After standing still, Ma Zhou said, "This commoner Ma Zhou pays respect to Ping Xiwang."
Du Qi said, "Sit!"
After Ma Zhou thanked him and sat down, he heard Du Qi say, "Ma Zhou, Mr. Wang said that you are one of the best in the Academy. I don't doubt your talent. Those who can enter Mr. Wang's eyes are not ordinary people. "
Ma Zhou quickly said, "Your Highness is overpraising me."
Du Qi said, "I just want to ask you one thing. Although I am a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty, I have now offended the Emperor. When the Tang Dynasty's Emperor finishes dealing with his internal problems, his next step will be to attack me. If this king goes to war with the Great Tang, do you think I can win? "
After hearing this, Ma Zhou looked indifferent and said in a neither servile nor overbearing manner, "Your Highness, Ma Zhou is new here, so I don't know Ping Xiwang's strength. I don't know how Ping Xiwang repelled the Tang Dynasty's army this time."
"But I believe that it will take at least a year for the Tang Dynasty to attack Ping Xiwang again, or even longer. With this time, Ping Xiwang's strength will be stronger. "
Ma Zhou said, "At present, Ping Xiwang's strength is not strong, but he can still make the Tang Dynasty's Emperor retreat. As time goes by, I believe it will be easier to make the Tang Dynasty's army retreat. "
Du Qi laughed and said, "Ma Zhou, your words are a bit tricky."
Ma Zhou said in a neither servile nor overbearing manner, "Because Ma Zhou doesn't know the situation of Ping Xiwang's army, the arrangement of the army, and the equipment in the army are all secrets. Without these factors, I don't know anything and can only resort to trickery. "
Du Qi nodded. He had no objection to Ma Zhou's response, which was actually a good answer. Du Qi paused for a moment and then asked again, "Ma Zhou, do you have any family members in the Tang dynasty?"
"No more!"
Ma Zhou shook his head and said, "When I was young, my parents passed away. I have lived alone since young. Although I'm married now, my wife has followed me to the Western Regions. "
Du Qi nodded and said, "If you work for me, perhaps you won't be able to reach the heavens in a single bound. Perhaps you'll have to start from the lowest position. You may even be sent to the countryside to take up a post like the village head. Are you willing to do all these? "
Ma Zhou said without hesitation: "Your Royal Highness, even if it's just Village Chief, I'm willing. If one did not know the basics, it would be very difficult to govern a place. Governing a large country was like cooking a small fish because he knew everything like the back of his hand. If you don't even have that, it's impossible to govern a large country. That's why I'm willing to sink to the bottom. "
"Good, not bad!"
Du Qi nodded and said, "You came to the Western Regions, this King welcomes you. But your official position needs to wait for a while. This King will carefully consider it before granting you an official position. "
Ma Zhou said, "It's all up to Your Royal Highness."
Ma Zhou believed that it was worth it to serve Du Qi in the Western Regions. Because after this step, the next step would be to rise step by step with his ability. He believed that he would have no problem. Compared to the talents in the Western Regions, Ma Zhou had enough confidence and ability to do things.
Du Qi said, "You're dismissed."
"Yes!"
Ma Zhou bowed and then turned to leave.
Du Qi ordered Ma Zhou to call Lai Ji. After Ma Zhou complied, he went out of the hall and saw Lai Ji: "Younger Brother, Ping Xi Wang invites you in."
Lai Ji said, "Thank you, Elder Brother."
He did not ask Ma Zhou what Du Qi said, nor did he ask Du Qi what he wanted to ask.
He shook his sleeves and walked in.
Lai Ji came from a family of generals. His ancestor was Lai Xi of the Eastern Han Dynasty. His father was General Lai Hu 'er of the Sui Dynasty's Zuo Yi Guard. Logically speaking, it should be a famous family. But during the Jiangdu incident, Yang Guang was killed and Lai Hu 'er fought to the death. In the end, after Lai Hu' er died in battle, the Lai family was affected. Lai Ji's eldest brother, fifth brother, and sixth brother were all killed. The rest of the sisters were also slaughtered.
In the end, because Lai Ji and eleventh brother Lai Heng were young and were not in the house, they avoided the disaster.
Also because the Lai family was destroyed, the family declined. Lai Ji wandered all over the place. He had seen too many joys and sorrows and knew the hardships of the world.
It was because of this that Lai Ji was mature in his twenties.
Lai Ji's steps were steady. After he stood still, he said, "Lai Ji greets Ping Xi Wang."
Du Qi said, "Sit."
Lai Ji bowed and thanked him. After he sat down, Du Qi said, "Lai Ji, you come from a famous family. Although the Lai Family had declined, the Lai Family was still loyal and courageous. Moreover, with your background and talent, even in the Tang dynasty, you can have a good future. Why did you come to the Western Region? "
Compared to Ma Zhou, Lai Ji had more choices. Even if the Lai family declined, Lai Ji's father was Lai Hu 'er, a general of the Sui Dynasty. With the title of Lai Hu' er's son, it was not difficult for him to become an official.
This was Du Qi's question.
Lai Ji said, "Reporting to Your Highness, I came to the Western Region for three reasons."
Du Qi said, "I am listening."
Lai Ji said, "The first reason is that there are more opportunities in the Western Region. Compared to the Tang dynasty, serving Ping Xi Wang in the Western Region will promote faster, and there won't be too many dirty things."
"The second reason is that the Tang dynasty also played a part in the destruction of the Great Sui Dynasty. My father would rather die than be loyal to Yang Guang. Although I don't have my father's loyalty, I am willing to give up the Tang dynasty and choose the Western Region. "
"The third reason is that my elder brother Lai Heng has already become an official in the Tang dynasty. Although the world is temporarily stable, the existence of Ping Xi Wang has caused another variable to appear in the world. For the sake of the Lai family, my elder brother stayed in the Tang dynasty, and I came to the Western Region. By doing this, I am putting all my eggs in one basket. "
Lai Ji said, "Ping Xi Wang, this is the reason why I came to the Western Region."
"Good reason."
Du Qi smiled, a look of approval on his face. Lai Ji's words had been very clear.
Du Qi narrowed his eyes and asked, "Lai Ji, now this King and the Tang dynasty are enemies. Tell me, how can I reverse the situation and even kill my way to the Tang dynasty? "
Du Qi did this on purpose.
He had no intention to attack the Tang dynasty now. Especially with Li Shimin present, Du Qi had no such intention. Not only because of his father, but also because of Li Shimin and Li Yuan. Moreover, Li Shimin was a mighty lord. Du Qi could protect himself in the Western Region, but if he wanted to counterattack the Tang dynasty, it would be extremely difficult to win.
The current Tang dynasty's comprehensive strength was too strong.
This did not prevent Du Qi from asking.
Lai Ji smiled and said in a neither servile nor overbearing manner, "Your Highness, this one will say something impolite. With Li Shimin, the Emperor of the Tang dynasty, it is as difficult as ascending to heaven to destroy the Tang dynasty. Li Shimin swept away the world's ambitious and ruthless people and can be called a mighty lord. The Tang dynasty under his rule is thriving day by day, and the national strength is getting stronger day by day. It is impossible for Ping Xi Wang to counterattack, at least for Li Shimin. "
Du Qi nodded.
Lai Ji's analysis was indeed good.
Li Shimin was a man of great talent and bold vision. As long as he was there, it was almost impossible to break the Tang dynasty.
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