The sky gradually darkened, and the sunset glow spread across the sky and earth like a huge red silk. The long yellow sand is reflected bright red by the blood-like sunset glow, like burning coals in the furnace, covering the sky and the earth.
Ashina Fudai rode his horse, stamped his feet on the mountain road on the south side of Lugu Mountain, and looked to the south from a distance.
The weather was hot, and even after the sun had set, the mountain breeze still brought a hint of heat. If you were a Han Chinese, you might find it very comfortable, but Ashina, despite being the most noble Turkic nobleman on the grassland, was extremely patient. Not hot.
Half of the fur on his body was taken off, revealing half of his chest, which was as solid as iron. The colorful laces around the waist were tied loosely, and half of the shawl was draped over the shoulders. It was made of the finest silk and shone in the afterglow of the setting sun.
On Ashina Fudai's exposed chest, between the fluffy chest hairs, there is a tattoo of a green wolf head, leaning on its big mouth, looking up to the sky and howling, lifelike. This is a totem owned only by the most noble Ashina family on the grassland, and represents the most glorious bloodline of the Great Khan.
There is a three-inch disk-shaped ornament tied around the waist, which is studded with blue gemstones that are as round as beads. This is a symbol that can only be worn by the most direct bloodline of the Ashina clan in China, and represents the most direct bloodline of the Ashina Tumen of Ili Khan. If one is a descendant of the Ashina family, the arm ornaments are simply made of gold and silver.
The reason why Ashina is worthy of this armband is because he is the son of Shibi Khan and the biological brother of Yibidulu Khan Yugushe. At the same time, he is also the second-ranking figure in commanding the tribes in the Western Region, second only to his elder brother Yugushe.
Although the sunset at dusk is gorgeous, it falls obviously faster.
As the sky darkened, Ashina Fudai immediately stood on the high sand dune road, looking across a low hill in front of him at a faint spark rising in the far south, which was the light coming from the Tang Army's station on the bank of the Puchang Sea. There were not many Tang troops stationed there. There were only 2,000 regular troops and a group of civilians carrying heavy supplies. Maybe they didn't pay attention to the Turks at all?
Ashina Budai spat and murmured endlessly: "Instead of fighting the main force of the Tang army, let us come here to sneak attack on the supply camp? I really don't know what the Great Khan was thinking... Sigh, our big man Khan, probably scared out of his wits by the Tang army, kept moving westward all the way, wishing he could escape to the place where the sun sets, but what happened? The Tang army still chased after him..."
Ashina did not take the Tang Army to heart at all. He had always been very arrogant and led his troops through the fortress controlled by the Tang Army, coming and going as he pleased.
In his opinion, his brother Yugushe was just a timid rabbit.
The ability of the Turkic cavalry to move across the grassland like the wind was all used by Yu Gushe to escape...
He just keeps running away and is completely useless!
Of course, Yu Gushe still has some skills, and that is to judge a woman’s ability...
As long as he thinks of the soft body and hot breathing of his brother's new Qiuchi concubine in the Turk's tent, Ashina Budai has a passionate and excited impulse, and he can't wait to ride back to the tent immediately and sneak into his brother's tent. In his tent, he had that Qiuci concubine under him and fucked her until she kept begging for mercy...
Ashina Fudai touched the new pink flesh that had just grown on his right cheek, and the corner of his mouth twitched, breaking out into a ferocious smile. The eyes were as cold as lightning, it was the faint cold light flashing when a hungry tiger stared at its prey in the night.
Behind him, a thousand Ashina's soldiers were "attached" and waiting for him. They were the most elite Turkic cavalry!
The deputy general rode his horse to Ashina Fudai and asked: "Zuochaochao, do you want the soldiers to dismount, eat and drink to recharge their batteries, and wait until dawn to launch an attack?"
Ashina Fudai gave the deputy general a cold look. He was sent by his brother Yugushe and was as timid as his master... Ashina Fudai thought so.
"No need! I have been fighting since I was a child, and I have killed countless Tang troops. These 'attached' warriors behind me are all elites selected from the tens of thousands of string-controllers in the clan. Faced with such a group of Why should the Tang army be cautious when transporting baggage? Moreover, the Tang army must have discovered our traces, and maybe they have already sent a message for help to the main force ahead. If we delay for too long and the main force returns to help, wouldn't we have missed the Khan's order? ?”
The lieutenant general argued: "My subordinates have reported, and the main force of the Tang army will not return reinforcements...ah!"
Ashina Budai picked up the riding whip in his hand and struck the deputy general on the head and face with a hard whip, knocking him off his horse. He opened his eyes and said angrily: "Shut up! If you dare to make any noise again, you will not believe me." Don’t you believe I’ll beat you to death? Send the order, everyone dismounts, and when the moon rises, we’ll charge straight into the formation and kill every one of these Tang troops in one go!”
The lieutenant was so frightened that he did not dare to say a word and rolled back to deliver the order.
This demon king is one of the most brutal in the tribe. Even the Great Khan cannot give in. How dare he provoke him?
Ashina Budai raised his eyes and glanced at the lights in the distance, but in his mind he wanted to quickly deal with these Tang soldiers, and hurried back to his tent to enjoy the sweat of the beautiful Kuci concubine...
A wife is worse than a concubine, and a concubine is worse than a thief. What the Han people say makes sense!
*********
Outside the Qijiaojing Canyon, the Tang army camped overnight, waiting for dawn to cross the canyon and reach the gates of Gaochang City.
Hou Junji sat upright in the commander's tent, reading the military newspaper under the bright candle.
Changsun Chong was sitting at another table, copying memorials. Hou Junji's handwriting was not good-looking, so he couldn't use it...
There are soldiers announcing outside the tent.
Hou Junji called him in and asked, "What's the matter?"
The soldier said respectfully: "Commander, the Admiral of the Shenji Battalion and Qin Huaidao of the Baggage Battalion jointly stated that a large number of cavalry were found in the sand dunes on the north side of Puchang Sea. They suspected that the Turks wanted to rob and burn the grain, grass and baggage, and requested the Marshal to send troops for assistance."
Changsun Chong's hand holding the pen paused slightly, his breathing stagnated, and he did not raise his head. He just listened carefully to Hou Junji's reaction.
"Turks?"
Hou Junji frowned, stood up, walked towards a map hanging on the side with his hands behind his hands, and carefully checked the nearby terrain.
"How could Turks appear there?"
Hou Junji was a little puzzled.
The Gaochang Kingdom was just a pretext for this army's western expedition, and shocking the Western Turks was the top priority.
After the surrender of Tuli Khan, Yibidulu Khan wanted to succeed Gushe as the Western Turkic Khan, and secretly colluded with the countries in the Western Regions to unite to resist the Tang Dynasty. This not only destroyed the trade routes in the Western Regions, but also seriously threatened the northwest of the Tang Dynasty. Regarding the stability of the border, Datang would never sit idly by and let it stir up trouble in the Western Regions.
Logically speaking, the Western Turks are standing behind the Gaochang State. In this attack on the Gaochang State, the Western Turks should help their allies. That's why Your Majesty will send tens of thousands of troops at a time. Otherwise, how can Gaochang, a small country, use these many troops?
But now the Western Turks actually divided their troops to attack the supply camp... Is it useful?
Gaochang Kingdom is surrounded by mountains, with abundant rainfall and fertile land. As long as Gaochang City is conquered in one go, there will be no fear of food shortage.
What is the purpose of the Turks?
Hou Junji felt that his mind was a little confused. When he turned around, he saw Changsun Chong secretly looking towards him, meeting his eyes, but he immediately lowered his head with a guilty conscience.
Something weird!
Is this guy so concerned about Shenji Camp?
It doesn’t make sense!
Hou Junji twitched his chin and his mind was spinning rapidly.
After thinking for a long time, he asked: "Consort Changsun, if you are my commander, should you send troops to rescue me?"
"Ah?" Changsun Chong was startled, stood up quickly, and said, "How dare I interfere with the military plan..."
"Just say what you are told!" Hou Junji said with a sullen face.
He didn't like Fang Jun, and he didn't think Changsun Chong was that good, but he just didn't get along with him.
"No!" Changsun Chong calmed down, thought for a while, and said: "I believe that conquering Gaochang is the top priority, and everything should be based on this."
Hou Junji's face was expressionless. Could it be that the commander-in-chief could not distinguish between priorities?
Changsun Chong continued: "The Turks must all be in Gaochang City at this moment. They are assisting Ju Wentai in defending the city. How can they divide their troops outside? The Turks are not stupid. They know that even if they rob and burn our army's food and grass, it will not have much impact on the overall situation." How can this be unnecessary? Therefore, I believe that the report about the presence of Turkic cavalry in the report from the Shenji Battalion is really nonsense and there is no need to pay attention to it."
Hou Junji narrowed his eyes.
After a while, he smiled and said: "Very good, the eldest son-in-law is indeed resourceful. Even so, I will recognize your advice!"
Changsun Chong was stunned for a moment, and then he cursed in his heart: This Hou Junji is so shameless! You didn't want to separate your troops to rescue me, but you were afraid that something would happen afterwards, so you actually threw the blame on me?
But he could only swallow this breath. Who told him that he was the one who least wanted to separate his troops for rescue?
