Chapter 294: The wind rises from the stars

The scene was suddenly in chaos. Without waiting for the order, nearly a hundred personal soldiers rushed forward frantically and surrounded the governor. Li Dingfang Xin was so scared that he stopped beating. He instantly reacted and shouted, "Protect the governor and control the scene!" After shouting, he pulled out his knife and rushed towards the person who had fired his sword. He rushed to the front. Several soldiers who pressed him had already stood up. A short poisoned arrow had already shot through the back of his neck. He was dead.

Pingping had already supported Zhang Huan and stood up. Just now, Zhang Huan's head hit hard on the steps. He was not fully awake yet. The hundred personal soldiers had no chance to ask and almost carried him into the restaurant. Pingping went to the side and picked up the pastry he had just bought with some distress, and had already been stomped on his feet.

"Miss Pingping, thank you this time." Li Dingfang thanked Pingping with lingering fear. This assassination was obviously the same as that of Kill Yuanzai. The mantis stalked the cicada and the oriole was behind. The poisonous arrow was shot from the opposite building. Two arrows were shot at the same time. It should be two people, one shot Zhang Huan and the other killed someone to silence him. Moreover, these two people must still be in the city.

Pingping waved his hand and said he didn't need to thank him. She remembered something and asked again: "Where is that Fang Wuqing? Why is he not by your governor?"

"He went with Miss Li to do business. He had made an appointment to meet in Changsha, but he didn't expect to encounter assassination in Baling County." Speaking of this, Li Dingfang thought about it. He secretly glanced at Pingping and said earnestly: "It seems that there is no one with high-quality martial arts around the governor, which is really not possible!"

Pingping was too lazy to pay attention to his deep meaning. She pointed to the pastry on the ground and said angrily: "It's all done by your subordinates. Should we pay me a compensation?"

"Do!Do!Do!" Li Dingfang agreed again and again. He hurriedly called a few personal soldiers and ordered them to buy a car. At this time, a soldier walked out of the restaurant and said to Li Dingfang: "General, the governor is asking you to go in!" He bowed to Pingping again, "Miss Pingping, the governor invites you to go in."

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In the room, Zhang Huanzheng carefully looked at the flying knife. The knife was three inches long and willow leaves. It was poisoned and emitted a strange blue light. However, no matter where you look, you could not find the mark of the maker. You can only say that it was made by yourself. The poison arrow was a standard military crossbow. In the military weapon prison, there were at least one million such crossbow arrows, and the killer and batch number had been scraped off, so you could not find clues.

In fact, Zhang Huan was not very concerned about who the other person was. There were too many people who wanted to kill him, so how could he investigate one by one? As long as there were no obvious clues, it would be fine. Just as he was thinking, Li Dingfang walked into the room and bowed and said, "Please give me the order?"

"I'll ask you, what clues did the man who shot the flying knife find?"

Li Dingfang shook his head, "No, except for this flying knife, there is nothing else on him. Even the style of his clothes is the most common dress for travelers."

Zhang Huan thought for a while, and said, "This matter is aborted, and there is no need to search the city. I will order my brothers to clean up and we will go south immediately."

Li Dingfang agreed and turned around and wanted to leave. Zhang Huan called him again, "There is also the land in Xiangyang, and I will send someone to inform Li Shuangyu, who should be clear and retreat, I don't want to have another next time."

"As for your order!" Li Dingfang bowed and walked away quickly.

After dealing with the assassin, Zhang Huan praised Ping Ping, who was standing aside, and said: "I only realized today that Ping Ping Ping was actually very smart and responded quickly. None of the hundreds of men present could match."

Pingping was rarely praised by Zhang Huan. She scratched her head and smiled embarrassedly: "Actually, I have seen that person for a long time. Everyone is carrying a family and carrying a large bag of small bags. Everyone is excited, but he is extremely calm. In order to squeeze in front, he overthrew several women and children. I doubted whether he wanted to make trouble at the time, so I drew his sword to guard you. I didn't expect that he would be an assassin."

"I want to discuss something with you."

Zhang Huan pondered for a while and said, "I have to go to Changsha. Can you go back to Longyou first? Don't go with me."

This time when he returned to Longyou, he might marry Pingping. Pei Ying's intention to ask her to come clearly imply this, but she kept following her side and marrying her again would probably affect her reputation. Zhang Huan thought about it and thought it would be better to let her go back first. Unexpectedly, as soon as he mentioned this, Pingping's face changed immediately. She didn't say a word, but just nodded silently, then turned around and walked towards the door.

Seeing her back lonely, Zhang Huan suddenly felt a little unbearable. She was unfair to her because she had the intention to make up for her, "Ping Ping!" Just as she was about to leave the room, Zhang Huan suddenly called her.

Pingping stopped. She didn't look back, but just lowered her head and wiped her eyes secretly with the back of her hand, "What else do you have?" Her voice was already choked.

Zhang Huan felt more and more guilty. He hurriedly walked forward and pulled her shoulders over. At this moment, Pingping was already in tears, "I'm sorry! I'm worried about your safety, otherwise you can stay and let's go back together."

Pingping finally cried out in a word. She hugged Zhang Huan tightly. Many years of grievances and pain turned into tears at this moment, and at this moment, Zhang Huan's eyes also turned a little red. He suddenly remembered the girl who was wearing red clothes to deliver food to him many years ago. He thought of his down-and-out and loneliness. Only she was by his side, bringing countless laughter and comfort to him. She may not be smart, and even a little clumsy, but her heart is pure and her love does not need any reward. The reason why she recalled Zhang Shiba in the past was because she had no power, no money, and only had one love for her, which was this love. She would rather use her life to recall every bit of it without regrets. This is a woman who was not polluted by power and secular world. How could she deserve her?

Zhang Huan hugged her tightly in his arms, and he felt that he owed her too much.

"I'll take you home with you, go home."

An hour later, Zhang Huan left Baling County and continued to head towards Changsha under the tight escort of thousands of soldiers.

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It was late spring and the weather was getting hot. It was also the most vigorous season of the year. The trees were prosperous and the grass was plump. At the same time when Zhang Huan went south to Changsha, the Uighurs once again changed the throne.

Vija Khan died of illness, and his eldest son Zhongzhen Khan ascended the throne. He inherited his father's determination to advance westward. In order to appease the Tang court, Zhongzhen Khan then killed Li Zhengji, the general who fled into the Uighurs, sent his envoy to return to the Tang Dynasty, and sent 30,000 good horses to apologize to the Tang Dynasty. After appeaseing the East, Zhongzhen Khan sent general Jiegangas to lead a 100,000 army to divide his troops, crossing Jinshan to attack the Geluo people, and the other to go to Beiting to attack the Baifu Turks and Shatu people in the south. At the same time, Tubo Zampo Chisong Dezan and the Great Cannibal reached a reconciliation and were able to escape from Tochar. In order to support the Geluo people and Baifu Turks, he personally led an army of 60,000 north to Anxi. The battle for Anxi, which had been resting for nearly half a year, kicked off again.

The carrier pigeon flew in the sky, and the 800-mile express messenger was running on the Hexi Corridor, stirring up rolling yellow dust. Countless information about Anxi was sent to the east. At the end of April, Zhang Huan temporarily changed his plan to visit Changsha and returned to Longyou urgently.

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The vast sea is boundless, the Gobi Desert is endless, the desolate wilderness is endless, the night is low, and in the distance is the dark Zheluo Mountains. On the desolate earth, there is nothing but the unsightly shadow and the unbreakable silence.

This is the junction between the north of Dunhuang County and Jinchang County. It is about fifty miles away from Xingxing Gorge. A 6,000 Tang cavalry rushed north like black mercury. The dark world flew past them. In the distance, a lake was faintly visible.

The head general who led this army was Wang Siyu, the head general of Zhang Huan in Hexi. Two days ago, the defenders of Xingxing Gorge sent a express report that a large number of Shatu people fled into Hexi. Wang Siyu immediately realized that something happened to the Shatu people in Beiting. Now the Shatu people fled, but if they were careless, the next step to retreat would be Shatu troops. He pointed the army overnight and rushed to Xingxing Gorge to help.

The army galloped and arrived at the lake in an instant. There was a large area of ​​poplar forest by the lake, with green grass. Wang Siyu raised his hand and said in a deep voice: "Stay in place for half an hour."

Ling Ru Ru fell down, and six thousand cavalry dismounted, leading their horses to the lake to drink water. The lakeside immediately became lively. Wang Siyu was worried. He quickly walked to a flat rock and spread out the map of Beiting.

Since the war between the Uighurs and Tubo broke out last year, due to the rebellion of the Gelulu people and the Baifu Turks, the Uighurs retreated to the northern part of the desert in December last year. Tens of thousands of Shatu people who lived in Shatuzhou and had been relying on the Uighurs also surrendered to the Gelulu people. The current influx of a large number of Shatu people can only indicate the abnormal movements in Beiting.

From the map, Shatuo Prefecture is located north of the original Tingzhou, and is separated from Xingxing Gorge by Yiwu County (now Hami area). If Shatuo people walked hundreds of miles to escape, it means that the Beiting Rebellion was at least ten days ago.

"General, Changshi Cheng is here." In the darkness, Cheng Duo, the chief secretary, came over with a smile, accompanied by more than a dozen followers, "General Wang, it's a coincidence. I'm about to go to Xingxing Gorge."

Cheng Duo is the highest civil servant in the three counties of Jiuquan, Jinchang and Dunhuang. He is fully responsible for handling the government affairs of the three places. He just came from Jiuquan and was going to Xingxingxia to deal with the Shatuo refugee incident, and happened to meet Wang Siyu.

Wang Siyu quickly stood up and bowed to Cheng Duo and said, "It seems that we are all for the same thing."

Cheng Duo walked closer and took advantage of the faint red light of the torch. He glanced at the map and frowned and said, "General Wang, I have an ominous premonition."

"Come on! Sit down and talk." Wang Siyu pulled him on the big stone, and he was also a little worried, "To be honest, I feel that the Uighurs are not good this time, and it is very likely that they will no longer comply with the agreement reached with us last year."

"You mean the death of Vijakhan?"

Wang Siyu stared at the lake with a white light and nodded slightly, "Yes, the Uighurs have always had the tradition of the later Khan not recognizing the promises of the former Khan. Moreover, the governor did not sign any written agreement with them at the beginning. They only cooperated for common interests. Now I am worried that they will invade Hexi using the excuse of pursuing Shatu people."

Cheng Duo was also silent. He admitted that Wang Siyu was right. When Li Zhengji rebelled, the Uighurs attacked Shuofang might have already hinted that their cooperation had ended. The cooperation in the past was to attack Tubo together. But now when Tubo is not a threat, will the Uighurs attack Hexi?

"No, I think this matter is of great importance. We must report to the governor immediately!"

Wang Siyu stood up and resolutely said to Cheng Duo: "We cannot wait for them to attack. From now on, we will enter a state of war. It may be too late to make a decision when the governor comes."

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When it was dawn, Wang Siyu's army finally arrived at Xingxing Gorge. Xingxing Gorge is located at the westernmost end of the Hexi Corridor. It is the throat of Anxi and Hexi. Its strategic value is immeasurable. Although it has the word "天天" in its name, it is actually a narrow passage about three miles wide and more than ten miles long. There are mountains and steep on both sides, and the geographical location is very dangerous. Later, the Red Army's Western Route Army was wiped out here.

The Tang army stationed two battalions here, a total of 4,000 troops, firmly guarding the place. There is a lake next to Xingxing Gorge. A small town is built by the lake. It is called Huliu Town. More than 200 families are mostly families of the Hexi Army. Han people account for about half of them. They usually make a living by grazing. However, since the Tang army occupied Xingxing Gorge and stationed heavy troops, more than 100 prostitutes who came to do business from all over the country have also settled here, making the originally fresh and simple town full of cheap and pungent smell of powder.

But at this moment, Huliu Town was already crowded. Nearly 10,000 Shatu people who fled from Beiting were crowded around the town, with tents everywhere, and the smell was so stinking that the town residents specially made a long wooden fence to separate the Shatu people from the town.

Camels, cattle and sheep eating grass and drinking water everywhere around the lake. The Shatu people were disarmed and guarded by a thousand soldiers, and they were not allowed to leave at will.

When Wang Siyu's army passed through the town, countless Shatuo people ran out of the tent to watch from a distance, especially groups of children running on both sides of the Tang cavalry.

"Okay, General Wang, we will break up here." Cheng Duo bowed to Wang Siyu. His mission was to accept these Shatu people and place them in several counties to prevent them from gathering to cause trouble.

"The Chief Secretary needs anything, just give me instructions."

Wang Siyu left five hundred cavalrymen to assist Cheng Duo, and he himself led a large group of people to gallop towards Xingxing Gorge.

After the Tang army occupied Xingxing Gorge last year, they built two castles again on the mountain, connecting the original fortress, and there were three castles in total. Four thousand Tang troops were stationed in them, four or five miles apart from each other, guarding the east, middle and west sections of Xingxing Gorge, echoing each other, so that the defense of the entire gorge entrance is not leaking.

The general of the commander who stationed the easternmost castle was Ding Xiaoyuan. He was over thirty years old. He was originally a Han slave captured by the Uighurs. After Zhang Huan defeated Han'er Bali, he gained freedom and joined the Tang army. He has been following Zhang Huan until now. His wife and children are now in Longxi County. When he heard that Wang Siyu had arrived, Ding Xiaoyuan left the castle to greet him.
To be continued...