She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

The Turkic grassland stretches vast and boundless, and when the wind rises, the neighing of warhorses can be heard from far, far away.

On the grassland, flags flutter and snap in the wind, the sound of horns echoing across the sky, battle fervor boiling. Warriors clad in bamboo or leather armor, hoofbeats dense like war drums.

Beside the blazing bonfire, elders kneel and pray, while warriors sharpen their blades.

The flames of war between the Turkic and Da Jing are on the brink of eruption.

At this time, although the sun has not completely set, the tent of Ashina Khan is already brightly lit.

Ashina Khan is urgently dispatching and deploying troops in preparation for the impending war.

In the past three months, Da Jing’s Beiguan has continuously changed generals, presenting a rare opportunity.

Though it’s now late spring, the Turkic forces are not strong nor their horses sturdy, Ashina Khan has still decided to seize the opportunity and launch an expedition against Beiguan at the end of the month.

The resolute decision is evident on his stern face.

"Send the order to summon all chieftains immediately to the tent to receive commands!"

As soon as Ashina’s voice fell, the messenger swiftly took the order and left.

Soon, everyone arrived one after another, including the gentle and docile Princess Yujia, and Ashina’s youngest son Bo Lu.

Ashina swept his gaze across the crowd in the tent and began issuing orders.

"Tonga, you are to spread the word that Ala and Meng Country have mobilized their armies, preparing to attack Ling’an City in early April."

"Yes!"

Tonga stood tall and accepted the order.

"Bater, you will lead thirty thousand warriors, disguise as soldiers from Ala and Meng Country, take a detour, and launch a surprise attack on Da Jing’s Ling’an City in early April, ensuring they cannot attend to both ends."

Bater, renowned among the Turkic as a courageous tribal chieftain.

Upon hearing this, he beamed with excitement and loudly declared, "Bater will not fail the Great Khan’s trust!"

Ashina Khan continued issuing commands, each word revealing his precise grasp of the situation and trust in his subordinates.

"General Albu, lead fifty thousand cavalry to face Da Jing’s Yong’an City head-on, ensuring a thunderous momentum to break through their defenses."

"Understood, Great Khan!"

Albu struck his left chest, stood straight, the fiery battle spirit in his eyes almost turning tangible.

Next was logistics.

The importance of logistics is no less than the swords on the front lines, and in this season, Turkic logistics are particularly tense, there is no room for carelessness.

Ashina pondered carefully, his gaze shifting to a middle-aged man with a calm visage.

"As for logistics... Wulaqi will be in charge, ensuring unobstructed routes for the main force."

Wulaqi nodded firmly, his face serious.

"Rest assured, Great Khan, logistics will be flawless."

Ashina’s commands flowed like water, seeing all tribal chieftains had received orders. At this time, Ashina Khan’s youngest son, Bo Lu, stepped forward.

Yearning flickered in his eyes, "Father Khan, what about me? What can I do for the tribe?"

Hearing this, Ashina Khan’s face instantly turned stern, a trace of barely noticeable pain flashing in his gaze.

"You’ll stay here guarding the royal court, diligently honing your skills, and don’t go anywhere."

Ashina Khan’s words were cold and resolute, with no room for discussion.

Upon hearing this, Bo Lu felt a surge of resentment.

As a Turkic prince, bearing the family’s honor and responsibility, how can he retreat at this crucial moment?

"Father Khan, I’ve grown up, no longer the child needing your protection. I can also contribute to the tribe and kill the enemy."

Bo Lu’s tone carried a bit of stubbornness, a bit of urgency.

However, Ashina Khan simply shook his head, his tone stricter than before.

"Enough! Don’t you know your brothers died on the battlefield? I can’t lose you too, you are the future hope of the Turkic."

Before Ashina’s words were finished, the atmosphere in the tent instantly froze, as if even the air became heavy.

General Albu observed the situation, feeling a surge of sympathy and admiration.

Normally close to Bo Lu, he understood Bo Lu’s courage and determination, yet he also comprehended Ashina Khan’s fatherly concerns.

Thus, he tossed the braid beside his ear over his shoulder, lightly coughed, attempting to ease the tension.

"Great Khan, Prince Bo Lu is young and promising, indeed possessing bravery. Perhaps, allowing him to manage some non-direct combat tasks in the rear, both trains him and lets him contribute to the tribe, might not be a bad idea?"

Albu’s words were well-intentioned, however, it touched the most sensitive nerve in Ashina’s heart.

Ashina Khan slammed the table fiercely, eyes wide with anger, "Albu, how dare you plead for him? Don’t you know what I lost? Bo Lu, he can’t go, he must stay here!"

Ashina’s fury made everyone in the tent tremble in silence, even Albu hastily retreated, not daring to speak further.

Seeing his Father Khan angry, Bo Lu bit his lip, his hand lightly tugged Albu’s clothes from behind, hinting he shouldn’t speak for him.

Bo Lu gritted his teeth, though his head lowered, a trace of resentment flashed in his lowered eyes.

That trace of resentment seemed a struggle against an unfair fate, yet also a helplessness against his inability to change the current situation.

"Father Khan, I understand."

Bo Lu’s voice was low and raspy, prioritizing the overall situation, he suppressed his discontent and resentment, choosing compliance.

He knew his Father Khan’s temper well, if he insisted on wanting to go to the battlefield again, it would only make his Father Khan more irritated and firm.

Yet, inside, he secretly vowed.

One day, he will prove his worth, showing all tribesmen he’s not just a protected prince, but a warrior able to stand alone.

Ashina gave Bo Lu a long, lingering look before continuing to converse with the tribal chieftains.

Soon they will attack Da Jing, plundering at will, all tribal chieftains and generals brimmed with battle spirit, earnestly and actively discussing marching and combat plans with Ashina Khan.

In such critical moments, standing at the end, Princess Yujia had been lost in thought, absent-minded since entering the tent.

The tent was noisy. The sounds of dispatching troops, issuing commands, and chest-thumping discussions were incessant, yet it seemed none of them reached Princess Yujia’s ears.

She pressed her lips tightly, standing at the end quietly watching the candle flame on the table, unmoving.

The maiden’s spring heart was like a kite broken free from its string, unable to be pulled back, already flown over the vast grassland, across the Yin Mountain River...

Until after the war plans were deployed, Princess Yujia absently left with the others, returning to her own tent to rest.

Tomorrow morning, the army would assemble and set out, Ashina Khan ordered everyone to rest well tonight.

The night deepened.

The wind, carrying a chill, gently brushed against the tips of the grass. Deep in the grassland, all was silent, only the occasional wolf howl from afar broke the tranquility.

In the night, Princess Yujia stealthily slipped out of her tent.

She wrapped her black horse’s hooves with thick cloth strips, clad in attire for night travel, her face veiled with black silk, exposing only a pair of bright eyes, a few anxious glimmers in them.

At this moment, she only had one thought in mind, which was to go to Da Jing Canzhou, to find the man she had long admired—Zhao Zun.