Chapter 448: Chapter 21: The Gu Clan Banner Stands Unfallen, Turkic Forces Shall Not Pass Shuofang!

At this point, Jie Li Khan is the same; he sees through the Gu Clan’s cunning plan, which indeed made him far too confident.

He even imagined that after conquering the Gu Clan and then directly attacking Chang’an to take the entire Guanzhong, he could occupy the entire Central Plains.

But all fantasies eventually have to face reality.

As the Turkic army pursued into the Sanggan River Canyon.

As the first cavalry fell into the trap that Gu Yu had long prepared for them.

The situation changed instantly!

The Tang Army, which had already prepared to meet the enemy, quickly surrounded the entire canyon.

Along with dense arrows and rolling stones.

At this moment, the entire canyon turned into a meat grinder, and the echo of mournful cries reverberated through the heavens.

——Chaos!

The sudden upheaval instantly threw the twenty thousand Turkic troops who came to pursue into chaos, compounded by their panicked horses instinctively fleeing when injured, the traps Gu Yu had long prepared came into play at this moment.

This was the first battlefield Gu Yu chose!

Everything done beforehand was to lure the Turkic forces into a trap.

His judgment of human nature was already extraordinary from a young age, let alone at his current age.

Gu Yu was convinced that Jie Li Khan would never give up this opportunity, nor would he give up conquering the Gu Clan!

And Sanggan River Canyon;

Is the only terrain that can restrain the Turkic cavalry!

Crimson banners flapped wildly between the cliffs, the word "Tang" and "Gu" intermingling, like two sharp blades hanging in the sky.

Gu Yan, clad in Profound Armor, stood atop the precarious cliff, with the valley of corpses at his feet.

He looked at the blood-stained riverbank, his sword-like brows slightly furrowing, suddenly raising his hand to summon the messenger, the biting mountain wind sweeping past his tightly pursed thin lips, his words resounding with a chill: "Gu Yan, descendant of the Gu Clan, is here—"

"As long as this banner stands, the Turks shall not pass Shuofang for ten years!"

"Those who pass Shuofang—"

"Die!"

With the messenger’s booming shouts, the sound waves exploded like thunder.

The echoes resonated through the steep canyon, shaking loose rocks to tumble down from the cliff edges.

Under the blood-colored setting sun.

These deafening noises were truly like divine punishment, punishing those Turkic cavalry who dared to offend the godly visage.

Panic;

Pain;

Fear of death;

Within this canyon, countless horses and men fell one after another, though in the end, as Jie Li Khan led the army to rush forward, they finally broke through the canyon’s defending forces, allowing the surviving soldiers to retreat.

Yet nearly ten thousand people fell in this canyon.

An unexpected massive defeat utterly shattered Jie Li Khan’s illusions.

It also woke up the others.

Most crucially—

They soon discovered that even in the abandoned city of Shuofang, Gu Yu left them with nothing.

Not a trace of food, silver, or treasure.

Not even Han slaves or women for gratification.

Unprecedented panic instantly spread within the Turkic ranks, accompanied by omen tales about the Gu Clan, even more intense than before.

Various prophecies had reached a point where Jie Li Khan could no longer control them.

Especially as Gu Yu had a stone tablet erected at the Sanggan River Canyon, inscribing in both Kyushu and Turkic characters: "Here the Gu Clan slaughters wolves!"

Wolves are the totem of the Turks!

This act undoubtedly increased the panic among more people.

For a time, calls for retreat resounded again among the Turks.

But how could Jie Li Khan retreat?

Perhaps earlier, he could have, but he was unwilling to lose face.

But now, with clearly no gains, and so many dead, if he retreated like this, his role as the so-called Turkic Khan would indeed be over!

He must fight!

At the very least, there must be some gain!

...

Shuofang.

Tang Army Camp.

"Jie Li will not retreat." Gu Yu looked calmly at the Gu Clan members present, instructing: "On the battlefield, victory and benefit are not everything, remember, human nature is also crucial."

Just like the usual Patriarch of the Gu Clan, he diligently taught the clan’s younger generation.

He not only explained why Jie Li Khan would not withdraw.

But also why Jie Li Khan fell into the trap and ended up in today’s situation.

The younger members listened with great attention.

Gu Yu’s expression remained calm, showing no joy or sorrow from this great victory. After finishing, he instructed: "Submit a memorial to the court."

"Say the Turks suddenly invaded."

"Though Quan’er repelled the enemy and killed over ten thousand, he fought to his death in the Sanggan River Canyon."

With these words, the atmosphere in the camp instantly grew heavy.

The joy on Gu Yan and others’ faces vanished, replaced by grief.

Though they all understood.

When Gu Quan made that choice, he was already dead.

This was merely the burial place Gu Yu chose for him.

But when the moment really came, the sense of sorrow was inevitable.

Wasn’t Gu Quan doing it all for the family?

Seeing the unspoken emotions in everyone, Gu Yu waved his hand, urging again: "Go, prepare, I still have to meet with Jie Li."

"Father!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yan’s eyes sharpened, immediately speaking, "Our army has just won a great victory, morale is high, while the Turks are in turmoil, why not take this opportunity to counter-attack the Turks?"

"At that time....."

"It can also earn more merits for my brother."

He wanted to earn more for Gu Quan and didn’t wish to miss this opportunity either.