Today is a rare and good weather. The snow on the undulating hills is dazzling, the sky is blue and empty, and the icebergs in the snow peaks and snow lines are vivid in my mind. The wind blows on the hills, but it is not cold. The dead grass branches on the snow are shaking gently, making tiny whispers.

Zhao Xin was very interested today. For this rare trip, he specially asked someone to prepare a barbecue rack, charcoal and a few slaughtered and marinated sheep last night. More than 30 people set up two bonfires among the ruins of Shule City, sat together, barbecue and drink wine, and chat while eating.

Two Kazakh guides also joined the dinner. At first, they were frightened and said they could not do anything, so they brought their own dry food. When they saw that there was wine, one of the guys named Suleiman's eyes shone. He said that he was not affected by the precepts and couldn't wait to drink happily. As a few glasses of wine were over, the conversation started to open up.

Suleiman said that the Tianshan Mountains and all river valleys have peerless scenery. I didn’t expect that several adults would know Jiangblak. In fact, it was so cool that it was very cool, the river water was very rushing and noisy, and it was endless. The meadows and endless wheat fields in the forest were like carpets, and the mountains and fields were filled with all kinds of mountain flowers, fragrant. In the past, the county magistrate of Qitai and the ministers of Jingyuan City would take a large group of subordinates to visit there for a few days in the name of inspecting the farmland.

Zhao Xin asked, what are the best places in Hami?

Suleiman said, Baghdash! The scenery is better. Whenever the King of Hui is in summer, he will take all his family and servants, as well as bands and dancers, hundreds of people. The BMW car is very lively. He stays for one or two months, with his ultimate luxury and enjoyment.

Both guides were both low-lying people, and they were inevitably a bit vulgar when they let go of their eating habits. Especially Suleiman, who lived like a homeless man, ran from this oasis to that oasis and did all kinds of work. Before the mutton was cooked, he urged him to eat it. Then he grabbed the meat that was still oozing with blood and stuffed it into his mouth, and feasted.

However, Zhao Xin, Fan Tong and the North Sea soldiers who accompanied him did not agree with this. The refugees who came to Beihai Town were similar to Suleiman when they first got off the ship, and were even more sloppy than him.

When he found out that Zhao Xin and the others really didn't dislike him, and they were talking and laughing with him, and pouring wine and meat for him, Suleiman was very moved. After living for more than 30 years, he went from the northwest to the southern Xinjiang, and it was the first time he had seen such a "official master". It seemed that the world was really changing.

Jiang Fan was born in a fertile land in Jiangnan and read a lot of books since he was a child. In recent years, he has gained a lot of experience in Beihai Town. Especially since he walked from Heilongjiang to Qitai, he had a deeper understanding of the wilderness in his previous eyes. After drinking a few glasses of wine, chewing and eating a few pieces of meat, he said enthusiastically:

"The vassal thought that the best strategy for expelling barbarians in the Western Regions was to use barbarians to govern barbarians. However, they would be shocked with force, intimidated with prestige, transformed with customs, and softened with wealth. This would not be enough to defeat the evil and arrogant ones, and only then would be enough to accomplish the merits."

Both Zhao Xin and Fan Tong knew that this person was determined to be the second person in Ban Dingyuan. However, one time and another, and then using the feudal dynasty's approach can only be to raise animals and eat them.

Both of them were older than Jiang Fan, and after chatting for too long, they would lose so many politeness. Fan Tong held a leg of lamb and said while gnawing: "Brother Ziping, I think what you want to say is 'rule according to the customs' and 'give both kindness and power'?"

Jiang Fan had a good alcohol content. He drank the wine in his glass and nodded slightly and said, "The Tongdian said that in the past, the Han family was weak and the Xiongnu were strong, so he treated his children with the Shanyu. In the prosperous Tang Dynasty, China was strong and the Northern Di was weak, and thousands of soldiers in the Tang Dynasty could defeat him, so he was willing to do what he did and did not dare to be arrogant. In my opinion, the same was true for the Qing Dynasty. The countries in Central Asia were nothing more than fearing their military power and relying on their use to subdue their people. If they were not governed according to customs, the manpower and things that I invested in the North Sea in the Return to Xinjiang might be astronomical."

Zhao Xin took a sip of wine and shook his head and said, "Otherwise, it is understandable to do this in the short term. In the long run, there are great hidden dangers."

Jiang Fan felt nervous and hurriedly said, "Why did your highness say this?"

Zhao Xin said decisively: "The prerequisite for governing according to customs is to have a full understanding and understanding of local customs, which is very important. People of all ethnic groups must treat everyone equally, just like we have treated Hezhe, Oroqen, and Feiyakar in Beihai Town over the years. We cannot look down on them just because they do not read Confucius and Mencius.

In addition, when dealing with the relationship with various forces in Central Asia, although we have to give both kindness and power, it is simply "giving" rather than "giving". We have to take the initiative to act at our disposal before. Just like Samusak, the son of Yamato Zhuo Polonidu, Qianlong heard Zhaohui say that he was like a beggar in the country of Kokand, and thought that the Hezhu family was finished, so he sent a few killers, but in the end he didn't do it. In fact, whether it was Qianlong or Zhaohui back then, they didn't understand the lifestyle of the Sufis and the ascetic. In the end, we have to wipe his butt.

I'm sure that Samusak has been preaching all over Central Asia over the years. Although he may be financially struggling, he will never become a beggar. Otherwise, he would not have the energy to extend his hands from Samarkand to return to Xinjiang. What's more, the Hezhu family has been associated with some powerful people in Central Asia's Sufi faction, so sending killers is simply a joke! "

Fan Tong threw the sheep bone in his hand, took the towel handed by the guard and wiped his hand, saying, "This is the point! Just talking about face is useless. Knowing yourself and your enemy must consider the problem based on the customs and traditions of the other party, otherwise we will have to be regarded as fools like the Qing Dynasty."

Jiang Fan nodded slightly, and fell into deep thought at the beating bonfire in front of him. He understood Zhao Xin's meaning. To put it bluntly, he could not understand and handle the affairs of Xinjiang and foreign relations with the noble attitude of Han culture. Otherwise, "governing according to the customs" would be an empty word, and the "power" that both kindness and power are invincible.

This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! Zhao Xin simply used the mutton ribs that had gnawed all the meat in his hand, drew on the ground, and pointed to the above places and said to the two: "This time, Haohan invaded southern Xinjiang, which saved us from making excuses. My idea is that after the troops took down Yili and Wushi, they should not be in a hurry, and they should rest for a while, accumulate strength, and then advance in the north and south directions, cross the Kashgar Ridge, control the Wakhan Corridor and Badak Mountain; the northern line crosses the Edemoke Ridge along the Kala River, seize Namugan, Anjiyan, Margalang, and Haohan City, and take the Ferganna Valley into his pocket. In short, it will not leave soil for survival for the remnants of the Baishan School. Samusak and his two sons must not be spared. They must meet people alive and die to see corpses, otherwise there will be no peace in the Western Regions."

Fan Tong held the wine glass, looked down for a while, and exclaimed: "I really don't accept it! You actually drew half of the map of the Western Regions! Awesome, please touch one!"

Jiang Fan had heard of Zhao Xin's ability, that is, before every battle - even when planning a plan, he would look at the map thoroughly, and close his eyes to tell the exact location of every mountain, river, village and town. When he saw it today, he was indeed well-known and admired in his heart.

The group was full of wine and flesh. When they came down from Gaogang, where Shule City was located, it was already past three o'clock in the afternoon. If they didn't walk back, they would not be able to go back before dark.

The big dark horse that Zhao Xin rode on, seemed to feel the mood of his master, and seemed particularly excited. He took steps and his toned body moved happily, and sometimes neighed to the sky, as if laughing. The snow rattled under the horse's hooves, and a group of sparrows flew away from a pine tree. Above the birds, a goshawk hovered in the air, and white clouds remained motionless in the air.

Looking at the beautiful scenery around him, Zhao Xin's heart moved, and a song that was familiar to him in another time and space unconsciously came to his heart. Unexpectedly, before he could open his mouth, Fan Tong howled at the top of his throat.

"Climbing over a thousand-layer ridge~~Climbing over ten thousand slopes, who has ever seen a crystal-like iceberg, a wild horse-like snow river, an iceberg burys treasures, snow water irrigates the fields, a flat Gobi desert, let go of your throat and sing..."

I'm shaking! I actually robbed my show!

Having said that, Zhao Xin couldn't help but humming.

Since Jiang Fan came to the Western Front Command, he heard his subordinates say that Fan Tong not only could tell stories to the soldiers, but also taught them a lot of songs. However, when he saw Zhao Xin sing along, he was even more surprised. He actually sang the King of Zhao, who was so chaotic that the Qing Dynasty beaten, actually sang. Who would believe it if he told me it!

The soldiers of the North Navy who served as guards were intoxicated by the singing, and the two Kazakh guides even showed strange expressions. Unexpectedly, the two Han officials could sing the back-to-English style songs, and their voices were really good. Suleiman, who had traveled all over the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, listened for a while and said to his companion in surprise: "How could I hear the Tajik flavor?"

Zhao Xin drank some wine and howled a few words, and his mind became more and more excited. He couldn't help but shake the reins with one hand and shouted. The big black horse of Wuzhumuqin under him rushed out like an arrow, which scared him himself.

When Jiang Fan and others saw it, they quickly rode their horses to follow. However, Zhao Xin's horse speed was too fast, and the distance between them was getting farther and farther away. Jiang Fan and the platoon leader of the guard platoon chased each other and shouted. Seeing this, Fan Tong laughed loudly behind.

The snow field is vast, and countless spots of fish scales flash on the ground, and the galloping horses roll up snow dust. The cold birds fly away, and the winter trees spiral. Zhao Xin is more and more relaxed as he runs, and his body is no longer stiff, rising and falling with the running rhythm of the horse. He has not relaxed like this for a long time. His hand holding the reins touches the thick horse's hair, feeling the strong tension of the muscles on the horse's neck.

After riding a horse through a snowy road, he planned to pass through the valley ahead and head straight for the standing hill two miles away. The horse could not continue to run the highway, and he felt that the distance was almost the same.

When he arrived on the snow-covered hill, the frozen Zhongpu Gen River had already appeared in Zhao Xin's vision. He stopped the horse and took the reins with his hands. The big black horse gave up its rushing posture, slowed down, shook its head, and its thick nostrils kept gasping, forming a large cloud of white mist around his mouth and nose. He patted the horse's neck with approval, and when he looked back, he saw that Jiang Fan, the guard platoon leader and others were already more than a hundred meters away, while Fan Tong and more than a dozen guards were about to walk out of the valley.

However, no one expected that a few musket bullets that plotted against them were shot when their minds were at their most relaxed.

Almost as the bullet shot towards Zhao Xin was sprayed out of the muzzle, the big dark horse reacted instantly, jumping into the air without any signs, and a scorching cold light passed through the ponytail. The iron bullet finally exploded on a rock on the hill, making a dull sound.

At the same time, at the exit of the ditch more than 500 meters behind Zhao Xin, when five or six melee guns roared, the two soldiers blocking the outside of Fan Tong shook for a moment and fell off the horse.

Fan Tong, who was slow to react because he drank too much, didn't understand what was going on at this time. He only felt that his left thigh was hot, as if he was hit hard with an iron hammer. Then a soldier pressed his hand and his upper body fell on the saddle.

The platoon leader of the guard nearest to Zhao Xin never expected someone to set up an ambush here. However, he was stunned for a moment, and then subconsciously grabbed the back of his body. The tentacles were the cold barrel and guardrail. When the gun body was crossed straight ahead and behind his body, he moved his right hand back, held the guardrail at the front with his left hand, opened the security, and then pulled the trigger, and the bullet whistled out instantly.

The direction he pointed to was a jungle like ink smoke composed of winter trees, only eighty or ninety meters away from him. It seemed that countless figures and horse shadows appeared in it. The shocking sound of gunfire in the sky, and the birds in the fields were flying up, dancing in panic in the sky.

Immediately afterwards, in a grass nest covered with thick snow more than thirty steps away from him, a dozen people suddenly emerged from under the snow, and they raised their bows and shot. When the feather arrows with black diamond feathers shot out, the bow strings stained with snow fluttered into a slum of white smoke.

When two plum needle arrows with cold light shot towards Zhao Xin, the big black horse that jumped into the air again suddenly felt a lot lighter on its back. However, when it landed, it turned around and looked back, there was nothing just now.

Where is his master? The big dark horse's eyes were a little confused...

Seeing Zhao Xin suddenly disappear from the horse's back, Jiang Fan was shocked. He rode his horse forward regardless of the situation and headed straight for the position where Zhao Xin was just now. Several soldiers hurriedly followed. However, when he arrived at the position, he saw that there was not even a single figure except for a layer of snow that was not over his ankles.

"Where is the person?!" Jiang Fan roared, his soul frightened.

As the guards lined up and fought back, the feather arrows shot. At this time, Fan Tong knew what was going on. His face turned pale, his whole body was lying on the horse's back, and his back was soaked with cold sweat.

Since entering the Northern Navy for the years, he has either stayed in the command center in the rear or bullied people in an armored vehicle like an iron-shelled turtle. He has never felt dangerous. Life and death will be so close to him!

As a dull horn sounded in the wilderness, dozens of masked attackers killed out of the forest. Under their sheepskin coats, chain mail with faint light appeared. They held bows and arrows or spears and swords, and rushed to the location where Jiang Fan and Fan Tong were.
Chapter completed!