Chapter 2714: The Way of Heaven and Humanity and the Way of the World

Normally, with a general like Lu Bu stationed in the Western Region, the horse thieves should have disappeared. Otherwise, if Lu Bu caught him, it would be like chopping melons and vegetables. But the problem is that Lu Bu doesn't take care of things anymore and has got into the horns of Buddhism. , causing the number of horse thieves to gradually increase again.

Just like the Big Apple, which is known as the city of freedom and light, isn't it also an underground gangster where big and small thieves run rampant?

Order does not mean the absence of chaos.

The presence of light does not mean the absence of darkness.

Having money can make the devil push the grindstone, and having money can also make the grindstone push the ghost.

Especially in places where there is no faith, money is even more powerful and has no scruples.

In a desolate rocky mountain in the Western Region, there is a grotto. Inside and outside the grotto, there are two or three tough men, laughing and joking. On one side of the grotto, there are stacks of large and small jars. From time to time, someone pours sour vinegar water out of the jars, and sometimes it even spills on the ground without anyone paying attention.

There is no water source here.

The nearest water source is also ten miles away, so normally no one would come here. The good thing is that no one would think that there would be people in a place without water, so you only need to clean up the traces. The strong winds in the Western Region will soon bury the remaining traces, and naturally no soldiers will follow the traces and trace them here. .

The disadvantage is that if you want to survive here, you need to store some water for daily use. Those jars are for storing water. However, if you store ordinary water, it will probably smell bad in no more than three to five days, so you can only store wine, or sour vinegar water that cannot be considered wine.

These drinks were all sold from the market twenty miles away.

The water source point ten miles away is their outpost.

And in the small market twenty miles away, they also have their spies.

They are the largest and most ferocious group of horse thieves in the Western Region. They kill people, rob goods, and do all kinds of evil.

It's just that they don't usually take action, but once they do, the caravan will be littered with corpses.

Many pony thieves claim to be their subordinates, but in fact their subordinates are never recruited among the horse thieves, but among the Qiang people, because they are the remnants of the White Horse Qiang, the remnants of the Tsing Yi Qiang, and the mercenaries of Kushan , is a descendant of the Ma family.

"This world has always been like this, the strong devour the weak. In the jungle, on the grassland, among tigers, leopards, cattle and sheep, and between people..." Matthew said slowly, "I didn't understand it very well at first, but now I understand..."

The small grotto the two of them were in was not big, but it was neatly tidied up. It was obviously used as a residence for Matthew and Pound.

"At the beginning, I was full of anger, but now, I am not angry anymore. ” Matthew sat on a stone, holding a wine bag in his hand, with a look of alcohol on his face. It was obvious that he had drunk a lot, but he was not drunk yet. “When I realized this, I Suddenly I felt very interesting. 』

Pound sat on one side, silent.

"You should ask me why it's interesting?" ” Matthew shook the wine bag, and then drank a few gulps from Gududu.

Pang De raised his eyebrows, "Do you need it?" 』

"Um. ” Matthew nodded seriously.

So Pang De asked seriously: "Master, please tell me why it is interesting." 』

"Okay," Ma Xiu raised his head, "Yin and Yang are in opposition to everything in the world. There is the sun during the day, and naturally there is the moon at night." The yin and the clear are round and the waning, this is the way of heaven. As long as a person is alive, he must eat and drink. This is also the way of heaven. So we want to live, just like the sun and the moon rise and set every day, there is no reason, no excuse, no cover-up, it is just the way of heaven, it is natural. 』

Perhaps it was because the Buddhist atmosphere in the Western Regions was stronger, and even Matthew and Matthew seemed to be practicing Zen.

"The way of heaven is ruthless. I remember reading a book before. I forgot what it was about, but it seemed to say something like this. The way of heaven treats a grass, a tree, a horse, and a person equally. For the way of heaven, , are all the same, just like stones, rivers, sun, moon and stars, do you understand? it's the same! 』

Pang De nodded, "Same." 』

Matthew tilted his neck and looked at Pound, then shook his head, "It's different... No, it's not that it's different, it's that you're different. No, it's that what you said is the same but it's different... um... forget it!" 』

"..." Pang De looked at Matthew and said after a moment, "Young Master, drink this last bag of wine and then go to bed." 』

"I am the young master!" Matthew stared at Pang De, and after a while he curled his lips, "Okay, it's up to you... We are all the same... So, there is no young master..."

"You are the young master. Pound said, "But this is the last bag. 』

"The last bag... Well, okay, but you have to listen to me..." Matthew looked at Pound, "I think I have figured out a great truth... I have to say it, otherwise I might forget about it later..."

Pang De nodded, "Young Master, please speak." Do you need me to write it down? 』

"Yep! write down! Matthew laughed and said, "Go get the pen!" 』

Pound said: "We have no pens. Only swords and guns. 』

"Uh..." Matthew was stunned for a moment, "Then use a wooden stick or something to write it, and write it here!" 』

Matthew tapped the sandy ground on the side of the stone.

Pound nodded, took out the knife from his boot, and squatted on the ground, "You say it, and I'll write it." 』

"good! Matthew coughed twice, cleared his throat, and then pondered for a while, "Uh... where did I just say it?" 』

"Same? Still different? 』Pound is not sure either.

"Same! Yes, same! ” Matthew slapped his leg, “Yes! Same! God's way! Do you know why it is said to be the Son of Heaven rather than the Way of Heaven? Because the emperor can be different, but the way of heaven can only be the same! 』

Pang De raised his eyebrows and said, "I don't understand." 』

"meaning! "Ma Xiu jumped off the stone, walked back and forth twice, and stood still, "I heard before... The Han Dynasty first used Huang Lao to govern the country, but later Emperor Xiaowu changed it to some kind of emperor... probably Such a meaning, then here is the key, the way of heaven! Huang Lao's way of heaven is the same in the world! understand? Stones are the same as grass and trees, mountains and rivers are the same, cattle and sheep are the same as people, and this emperor is also the same as us! 』

Matthew yelled, waving his arms, "Same!" understand? ! If we talk about the way of heaven, they are all the same! the same! equal! Stones, trees, cattle and sheep, us, emperors, etc., are all the same! 』

Pound listened and wrote, but stopped halfway through writing.

"Write!" Matthew stared, "Didn't you say you want to write it down?" 』

Pound was silent, and then continued writing.

Ma Xiucai nodded with satisfaction, continued to circle around, and said: "The Emperor of the Han Dynasty was afraid that we would understand the true meaning of the way of heaven, so he did not dare to use Huang Lao, but used those acid scholars to cover up this for the emperor." truth! right! That's it! And we must announce this truth to the world! Let everyone in the world know that the emperor is no big deal, he is just like ordinary people! Just like stones, cows and horses! This is the way of heaven! God's way! Haha, hahahaha..."

"The way of heaven!" I understand the way of heaven! ” Matthew excitedly raised the wine bag to drink, and then started dancing around, “I understand! Hahaha, the way of heaven! the same! Ha ha! Ah ha ha……"

Pound lowered his head and looked at the words he had written on the ground. He was silent for a long time. After a while, he suddenly felt that the surrounding area had become quiet. When he turned around, he found that Matthew was lying directly on the ground, asleep.

Pound stood up, looked back and forth between Matthew and the words on the ground a few times, then turned around and left the small grotto and walked outside, "It's getting late. Those who should sleep, go to bed. Who can If he makes a fuss again, give him ten lashes to wake him up! Who is on duty today? come over! Follow me on a patrol! 』

When the horse thieves who were making a fuss outside saw Pound speaking, they all ducked back into the cave with their necks hunched, just like insects on the sand returning to their nests, and they suddenly became quiet.

The wind blew through the grotto, carving the surface of the grotto into all kinds of strange shapes.

Pang De led people to inspect the grotto, and then asked the people on duty to keep watch. He himself returned to the small grotto, looking at Matthew who was snoring in his sleep, and at the people on the ground. Character.

Is there any essential difference between the wind in the Western Regions and the wind in the Central Plains of Han Dynasty?

Are there any fundamental differences between the stones from the Western Regions and the stones from the Central Plains of Han Dynasty?

What is the difference between the sun, moon and stars thousands of years ago and the sun, moon and stars now?

Pound thought, but he couldn't find the answer.

it's dark.

Then daybreak came.

Just like it has been for thousands of years, not more than a minute, not less than a second, not increased or decreased according to anyone's will.

Matthew woke up and saw Pound beside him, "Huh?" Ling Ming, didn’t you take a break? 』

Pang De nodded, "Squint for a while." I'll just make up for it later when I'm tired. 』

After a pause, Pound asked: "Young Master, do you remember what you said last night?" 』

Matthew patted his head, "What did I say?" I...I really want to remember that I said a lot of things, but what exactly I said..."

Pang De gestured, "Over there." You asked me to write it down, saying you would forget it. 』

"ah? Matthew took a few steps forward and stood in front of the words. After a moment, his eyes widened and he looked back at Pound, pointing to the words on the ground, "This...this...this is what I said." ? 』

Pang De nodded, "I remember what you said." 』

"Ah, ha, haha..." Matthew stretched out his foot and quickly smeared the words on the ground, "I...how could I say such a thing..."

Matthew turned his head and smiled dryly, "This... Ling Ming..."

Pang De waved his hand and said, "I know... no one is here." 』

"That's not what I meant..." Matthew was silent for a while, "No, I did think so, but... I can't say..."

Just when Matthew didn't know what to say, someone outside the small grotto shouted: "Head!" Someone is coming, like Er Mazi! 』

Er Mazi is the spy arranged by Ma Xiu and others.

The people from Kushan are coming.

There is a small water pond on the west side of the small village twenty miles away from the grotto.

Matthew met with the Kushan people.

"My friends..." the Kushan man said with a strange accent, "you have disappointed me..."

Matthew folded his hands on his chest and said coldly: "So you are here to accuse me?" 』

"No, not all. "The Kushan people said some confusing words, "My friend, I have a good news for you..."

"good news? Matthew asked.

"Yes, good news. "The Kushan people whispered, "My great general sent a monk... It is said that he succeeded in making the terrible, cruel butcher put down his knife..."

"Butcher? Oh...what? This is impossible. Matthew said, "You have to be kidding." 』

The Kushan man spread his hands and said, "I don't like to joke, and I never joke." This thing is true, but the exact amount of letting go... is hard to tell, so I need my friends to help confirm..."

"That's confirmation, forget it, don't worry about it. "Ma Xiu said in a deep voice, "You mean, Lu Fengxian put down his sword and learned Buddhism to stop killing people? 』

"Yes, my monk, he does not lie, he said so. That was a terrible and brutal butcher. Wouldn't it be good news if he could put down his knife? "The Kushan man smiled and said, "But the butcher may also pick up the knife again... This is very bad, very bad... So I need to make sure... My friend, I think you can definitely help me with this. busy……"

"So you want us to make sure that guy really put down his knife?" Do you think we are fools or crazy? That was Lu Fengxian! Matthew stared and said, "If you really let go, then it'll be fine. If you don't let go, we will be the ones who die!" 』

The memory of Lu Bu leading less than 3,000 men through the entire Western Region, driving countless barbarian tribes everywhere like cattle and sheep, and then completely destroying the power of the Kushan people in the Western Region in one fell swoop is still vivid. It remains in the nightmares of many people.

Now it is said that Lu Bu put down his sword and stopped fighting. He believed in Buddha and started chanting sutras and stopped fighting. Who would believe it?

The Kushan man said with a smile: "I will give you money." a lot of money. My friend, you can make an offer. 』

"Maybe a lot of people will die!" Matthew said.

The Kushan man nodded, "Yes, so I can give you a big price." But, my friend, the move has to be big! Be big! understand? Otherwise we won’t be able to determine whether the knife was put down..."

Matthew glared at the Kushan people and nodded after a while, "Then how much money can you offer..."

Ma Xiu instigated the Lushui Tribe and the Baima Tribe back then, and now he can also instigate other tribes. As long as there is enough money, enough slaves can be recruited here in the Western Region.

The Kushan people and Matthew discussed for a while, and after agreeing on the price, the Kushan people left first.

Pang De came over and stared at the Kushan people's retreating smoke, "What are they doing here?" 』

"They paid for our lives and asked us to do something to see if Lu Fengxian really put down his sword. Matthew said.

Pang De shouted, "Are they stupid?" Why? 』

"It's said that some eminent monk went to teach Lu Fengxian Buddhism..." Matthew sneered and said, "You said you can put down the sword if you put it down?" Maybe Lu Fengxian was slashing with a knife while reciting Buddhist teachings... Unless Lu Fengxian really turned into an idiot... No matter, Guishang gave us money anyway, and we are looking for someone, as long as Lu Fengxian is not allowed to find us. 』

After working as horse thieves in the Western Regions for so long, money is their lifeline. If you have money, you have people. If you don't have money, you have nothing.

Pang De frowned, "Young Master, this matter is very dangerous. What if, I mean what if..."

Matthew sighed, "I know, but the Kushan people are our main source of money... If we refuse, will those Kushan bastards sell us back?" Anyway, the Kushan people just want to make things bigger and want to see if Lu Fengxian has really put down his sword. So Ling Ming, what do you think will happen if we say we won't do this? Now the Kushan people will give us at least 30% first...and then give it to us based on the subsequent situation...As long as they still need us, we only need to worry about one aspect..."

"This is only temporary. Pound said.

Matthew smiled, his smile was sad, "Who is not temporary?" 』

Pound was silent.

"Okay, help me think of a solution," Matthew said. "Anyway, the Kushan people's money has arrived. We will deduct half of it first, and then use the rest to recruit people... But it will be very troublesome. If these people know that they are going to deal with it, Lu Fengxian, I'm afraid he won't even come... If we hide it first, well, that won't work, because we might get backlash at some point..."

Everyone likes money, but if you have money but no life to spend it, it is meaningless.

At the same time, horse thieves also need to be credible, unless they can be silenced. And now that the Kushan people want to make a big move, it will obviously involve a lot of people, and it is impossible to say that they will all be silenced. Therefore, using deception and deception is equivalent to destroying the reputation that Matthew has established over the years.

Horse thieves who lose their reputation will really lose all their protective colors. Rabbits also know how not to eat grass beside their nests, let alone humans. Without some credibility and reputation as a cover, not to mention whether the surrounding barbarian tribes would cover up the news, even Matthew's own men might not be able to contain it.

So both of them were a little worried.

After a moment, Pang De suddenly thought of something, but his expression was a little hesitant.

When Ma Xiu saw it, he asked, "Ling Ming, what countermeasures do you have?" Come on, speak up and listen! 』

Pang De nodded, and then said slowly: "I just thought of what you said yesterday..."

"Those ones? Oh..." Matthew waved his hand and said, "Those are just drunken words..."

"No, young master, what I mean is," Pang De said hesitantly, "the Kushan people don't want to make it bigger...and we can't be exposed...then I wonder if we can...after all, here in the Western Regions , there are too many injustices, and there are too many defeated people..."

During the three to four hundred years of the Han Dynasty, various countries in the Western Regions fought endlessly. Even if Lu Bu did not come here, many tribes in the Western Regions were still defeated, countries were destroyed, and the original princes and nobles became slaves...

"Ah ha!" Matthew exclaimed, "This method... is really... let me think about it..."

The two stood in silence for a while.

The wind blew loudly, raising dust.

"It seems... I can give it a try..."

“We can’t all look for horse thieves. 』

"Yes, in addition to horse thieves, we also need to find ordinary people. 』

“There still needs to be a reason. 』

"Hmm... just say it is, um, the way of heaven?" 』

"Well, it's called "The Way of Heaven"! 』