Chapter 1322 - 998: Left General’s Tomb
Shang Ruyi said, "Where did he get so much money?"
Lu Xiao replied with a half-smile, "How would I know."
"..."
"The Zuo family has been officials for generations. They must have some family wealth. Besides, their family is not just any official family. The authority Left General had on the court at that time, even Xiao Lang admired greatly."
𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
Shang Ruyi said, "That’s true."
She smiled, seemingly not intending to continue the topic further. She took the plate of snacks sent again by Wo Xue, eating small bites. A gust of wind blew, carrying the fragrance of green grass across her face, refreshing her considerably.
Yet Lu Xiao did not eat anything, instead she turned back to stare at Shang Ruyi for a while, suddenly saying, "You’re not interested in the Left General’s Tomb, are you?"
Mentioning those four words again made Shang Ruyi’s mood slightly dazed.
But when she raised her head, her gaze was clear, only slightly surprised, "Does Miss Lu Xiao also know about this thing?"
Lu Xiao looked at her with a half-smile, "When Wang Shaoji caught me initially, he used to ask me about it hinting at things, more than once."
"...Oh."
Shang Ruyi gave an embarrassed smile; she didn’t think her thoughts hidden behind words could truly evade the insightful Lu Xiao. But being seen through, she still felt a bit awkward. However, with thick skin, she laughed it off and said nonchalantly, "Did he find out anything?"
Lu Xiao said, "If he had found out, I wouldn’t be alive here now."
Shang Ruyi nodded, "That’s true."
The two fell silent, not speaking any further. After finishing their snacks, they rested for a while, then got back on the carriage to continue on, but how far the wind carried their words, they could hardly know.
Three days later, several Western Turks generals entered the King’s Tent again, seeking battle.
These individuals were Ashina Zhuxie’s loyal associates before he rose to power as Khan. After ascending to the Khan title, he naturally purged the Turkic Royal Court, completely eliminating all forces left by Ashina Shali, promoting these people as his trusted ministers. However, being loyal associates, they couldn’t help but feel puzzled by his delays now. They were clearly less than twenty miles from Xiazhou; prior attacks had surrounded Xiazhou with large forces, pushing the defenders to desperate measures, but the remaining were of hard grit, refusing to surrender, withstanding till now.
At this moment, should they not strike swiftly and decisively?
He insisted on seeing if Princess Qiancheng had new tricks, but must they only move when such tricks are deployed?
The generals grew increasingly animated, one even turning red-eyed with urgency, "Khan, speed is critical in warfare!"
This was a principle from Han military strategy that Ashina Zhuxie was not unfamiliar with, yet he still sat leisurely on the Khan’s throne, looked up slowly at those eager eyes and faces, and said, "These years, I’ve encouraged you all to read more Han books, especially their military texts; it seems you’ve indeed paid attention."
The one who spoke of "speed is critical in warfare" was Ye Hugoli, who quickly replied, "Did I say anything wrong?"
Ashina Zhuxie said, "No, quite right."
"If I’m right, why is Khan not sending the troops yet?"
"..."
"What benefit does remaining here bring us?"
Ashina Zhuxie said, "You read Han military texts and learned about speed in warfare; do you also know the strategy of ’the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind’ from those texts?"
Goli immediately frowned, "What does it mean?"
Ashina Zhuxie took out a letter from his coat, the same one he received a few days ago while in the Leiyu Tent, handing it over to Goli. Then he said, "I knew, our Aunt Qiancheng wouldn’t concede so easily, nor would she allow us to take Xiazhou without a fight."
As he spoke, the group had already unraveled the letter and read it through. Goli asked, "Princess Qiancheng sent a request for reinforcements to the Dasheng?"
"Yes."
"Then what Khan mentioned just now—"
"Although we have deployed troops several times the enemy’s to attack Xiazhou, the long siege has tired our forces."
Goli immediately stated, "That’s why we urge Khan to hurry to Xiazhou."
Ashina Zhuxie said, "But if we go, what happens when Eastern Turkic forces arrive as well?"
Goli quickly replied, "That bunch of cowards from Eastern Turks? If they dare come, we’ll slaughter them one by one, pair by pair!"
The other generals nodded in agreement, never fearing Eastern Turks.
Ashina Zhuxie said, "Right, even if they come, we shall confront them; no one fears them. But if during heavy losses and exhaustion on both sides, Dasheng forces arrive?"
With those words, everyone fell silent.
Ashina Zhuxie said, "This is, ’the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.’"
"..."
"Xiazhou may be important, but we must be wary, lest Dasheng reap benefits from our clash. Such future troubles would be boundless."
The generals exchanged looks; though understanding Ashina Zhuxie’s concern, with temptation right before them, who could resist not taking a bite? Goli hesitated and said, "Will Yu Wenquan really dispatch forces against us? Their so-called Dragon Raising Land is not far from Xiazhou; if they intended to send reinforcements, they should have done so already. But the Khan’s letter says Princess Qiancheng has sent at least three requests for reinforcements, and yet still no one has arrived; perhaps they will not send forces after all."
Ashina Zhuxie shook his head, "Taiyuan, after the previous battle, is severely weakened now, barely able to hold their ground, let alone dispatch troops. They surely wouldn’t send reinforcements from Taiyuan."
"Then from—?"
"I fear, they’ll dispatch reinforcements from their Capital City."
Once hearing this, everyone was taken more by surprise. "Who’s leading the troops? Is it Yu Wenqian, or Yu Wenye?"
These two names, for Western Turks, carried a hundred-thousand-strong pressure as soon as mentioned, weighing heavy on their hearts.
After all, the Dasheng Dynasty’s Crown Prince Yu Wenqian once blocked Ashina Zhuxie’s heavy cavalry at Shouyang, and although Yu Wenye never faced them directly, in many past skirmishes, several Turkic soldiers remembered vividly the gallant figure of the Taiyuan prince on horseback.
No matter who came, it would likely result in a fierce battle.
Just as everyone felt a chill cut through the summer heat, hurried footsteps sounded outside the King’s Tent, followed by a soldier entering and saluting Ashina Zhuxie, "Khan."
Ashina Zhuxie lifted his head, "What is it?"
The soldier said, "A messenger from Luoyang has arrived, requesting to see the Khan."
"A messenger from Luoyang?"
Ashina Zhuxie’s wolfish eyes squinted slightly, a gleam of cold light flashing through. He waved his large hand, "Let them in."