The terrain of the Ghost Howl Valley was dangerous. There were cliffs on both sides that were difficult to climb. The road in the middle was winding and only five or six steps wide. It could only allow a few horses to walk side by side. More than twenty carriages could only walk in a single row.
Ang Lee let Zhang Erniu lead fifty soldiers to open the path at the front of the group. Behind them was Guichang Wang's carriage. Fifty steps behind Guichang Wang's carriage was Xi Yu's carriage. Li Fei Shouyu rode his horse and followed closely to prevent Xi Yu from getting into an accident.
According to Ang Lee's request, Guichang Wang, Zhao Yefu, rode in the last carriage. Ang Lee was the personal guard on the north side of the carriage to protect Guichang Wang.
Zhao Yefu gently parted the curtain of the carriage and looked at Li An, who was riding slowly. A smile of appreciation appeared at the corner of his mouth. In his eyes, Li An was not only handsome, but the way he rode the horse was even more handsome. Zhao Yefu felt very happy to be able to look at Li An so quietly.
"Guichang Wang, why are you looking at me like this?"
Li An tilted his head and smiled, winking at Zhao Yefu.
Zhao Yefu smiled sweetly and put down the curtain. After calming down a little, he opened the curtain again and looked at Ang Lee.
"Officer Li, you are very handsome when you ride a horse. Really."
Zhao Yefu's eyes were smiling and his tone was quite naughty.
Ang Lee grinned and looked around. He whispered, "Guichang Wang, be careful with your words. It won't be good if others hear you."
"Hehe, I know. I won't say anything. I'll just look at you."
Zhao Yefu held his chin with one hand and admired Ang Lee affectionately. There was a mischievous smile in his eyes.
Li An shook his head helplessly. He urged the horse forward slowly. Since he was so handsome and elegant, he couldn't spoil his natural beauty. He would let Zhao Yefu appreciate him slowly.
The large group of people lined up in a long snake formation and slowly entered the Ghost Howl Valley. It stretched for about two miles. If one were to look down from the sky, it would look like a huge dragon was slowly swimming in the valley.
Sitting in the carriage, Xi Yu was a little nervous at first, but after entering the depths of Ghost Howl Valley and seeing that nothing had happened, he gradually relaxed.
"Groundless fears. There are no Tufan assassins."
Xi Yu smiled disdainfully and opened the car window to enjoy the scenery on both sides.
"Hey, where's Officer Li?"
Li Fei Shouyu nodded and said, "Assistant Minister Xi, Li Xiaowei is at the back, personally protecting Prince Gui Chang."
Xi Yu chuckled and pointed at Li Fei Shouyu. "I really don't understand why the brave and invincible Li Xiaowei is so afraid of the Tubo assassins. This is the hinterland of the Tang dynasty. We have a lot of people. Even if there are Tubo assassins nearby, they won't dare to act rashly."
"Assistant Minister Xi, we are protecting Prince Gui Chang this time. Our responsibility is great, and we can't afford to make any mistakes. It's always good to be cautious."
Xi Yu grinned and nodded. "Young people are modest and cautious, not arrogant and conceited. This is also a virtue. Li Xiaowei is protecting me and Prince Gui Chang. That's why he's so cautious. I really misunderstood him. Haha!"
Although he already understood Ang Lee in his heart and knew why Ang Lee was so cautious, Xi Yu still believed in his own judgment. He felt that in the hinterland of the Tang dynasty, the number of Tubo assassins would not be many, and some of the assassins would not have the strength to challenge Ang Lee's 600 soldiers. This was purely courting death.
"Hey, why is Prince Gui Chang's carriage so far away?"
Xi Yu stuck his head out of the window and saw Prince Gui Chang's carriage 50 steps ahead.
"Assistant Minister Xi, Prince Gui Chang's carriage is very conspicuous, and the purpose of the Tubo assassins is to assassinate Prince Gui Chang. The terrain of this valley is very steep, so the farther away, the safer it is."
Hearing this, Xi Yu raised his head and looked at the cliff to the north. A fallen leaf gently floated down in front of his eyes, which made him feel a little scared. The terrain of the Ghost Howl Valley was really steep. The leaf that fell down gently just now was a leaf. If it was a rock, his head might not be saved. For a normal person to be in a dangerous position, it was normal to feel a little scared.
"Rumble!"
Just when Xi Yu felt a little scared, a huge crashing sound came from the front.
Lifei Shouyu and Xi Yu looked forward at the same time. They saw a large number of rocks rolling down like raindrops from the cliff 50 steps ahead.
"Crack!"
Prince Gui Chang's carriage was hit by a few huge rocks. The sound of wood breaking was heard. Many of the guards and soldiers around the carriage were hit by the huge rocks and screamed.
Immediately after, a large number of fireballs rolled down from the top of the mountain. Each fireball burned fiercely and set the withered grass on the cliff on fire.
Lifei Shouyu made a prompt decision and shouted, "Shieldbearers, protect Assistant Minister Xi. The rest of you, climb up with the soldiers and kill the assassins."
"Yes."
A few Dragon Martial Army soldiers led their soldiers and climbed up the steep cliff.
The high and steep cliff was not easy to climb. At least, it was impossible to climb up in a short period of time. However, this would more or less give the Tubo assassins psychological pressure. They did not have much time left. As long as a large number of Dragon Martial Army soldiers reached the top of the mountain, they would not be able to escape.
A large number of fireballs fell into the valley one after another, turning the area 30 steps around Prince Gui Chang's carriage into a sea of fire. The injured guards and soldiers who did not manage to escape in time were all buried in the sea of fire.
Looking at this tragic scene, Xi Yu kept reaching out to wipe the cold sweat on his forehead. Fortunately, Ang Lee had already made arrangements. Otherwise, he and Prince Gui Chang would have been buried in the sea of fire.
At this moment, Xi Yu had truly experienced the power of the Tubo assassins. At the same time, he was full of worry about the road ahead. After all, Dongnu Province and Tubo bordered each other. God knows what would happen after entering Dongnu Province.
Of course, after such a scare, Xi Yu had already decided not to interfere with Ang Lee's arrangements in the following journey to ensure the absolute safety of himself and Prince Gui Chang.
Not far behind, Ang Lee, who was slowly riding his horse, naturally heard the movement in front and had a premonition that the Tubo assassins had started to move.
"Officer Li, what's going on in front? Are they Tubo assassins?"
Zhao Yefu was shocked by the loud noise. He quickly opened the curtain and prepared to walk towards the carriage.
Ang Lee bowed and said, "Prince Gui Chang, don't be nervous. Stay in the carriage at ease. I have already arranged everything. The Tubo assassins can't escape this time."
Zhao Yefu glanced sideways at Ang Lee and returned to the carriage in shock. With Ang Lee by her side to protect her, she was still very relieved.
"Report, Officer Li. The front was attacked by assassins. Prince Gui Chang's carriage has been burned down. We lost dozens of guards and soldiers."
A soldier of the Dragon Martial Army rode his horse to Ang Lee and reported the situation in front.
Ang Lee sneered, "The Tubo assassins really took action. Let's see where you can escape to this time."
Zhao Yefu, who was in the carriage, heard that her carriage was burned down and dozens of guards and attendants were killed. She was sad and angry. She had only been on the throne for a year. She had been patient with the Tubo Empire again and again. She was just unwilling to be annexed by Tubo, but she was continuously attacked by assassins. How unfair and wronged it was.
Zhao Yefu knew that she didn't have the ability to be the ruler of a country at all. In the one year since she was on the throne, if it weren't for her five uncles sharing the burden of the country, she would have been unable to support herself. If the Tubo assassins continued to assassinate her, she would have to live in fear. When would these days end?
Zhao Yefu opened the curtain slightly and let the cold wind blow on her face. A trace of tears squeezed out of the corner of her eyes.
"Prince Gui Chang, why are you crying?"
Ang Lee pulled the horse closer and asked with concern.
Zhao Yefu moved the corner of her mouth and said with grievance, "Li Xiaowei, I am afraid that one day I will die under the knife of the Tubo assassins. Even the entire Dongnu Province's people will become Tubo's slaves."
Ang Lee reached out and grabbed Zhao Yefu's hand and comforted her, "Prince Gui Chang, you don't have to worry. As long as I am here, I will not let the Tubo assassins touch you. Trust me."
Looking at Ang Lee's determined eyes, Zhao Yefu felt more at ease. She squeezed out a smile and said softly, "Li Xiaowei, if one day my Dongnu Province is annexed by Tubo and I die in the hands of the Tubo people, will you be sad for me?"
Ang Lee stared into Zhao Yefu's eyes and said seriously, "If the Tubo barbarians dare to hurt Prince Gui Chang, I, Ang Lee, will destroy Tubo."
Although he did not answer directly, from Ang Lee's eyes and anger, it could be seen that he would not allow the Tubo people to hurt Zhao Yefu. And for Zhao Yefu, this was enough.
Zhao Yefu looked at Li An tenderly and nodded his head, tempted.
####
The Tubo assassins who were lying in ambush at the top of the mountain saw Prince Gui Chang's luxurious carriage surrounded by fire with their own eyes. They were very excited. As long as the assassination mission was successfully completed, they would get a very high reward when they returned. The money would be enough for them to eat and drink for a lifetime.
Seeing hundreds of Dragon Warrior Army soldiers struggling to attack the top of the mountain, the Tubo assassins laughed contemptuously. Then, under the leadership of their leader, they quickly retreated to the west along the path on the top of the mountain.
However, these arrogant Tubo assassins would never dream that an elite army of the Tang dynasty had been lying in ambush on the path they had to pass through, waiting for them to appear.
Li Kunxiong and Li Feiyu ordered the 150 soldiers under their command to lie in ambush on both sides of the path. They all drew their bows and prepared to deal a fatal blow to the Tubo assassins who were retreating.
"General, are you sure this is the path the Tubo assassins have to pass through?"
Li Kunxiong looked at the thick smoke in the distance and knew that the Tubo assassins had already moved.
"Absolutely. As long as the Tubo assassins are lying in ambush on the top of the mountain on the north side, this is the path they have to pass through to retreat. We just have to wait patiently."
"Second Brother, they are coming. The ones running in front must be the Tubo assassins."
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