Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 421

Chapter 421 Send Troops for a Conspiracy
At dusk, the setting sun hung on the western hills, and the autumn westerly winds struck the Qingluo Plain battlefield. The thick smell of blood danced along with the rolling yellow sand. It was as if an orange veil had been pulled up between heaven and earth, revealing a hint of solemnity and sorrow.

From afar, the Qingluo Plain Grassland that was filled with cattle and sheep looked like an Asura Dao Ground in the Ghost Realm. Broken limbs and bones could be seen everywhere. There were many knives, spears, swords, and halberds stabbed into them. The broken flags and lost warhorses were floating around alone. It was deathly silent …

A large cart pulled by eighteen yaks slowly entered the center of the battlefield and stopped. Gaer Qinling walked out. Dozens of riders quickly rushed over from all directions and reported to him one after another–

“Marshal, the Tang army camp is as quiet as ever. However, the archers in the bow cabins of the camp have at least doubled in number. Strengthen your guard! There are no signs of defeat or withdrawal in the camp. There are no flags, no horses, no horses, and no warhorses!”

Gaer Qinling nodded lightly and said to the lieutenants beside him, “As expected, if Qin Mubai was really a fragile wine bag, the Emperor of the Great Tang would not have sent him. Although he lost today, he did not have the slightest defeat. It can be seen that this person is indeed a bit of a commander-in-chief.”

“Marshal, we tried our best to search the battlefield for the weapons of the Tang army, but we found nothing. However, we found these strange iron beads. We also found them on the bodies of some of the soldiers who died in battle.” After saying that, the pawn held it up with both hands.

Gaer Qinling took a closer look at the fireballs fired by the guns, smelled them at the tip of his nose, and frowned, “It smells like the mud pits bombarded by the cannons of yesteryear.” From this, it could be seen that it was indeed something of the same kind. However, those cannons were extremely heavy and difficult to carry, and could only be used to defend the city or uproot the stronghold. At this moment, Qin Mubai actually had such a small cannon in his hand that could be equipped with a foot rider … It should be more powerful than a bow and arrow! Tsk, in the future, you must be careful! ”

“Report!–Marshal–” At this moment, a rider came from afar, jumped off his horse and said anxiously, “Report Marshal, Zan Pu has arrived!!”

Gaer Qinling raised his eyebrows in astonishment-“What?”

“… Zan Pu, we’re here!”

“Ban shi, return to camp!”

At this moment, in the Tang army camp’s marshal tent.

An old military doctor asked Qin Mubai to stretch his neck and lift his face. After examining it carefully for a while, he heaved a sigh of relief and said, “Fortunately, the arrow wasn’t poisonous and didn’t hurt any bones. If he slanted up another inch, Major Marshal’s left eye would probably be gone.”

Qin Mubai wanted to laugh, but her face trembled. Her left cheek tore and she said, “I used an arrow. Perhaps it would be more accurate if I were blind. It’s strange that I didn’t know when I was injured. Perhaps I was scratched by a stream of arrows on the battlefield. If you hadn’t told me when I came back, I wouldn’t have known.”

“The battlefield is too nervous and exciting. This kind of minor injury really won’t matter.” The old military doctor drugged Qin Mubai as he talked, “Major Marshal, don’t move and don’t speak. I’ve drugged you.”

…

Li Xueyan stood at the side, her face pale and her eyes looked at Qin Mubai with fear. She felt as if her heart was about to jump out. Looking at him like that, he was now bare-chested, with blood locks on his hair, a wound on his face, blood stains all over his body, and a knife to his thigh. He had just been stopped from bleeding, and now his bag was tightly packed.

“Major Marshal! How’s Major Marshal!-Get out of my way, let me in!!” At this moment, a roar of thunder came from outside the tent.

Qin Mubai stretched out his hand to gently block the old military doctor and said, “Let him in. Don’t suffocate him outside.”

Yuwen Hongtai rushed in like an extremely hungry lion. He crouched down in front of Qin Mubai and looked him up and down like a big copper bell. “Are you alright?” He asked.

“What do you say?” Qin Mubai forced a smile and patted Yuwen Hongtai’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I won’t die so easily after a thousand years of disaster. Oh right, how are the casualties of the Mo Saber Team? Are you injured?”

“I’m fine, there’s not a hair missing!” Yuwen Hongtai heavily patted his chest, then sighed and shook his head repeatedly, “It’s just a pity that more than a thousand Mo Dao were killed in battle!” … All of them were elite veterans who were powerful enough to make good sabers, what a pity! ”

“Forget it, brother. If there are no casualties, then it won’t be called war.” Qin Mubai smiled and comforted him, “I’m fine now. You fought a fight and went back to eat and drink to rest. Maybe you’ll have to fight again tomorrow.”

“Alright!” Yuwen Hongtai stood up and replied. Suddenly, he turned his head and glared at Li Xueyan fiercely. He shouted, “Why are you noisy, noisy, why aren’t you noisy? Aren’t you going to marry a Tibetan barbarian? Marry him! We’re both dead and injured here. Are you happy? It was all your unfamiliar man!”

Li Xueyan was scolded unexpectedly, like a small sparrow that had nowhere to live in a violent storm. She looked at Yuwen Hongtai with trembling fear and was about to be dumbfounded.

“Blackie, don’t be rude!” Qin Mubai shouted.

“Humph! This daddy just doesn’t like you royal children who are born with good clothes and good food, and who don’t know whether to die or live all day long, and who don’t know how to be shameless!” Yuwen Hongtai was out of control, but he scolded even more vigorously. He shouted loudly, “See, you saw it today, right?” Could it be that we are not sons of parents? Do we really deserve to die? We’re here to play with our lives while you guys eat and drink and eat until you’re full. Are you going to cause trouble? Kiss, kiss? And your mother’s kiss, what’s the difference between this and admitting to being a thief and becoming a father? ! Man Hu would never be polite! He who should kill should kill, and he who should steal the land should steal the land! In the end, we’re the ones who lost face after paying a woman a dowry! “If only we had a few more people like you in the Great Tang, we would have recognized the Tibetans as our ancestors. What kind of great heavenly dynasty would we call them?”

Li Xueyan was dumbfounded and at a loss for what to do. Yuwen Hongtai’s fingers, which were as thick as iron pestles, almost reached the tip of her nose and forgot to retreat.

Strangely, Qin Mubai remained silent and sat quietly, looking at Yuwen Hongtai.

What was even stranger was that Yuwen Hongtai suddenly stopped cursing. Although he wanted to vent his anger and unpleasant words, he could only swallow them when he saw Qin Mubai staring at him coldly. He clenched his teeth and cupped his fists, saying, “Third Brother, today, we will be committing the following crimes.” I have nothing to say about what the military law should do! But if I don’t curse, I’ll suffocate to death! –I’ll take my leave first. If you want to do military justice, you can just send someone to get me! ”

With that, Yuwen Hongtai strode off, cursing along the way.

Qin Mubai was still sitting quietly, his expression as silent as a pool of ancient wells in late autumn. The old military doctor stood at the side with the ointment in his hand, not daring to breathe out. Li Xueyan closed her eyes as if she was taking a deep breath and controlling her emotions.

After a long time …

“Mubai, can you do me a favor?” Li Xueyan said with a calm voice.

“Yes, tell me.” Qin Mubai said softly.

“Please show mercy outside the law. Don’t blame Yuwen Hongtai.” Li Xueyan said.

Qin Mubai raised her eyebrows in surprise, “Why?”

“Because he’s right, he scolded me well! … No one has ever scolded me as straightforwardly and unreservedly as he did, as if he had lashed out at me in front of the head, causing me to wake up.” Li Xueyan smiled, but there was a trace of bitterness and helplessness in her smile. She whispered, “As he said, people like me have never known the sufferings of the people since they were young.” Even if he had read a few poems and books, he had only overcorrected them and forgotten the value of reality by living in the dreams he had woven. I was wrong, Mubai, I was really wrong! “Not only do I beg you not to blame Yuwen Hongtai, I also have to thank him sincerely!”

“Not at all.” Qin Mubai smiled faintly and said, “He’s just an old man of Huo Lie’s rectum. He’s never been right about anything. What he hates is kissing, not you. One more thing is better than less. Even if I don’t punish him, don’t provoke him anymore.”

“Thank you” Li Xueyan bit her lips and nodded gently.

Qin Mubai waved his hand. The old military doctor regained his senses and continued to apply medicine to Qin Mubai.

“How about I do it?” Li Xueyan took two steps forward and said, “Although I don’t understand medicine, my eyes are kind and my hands are gentle.”

“It’s just a medicine. It’s simple. Alright, let the princess do it! My eyes are really not good, and the oil lamp is even more useless.” The old military doctor handed the medicine bottle and other items to Li Xueyan.

“In the future, let me change the medicine for Major Marshal. Old sir, you can take care of more injured soldiers.” Li Xueyan said, “I’ve never done anything serious until now. In the future, I’ll learn some simple medical skills from the old gentleman, such as bandaging and applying medicine. At least, I can do something …”

“This” The old military doctor hesitated for a moment before looking at Qin Mubai.

Qin Mubai looked up and closed his eyes. After a moment of silence, he said, “Alright.”

Li Xueyan finally revealed a gratified smile. She invited the old military doctor out first, then knelt down in front of Qin Mubai and whispered, “Thank you, Mubai …”

“Thank me for what?” Qin Mubai opened his eyes and smiled.

“Nothing is more convincing than the truth. Only you truly understand my knot … If it weren’t for you waking me up, I would have become an unfilial woman who has been despised by the people of the Ancestral Defying Sect.” Li Xueyan said, “After being scolded by Yuwen Hongtai, I should have been angry and sad. However, it’s strange that I suddenly have a very relaxed feeling of relief. It’s like a huge rock that has been pressing down on my heart for a long time. The instant sheep has been removed … I know, my knot has been opened.”

“Haha!” Qin Mubai only smiled.

“What are you laughing at? Don’t laugh!” Li Xueyan was a little annoyed. She whispered anxiously, “Yuwen Hongtai’s words are really unpleasant to hear. It’s probably what many people want to scold. This should include you. However, you will take care of my face and won’t be able to scold me!”

“Why are you still so happy after being scolded?” Qin Mubai’s expression became a little strange. He smiled and said, “Do you want me to whip you a few times so that you can be more relaxed and relieved?”

“Alright, you can try!” Li Xueyan replied without changing her expression, her heart beating. However, the hand that had drugged Qin Mubai was slightly heavier by two points. Qin Mubai grinned in pain and shouted, “Hey! There’s no need to be so petty and take revenge on the spot!”

“Women are narrow-minded. Could it be that you’ve just heard of them?” Li Xueyan smiled and felt much more relaxed. This smile also showed the serenity and charm that had disappeared for a long time.

Qin Mubai heaved a sigh of relief. “Alright,” he thought to himself, “it’s time for the child to untie the knot in his heart!”

“Why do people often have to experience great right and wrong or great sorrow in order to understand many simple and understandable truths?”

…

Li Xueyan had just given Qin Mubai good medicine. Two military doctors hurriedly came to report that Tantai Shuangshuang was seriously injured and would probably not be able to wake up for a while. If it weren’t for her outstanding martial arts skills and good body foundation, she would have already lost her life by now. Now that she was half-legged at the Gate of Hell, it was up to her when she came back or when she completely fell in.

Qin Mubai’s heart was blocked, and he got up to look at Tantai Shuangshuang. However, his thigh had been slashed. Although the injury was not deep, after he relaxed down from the battlefield, it was really painful to the bone. He almost fell down the moment he stood up, causing Li Xueyan to cry out in alarm and hurry to help him.

At this moment, Hou Junji arrived. After he stood still, he coldly glanced at Qin Mubai and Li Xueyan, who were hugging each other, and said indifferently, “Is Major Marshal going to enjoy sex first, or should we listen to the subordinate report first?”

Li Xueyan’s face turned red to the root of her neck and she quickly dodged to the side.

Everyone was used to Hou Junji’s temperament. Qin Mubai didn’t care either and said, “Princess, go and visit Shuangshuang first. The idlers leave-Hou Junji, come sit down and talk.”

After everyone left, Hou Junji sat down in front of Qin Mubai without any courtesy. He picked up a pot of tea from the table and drank half a pot of it. Then, he let out a long sigh, shook his head repeatedly, but didn’t say a word.

“What’s wrong? You just lost for a while and became a drowned dog?” Qin Mubai said.

Hou Junji still shook his head, treating the tea as wine and drinking it.

Qin Mubai was also anxious and looked at him quietly.

After a while, Hou Junji seemed to have packed up his mood. “Qin Mubai, you and I are really overdoing it,” he said.

“Why did you say that?”

“Didn’t you entrust me with the task of pretending to be defeated?” Hou Junji shook his head and smiled bitterly. “So, there’s no need to pretend.”

“You’re trying to say that you’re indeed no match for Gaer Qinling, aren’t you?” Qin Mubai said with a relaxed smile.

“I’ve used all my strength in today’s battle.” Hou Junji raised his head and looked at Qin Mubai with a face full of sweat and fear. “Gaer Qinling, the Kunlun Cavalry, is too terrifying! Really! I, Rong Wu, have fought countless battles for half my life and have fought countless invincible battles. What an elite army I have encountered. I have fought many difficult battles before. I have never experienced such helplessness and despair!”

“Is it as exaggerated as you said?” Qin Mubai remained calm as he said, “The Kunlun cavalry’s formation is indeed very powerful. Didn’t we break his formation twice and safely leave?”

“An Ran evacuates? Thank you for saying so!” Hou Junji spat fiercely and said, “If Gaer Qinling is willing, he can completely defeat us in one blow. It’s in Qingluo Plain, today!”

Qin Mubai smiled and remained silent.

“What are you laughing at?!” Hou Junji was a little angry.

“War, there is no ifs to speak of. What the truth is, it is what it is.” Qin Mubai said, “Hou Junji, don’t let me look down on you. Victory and defeat are common among soldiers, but they’ve only lost for a while. It’s not as serious as you think.”

“Yes.” Hou Junji said resolutely, “The outcome of today’s battle is entirely within Gaer Qinling’s palm. If he wants to win, then he can win. If he wants to let us live, then we can safely retreat. What is this called? This is a cat playing mouse!”

At this moment, Qin Mubai frowned.

“What, the weakness I stabbed into my heart?”

“Hou Junji, if even you have such an idea, the Qinling Mausoleum of Nagar will really succeed.” Qin Mubai said, “This is called an easy-to-capture weapon. It is indeed a vicious move. It can be used to kill or even fight us, but he won’t. He even let us come back, causing our hearts to be filled with fear and confidence. As a result, our morale will collapse by a thousand miles.”

“I understand that. Anyone can speak.” Hou Junji hurriedly confessed, “But who can control his mind and not think about this?”

“I can. You, too, must be able.” Qin Mubai said straightforwardly, “If the commander’s soul is in disarray, it’s like a person’s soul has been destroyed. There’s no need to fight this battle.”

Hou Junji remained silent as he stared straight at the teapot, as if he was dumbfounded.

“What are you thinking?” Qin Mubai asked.

“I’m thinking of a problem that you didn’t think of.” Hou Junji said dejectedly.

“Tell me.”

“Alright, I’ll tell you. I want to see if you’re as calm as you say you are, or if you only know how to talk.” Hou Junji sneered and said, “Gaer Qinling’s strength lies not only in his Kunlun cavalry and military strategy, but also in his profound mansion and mental skills. In this first battle, he sent out his elite Kunlun cavalry and vowed to win the first round. Apart from destroying our confidence, he also wanted to show it to some people.”

Qin Mubai smiled and said, “According to what you said, Gaer Qinling urgently needs a victory to stabilize their Zan Pu. At the same time, you also put pressure on me and disappoint or suspect His Majesty and the Imperial Court of me, right?”

Hou Junji raised his head in surprise, “You really aren’t stupid!”

“Only occasionally.” Qin Mubai smiled habitually, but his face twitched from the pain. “The Hu have always liked to play this game in war with us,” he said. They know that when we, the generals of the Central Plains, lead the troops outside, we have to face not only the threat of the enemy, but also the pressure from behind us. Especially this time, especially me. Now that I’ve lost the first battle, Gaer Qinling doesn’t know how many details to send to Chang’an, desperately fanning the flames and spreading rumors. On the other hand, I can’t use this move against him. ”

“There are quite a few great characters in our Great Tang who have read poems but are not educated. On the contrary, they have given birth to a stomach full of bad water and petty minds.” Hou Junji curled his lips and smiled coldly, “In their eyes, we soldiers are just things that father and mother don’t deserve to die.” We are holding our heads and drinking smelly blood to risk our lives with others. If we win the battle, that’s what we should do. We should give them half of the credit. If we lose the battle, we’ll be the ones to take the blame. Qin Mubai, Da Feichuan’s first battle, was stared at by the entire world with wide eyes. Now that you’ve lost … think about it, what should you do? “A single phrase like’victory or defeat is a common occurrence for soldiers’ can’t stop those rotten mouths and narrow-minded people!”

“I know.” Qin Mubai said calmly, “Since I’ve come here, I’m already prepared to face any unforeseen events, including victory and defeat.” The Imperial Court has to deal with it carefully, but I’m not worried about it. Because I have faith in His Majesty the Emperor. He had made up his mind when he made this decision. With his character, it was impossible for his faith to waver because of a temporary gain or loss. On the contrary … this Gaer Qinling is becoming more and more difficult for me to deal with. Military strategy and strong generals are one thing. Just now, when we retreated, he did not lead his troops to kill us. It made me realize that he is not only a good general, but also a strategic grandmaster who co-ordinates the military kingdom. What he wants is to win and lose from time to time. He has a very long view and is very scheming. ”

“Now you understand why he is above ten thousand people in Tibet alone. Although his father made a big argument, the pillar that supported Tibet was actually this young Gaer Qinling.” Hou Junji said, “He is far better than you when it comes to helping Anbang. If I hadn’t grown other people’s ambitions to destroy my own prestige, none of us in the Great Tang would have found such a person.”

“I agree.” Qin Mubai gently nodded and thought to himself, “Wu Lue, he definitely isn’t as good as Apothecary Li and Wen Tao. Naturally, he can’t compare to Fang Xuanling … But when it comes to comprehensive strength, this Gaer Qinling is indeed too strong!”

“Attack the enemy’s shield with his spear and make him mess. Gaer Qinling is thinking about how to defeat the enemy without a fight!” Hou Junji stood up and stared at Qin Mubai. He said in a heavy tone, “Qin Mubai, Gaer Qinling is stronger than you. You’d better put away your previous conceit and be careful. The war has only truly begun now!”