"Right now, we are indeed still alive. But if this continues, I estimate that in two days, our heads will be separated from our bodies!"
Southeast of the grassland, Tuli's troops, Tang Jian's tent.
Yue Minghu looked at the leisurely Tang Jian and helplessly smiled.
Tang Jian still had a leisurely attitude. Hearing this, he asked with a smile, "Why do you say that, Minghu?"
Compared to the other courtiers in the current court, in terms of intelligence, Tang Jian might not be as good as Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji. In terms of decisiveness, he might not be as good as Du Ruhui. In terms of honesty, he might not even be as good as Wei Zheng! But regardless of whether he was in good times or bad, Tang Jian was always able to maintain an optimistic attitude. It was this optimistic attitude, coupled with his unique vision, that allowed him to have a place for himself in the imperial court of the early Tang Dynasty, where the stars were shining brightly.
Yue Minghu was not as well-mannered as Tang Jian. He said worriedly, "Today, Tuli suffered a defeat. He and his trusted generals want to vent their anger on Duke. But according to this subordinate's estimation, in the next few days, Tuli will suffer even more defeats. According to their nature, I'm afraid that when the time comes, they will make things even more difficult for us!"
At this point, Yue Minghu deliberately paused. Seeing that there was still no reaction on Tang Jian's face, he could not help but continue.
"In today's battle, Tuli's troops lost forty thousand troops. Moreover, according to this subordinate's knowledge, the ones besieging Tuli's troops were only the other tribes of the grassland that rely on Xieli. They were not Xieli's elite wolf riders. Although there are still two days left until the eighth month, this subordinate estimates that if the ten-tribe coalition cannot completely take down Tuli's troops by tomorrow night, on the last day of the seventh month, Xieli will definitely gather his elite wolf riders and launch an all-out attack on Tuli's troops!
Xieli has been able to control the grassland tribes for the past few years. The wolf riders under his command have unparalleled fighting strength. Moreover, the Turkic State Preceptor, Wu Jie, is an expert of the Great Grandmaster Realm. If he also participates in the battle, Tuli's troops will definitely not last a day! At that time, even if Tuli does not kill us, if we fall into Xieli's hands, I am afraid it will be difficult for us to survive! "
As a warrior, Yue Minghu was even more aware than Tang Jian of the terror of a martial grandmaster expert. Although no matter how powerful a warrior was, he would not be able to defeat a well-trained army. However, if an expert like a martial grandmaster were to lead an army and personally lead this army into battle, then the combat power of this army would be raised by several levels!
With the current situation of Tuli's troops, if Wu Jie were to lead a ten-thousand-man Wolf Cavalry army to attack, Tuli would never be able to resist!
In the end, Xieli didn't want to consume his strength right now. Wu Jie and the Wolf Riders were his trump cards, and until the last moment, he wouldn't use them easily!
"Wu Jie … is that Wu Jie who snuck into Cloud Mountain alone and led the Turkic wolf cavalry outside Longmen Pass to escape the encirclement of the Great Tang's four provinces?"
Hearing the name Wu Jie, Tang Jian's expression finally changed, raising his head and asking meaningfully.
Yue Minghu nodded and replied, "It is that person! This subordinate heard that Wu Jie was able to resist Mo Huai and Zhang Zhongjian, two peak Grandmaster experts, and smoothly escape from the encirclement of the Imperial Army. Later, the Marquis of Yong 'an led an army to stop Wu Jie at Longmen Pass, but he was unexpectedly heavily injured. In the end, it was Daoist Master Xuan Qing of Longhu Mountain who arrived in time to stop Wu Jie and the Turkic wolf cavalry. Otherwise, Longmen Pass would have been defeated!
This person's martial arts are so high that he is probably invincible in the world. If he personally led an army to attack Tuli's troops, I'm afraid that the defenses here would collapse in an instant! Thus, Grand Duke, we must make plans as soon as possible! "
Tang Jian furrowed his brow in silence. He was not a member of the martial arts world, but he was born into a noble family, had experienced troubled times, and had mingled in the Imperial Court. He had some understanding of martial arts, so he naturally understood what Yue Minghu was saying. After a moment of silence, Tang Jian spoke.
"Make plans as soon as possible? We came to the grasslands with the Emperor's Mandate. If we don't complete the mission, how can we face His Majesty? The only thing we can do now is to firmly believe that frost will fall on the grasslands in the next two days. Other than that, we have no other choice! "
Speaking of this, Tang Jian's eyes revealed a sense of determination. He said in a deep voice, "Moreover, this old man believes in His Majesty. I believe that the prophecy of frost falling in July will come true!"
During the late Sui Dynasty, Tang Jian and Li Er were very good friends. The two of them had similar interests and were close friends. They regarded each other as confidants. Although they were now monarchs and ministers, Tang Jian still trusted Li Er unconditionally. Li Er naturally also trusted his old friend. Otherwise, he would not have handed over such an important task to Tang Jian!
If the prophecy of frost falling in midsummer at the end of July came true, for Tang Jian, their purpose of coming to the grasslands would be more than half completed. When that time came, rumors about Xieli's misconduct caused Longevity Heaven's wrath would spread in all tribes of the grasslands. Those tribes of the grasslands who were originally disloyal to Xieli would probably rise up and resist Xieli's "tyranny" together!
"… Pay attention to the news from Xieli's side. If he really does send Wu Jie to personally lead an army to encircle and annihilate Tuli's troops, we have to remind Tuli to make preparations!"
Tang Jian sighed and gave Yue Minghu an order.
"Yes! Duke! "
Yue Minghu naturally left to carry out the order.
… … …
Taiyuan City, Tongfu Inn.
"Guard Lord? It seems like your status in the grasslands is not low! "
Earlier, when the fifty to sixty people had suddenly charged into the inn, Li Junxian had immediately dashed forward and grabbed the nearby Zhao Deyan. At this moment, hearing the cries of the warriors downstairs, Li Junxian gripped Zhao Deyan's neck and coldly laughed.
Although his neck was gripped, Zhao Deyan did not appear very panicked. He lightly snorted and mocked, "I didn't think that the grand commander of one hundred cavalry, a grandmaster expert, would actually take this Zhao, a scholar who doesn't even have the strength to truss a chicken, hostage. Should I say that Commander Li is lacking in grace, or is he lacking in martial virtue?"
What a fine 'lacking in martial virtue'!
Anyone else might have been goaded into letting Zhao Deyan go, but Li Junxian was different. Although he was a grandmaster, he was a member of the Imperial Court, not a member of the martial arts world. For him, completing the mission given by the Imperial Court was his number one priority. As for martial virtue, was letting Zhao Deyan go and having his seven hundred subordinates fight with eighty to ninety people a matter of martial virtue?
"Say what you want!"
Li Junxian nonchalantly chuckled, and then he threatened, "This general will not let his subordinates throw away their lives. Immediately have your men put down their weapons and surrender, or else …"
His right hand tightened around Zhao Deyan's neck, and Zhao Deyan immediately found it difficult to breathe. A few moments later, this fellow's face turned red!
It was clear that Li Junxian had not used any small amount of strength!
"Ugh …"
Zhao Deyan couldn't help but groan and slap away Li Junxian's right hand. Seeing this, Li Junxian slightly loosened his grip, and Zhao Deyan hurriedly covered his neck with his hand and began to violently cough!
"Cough, cough! Commander Li truly has a good plan, but this Zhao will not let his subordinates surrender. At worst, we'll just die together! Haha! If I can kill a Commander of one hundred Tang cavalry, this Zhao Deyan's life will be worth it! "
Contrary to Li Junxian's expectations, Zhao Deyan was not intimidated by Li Junxian's threat. On the contrary, he was even more vicious than Li Junxian. After mocking Li Junxian, Zhao Deyan looked down at his subordinates and shouted, "Kill … don't worry about this god!!"
Li Junxian couldn't help but be taken aback.
Zhao Deyan's subordinates downstairs were also slightly stunned when they heard this. Everyone hesitated to move forward because although Zhao Deyan had shouted this, if they really rashly went forward and caused Zhao Deyan to lose his life, then what would be left for them after returning to the grassland would still be a dead end!
"Mm?"
Li Junxian's eyes narrowed as he slightly clenched his right hand. At the same time, he warily and threateningly glared at the warriors downstairs.
For a moment, the two sides were in a standoff. Zhao Deyan's men did not dare to recklessly step forward, while Li Junxian's men naturally would not attack for no reason. This was because while none of Zhao Deyan's subordinates were top-class experts at the Grandmaster realm, the vast majority were at the Qi Transformation realm. In terms of numbers, Zhao Deyan's men had the absolute advantage. If they ignored Zhao Deyan's life and attacked together, Li Junxian's men would not be able to hold, not even if Li Junxian was a grandmaster!
In this situation, grandmasters were not invincible existences. While Li Junxian could take on ten of these Qi Transformation experts alone, he could not take on eighty or ninety of them. Perhaps only a grandmaster like Wu Jie could do this!
Therefore, neither side dared to act rashly for the time being! This stalemate required a third force to break the stalemate!
But this stalemate was completely acceptable to Zhao Deyan. He had remained at the inn precisely to buy time for Xuan Ye and Celestial Eagle to attack the posthouse. In truth, he had not known that the cavalry that had come to the inn was led by Li Junxian. Now that he knew, he could only rejoice. If he had not used himself as bait and sent ten-some people to stop Li Junxian's men, there was a high chance that Li Junxian's cavalry would have been able to effortlessly deal with them. And after dealing with his men, Li Junxian's men would have continued to pursue Xuan Ye, Celestial Eagle, and the rest of the group that had attacked the posthouse. In that case, his plan would have been completely exposed!
Right now, all he needed to do was delay Li Junxian until Xuan Ye succeeded. At that time, even if he was captured by Li Junxian, it would be fine, because Li Tai would already be in their hands! The offensive and defensive positions would be reversed!
… … …
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