The north wind blows and the white grass breaks on the ground, and the sky is full of snow in August.
Suddenly a spring breeze comes overnight, and thousands of pear trees bloom.
Scattered into the pearl curtain and wet Luo curtain, the fox fur is not warm and the brocade quilt is thin.
The general's horns and bows cannot be controlled, and the guards' iron coats are cold and uncomfortable.
Li Jiangyao was reciting this poem he had memorized in middle school, and he couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Great works of art really come from life and are higher than life.
As soon as winter enters the Ghost Desert of Western Xinjiang, the whole world seems to have been completely turned upside down. The vicious scorching sun in the past is no longer there, replaced by endless, bone-chilling wind and snow.
The bow can't be drawn and the armor can't be worn, isn't it exactly the same as what the poem said.
At dawn, Li Jiangyao climbed to the top of Metasequoia City and inspected the defenses everywhere as usual. Before I could turn down the north door, my hands and feet were already frozen.
Due to heavy snow and road closures, the teams traveling to and from the Western Xinjiang trade routes almost disappeared. After a long time, the city defense system will inevitably relax. Li Jiangyao was very worried, so he had to check it in person every now and then.
This is a rule learned in the martial arts hall, and it is also the best way to save one's life.
After a full circle, Li Jiangyao was quite satisfied with today's results. All types of equipment, drums, and weapons are arranged in order, the sentry posts are fully manned, and alertness is very high.
It can be seen that Lin Feng has been training the metasequoia garrison recently, and the results have been good.
Li Jiangyao was not willing to use the five hundred Pegasus scouts for such a drudgery job as standing guard in the cold wind, but handed it all over to the local garrison. This is not to say that the scouts and soldiers are afraid of hardship, but mainly because these elite combat forces are the only bargaining chip he currently has. If you don't know how to cherish your combat power, once you encounter a bad situation, let alone win, you may not even be able to break through and save your life.
Last time, Li Jiangyao's request for reinforcements to Metasequoia City in the military newspaper was directly rejected by Deputy Governor Zhang Sanpi.
The reason is simple. In recent times, not only metasequoia, but also large numbers of horse bandits have been harassing towns and cities all over Western Xinjiang. In some places, tragedies involving massacres of villages and towns have even occurred.
The various garrisons of the Zhenjiang Protectorate located in the hinterland of Ghost Desert were exhausted by the alarm for help.
In order to stabilize the situation, Deputy Governor Zhang dispersed the existing troops to the greatest extent possible. The Protectorate can only give priority to those important vassal royal courts to strengthen defense assistance, while places like Metasequoia City can only be put at the back.
Zhang Sanpi did not completely ignore Metasequoia. He personally wrote a reply letter to Li Jiangyao, but there were only four words in the letter: Wait until spring comes.
Li Jiangyao understood what Zhang Sanpi meant.
In the harsh environment of wind and snow, the main force stationed in Anxi will never move westward easily unless it is absolutely necessary. Otherwise, just marching supplies will pose a fatal threat to the entire army.
Only when spring blooms next year will the Zhenjiang Army be able to dispatch troops calmly and calmly to suppress this unusual banditry.
Looking at the reply letter handwritten by the deputy governor, Li Jiangyao shook his head helplessly. Since there was no solution at the moment, he wouldn't think about it too much.
Fortunately, after the ghost alliance horse bandits withdrew their troops last time, they never attacked Metasequoia City again. They must have suffered enough here. In addition, such a cold and freezing climate also restricts the Turks from making small moves. As long as they can survive until the spring of next year, the potential crisis will eventually be resolved.
On the other hand, the issue about Tieshi Mountain is the most worthy of Li Jiangyao's careful consideration right now. The sooner you find that mysterious place, the sooner you will have the chance to return to the modern world and reunite with your parents and relatives.
Thinking of Tieshi Mountain, Li Jiangyao's heart became excited again. He turned to look at Lin Feng and Du Jian: "By the way, have you touched the topography around here?"
Lin Feng responded: "It's not too late yet. But the leader reminds us that we will send out exploration horses today to carefully walk through the entire area with a radius of twenty miles."
"Then let me go." Du Jian sniffed and said, "It's such a cold weather for most people."
Li Jiangyao raised his head and looked at the sky: "I'm going too. By the way, I'll visit the villagers nearby and learn about the rumors and allusions here."
Lin Feng saw that they were both going to patrol and hesitated for a moment: "Well, I should have accompanied you originally, but someone still needs to keep an eye on the Metasequoia City Defense..."
Li Jiangyao raised his hand to interrupt him: "We really need you to stay. It's really uneasy to rely on Ma Mu and the local garrison alone. During my absence, you will be fully responsible for command on my behalf. You must guard Stable Metasequoia!”
Heavy snow covers the vast wilderness of Western Xinjiang, like a giant white blanket, stretching endlessly. Looking down from the air, the whole world is covered in silver, and there is white everywhere.
On this huge white carpet, a team of horses is galloping.
Li Jiangyao, together with Du Jian and other scouts, spent seventeen or eighty days carefully surveying the mountains and rivers in both directions northwest of Metasequoia. By the way, I also asked the local Orion herdsmen if they had any news about Tieshi Mountain.
As before, the local people said they had never heard of this place.
Li Jiangyao was not discouraged by this. I originally had the idea of giving it a try. If yes, that is luck. If not, I can only say that the opportunity has not come yet.
Thinking openly is one of Li Jiangyao's great strengths.
At this moment, they had finished their inspection of the north of the city and were rushing to the next strategic point in the east.
Although the weather has cleared up now, the old saying goes well: if it snows, it doesn’t get cold, but when it does, it becomes cold.
The sun shining on the snow on the ground caused a biting chill, making everyone miserable.
With his deep inner strength, Li Jiangyao still felt he could bear it, but when he saw the tips of his brothers' noses turning red, he couldn't help but feel distressed. Anyway, there is no special mission now, and I am not in a hurry. It is better to let everyone rest for a while.
Thinking of this, Li Jiangyao suddenly reined in the reins and raised his fist to signal the whole team to stop.
"Stop—" Du Jian shouted, and immediately stepped forward and asked, "Boss, why don't you leave?"
"It's getting dark soon, so why not rest here." Li Jiangyao looked around: "There are small hills not far away, which is good for shelter from the wind at night."
Du Jian happily agreed: "Okay!" Then he led the scouts to find a hillock with a perfect location, and began to bury the pot and make rice.
-
A group of Golden Blood Guards rode on tall horses and broke into the Iron Pigeon Army's camp at lightning speed. The horses' hooves stepped on the muddy snow and went straight to the central military tent where the chief general Duolun was.
Kunli Mingtai, the blood guard general from Flame Maple Forest City, took out the Great Khan's personal order from his arms and solemnly handed it to Duolun's hand without saying a word.
Duolun opened the parchment, read it twice carefully, and then looked at Kunli Mingtai in embarrassment.
"Duolun, if it's not convenient for you to do it, the Blood Guard who came with me can do it for you."
"It's not inconvenient." Duolun gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "Mr. Lao is still our ally after all. Is it a bit too much to suddenly turn against him?"
Kunli Mingtai said expressionlessly: "No matter how important Lao Jianhua is, he cannot be compared with the noble Princess Yingyang. Do you need the Great Khan or Master Yun Qianxue to come and reason with you in person?"
After hearing what the other party said, Duolun shook his head helplessly, turned around and ordered his men: "Go and invite Mr. Lao over."
Lao Jianhua is fifty years old, of medium build, and dressed like an elegant scholar. The slightly gray hair was neatly combed and not messed up. A pair of bright eyes on a fair face.
He calmly saluted Duolun and Kunli Mingtai, and still maintained a gentle smile when facing the tall blood guards with unkind expressions who were surrounded by tents.
Duolun had always had a good relationship with Lao Jianhua. At this time, he felt a little embarrassed and didn't know where to start. He just talked about it for a long time and never got to the point of the conversation.
Kunli Mingtai, who was sitting next to him, had a hot temper and finally couldn't hold it any longer: "Mr. Lao, I asked you to come here today because there is a very important matter."
Lao Jianhua nodded slightly: "General Kunli always follows the Great Khan. He has come all the way this time. The situation must be urgent. Please speak up."
"Okay, then I'll tell you the truth! I am ordered by the Great Khan to ask Mr. Lao to make a hard trip."
"Oh? Where are you taking Lao?"
"Purple Golden Pass."
"That's the junction between Xijiang and Shengtang. I don't know what's going on?"
"Go rescue Princess Yingyang."
Lao Jianhua smiled when he heard this and readily agreed: "Okay."
Duolun thought that Lao Jianhua didn't understand what Kunli Mingtai meant, so he quickly explained: "Mr. Lao, what Shengtang means is that they want to exchange you for the princess."
"It's clear. It's worth it for Lao's humble life to exchange for His Highness's safety." Lao Jianhua's tone was as relaxed as if he were talking about everyday things: "However, there is one thing I want to explain to you two first."
Duolun was slightly surprised: "What's the matter?"
Lao Jianhua caressed his long beard: "Until now, Lao and the Turks are still allies, not enemies. I am willing to risk my life to rescue the princess because I am helping my friends, not a confused prisoner and hostage, right?" "
Hearing what he said, even the cold Kunli Mingtai felt a little embarrassed: "Of course! Before I came, the Great Khan had personally said that Mr. Lao had contributed to our Turkic Empire and was a good friend of the Golden Clan. Only However, in order to rescue the princess this time, there is really no choice. The Great Khan also gave special instructions, ordering us not to offend or harm the gentleman, and secondly, to make it clear to the Shengtang authorities that the gentleman was only ordered to temporarily serve as a hostage for the princess. If they dare to touch the gentleman at all, , our Turkic army will definitely not give up!"
Duolun secretly glanced at Kunli Mingtai and thought to himself: This guy is really awesome, and he always talks lies. And you said you can’t offend or harm Mr. Lao? Are your bunch of blustering and staring Blood Guards soldiers fake?
Lao Jianhua took advantage of the other party's words and said with a smile: "Lao has kept the Great Khan's kindness in mind. What I want to say is that since the two sides are still allies, then the plan we agreed on before will be We should continue to implement it and we must not delay it because of the current issues."
Kunli Mingtai obviously didn't know what the plan Lao Jianhua meant, and couldn't help but look at Duolun in confusion.
Duolun responded solemnly: "Don't worry, Mr. Lao, the plan will be carried out as usual. Ten days later, which is Shengtang's Lunar New Year, I will personally lead the Iron Pigeon Army and the Ghost Alliance Horse Bandits to attack Metasequoia and threaten Chechi King City. People from Loulan and Shule, as well as from all over Western Xinjiang, will also launch at the same time."
He paused briefly, glanced at the Kunli Mingtai next to him, and continued: "I just received the latest military report from Flame Maple Forest City. His Royal Highness Prince Ronya has led an army of 100,000 Golden Tribes to set off. Within a month, we can reach the battlefield in Western Xinjiang.”
Kunli Mingtai was shocked when he heard this: An army of 100,000 people from the Golden Tribe? I came from Flame Maple Forest City, and I didn’t know anything about it!
"In addition, General Duery also led his troops to advance towards Persia and suppress Guimo from the northwest. He can enter the battle at any time and launch a surprise attack on the flanks of the Shengtang army."
Lao Jianhua nodded repeatedly: "Okay, great, the Great Khan is really talented and resourceful! Two generals, Lao has nothing to say, let's hurry up and set off."
After that, he slowly stood up and stared at Duolun: "Remember, Crescent Bay."
Duolun also stared closely into Lao Jianhua's eyes: "Well, Crescent Bay."
