Three Kingdoms

  Chapter 2713 The Way of Heaven and Humanity

Normally speaking, with a general like Lu Bu stationed in the Western Regions, horse thieves should have disappeared. Otherwise, being caught by Lu Bu would be like cutting melons and vegetables. , As a result, the number of horse thieves gradually increased.

   It's like the Big Apple City, known as the city of freedom and light, isn't it also an underground gang, where thieves and thieves are rampant?

  There is order, but it does not mean that there is no chaos.

  There is light, but it does not mean that there is no darkness.

  If you have money, you can make ghosts turn millstones, and if you have money, you can also make millstones turn ghosts.

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

  In a desolate rocky mountain in the Western Regions, there is a grotto. Inside and outside the grotto, sturdy men in twos and threes, laughing and laughing. On one side of the grotto, there are large and small jars stacked up. From time to time, someone pours sour vinegar water out of the jars, and sometimes it even spills onto 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 advantage is that no one will think that there will be people in places without water sources, so you only need to clean up the traces, the strong winds in the Western Regions will soon bury the remaining traces, and naturally there will be no soldiers following the traces. .

  The disadvantage is that if you want to live here, you need to store some water for daily use. Those jars are used to store water. It's just that if you store ordinary water, it will probably stink within three to five days, so you can only store wine, or sour vinegar water that can't be regarded as wine.

  These light drinks were sold from a 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 eyeliner.

  They are the largest and most ferocious group of horse thieves in the Western Regions, killing people, robbing goods, and doing everything.

   It's just that they don't do much work in general, but once they do, they will inevitably let the caravan's corpses litter the field.

Many small horse thieves claim to be their subordinates, but in fact their subordinates never recruit among horse thieves, but gather among Qiang people, because they are the remnants of Baima Qiang, the remnants of Qingyi Qiang, and mercenaries of Guishuang , is a descendant of Ma Shi.

  『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 where the two lived was not big, but it was tidied up fairly neatly. It was obviously used as the residence of Matthew and Pound.

  『At the beginning, I was full of anger, but now, I am not angry anymore. ’ Matthew was sitting on a stone, holding a wine bag in his hand, his face smelled of alcohol, obviously he had drunk a lot, but he was not drunk yet, ‘When I realized this, I Suddenly felt very interesting. 』

   Pound sat on one side, silent.

  『You should ask why I am funny? 』Maxiu shook the wine sac, then gulped down a few mouthfuls.

   Pound raised his eyebrows, "Do you need it? 』

"Ok. Matthew nodded seriously.

  So Pound asked very seriously: "Please tell me why it's interesting, young master." 』

  『Okay,』 Matthew raised his head, 『Everything in the world is opposite to Yin and Yang, the sun is in the daytime, and the moon is naturally in the night. Cloudy and sunny, this is the way of heaven. It is also the way of heaven that people must eat and drink while they are alive. 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's just the way of heaven, it's just natural. 』

  Perhaps because of the strong atmosphere of Buddhism in the Western Regions, even Matthew seemed to be meditating.

  『Heaven is ruthless. I remember reading a book before, I forgot what it was about, but it seems that I also said such a sentence, Tiandao treats a grass, a tree, a horse, and a person equally, for Tiandao , are all the same, just like stones, rivers, sun, moon and stars, understand? it's the same! 』

   Pound nodded, "Same. 』

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

  『…』 Pound looked at Matthew, and said after a while, 『Young master, this is the last bag of wine, go to sleep after drinking. 』

  『I am the young master! Matthew stared at Pound, and then curled his lips after a while, "Well, listen...we are all the same...so, there is no young master..."

  『You are the young master. ’ said Pound, ‘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, or I may end up just forget..."

   Pound nodded, "Please speak, young master. Should I write it down? 』

"Yep! write down! Matthew laughed, "Get a pen!" 』

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

  『Uh…』 Matthew was stunned for a moment, 『Then write it with a stick or something, just write it here! 』

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

  Pound nodded, pulled out a knife from his boot, squatted on the ground, "You say it, I write it." 』

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

"Same? Still not the same? ’ Pound wasn’t too sure.

"Same! Yes, the same! Matthew patted his leg with a snap, "Yes! Same! God! Do you know why it is said to be the Son of Heaven instead of the Dao of Heaven? Because the emperor can be different, but the way of heaven can only be the same! 』

   Pound raised his eyebrows, "I don't understand. 』

  『Hey! ’ Matthew jumped off the stone, walked back and forth twice, and stood still, ‘I heard that... the big man first used Huang Lao to rule the country, and later Emperor Xiaowu changed it to some kind of emperor... probably like this Meaning, then here is the key, God! Huang Lao's way of heaven is the same in the world! understand? Stones are the same as vegetation, mountains and rivers are the same, cattle and sheep are the same as people, and the emperor is also the same as us! 』

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

   Pound was listening and writing, but stopped halfway through the writing.

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

   Pound was silent, and then continued to write.

Matthew nodded in 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 didn't dare to use Huang Lao. Instead, he used those sour scholars to cover up this for the emperor." truth! right! That's it! And we want to announce this truth to the world! Let everyone in the world know that the emperor is no big deal, just like ordinary people! Like stones, cows and horses! This is the way of heaven! God! Haha, hahahaha...」

  『Heavenly way! I understand the way of heaven! ”Maxiu excitedly raised the wine bag to fill the wine, and then danced around, “I understand! Hahaha, God! the same! Ha ha! Ah ha ha…"

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

Pound stood up, turned his eyes back and forth between Matthew and the words on the ground a few times, then turned around and left the small grotto, and went outside, "It's getting late, everyone who should go to sleep, go to sleep, whoever?" If the **** makes a fuss again, give him ten lashes to wake him up! Who is on duty today? come over! Follow me to inspect! 』

  The horse thieves who were making a fuss outside saw Pound's words, and they shrank their necks and went back into the cave one by one, just like insects on the sand returning to their nests, and they became quiet in a blink of an eye.

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

Pound led people to inspect the grotto, and then asked the guards to go to watch, while he himself returned to the small grotto, looking at Matthew who was snoring in sleep, and also 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?

  Is there any fundamental difference between the stones of the Western Regions and the stones of the Han Central Plains?

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

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

it's dark.

   Then dawn came.

   Just like it has been for thousands of years, no more minutes, no less seconds, no increase or decrease according to anyone's will.

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

   Pound nodded, "Sigh for a while. I'll make up for it when I'm tired next time. 』

   After a pause, Pang De asked: "Young master, do you remember what you said last evening?" 』

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

   Pound gestured, "Over there. You asked me to write it down, saying yes you will forget. 』

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

   Pound nodded, "I remember what you said. 』

  『Ah, ha, ah, 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... Lingming..."

  Pound waved his hand and said, "I know...no one is coming here." 』

  『That’s not what I meant...』 Matthew was silent for a while, 『No, I did think so, but this...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 eyeliner arranged by Matthew and others outside.

  The people from Guishuang are here.

   On the west side of the small village twenty miles away from the grotto, there is a small water pool.

   Matthew met with people from Guishuang.

  『My friend...』The man from Guishuang said with a weird accent,『You let me down very much...』

  Matthew folded his hands on his chest, and said coldly, "So you came to accuse me?" 』

  『No, not all of them. ”The Guishuang people said some incomprehensible words, “My friend, I have some good news for you…”

"good news? ’ Matthew asked.

  『Yes, good news. The Guishuang people said in a low voice, "My great general sent a monk... It is said that he succeeded in making that terrible, murderous butcher put down his knife..."

"Butcher? oh what? This is impossible. ’ said Matthew, ‘you must be joking. 』

  The people from Guishuang spread their hands, "I don't like to joke, and I never joke. This matter is true, but how much you let go... It’s hard to figure out, so I need my friend to help you determine...』

  『That’s confirmation, forget it, don’t worry about it. ”Ma Xiu said in a deep voice, “You mean, Lu Feng put down his sword first, learned Buddhism and stopped killing people?” 』

  『Yes, my monk, he will not lie, he said so. That's a horrible, murderous butcher, and wouldn't it be good news if he could put down the knife? The Guishuang man said with a smile, "But the butcher may also pick up the knife again... This is very bad, very bad... So I need to be sure... My friend, I think you can definitely help me..."

  『So you want us to make sure that guy's knife is really down? Do you think we are fools or crazy? That's Lu Fengxian! Matthew stared and said, "If you really let it go, then it's okay, if you don't let it go, we will die!" 』

At that time, Lu Bu led less than 3,000 people to kill through the entire Western Regions, drove countless Hu tribes everywhere like cattle and sheep, and then completely destroyed the power of the Guishuang people in the Western Regions in one fell swoop. Remains in the nightmare of many people.

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

  The Guishuang people smiled and said, "I'll give you the money." a lot of money. You can make an offer, my friend. 』

  『Maybe many people will die! ’ said Matthew.

  The Guishuang people nodded, "That's right, so I can pay a big price. But, my friends, the moves must be big! Be big! understand? Otherwise, we would not be able to determine whether we put down the knife...』

   Matthew stared at Guishuang people, nodded after a while, "Then how much money can you offer..."

  Maxiu instigated the Lushui tribe and the Baima tribe back then, and now he can instigate other tribes as well. As long as there is enough money, the Western Regions can recruit enough desperate people.

  The people from Guishuang discussed with Matthew for a while, and after discussing the price, the people from Guishuang left first.

   Pang De came over, staring at the smoke and dust of the Guishuang people going away, "What are they here for?" 』

  『They paid for our lives, let us do something to see if Lu Fengxian really put down his sword. ’ said Matthew.

   Pound let out a sigh, "Are they stupid? Why? 』

  『It is said that some eminent monk went to teach Lu Fengxian the Dharma...』 Matthew sneered and said, 『If you say you can put down the knife? Maybe Lu Fengxian was slashing with a knife while chanting Buddhism... Unless Lu Fengxian really became an idiot... No matter, anyway, Guishuang will give you money, and we will find someone, as long as Lu Fengxian does not find us. 』

   Having been horse thieves in the Western Regions for so long, money is their lifeline. If there is money, there will be horses, and if there is no money, there will be nothing.

   Pound frowned, "Young Master, this matter is very dangerous, in case, I mean in case..."

   Matthew sighed, "I know, but Guishuang people are our main source of money... If we say we refuse, will these **** in Guishuang sell us back? Anyway, the Guishuang people just want to make matters worse, and want to see if Lu Fengxian really put down the knife, so Ling Ming, what do you think will happen if we say we don't do this? Now Guishuang people give us at least 30%... and then give us according to the follow-up situation... as long as they can still use us, we only need to worry about one aspect...』

  『This is only temporary. ’ Pound said.

  Matthew smiled, his smile was bleak, "Who isn't temporary? 』

   Pound was silent.

"Okay, let's help you figure out a way," Matthew said, "Anyway, when the Guishuang people's money arrives, we'll deduct half of it first, and use the rest to recruit people... But it's very troublesome, if these people know that they are going to deal with Lu Fengxian , I’m afraid none of them will come... If we hide it first, um, it’s not very good, and we will be backlashed when we can’t tell...』

  Everyone likes money, but if you have money and don't spend your life, it's meaningless.

  At the same time, horse thieves also have to talk about credibility, unless they can be silenced. But now that Guishuang people want to make a big deal, it will obviously involve a lot of people, and it is impossible to say that they will all be silenced, so using tricks and deceptions is tantamount to destroying the reputation that Matthew has built over the years.

   A horse thief without a reputation will really lose all protection. Rabbits also know how not to eat grass beside their nests, let alone humans. Without a little credit 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 them.

  So both of them were a little worried.

   After a while, Pang De suddenly thought of something, but he looked a little hesitant.

  When Matthew saw it, he asked, "Ling Ming, what countermeasures do you have?" Speak up and listen! 』

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

"Those ones? Oh..." Matthew waved his hands and said, "Those are just drinking..."

"No, young master, what I mean is," Pound said hesitantly, "the Guishuang people want to make it bigger... and then we can't expose it... Then I think we can... After all, here in the Western Regions, there are too many There are so many injustices, and there are too many defeated people...』

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

  『Aha! Matthew exclaimed, "This method...really...let me think about it..."

   The two stood silently for a while.

  The wind is blowing, kicking up the dust.

  『It seems... you can try it...』

  『You can’t just look for horse thieves. 』

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

  『There must be a reason. 』

  『Um...just say yes, um, heaven? 』

  『Well, it’s called “Tiandao”! 』

  (end of this chapter)