On the vast and boundless grassland, a caravan of camels slowly approached. Further west from the low hills was the territory of the Tuqis.
The wind was blowing very fast, and the strong wind swirled the snowflakes all over the sky. The cold-resistant camels with two humps walked at a moderate pace. The people on the camels all lowered their bodies and wrapped their heads and faces tightly with thick scarves, only revealing a pair of narrowed eyes. Even so, the pervasive wind still carried snowflakes and pricked their bodies like needles.
The temperature here was at least ten degrees lower than in the wintertime of the Han. Yang Fan's entire body was wrapped tightly and he wished he could find a condom to cover himself completely. After suffering in the wind and snow for more than two hours, he began to understand why the people of the cold regions were generally addicted to alcohol. Right now, he also wanted to fiercely gulp down a few mouthfuls of wine to ward off the cold.
The despairing wind and snow covered the sky and covered the earth. Yang Fan originally thought that it would blow for three days and three nights, but suddenly the wind stopped. As soon as the wind stopped, the entire snowfield immediately calmed down and the sky quickly turned pure blue. Such a pure blue could not be seen anywhere else.
Soon after, white clouds began to appear one after another. They had a jade-like texture like newly picked cotton under the sun, dazzling white. Between heaven and earth, that caravan of camels was like an abstract stroke in a huge painting. Just a stroke, placed in an unremarkable corner, in this vast and boundless world, it seemed so insignificant.
The people in the caravan untied the snow-covered towels and relaxed to breathe in the fresh air. The pace of the camels' advance also abruptly increased.
The scout leading the way suddenly said: "Commandant Yang, there is a shepherd family over there."
Hearing the voice, Yang Fan looked over and saw that there was something strange about a snowy hill. After a closer look, he realized that it was actually a yurt. In a low voice, Yang Fan instructed: "Don't disturb them and don't make any fuss about nothing. Remember, we are now Khitans. "
The scout gave a sound of assent and urged the camel under him to gallop forward.
The camel caravan continued to move forward. After changing a certain angle, Yang Fan finally saw the shepherd's door. There was an opening in the door, and the snow had piled up to half a man's height. The owner was climbing out of the opening, and was about to clear away the snow on the roof and around the tent. Seeing the travellers, he placed his hand over his eyes to look at them, and then called out to them.
Yang Fan only knew simple Turkic and did not understand what he was saying, so he asked the scout, "What is he shouting?"
The scout said, "He said that he would like to invite guests from afar to help him clear the snow. He is willing to entertain us with good wine and delicious mutton."
Yang Fan thought for a moment and ordered, "Stop and rest here. Send a few people over to help. Be careful not to expose your identity."
The scout acknowledged and the entire caravan stopped. A dozen or so people jumped down from the hunchback and rushed toward the yurt.
Looking at the yurt half-buried in the snow, Yang Fan shook his head and said, "Their lives are really hard. This kind of winter …"
Yang Fan did not continue. It was true that their lives were hard. Perhaps this was also the main reason why they had been passed down from generation to generation. Regardless of whether it was the Di, Rong, Xiongnu, Turkic, or any other ethnic group, all the nomadic tribes had always treated the Central Plains as their supply station and target of invasion.
However, invaders were invaders. Their greatest enemies were heaven and earth, wind and snow. Perhaps they were the greatest enemies of the farming of the Central Plains. Invasion and counter-invasion were the laws of heaven and earth, for the sake of survival. As a member of the Central Plains, Yang Fan could not express any sympathy for the enemy.
The scout laughed in schadenfreude and said, "The snow in front of the yurt is several times thicker than where we are standing. It's like this on the grasslands. When the wind and snow come, it will cover the sky and earth. When there are obstacles, it will form a whirlwind, and the snow will accumulate there. The yurt is the same as the cave, it's also the easiest place for snow to accumulate.
During the snowstorm, they can only rely on dried meat and cow dung to survive inside the yurt. Sometimes, when the snowstorm goes on for too long, the entire tent will be buried or even collapse, then they will freeze to death. So, as soon as the snowstorm stops, they will immediately clear the snow on the top of the tent and around it to prevent the next snowstorm. "
Gu Zhuting suddenly came over and said with a smile, "But the mutton here is really good. You're in luck. The mutton is boiled in water with just a little salt. There is no need for any seasoning. The mutton is fresh and fragrant, without the slightest smell. There are large patches of shallots growing on the grasslands here. The sheep here have been eating them since they were young, so naturally the smell of shallots is gone. "
Yang Fan glanced at her and said with a smile, "I didn't expect you to know so much about the grasslands."
Gu Zhuting smiled proudly, "Of course!"
Considering that the relationship between the herdsmen and the Han people in this area is too tense, it's fine if they encounter herdsmen who are alone in the grasslands. But if they encounter a large group of herdsmen who are gathered together for the winter, it may be disadvantageous to them. So, Yang Fan and the rest disguised themselves as Khitans.
Although the Khitans have a grudge with the Turks, most of the time, the Khitans are the ones being bullied. So, the hatred is mainly focused on the Khitans. Now that they are the Khitan envoys, it is not easy for them to be harmed by the Turks.
The reason why Yang Fan touched his face the moment he saw Gu Zhuting is because his current face is completely different from that of another person.
When Li Duozuo, Maqiao and the rest all thought that he is the most suitable envoy, Yang Fan was really shocked and hurriedly declined. This is because he knows that his face is not suitable to meet the Turks. He is worried that he will encounter Mu Si who looks exactly like him in the Turkic Khaganate.
But if he does not go, there is really no one else who can carry out this important mission. Li Duozuo really can't find another suitable candidate, so Yang Fan reluctantly used Gu Zhuting's disguise skill.
This disguise skill needs at most two days to be repaired. Otherwise, the cold and snow outside and the warmth and steam inside the tent will easily damage it and people will see through it. So, Yang Fan can only bring Gu Zhuting along. He forced Ah Nu to stay in Qianjin Smelter. He does not want Ah Nu to put herself in danger. Humans are always selfish.
Seeing that he touched his face again, Gu Zhuting can't help but reveal a faint smile in her eyes, "Don't worry, you won't be able to see through it."
Yang Fan is still worried, "Are you sure? My current appearance is really different from before, right? Can't you tell at all? "
The smile in Gu Zhuting's eyes deepens, "Cough! You … when you were pretending to be Mu Si in the Turkic Khaganate, did you do something bad? Are you afraid that the creditors will come looking for you? "
Yang Fan's heart skipped a beat and he hurriedly covered it up, "No, I am worried … worried that something big will happen!"
Yang Fan did not dare to continue talking to her and turned to look at the plains that have stopped snowing. On the plains, the stilled snow is like a frozen wave, forming all kinds of beautiful patterns. Looking at the masterpieces of nature, Yang Fan suddenly thought of the 'passionate' grassland woman with a slim waist and long legs – Mu Heyue.
That alluring scene, is really …
Thinking of that scene, Yang Fan's heart skipped a beat, just like the ripples formed by the wind and snow on the snowy plains.
This is a secret that can't be told to anyone, but occasionally thinking about it, it really has a special taste of excitement and temptation.
At this moment, Maqiao, wearing a Khitan leather robe and a dog skin ear cap, ran over and interrupted Yang Fan's charming reminiscence, "Brother Fan, what do you think I should say when the time comes? Should I help you, or should I say nothing?"
Maqiao took the initiative to ask to be the deputy envoy and accompany him on the journey. Along the way, Maqiao is always thinking about what he should say and do when the time comes, afraid that he will do something wrong and drag Yang Fan down. Yang Fan is very happy about this. His brother is no longer the muddle-headed youth of the past, he already knows how to do things seriously.
Yang Fan's face is full of smiles, as bright as the sun that suddenly appears after a heavy snow, "You don't have to worry, just do as you please, it's fine even if you are more ostentatious than usual!"
Maqiao said worriedly, "I'm afraid that something will go wrong and drag you down."
Yang Fan patted his shoulder and said with a relaxed smile, "Don't worry! The more casual you are, the more they will believe you! Moche is just a lowly person! "
…
After reading Li Duozuo's letter, Wu Yizong was overjoyed and immediately ordered excitedly, "Strike the drums, this marshal will raise the tent!"
In a flash, the drums sounded, and Wu Yizong gathered the generals and raised the tent, giving the order majestically, "The entire army is to immediately move west and be stationed at the Shi, Lan, and Shuo Prefectures."
Hearing the order, the generals were all startled. They are already used to Wu Yizong's unconstrained style of fighting. Usually, when the enemy comes from the east, they will go west, when the enemy comes from the north, they will go south. Could it be that Great Marshal Wu has heard some news and is planning to hide in the west?
Zhang Yuanyi can't help but ask, "Great General Wu, may I ask, why do we need to move to the Shi, Lan, and Shuo Prefectures?"
Wu Yizong has been hiding from the Khitans all day, to the point that even he is a little embarrassed. He knows very well how his subordinates view him, but he can't do anything about it. Cao Renshi and Wang Xiaojie both have more soldiers than him, but what is the result? He doesn't dare to muster up the courage to fight the Khitans!
Lou Shide has fewer soldiers than him, but now he is fighting well. Li Duozuo has even fewer soldiers, but he has won a great battle. However, he believes that luck played a big part in this and he doesn't dare to bet his life on luck.
This time, Li Duozuo, as the marshal of the Northern Army, asked him to cooperate in the battle. In order to prevent the Khitans from fleeing west, he asked him to guard the western line and stop the Khitans from going west.
The western line is the territory of the Turks, and Her Majesty the Empress has already agreed to return the Hequ Six Prefectures to the Turks. In exchange, the Turks will cooperate with the Zhou army in the battle. He believes that under these circumstances, the Khitans can't flee west, so guarding the western line is the safest. So far, he hasn't seen the Khitans flee west.
Therefore, Wu Yizong immediately decided to "cooperate" with Li Duozuo. This way, he can justifiably avoid the battle, and who can laugh at him for being afraid of the enemy?
Zhang Yuanyi asked one by one, and Wu Yizong immediately took out Li Duozuo's letter and confidently explained that as the marshal of the Southern Army, he must resolutely cooperate with the Northern Army and shift the entire army to the western line.
The generals have nothing to say. Now that Lou Shide and Li Duozuo are fighting well on the northern line, Li Duozuo's request might really be necessary because of the change in the war in the north.
Seeing that the generals have no objections, Wu Yizong excitedly arranged for them to depart on the same day and move to Lan Prefecture. Almost at the same time, the prefectures and counties of Hebei began to spread an exciting news: the imperial army has formed an encirclement around the Khitans, and the annihilation of the Khitan rebel army is just around the corner!
The curtains of this special battle outside the Great Wall slowly began …
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