"Hmm?"

Shang Ruyi suddenly raised her head and looked outside the open tent door again.

Outside was still an endless and desolate grassland, stretching to a place almost out of sight, a black line stretching horizontally in front of her eyes, extending into the distance—it was the Cangtou River. Dark clouds pressed heavily like a giant hand over the grassland, making one’s heart sink.

Feeling her distraction, Lei Yu, sitting beside her, immediately asked, "What’s wrong?"

"Ah?"

Shang Ruyi turned back, a bit confused, lightly shook her head, and said, "I just, it seemed, heard thunder?"

"Thunder?"

Lei Yu was taken aback and then laughed, "It’s almost winter, how could there be thunder? You heard wrong."

Shang Ruyi also laughed, "Yes, it must be a mistake."

Though saying so, a sense of unease still lingered, continuously spreading, like the giant gloom over the grassland, making it difficult for her to breathe. She couldn’t help but get up and walk to the tent door, leaning forward to look at the massive King’s Tent not far from the high platform.

At this moment, the tent door was tightly closed, and the soldiers standing at the entrance were solemn and dignified.

She did not know what was being discussed inside.

Prince Yiasu had just returned to this Yatai, and before he could even sit down, Ashina Shali immediately summoned his two sons into the King’s Tent. Moreover, just now, several ministers had come out of their tents and gathered in the King’s Tent, probably not just discussing trivial matters.

Shang Ruyi immediately thought of what she and Lei Yu had worried about before—Ashina Shali couldn’t be indifferent to the loss of Taiyuan. Given his character, he would certainly still send troops south.

Could it be that this gathering of two princes and courtiers was to discuss this matter?

But where would they attack?

How would they attack?

|

Meanwhile, inside the King’s Tent, the two princes also showed expressions of surprise, especially Ashina Yiasu, whose face showed disbelief as he stared at the direction Shali Khan pointed, exclaiming, "Father Khan, you want to attack Daxing City?"

Ashina Shali did not turn around; from his reddened eyes, a burning light focused fixatedly on one spot on the map.

He said, "This place has been renamed Chang’an."

"..."

"It’s Yuwenquan who renamed it. Now, he has taken over Chu and proclaimed himself emperor."

Because Yiasu didn’t care much about frontline battles and had been intercepting Western Region merchants on the grassland in recent days, he was even more surprised to hear this, instinctively looking down at General Pasha who had just returned defeated from Taiyuan, then turning to Ashina Zhuxie, the latter solemnly nodded and simply said, "Yuwenquan proclaimed himself emperor, under the title Dasheng, the Chu Family—has come to an end."

"..."

"So now, what we face are the people of the Yuwen Family."

"..."

"Especially Yuwenye."

Mentioning this name, Ashina Shali’s fingers pressed heavily on the map, nearly poking a hole in the direction of Chang’an. Yiasu was stunned for a moment, although he understood their words, the shock was too great, still leaving him somewhat dazed.

However, Ashina Zhuxie quickly sorted out his thoughts.

He looked up at the map, then at Shali Khan, and said, "Father Khan wants to send troops south, bypass Upper Commandery, and go straight to Jingchuan. This way, Chang’an will be completely exposed to us."

Ashina Shali did not immediately answer him.

Instead, he slowly turned his head, glancing at him, then at the frowning Yiasu, finally saying, "Correct."

Zhu Xie said, "But, this Chang’an is, after all, the capital of the Dasheng Dynasty."

"..."

"If we just go over there, not to mention whether we can take them by surprise, the defending troops there surely wouldn’t be few, can we really seize Chang’an?"

Ashina Shali coldly glanced at him and said, "In the battle of Taiyuan, they captured fifty thousand of our men and horses. What does that signify?"

"...!"

Upon hearing this, Ashina Zhuxie was also taken aback.

After thinking carefully, he immediately recovered, murmuring, "The troops attacking Taiyuan numbered at least a hundred thousand."

"..."

"Yuwenquan has proclaimed himself emperor, according to what everyone says, Taiyuan became his Dragon Raising Land—whether for dignity or for stable rule, he must reclaim Taiyuan, so the dispatched forces certainly won’t be few."

"..."

"Therefore, King Qin Yuwenye will personally lead the battle, besides—"

He recalled the troops on that grassland, leading to infighting among his men and those of Wang Shaoji, and the graceful figure like Ruyun, silently estimating in his heart.

And Ashina Shali looked at him again, although he usually disliked this son, his analysis was reasonable and more thorough; it was clear that Ashina Zhuxie’s role on the battlefield was much larger than anyone else’s. Even if he disliked him, he could not help depending on him in battle.

However, this kind of dependency is a major taboo for a ruler.

Upon thinking this, Ashina Shali’s gaze grew even colder, and he said, "You’re right."

"..."

"So, with so many troops dispatched, even if Chang An’s defense is solid, it will certainly be affected to some extent."

"..."

"We must seize this opportunity—"

Hearing this, those ministers who had lost hope in attacking Taiyuan previously, suddenly changed from their previous dejection and said one by one, "Indeed, this is a brilliant strategy!"

"Exactly, if we can seize Chang An in this opportunity, that would be wonderful!"

"By that time, not to mention King Qin Yuwenye, even Yu Wenquan will fall at our hands!"

"As expected of the Khan, truly wise!"

For a moment, the atmosphere inside the King’s Tent became lively again.

The only ones who remained unchanged were the brothers Ashina Zhuxie and Ashina Yiasu. Yiasu, who was not very enthusiastic about the war, felt somewhat overwhelmed when suddenly called and informed of these matters; whereas Ashina Zhuxie, upon hearing that they were to deploy troops against Chang An, not only remained silent but became even colder in his gaze.

There was even a hint of vigilance.

At this time, Shi Shu An Yi stood up beside him and addressed Ashina Shali, "Wise Khan, if this battle is won, and we capture their Capital, the Yuwen Family’s rule will collapse in one fell swoop. By then, the lands, population, and wealth of the Central Plains will all belong to our Turkic Khanate!"

Lady Jiayuan followed up, "Khan, it’s also a chance to avenge!"

With this mention, Ashina Shali’s eye grew even redder.

But Ashina Zhuxie’s gaze became even colder.

He suddenly raised his head and said in a deep voice, "I wonder who Father Khan plans to send to attack Chang An."

As soon as he spoke, the entire King’s Tent fell silent again.

But this silence wasn’t the silence of waiting for an answer; it was filled with a strange tension, making it hard for anyone to breathe.

Ashina Shali’s finger, which was pressing hard on the map, trembled slightly before he put it down.

He didn’t answer immediately but turned away and slowly walked back to the throne. Lady Jiayuan seized the opportunity to assist him to sit down by holding his arm. Once Ashina Shali was seated, he looked up, his cold eyes fixing on Ashina Zhuxie.

After a long pause, he said, "This battle is crucial. Naturally, we must dispatch the most formidable troops of our Turkic Khanate."

Hearing this, the strange silence deepened a bit.

Ashina Zhuxie’s eyes narrowed slightly, a cold glint flashing within them, but he didn’t immediately respond. Instead, Shi Shu An Yi nearby laughed, "The most formidable troops of our Turkic Khanate must be the Heavy Cavalry, invincible wherever they go."

Several other ministers nodded in agreement, "Indeed."

"If the Heavy Cavalry goes to battle, they will surely capture Chang An!"

"By then, the treasures, beauties of the Central Plains will all belong to our Turkic Khanate!"

"Hahahaha..."

The wild laughter and loud discussions did not improve the expressions of the father-son duo quietly facing each other in the King’s Tent, instead, Ashina Zhuxie’s brow furrowed more tightly.

He finally broke his silence, hesitating before he spoke, "So, Father Khan intends to—"

But before he could finish, without even noticing what he said, Ashina Shali suddenly said, "While the Heavy Cavalry is strong, they are not truly invincible, otherwise how could they return empty-handed this time?"

Upon hearing this, the ministers immediately quieted down.

The anxiety in Ashina Zhuxie’s heart expanded several times, but he dared not speak more, only quickly kneeling down, "Father Khan, forgive me."

Nearby, seeing this, Prince Yiasu hurriedly said, "Father Khan, I heard of this matter upon returning. It’s not entirely elder brother’s fault, Taiyuan—"

"Yiasu!"

Lady Jiayuan interrupted him harshly, grinding her teeth.

She said, "The Khan has his considerations; do not interrupt!"

Prince Yiasu hesitated for a moment, then seeing Ashina Shali’s flickering gaze, he could only lower his head sullenly, while Ashina Shali continued, "I have often heard a saying from Central Plains people: ’It’s easy to garner a thousand troops, but hard to find a good General.’ Only a good commander can maximize the potential of his soldiers. If the commander is useless, no matter how good the troops are—even the Heavy Cavalry—it’s all pointless!"

The entire King’s Tent fell into a deeper silence.

The ministers looked at each other, surprise and anxiety flickering in their eyes, as they understood the shocking implication in the Khan’s words.

Immediately, all eyes focused on Ashina Zhuxie.

Kneeling on the ground, Ashina Zhuxie’s broad shoulders were tensely drawn like a bow stretched to its limit. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice low and tinged with tension.

He said, "So, you’re saying that—"

Ashina Shali gazed at him for a long time before finally saying, "This time, I have decided to let Yiasu lead the expedition. Zhuxie, hand over your Heavy Cavalry to him!"