To the north of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, at the junction of Lingnan and Guangxi provinces, there was a place called Wuzhou.
Half a year ago, a mysterious tribe suddenly appeared in the originally barren Wuzhou. Under the leadership of the tribe leader, they cut their way through the thistles and thorns, wiped out the roving bandits, built a city, built a stronghold, and planted fields.
The leader of the stronghold was a very impressive figure and enjoyed high prestige among the mountain barbarians. With the establishment of the stronghold, the mountain barbarians nearby heard the news and rushed to the stronghold to see the mysterious leader.
The hundreds of mountain barbarian tribes that had lived in the Hundred Thousand Mountains for generations had since found a new home. One after another, the tribes began to migrate to the stronghold of Wuzhou without a trace of hesitation.
As time passed, the 55 mountain barbarian tribes in the northern area all migrated to Wuzhou. Even the largest tribe of 10,000 people was no exception.
Last month, the wave of migration began to spread to the southern area.
With the influx of mountain barbarians, the stronghold expanded again and again, finally developing into a giant city that dominated Wuzhou. On top of the stronghold, the black phoenix flag fluttered in the wind, spreading its wings and flying.
Seeing that it was almost winter, the weeds withered, birds disappeared, and the wilderness presented a scene of desolation.
Located in the southern bay of Guangxi, the Lianzhou Basin had obvious characteristics of a marine monsoon climate, but it had no fate with winter. Entering December, the temperature remained over 20 degrees Celsius.
The Lianzhou Basin seemed calm, but in fact, undercurrents were surging.
According to the feedback from the Military Intelligence Department, the tribes of the grasslands had stopped their civil war, and there were signs of secret cooperation.
Under Bai Qi's instructions, the Second Division frequently appeared in the grasslands under the name of training to intimidate the tribes and try to sow discord and draw them to their side.
The western part of the Tianzhi Tribe's town had been rebuilt. Adding the eastern part and the Khan's personal guards, the total strength reached 12,000 people, which was equal to the Second Division.
The seven medium-sized tribes each had no less than 3,000 troops, which added up to more than 20,000 people.
Before the war, the grasslands tribes could issue a temporary assembly order. With the nomadic tribes' tradition of all citizens being soldiers, it was not difficult to double the size of the army.
If the grasslands tribes really united, the Second Division alone could not suppress them.
Duanren County in the east was also worrying.
Limited by Ba Dao's title, Duanren County could not be promoted to a third-class county. The strength of the Mountain Sea Territory made Ba Dao restless. In order to protect his territory, he could only take risks and seek instant benefits.
Ba Dao contacted the Yan Huang Alliance as he furiously built up his territory. Apart from the three First-class subsidiary territories, the other nine Second-class subsidiary territories had all been completed, and they were steadily advancing towards a First-class County.
The most direct benefit was that the population of the territory was increasing day by day, creating conditions for the expansion of the army. In addition to the soldiers from the mountain barbarian tribes and the funds provided by the gold mine, Duanren County's military strength was growing day by day. The size of the army had reached a division, which was comparable to the previous Shanhai County.
If Ba Dao was walking on a tightrope, then Ouyang Shuo was playing with fire.
Duanren County's current development was not unrelated to Ouyang Shuo's deliberate indulgence. After taking over Tianfeng County, it wasn't that Ouyang Shuo didn't have the opportunity to take over Duanren County. It was just that he didn't want his "Gu Breeding" strategy to be stillborn, so he gave up and allowed Duanren County to continue.
If he didn't restrain himself, he might be nurturing a tiger and inviting calamity.
What worried Ouyang Shuo the most was the unexpected event that occurred in the depths of the Grand Myriad Mountains.
A large number of mountain barbarian tribes were migrating to the depths of the mountains. Leng Qian, the leader of the First Military Intelligence Group of the Military Intelligence Division, who was in charge of the eastern region's intelligence, had personally led a team into the depths of the mountains to investigate.
Ouyang Shuo had a premonition that an old enemy was staring at him from the depths of the mountains.
Just as a storm was brewing in Lian Prefecture Basin, an old man quietly arrived at Shanhai City.
The old man was in his fifties. He had a wide forehead, a round face, eyebrows, and a mustache. He was dressed very simply in coarse hemp clothes and wore a green headscarf. His scholarly elegance exuded a sense of awe-inspiring dignity.
After entering the city, the old man toured around the city with great interest. He couldn't help but secretly nod when he saw the prosperous scene of the commercial street and the orderly life of the common people.
Soon after, the old man walked into the Southwest University China Hall and met a scholar who was walking toward him. The scholar cupped his hands and said, "Dare I ask, this old man has heard that there is a library in your noble city. May I know where it is?"
The young scholar was a student of the Southwest University China School of Scripture. Seeing the old man's ancient greeting, he didn't dare to be negligent and quickly returned the greeting. "The library is built by the Full Moon Lake. Let me take you there!"
Ouyang Shuo had already said that the library would never be secretive and would be open to everyone in the world. Therefore, people like the old man who asked for directions were not rare in the Southwest University China Hall.
"Thank you!"
The young scholar brought the old man to the library and turned to leave.
The old man walked into the library. He looked a little excited and a little nervous.
He was none other than the War Sage, Sun Wu. Later generations respectfully called him Sun Tzu. Together with the two sages, Confucius and Laozi, they were known as the three brightest stars in the world of thought in the late Spring and Autumn Period.
Sun Wu and the library master, Jiang Shang, had a deep relationship.
Firstly, Jiang Shang was respected as the founder of the school of militarism, and Sun Wu was the representative of the school of militarism.
Secondly, Jiang Shang was the founder of the Qi Kingdom, and Sun Wu was a person from Qi Kingdom.
Tracing back to the source, the two of them had a deep relationship. Therefore, after learning that Jiang Shang was the library master, Sun Wu immediately made use of the system's mysterious relay station and traveled thousands of miles to Shanhai City to pay a visit to Jiang Shang.
Strictly speaking, the War Sage, Sun Wu could be considered half a hermit.
Before the age of 30, Sun Wu lived in seclusion and wrote Sun Tzu's Art of War. After that, he served as a general in the Wu Kingdom for more than 20 years and achieved outstanding military service. After that, he retired and lived in seclusion again to revise his book on the art of war.
Throughout his life, he was a legendary figure.
The Hundred Schools Grandmaster Jiang Shang and the War Sage, Sun Wu, the two sages, crossed time and space and met in the library.
"Greetings, Great Grandfather!" Sun Wu performed a disciple's greeting.
Jiang Shang leaned to the side and borrowed a famous saying from the Analects of Confucius to cleverly redefine the relationship between the two of them. "Isn't it a good thing to have a friend come from afar?"
When the two grandmasters of the school of militarism met, they unconsciously started to talk about the art of war. The more they talked, the more they felt like they had met earlier.
Unknowingly, the sun had already set.
Jiang Shang turned his head and looked out of the library, lost in thought. The setting sun illuminated half the sky with the reflection of the lake. Although it was already sunset, the red light still shone brightly. He sighed and said, "It's enough to meet a bosom friend in life."
"I'm extremely fortunate!" Sun Wu was also satisfied and had a joyful expression.
"How about it? Are you willing to come with me to the island?"
"Of course, I don't dare to ask."
The two of them laughed as if they were old friends reuniting. There was no need to say anything.
Following Jiang Shang to the Fallen Star Island, Sun Wu admired the beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains. He said in admiration, "Such a rural atmosphere, it's a wonderful place to live in seclusion. Great Grandfather is blessed."
Jiang Shang shook his head and said with a melancholy expression, "It's all thanks to Marquis Lian Province's good intentions."
"Oh?" Sun Wu revealed an interested expression and said, "The Shanhai Territory is famous in the circle. When I entered the city just now, I casually looked around. It's indeed a well-deserved reputation. Great Grandfather is living in seclusion here. What do you think of this Marquis Lian Province? "
"Why? Do you want to become an official here?"
"No." Sun Wu shook his head and said, "I have no interest in a military career. I'm willing to learn from Great Grandfather and become a hermit. If Great Grandfather doesn't mind, I'm willing to live on the island and write books and revise the books of war. I heard that there are more than ten thousand books in the library, and I want to read the later generations' art of war to gain inspiration and make up for my shortcomings. "
"Isn't it a waste for such a great talent to live in seclusion on a small island?"
"Isn't it the same for Great Grandfather?"
"I'm different from you. I have a knot in my heart with Marquis Lian Province, so I'm not willing to become an official. Even so, it's hard for me to refuse the great kindness of the Book Repository Master! "Jiang Shang said calmly.
Sun Wu was silent. After pondering for a long time, he said firmly, "I'm still willing to follow my heart. Rushing to the battlefield with vigor is no longer my pursuit. Carrying forward the art of war is my lifelong wish."
Jiang Shang nodded and said, "Of course, it's up to you. This matter can't be forced. I estimate that Marquis Lian Province will come to visit you tomorrow and invite you to become an official. "
"It doesn't matter. I have my own plans."
"This person is quite broad-minded. He can't be considered an ordinary person. Don't refuse him immediately."
Sun Wu's eyes narrowed. He didn't expect Jiang Shang to have such a high evaluation of this Marquis Lian Province. He smiled and said, "After hearing Great Grandfather's words, I really want to see it."
"You won't be disappointed. Moreover, Bai Qi has already been appointed as the Marquis's Mansion's General. There's an interesting training system in Shanhai City's army. I'm sure you'll be interested in it."
As expected of Great Grandfather Jiang, he knew everything in the world without even going out.
As they chatted, the two of them talked about the art of war and had a long talk during the night.
The next day, Ouyang Shuo received a secret report from the Fallen Star Island's servant. It said that a guest in his fifties arrived on the island yesterday. He wore a plain robe and had a long talk with Great Grandfather Jiang.
After Ouyang Shuo read the secret report, he was inwardly excited. If he wasn't wrong, the Hundred Schools of Thought had finally been officially launched. A person who could talk with Jiang Shang through the night was definitely not an ordinary person.
"Come!"
"Yes!"
"Go and invite General Bai Qi!"
"Yes, Sir!"
Ouyang Shuo planned to bring Bai Qi along to visit this mysterious person. He hoped to use Bai Qi as a ready-made example to prove that it was possible to become an official in the Shanhai Territory.
"Marquis!" Bai Qi hurried over.
"Come with me to the library."
"Oh? Did someone come? "Bai Qi's mind was sharp, and he immediately guessed the reason.
Bai Qi could be considered as one of the representatives of the militarists. When Jiang Shang was appointed as the head of the library, Bai Qi took the time to visit him. The two of them had an exchange on the art of war and had a very congenial conversation.
"Not bad."
"In that case, I'd like to take a look."
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