The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 37 Encountering the Enemy
The things in the box were not presentable to others, so Lu Dewen could only say, "I am willing to serve you."

"Thank you very much." Wang Zhongsi clasped his fists to express his gratitude, and then said: "Sir, you have come from afar, and this general will host a banquet to welcome you."

The gift was rejected in disguise, and Lu Dewen was too embarrassed to eat anything. He said, "Thank you, General, but these loquats are easy to spoil. If you really want to send them back to Chang'an, I need to hurry up. Next time I meet you, we can have a drink together."

Wang Zhongsi nodded and said, "Thank you very much, sir. I am very busy with official duties, so I won't see you off."

"Yes." Lu Dewen responded and ordered someone to carry the box away.

Watching Lv Dewen's back as he walked away, Wang Zhongsi thought to himself, "I hope this is not His Royal Highness Prince Zhong's intention. If this is His Royal Highness Prince Zhong's intention, then he underestimates me. His Royal Highness Prince Shou treats me as a national hero, and this behavior is judging me with a mean heart..."

Wang Zhongsi sighed silently in his heart.

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Anxi.

Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing conveyed Li Heng's intention to Gai Jiayun, and the approval document was also presented to Gai Jiayun.

Gai Jiayun sat down, glanced at the approval document, and asked with a smile: "Didn't His Royal Highness Prince Shou send his attendants to follow him?"

"General, no," Gao Xianzhi replied.

Not sending any servants with him meant that they had no intention of giving him any gifts.

In fact, according to Li Ying’s current power, Gai Jiayun originally planned to give this face, but the prince and Li Heng both secretly gave him money, so why didn’t Li Ying give it to him?
As the saying goes, reciprocity is the best policy. Although Li Longji forbade the princes to make friends with border generals, but after all, which prince was really alone and had no power at all?
Especially with the current situation in the court, everyone can see clearly that Li Longji is suppressing the prince's side and preparing to support other forces to come to power. At this time, who would not seize the opportunity?

Gai Jiayun returned the approval document to Gao Xianzhi, still smiling, and said, "This is really embarrassing. Although His Royal Highness Prince Shou has the right to act at his own discretion, if I leave Anxi and Tubo and Turks take advantage of the situation, how can I explain to the court? How can I explain to the saint? Unless there is an approval document from the Ministry of War, I cannot leave my post at any time."

After listening to Gai Jiayun's words, Gao Xianzhi thought to himself, "Your Highness Prince Shou is indeed as good as a god in predicting things."

Thinking of this, Gao Xianzhi took out another approval document and presented it to Gai Jiayun.

The content of this approval document stated that if Gai Jiayun was unable to spare the time, troops could be transferred to Gao Xianzhi, who would lead the team.

After reading it, Gai Jiayun's smile disappeared and he asked, "I didn't expect that His Royal Highness Prince Shou would think so carefully for me. However, the troops in Anxi can only barely defend Anxi. If they are transferred to you, I'm afraid the defense will be empty."

Gao Xianzhi heard this and said, "General, the troops of Anxi originally had the responsibility to guard against the Arabs and other countries. This time, the troops were mobilized to deal with the Arabs. I'm afraid this is within the responsibility of Anxi."

"Oh?" Gai Jiayun stood up, stared at Gao Xianzhi, and said, "I am only expressing my concerns, but since you said so, I will transfer troops to you, but I can only give you 3,000 at most."

Gao Xianzhi said: "One thousand cavalry and two thousand infantry are enough."

"Okay." Gai Jiayun agreed immediately, "I'll give you one thousand cavalry and two thousand infantry."

After saying this, he asked his military commander to dispatch troops to Gao Xianzhi.

After a while, the military commander called back the troops and said to Gai Jiayun, "General, Gao Xianzhi thought he was following the prince, so he dared to contradict you. Should we teach him a lesson?"

"Not for now." Gai Jiayun took a bite of the loquat on the table, took a sip of the wine, and said, "The Tubo already knows that Bukhara has sent people to ask for help from the Tang Dynasty. They will definitely send troops to ambush on the way. If they see that the Tang Dynasty has sent a large number of troops, they will let them go. If there are only a few light troops, they will definitely attack. These three thousand soldiers may not be able to save their lives. Let's wait until they come back alive."

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Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing led their troops to Daqin. On the way, Feng Changqing said to Gao Xianzhi, "Brother, you just asked General Gai for troops, and he didn't seem very happy."

Gao Xianzhi said: "But if I don't want it, he will definitely delay for a while, and then I'm afraid he will miss the big thing."

"But our lives will probably be difficult from now on." Feng Changqing sighed.

"I will command with dignity on stage, and be the bravest among the three armies on horseback. I will report the kindness of my wise master to my superiors, and bring honor to my wife and children. This is my lifelong wish." Gao Xianzhi rode his horse and looked into the distance. "I have followed General Gai for so long, but General Gai has never used me. This time, His Royal Highness Prince Shou has entrusted me with such an important task. It is a place for a hero to show his ability. I will get this done even if I have to sacrifice my head."

Feng Changqing nodded and said, "I am willing to follow my elder brother in this head."

"Okay." Gao Xianzhi reined in his horse, ordered the people behind him to stop, and said to Feng Changqing: "Feng Er, this journey will not be peaceful. I'm afraid we will encounter a surprise attack from Tubo. So, I will lead a thousand cavalry to explore the way and advance, and you will lead two thousand infantry to follow. If there is an emergency, we will not be surrounded."

Feng Changqing thought for a moment and said, "Brother, how about I lead two hundred cavalrymen to explore the way and advance, and you lead eight hundred cavalrymen and two thousand infantrymen to follow."

"This is too dangerous!" Gao Xianzhi shook his head.

Feng Changqing said: "You can't get a tiger cub without risking its life. Since you are determined to sacrifice your life for this matter, you should focus on maximizing your tactics."

Gao Xianzhi heard this, looked at Feng Changqing, thought for a moment, and said, "Then let's do this, you be careful."

"Here."

Feng Changqing took the order and ordered two hundred cavalrymen to go ahead.

We arrived at Lake Issyk-Kul, where about five thousand Tibetan soldiers were making a fire and cooking.

Feng Changqing immediately ordered ten riders to go back and report to Gao Xianzhi, while he himself led 190 riders to ambush in secret.

The ambush lasted less than half an hour before being discovered by the ten Tibetan scouts who were leading the way.

Feng Changqing immediately led his men to attack, killed nine riders, and left one rider heading straight for the Tubo camp.

Feng Changqing didn't have time to think and chased after them, killing the last rider just within his sight of the Tubo camp.

But although he killed this rider, Feng Changqing was also exposed.

With 190 cavalrymen facing 5,000 Tibetan soldiers, the best option would be to run away first.

But if they run away, the Tubo army will have time to adjust its formation. By then, even if Gao Xianzhi arrives, they will be outnumbered by 3,000 to 5,000 and will hardly have an advantage.

Run or fight?

While Feng Changqing was hesitating, he thought of Huo Qubing in the past.

That year, the seventeen-year-old Huo Qubing led eight hundred cavalrymen hundreds of miles deep into enemy territory, killing the Huns and forcing them to flee in all directions.

Feng Changqing has never been able to demonstrate such heroism, but he longs for it in his heart.

Now, God has given him this opportunity.

Moreover, the warhorse under his crotch was raised in the stable left by Huo Qubing.

The hero is calling him!
Feng Changqing shouted, "Brothers, it's time to kill the enemy and serve the country, and make achievements! While the enemy's formation is in chaos, follow me and kill!"

After saying this, he rode ahead and charged into the Tubo camp with a gun.

(End of this chapter)