Following Su Dingfang's return to the Jade Gate Pass with the wounded soldiers of the Firearms Surveillance Bureau, another eight hundred li urgent dispatch set off from the Jade Gate Pass to report to the imperial court about the ambush of the Firearms Surveillance Bureau. This time, it was only two days away from the previous eight hundred li urgent dispatch.
"Two urgent dispatches in two days, and both of them are about the Firearms Surveillance Bureau. The commotion it will cause in Chang 'an will be no less than the two explosions at the Firearms Surveillance Bureau." Su Dingfang couldn't help but sigh as he settled the injured soldiers.
However, this wasn't the end of it. What was even more explosive was yet to come. Mo Jiazi actually chased after the remnants of Tubo's army in the direction of the Immensity Sea. Regardless of whether he succeeded or not, it would definitely be the third explosion.
At Jade Gate Pass, the official from the Ministry of Works saw the soldiers of Jade Gate Pass bring back a large number of injured soldiers. He carefully inquired and was immediately shocked. He didn't expect the first batch of soldiers from the Firearms Surveillance Bureau to be ambushed by Tubo's cavalry. What shocked him even more was that the Firearms Surveillance Bureau actually won.
"Sir, there are many injured soldiers in the Firearms Surveillance Bureau now. I'm afraid we won't be able to leave in a short period of time. Can we not rush the completion of the project?" A craftsman from the Ministry of Works cautiously asked.
"Idiot, this time we not only have to complete the project, but we have to complete it faster." A trace of anxiety appeared on the face of the official from the Ministry of Works.
"Why is that?" The craftsman was puzzled.
"Why?" The official from the Ministry of Works smiled bitterly. "The Firearms Surveillance Bureau and Mo Jiazi met with such a big incident. The court will definitely be furious. If the Ministry of Works doesn't know what's good for us and offends the Emperor at this time, won't we be courting death?"
Hearing this, the craftsman couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. He had seen with his own eyes that the two urgent dispatches were sent out one after another. The Emperor would definitely be furious. At this time, no one would benefit from offending the Emperor.
Immediately, with the urging of the official from the Ministry of Works, the entire brick road project was sped up and completed in the shortest time possible.
At the same time, two express trains, one in the front and the other in the back, were rushing toward Chang 'an City. Although they were only two days apart, the brick road and the courier station worked together to produce a chemical reaction. Between Jade Gate Pass and Lanzhou, they were able to travel 800 miles in a day. The two express trains were 800 miles apart, and the distance between them was more than 1,500 miles.
"Lanzhou Relay Station, eight hundred li urgent!" The second courier arrived at Lanzhou Relay Station on horseback and shouted loudly.
The relay station in Lan Zhou was shocked. In just two short days, there were actually two urgent messages that traveled eight hundred li. Something big must have happened in the Western Regions.
The manager of the relay station hurriedly went over and carefully checked. After confirming that Su Dingfang's mark was correct, he immediately gave the courier a new horse. If it was an ordinary letter, then most of the time it would be a transfer of the person and horse. However, for an important letter like an 800 li urgent letter, most of the time it would be a change of horse and not the person. After all, there were many things that couldn't be explained clearly in a letter. It still required a person who was familiar with the situation to explain in detail.
"We've finally passed Lanzhou. Chang 'an is not far away!" The courier of the second express train couldn't help but sigh as he rode on the wide brick road outside Lanzhou.
If someone had said this in the past, they would definitely have been called a lunatic. However, the courier's words were not without reason. Once they passed Lanzhou, both the scale of the relay station and the condition of the brick road were much better. Moreover, they could travel day and night. If they traveled at full speed, they could travel a thousand miles in a day. A messenger had set a record for this speed some time ago and caused quite a stir in the relay station.
"If this one had left two days later, I would have already passed Lanzhou. The first batch of express trains should have already reached Chang 'an City!" the courier thought to himself.
His guess was right. The first batch of people had indeed arrived at Chang 'an after traveling for eight hundred miles. It happened to be late at night when they arrived.
In the Legislative Hall, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun were resting. Suddenly, there was a rush of knocking on the door.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Pande anxiously called out from outside the hall.
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Pang is knocking on the door in the middle of the night. There must be something urgent," Empress Zhangsun woke up with a start and called out to the reluctant Li Shimin.
"This old servant. If there isn't a proper reason, We will definitely not forgive him!" Li Shimin angrily said.
Under the care of Empress Zhangsun, Li Shimin put on his clothes and walked out of the hall. He frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Your Majesty, there is an urgent message from Jade Gate Pass!" Pande hurriedly handed over the urgent message in his hand.
"Jade Gate Pass, urgent message from Jade Gate Pass." Li Shimin was shocked. Jade Gate Pass was an important border town. In the past, whenever there was an urgent message from Jade Gate Pass, it must be a military war. However, now that the Tang dynasty's 100,000 troops had just defeated Gao Chang, Li Shimin did not think that anyone would dare to invade Jade Gate Pass.
With doubts, Li Shimin opened the urgent message. When he saw the secret message inside, he immediately shouted angrily, "Tubo, how dare you!"
"What's wrong?" Empress Zhangsun hurriedly came forward and asked.
Li Shimin's face was ashen as he said, "5,000 Tubo cavalry ambushed the Firearms Supervisor outside Jade Gate Pass!"
"What's the result of ambushing the Firearms Supervisor?" Empress Zhangsun was shocked. One must know that the Firearms Supervisor was in charge of the Tang dynasty's most secret weapons, gunpowder. They had even shocked the world during the Battle of Gao Chang. Moreover, the Firearms Supervisor was their son-in-law, Meton.
Li Shimin shook his head and said, "I don't know the news now. However, they are unprepared. In addition, the Tubo cavalry outnumbered the Firearms Supervisor by five times. … "
Li Shimin didn't continue, but Empress Zhangsun already understood. Perhaps this time, the Mo family's son and the firearms department's situation boded ill rather than well.
"Then Meton …" Empress Zhangsun said in a trembling voice. If something happened to Meton, what would Princess Changle do?
Empress Zhangsun's body was weak. Li Shimin hurriedly comforted her, "The Firearms Supervisor has the most powerful gunpowder. Meton spared no effort to increase the weapons for the Firearms Supervisor. In addition, this kid has always been clever. Even if he can't defeat 5,000 Tubo cavalry, it shouldn't be a big problem for him to stay alive."
Empress Zhangsun was worried about her daughter and Meton. However, Li Shimin did not want anything to happen to Mo Jiazi more than anyone else. Meton was not only his son-in-law, but also had the secret recipe of gunpowder. He was also a key figure in the new generation of philosophers.
If something happened to Mo Jiazi, whether Meton was captured or killed, it would be an unbearable loss for the Tang dynasty.
"By the way, keep this a secret for now. Don't tell Changle that Su Dingfang has gone to rescue Meton. Wait for the next news before making plans." Li Shimin took a deep breath and said.
"I understand!" Empress Zhangsun nodded. Now that Princess Changle was pregnant, if she suddenly heard the bad news of Meton's death, it would be too late for regrets.
After comforting Empress Zhangsun, Li Shimin walked out of the Legislative Hall. Suddenly, his face changed and he said, "Summon all the officials. This matter must be investigated thoroughly."
5,000 Tubo cavalry quietly lurked outside Jade Gate Pass and accurately ambushed the most important Firearms Supervisor of the Tang dynasty. There must be a lot of mystery behind this.
"Yes!" Pande answered.
Soon, a group of palace guards rode out to pass the order. The mansions of the officials were lit up again.
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