerful, but also to the human body itself. If our physique is strong, then even if the virus is a hundred times more powerful, it cannot invade us."

The military doctor said, "The governor is right. Most of the people who are now sick are injured. They are not injured, but also weak."

The generals and guards outside the tent are all talented people from a hundred and are confident in their physical strength. If Shi Ba retells the words of the marshal, will the marshal still be wrong? He is a little relieved.

Shiba waved, "Speak."

The military doctor said again: "In addition, there is still a little bit. The people who had the earliest illness had pustules on their faces and bodies, which looked like ghosts and were very ugly..."

Before he finished speaking, Chai Rong's heart suddenly moved, but Baye took a deep breath. He couldn't help but exclaim: "Is it..."

Shiba noticed his abnormality and shouted, "What is it!"

Baye said: "This... I dare not speak nonsense. I just remembered an extremely terrible plague..."

"What kind of plague is it?"

"That plague..." Baye's face showed a very embarrassed expression, as if the name of the plague was not even willing to mention it: "I heard that it was a terrible plague that broke out in a small tribe in Monan that was good at raising cattle and sheep. The plague was very wide, and even their close tribes were infected. The tribe was almost killed because of this, but those who went to kill them. Later, they were also infected, as if their blood had also turned into the poisonous blood of the devil, and the breath they exhaled from their mouths would also become poisonous wind. If the blood was touched a little, they would die. If the poisonous wind was smelled, they would also be infected with the plague. Therefore, other tribes did not dare to approach them too much, but just drove them away with riding and shooting. The tribe was driven all the way to Mobei. Later, there was no sound. I wonder if the clan had been exterminated... Is that kind of thing still there?"
To be continued...