Where did the real owner Xiao Rui and his party go? He disappeared quietly into the grassland? Even Jieli's scouts couldn't detect it?
This is Xiao Rui's strategy. The grasslands will be nomadic people, living by the water. As long as you understand the distribution of water sources and avoid water source areas, you will most likely avoid the prairie people's attention.
As for finding their traces based on horse hoof prints, haha, it's even more impossible. There is a lack of everything on the grassland, except for wild horses and horse hoof prints.
Xiao Rui's team has a limited number of people. Even Queen Xiao and her grandson Yang Zhengdao are riding horses. There is not a carriage. Where can they find traces?
I was able to pursue him all the way before because Xiao Rui caused trouble and massacres all the way. Any fool knows the general direction, so he just needs to chase where there are tribes. This time is different. You need to chase in a direction where no one is around, so the range will be wider, and the Turkic scouts will suffer.
At this moment, Xiao Rui and his party had reached the junction of the East and West Turks. They took out the map and took a look. Xiao Rui confirmed the direction and without hesitation reached out and stepped into the territory of the West Turks.
Going to the Western Turks is to borrow a road, not to massacre and attack, so try not to have any surprises. Of course, there is civil strife going on in Western Turkeste, so I'm afraid they won't be able to take care of us. Even if there is a conflict with the people here, we won't be afraid.
After marching for a day, the group encountered a small tribe with only three to five thousand people. Xiao Rui and others' meat, food, etc. were plundered from the royal court, but the water source was not good and they couldn't bring much, so they had to be careful and sneaky to get water along the way.
When you step into the Western Turks, you don’t need to be too sneaky. When you encounter them, you boldly contact this small tribe and want to get some water.
The leader of the tribe is a burly man in his thirties. When he saw Xiao Rui and others, he subconsciously became on guard. With his eyes, he could easily see that this Tang Army cavalry was full of blood and might have fought all the way here. My own tribe can only raise 3,000 downtrodden cavalry at full strength, but they can't compare with others.
"I am Mo He Duo, the leader of this tribe. Generals of the Tang Dynasty, do you know why you came to our Western Turks?"
Xiao Rui turned over and dismounted, and said with a smile: "Relax, we came from Jieli's territory. We are not in trouble with the Western Turks. We are just taking the Western Turks to return to the Tang Dynasty. We passed here to get some water."
Hearing this, Mo He Duo breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, this man was young, but he probably wouldn't lie to himself. If someone wants to destroy our tribe, it would be better to go directly and launch a surprise attack without all these twists and turns.
"I see, it's a simple matter. Please follow me. This water does not belong to our family. It is a gift from the Changsheng Heaven. We also rely on this water source to survive. Please feel free to drink it." Mo Heduo was very polite.
Xiao Rui waved people to get water, and looked at the middle-aged man curiously, "The patriarch seems to understand the etiquette of the Tang Dynasty?"
Speaking of this, Mo Heduo smiled proudly, "I have admired the Central Plains since I was a child, so I often take advantage of the opportunity of doing business to go to the market at Yumenguan in the Tang Dynasty. I have learned some etiquette over the years."
So, Xiao Rui put down his guard and started chatting with the other party. Mo Heduo is very talkative, and he seems to have a forthright personality when he talks. What impressed Xiao Rui the most was his learning ability, as if he was learning everywhere. Even in simple chats, Moheduo asked Xiao Rui many times for advice. Some knowledge of the Central Plains.
Not long after, Su Lie came over and reported that the water collection was completed and it was time to leave.
Xiao Rui bowed his hands and said goodbye, but Mo Hedu was very reluctant to leave. He glanced at Xiao Rui's troops and bravely said, "General Xiao, can you do me a favor?"
Xiao Rui said in confusion: "We are being chased by Jie Li and are anxious to return to the Tang Dynasty. How can I help you?"
Su Lie warned: "Chang Shi, be careful of fraud."
The implication is that if the true purpose is revealed, what should we do if the other party sells us again, or holds us back and hands us over to Jieli?
Xiao Rui waved his hand to reassure him. Even if he told Jieli where we were, he wouldn't be able to catch up. As for Western Turks? As long as they are not crazy, they will not take the initiative to provoke Datang. I haven't wiped my butt clean yet, it's a mess, and I don't even have a leading khan. If I provoke the Tang Dynasty now, I'm looking for death.
Mo Heduo said with pleading eyes: "To be honest, our tribe is on the border of the Western Turks, with low strength and very marginalized. The Huyi tribe next to us often bullies us. They have 10,000 tribesmen and 5,000 soldiers and horses. We Not an opponent."
Su Lie's eyes were cold and he said, "What? You want us to help you get rid of your enemies? How dare you use my soldiers and horses of the Tang Dynasty as thugs after taking water from you? How many heads do you have?"
Mo Heduo waved his hands repeatedly, "Don't dare. That's not what I meant. I just want to let your team help scare them. After all, in the Western Turks, the Tang Dynasty's reputation is very loud. You don't need to do anything, just stand. We watched from behind, but they didn't dare to take action. The three thousand soldiers and horses of my own tribe are enough to teach them a lesson."
"Don't worry, the Huyi tribe is not far away, and your trip will not be delayed on your way back to Datang."
Yo, is this guy a smart guy? Not only does he have brains, but he also seems to have more courage. How dare someone who is not a relative or a friend dare to speak out and use our power to take advantage of us? The eager look in his eyes didn't look like he was trying to teach the other party a lesson, but more like a python swallowing an elephant and trying to eat the big tribe directly. I really underestimated this guy just now.
Xiao Rui seemed to have guessed it in his heart, but he didn't point it out. After thinking for a moment, he stared at Mo Hedu and asked, "It's not a big deal, but why should we help you? Is it just to get water once?"
"No, no, no, the water is not ours, and we don't dare to take credit for it. If you are willing to help, we can give you food to thank you. I can see that you have traveled a long distance, and the dry food you brought is all dried meat. I'm afraid of eating this all day long. No, it will affect combat effectiveness."
you……
Before Su Lie could refute, Mo He Duo rushed to say: "I know that the Tang Dynasty was rich and despised everything. Although food is not a very precious thing, please forgive me. The grassland is bitterly cold and our tribe is... The poor people in the entire Western Turks really have nothing to give. I just ask you two to help me and my people. We just want to survive."
Su Lie worriedly said: "Chang Shi, if he can't suppress the opponent, we may have to join the war, and there will be casualties and losses outweigh the gains. We have enough food to go to Yumen Pass."
Xiao Rui smiled, "Chief Moheduo, I can see your ambition. You are a person who is unwilling to settle for mediocrity. You are still the leader of a poor small tribe in your thirties, which shows that you are very tolerant. Not you You don’t have the talent, you just lack the opportunities. In my opinion, now that the Western Turks have no masters and conquests from all sides are ongoing, this is your opportunity to rise. Is your plan not just for the Huyi tribe?"
Mo Heduo's expression was stagnant, and he quickly waved his hands and said, "No, I'm not that ambitious. I just want my people not to be bullied. Don't worry, it will be enough to capture the Hu Yi tribe, and I won't cause you any trouble." "
Xiao Rui shook his finger, "No, this is not a trouble. It's not impossible to ask us to help. You just need to change the conditions and exchange them at equal value. Let me propose a cooperation plan: we will help you occupy the venue to cheer, and you can defeat the Huyi tribe. , annex them, and after that, allow us to choose two thousand good horses. How about a win-win cooperation? "
Um? Want another horse? Chang Shi, we have no shortage of war horses... now we have two horses per man. Su Lie reminded, but was stopped by Xiao Rui's eyes. Waiting for Mo Hedu's reply.
