In July, Anxi was still hot, but sooner or later, it was a little chill. On this day, an army of nearly a thousand people came from outside Kucha City. They traveled thousands of miles and came from Chang'an to soldiers of Jiangdu Camp and Shouchun Camp. Although this Jianghuai army was here for the first time, they had experienced several months of cruel training and the test of the wind, sand and scorching sun. They had already had a bit of the strength and murderous aura of Anxi soldiers, but they still retained a hint of the Jianghuai men's spirit in their eyebrows, which was different from the Anxi soldiers.

Having left Anxi for more than half a year, Li Qing'an felt infinite emotion in his heart. No matter how prosperous Chang'an is and how rich Yangzhou is, what really gives him a sense of home is Anxi. When he entered the Tang Dynasty from Anxi, his destiny is also in Anxi.

‘The boy was willing to die, and went to the military service thousands of miles, crossed the ice river in Yumen, and changed into iron clothes in the desert.’

Li Qingan turned around and saw that it was Pei Yu chanting a poem. He couldn't help but smile and said, "Young Master Pei, you're in a good mood!"

Pei Yu and Li Qing'an set out from Chang'an and traveled thousands of miles. He also became dark and thin. When Li Qing'an asked him, Pei Yu smiled and said, "All the desert and Gobi are drowsy, but after passing the Yinshan Mountains, I felt better immediately when I saw the boundless grassland."

Li Qing'an nodded and smiled, "The Kucha area is the center of Anxi. The land here is fertile. Since the opening of the Western Regions in the early Tang Dynasty, large areas of fertile land have been reclaimed here so that the Anxi army can be self-sufficient. This time, Mr. Pei came to Anxi, so that he might as well go around to investigate the customs and peoples of various places, and write a substantial book. This will also be of great benefit to Mr. Pei's future."

"But my grandfather asked me to come to Anxi to be a counselor of military affairs and handle documents for General Li, not to travel to Anxi."

"It's okay! The counselor must also garrison with the army everywhere, so as not to affect the young master's writing of books."

Pei Yu was also a little moved when Li Qing'an said this. It would be great if he wrote a book called Journey to the West. He made up his mind and smiled and said, "Okay! I'll give it a try."

Li Qing'an looked into the distance with his hand curtain and saw Kucha City faintly. He accelerated toward the middle of the team. The army was mixed with more than a hundred carriages, loaded with various Central Plains supplies they brought. In addition, there were more than a dozen young and beautiful women on the carriages. These were women collected by several Anxi generals in Chang'an, such as Li Qing'an's poetry and picturesque, Qianniang of Li Fei Shouyu, two dancers sisters whom Li Fei Yuanli redeemed her from the Jiaofang, and several concubines and maids bought by Li Siye and Tian Zhen.

These dozen women followed them through thousands of miles and became obviously haggard. At this time, He Yanming pointed to the city of Kucha in the distance and laughed loudly at the women: "Did you see that? That's Kucha City, we're home!"

The women cheered immediately, and their cheerful emotions infected the other soldiers. Everyone pointed at Kucha City and joked, and their emotions became high.

Ruhua was the happiest. After passing the Iron Gate Pass, she kept chattering along the way. She looked at the white clouds in the sky, the azure sky, the bright ice peaks like sapphires in the distance, and the large green grasslands, with rivers crisscrossing, and sheep everywhere. A large group of beards and women were washing clothes by the river, standing up from time to time, waving to them and laughing.

She couldn't help but feel excited. This is the home she wanted, free and without a humble identity, she could fly freely here like a bird.

"Sister, do you like this place?"

Rushi nodded gently, with joyful eyes flashing in her beautiful eyes. She also liked this place and could stay away from the powerful people in Chang'an.

"I wonder what our family will look like?" Her eyes were filled with yearning for a new home.

"Sister Rushi, don't worry!"

Xiaolian smiled and said, "There is a special Han settlement area in Kucha City. The house is the same as Chang'an. The Anxi general has the highest status in Kucha City and generally has a large house. Didn't the elder brother say that? He has asked Brother Duan to help him buy a house, and he must have been ready."

At this time, a sound of horse hooves came from afar, and a red dot rode on the horse and rushed towards this side. The red clouds drifted closer. Xiaolian recognized it at a glance. She shouted in surprise: "It's Miss Wu!"

Rushi had heard Xiaolian say Gao Wu countless times. Although Xiaolian said it all in praise, a trace of worry still flashed in her eyes.

Ruhua curled her lips disdainfully, "I am not the prince's wife, what's so scary?"

The woman who was running towards Mercedes was Gao Wu. When she heard that Li Qingan was about to arrive, she could no longer contain her excitement and ran out of the city to greet her. She was wearing a red military uniform, outlining her tall figure with a plump breast and slender waist. She was wearing a sword on her waist and a long bow on her back, and immediately looked particularly heroic.

"Miss Mist, here!" Xiaolian leaned out of the car window and waved to her excitedly.

Gao Wu war horse rushed to the carriage, and she smiled and reached out and pinched Xiaolian's cheek, "You little girl, you are getting more and more beautiful as you grow."

"Miss Wu is getting more and more beautiful, Miss Wu, I'll introduce you to you." Xiaolian pulled Rushi and Ruhua and smiled: "They are Rushi and Ruhua. I wrote to you."

Gao Wu looked at the twin sisters curiously, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. They were really exactly the same.

"Who are you like poetry and who are like pictures?"

Rushi hurriedly saluted: "Miss Wu, I am my sister Rushi, this is my sister Rushi."

"Oh! Your hairstyles are different."

Gao Wu reached out and took out two gem-inlaid daggers from the skin, handed them to them and smiled, "I have heard Xiaolian say that you are Qilang's treasures. When I see you today, it is indeed pitiful. These two Shule daggers are the gifts I gave you. If Li Chougong dares to bully you, you can use this to deal with him."

"Thank you Miss Wu!"

Ruhua saw that Gao Wu was not as fierce as she imagined, and even gave her something to her, and she couldn't help but feel a little fond of her. She quickly took the dagger and gently pulled out a piece. She saw a cold light shining and extremely sharp. She screamed in surprise, "Ah! This is a real weapon!"

Gao Wu smiled proudly and said, "Of course I am giving you real weapons, can you even give decorations?"

She suddenly felt something. When she turned around, she saw Li Qing'an smiling at her for more than ten steps. It had been half a year since he had disappeared. His smile was still sour. Gao Wu's nose suddenly became sour and his eyes were slightly red. She restrained her excitement and cursed him with a smile: "Li Zhaogong, you don't care about your trust and agreed to come back soon, but why did it take half a year to delay?"

"Haha! I went to Jiangnan again."

Li Qingan looked up and down at Gao Wu, and saw that she looked more pretty and handsome than half a year ago, and smiled and said, "Miang Wu, are you more beautiful after marrying a good man?"

Gao Wu's face sank and said coldly: "Do you want me to get married?"

At this time, Li Fei Yuanli smiled and said, "Wu Niang, I tell you, this Li Zhaogong has found many women in Chang'an, who are extremely romantic. When the Chang'an girl mentioned Li Qilang in Anxi, she was so happy! She smiled and wanted to throw herself into her arms immediately. Lao Li said that many times he had said, but he just didn't listen."

Xiao Lian next to him said anxiously: "Miss Wu, don't listen to this bearded man talking nonsense. Big brother is not that kind of person."

Gao Wu glanced at Li Qing'an with a squint eyes. Seeing that he was still smiling, she couldn't help but glared at him fiercely. She got off the horse and pulled the door and said, "Xiao Lian, I'll talk to you, who would want to pay attention to these stinky men?"

She got into the carriage and closed the door heavily. She only heard her laughing inside, "Like a poem and picturesque, tell me what you think of Anxi."

Li Fei Yuanli rolled his eyes and turned around and spread his hands at Li Qing'an and said, "Did you see it? I said you will definitely not have a good end when you come back!"

Li Qingan smiled and slammed his scalp on the back of his head, and cursed: "I was not with you in Yangzhou, and I miss you very much. Now I know what it means to be afraid that the world will not be in chaos."

Li Fei Yuanli smiled, "Old Li is the beauty of adulthood, you know it very well."

Li Qingan was too lazy to pay attention to him, so he turned around and shouted, "Everyone should hurry up and go to the city and get some rest sooner."

The team accelerated, and at this moment, the road ahead was rolling, and an army of thousands of people rushed towards this side.

"It's the Grand Marshal!"

Li Qingan recognized the general in front at a glance. It was Gao Xianzhi, the governor of Anxi. He quickly looked back and shouted to Li Siye: "Siye, the general is here!"

Li Siye walked forward, waved to Tian Zhen and others, and went up to meet them together.

The visitor was Gao Xianzhi and his party. He went out of the city to welcome Li Qing'an and the others. Since Gao Xianzhi was promoted to the military rule, the military law was severe and the rewards and punishments were fair. The chaos in the morale of Yizhai Meng Lingcha boosted the Anxi army. His old rival Cheng Qianli was also promoted and became the governor of Beiting. When Cheng Qianli left, he had no restraint. He used both soft and hard work, and made all the Anxi officials who opposed him convinced him.

A few days ago, Gao Xianzhi received an urgent order from the imperial court's Ministry of War, and ordered him to transfer 3,000 elite troops to Longyou to meet the Battle of Hehuang. Soon, he received a secret letter from Li Linfu, which stated that Li Siye and Li Qing'an would go to Hehuang.

Gao Xianzhi did not dare to neglect, so he began to mobilize the army and transfer Li Qing'an's scout camp stationed in Bahuan City back to Kucha. Now everything is done, just wait for Li Qing'an and Li Siye to come.

Li Qing'an and others rode their horses to Gao Xianzhi, jumped off their horses, and went forward and half kneeled to salute, "The last general and the last one met the commander!"

Gao Xianzhi also quickly dismounted and helped Li Qing'an and Li Siye up, and said with a smile: "This time you two won great honors for me in the capital, making the Anxi Army famous in the Tang Dynasty. I want to reward you well."

Li Qing'an also smiled and said, "Since he is a member of the Anxi Army, the honor of the Anxi Army is our honor."

"Well said!"

Gao Xianzhi gently punched Li Qing'an in the shoulder and said to the two of them: "Come here, I have something important to tell you."

Gao Xianzhi's personal guard immediately set up a small tent on the side of the road. Gao Xianzhi took them into the tent, took out a map, and spread it on the small table. He pointed to the Hehuang area and said, "I believe you know that the court is preparing to launch the Hehuang Battle. I received an order from the Ministry of War and ordered my Anxi Army to send 3,000 troops to participate in the battle. I thought about it and decided to send two thousand Modao Army and one thousand bow and cavalry troops to join the battle. You two will lead the troops. Siye led the Modao Army and Qilang led the bow and cavalry army to divide the troops to Hehuang in two directions."

He pointed to Qilian Mountain and said, "Siye's Modao Army was inconvenient to march, so he walked on the Hexi Corridor on the northern foot of Qilian Mountain, while Qilang walked on the southern foot of Qilian Mountain and went straight to Qinghai along the Qiang people's ancient road. Do you understand?"

"I will understand."

Li Qingan hurriedly said: "Master, I will bring the soldiers of the Five Hundred Jiangdu Camp this time. I want to bring them to the war with me. I wonder if the Master will allow it?"

Li Siye also said: "The last general has the same idea, please allow the general!"

Gao Xianzhi nodded and smiled, "You are also generals of the Central Army. I will officially appoint you as military envoys when you come back, Qilang as military envoys Bahuancheng, and Siye as military envoys in Yanqi Town. In this way, you can have your own personal soldiers. I will officially hand over these two Jianghuai camps to you, and you can use them as personal soldiers."

Li Qing'an and Li Siye looked at each other, were overjoyed, and bowed together, "Thank you, the commander for your fulfillment!"

Gao Xianzhi waved his hand and said, "This Hehuang Battle is time-consuming, I hope you will set off as soon as possible."

"I wonder when we will rebel?"

Gao Xianzhi said: "You go back to Kucha to rest for three days. Three days later, the Anxi army will send troops to Hehuang!"

Starting from May of the seventh year of Tianbao, the war machines of the Tang Dynasty began to rumble. With Longyou Jiedushi Geshuhan as the main general and General Dong Yanguang as the deputy general. In addition to the more than 70,000 people from Longyou, 30,000 troops were transferred from Hexi and Shuofang, and the Turkic Abus tribe supported Longyou. At the same time, Li Longji ordered Anxi to transfer 3,000 elite troops to Hehuang to participate in the war.

By late August, nearly 180,000 Tang troops were gathered in the Hehuang area. At the same time, a large amount of grain was transferred from Bashu and Guanzhong to Longyou. The Tang court recruited 500,000 civilians from Shan, Lan, Yuan, Jing, Longzhou and Guanzhong as supporters. 200,000 horse and ox carts and ox carts were all included in the army. The horse and ox carts were on the Tang-Tibet Road, stretching for hundreds of miles, loaded with grain, hay, military weapons, tents and other materials to Shanzhou.

The negative effects of this war are also obvious. As a result of a large amount of grain being transported to Longyou, the price of grain in Guanzhong rose from 50 cents to 80 cents at the beginning of the year, and the grain stored in Taicang was used to prepare for war but could not level the price of grain. In August, the rice pierced over 100 cents in one fell swoop. The rising rice price brought about various prices soaring prices and doubled housing prices. Cui Ping, the prefect of Sizhou who was preparing to buy a house in Chang'an, lamented, when will he have his own home?

Just when the Tang army gathered in the Hehuang area of ​​Longyou, Tubo was also preparing for war across the country. The young Tubo Zamp Chisong Dezan sent envoys to Chang'an to seek peace, while mobilizing Tubo and Tuyuhun from Wuhai, Jiuqu and other places 120,000 troops, as well as 300,000 slaves and 500,000 sheep and horses, and rushed to Dafeichuan to participate in the battle. Together with the existing garrisons in Chiling, a total of 150,000 troops and hundreds of thousands of families of the army gathered in the south of Qinghai.

Chisong Dezan appointed the great prime minister Shang Xi Dongzan as the governor of Liu Hou, and appointed Da Luzan as the commander of Dafeichuan. He also ordered the great general Tie Ren Sinuoluo to be the commander of Shibao City and led two thousand troops to station.

The war is about to break out.

In early September, the north wind was flying west of Qinghai, sand and stones, and the coldness was so strong that a team of Tang cavalry rushed out of a forest about 200 miles west of Fuqi City, an important city in Tubo on the west side of Qinghai. There were a total of 100 Tang cavalrymen, obviously the Tang army patrol, headed by a burly Tang army general, about 30 years old, with a handsome appearance and a grim expression. He held a large iron spear in his hand and shot a wolf bow on his back. He was Nan Jiyun, deputy lieutenant under Li Qing'an, who followed Li Qing'an to Anxi and followed him eastward to Hehuang to participate in the battle.

He had been exploring the surroundings for two days and was now preparing to go back. Nan Jiyun put his hand curtain on his hands and looked around the south for a moment. The Dafei River, which stretched thousands of miles south, could be seen faintly in the south, which hindered the road to the south. To the east was an irresistible grassland pasture. A river divided the grassland into two. On both sides of the river, a group of cattle and sheep were seen leisurely eating grasslands. There were also Tubo people in this area.

Nan Jiyun waved his hand, and the hundred cavalry turned their horses and galloped northwest along the edge of the forest. After walking for more than fifty miles, they gradually reached the edge of the forest. They came under several big trees and suddenly jumped off the tree several Tang army posts. The one in front was Li Fei Yuanli.

Although the Anxi Army supported the Hehuang Campaign, although the troops were not large, they were all elite Anxi. In addition to the two thousand Modao Army led by Li Siye and Tian Zhen, there were more than 500 people from Li Qing'an's scout camp, together with the 500 Jiangdu soldiers he brought, a total of 1,000 bow and cavalry troops, carrying 3,000 war horses. Li Qing'an was the chief general of the scout camp, and there were three generals including Bai Yuanguang and Lifei brothers. They set out from Kucha, went to Dunhuang through the Puchanghai Desert, and then headed south to Dangjinshan Pass, and marched east along the southern foot of the Qilian Mountains (that is, today's northern edge of the Qaidam Basin). This was the road leading to the Western Regions opened by the Qiang people in the pre-Qian Qin Dynasty. The Huns of the Han Dynasty also contacted the Hehuang Qiang along this road.

The scout camp led by Li Qing'an marched for thousands of miles and finally arrived at the shore of Qinghai Lake in early September. Another Anxi Modao Army led by Li Siye walked through the Hexi Corridor, bypassed Wushaoling, and entered Hehuang from the east.

Li Fei Yuanli stepped forward and asked in a low voice: "Can there be Tubo family members in front?"

Nan Jiyun smiled and said, "Yes! We saw dozens of tents, all of which were family members of the Tubo army. They had a large group of cattle and sheep, and there was no Tubo army camp within thirty miles nearby."

Li Fei Yuanli was overjoyed. He knew that the Tubo people were all dispatched to fight, men fought, and old, young, women and children were grazed for logistics. Since Nan Jiyun saw the tent, there must be women.

He grinned and laughed, and praised with a thumbs up: "It's not bad! Boy, I'll be able to be the scout patrol shortly after I came to Anxi. No wonder Li Zhaogong looked at you differently!"

Nan Jiyun bowed and smiled, "I'm just here for a while, I hope Brother Yuanli will give me more advice."

Li Fei Yuanli hugged Nan Jiyun's shoulder and said with a smile: "If you can find a woman, it means you have a very good appetite for Lao Li. It's right to follow Lao Li. I remember when Li Qilang first came to the fortress, he followed me and was under the guidance of my Lao Li."

They passed through a forest and saw a moor of blue lake water in front of them. There were few people around the lake, but nearly a hundred tents were stationed on the east bank. This was the temporary station of Li Qing'an'an West Scout Camp.
Chapter completed!