From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 1197

After a day of rest, we headed west again. The scenery along the way made us feel cheerful.

After completing the meeting with Zhang Fei's people, everyone was no longer running around like headless flies. All actions had a purpose, which also gave people a greater sense of security.

Guan Lu's face was not very good, mainly because he had not recovered from the long journey.

But he was in good spirits. Sitting on the horse, he said: "The five forces of the White Mountain Sect, the Black Mountain Sect, the U-Tsang monks, the Inner Court, and the Divine Bird are already complicated enough. As a result, there are also people from the Tsarist Empire, the Mughal Empire, the Big and Small Yuz, and the Yarkand royal family..."

"With so many people gathered in the Yili region, Yining City must be extremely complicated. We have no idea how to start."

"My lord, what do you think?"

Zhou Yuan looked at Xiaoying and asked, "What do you think?"

Xiaoying tilted her head and said, "Xiaoying wants to eat roasted lamb, want to eat fruit, and want to sleep in a bed."

"Okay, you can rest."

Zhou Yuan laughed, and then said seriously: "The number of groups and forces is essentially just a matter of quantity. What we should first clarify is the position."

"Classify these complex groups of forces into their positions. In the middle, the number will drop immediately, and we can distinguish the enemy and ourselves clearly.

"If we can distinguish the enemy and ourselves clearly, we will know how to proceed next."

"In a difficult environment, as long as we unravel it, everything will be revealed."

Guan Lu said: "Then let's first figure out ourselves. We came to Yili to overthrow the Yarkand regime and to recover the Western Regions."

"This is different from a large-scale, large-scale war. This time we mainly rely on political means. To achieve the goal of overthrowing the Yarkand regime, we must take advantage of their internal contradictions, that is... the White Mountain Sect."

"The White Mountain Sect and the Black Mountain Sect have always been at odds. In terms of attitude towards the Great Jin, the White Mountain Sect is more inclined to the Central Plains civilization, while the Black Mountain Sect is more inclined to the Western civilization."

The Western civilization mentioned by Guan Lu refers to the Arab and Pan-Eastern European civilizations in Central Asia and West Asia.

"Every religion and every group will always have a choice for their future destiny."

"The choice of the Baishan Sect is obviously to rely on the civilization of Dajin to develop itself."

"The choice of the Black Mountain Sect is to rely on the support of the western part to invade Dajin and realize greater ambitions."

"Different views and plans for the future destiny have become contradictions that they can never reconcile."

"So it is certain that we need the Baishan Sect, and the Baishan Sect needs us, and we must be on the same side."

Zhou Yuan nodded and said, "That's right. This is the foundation for us to solve the Yarkand affairs by political means this time. Therefore, contacting the Baishan Sect, reaching a consensus, forming an alliance, and working together is our most important task."

Speaking of this, Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Next, let's talk about the Black Mountain Sect and the Yarkand royal family."

Guan Lu pondered for a long time this time.

Unlike Zhou Yuan, he had never stood on the shoulders of giants and appreciated the great scenery.

He just continued to answer according to his rough understanding: "The Black Mountain Sect and the White Mountain Sect are completely on opposite sides due to their differences in the future destiny, and they are definitely on the opposite side of us."

"As for the Yarkand royal family, they should also... stand on the side of the Black Mountain Sect. We... sigh..."

He shook his head helplessly and said, "I dare not make random guesses, my lord, I can only go this far, and I can't analyze it anymore."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "If you want to connect them, I will tell you an essential theory first."

"That is, after any group develops to a certain stage, the most important thing they pursue is political interests."

Guan Lu savored this sentence carefully.

Zhou Yuan said: "A group, no matter what kind of group it is, often strives for economic interests at the beginning. When economic interests reach a certain stage, they will strive for power. When power reaches a certain stage, they will strive for political interests."

"The reason is that the essence of political interests is to increase power and protect power, and power is to protect economic interests. Economic interests and political interests can eventually achieve mutual complementation and mutual assistance, a virtuous cycle, and finally stabilize."

"Economic interests without political protection are loose, ethereal, and not stable enough. Political interests without economic interests are like a high-rise building with a weak foundation, which will collapse sooner or later."

"If you understand this, you will understand the position of the Yarkand royal family."

Guan Lu frowned and asked in confusion: "It means... they..."

He still shook his head, expressing helplessness.

Zhou Yuan said: "It's actually very simple. The Yarkand Khanate is a typical religious khanate., their top leaders are currently dominated by the Black Mountain Sect, but there are also a large number of White Mountain Sect.

"There are also Black Mountain Sect and White Mountain Sect in the Yarkand royal family, but based on the need to maintain rule, the royal family generally agrees with the Black Mountain Sect."

"Therefore, the Yarkand royal family is not our complete opponent. There are objects worth fighting for. If we win them, it will be a critical step."

"The infiltration of the Divine Bird is aimed at the White Mountain Sect in the royal family."

Guan Lu nodded heavily, exhaled, and said: "The direction is much clearer."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said: "Then let's come again and continue to unravel the mystery."

"What is the position of the U-Tsang monks? We know very well that our jurisdiction over there is only nominal, and with the precariousness of the Great Jin for so many years, they actually don't even want to give us the name. "

"In addition, in my actions to suppress the southwest and the rebellion of Tusi, they actually invested some money and manpower for a long time. The Wugu Village Rebellion was proof of this, but... I destroyed them all. Even the Bayan Luohan on the Snow Mountain Temple, who they called the leader of the Supreme Living Buddha of the time, was killed by us..."

"Haha, they have political demands and hatred, and of course they hope that Yarkand will continue to fight with us."

"They will do everything possible to prevent peace talks, and even hope to gain the favor and recognition of the Black Mountain Sect and realize some political interests."

"So, it is certain that they are mortal enemies."

Guan Lu said: "What about the Tsarist Empire, the Mughal Empire, and the Big and Small Yuz?"

Zhou Yuan smiled and said: "This needs to be analyzed from a geopolitical perspective."

"If you are a senior official of the Mughal Empire and the Big and Small Yuz, do you want the Western Regions to become part of the Great Jin? Do you want a huge empire to be born next to you? "

Guan Lu said: "Of course not. Just like the Tsar's idea, I hope that the surrounding countries are as poor as possible, as small as possible, and as fragmented as possible, so that there is no threat and they can be exploited."

Zhou Yuan nodded and said: "So from this perspective, they are more inclined to the Black Mountain Sect. After all, the Black Mountain Sect is also spreading their civilization."

"But Guan Lu, realistic politics is not idealistic. It is rational and is about practical interests."

"Do you want a hungry wolf or an elephant sleeping next to you?"

"If the rise of the Great Jin is beneficial to them, they will slowly change their position."

"If the division of Yarkand is harmful to them, will they start to turn to us?"

"This depends on the actual situation and the art of negotiation must be considered."

Speaking of this, Zhou Yuan smiled and said: "So my conclusion is that the Big and Small Yuz can be fought for, but the Mughal Empire cannot be fought for. "

"The reason is that the rise of the Jin Dynasty will bring benefits to the Big and Small Yuz to a certain extent, but the benefits brought to the Mughal Empire are far less than the risks."

"Because the Big and Small Yuz are the beneficiaries of the Silk Road, they will also face the expansion threat of Yarkand and the threat of the Tsar."

"But the Mughal Empire... they are bigger and more ambitious. Compared with those minor interests, they hope to see the optimism of future geopolitics."

He clapped his hands and whispered: "So you see, although so many forces gathered in Yili, after our analysis, everything becomes clear."

"White Mountain Sect, allies."

"Yarkand Royal Family, part of the struggle."

"Big and Small Yuz, can be fought for."

"Tsar, Black Mountain Sect, U-Tsang monks, mortal enemies."

"The Mughal Empire is not a mortal enemy, but they'd better be honest."

Guan Lu couldn't help but exclaimed: "Great! Everything is clear!"