: So wise and so close to a demon

Author: Gongsun Wujiu

Everyone felt a strange feeling when they heard that Du Ling had come to visit.

"Why don't you invite Duke Du in quickly?"

Huo Guang ordered.

Soon Du Ling entered the hall under the guidance of his servants.

Du Ling didn't expect that there were so many people in the hall at this time.

When he entered the door, he was obviously stunned for a moment, but after all, he was also a person who had seen big scenes, and he quickly returned to normal.

"Ling pays homage to the general!"

"I've met the princes!"

Du Ling greeted everyone with a smile.

Everyone also returned the gift one after another.

"How come Du Gong has time to come to such a noisy place today!"

Facing Du Ling, even Huo Guang had to put on the face of a courteous and virtuous corporal.

Du Ling laughed when he heard this and said: "The general is joking..."

The two chatted for a few words before turning to the main topic.

"Does Mr. Du have something important to do when he comes to visit today?"

Huo Guang asked while asking someone to serve Du Ling tea.

Du Ling'an sat down and said, "What if...Marquis Yunyang sent someone to bring something from the Western Regions and asked me to deliver it to the general!"

Huo Guang was surprised when he heard this, "I don't know what it is, but it actually needs to trouble Duke Du!"

The people on the left and right were also speculating in their minds. The first thing that everyone thought of was the southwestern barbarian's map leading to body poisoning.

However, everyone is not sure, after all, everyone knows that the road to body poison is the road to wealth.

No matter how you look at it, monopolizing the road leading to body poisoning is more beneficial to the Western Region.

Even if Marquis Yunyang really knows the path that leads to body poisoning from the southwestern barbarians, he probably won't hand it over easily.

Just as everyone was speculating, Du Ling had already taken out a box from his sleeve.

When everyone saw this, their eyes were involuntarily attracted to the box.

Du Ling still had a smile on his face at this time. He slowly opened the box, and what appeared in front of everyone was a map.

At this time, everyone in the hall was breathing heavily.

At this time, there were only three people in the hall whose expressions remained unchanged.

One is Huo Guang, one is Du Ling, and the other is Bingji.

Du Ling saw everyone's expressions in his eyes and couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "It's true that money and silk can move people's hearts!"

He opened the map, and sure enough it was the legendary map leading from Southwest Yi to Shendu.

Du Ling stood up and placed the map in front of Huo Guang. Huo Guang couldn't help but be moved when he looked at the map in front of him.

He also did not expect that Zhang Yue would give such a map representing endless wealth to himself and the court so easily.

"Please also ask Mr. Du to clear up some of my doubts!"

Huo Guang knew that concealing information about the map at this time was not a good thing, so he decisively asked Du Ling to introduce it in public.

Du Ling did not delay. He turned sideways and pointed at the map and said:

"General, gentlemen, please look! This place is Chengdu, Yizhou..."

"Start from Chengdu and go south to Qianwei County...and then to Yunnan County...continue south to Yongchang County...and cross the Ailao Kingdom to the northeast of Shendu..."

"Continue to the west and you will enter the Ganges River area, which is the richest place in the world..."

Bingji couldn't help but sigh after listening to Du Ling's introduction:

"It's really a twist of fate. In the past, Grand Administrator Sima (Sima Xiangru) wanted to be poisoned during his southern expedition. When he arrived in the Ailao Kingdom, the local natives said that there was no way forward..."

"Sima Taishou turned back because of this... I never thought that Sima Taishou would be bullied by the natives... What a pity! What a pity!"

Fan Mingyou stared at the map for a long time and said: "The general is willing to lead the army to the south, and I hope the general will do it!"

As soon as Fan Mingyou said this, he was immediately opposed by someone.

Tian Yannian stood up and objected: "General Fan has more important matters. Why does General Fan need to take action in the southern expedition..."

Du Ling's heart moved when he heard this, and he secretly guessed, "It seems that he is really going to take action against Wuhuan!"

When Fan Mingyou heard what Tian Yannian said, he looked at Huo Guang thoughtfully and then sat down.

At this time, Huo Guang suddenly asked Du Ling: "Who does Duke Du think can be responsible for opening up the way of poison in the body?"

Du Ling was stunned when he heard this, then smiled and said: "General, why should we sacrifice the near for the distant? Is there any more suitable candidate than the military governor of southern Shu?"

Huo Guang smiled and did not answer, but turned around and asked everyone.

"What do you think of leaving this matter to Han Zeng, the governor of southern Shu?"

Jin Shan thought for a while and said: "Han Zeng is also a rare talent, but according to someone's knowledge, there are only five thousand soldiers in Jianwei County now..."

At this time, Jin Bo looked at the map again and realized that the Ailao Kingdom is not small, and Han Zeng's troops are probably very powerful!"

Jun Busuo said: "Although the Ailao Kingdom is not small, I think the biggest difficulty in the southern expedition is the poisonous miasma and the unaccustomed climate..."

When Du Ling heard this, he hesitated to speak.

Upon seeing this, Tian Yannian stepped forward and bowed to Du Ling: "Please don't hide what noble views Du Gong has!"

When Du Ling saw this, he no longer hesitated and said, "I have often inquired about the affairs of the Ailao Kingdom from the princes of the southwestern barbarians..."

"I'm afraid the strength of the Ailao Kingdom is not weak... According to someone's knowledge, King Ailao has seventy-seven kings and chiefs, and his population should be more than 60,000 households, with a population of no less than 700,000..."

According to legend, the Ailao Kingdom is a Dai nation, and its founding monarch is Jiulong.

It was formed around the beginning of the fifth century BC and was surrendered to China in 69 AD. The Eastern Han Dynasty merged the area with Yongchang County established in the Western Han Dynasty to establish Yongchang County.

Bingji heard this and said: "So this Ailao country is actually a big country no less than Yelang!"

Du Ling affirmed: "Yes, if the general wants to conquer the south, he should consider it carefully!"

Fan Mingyou stood up and said: "General, this is easy. I, the great Han, can conquer the barbarians... and send righteous followers from the southwestern princes on a long march..."

Huo Guang nodded and said: "This is a good plan..."

Then he asked Tian Yannian: "How many soldiers can the commanders of the southwestern Yi kings recruit?"

After some calculations in his mind, Tian Yannian said: "At least 30,000 people can be recruited..."

Fan Mingyou said excitedly: "Thirty thousand barbarian soldiers, plus five thousand county soldiers, and three thousand northern troops are enough to defeat the Ailao Kingdom..."

Jin Shan said: "It is easy to defeat Ailao with the strength of our Han army's armored soldiers, but the acclimatization and poisonous miasma are difficult to deal with!"

Du Ling said: "It's easy to be acclimatized. Just prepare more tea..."

Jin Shang was surprised when he heard this and said: "Tea can actually resist the soil and water?"

Du Ling said: "Yes, that's why Marquis Yunyang vigorously promoted tea in the Western Regions... The Han troops in the Western Regions drink tea every day..."

Tian Yannian said happily: "There is only one miasma left that cannot be solved!"

Du Ling added at this time: "Marquis Yunyang once said that miasma can also be detected in advance..."

Then Du Ling also told Zhang Yue how he found ways to avoid miasma.

After everyone heard this, they were in awe of Zhang Yue.

Du Ling understood what everyone was thinking when he saw their expressions.

This was not much different from the first time he had an in-depth communication with Zhang Yue.

"So wise and almost demonic!"

This is Du Ling's evaluation of Zhang Yue in the past, and it is also how everyone feels about Zhang Yue today.
Chapter completed!