Tanzhou, Northern Xinjiang.
Tanju is adjacent to Hanju to the east, Fengju to the west, and Jeju, one of the six major gates of the Dalong North Territory, to the north.
The terrain of Tanzhou is in the northern Xinjiang. It can be regarded as a medium-sized central location. It can reach Jeju directly. Although there are eighteen large and small prefectures in the middle, as long as Tanzhou City is heavily defended across the hospital, it will be difficult to rush to Jeju. No matter what the difficulty is.
Huyan Yunyao summoned troops to gather here, apparently with the intention of leading an army to forcefully break through.
Over the past few days, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses have been approaching Tanzhou in a hurry.
Whether it was Turkic soldiers or dragon soldiers and horses, the orders they received were different. They were all to gather at Tanzhou Mansion and stand by at all costs.
Previously, more than a million soldiers and horses were scattered among the 12 state capitals. The encounter between the two armies depended on God's will. Now the two armies have the same goal. They are all gathering towards Tanzhou. It is impossible not to encounter each other on the way to gather.
As a result, for several days, there were no longer fierce battles on the official roads leading to Tanzhou.
Thousands of soldiers from both countries often died on the official road leading to Tanzhou.
The Qingshui River in Pingchuan County, Tanzhou Prefecture, runs through the north and south and has countless tributaries. It is the river on which most of the prefectures in northern Xinjiang depend for their survival.
Irrigation and drinking water mostly rely on the Qingshui River, which never dries up.
Both officials and local people attach great importance to the Qingshui River. Nowadays, more and more Turkic cavalry are stopping in the wilderness on the east side of the Qingshui River to replenish drinking water.
Fortunately, the Turks also attached great importance to water veins and did not ruin the peace and tranquility of Qingshui River. They just quietly replenished the water bag after dismounting.
Huyan Yunyao hung the skin bag filled with drinking water on the horse's back. Watching more and more soldiers and horses gathering, her anxious heart finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Hu Yanyu walked towards the little girl holding pieces of paper written with Turkic characters in his hands.
"Great Khan, there are still seven tribes that have not come to join us. They may have encountered some trouble, or they may have encountered an unexpected event. A rough estimate is that our current combined strength is already 280,000."
"I think it shouldn't be a problem to rush out of Tanzhou and withdraw all the way outside the customs."
Before Huyan Yunyao could be happy, several Turkic scouts came on horseback.
"Report, Commander-in-Chief, a large number of enemy troops from Fengzhou have gathered towards Tanzhou, with a strength of no less than 50,000!"
"Report, Commander-in-Chief, a large number of enemy troops from Yanzhou have already gathered and searched for Tanzhou Prefecture, with about 80,000 troops."
"Report, a large number of enemy troops are gathering in Lingzhou and Yuanzhou towards Tanzhou. The troops are too scattered and it is impossible to estimate the specific strength."
"Report to the Great Khan and the spies to pass the message. A group of soldiers and horses with the banner of Dragon Eagle are rushing towards Tanzhou. It is estimated that they come from Mizhou. They can reach Tanzhou in less than a day. state."
Huyan Yunyao just showed a hint of joy on her brows, and then she frowned with a gloomy expression.
Looking at her second brother who also had a solemn expression, Huyan Yunyao took out the map and started looking through it.
"It seems that senior brother has noticed our intention and is mobilizing troops to encircle us in Tanzhou. We only have about 280,000 troops now, and the situation of the other seven troops is still unclear. Continuing to wait will affect the overall situation, so without further delay, send an order to the three armies to break out of the encirclement immediately before Dalong's troops and horses have assembled in Tanzhou Mansion."
"Shi Sizhe, listen to the command!"
"I'm here!"
"Each of you will lead 50,000 soldiers and horses to break out from Fengtan Road and Yantan Road. Remember not to leave Tanzhou City for fifty miles, otherwise you will be completely surrounded by Dalong's soldiers and horses."
"I will take your orders!"
"The rest of the soldiers and horses followed this Khan and rushed directly to Tanzhou City. They rushed out from both sides of Tanzhou City and went straight to the outside of Jeju Pass!"
"We obey orders!"
Within a few sticks of incense, 280,000 soldiers and horses were divided into three groups, and they rushed all the way from Qingshui River in Pingchuan County toward Tanzhou City, which was fifty miles away.
Success or failure depends on this move, victory or defeat depends on this move.
On the official road from Mizhou to Tanzhou, Su Baiqing led 50,000 dragon eagles who had been briefly repaired to mount their horses and rush towards Tanzhou.
It had been two days, and Su Baiqing didn't dare to think about what would happen if he couldn't reach Tanzhou before dark.
"General, it's not a problem to get to Tanzhou before dark. The general is from Yanzhou and is very familiar with the routes of the surrounding states. As long as you follow the general, the general will be able to lead the brothers to get closer before dark. We rushed to Tanzhou to join forces with the prince."
Su Baiqing turned his head and glanced at his deputy general Liu Qingchuan, who was riding alongside him. The solemn expression on his face did not diminish at all.
"Brother Liu, don't be careless. Even if we take a shortcut to get to Tanzhou before dark, we must not be careless. Although the journey is not far, it is not too close. We must be prepared for any unexpected events in advance."
"You don't know King Bingjian, and you don't know how rigorous he is in managing the army. He said that the three days can only be advanced and cannot be extended, otherwise the general will be killed!"
"Back then, I was the commander-in-chief...and the captain of the Xiaoguo Guard Pioneer Army when he fought with Wang Xi in the Western Expedition. I know his character very well."
"If Shi Huai hadn't been holding us back, why would I be so anxious?"
"Damn it, even if I was executed by King Bingjian, I still have to prepare a piece of information about Shi Huai's dereliction of duty before I die."
Liu Qingchuan frowned slightly and looked at Su Baiqing, who had a solemn expression: "General, are you talking too seriously? You have always been a general conferred by His Majesty himself, and you have made countless contributions during the Western Expedition. Even though the prince is thinking I am so angry that I don’t dare to have you dealt with by military law without submitting it to the three judicial departments for trial.”
"Besides, you are now a general of the Dragon Eagle Cavalry, and you are not under the command of King Bingjian."
"The King Bingjian's treatment of you is not in line with the imperial court's customs. I think, General, you don't need to worry too much."
Su Baiqing glanced at Liu Qingchuan, who was in his early twenties and still had a childish look on his face, and sighed softly.
"You don't understand King Bingjian. During the Western Expedition...forget it, let's not talk about the past for now, Liu Qingchuan!"
"The general is here!"
"Remember what I say next, this is an order!"
"General, tell me!"
"If we fail to join forces in time, the King of Side One will deal with this general lawfully. You must restrain the brothers and never lead to military chaos!"
"Ah? How...how can this be allowed?"
"Liu Qingchuan, I will say it again, this is an order!"
"If you dare to disobey in front of the battle line, I will put you under military law right now."
"This... general takes command!"
Su Baiqing drove his horse away from the team with a disappointed expression. He turned around and looked behind him. When he saw that there was no trace of the army, Su Baiqing's heavy face became even more gloomy.
"Shi Huai, if you can't join forces as ordered, just wait, you won't be mad for more than a few days!"
"Don't talk about the king's intervention. Even if all the civil and military officials of the court come together to plead for mercy, they can't save your life."
"Military orders are like mountains, and their execution and prohibition are not as simple as words!"
