The wind was not strong and the snowflakes were falling.
Ashina Simo stood at the top of the city with his helmet and armor on his head, not afraid of the goose feather-like heavy snow falling on his armor, bringing a bone-chilling cold.
He looked far into the distance, and saw that the mountain ridges in the south were covered with heavy snow, like monsters dormant on the earth. Through the wind and snow, the undulating Great Wall could be seen faintly, winding and crisscrossing the mountains, creating a myriad of phenomena.
Looking to the north, the plains with withered grass and trees are all flat.
This flat and fertile land will grow fertile grassland in summer, with abundant rivers and flocks of cattle and sheep. This is the last breeding ground of the Eastern Turks. The hard-working and brave Turks call it Baidaochuan.
The city at the foot of Ashina Simo, Dingxiang City, was the last territory of the Eastern Turks.
This was obtained at the cost of leading more than 100,000 Turks to surrender to the Tang Dynasty, swearing allegiance to the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, promising to clear the northern frontier for the Tang Dynasty, and using the flesh and blood of his people to build another Great Wall. Once upon a time, Ashi Nasmo once naively thought that by exchanging blood and sacrifice for the support of the Tang Dynasty, his people would be able to multiply in this fertile land forever, and they would no longer have to suffer from the evil of barbarians killing each other, and no longer have to suffer from the migration of water and grass. , descendants and descendants will live in comfort for generations. Perhaps in the near future, the descendants who speak Chinese and write Chinese characters can become real Han people and can move to Guanzhong with its magnificent mountains and rivers, and the warm and prosperous Jiangnan. Be a true Tang Dynasty person.
But now, everything seems to be in vain.
As far as the eye can see from the north, a huge military stronghold stands there. The continuous felt tents can be clearly seen even through the heavy snow in the sky.
There, there are 200,000 Xue Yantuo's cavalry waiting at the ready. Perhaps at that moment, they will charge towards Dingxiang City!
Of course, 200,000 is just what Xue Yantuo claimed. Ashina Simo believes that it is just a number they brag about. Yinan Khan "conquered 200,000 troops and appointed his two sons to rule the north and south respectively." The strongest When Xue Yantuo was in his prime, he only had 200,000 cavalry, so how could they all go south and leave not a single soldier in the country?
What's more, it was Yi Nan's second son Dadu She who led the army south this time. His eldest son Bazhuo was the successor to the throne of Khan. He was currently guarding the Khan's tooth tent in Yu Dujun Mountain. The troops under his tent That's Xue Yantuo's real elite.
Therefore, Ashina Simo dared to assert that the number of soldiers commanded by Da Da in this southern expedition would never exceed 50,000.
However, it was only 50,000, a number that the East Turks would not even take a look at when it was at its peak, but now it is very likely to bring disaster to his people.
Since the death of Jieli Khan, the Eastern Turks have been hunted down and killed by the Tang Dynasty. There have been internal rebellions and divisions. The great khanate that once dominated the grasslands has long since fallen apart. The total number of tribesmen who followed him and surrendered to the Tang Dynasty was only a dozen. Thousands of people, including many old, weak, women and children, the vast majority of the young and strong have died in the battles for Baidaochuan over the years. The number of capable warriors is only 20,000, which is far from being restored to the strength of the past. time scale.
It is precisely because of this that the Tang Dynasty can rest assured to give them this fertile land to thrive...
This was once the homeland of the Turks, but now they relied on the Tang Dynasty to settle here.
Facing the wind and snow in the sky, Ashina Simo sighed, and the heat from his breath turned into white mist and dissipated before his eyes.
He had long been tired of the hard life of living in the wind and sun on the grassland. Chang'an's singing, dancing, bells, and food had worn away the strongest body of a descendant of the Ashina family, and also eroded his ambition to become as great as his ancestors.
Khan's ambitions.
His only wish is to lead his people and live in this fertile land...
"Great Khan, an old man came to the city in the snow. He said he was an old friend of Jieli Khan's tent and asked to see him."
A deputy general came quickly and said loudly.
"Ashina" is the most noble surname on the grassland. It has been a Turkic Khan for generations. It means "noble wolf" and symbolizes the highest ruling power of the Turks. Ashina Simo's father Duliu is
Jieli Khan's younger brother, Jieli Khan, loved Ashina Simo very much when he was in power. He once gave him the title of "Jiabitteqin", and the owner inherited the rights of the Turkic Khan. However, because of
He looks like a barbarian rather than a Turk. His uncle Chuluo Khan suspected that he was not a descendant of the Ashina family, so he had a high status, but he had never been able to take charge of the power or set up a tent.
After surrendering to the Tang Dynasty, His Majesty Li Er trusted him very much and made him the general of Youwuhou and the governor of Huazhou. Later, he was also named the Yimini Shiqili Khan to control the Turks who surrendered and ordered him to spend his time.
Huanghe settled in Baidaochuan and built a city in Dingxiang. It was the screen vassal of the Tang Dynasty for generations and guarded the border for the Tang Dynasty for a long time.
Therefore, all Turkic people call him "Khan".
"An old friend in front of Jieli Khan's tent?" Ashina Simo raised his thick eyebrows, and his cheeks, which had been fattened by the comfortable life in Chang'an, trembled and he asked in shock.
Jieli Khan has been dead for nearly ten years. The tigers and wolves under his old tent have long been scattered and scattered all over the grassland. They have no contact with each other. Today, an old friend actually appears?
Ashina Simo was a little undecided, wondering whether he should meet or not.
As a surrendered minister, the most important thing is to be careful about your words and deeds at all times. Who knew that an inadvertent move would arouse the suspicion of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty? Although the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty was broad-minded and trustworthy in employing people, he could not stand up to the Manchu Dynasty.
The Yushi Yanguan, being targeted by them, felt uncomfortable...
However, when Xue Yantuo was marching south to attack the city, someone claiming to be an "old friend" came to see him. Who knew if there might be any secrets?
It’s not okay to not see him either…
The soldier replied: "The man refused to tell his life, and only said his surname was Zhao."
"Last name is Zhao?"
Ashina Simo looked suspicious, his mind turned, and then his heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said: "Follow me to meet you quickly!"
First, he strode along the city wall towards the west gate.
*****
The wind and snow fell all over the sky, forming a whirlpool in front of the city gate. The snowflakes fell in swirling pieces, and the snow on the ground was already up to the knees.
The moat that diverts water from the Shili River for irrigation has long been frozen, and the river surface is covered with heavy snow, making it difficult to distinguish the river course and dam.
An old horse stood about ten feet in front of the city gate, snoring from time to time, blowing out streams of white air from its nostrils, and digging at the snow with half of the horse's legs covered with its four hooves.
A figure tightly wrapped in fur, sitting calmly on a horse...
Ashina Simo came to the city gate tower, looked down from a high position, leaned on the plate and shouted loudly: "Who is coming?"
The figure on the horse raised his head when he heard the sound, and did not answer. He just kicked the horse's belly lightly. The old horse swung its tail and walked forward slowly. It did not stop until it reached a place three feet below the city. The man on the horse opened the door.
With the cloak on his head, he raised his head, revealing a face covered with wrinkles and age spots. He smiled at Ashina Simo and said, "Boy, are you okay when you come?"
Even if Ashina Simo didn't look at the face, the familiar voice told him who it was. He was shocked and said in a voiceless voice: "Are you not dead yet?"
Immediately the old man laughed and said: "The Khan has not yet had enough of his vengeance, so how dare you go to hell?"
Ashina Simo waved his hands repeatedly and ordered the soldiers around him: "Quickly, open the city gate quickly!"
After saying that, he also came down from the top of the city.
Some soldiers lowered the drawbridge and opened the city gate. Ashina Simo quickly walked out of the city and came to the old man. He said respectfully: "I haven't heard from you for several years. I thought you were dead long ago. You should have come here long ago."
I am the one who is looking for you, so that I can fulfill my filial piety!"
After saying this, he took the reins with his own hands and walked into the city.
The Turkic soldiers at the gate of the city were so shocked that they could not speak. Who is this old man? He actually let our crazy and ill-tempered Khan lead his horse and ride it...
Ashina Simo held the horse's reins respectfully and walked through the long snow-covered street until he arrived at the General's Mansion in the city.
The door of the mansion opened, and an old man from the mansion came out to greet Ashina Simo. When he saw that his master was actually holding the reins for someone else, he stood there dumbly and at a loss. When he saw the face of the old man on the horse clearly,
The old slave was shaken all over, fell to the ground, and shouted loudly: "This old slave has seen Mr.!"
Ashina Simo laughed, personally helped the old man get off the horse, and said with a smile: "Look, even if I haven't heard from you for ten years, even an old Turkic dog will still remember your appearance. Back then,
If you had not disappeared, Jieli Khan would not have defeated Yinshan and the Khanate would have been wiped out..."