Chapter 467: Chapter 26: Pacifying the Turkic Holy Mountain, Rising Fame of the Gu Clan (Part 2)

If it were the Gu Quan of the past, he might have still done so.

But ever since the day he chose to disfigure himself to help Li Shimin, he has been completely different.

To him,

In this life, being able to help Li Shimin achieve his ambitions and to let the Gu Clan’s reputation once again shine during its peak is enough.

He will not give up any opportunity!

....

The news spread rapidly.

The remnants of the Eastern Turkic forces naturally rushed towards Yin Mountain, reporting the situations in various places.

Defeat reports!

All were reports of defeat!

After Jie Li Khan gathered the elite from all directions at Yin Mountain, the situation faced by the surrounding tribes became extremely difficult.

They simply couldn’t fight and could only choose between surrendering or dying.

But they could retreat—while Jie Li Khan could not!

He now regretted immensely to the point of wishing he could slap himself, continually questioning why he had greedily allied with the Great Tang before they had unified the world.

The blood bag has killed the lord!

In just a few short years, the entire Kyushu had completely slipped from his control, and the roles of offense and defense had entirely reversed.

But how could he be content?

Not only worried that Li Shimin might kill him outright, he was also unwilling to give up the power in his hands!

He had no choice but to fight!

Yet with the defeated troops returning from Bai Daochuan, an unparalleled sense of despair finally descended upon the entire Eastern Turks.

Yin Mountain.

"What! Bai Daochuan was breached by the Tang Army?"

Jie Li Khan widened his eyes in disbelief.

The others present were equally stunned.

Some found it hard to accept all of this.

"Absolutely impossible! The Khan guards Yin Mountain, the Tang Army couldn’t breach it; how could Bai Daochuan fall?"

"It was the Gu Clan," the defeated general spoke with a trembling voice to Jie Li Khan about the situation in Bai Daochuan.

But does it matter anymore?

When he uttered the words ’Gu Clan,’ all illusions instantly vanished from everyone’s minds!

——The Gu Clan!

Just those simple two words caused the atmosphere inside the tent to change dramatically.

What are the Gu Clan’s descendants most known for, known by all under heaven?

Surprise attacks!

Jie Li Khan had been curious why Gu Yan from Shuofang had never collaborated with the Tang Army.

Now everything was understood.

He was preparing for a lethal strike!

The expressions of everyone changed drastically. The importance of Bai Daochuan was self-evident, and now they were all considering what would happen to their herds in their tribes.

Jie Li Khan’s expression was equally serious at this moment.

But he was not an ordinary person.

He immediately beckoned, and the next moment, his trusted confidant walked out of the tent, bringing in dozens of guards.

Each had a blade at their waist.

Upon seeing this, the expressions of the surrounding tribal leaders changed instantly, and they hurriedly looked at Jie Li Khan, asking, "What does the Great Khan mean by this?"

"Gentlemen... there’s no need to overthink."

Jie Li Khan’s expression was grim as he looked at the wary crowd: "This Khan is afraid you might lose your wits and disclose this information!"

He had to suppress this news.

He couldn’t let the tribes within the Eastern Turks collapse first!

It was already the end of January!

Every tribe still had some stored fodder. As long as they could drag it out until springtime, there was an opportunity for everything!

The atmosphere within the tent instantly turned deadly.

Everyone was staring intently at Jie Li Khan, their eyes filled with anger.

They were all tribal leaders.

And to have reached this day and still stand beside Jie Li Khan already spoke to the exceptional nature of their tribes.

Now that Jie Li Khan was treating them like this, how could they not be angry?

But being constrained, no matter how angry they were, what could they do?

They had no choice but to comply.

Jie Li Khan’s face remained stern, just watching everyone. First, he asked if they had any thoughts, and seeing their silence, he revealed his plan!

He planned to feign surrender to buy time!

As long as they could drag it until spring, the fodder issue could be resolved, and he also didn’t believe the Tang Army could stay on the grasslands indefinitely!

Even if they didn’t want to give up, by then, with grass growing all around, they’d have time to contend with the Tang Army.

Though none of the tribal leaders had shown any intention of objection from the start to the end.

Jie Li Khan still made sure to keep them under control.

And afterwards—

it seemed like the Tang Camp had dispatched its own envoy.

...

Tang Camp.

"Jie Li wants to surrender?" Upon hearing this, all the officers showed expressions of joy in their eyes.

Only Li Jing’s demeanor remained relatively calm.

He didn’t believe that Jie Li Khan would be resolved so easily. If he genuinely intended to surrender, there was no need to hold out in Yin Mountain for so long.

However, he did not speak.

He merely let the envoy speak continuously and, without giving any reply, had him escorted out.

"What is the general’s intention?"

All the officers noticed something amiss with Li Jing and immediately asked.

Jie Li Khan surrendering.

This was indeed a great achievement for them!

After all, before the expedition, Li Shimin had declared that he wanted Jie Li Khan to kneel before him.

Wasn’t this the opportunity?

"Do you really believe Jie Li sincerely intends to surrender to our Great Tang?" Li Jing looked calmly at everyone and said, "If he truly wanted to surrender, why wait until today?"

Li Jing had a high reputation in the army.

Upon hearing this, all the officers fell into deep thought.

"Now, our Great Tang’s military might is at its peak. If I’m not mistaken, this action of Jie Li is definitely a ruse to buy time."

Li Jing voiced his judgment again, but suddenly seemed to think of something, and his gaze changed sharply as he looked at the officers, asking, "Didn’t the Grand Tutor move from Shuofang a few days ago?"

"Is there any news now?"

Upon hearing this, all the officers instinctively shook their heads.

With Yin Mountain as a barrier.

News from Bai Daochuan doesn’t spread so quickly.

"Let’s discuss this further later. Immediately send someone to gather news about the Grand Tutor."

As he spoke, Li Jing walked directly to the topographic map, staring intently behind Yin Mountain.

Something significant must have happened with the Turks.

Otherwise, Jie Li Khan would never make such a sudden choice. Not even with a strategy would it be this extreme.

"Understood!"

The officers didn’t hesitate and immediately left with cupped fists.

Countless scouts moved out from the military camp, eventually bringing back the entire situation at Bai Daochuan.

And upon learning this news.

The entire Great Tang military camp fell into complete silence.

A thousand-mile raid;

Directly destroying the enemy’s grain depot;

Completely severing the enemy’s core from the ground up.

It was still the familiar Gu Clan style, yet all of this seemed so surreal.

In the current snowstorm-filled environment, accomplishing such a feat involved unimaginable challenges and dangers.

Although they still held great advantages now.

This move by the Gu Clan was akin to guarding their fallback position. Whether they could conquer Yin Mountain or not, the Eastern Turks would have no chance of a counterattack.

All doubts were instantly resolved at this moment.

No wonder Jie Li Khan had thoughts of surrender.

"General, should we..." An anxious deputy general began to speak, but before he could finish, Li Jing raised his hand to stop him.

He walked over to the topographic map, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like an eagle, "We mustn’t. In recent days, several Eastern Turkic leaders have inexplicably disappeared, and there must be something unusual."

Li Jing also had informants within Yin Mountain.

In the current situation, some tribes would certainly want to surrender to the Great Tang; however, these tribes were too weak and had too little influence.

The firelight reflected off his silver hair like frost, yet it couldn’t hide the glint in his eyes.

"In the past, Marquis Zhao Lie said, ’Peace is only found beneath the blade.’"

He sharply drew his sword from his waist, the blade slicing through the stagnant air in the tent, "Now the time has come!"

"Unless Jie Li personally surrenders, the offensive must not cease!"

"A moment’s hesitation could allow the enemy to regroup."

Orders were as steadfast as a mountain, and the assembled officers unanimously obeyed.

The news from Bai Daochuan had boosted their confidence even further. For all the officers of the Great Tang, this battle’s credit was already secured.

As for whether Jie Li Khan surrendered—they no longer cared!

If he didn’t surrender, they would simply strike into Yin Mountain directly.

Now that Bai Daochuan was lost, they were certain that Gu Yan’s next move would be to coordinate with them for a frontal and rear assault on Yin Mountain.

With a pincer attack, how could there not be an opportunity for meritorious achievement?

They were not the only ones thinking this way.

Jie Li Khan also had the same thought; to prevent this situation, he could only allocate troops to guard against another rear assault.

The situation in Yin Mountain grew increasingly dire.

No one could have predicted that the Gu Clan would abandon the current opportunity, forgo Yin Mountain, and move elsewhere. ...