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Poetry Cloud: Dust and sand along the way, the yellow dragon wildly sweeps across the swift horse; the general drags his sword into the Western Xia, where shall he pacify and where shall he call home!
Xu Zhen rode on the Azure Steed bestowed by Emperor Taizong, followed closely by Old Black on a Chestnut Tibetan Horse. The two rushed towards **County with urgency.
The situation was pressing, leaving no room for Xu Zhen to delay. The intelligence from the scouts was truly alarming; if Xu Zhen remained indifferent and cherished her own safety, then the lives of countless people in Tingzhou and Western Province would suffer devastating blows. How could she stand by and do nothing?
This was not the first time Ashina Helu had stirred trouble on the Border. After his defeat last time, his eldest son Zhi Yun had been sent to Tangdu for guard duty, where he was honored as Right Vanguard General, but he returned shortly thereafter.
Persuaded by Zhi Yun, Ashina Helu mobilized his troops to attack the western Yibi Shekui Khan, merging with the tribes of Shekui. He established a base between the two rivers and Qianquan, declaring himself Shabola Khan, and now he had amassed a strong army of one hundred thousand!
These scouts were merely a small part of the Western Turkic Scout outside of Tingzhou and Western Province. Their vanguard scouts had already built a vast intelligence network, uncovering the specific troop strength of the Tang border forces. Moreover, both Duo Lu Wu Chuo and Nu Shibi Wuqijin had pledged allegiance to Ashina Helu, and with the combined forces of Yipiduolu, they would soon formally attack Tingzhou!
Xu Zhen did not wish to interfere in court matters any longer, but concerning the tens of thousands of citizens in Western Province Tingzhou, having witnessed so much suffering, how could she turn a blind eye?
With this thought in mind, Xu Zhen urged her horse onward, resting only briefly for half an hour before finally arriving at the city gate of **County at sunset.
If it were an ordinary county town, security might be lax; however, Tingzhou was a crucial junction in the western regions. Although the city walls were low, the defenses were strict. Xu Zhen and Old Black, weary and disheveled from their journey, looked worse than ordinary travelers, appearing quite disheveled.
Fearing that time was running out, as she saw the city gate about to close, she hurriedly took out her fish bag, the Fish Talisman, to identify herself. However, the gatekeeper captain was a local who had never seen grandeur; seeing that Xu Zhen and her companion lacked any retinue or servants and appeared ragged, he dismissed them as audacious impostors and refused to let them pass.
Without wasting words on him, Xu Zhen squeezed her horse's belly; the Azure Steed reared up with a neigh and charged through the city gate. She raced down the street straight towards the county office.
The county town was not large, and the county office building was quite prominent. Not wanting to ask for directions and with guards already rushing down from the city gate to pursue them, Xu Zhen had no time to spare.
The officials at the county office were preparing to leave for rest when they saw two riders thundering in. The gatekeeper nervously gripped his staff tightly. As Xu Zhen dismounted swiftly, she seized a sharp-featured official and demanded in a deep voice, “Where is your county magistrate?”
Having fought her way through many challenges, Xu Zhen exuded an aura of authority even before Li Zhi. This little official could hardly withstand her presence; another one had already scurried back into the inner office. By the time the gatekeeper captain arrived with his men at the entrance of the county office, County Magistrate Zhao Kuanghan had already rushed out in haste.
The gatekeeper captain cursed loudly and ordered his men to surround Xu Zhen. Meanwhile, Old Black, with a face as calm as water, stepped forward. His smile faded as those guards found themselves retreating three steps under his gaze!
Old Black stood there with his hands clasped, but his eerie gaze radiated an infinite killing intent that even the Xu Zhen found alarming, let alone the Garrison of this small county.
Although Zhao Kuanghan was merely the county magistrate, in this remote area, his authority was substantial, allowing him to handle many matters independently. Seeing the imposing presence of the Xu Zhen, he became somewhat courteous.
"I am County Magistrate Zhao Kuanghan. May I ask what your demands are?"
Xu Zhenxin knew the matter was serious and did not dare to delay. He presented the Fish Talisman and slightly cupped his hands, saying, "Magistrate Zhao, I am the Xu Zhen, leading a delegation back to Chang'an. We passed through Shabao Town and unintentionally captured several Western Turkic Scouts. We have extremely important military intelligence that requires the Governor's decision. Given the urgency of the situation, I hope you can organize personnel to reinforce the city defenses to prevent any unforeseen events!"
Zhao Kuanghan was naturally a slow and patient person. Upon seeing the Xu Zhen's Fish Talisman, he lazily scratched his ear, feeling that this Fish Talisman looked somewhat familiar. It took him a moment to remember that this was a personal Fish Talisman, which only officials of fifth rank or above possessed. Even he himself did not have one, and this was a golden fish bag—something only officials of third rank or higher could possibly own!
Zhao Kuanghan's hand trembled as he felt the fish bag was as hot as molten iron. Looking at the Fish Talisman again, the words "General of the Guard" and " Xu Zhen " stung his eyes, causing his head to buzz.
The Xu Zhen had already become a legendary figure; countless people wished to admire her presence but could not. Now she stood right in front of him, and he found it hard to believe!
"General, please come in quickly!"
Zhao Kuanghan returned the fish bag with both hands and bowed deeply to invite the Xu Zhen into the Yamen. The gate captain received a fierce glare and hurriedly led his men away from the Yamen.
The situation was urgent; the Xu Zhen did not dare to rest. She briefly explained the circumstances and asked Zhao Kuanghan to prepare fast horses for replacement and guide her to Jinman County to meet Territorial Governor Luo Hongyi.
Knowing the identity of the Xu Zhen, Zhao Kuanghan naturally agreed to everything. However, he scoffed at her suggestion to strengthen city defenses.
Firstly, he did not believe Ashina Helu would dare to attack Tingzhou. Secondly, if they truly intended to mobilize against Tingzhou, how could his small county withstand such an assault?
Moreover, although the Xu Zhen was famous, she did not hold any specific military position. Even though she held titles such as General of the Guard and Grand Minister, she could not interfere in local governance or defense matters. If the intelligence turned out to be false and caused a scandal, it would be Zhao Kuanghan who bore the blame for it.
Thinking this way, he quickly found a few familiar couriers and led them overnight with the Xu Zhen toward Jinman County's Prefectural Office while he sneered to himself and returned to his courtyard to enjoy time with his newly acquired concubine.
The Xu Zhen's expression remained stern as she rushed toward Jinman County under the stars. Little did she know how adept Zhao Kuanghan was at feigning compliance while secretly opposing her. Moreover, given that her authority was not firmly established, how matters would ultimately be decided still rested with local governance.
Moreover, even if County City is on high alert, it is unlikely to hold out for long. If the scouts are to be believed, Ashina Helu is indeed advancing with a massive army!
Recalling the past, when Xu Zhen was at Ganyliang Shandan, Xie Anting and Yang Wen also defended against strong enemies with just the manpower of a single county. Even if they were ultimately swallowed by the enemy, they at least managed to take out a tooth or two from their foes. That is the spirit of the Tang People!
When Xu Zhen and her companions arrived at Jinman County, it was already early morning. As the administrative center of Tingzhou, Jinman was not as rudimentary as other counties. The guards at the City Wall noticed several riders approaching urgently and quickly readied their bows in caution.
Zhao Kuanghan's couriers frequently traveled between the two locations, so the Garrison recognized them. After confirming their identities, they reported to their superiors. After a short while, the heavy city gates creaked open halfway, allowing Xu Zhen and her companions to enter.
The Prefectural Office was soon lit up, with servants yawning and reluctantly getting to work. Territorial Governor Luo Hongyi put on a coat and came out to greet Xu Zhen.
Although there was no personal connection between them, as a Governor of Lizhou, he was still a significant official. How could Luo Hongyi not recognize Xu Zhenzhi?
However, back when Xu Zhen was only a fifth-rank official, Luo Hongyi had already been an inspector. Now that Xu Zhen held the esteemed titles of General of the Guard and Grand Minister, Luo Hongyi remained just an inspector.
Luo Hongyi was conservative and traditional, lacking adaptability. The position of inspector had already been the pinnacle of his career; it would be difficult for him to rise any further. Moreover, looking across the entire Tang Dynasty, who else could ascend so rapidly like Xu Zhen, reaching such heights in just a few years?
Xu Zhen, weary from travel, noticed Luo Hongyi greeting her in his nightclothes and felt it was quite significant. She hurriedly dismounted to pay her respects. Although his title was impressive, it did not carry actual power; Luo Hongyi was a genuine local official with substantial control over regional governance and military affairs.
Xu Zhen intended to warn him about the intelligence she had extracted from Turkic scouts, hoping that Luo Hongyi would make preparations early. However, he merely laughed it off and instructed someone to take Xu Zhen to wash off the dust of travel and rest well, showing little concern for any urgent matters that night.
With no other choice, Xu Zhen sighed softly and went to rest. Despite her weariness from the journey, her exceptional constitution and internal cultivation kept her from feeling fatigued. However, her mind was preoccupied with concerns about the impending battle, making it difficult for her to find sleep.
Though Luo Hongyi was conservative and rigid in nature, after many years without promotion and facing numerous setbacks, he had become more astute over time; otherwise, he wouldn't have come out to welcome Xu Zhen so graciously.
At this moment, he ordered beautiful tribal maidservants to attend to Xu Zhen for bathing and changing clothes. He also had food and wine prepared and sent to her room along with a pair of sisters to serve her.
These sisters were from the tribe and were as wildflowers—natural and pure yet somewhat unruly. They were attentive towards Xu Zhen; however, she felt troubled in her heart and sent them away.
As Territorial Governor, Luo Hongyi surely had his own network of intelligence. It would be unreasonable to say that he did not believe Xu Zhen's information.
Upon learning that Ashi Na Helu was about to lead the Western Turkic Ten Clans Tribe's forces to attack, the Territorial Governor remained surprisingly calm and entertained himself, which seemed rather inappropriate given the circumstances.
It is no wonder that the Xu Zhen was furious; he was concerned about the people of Tingzhou in the Western Province and had rushed day and night to deliver the news. Yet Luo Hongyi was so lax, leaving him feeling uneasy.
Although the scouts claimed that Ashi Na Helu commanded an army of one hundred thousand strong, the truth of the matter was uncertain. Even so, with only over ten thousand troops in Tingzhou, it would be a challenge to withstand such an assault. If this passive attitude continued, it could lead to the city’s destruction and loss of life.
As the Xu Zhen tossed and turned in bed, Luo Hongyi was not resting easy either. In his dimly lit study, he sat across from someone, his expression grave as the flickering candlelight illuminated the refined and elegant demeanor of the man opposite him.
“Yuqing, this matter is of great importance. What good strategies do you have?” Luo Hongyi leaned forward, his face filled with concern. It was not out of humility that he sought advice; rather, it was due to the impressive background of the man before him that made Luo Hongyi feel compelled to consult him.
The young man was named Cui Yuqing, son of Minister of War Cui Dunli, hailing from the prominent Boling Cui Clan in Shandong. His father, Cui Dunli, had a close relationship with Cui Hanzhu, also known as Murong Hanzhu, who was currently in favor with the emperor. Many sought to curry favor with him but found it difficult to gain access.
In order to elevate his son's status, Cui Dunli had arranged for Cui Yuqing to serve as an aide to this Territorial Governor. Although merely an aide, Luo Hongyi was eager to build rapport and often preferred to discuss matters with Cui Yuqing. It was known that there were already predictions in court that within a few years, Cui Dunli would surely be appointed as a minister.
In fact, this member of the Boling Cui Clan would indeed become Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty in the near future; however, that was a story for another time.
Currently, Cui Yuqing was not focused on how to resist Ashi Na Helu's formidable army but rather on how he could draw the Xu Zhen into his plans.
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