Before dawn the next day, An Jingruo got up quietly. After washing up, he went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast and sent it to the back room.
Lu Zuo woke up when he heard the noise. He opened his sleepy eyes slightly and asked, "Why do you get up so early?"
Jing Jingruo placed the dishes and chopsticks and replied thoughtfully: "Breakfast is ready for you. It's almost time now. Let's freshen up and eat first."
After Lu Zuo had washed up and had breakfast and tidied up, seeing that the time for midnight was coming, Jing Jingruo gave him a few instructions and told him to hurry up. When Lu Zuo pushed open the door and walked out, Yin Ji had already packed up and was already waiting outside the yard.
Yin Ji happily rushed to the master and said, "Master, Ji'er is ready. The carriage is waiting outside the door." Obviously Yin Ji was looking forward to this western expedition.
Lu Zuo nodded, "What about retreating?"
"He had already left early in the morning. Their feet are fast and they probably arrived many days before us."
Jing Jingruo earnestly told Yin Ji: "Little Yin Ji, you must take good care of your master!"
Yin Ji patted his chest and said proudly: "Master, please be at ease. As long as Ji'er is here, I will protect Master. Not many people can get close to him."
Jing Jingruo smiled slightly, "Yes, I almost forgot that you have always been by your master's side. This time during the Western Expedition, both you and your master must be careful. Do not act rashly when encountering trouble. Think twice before doing anything. Remember?"
"Well..." Yin Ji nodded vigorously, "Ji'er is brave and the master is wise. Together, master and apprentice, we are absolutely invincible. This time Ji'er can't wait to go into battle and show off his skills!"
Lu Zuo patted Yin Ji on the back of the head and said with a smile: "You are just an accompanying family member. You can go to battle anywhere. You better obey me and don't run around anywhere. Otherwise, I won't let you go with me!"
After hearing this, Yin Ji took a step back and did not dare to speak. Lu Zuo then turned around and told his wife, "Jingruo, we don't know when we can come back this time. I think you should go back to your parents' house for a few days until our teacher returns to the court!"
"Don't worry! I know what's going on at home! By the way, there's one more thing..." Jing Jingruo said, taking out a letter from his sleeve and handing it to Lu Zuo, "This time when you pass Lanzhou, you will I give this letter to my brother."
Lu Zuo smiled and nodded, "Now An Shiqing is also my eldest brother, I will definitely do this."
An Jingruo stood at the door of the house, watching their carriage disappear into the sea of people in the morning light. Her heart was full of mixed feelings, and the next thought secretly grew in her mind.
Prince Liu Yan was ordered by the Han Emperor today to see off General Gao Jun, the Generalissimo of the Western Expedition, on behalf of the Emperor. People outside the city screamed, and dust and smoke rose everywhere. One hundred thousand troops were ready to go, and the roads in and out were blocked by the royal family. In the capital of the Han Dynasty, the news that Gao Jun led the army to conquer Shanzhou had spread throughout the country, but many people were not sure about the new army. None of the appointed marshals seemed to be very satisfied, or not very convinced. After all, the man named Xun Mou had always been a hero they had spoken of. Even he would be defeated, let alone a fledgling like Gao Yun. Where's the calf!
Prince Liu Yan stood on the city tower and watched the army march away. He couldn't help but worry in his heart. He frowned and murmured: "I hope General Gao can take back Shanzhou in one fell swoop!"
In autumn, everything is in a state of silence. As the Han army marches westward, the flowers and grass are withered and the trees are withered. However, it is a rare good weather, which truly corresponds to the four words "autumn is high and the air is refreshing". The army marched for nearly half a month and finally arrived at the wilderness fifty miles outside Lanzhou City. Gao Jun quickly ordered the army to rest on the spot and asked Lu Zuo to be sent. Lu Zuo was led by the deputy general into the tent that had just been set up. He saw Gao Jun pacing back and forth in the tent with his hands behind his back, so he asked: "Marshal Gao, why did you order the army to stop suddenly?"
Gao Jun raised his head and saw that his eldest brother had already arrived. He waved to the deputy general in the room and asked him to go down first. Then he said: "Brother, you should call me Gao Jun. Marshal is long and marshal is short, and it annoys me. Now I have already We are almost arriving in Lanzhou, what do you think we should do?"
Lu Zuo was silent for a moment and asked: "Where is the map?"
Gao Yun took out a map from his arms and spread it flat on the table in the middle of the tent.
Lu Zuo pointed at the map, "Our current location is still a bit far away from Lanzhou City. We will march another thirty miles and station twenty miles outside Lanzhou City. It is flat and open, suitable for our army to station and cook pots. meal."
"But why should we station there? I originally thought of passing through Lanzhou City and stationed outside Shanzhou City to form a confrontation with Tibet." Gao Yun asked puzzledly.
Lu Zuo looked in the direction of Lanzhou City with eagle-like eyes, "Our top priority now is not to go into battle to kill the enemy."
"What is that? Are we coming to the border just to regain Shanzhou?"
"No, there is a more important thing to do! That is to find the spy!"
Gao Jun looked at Lu Zuo doubtfully, and seeing that his eldest brother was confident, he asked, "Spies? Are you saying there are spies in our army?"
"It's not in our army, it's in Lanzhou City!"
"There are spies in Lanzhou City?" Gao Yun couldn't believe it. "Brother, how do you know there are spies in Lanzhou City?"
Lu Zuo then told Gao Yun what he had said to Yin Ji before. Gao Yun couldn't help but was dumbfounded, and then nodded again and again, as if he suddenly realized, "No wonder even the arrogant Xun Mou was defeated by Xi Ruozhanzhuo. It turned out to be a traitor."
"So first of all, we must eliminate the traitor. We must stay in Lanzhou City for a few days. As long as this traitor is eradicated, the annihilation of Tibet will be just around the corner!"
Gao Yun still couldn't believe it, "Brother, are you sure? Since this person is a traitor, I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to find him!"
"Don't worry, I already have a solution!" Lu Zuo showed his confident smile again.
"Okay! Then I will immediately order the army to continue marching!"
After Gao Jun finished speaking, he came outside to report, "Inform the marshal. Lanzhou Governor Fang Jian has ordered Wei Nuo to come and greet the marshal."
After Lu Zuo heard this, he looked at Gao Yun with a smile, "The opportunity has come!"
"Opportunity?" Gao Yun asked in a low voice, "Where to start?"
"We can take this opportunity to find out the truth. Since Wei Nuo is the general judge of Lanzhou, he naturally knows everything about the situation in Lanzhou City. We will definitely be able to find out something from his mouth!" Lu Zuo said and stepped forward. Fu'er whispered to Gao Yun how to deal with it next.
Gao Jun glanced at Lu Zuo, then nodded to his elder brother, indicating that he understood, and waved to Tan Ma, "Please!"
In a moment, a thin man wearing court uniform, with light eyebrows and a willow beard walked quickly into the tent. He saw a burly man standing in the middle, wearing a silver helmet and silver armor, with his back to him. He quickly got out of the tent. He knelt down and said hello, "Wei Nuo, the general magistrate of Lanzhou, has met Marshal Gao. We all have orders at this time."
