Chapter 2730 The Best Appearance

The yellow sand is endless.

The desolate Gobi and the endless vastness.

In such an environment, some people will feel particularly small.

There are also some people who feel arrogant because of the same scenario. After all, everything in front of him is dead, and he is the only one alive, as if he has become the master of this world.

Pound led his troops and marched silently on the Gobi.

Several horse thieves serving as scouts in front came back.

"Did you find anything?" Pound asked.

The horse thief serving as a scout shook his head.

Pang De was silent for a moment, then waved for them to leave.

The horse thieves also have scouts. After all, they also have to chase the merchant's convoy, check for traces of the carriages and horses, etc., but after all, they are in the next door, covered by the wind and sand, and basically lose their meaning after two or three hours. .

It is said that some old shepherds can distinguish marks that last more than a day, but at least there are no such people under Pound.

Horse thieves are a high-risk profession. There are no five insurances, one housing fund, or two insurances. Whether you have a headache or fever, or shed tears and bleeds, you are responsible for it. Although there are big bowls of wine and big pieces of meat, most of the time they only happen in dreams, so most of them are Most people are not willing to engage in this career.

Anyone who comes to be a horse thief is unlikely to be a good bird.

Pound wants to pick out some good birds among such a group of horse thieves, basically he can only find the bad ones among the dwarfs.

Mathieu took advantage of the situation in the forward camp, so he wanted to repeat his old tricks. After all, Matthew's plan at the beginning was to lure some people from the forward camp, and then run away after achieving some results. However, he did not expect that the forward camp would be so "cooperative", so he could not find some people in Xihai City. The weakness of the Han army, "cooperate" again?

If you can't get "cooperation", you can also lure the Han army and the Kushan people...

As a first-level target, Ma Xiu can establish his reputation, then use the hands of the Han people to attack his disobedient subordinates, and then recruit some troops, just like what Mao Dun did in the grassland desert.

Even if this goal is still not achieved, Matthew can still gain some fame.

After all, at the moment, anyone who dares to challenge the "Tiger", whether it's just pretending or really doing it, is enough to attract attention.

Matthew's plan sounds beautiful, but it also has many problems.

At least Pang De felt that there seemed to be some problems inside, but he just had this feeling and could not find it. After all, there are many plans in this world. If you don’t wear safety underwear, you will be accidentally grabbed, pushed to the ground and ravaged...

It seems like luring and teasing a tabby cat. A piece of dogtail grass is enough. But if you want to lure a tiger, even if the tiger is already a little old and its claws are a little disadvantaged, it is beyond the scope of the ability of a piece of dogtail grass. .

But the problem is that under Matthew, it is true that only the "broken wheels" pulled out of the short men directly under Pound can be said to be capable and tough, and the rest are just fools.

Pang De frowned. He suddenly felt his heart beating wildly, and subconsciously stood up on the horse and scanned the distance.

Unfortunately he didn't see anything.

In front of us is still the desolate and vast Gobi.

As if he had been dead for millions of years.

Only a goshawk in the distant sky seemed to be a living thing.

The goshawk is in the sky, spreading its wings and flying smoothly.

In its eyes, there were not only Pang De and others who were moving, but also Gao Shun standing in a remote place in the distance.

Gao Shun was also looking at the smoke and dust rising in the distance.

After watching for a moment, he bent down, grabbed a handful of yellow sand, and then let go. The yellow sand fell and shifted slightly.

"The wind is not strong. Gao Shun snorted and said, "These thieves are really..."

"This must be thieves marching," the scout team leader beside Gao Shun nodded and said, "However, judging from the smoke and dust, these thieves are not many in number." General, do you want to send someone to get closer and investigate? 』

Gao Shun frowned, thinking, but did not answer immediately.

There are not enough shelters in the Gobi Desert, so if you want to cover your whereabouts, you can only rely on distance.

Being far away and traveling in a dispersed manner, the smoke and dust raised by the queue will not be large, making it difficult for people to spot them. In this way, you can discover the target without being noticed by the target.

This is what Lu Bu taught Gao Shun.

Lu Bu relied on this method to defeat the barbarian tribes in the desert to the point of death. Those barbarians had no idea where Lu Bu came from and where he disappeared from...

Gao Shun admired Lu Bu very much at first, because in Lu Bu, Gao Shun saw the martial prowess beyond ordinary people, as well as his determination and bravery in the battle formation, and his keenness to grasp the fatal blow.

But now, Gao Shun seemed to have some other answers in his mind.

"Force...can't represent everything..." Gao Shun murmured. Looking back now, Gao Shun suddenly felt that force was not the most important thing in troubled times, at least not everything.

"General?" ” The scout team leader beside Gao Shun couldn’t hear clearly, so he couldn’t help but ask, “General, what did you say?” 』

"Oh," Gao Shun came back to his senses, shook his head and said, "No need to step forward, let them pass." Looking at this number, they are only two or three hundred people. They must be just the vanguard of the horse thieves. Most of the horse thieves should be behind... We don't need to scare the snake... send someone to sneak around, ventilate the back, and let them do what they do. Be prepared. 』

No matter how ineffective Chang Cheng is, he won't be able to stop the vanguard of two or three hundred horse thieves, right?

The leader of the scout team nodded and retreated.

Perhaps it is martial courage that determines the outcome of a battle.

But the outcome of a battle is determined by more than just martial prowess.

Lu Bu can obviously decide a battle, but it is difficult to decide a battle.

And in the Western Region, is it a battle or a battle?

Gao Shun knew the answer very well, but he was also trapped, like an insect stuck in amber, he could see but couldn't move.

Gao Shun didn't take the incoming horse thieves seriously. He was still more worried about Lu Bu or the future.

If Lu Bu is ambitious enough, wants to expand his territory, and wants to lead everyone to conquer a country and establish his own country, it may be a good thing. If Lu Bu had no ambitions and just wanted to protect the country, guarding the border defense line conscientiously and guarding the country for the Han Dynasty, it would also be a good thing.

But now Gao Shun feels that the bad thing is that Lu Bu is ambitious but has no ambition, which is very helpless. Gao Shun even felt that Lu Bu didn't know what he wanted at all.

So what do you want?

Gao Shun was suddenly startled, and then couldn't help but laugh.

If he sees others as such, isn't he also the same?

Forget it, let’s focus on the matter in front of us first!

"Get the map!" 』

Gao Shun said loudly, and the guard not far behind him quickly stepped forward, opened a bamboo tube in his arms, took out the map in it, and handed it to Gao Shun.

"Forward Camp..." Gao Shun slid his fingers on the map and quickly found his destination.

Whether they are horse thieves or Han soldiers, they all need to eat and drink water, so the marching route will not be too far away from the water source. Generally, three days is the limit. If new water supplies cannot be obtained in three days, many problems will arise. If it lasts more than five days, you should consider whether to kill animals to drink their blood.

If it exceeds seven days, then there is no need to think about anything and just wait until death...

And water has a very strange characteristic. When you carry it, it seems to be heavier than any other object. But when you drink it in your stomach, it feels lighter than anything else to eat. Therefore, even if you carry a spare water bag and other items, Normally I don’t bring a lot.

In the past, the Han army was in the light and the horse thieves were in the dark. Now that the horse thieves have gathered together, the situation has been reversed.

If horse thieves want to take action, especially large-scale gathering actions, they must rely on water. And a small-scale unit like Gao Shun is much more flexible when turned over.

This is an opportunity!

A chance to kill with one direct hit.

Just like when Lu Bu was...

never mind.

Gao Shun put away the map and said, "Send the order!" Divide into small teams, follow the water source, and do your best to detect! Find out where the horse thief general is! 』

Gao Shun's men agreed in unison, and a murderous aura rose up.

The leader of the horse thieves, Ma Xiu, who was currently being cared about by Gao Shun, was still bragging and did not feel at all that the danger was coming.

Although Matthew promised Pound that he would never brag again, Matthew felt that bragging after drinking and bragging while sober were not the same thing, so naturally it could not be regarded as a violation of Pound's rules. Promise of.

Ma Xiu is now making nonsense of the Kushan envoys. Anyway, this is what people here in the Western Region mean when money comes quickly. The most important thing is that the Kushan people want to give money, weapons and equipment, war horses, etc.

How can we get more benefits if we can't give it a good blow?

"Dear horse! Congratulations on your outstanding record! "The Kushan envoy's Chinese is still good, but his expression is a bit exaggerated, which makes people feel that he is acting rather than speaking from his heart, "I brought you fine wine! Bacon! They are all the best wine and the best meat! 』

Matthew laughed and seemed to be happy for the meat and wine, but soon he dragged the Kushan envoy into the tent.

Of course, Ma Xiu went into the tent not to get gay, but because Ma Xiu came to the Kushan envoy to ask for benefits other than food and wine.

Those benefits promised by the Kushan messengers before.

"To the east, there is the best land, the best wealth, and the most suitable weather..." Matthew pointed, as if not only Xihai City but also Chang'an Sanfu were within easy reach, "Believe me, as long as you Once the tools and war horses are in place, I can fight all the way to Chang'an! You can hit wherever you want! As long as you have enough money and war horses..."

Are you bragging? It’s not like there will be a tax bureau in later generations, so you don’t have to pay taxes.

The Kushan envoy narrowed his eyes and watched Ma Xiu jumping up and down, his eyebrows dancing with joy, as if he were looking at a monkey, and even his tone was like treating a monkey, "No, no no, my dear Ma, this is not enough, not enough." ...Dear Ma, although you have achieved these things now, you are still a little short, just a little short... Dear Ma, you just need to work harder... At least now you have to prove yourself, you need to defeat the strongest in the Western Region Only with a big opponent can you prove that you are the most powerful in the Western Region..."

The Kushan people are smiling on their faces, but they are despising in their hearts. He despises Matthew and thinks that Matthew is actually a traitor. No one likes a traitor, even if the traitor may be of some use at the moment.

Matthew was also laughing, feeling the same contempt in his heart.

Really beat Lu Bu?

Do you think I'm stupid?

Ma Xiu noticed the Kushan envoy's perfunctory attitude, and his smile turned cold, "Then don't talk about the future, just talk about the present!" Now that I have laid down the camp, you must give money and war horses as agreed! Attacking Xihai City is the next stage. I asked when the money and war horses will arrive in this camp? ! 』

The Kushan envoy's smile also became stiffer, "Dear Ma, you know, these are all on the way, and they will be there soon... You know, this road is long and difficult to walk..."

"That's your business!" If you have no money and no war horse, let alone your dear horse, even your dear mother is of no use! Matthew sneered, "You don't want the news that the Kushan people are so poor that they can only owe debts to spread throughout the Western Regions!" 』

"..." The Kushan envoy glared at Matthew, "I said, I will give it to you!" 』

"Then take it out!" ” Matthew also stared back.

The two men glared at each other.

After a while, the Kushan envoy said, "Give half first." The other half is on the way. If you want it now, I can’t change it. 』

Matthew was silent for a moment and nodded, "Okay, give me half first, then half!" 』

The two stared at each other for a moment, and then laughed again a moment later, as if they were not the two of them who had just argued. They walked out of the tent arm-in-arm, and then announced that they were good friends and had a harmonious relationship. , everyone shares wine and meat together, eats and drinks and competes with the gods.

Sai gods are, after all, just "races", not real gods.

The true gods and immortals are all busy practicing, fighting with the heaven and earth, and dealing with the disasters of life and death. Who has time to care about the mortal world?

Therefore, the so-called gods in the mortal world are often not true gods.

At most, they are similar or dissimilar.

Wei Xu felt that these "high monks" in front of him didn't look like gods at all!

How can this be done? !

The Dharma conference is about to begin. What will these "eminent monks" look like in the end?

Is this it?

“Don’t you have some Dharma? ” Wei Xu’s eyes widened, and he cursed the men who summoned these eminent monks, “Look at you like this, all of them are shriveled and thin, huh? All of them have dark faces, huh? Is this the eminent monk? Is it higher over there? Not tall! 』

These eminent monks who were found or captured looked at each other and could only chant the Buddha's name.

At this time, Wei Xu suddenly missed Chang Cheng. With this guy here, there was no way he would be in trouble.

Wei Xu's men were also a little aggrieved, "General, these are all the people I can find around..."

For a Buddhist Dharma gathering, of course you need someone who can recite Buddhist scriptures.

But now in the Western Regions, it’s not like the fairy movies and TV series of later generations. Where can I find fat and white people?

Those who came to the Western Regions to preach Buddhist scriptures were basically ascetics. Not to mention skinny and skinny, their faces were not good-looking. They had plateau red skin, chapped and raised skin, and were as rough as the rocks on the Gobi Desert.

Of course, this appearance is actually the advantage of these ascetics, because when they preach doctrines to the people in the Western Regions, they will be more like members of the people in the Western Regions, and it is easier to blend in. They look like ordinary Western Regions people. The people are the same, dark and thin, with rough skin.

But the problem is that this Dharma Conference is not held for ordinary people in the Western Regions, but mainly for Lu Bu!

Look at the appearance of these "eminent monks", with their sad faces and dark complexions. Is this the embodiment of the "merits" of Buddhism? Even the dogs in the governor's office didn't like this look. They thought they were beggars, baring their teeth and barking, let alone Lu Bu?

Although it is indeed disrespectful to compare Lu Bu with a dog, this is also what Wei Xu really thinks.

If these people are really allowed to go to the altar of the Dharma Assembly, and Lu Bu sees that they have such "merit", then what the heck is "cultivation"? Looking at the appearance of these eminent monks, wouldn’t it be that the more they practice, the weaker they become, and the more merit they gain, the more miserable they become?

How can this be done?

Wei Xu has actually fallen into a vicious cycle now. The more things he hid from Lu Bu, the more he dared not let Lu Bu know. Just like lying habitually, for a small lie, and then use more lies to cover up, and even use lies to blind yourself, making yourself feel that as long as Lu Bu is happy, the world will be peaceful.

"Look for it again!" ” Wei Xu was dissatisfied with the image of these eminent monks, “At least it’s okay to look like the same Luo from before!” What do these count for now? 』

The subordinate made a sad face, "General, I really looked for it, but I can't find any more... Why don't you let these guys wash themselves and change their clothes?" 』

Wei Xu had no choice but to wave his hand.

After a while, his subordinates came in with the newly dressed monks.

After the monk bathed and washed, he took off his ragged clothes and put on brand new robes.

This robe is extraordinary. Not only is it made of silk and satin, but it is also inlaid with gold and silver threads. Under the abundant sunlight, every move made his whole person seem to be glowing!

"Hey!" That’s interesting! ” Wei Xu clapped his hands and looked left and right, “This is interesting! By the way, come here, bring some powder, put some on your face and let me see! 』

Soon, the appearance of the monk who wore new clothes and powdered his face finally reached Wei Xu's "standard".

Wei Xu nodded with satisfaction, "This is how he looks like a god!" 』

Wei Xu was happy, he smiled, hoping that what he did could make Lu Bu happy. As long as Lu Bu is happy to practice meritorious deeds and pursue the path of immortality, then he will definitely not care about mundane affairs. In order not to disturb Lu Bu's mood, Wei Xu even concealed the news that the horse thieves were going to attack Xihai City. On the one hand, Wei Xu felt that it was impossible for the horse thieves to attack Xihai City. On the other hand, he also suspected that Chang Cheng was not there on the way. I lost my courage and made such a news to find an excuse.

How could a horse thief have such courage?

Wei Xu not only issued the order through the Governor's Palace, but also sent people to reprimand Chang Cheng privately and make Chang Cheng calm down.

To do things, you have to behave like you are doing them!

Ami tofu!

Wei Xu said something like a monk, looking forward to a perfect and grand ceremony...