Yun Qianxue reported to Ashina Zhijin that due to the timely arrival of the Zhenjiang Third Army, the plan to capture Zijin Pass was seriously hindered. Unless the entire Chengguan Fortress is completely bulldozed, it will be difficult to shake Li Jiangyao's defense line with only the Blood Guard Cavalry Legion and the Eleventh Legion.
After reading the report, Ashina felt a little heavy.
He did not expect that the most critical situation of the Eastern Expedition strategy that had been planned for many years would actually appear in the most unlikely place - the Ghost Desert of Western Xinjiang.
Western Xinjiang, with its numerous countries and ethnic groups, has been a patchwork of sand for thousands of years. According to his idea, as long as the Shengtang's power in this area can be uprooted, and then a Turkic legion is randomly sent to watch, the loose and weak Western Xinjiang will no longer be a concern.
However, the reality exceeded Ashina's expectations.
Li Jiangyao, the seventh-grade captain of the Zhenjiang Protectorate, a little-known little character, was able to suddenly emerge as an army in just a few years, sweep across the Ghost Desert of Western Xinjiang, defeat the Gema Army, and completely block the back of the main force of the Eastern Expedition. Road, from a strategic level, directly threatens the security of the entire Turkic Empire.
Ashina stared at the Go set in the royal study room, lost in thought.
This is one of the favorite games of Shengtang people. The black and white chess pieces are entangled and twisted, and they cannot give up an inch of ground. The current situation is just like the game of Go. You are among me, and you are among me. All forces rely on their precious breath to survive, and then encircle and fight each other.
The situation of the Turks is the most dangerous.
Whether it is Prince Li Bing, King Li Kuang of Huaiyang, or Lao Jianhua, Li Jiangyao, they all have broad strategic room for maneuver behind them, and the supply of troops and food can be continuously replenished.
On the other hand, hundreds of thousands of troops were blocked in an area starting from Tongguan in the east, Zijin in the west, Jinhe in the north, and Hanzhong in the south, unable to move forward, backward, left, or right.
Although there are thousands of miles of fertile land in the Guanzhong Plain, and the population in the northwest is not small, this is a foreign country, and it is an away game where it is impossible to replenish and transform combat power!
Every time a battle is fought, one Turkic warrior dies one less, just like the iceberg under the scorching sun, no matter how big it is, it will eventually melt and disappear.
Ashina sighed heavily, turned around and ordered outside: "Go! Call my brother Shu Xuan back from the front line. I'll see him if I have anything to do!"
-
When Xiahou Ninghan arrived at Zijin Pass, a fierce offensive and defensive battle had just ended. The exhausted Turkic army retreated five or six miles and chose to camp in a relatively safe area to rest.
Taking advantage of the disengagement between the two armies, Xiahou Ninghan arrived at the pass and asked the defenders to let him pass.
During the war, the nearby people had already fled away to avoid the disaster of the war, and the merchant travelers had completely disappeared. Therefore, the defenders were surprised to see a beautiful girl appearing alone in front of the pass.
The leading officer lay on the city wall and kindly advised Xiahou Ninghan to leave quickly to avoid being caught by the Turks. Xiahou Ninghan bluntly wanted to see Li Jiangyao and said that he was his friend.
Hearing what the other party said, the soldiers did not dare to neglect, and quickly reported the situation step by step, and finally alerted the commander-in-chief of the Third Army, Huo Liya.
Princess Nanhua was very curious and went to the city gate to check. As soon as she saw Xiahou Ninghan herself, she couldn't help but curse in her heart: Did the commander fall into a woman's nest? A few days ago, a Lian Ji came to my door, claiming she was his wife, and today another one showed up, and she was so beautiful.
To be honest, Huo Liya first followed Li Jiangyao in the north and south of the war, and she had already had a secret love for him. However, because of the constant war, she kept it deep in her heart and did not express it. Nowadays, beauties are coming one by one to look for husbands, and Horiyah can't help but feel jealous.
She looked at Xia Hou Ninghan for a while and asked angrily: "Are you also Li Jiangyao's wife?"
Xiahou Ninghan was slightly stunned outside the city: "I'm sorry, I didn't hear clearly. What did you just say?"
"I'm asking -" Princess Nanhua shouted angrily: "Are you also the wife of that playboy Li Jiangyao?"
The soldiers on the top of the city looked at each other in shock, and they were all holding back their laughter.
Xiahou Ninghan was stunned. Huge radish? daughter in law? Still? What the hell is this?
She was about to explain, but at this time Li Jiang came here while patrolling the city. He recognized Xiahou Ninghan from a distance and couldn't help but waved happily and shouted: "Hey, Xiahou Sect Master! Why are you here? Come on! Come on! Come on!" Open the city gate!"
The subordinates agreed and quickly opened the door to let Xiahou Ninghan enter.
As soon as the person entered the door, Li Jiangyao ran down from the city in three steps and smiled at Xia Hou Ninghan: "Oh, I really didn't expect it. We haven't seen each other for more than a year, right? How did you come here?" Zijin Pass is here? Is there anything wrong?"
Xiahou Ninghan looked at the numerous scratches on Li Jiangyao's armor, and then thought of the hardships he had fought alone to defend the territory of Shengtang. He couldn't help but admire and feel distressed, and said softly: "General Li, you... have worked hard. "
Li Jiangyao was stunned for a moment, and then he understood that the other party was referring to his war. He laughed loudly and said: "Hey, it's not hard. I'm used to it already. Oh, by the way, let's not stand here chatting anymore. Let's go to my command first." So, take a rest."
Xiahou Ninghan agreed, turned to look at Huoliya who was fuming on the top of the city, and then followed Li Jiangyao and walked away.
In the command post of Zijin Pass, Li Jiangyao ordered people to roast a fat sheep, then brought out various fruits and grape wine, and warmly entertained Xiahou Ninghan. While the two were waiting to roast the sheep, Xiahou Ninghan explained to Li Jiangyao the purpose of his trip.
Hearing that the prince almost died at the hands of the Blood Demon and the Soul Devourer, and that the two counties of Zhongmu Qingchi were massacred, Li Jiangyao's brows gradually furrowed.
"Hateful! That guy named Brother Shu Xuan must be tired of living!" Li Jiangyao said angrily: "How can we tolerate him if he is so unconscionable?"
Xiahou Ninghan nodded: "This man is a disciple of the Turkic Martial Saint. He has extremely high martial arts skills and is good at using poison. Even I almost fell into his hands. Therefore, if the general meets my brother Shu Xuan, he must not take it lightly. However, fortunately, I have destroyed all his weight and lead. Except for the more than 700 poison soldiers sent to the front line, it will be difficult for him to harm anyone else in a short period of time."
Li Jiangyao said worriedly: "According to your description, those poisonous soldiers are very powerful. They may be able to handle it in a plain battle, but in a small-scale encounter, our soldiers will only be beaten. Or the defenders who sneak attack the city." Army, they can also be very effective, so we have to take more precautions.”
"General Chang of the Liaodong Protectorate agrees with you." After hearing this, Xiahou Ninghan nodded slightly: "He also mentioned that encounters, ambushes, and sneak attacks on cities and military camps may be caused by poisonous soldiers. The main way to fight. Unless they reach a certain size and number, they will not be easily sent to the big battlefield."
"Then stop Brother Shu Xuan from increasing the number of poison soldiers!" Li Jiangyao said solemnly: "You just said that there is a lead mine in Western Xinjiang, do you know the specific location?"
Xiahou Ninghan shook his head: "Brother Shuxuan's men only said that the mine is at the southern foot of Yarumqi Mountain. I'm afraid he doesn't know the specific location."
Li Jiangyao frowned: "Yarumqi Mountain? I am very familiar with that place. The fortress of the Zhenjiang Army is located there. However, no one has ever heard of a lead mine before. Could this ghost thing be possible? Any other names?"
"I don't know about this," Xiahou Ninghan was also a little worried: "I wish I could ask my father, maybe he knows."
Speaking of Xia Houmei, Xiahou Ninghan couldn't help but think of Biluo again. He didn't know whether the top Turkic master had ever gone to Zhongnan Mountain. Although Buluo's martial arts reached its peak and entered the realm of transformation, Xiahou Ninghan was not worried about his father. First of all, Xia Houmei is not someone to be trifled with. It is not certain who is afraid of whom. Secondly, Taoist Master Qingzhu is also there, and he will never let his old brother suffer.
Li Jiangyao didn't know what Xiahou Ninghan was thinking at this time, so he continued the topic just now and said: "It doesn't matter. I'll ask the locals slowly when the time comes. As long as the lead mine is indeed in Western Xinjiang, I guarantee that my brother Shu Xuan will get it." At one and a half o'clock! Sect Master, I don't think you need to make this trip yourself. You are not familiar with Xijiang Guimo, so my men can be more confident."
As he spoke, he shouted outside: "Here, call the Intelligence Department!"
The guard agreed and ran away quickly. After a while, an intelligence officer walked into the room: "Sir, here comes the humble duty."
Li Jiangyao glanced at him: "Oh, you are on duty today. I have something to do, go and do it immediately."
"Please give me your orders."
"There is a lead mine in the southern area of Yarumqi Mountain," Li Jiangyao said: "Go and find out which country it belongs to, say hello to their king, and then ask the Fifth Army to send people to me. Seal it!”
The intelligence officer said, "Yes," and then asked, "Sir, what is lead?"
Li Jiangyao smiled: "What a pity, I don't know either. You have to find out this issue yourself."
"I understand my humble position," the intelligence officer said with a military salute: "I will immediately arrange for people to find out about the lead mine."
Li Shiqing nodded. Seeing that the intelligence officer was standing still, he asked curiously, "What? Is there anything else?"
The intelligence officer pretended to glance at Xiahou Ninghan casually and said, "Shopkeeper Zhou's goods have arrived."
Shopkeeper Zhou refers to Zhou Xing of Nilin Division. The intelligence officer said this deliberately. In fact, it was because he couldn't figure out Xiahou Ninghan's identity, so he hinted to Li Jiangyao that Shen Lie had new news.
Li Jiangyao smiled and said: "This Xiahou Sect Leader is one of our own. She was with Shen Changshi before. Where is the secret letter? Give it to me."
The intelligence officer also smiled heartily, and quickly took out a bamboo tube as thick as a finger from his arms and presented it to the coach with both hands.
Li Jiangyao took it, checked the mud seal with Shen Lie's mark, then unscrewed the bamboo tube and pulled out a small paper roll.
Looking at the contents on the paper, Li Jiangyao's expression became more and more solemn.
Xiahou Ninghan felt a little curious and looked at Li Jiangyao with questioning eyes. Li Jiangyao handed the paper to the intelligence officer again and put it away, then turned to her and said: "The situation in the Central Plains is not good."
