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墨書 Inktalez
Zhang Shenfang's capture was merely a temporary measure. As the saying goes, words spoken cannot be taken back, and without solid evidence, how could it be proven that he communicated with the enemy or was instigated by traitors? One cannot misuse private punishment and give others a reason to claim coerced confessions.
Moreover, the urgent matter at hand was not the internal corruption but rather the siege of Ganzhou City by the Ashina Tribe's forces. With the secret passages sealed, Ganzhou had become a dead city. It might barely hold out for ten days to half a month, but once the supplies ran out, what could be done?
Li Jing understood the gravity of the situation. He initially thought that Hou Junji and Li Daozong would swiftly attack Fushi City from the southwest, causing this Ashina Army to become like drifting weeds, ultimately scattering like birds and beasts. Naturally, the siege of Ganzhou would collapse without a fight.
However, he was unaware of what unforeseen circumstances had arisen along the way, as there had been no news from Hou Junji and Li Daozong. Consequently, Li Jing could only struggle to maintain the situation, feeling increasingly helpless.
Unable to sleep, Li Jing ordered the tents to be raised and summoned several individuals to discuss military matters by lamplight. The strategist Liu Shuyi stepped forward first, clearly stating the current situation and proposing: "We are in dire straits; it would be better to gather several dozen Death Warriors to descend from the City Wall at night and head towards Zhangye to summon General Gao Zhensheng's cavalry for rescue. With internal and external support, we can surely defeat Ah Chai's bandits!"
Upon hearing this suggestion, many officers appeared surprised but soon realized that it was Liu Shuyi, son of Duke of Lu Liu Wenjing. They began whispering among themselves, with many agreeing with him.
Although Li Jing was older, his mind remained exceptionally clear. He questioned: "Liu Shuyi's plan is indeed a good one; however, the enemy is prepared and will undoubtedly surround Ganzhou tightly. Moreover, scouts and sentries will certainly be patrolling everywhere. Even if our Death Warriors manage to escape the city by chance, how can they safely get past the blockade?"
The tent fell silent as everyone turned their attention to Liu Shuyi. The bold strategist did not shy away from the scrutiny; he bowed slightly and reported: "What Lord Li says is true. If we send our Tang Soldiers down from the city, they will surely not get past this blockade. But what if they are not our Tang Army soldiers? Let us not forget how Deputy Commander Xu Zhen's subordinates managed to enter Ganzhou..."
Everyone suddenly realized his point; Liu Shuyi truly had quick wit. Xu Zhen had disguised her troops as Barbarians to successfully infiltrate Ganzhou!
However, this tactic could only be employed by Xu Zhenbu's forces because his troops consisted mainly of Salar and Rouran Warriors who could easily pass for Barbarians in appearance and language. If they encountered enemy scouts or patrols, they could use Turkic Language to cover their identities—truly seamless!
Li Jing nodded in satisfaction and cast an appreciative glance at Liu Shuyi. Just as he was about to issue military orders to Xu Zhen, someone stepped forward to advise: "Liu Shuyi's words are not without merit; however, there are rumors in the army that Xu Zhen has been harboring foreign traitors and has faced accusations of betrayal twice. How can we entrust our soldiers' lives and the vast gates of Ganzhou to her foreign subordinates?"
Upon hearing this, everyone frowned and turned their gaze toward the speaker—Duke of the Right Guard Du He.
Although Xu Zhen had risen rapidly in rank and garnered much jealousy within the army due to her repeated victories and clever strategies—her impressive feats still fresh in everyone's minds—there were those who could not fully trust her foreign troops.
Li Jing maintained a calm demeanor, revealing no emotions on his face as he leaned slightly forward and asked Du He: "If that is so, what do you suggest?"
Du He raised his head slightly and glanced at Liu Shuyi with apparent pride before continuing: "These wild men possess great strength; if guided well, they can be a tremendous asset. In my humble opinion, Commander Xu should personally oversee them; then we can rest assured."
Li Jing snorted lightly but did not respond directly. However, he began contemplating that Xu Zhen had sustained serious injuries during the battle at Zhangye; her legs were quite impaired. After fighting again today and reopening her wounds, she was already struggling to walk. To have her oversee the Death Warriors would be risky; if anything happened to her, such a valuable talent would be lost—this was indeed troubling.
The other generals shared a mutual understanding that Du He had connections with Duke Chen's household and had previously interacted with Hou Polu. It was said that Xu Zhen had angered Hou Family Father and Son; Hou Junji even used deadly tactics against her in court, making her a target for criticism. Now Du He's proposal seemed somewhat like an open scheme known to all.
As commander-in-chief, Li Jing naturally prioritized national security over these petty intrigues. However, he had come to appreciate Xu Zhen more over time and intended to promote her further. Yet at this critical moment when others were resorting to schemes both overt and covert left him feeling disheartened.
At a moment of indecision, another person stepped forward, it was General Xue Wanche. Without regard for etiquette, he directly suggested, "Li Gong, please calm down. Commander Xu is burdened with injuries and has suffered greatly. If he goes to oversee the military, he won't be able to intimidate those Death Warriors. At this critical moment, I will recommend someone to you who is capable of taking on the responsibility of overseeing the military."
Li Jing, who was worried about how to protect Xu Zhen, immediately brightened at Xue Wanche's mention of a candidate but suppressed his impatience and asked casually, "That sounds excellent. May I ask who General Xue is recommending?"
Xue Wanche replied loudly, "My cousin Xue Wanliang has a son named Xue Dayi. He is a Captain in the army, brave and loyal. Currently, he serves under Xu Zhen and is fit to take on the role of overseeing the military."
Upon hearing this, Li Jing found no reason to disagree. The matter was settled as such; he wrote a Secret Letter and had someone deliver it to Xu Zhen. He also communicated military orders, commanding that at midnight tonight, someone should lower themselves from the city to seek out Zhangye and bring Gao Zhensheng and Qibi Helix as reinforcements.
Once the discussions were concluded, everyone dispersed. Du He wandered around but followed Xue Wanche into a private tent. The two closed the tent without lighting a fire and shared a quiet laugh while clapping each other’s hands in joy, saying, "This matter should succeed!"
Xue Wanche lit a lamp and ordered someone to summon Xue Dayi into the tent. After some pleasantries, he comforted him by asking, "Nephew, have you been well in the army?"
Xue Dayi belonged to a branch of the family and had seldom received attention; his household was lacking in talent and not favored by the clan. Being summoned by his uncle filled him with great excitement, and he expressed his gratitude.
Xue Wanche then mentioned that he had neglected Xue Wanliang and would need to bestow more land and servants upon him. In the future, he would also involve Xue Wanliang in important family matters. Hearing this made Xue Dayi feel grateful and he repeatedly bowed in thanks.
Xue Dayi was not foolish; he quickly stated, "I am deeply moved by my uncle's care for our family. I will follow any orders you give without hesitation and will repay your kindness with my life!"
Xue Wanche then revealed the matters discussed in the tent. Xue Dayi immediately agreed and vowed to keep a close watch on things to ensure everything went smoothly.
However, Xue Wanche coldly chuckled and waved his hand, pulling Xue Dayi closer and whispering seriously, "Uncle is not instructing you to oversee military affairs; rather, I am entrusting you with a significant task that could lead to wealth and honor!"
Xue Dayi felt a surge of doubt arise in his heart as he listened to his esteemed uncle's low whispers; cold sweat began to bead on his back until it soaked through.
When Xue Dayi returned to the camp, Xu Zhen had already dispatched personnel. After quickly tidying up his belongings, he hurried to Xu Zhen's main tent where several Death Warriors had already gathered—led by Yin Zong along with three or five skilled Foreigners—who were all sharp-witted men.
Upon seeing Xue Dayi arrive to report in, Xu Zhen offered him words of comfort before sending him off with the Secret Letter in hand along with the Death Warriors towards the City Wall. Under cover of night, they lowered themselves from the city; Yin Zong was familiar with the darkness and quickly led his men away from the city into the shadows.
After the Death Warriors departed, Xu Zhen furrowed her brow tightly.
Zhang Jiunian stepped out from behind her and quietly said, "My Lord, this matter is far from as simple as it appears. I believe you have sensed some danger already. I dare to suggest that this Xue Dayi may not be trustworthy; this mission is perilous and could endanger Yin Zong and his Brothers' lives..."
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhen became even more certain of her suspicions but gazed into the distant night sky, biting her teeth in silence. She patted Zhang Jiunian on the shoulder and smiled brightly as she said, "Trust those we employ; if we doubt them, we shouldn't use them. I trust that Xue Dayi will not betray me. If you do not trust him, you must believe in your Lord's judgment."
Zhang Jiunian was slightly taken aback but then sighed lightly while shaking his head; it seemed he still harbored concerns about Xue Dayi as he gazed at the deepening night like a sea of ferocious beasts eager to devour lives!
Meanwhile, Yin Zong and four other warriors who had galloped across fields since childhood possessed remarkable stamina; their eyes shone like wolves at night without fear of rugged terrain. They moved stealthily until they spotted Barbarians lurking among dark grass west of the city. After observing briefly, they found three or five scouts unable to resist sleepiness were dozing off!
"This is a heaven-sent opportunity!"
Yin Zong was decisive and communicated with the other Brothers. They spread out and surrounded the few scouts, suddenly launching an attack. The scouts didn't have a chance to utter a sound before losing their lives.
After wiping the blood off his blade, Yin Zong and his companions searched the scouts for identification markers and soon found their swift horses. At Xue Dayi's suggestion, they hastily buried the scouts' bodies and erased any traces before mounting their horses and heading straight for Zhangye.
The journey went smoothly; it was dark at night, and Xue Dayi intentionally concealed his face. Yin Zong and the others were familiar with the Turkic language, having previously captured Murong Xiao, which gave them considerable insight into the military of the Tuguhun. After some questioning, they managed to pass through five or six scout outposts without incident!
Just as they were about to leave Ganzhou territory, the eastern sky began to lighten. Yin Zong and his companions felt a surge of joy, urging their steeds to run faster as the wind whistled past their ears; everything seemed to be going well.
However, this smoothness made the naturally cautious Yin Zong uneasy. As he looked ahead at a small slope, he strained his eyes and vaguely saw shadows lurking about, causing him to tense up.
At that moment, however, Xue Dayi, who was lagging behind as Commander, gritted his teeth and quietly unstrung his longbow from his horse's back.
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