The biennial joint meeting of the countries of the Western Regions was held on January 28, 695 in the mainland Gregorian calendar on the outskirts of Beijia, the capital of Baikal, and the site was located on the shore of Lake Baikal with beautiful scenery. This Yunxiu Villa is the private property of the king of the lord of Baika, covers an area of more than 1,000 acres, and also leads a small canal from Lake Baikal into the villa, forming a small lake, the scenery is extremely beautiful, the willows on the side of the lake are brushing the ground, graceful and pleasant, and the bold and magnificent style of the ancient pine and ancient cypress on the outer layer is not the same.

The joint conference of the countries of the Western Regions is a meeting convened by the countries of the Western Regions to strengthen ties between countries, promote economic and commercial exchanges between countries, discuss major issues related to regional affairs, and resolve contradictions between countries. The conference was held at the beginning of a single year and was attended by kings, crown princes and important ministers of various countries. In the dozens of joint conferences that were held before, the countries of the Western Regions actually did not make major breakthroughs on any major issues, and the monarchs of various countries regarded it more as a travel vacation, and they came with their wives and children.

In view of the increasingly tense surrounding situation, the various countries reached a consensus at the preliminary preparatory meeting to hold secret discussions on some major and deep-seated issues at this session, and the number of participants attending the meeting has also increased considerably. Neighboring countries and regions also sent delegations of different sizes to attend the meeting as observers, and for a time, the shores of Lake Baikal were surging.

Su Qin quietly looked at the sparkling lake outside the window with his hands behind his back, "The water is shining and sunny, and the mountains are empty and rainy. Slowly chanting the famous words of Su Shi, the famous poet of this dynasty and the ancestor of his own clan, Su Qin reveled in the beautiful scenery outside the window, "The scenery of this little Baikal Lake is really no less than the West Lake in Yuhang." ”

"Your Excellency. The door slammed softly.

"What's the matter?" frowned slightly, obviously a little upset that someone interrupted him at this time.

"I'm sorry, my lord, but His Highness Watt has come to visit you. The man outside the door replied cautiously.

"Oh, please let him in. Su Qin sighed, after all, he came on a mission, and it was not the time to enjoy the scenery.

"Master Su, it's been a few months. Watt, who walked through the door, looked majestic, and the fur hat with a mink tail on his head showed that his identity had changed greatly from a few months ago, and he walked up and held Su Qin's hands tightly according to the etiquette of the Tang people.

"I haven't had time to congratulate Your Highness, I only heard about it before I came here, Lord Li has returned to Beijing to report on his work, and Lord Xiao is sitting in Qingyang again, so I will congratulate you on their behalf here." As soon as Su Qin beckoned, the attendant outside the door immediately presented a wooden box, gently lifted the lid of the box, and a delicate and realistic jade carving relief walked quietly inside, flashing with glittering brilliance.

"Thank you, sir, please thank Master Li and Lord Xiao on my behalf. Watt showed a grateful look on his face, no matter what was in this wooden box, as long as people had this new one, it would not be easy, not to mention that he could become one of his uncle's several heirs, they also played a great role, especially the uncle's internal affairs officer Doni contributed a lot, and Doni maintained an extremely good relationship with Li Wufeng, Xiao Tang and the Su Master in front of him.

He didn't shirk, just took it solemnly with both hands, observed it carefully, and then handed it to the entourage outside the door behind him.

"Your Highness, this little Baikal has a pleasant scenery, why don't we two go out for a walk?" Su Qin suggested.

"Okay, I'm also trying to find time to talk to Master Su alone. Watt readily agreed, thinking that he knew that Su Qin's suggestion must have a meaning.

Walking along the lake, Su Qin and Watt's entourage were scattered in a fan shape around the guard, after all, this is in someone's land, although the country of Baijia has strengthened security measures, but in the careful consideration, it is better to be vigilant.

"Your Highness, what do you think of this joint meeting of the countries of the Western Regions?" Although the western regions are still a little cold in January, the lakeside is very clean, and it looks natural and harmonious, full of a simple beauty. Su Qin and Watt didn't speak, and when they walked far away, Su Qin provoked the topic.

"I'm afraid that this joint meeting is a little different from previous sessions, and the topic of discussion will probably revolve around the two of us. Last year, we asked the countries of the Western Regions to provide more grain and grass than in previous years, and although they reluctantly agreed in the end, the seeds of contradiction have been planted, and our demand for grain and grass this year will certainly not be lower than last year, and when the time comes, I guess their reaction will definitely be stronger, and maybe they will have to discuss how to deal with it. A faint wry smile appeared on the corner of Watt's mouth, and he gently raised his leg and kicked a small pebble under his feet into the lake, and the calm lake surface suddenly rippled.

"The seeds were not planted last year, but they were planted a long time ago, when you asked them for free assistance. No one wants to give money and materials to others for free, let alone not every year or two, but every three or five years, and no one welcomes such neighbors. Su Qin corrected Watt's statement, "It's just that the contradictions intensified last year." ”

"We don't want to, and if the people of our tribe can live, we don't want to do such a thing. But the climate on the prairie is changeable, if God doesn't open his eyes, in the face of drought and snow, we have no choice, and this is the only way to survive. The year before last, we lost the war with the Chidi people, and suffered heavy losses, and the elders and nobles of the clan have long been a little dissatisfied, if we don't seek some compensation, I'm afraid my uncle will not be able to sit still. Watt explained.

"Your Highness, I do not intend to accuse you of your actions, for the sake of the survival of my own people, it is understandable that even some acts that harm other peoples will be committed. It's just that I think the countries of the Western Regions seem to have a rare unity of heart this time, and it seems that there is going to be some big move, and we have to guard against it. Su Qin shook his head to indicate that Watt had misunderstood what he meant, and reminded him.

"Oh?" Watt immediately became alert, "Could it be that the countries of the Western Regions still want to unite against us?"

"It's not that simple, if you look closely, where else are the people coming this time? I have heard that both the Mott and the Quir have sent people, and even the Chidi people from the west have been represented. Su Qin glanced at Watt with deep meaning.

Watt was shocked when he heard this, but he immediately replied: "It seems that the people who came are really not good, but I have also heard that the surrounding areas of the northwest are very vigilant about the large-scale expansion of the army of Master Li, especially when I heard that Lord Li has formed an army of three divisions in Northern Luzon, and he is also going to form a cavalry division in the northwest, including Yinchuan Mansion and the Siathrow people are very sensitive to this move, so they have also sent people to the joint meeting here this time." ”

Su Qin smiled slightly, "Now that Northern Luzon has been incorporated into the territory of the empire, it is natural to build up armed forces to protect the security of this region, so there is no need to make a fuss. As for the establishment of cavalry divisions, Master Li had this intention, and it was also to strengthen the protection of the traveling merchants and make the troops more mobile. ”

The two exchanged glances and smiled heartily. The union of the five countries of the Western Regions is the result that both sides do not want to see, especially the Mote and Chidi people are also involved, if they really form an alliance, it is equivalent to forming an encirclement of the Luope people from the east, west and south, although this encirclement is not stable, but it also makes the Luope people intolerable; and the Mote people have been living in harmony with the Xihe people last winter and this spring, and have not met each other in arms as in previous years, which also makes the northwest side feel a certain pressure, if Sun Yuanliang of Yinchuan Mansion is involved, it will pose a serious threat to Li Wufeng's base area。

"It seems that our goals are the same, Master Su, I think we should each work according to our own ideas. Watt suggested with a smile.

"Hey, well, just do as you say, I think the arrival of the two of us may make many people feel uncomfortable. Su Qin laughed.

In another villa in the same place, the spirited lord of Loulan Hayibar was having a secret conversation with Altai, the lord of Baiga, who was the guest of honor.

"Brother Altai, this joint meeting can be described as a gathering of heroes, not only the Mott and the Siathrow Empire have sent envoys, but also the Luope people have sent one of their highnesses, and Li Wufeng's side has even sent one of their core figures, Su Qin, to lead the team, it seems that this meeting has really touched the nerves of all parties. Hayibar said worriedly.

Altai, the ruler of the country of Baiga, was also over fifty years old, with a huge ruby shining on a scarf on his head, and a fat face full of red light, looking like a good man. He was only younger than Haybar among the kings of the Western Regions, and his prestige was also high.

"Brother is right, in the past, our joint meeting did not attract so much people's attention, even Luo Pei and Tanghe people used to just send representatives to take a look, but this time it is very different, all of them are heavyweights, our Yunxiu Villa can now be said to be a meeting of the wind and clouds." Altai was still smiling.

"Let's get down to business, brother, what do you think of my last proposal to speed up the process of defense integration in the Western Regions and form a joint force?" Haybar set his eyes on Altai's fat face.

"At present, the Luope people are advancing step by step, and their appetite is getting bigger and bigger. There are more and more aids, the people of our five countries are complaining, but if they are not satisfied, then the Luope people will take the opportunity to provoke trouble, originally we also wanted to use the strength of Li Wufeng's guy to contend with the Luope people, but I didn't expect this guy to be wolf-hearted, actually colluded with the Luope people for his own interests, but refused to form an alliance with us, now our situation is very difficult, to meet the requirements of the Luope people, they will inevitably get an inch, ask for too much, our people will not agree, but once the war breaks out, with our existing army is not the opponent of the Luope people at all, then we will suffer greater losses in the end。 Altai's face was still rosy, but it was clouded.

"And now Li Wufeng in the east is frantically expanding his armaments, I heard that they have begun to form a cavalry division in the northwest county, as a rapid reaction force for their reading, and in the south of North Luzon, they have also formed a large-scale army, and there are military exercises, which has formed a situation of encirclement against the five countries of our Western Regions. From the bottom of my heart, I am in favor of the formation of a joint force, which will strengthen our strength and facilitate unified command and full play in the event of a real war. But I wonder if the formation of this combined force, together with our respective armed forces, will be able to resist the invasion of the Lope and Li Wufeng?" Altai finally asked.

"You're right, our own strength alone is not enough to confront the Lopes. But you have to see this, since the Luope people were defeated by Li Wufeng and the Chidi people in a row a few years ago, their strength has declined significantly, you can see the current performance of the Mote people to know that the control of the Mope people has gradually declined, and once the Mote people are out of the control of the Luope people, it will inevitably pose a threat to the status of the Luope people, we are forming a strong joint army, even if we can't completely get rid of the Luope people, at least we have a strong weight in our hands. "Haybar knew that the idea of forming a joint force would be nothing more than a fantasy until he was convinced of Altai, so he tried his best to analyze the gains and losses for him.

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