Hearing this, Commander Xu's face changed and several of his bodyguards hurriedly surrounded him. One of them anxiously said: "The situation ahead is unclear. Commander Xu is the commander of the army and nothing can happen to him. Let's quickly return to camp!"
Xu Langjiang cursed, "Your mother's dog fart! You don't even know who's coming, yet you want me to be a general who flees in fear at the mere sight of wind? Hmph! "
Commander Xu raised his bow and thought for a moment before ordering his two bodyguards: "Go! Watch carefully and be careful at home! "
"Roger!"
The two bodyguards replied and rode towards the black mass of people in the distance.
Xu Langjiang looked at the dark mass in the distance and was secretly alarmed. However, judging from the speed of the black dot's movement, they weren't moving very fast. Xu Langjiang patiently waited for his bodyguards to scout out the situation.
When the two bodyguards got close to the enemy camp, they realized that something was amiss. There were men and women, old and young, riding horses and carriages. No matter what, they did not look like the Turkic army that was about to attack them. Emboldening their courage, they approached them and asked. To their surprise, they were nomadic herdsmen. Their chief had visited Flying Fox Pass many times to pay his respects to General Xu, so they recognized him.
The two personal guards hurriedly told the other party to stop where they were and led a few people back. From afar, they saw the two imperial bodyguards leading a few people back. Without waiting for orders, the personal guard beside Xu Lang General leaped onto the back of a horse. Looking at the hand signals of the two people in the distance, he then sat back on the horse and said to Xu Lang General, "Lang General, it's not an enemy attack!"
Commander Xu secretly heaved a sigh of relief and said: "Let's go! Let's go take a look. "He urged his horse forward.
"Who are they?"
Seeing the two bodyguards rush up to him, Commander Xu reined in his horse and asked. One of the bodyguards panted and said: "Commander Xu, they are the nomadic Qiang tribe in the northwest."
Commander Xu was startled and said: "In this winter and snow, where are they going?"
The bodyguard panted and said: "They are not migrating, they are escaping back to Ming Wei Garrison! They said … said that the Turkic army is about to attack, at least a hundred thousand strong. "
Commander Xu's face changed and he cried out: "Who said that the Turkic army is about to attack? How did you know? "
His question was no longer directed at his bodyguard, but at the three knights dressed like shepherds who had returned with his bodyguard.
"General Xu, this is the information that I found out!"
One of the three men stepped forward on his horse and answered in a clear voice. This person was a slightly hairy youth. His appearance was handsome, and when he looked around, he had a bit of an imposing aura. When General Xu saw him, his tone of voice, which was originally going to scold him, softened a bit. "Who are you?"
Yang Fan reached into his robes, and a few Flying Fox Mouth soldiers immediately raised their bows, nocked their arrows, and aimed at him. Yang Fan slowed down and took out a Fish Talisman from his chest pocket. He held it up in the air to show that it was not a weapon. Then he threw it and shouted, "General Lang, please have a look!"
Xu Yisheng caught the token in his hand and examined it carefully. He hesitantly said: "This seems to be … the waist token of the Imperial Army?"
Xu Yisheng was a garrison general of the border army, so he wasn't very familiar with this special token of the Imperial Army. From the style, the patterns, and the materials used, he could tell that it was a special token used by the Imperial Army's generals to wear in the temporary imperial residence. However, not every border commander knew the existence of the hundred cavalry like the back of their hand.
Yang Fan said: "Yes! I am Yang Fan of the 'Hundred Cavalry' of the Yulin Guards. I was ordered by the Emperor to go to the Western Regions on official business, and I happened to find out the secrets of the Turkic army. I have already sent someone to Flying Fox Mouth to warn you, did General Lang receive the warning? "
Xu Langjiang's expression turned grave as he asked, "You sent someone here? Who? "
Yang Fan said: "I had sent the scouts from Shanzhou, Gao She Ji, Big Bear, and the others to warn you first. Has General Lang met them?"
The corner of Commander Xu's eye twitched a few times, saying: "There were a few of them, but I did not believe their words. I have already escorted them to Liangzhou to confirm their identities."
Yang Fan anxiously said: "General Xu, do you know how much risk we took to obtain accurate information on the Turkic army? You … you did not believe their words. The Turkic army can appear at any time. Do you know how many civilians will be harmed if the military plan is delayed? Even the five thousand soldiers you have stationed at Flying Fox Mouth may not be able to safely return to Mingwei! "
Commander Xu said: "The information is true? A few days ago, I just received a signal from Juyan Sea that a large group of Turkic army is attacking Juyan Sea. Could it be that they are attacking my White Pavilion? "
Yang Fan loudly said: "Did Gao She Ji not report to General that the Turkic army's attack on Juyan Sea is a feint?"
Xu Yisheng's expression was uncertain for a long time. The scouts he sent to the mountains to investigate have not returned yet, so he really could not determine whether Yang Fan's words were true or false. But Yang Fan once again confirmed to him that the Turkic army is coming, and he is a member of the Imperial Army, Commander Xu did not dare to ignore him.
Commander Xu thought for a while and suddenly turned his horse's head, shouting: "Return to camp immediately!"
Yang Fan called out: "General wait!"
Xu Yisheng reined his horse back and coldly said: "What now?"
Yang Fan said: "If we calmly return to Mingwei now, I am afraid it will be too late. General can send people to the various tribes to warn them, and at the same time send people back to Flying Fox Mouth to light the 'beacon' to call for reinforcements. "
Xu Yisheng's countenance changed: "The enemy has not appeared yet, and you want me to listen to your side of the story? Then I will send all the nomadic tribes back to Mingwei, and then light the beacon to report to the border town. Eh? If the information is not accurate, who will bear the crime of misinforming the military and mobilizing the troops? Do you want me to use the beacon to play with the feudal vassals? "
Yang Fan was also angry. He had risked his life to break into White Pavilion, and did not expect this Flying Fox Mouth General to be so cowardly. Although it is inappropriate to believe in military intelligence, but the consequences of believing or not believing, can he not distinguish which is more important?
Yang Fan angrily said: "Is it a big matter to believe in military intelligence and be alarmed for a false alarm, or is it a big crime to delay military intelligence and lose the lives of soldiers and civilians? Commander Xu, you are so muddle-headed! "
Xu Yisheng was furious. He circled his horse, his hand on the hilt of his sword, and sternly said: "I have been guarding the border for more than ten years, my service is great! Since when is it up to you, a young man, to lecture me? "
Tin Aino, who was accompanying Yang Fan, saw him pressing down on his sword, and could not help but reach out to hold the sword at his waist. As soon as she moved, the dozens of Flying Fox Mouth soldiers immediately grabbed their swords, drew their bows, and both sides were in a state of mutual hostility.
When the Yan Er herdsman who accompanied Yang Fan and Tin Aino saw the stance of both sides, he did not know why both sides were fighting since they were both from the imperial court. He was so frightened that he repeatedly waved his hands and tried to mediate.
At this moment, a person suddenly ran out from the side of the mountain pass.
This person was wearing a sheepskin jacket, which was so big that it hung down to his buttocks. Because it was worn inside out, the wool was exposed. If he lay in the snow without moving, it would be very difficult to see his existence. Both his legs were wrapped in leather greaves, which extended all the way up to his thighs. Using a wide leather belt, they were securely wrapped around his legs. This way, when he moved in the snow, he would not have to worry about the snow seeping into his boots.
This person was practically crawling out of the mountain pass. Suddenly, he saw someone in front of him and was overjoyed. Looking at their attire, he recognized them as his brothers and couldn't help but shout: "Quick, save me! There are Turkic pursuers behind us! "
When the two sides heard this shout, they couldn't help but turn their heads to look.
"It's Gu Zhou, quickly save him!"
When Commander Xu saw that it was one of his personal guards, he couldn't help but exclaim. Almost at the same time, a few of his personal guards had already rushed over.
"Sou sou sou!"
Dozens of sharp arrows shot out from the valley. The sharp arrows pierced through the air, making shrill whistling sounds.
Gu Zhou cried out in pain as his shoulder was hit by a deep arrow and he fell head first into the snow. Enduring the pain, he climbed up and continued to run towards his men. As soon as the bodyguards saw the Turks appear at the mouth of the valley, they immediately raised their bows and shot at them.
The few Turks who rushed out of the valley did not expect that there would be so many people at the entrance of the valley. In a moment of hesitation, the Tang arrows arrived. Two of the Turks could not dodge in time and were shot down from their horses. The rest of the Turks immediately dispersed and retaliated with arrows. Both sides began to shoot at each other with the entrance of the valley as their base.
"What's going on, where did these Turks come from?"
Xu Lang Jiang urged his horse forward and bent down to interrogate Gu Zhou. Gu Zhou had an arrow stuck in his shoulder. Enduring the intense pain, Gu Zhou reported to Xu Lang Jiang, "Lang Jiang, a large group of Turks has arrived. We just happened to run into the vanguard of the Turks. Our brothers are probably all dead …"
Commander Xu was shocked: "How many Turks are there?"
Gu Zhou said, "When we were hiding in the valley, we saw a dense mass of people. Before we could estimate their numbers, we were discovered by the scouts they sent ahead of us. They chased us all the way, and only this subordinate managed to escape!"
Here, Gu Zhou gritted his teeth and pulled out the arrow from his shoulder and threw it on the ground. He shouted: "These are the scouts of the Turks, the main force is still behind. General, quickly return to Flying Fox Pass!"
Commander Xu lifted his head to look at the entrance of the valley and saw that there were more than ten of them. He could not help but feel his face burning. There were two warnings but he did not believe them. Now that the Turks were right in front of him, it was as if he was slapped in the face. He was angry and regretful at the same time.
Xu Langjiang hung his bow properly, 'shua!' he drew his saber and loudly said, "Gu Zhou, Liang Si, the two of you quickly return to Flying Fox's mouth and send a message to Old Xiao, tell him to light the fire beacon and have the entire army withdraw to defend Ming Wei's garrison."
Gu Zhou was shocked: "Commander Xu, what are you doing?"
Commander Xu sneered: "They are just a few dozen Turks, I will slaughter them all!" He urged his horse and rushed towards the entrance of the valley.
At this time, the Yan 'er tribe's shepherd saw that the Turks had indeed appeared and had already fled back to his tribe. The tribe's shepherds who had been waiting in the same spot listened to his narration and then looked at the fierce battle at the valley entrance. Immediately, chaos ensued and the entire tribe sped up and fled south.
Xu Yisheng has been in the army for more than ten years and has been stationed at Flying Fox Pass for four years. Although he has always been an autocrat, his subordinates are very lenient and he is loved and respected by the army. Seeing that he has personally charged forward, his personal guards howled and followed.
Gu Zhou stomped his feet and was about to demand a horse from the fleeing Qiang tribesmen when he suddenly saw an arrow shoot through the throat of one of his guards and he fell off his horse. He hurriedly grabbed the horse and mounted it. Together with the other guard, he ran towards Flying Fox Pass.
"What should we do?"
Tin Aino gripped the hilt of her sword and her beautiful eyes stared at Yang Fan …
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
