Datang: From exiled prince to eternal tyrant

Chapter 233 Arriving at the Frontier
Tuyuhun is located in the northwest plateau, at the beginning of the Yellow River.

Most of its territory is the Loess Plateau, and the climate is somewhat similar to that of Tubo.

In this battle, Li Ke still had to rely on the soldiers who were accustomed to fighting on the plateau.

This army has been trained in Yazhou for a long time, and after the battle in Tubo, it has adapted to the plateau climate.

Instructing Ma Liuzhi to lead the troops to rest, Li Ke returned to the study and sorted out the map of Tuyuhun.

According to Changsun Wuji's account, Li Chengqian crossed the border and was captured near Qinghai.

Well, he is most likely still imprisoned there.

Then, I go all the way north, turn west to Shanzhou, just go deep along the Yellow River, and then turn north to Qinghai Lake.

What Li Ke is most worried about now is that the Tuyuhun people have already known Li Chengqian's identity.

He led his troops deep into the area, but the other party just regarded him as an ordinary general and would not make much use of him if he caught him.

If he knew that Li Chengqian was the prince of the dynasty, he would probably take strict precautions.

Moreover, there is no guarantee that the Tuyuhun people will not use Li Chengqian to threaten Datang.

If Li Ke wants to save people, he can't make too much noise.

Once the Tuyuhun people can see that Li Chengqian's status is extraordinary, they may cause trouble in vain.

After thinking about it carefully, Li Ke can only pin his hopes on Gu Wu's special forces.

I hope they can find out Li Chengqian's whereabouts first.

With a clear destination, he can make a marching plan.

While he was busy scribbling on the map, someone approached him.

Li Ke has insight far beyond ordinary people. Normally, no one would come so close before he found out.

Startled, he quickly looked up.

"Your Highness, I...I have something to say..."

The person who came was an ugly slave disguised as a man.

Li Ke breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "What's the matter?"

"I...I want to go to Tuyuhun with His Highness..."

Chou Nuer hesitated for a moment, and said expectantly.

Li Ke shook his head, the future is difficult and dangerous, it is shameful to bring such a person.

"Your Highness, I want to go out with His Highness to study...to study..."

The ugly slave moved closer.

He seems to be born to be charming, as soon as he gets close, he will stick his body towards Li Ke.

Although she looks like a man, Li Ke knows in his heart that this is a rare beauty in the world...

"Learning? Didn't you say that you want to witness the prosperity of Tubo? Even if you want to learn, you should also learn how to govern the country..."

"The trip to Tuyuhun this time is to conquer the battlefield. What's the use of learning it?"

Li Ke moved his body and said with a smile.

He seemed to be annoyed by Li Ke's move, and shrank back.

After hesitating for a long time, he said again: "I was really shocked by what I saw and heard in Sichuan. I know that His Highness is a genius in this world, with the ability to master the world..."

"Therefore... I want to follow His Highness... to broaden my horizons..."

He was sincere, but Li Ke was hesitant.

Although Li Ke believed that this woman would not harm him, she was from Tubo after all.

Fighting on the battlefield is a matter of life and death. Li Ke is not yet confident that he will live and die with such a prisoner.

Seeing Li Ke hesitate, a look of disappointment flashed in Ugly Nuer's eyes.

"Then...then...forget it..."

He backed away again and again.

"No... I'll take you there!"

Li Ke suddenly changed his mind.

Thinking of this person's status as a prisoner, Li Ke suddenly felt that taking him by his side was much safer than staying in the mansion.

Changsun Yan was born to be charming, but this woman had all kinds of ghostly tricks.

Li Ke was really worried about leaving this woman beside Changsun Yan.

"Are you really taking me there?"

The ugly slave was overjoyed, and came forward again.

Li Ke nodded: "That's right! But you can only follow me and listen to my orders. You can't move around."

"Okay, it's a deal!"

The ugly slave smiled.

With this smile, he revealed a feminine look again, and the ugliness on his face seemed to be a little less.

On the second day, Li Ke summoned Gu Wu and told him to use his subordinates to find out the whereabouts of Li Chengqian.

At the same time, he ordered the arsenal, which specializes in ordnance manufacturing, to urgently produce Thunderbolt.

Since he promised to save people, he naturally couldn't delay.

Ma Liuzhi has led an army of 20 people and secretly rushed to Shanzhou, the border between the two countries.

As for Li Ke, considering his prominent status and the attention of the world, he has not left yet.

He was waiting for news from Gu Wu, and once he found out about Li Chengqian's whereabouts, he would immediately go north and lead the rescue.

Before rescuing Li Chengqian, the army needs to act secretly.

But after that, he naturally wanted to conquer all the way to Tuyuhun.

On the fifth day after the army set off, Gu Wu finally got news.

"Your Highness, according to detailed inquiries, Li Chengqian was captured in Kushan, southeast of Qinghai, and is still being held in the Kushan Camp."

Gu Wu ran over panting, reporting.

"it is good!"

After getting the news, Li Ke naturally took action.

"Quickly assemble the special forces, go to Shanzhou first, and then enter Mount Hyogo..."

Li Ke acted quickly. He ordered his generals to lie about being sick and not to receive any visitors.

Then, together with the ugly slave, he secretly rushed to Shanzhou.

……

Shanzhou is to the south of Liangzhou. Together with Liangzhou, it formed a barrier to the west of the Tang Dynasty to resist Tuyuhun's harassment and invasion.

Compared with Liangzhou, which has been in the flames of war all year round, Shanzhou is much calmer.

This is where the Yellow River flows into the Tang Dynasty, and merchants often pass by.

Although Tuyuhun often had conflicts with Datang, the commercial exchanges between the two countries did not cease.

The two sides fought to the death in Liangzhou, and when they arrived in Shanzhou, they often got together to do business. It was really a wonder in the world.

Of course there are reasons for this. Tuyuhun lacks resources and has a single production method.

There are really no domestic products, and many daily necessities need to be purchased from Datang.

Li Ke's factory has done business with Tuyuhun many times.

Outside the city of Shanzhou, on the banks of the Yellow River, Ma Liuzhi and Li Kelin overlooked the river.

"Your Highness, the army is stationed in the mountains thirty miles outside the city. There are too many Tuyuhun people in Shanzhou City, we dare not approach."

"Naku Mountain is about 180 miles away from here. From here to the northwest, all the way to Qinghai, you can reach it in less than three days."

Ma Liuzhi pointed to the north and introduced to Li Ke.

Gu Wu took people to investigate the situation of the Kushan camp. Li Ke had to be ready to go north at any time, and he couldn't stay in the city for a long time.

He took Chou Nuer, together with Ma Liu Zhi, to the mountain where the army was stationed.

It was cold in the mountains, and there was only one big woolen blanket in the handsome tent, so sleeping became difficult.

"Your Highness, this... is there only such a bed here?"

Ugly Nuer pointed at the big blanket.

It is said to be a bed, but in fact it is just a floor covered with a thick layer of grass and covered with two layers of linen.

Seeing the sad look on Chou Nuer's face, Li Ke couldn't help leaning over.

"How about... a squeeze?"

He said with a smirk.

(End of this chapter)