"Between the white clouds of the Yellow River, a lonely city of ten thousand mountains.
Why should the Qiang flute complain about the willows? The spring breeze doesn't cross Jade Gate Pass. "
Jade Gate Pass, a pass that used to be lonely, was now particularly lively. Close to a hundred thousand soldiers were stationed inside and outside the pass, and the sounds of men and horses could be heard continuously.
Hou Junji stood on the walls of Jade Gate Pass and couldn't help but reveal a heroic aura when he saw the army inside. Such a powerful army was now under his command, and this was the pinnacle of his authority.
However, when he shifted his gaze outside the walls and saw the boundless snow inside the pass, he couldn't help but rejoice. Fortunately, he had ordered the army to advance at full speed when the weather turned cold. Even so, they still suffered greatly in the snow before arriving at Jade Gate Pass.
If he had delayed any longer, he would've been trapped halfway. At that time, the cost of food and water for a hundred thousand soldiers would've been enough to make him collapse. "
Hou Junji was pleased with himself for a while before turning to his trusted general, Xin Yaoer, and asked, "Has the army been settled down?"
Lieutenant General Xin Yaoer replied in a clear voice, "Reporting to the general, the army of a hundred thousand has been settled down. Only the Firearms Supervisor has yet to arrive."
"Firearms Supervisor! Counting the days, the Firearms Supervisor should've set out by now! "Hou Junji said.
Xin Yaoer nodded. "According to the agreement, the Firearms Supervisor should've set out on the eve of the new year. Counting the days, the Firearms Supervisor should've passed Lan Province by now!"
"Passed Lan Province!" Hou Junji looked at the boundless snow inside Jade Gate Pass and couldn't help but sneer. He had gathered a hundred thousand soldiers and worked day and night to open up a path to Jade Gate Pass. The Firearms Supervisor, on the other hand, only had a thousand men. In the face of the power of heaven and earth, how insignificant were they? They were destined to be blocked halfway.
"Mo Jiazi! Mo Jiazi, this time you've fallen into my hands. "Hou Junji couldn't help but reveal a pleased smile when he saw that there was no trace of anyone in the boundless snow.
This was the army, and military orders were like mountains. He had the power to control life and death. Even if it was the world-renowned Mo Family's son, no matter if it was a dragon or a tiger, they would have to kneel down before him.
"Exactly! Mo Jiazi has repeatedly contradicted the general, and I have long found him an eyesore. "
Xin Liao 'er was displeased. He was one of Hou Junji's trusted Great Generals, and while he was brave and skilled in battle, he was also extremely arrogant and despotic. He hated scholars the most, and he was particularly displeased with the sons of the Mo Clan who had repeatedly contradicted Hou Junji.
Hou Junji coldly snorted and said, "Beat the drums, gather the troops and select the generals!"
"Yes!" Xin Yaoer couldn't help but be overjoyed. This time, he would definitely punish Mo Jiazi for being late.
"Dong dong dong!"
Along with the beating of the military drums, the Jade Gate Pass was in an uproar. All the officers and soldiers immediately returned to camp, while the high-ranking officers immediately went to the main tent to await orders. According to the military rules of the Tang dynasty, if there were still high-ranking officers who had not arrived at the main tent by the time the drums sounded, the commanding officer had the authority to execute them on the spot.
As the drums suddenly stopped, the entire main tent was filled with high-ranking officers.
Hou Junji sat on the commanding officer's seat. Looking at the high-ranking officers on both sides, his expression turned serious and he said, "Where is Xue Wanjun?"
"I am here!" Xue Wanjun was the deputy commander of the army, and his position was only below Hou Junji.
"Where is Qixin He Li?"
"I am here!" Immediately, a high-ranking officer with a Hu accent stepped out. Qixin He Li was very familiar with the terrain of Gao Chang, and the Qixin cavalry under his command were brave and good at fighting. This had already been proven during the West Expedition to Tuyuhun, and he was a general personally appointed by Hou Junji.
"Where is Niu Jinda?"
"I am here!" Left Wuwei General Niu Jinda stepped out.
Originally, Niu Jinda had been suppressing the rebellions of the people in the south, but after the imperial court changed the land and returned to the mainstream, and with the cooperation of Mohism and Confucianism, assimilating the people in terms of culture and economy, the situation became stable, and Niu Jinda was able to participate in the West Expedition to Gao Chang.
"Lieutenant General Xin Yaoer!"
"I am here!" Xin Yaoer stepped out.
As Hou Junji appointed the generals one by one, all the generals gathered in the main tent. Every one of them was brave and good at fighting, and every one of them had outstanding military achievements.
"Firearms Supervisor Chancellor Meton!"
As Hou Junji appointed the last general, the entire main tent instantly fell into a dead silence.
"Firearms Supervisor Chancellor Meton!"
Hou Junji appointed three times in a row, and the atmosphere in the main tent began to become strange. Everyone knew that Mo Jiazi had postponed his expedition, but Hou Junji continued to appoint Mo Jiazi. This situation was not right!
As the saying goes, the best way to establish one's prestige in the army was to gather the troops and appoint the generals. According to this situation, Hou Junji was preparing to establish his prestige by defeating Mo Jiazi.
Who was Mo Jiazi? He was the most mysterious Firearms Supervisor in the army, and Mo Jiazi was the son-in-law of the Tang dynasty's Princess Royal, and he was also the new generation's leader of the School of Mo. If Hou Junji could use Mo Jiazi to establish his prestige, then no one in the army would dare to question Hou Junji.
However, was Mo Jiazi easy to deal with? Not to mention Mo Jiazi's reputation and his background as the son-in-law of the imperial family, the Firearms Supervisor was the only department that was not controlled by the Ministry of War. It was directly under His Majesty's jurisdiction, and Mo Jiazi's postponement of his expedition was approved by His Majesty. Not to mention, the Firearms Supervisor was the key to conquering Gao Chang.
"Is Hou Junji putting on an act, or is he really arrogant and willful?" For a moment, all the generals were slowly calculating in their minds. If it were an ordinary person, the generals would naturally not take it seriously. Back in the year when Li Jing gathered the troops for the western expedition to Tuyuhun, there were also people who spoke rudely. However, Li Jing did not lose his mind and only let them off lightly.
However, Hou Junji was different. Everyone knew that although Hou Junji was brave and skilled in battle, he was also extremely arrogant and willful in his conduct. This was known to all in the army. Now was the time when Hou Junji was complacent, and only Mo Jiazi had repeatedly refused to give him face. It was hard to guess what Hou Junji could do.
"Reporting to the general! At present, the army has already arrived at Jade Gate Pass, and only the firearms supervisor has not arrived on time. I implore the general to punish Mo Jiu for being late. "Xin Yaoer was Hou Junji's trusted aide and immediately cupped his fists to attack Meton.
The generals all frowned. Seeing Xin Yaoer's attitude, they immediately knew that Hou Junji already bore a grudge against Mo Jiazi. However, Mo Jiazi was the Eldest Princess's son-in-law and was also on good terms with Qin Qiong and the others. If they did not save him, they would not be able to explain themselves.
At this moment, the generals all looked at each other. Xue Wanjun was the first to step out and say, "General Hou, please wait. Right now, the snow has blocked the roads and blocked the pipelines. It's not convenient for the army to march. Merton's late arrival was not intentional. It was caused by a natural disaster!"
Xue Wanjun's original intention was to use the snow disaster as a cover to give both sides a way out. This way, Hou Junji could establish his might, and he could also protect Mo Jiazi. Both sides would benefit.
However, Hou Junji did not take advantage of this situation and remained silent. Xin Yaoer saw this and immediately understood. Once again, he stepped out and said, "Military law is merciless. Even if the heavens fall and the earth rends, as long as it is a military order, we will not turn back."
Xue Wanjun couldn't help but open his mouth. He immediately understood that Hou Junji was determined to use Mo Jiazi to establish his might. The so-called snow delay was only an excuse. If he argued again, he would probably offend Hou Junji.
Niu Jinda sneered and said, "Military order. As far as I know, Mo Jiazi's refusal to go into battle was approved by His Majesty and General Hou. Right now, our army has only been at Jade Gate Pass for a few days, and we are forcing the Firearms Supervisor to arrive at Jade Gate Pass. Unless the Firearms Supervisor can fly over."
Xin Yaoer sneered and said, "Our army only set out twenty days earlier than the Firearms Supervisor. In my opinion, even if we give the Firearms Supervisor another twenty days, the Firearms Supervisor still won't be able to reach Jade Gate Pass. Mo Jiu's crime of missing the deadline is unavoidable."
"Twenty days, in my opinion, we don't have twenty days left. According to military intelligence, there are already Hu people who have noticed our movement. Although there is snow blocking us, Gao Chang and the other countries will definitely receive the news that the Tang dynasty is about to set out. Our army still has two thousand li to march through the Gobi Desert. We don't have much time to wait for Mo Jiazi. Once the snowy road opens, the army will immediately set out. After ten days, if Mo Jiu and the Firearms Supervisor still don't arrive at Jade Gate Pass, then don't blame me for being merciless!" Hou Junji shouted coldly.
Everyone felt a chill in their hearts. No one dared to look straight into Hou Junji's cold eyes. Hou Junji regarded Gao Chang's Western Expedition as a military achievement that he was about to obtain, as well as the cornerstone of his power. He would not allow anyone to disobey him. It was obvious that Mo Jiazi had repeatedly declined the Western Expedition and had become a thorn in Hou Junji's side.
Niu Jinda couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He had already bought ten days for Mo Jiazi. As for whether Mo Jiazi could arrive or not, that was up to fate.
"Reporting! Reporting to General, the Firearms Supervisor has arrived at Jade Gate Pass and is requesting to enter. "Suddenly, a soldier ran over and reported.
"What?" In that instant, everyone was stunned. Just as Niu Jinda said, unless Mo Jiazi could fly, it was absolutely impossible for him to set out twenty days late and arrive so quickly.
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