"Xiu Ning!"
Li Xuanlie whipped his horse and galloped forward.
"San Lang…"
Li Xiu Ning called out softly and also rode forward.
Under the gazes of thousands of soldiers, the two of them looked at each other and held each other's hands.
"I thought you wouldn't come to send me off. So you're waiting here?”
Li Xuanlie dismounted and gently carried Li Xiu Ning off the horse.
In front of so many soldiers, Li Xiu Ning couldn't help but feel dizzy being carried off the horse by her younger brother like this. A hint of embarrassment appeared on her handsome face.
However, she did not refuse and allowed Li Xuanlie to carry her. The two of them walked away from the main road.
"San Lang, you are a godlike soldier and your martial arts are peerless. This expedition to the Turks will definitely be a success, but you still have to be careful.”
Li Xiu Ning's words were sincere and earnest. It was as if she was an elder sister entrusting her younger brother, but also like a wife exhorting her husband on an expedition.
Li Xuanlie caressed her face and smiled."Don't worry. For you, I will take care of myself. I still want to keep this life and return to the capital to marry you.”
These words made Li Xiu Ning's heart skip a beat, and endless happiness swept over her.
"Xuan Lie ~~"
She called out affectionately again, unable to control her emotions, and threw herself into Li Xuanlie's arms.
At this moment, she actually wished that time would stop and stay at this moment forever.
Under the setting sun, two young figures merged tightly.
After a long time, Li Xiu Ning calmed down and reluctantly let go of Li Xuanlie.
"Xuan Lie, do you really not want me to go with you?”
Li Xiu Ning asked again.
Before this, she had mentioned several times that she wanted to fight alongside Li Xuanlie to jointly attack the Turkic Goguryeo, but Li Xuanlie had rejected her.
Li Xuanlie's gaze turned profound as he said,"When I'm not in the capital, you have to help me keep an eye on King Jin and King Qin. If you and I both go to the battlefield, what will happen to Father if something happens in the capital?”
"Are you saying that you're worried that the King of Qin and the King of Jin will take the risk and mutiny to seize power?”
Li Xiuning's tone became nervous.
Li Xuanlie nodded slightly.
Li Xiu Ning's expression was suspicious as she said,""Even if the two of them wanted to be Crown Princes, they wouldn't do such a treasonous thing. After all, that was their Imperial Father.”
"Don't forget that they instigated King Qi to kill me in Yang Pass. You must not underestimate their bottom line."”
Li Xiu Ning shivered and fell silent.
She couldn't help but recall Li Yuanji's ruthless and vicious appearance at the Yang Pass.
Then, she nodded heavily." I understand. Xuan Lie, you can go to war in peace. I will protect my father in Luoyang and wait for your return."”
The two of them made an agreement and smiled at each other.
Li Xuanlie immediately mounted his horse.
"Xiu Ning, wait for me. I will return to the capital to marry you in a year!”
Under the setting sun, he made a promise, laughed loudly, and whipped his horse.
Li Xiu Ning, on the other hand, was reluctant to part, but she had a smile on her face as she watched San Lang leave until his figure was submerged in the vast sea of soldiers.
The black flag rolled north and headed straight for Youzhou.
…
Youzhou City.
Countless Turkic cavalry and Goguryeon infantry were marching from the north and gathering at Youzhou City.
The northern part of Youzhou City was dotted with camps. The Turks and Goguryeons had already set up camp ten li in a row, forming a semi-encirclement around Youzhou City.
Turkic Golden Tent.
Turkic Khan Jie Li, and Goguryeo King Yuan Gai Su Wen, is a blood oath.
"My Great Turkic Khagan Jie Li."
"I, Goguryeon King Yeon Gaesomun."
"The two of us are willing to become brothers, and our two countries will become allies. We will work together to destroy the Tang Empire and divide the world!”
After the two of them finished reading the oath, they cut their palms and dripped their blood into the bowl.
The blood wine was downed in one gulp, and the two of them looked at each other and laughed.
"With 300,000 troops, it will be easy for us to break through Youzhou. As long as we take down the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, the northern part of the Tang Empire will be defenseless.”
Jie Li Khan talked non-stop, outlining their grand blueprint.
Yeon Gaesomun sighed." When the Sui Dynasty fell, we should have joined forces to go south. If we had done that, we wouldn't have let that old bastard Li Yuan unify the Central Plains."”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Turkic scout rushed in.
"Reporting to Khan, according to the report of the spy, the Tang Dynasty has sent King Reliance Li Xuanlie to lead an army north and is currently charging towards Youzhou.”
Li Xuanlie!
Hearing this name, Jie Li couldn't help but shiver.
A trace of lingering fear flashed across his originally arrogant and ferocious face.
Three years ago, the scene of his defeat at Yanmen appeared in his mind.
Back then, he had led 100,000 cavalry south with the intention of taking advantage of the Sui Dynasty's fall and the chaos in the world to attack Jinyang and herd horses in the Central Plains.
Who would have thought that in the battle of Yanmen Pass, he would be defeated by a fifteen-year-old general and almost be wiped out.
After Jie Li fled back to the plains, he found out that the youth leading the army was Li Yuan's adopted son, Li Xuanlie.
This name was deeply engraved in Jie Li's mind. Every time he thought about it, he would feel fear.
That defeat had taken him three years to recover his strength. Only then did he make a comeback and invade the south again.
However, he did not expect that he would actually have to fight with that old enemy again.
"Isn't that brat in the west? When did he return to the Central Plains?”
Jie Li gritted his teeth, cold sweat seeping out from his forehead.
"I've heard that King Reliance of the Tang Empire is a god-like soldier, but he's been on an expedition to the west. Why did he suddenly return to the Central Plains?
Brother Jie Li, you were defeated by this person back then?”
Yeon Gaesomun also looked wary, and he was mentioning the matter.
Jie Li's scar was exposed and his face turned ugly.
He snorted coldly." Back then, I underestimated my enemy. This time, I will not repeat the same mistake!"”
"How many soldiers did Li Xuanlie bring?" he asked.”
"Khan, the Tang army has only sent 30,000 troops to aid Youzhou. Li Xuanlie has led 10,000 vanguard troops and is already 300 miles away.”
Thirty thousand!
Li Xuanlie only brought 30,000 men and he dared to come to Youzhou!
Jie Li laughed, the fear in his eyes instantly disappeared.
"Father, that Li Xuanlie is so arrogant. He only brought 30,000 soldiers here. He's really courting death. Your son is willing to lead an army to give him a head-on attack and wash away the shame of Yanmen for father!”
The second prince Ashina Buzhen stepped forward to fight.
Mentioning the defeat back then, Jie Li's heart burned with rage.
He waved his hand and sternly said," Alright, I'll give you fifty thousand cavalry. Go south immediately and bring Li Xuanlie's head to me!”
"Your son will obey!"
The fifty thousand Turkic cavalry circled Youzhou City and headed south.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]