Heaven is the shore of mortal dust

Chapter 132

Wei Zijun looked at his winking and gesturing, then turned her head away to suppress a laugh. She never expected that he would actually learn to flirt; he really had made progress.

Wei Zijun suppressed the urge to laugh and slowly turned her head. Just then, she saw He Lu wink at her with one eye. Wei Zijun's hand trembled, and tea spilled onto the snow-white hem of her dress.

He Lu nearly smashed up the shop early that morning to buy this white shirt, knowing she was a clean freak, he bought more than a dozen in one go. Wei Zijun laughed angrily, "How long do you want me to stay here? I want to drive the Tibetan army out in a single day."

She just wanted to drive the Tibetan army out as soon as possible.

She gently wiped the water stains from her clothes, raised her head and looked at the generals. “Generals, in the next two days, the Tibetan army will surely be planning to break through the city. We cannot be complacent for a moment. We must be ready to fight at any time. Reinforcements will arrive in four days. At that time, there will be a great battle.”

The generals began to discuss the battle situation, creating a buzzing atmosphere.

Only two people remained silent in the entire hall. One was Ashina Helu, who was gazing intently at Wei Zijun's flushed cheeks, his eyes overflowing with unreserved love, making it impossible for Wei Zijun to look him in the eye.

The other was Ashina Buzhen, who sat to his left. He smirked and stared at Wei Zijun, a complex expression in his deep blue eyes. There seemed to be a suppressed emotion flowing within them, but it was so complex that it was hard to tell. Was it hatred? Resentment? Or perhaps longing? No matter what it was, it made Wei Zijun feel a chill.

The 200,000-strong relief army arrived quickly. However, they did not encounter any Tibetan attack on the city. All of this seemed unbelievable, yet it was exactly what Wei Zijun had expected.

The atmosphere in the council chamber was extremely tense. Wei Zijun anxiously awaited news from the scouts, but she seemed to already have the answer in her heart; she just needed to confirm it.

She leaned back in the large chair, looking tired; her aching body betrayed her suffering from a cold. However, she didn't say anything. She didn't like taking medicine, nor did she like anyone worrying her; she said she would just tough it out and get better.

"Report—" Wei Zijun looked up abruptly when the announcement rang out.

"Khan Lu Dongzan led an army of 200,000 men on the way to Khotan via the Pamir Mountains. In the harsh winter, the scouts of the Western Turks were still sweating profusely."

Indeed, Lu Dongzan was a difficult opponent. If she hadn't taken this into consideration and sent a message to Ashina Mishe first, Khotan would have fallen instantly.

"Have you found out anything about the Tibetans' supplies?" she then asked.

"Reporting to the Khan, all the provisions are in the hands of Gongsong Gongzan, guarded by 200,000 troops. Gar Tongtsen is indeed an old fox," Wei Xunjun cursed inwardly.

"Prepare the troops immediately and prepare for battle." Wei Zijun swept his gaze across the assembled officials, "Hu Luju Quechuo—"

“Your subject is here.” Hu Luju Quechuo stepped forward.

"I order you to lead the original garrison here to guard Shule. If I leave Shule, Gongsong Gongzan will definitely attack the city. No matter what happens, you are only allowed to defend the city and not to fight. Hold them off until I deal with that Lu Dongzan, then I will come back to deal with Gongsong Gongzan." Wei Zijun's eyes were cold. "Oh, and also, remember to keep a close eye on that King of Shule."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I obey."

Watching her effortlessly strategize and hearing her tone as if she had everything under control, the generals felt that she seemed to be invincible.

“Fang Gu—” Wei Zijun turned to the big-eyed general who had risen through the ranks from a military officer.

"Your subordinate is here."

"You shall immediately collect all the loose white robes of every man in the city, the more the better, and gather them here at noon today to be carried with the army."

"yes."

"Ashina Helu and Ashina Buzhen, prepare your troops. We will lead an army of 200,000 to Khotan at the end of the day." With that, she stood up. The instant she rose, she suddenly felt dizzy and quickly braced herself against her desk. Her vision rapidly darkened; the bright morning turned into a gloomy night. A thunderous roar echoed in her mind, and her stomach churned violently.

"Feng—" He Lu completely forgot the occasion and rushed over to support her. "What's wrong with you, huh?" He looked at her tightly closed eyes and flushed cheeks, and shouted to Fang Gu in a panic, "Medical officer—call the medical officer quickly—" Then he picked her up by the waist and rushed out.

When He Lu reached the middle of the run, the darkness before Wei Zijun's eyes faded, the churning in her stomach subsided, and she regained her senses.

"He Lu, put me down. Put me down quickly, this is a military camp." Wei Zijun struggled to get down. But He Lu insisted on carrying her to the bed inside the room.

He touched her burning face and slipped his hand inside her collar. "He Lu—" Wei Zijun exclaimed in surprise, immediately grabbing his arm and pulling his hand out halfway inside.

He Lu's heart skipped a beat. When he touched her burning skin, a strange feeling arose within him, as if he had touched her skin before, but never before had it made him tremble like this. The army doctor arrived, but Wei Zijun did not let him take her pulse. Instead, she ordered them to prepare a prescription for treating a cold. The army doctor was quite experienced and added antipyretics and anti-inflammatory drugs to the prescription.

Seeing the large bowl of bitter soup being served, Wei Zijun frowned and asked He Lu, who was standing guard beside her, "Isn't there any candied fruit?"

“Yes!” He Lu pointed to his lips. “Here.”

“Go to hell—” Wei Zijun glared at He Lu and picked up her bowl.

She must take this medicine because she needs to recover. If she faints on the battlefield, it won't be such a simple matter.

She glanced at the dark soup in the bowl, gritted her teeth, gulped it down, put down the bowl, and bent over to vomit.

"Don't vomit!" He Lu straightened her body, his brown eyes darkening as he watched a drop of medicine roll down her lips. He moved closer to her and licked the medicine off with the tip of his tongue.

Wei Zijun's face flushed, the burning tongue making her heart race. "He Lu... um..." Before she could finish speaking, He Lu silenced her with a kiss, his tongue darting in, licking the inside of her mouth, her tongue and teeth, stirring with fiery passion, making her feel somewhat lost. The two became entangled, breathing heavily.

"He Lu...don't..." Wei Zijun tried to turn her face away to avoid his passionate kiss.

Just then, the door was suddenly opened and Fang Gu walked in. When he saw the scene, his face turned red instantly, and he froze.

Wei Zijun quickly pushed He Lu away, and seeing Fang Gu staring at her without moving, she coughed awkwardly, "General Fang, what is it?"

"Your...Your Highness...the clothes...are ready..." The usually cheerful Fang Gu stammered, staring intently at Wei Zijun's flushed face, still motionless.

Unable to bear the look in his eyes any longer, He Lu roared, "Get out—"

Fang Gu was stunned for a moment, then turned and hurriedly walked out. He Lu was really angry. Such a great opportunity had been ruined by that big-eyed guy. He decided that from now on, he would make him lead the vanguard in all battles.

From that moment on, Fang Gu never dared to look Wei Zijun in the eye again. Every time he saw her, his face would turn red, and he would only steal glances at her from the side. This made her feel helpless. Sometimes she even thought of lifting his chin to talk to him, but then she thought better of it. After all, she had tainted his pure and beautiful heart.

At the end of the afternoon, the army set off on time. The horses' hooves crunched on the fresh snow. The Western Turkic army was Wei Zijun's pride and joy. These mounted soldiers, accustomed to the harsh cold, had mostly been personally trained by Wei Zijun, and their fighting strength was twice that of the Dayu army. These brave soldiers, who took pride in dying in battle, were also more valiant than the Dayu soldiers. Looking at them, Wei Zijun's heart warmed, yet also ached. How many more would never return home in the war to come, their bodies left behind on the cold snowfields? The thought of this pained her. Therefore, in every battle, she would choose the method with the fewest casualties.

When the army reached the north side of Zhu Jubo, Wei Zijun ordered them to set up camp.

Zhujubo was the only route to Khotan, and Empress Wei Zijun had already ordered Ashina Mishe to garrison there. She predicted that Gar Tongtsen Yulsung would attack Zhujubo first and then Khotan, because only by capturing Zhujubo could the Tibetan army ensure unimpeded passage between Shule and Khotan. If they did not attack Zhujubo, they would have to cross mountains or enter the desert, both of which were major military taboos. Therefore, the most advantageous option for Tibet was to capture the weaker Zhujubo.

As Wei Zijun had predicted, shortly after the Western Turks set up camp, scouts reported that Lu Dongzan had already encamped west of Zhujubo yesterday, presumably preparing for an attack. Upon hearing this news, Wei Zijun smiled calmly. Currently, she was only waiting for news of the Tibetan attack. If they attacked, their forces would be dispersed, allowing her to defeat them piecemeal. This would result in fewer casualties and a greater chance of victory than a direct confrontation with an army of 400,000.

The next morning, it began to snow again. Scouts reported that Lu Dongzan had led 100,000 troops out of the camp. Upon receiving this news, Wei Zijun immediately ordered all soldiers to prepare for battle.

“Helu, you will lead 100,000 troops, dressed in white, and lie in ambush on the right side of Zhujubo. Lu Dongzan will attack the city from the front. Wait until the siege is halfway through, then lead your troops to encircle and annihilate the Tibetan army from the flank. Our army's colors will be concealed in the heavy snow, making us difficult to spot, and we will surely catch them off guard. At that time, Ashina Mishe will open the city gates and join you in the attack from both inside and outside. The Tibetans will surely be defeated.” After thinking for a moment, Wei Zijun added, “It would be best to capture Lu Dongzan alive.”

After giving all the instructions, Wei Zijun led 100,000 men dressed in white towards the enemy camp.

On the vast white snowfield, the fresh snow was pristine and spotless. A hundred thousand soldiers dressed in snow-white armor moved swiftly across the snowfield, like a rolling wave of snow, yet they were invisible to the naked eye. Even the Tibetan scouts could not detect any trace of the Western Turkic army.

The Tibetan soldiers guarding the camp watched the snow falling silently, occasionally exchanging a few words, completely unaware of the approaching danger, until a rumbling sound startled them. Seeing a white mass rolling towards them, one of the Tibetan soldiers shouted, "Avalanche! It's an avalanche!"

"Ah, an avalanche! It really is!" The exclamations of surprise were barely echoing when the white creatures emerged from the white robes, their menacing black iron heads raised, sharp swords raised, and hurtled towards them.

In an instant, a cold light flashed, and a wave of snow rushed in. The wind and snow swirled up countless blood-red lights, cascading across the blue sky and snowy fields. The 100,000-strong army descended almost from the sky, adding countless new souls to the snowy plains amidst the white snow.

The unfortunate Tibetan army, caught off guard, neither heard the scouts' report nor discovered the enemy's attack in time, and lost their heads while still in a daze.

In less than two hours, the battle ended with an overwhelming victory.

In this battle, the Tibetan army suffered 30,000 beheadings, and the remaining troops surrendered. The Western Turks, on the other hand, suffered only 30 casualties, which can only be described as a miracle.

While clearing the enemy camp, Wei Zijun discovered that the Tibetan army, in order to advance lightly, only carried five days' rations per soldier. It seemed that Lu Dongzan was confident in his plan, intending to quickly capture Zhujubo, thus securing food supplies, and then swiftly conquer Khotan to lure the Tibetan army in, before continuing north to capture Kashgar and Kucha… His plan was certainly shrewd; if his opponent were anyone else, his calculations might…

Neither of them will be too bad, but unfortunately, their opponent is Wei Zijun.

One Wei Zijun caused him to lose everything.

The snow kept falling, endlessly, seemingly never stopping. Gazing at the swirling snowflakes, Wei Zijun felt a moment of bewilderment. The dancing snowflakes landed on her shoulders, gently touched her eyelashes, and clung to her fair cheeks, turning into droplets of water that brought a touch of coolness.

Why in this life? Who pushed her to the forefront? What gave her an inescapable responsibility? It seems that everything was beyond her control.

She only hoped the war would end soon so she could return to her parents' side. Thinking of them brought a touch of warmth to her heart. And what about him, her second brother… would he be heartbroken and angry at her for leaving without saying goodbye?

...

Snowflakes danced in the air, a biting north wind howled, and the yellow-edged dragon banners fluttered in the wind, making the imposing ceremonial guard appear exceptionally desolate. The 100,000-strong army shivered in the snowstorm.

The luxurious carriage, surrounded by a long procession, lurched and swayed with difficulty in the wind and snow.

Suddenly, a furious, teeth-gritting shout rang out from inside the carriage, "Wei Zijun—"

Upon hearing this, the guards beside him quickly ducked their heads. The next moment, a white jade teacup was thrown out from under the heavy carriage curtain. The force was evident from where the teacup landed.

The carriage continued to jolt along, and due to the deep snow, the carriage lurched violently again, eliciting a muffled groan from inside, followed by a string of vicious curses: "You damned, disobedient thing—"

Upon hearing this, the guard quickly shrank back, and sure enough, a teapot was thrown out immediately afterward.

The guard sighed in despair. The emperor was indeed unruly.

Note: ① Congling. The Pamir Plateau, generally referring to the Pamir Mountains, Kunlun Mountains, and the western part of the Karakoram Mountains. A vital passage on the Silk Road, serving as a crucial route for land transportation between East and West. It is named for its "high mountains, covered with large onions."

Volume 3, Dayu Chapter 118: Portrait

The snow stopped. The sunset over the snow-covered plains is always breathtaking, making the horizon seem as if it were on fire. The army of 100,000 marching across the snow-covered plains, accompanied by the silent sunset, appears even more magnificent and desolate.

The sunset painted the sky with a fiery orange hue, and the snow-covered fields were ablaze with color. It was time for the shepherds to return home, and smoke would rise from their chimneys.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed that tall and elegant figure in golden light, and a faint blush spread across her clear cheeks. A strange emotion flickered in her usually clear eyes as she gazed into the distance and sighed softly.

When they returned to the camp, He Lu's army had already returned first. After inquiring about the number of casualties, Wei Zijun breathed a sigh of relief. However, she was puzzled as to why she didn't see He Lu.

Wei Zijun asked Fang Gu, who was standing next to her, "Where is General Zuo Xiaowei?"

"Your Highness, he is injured," Fang Gu replied, head bowed.

Wei Zijun was startled upon hearing this, "How were you injured? Where are you injured? How serious is it?"

"Your Highness, after being slashed in the back, Gar Tongtsen fled. The general bravely pursued him, single-handedly charging into the fleeing Tibetan army and capturing Gar Tongtsen amidst the crowd."

"Fool!" Upon hearing this, Wei Zijun didn't hesitate for a moment before turning and hurrying towards He Lu's room. When she opened the door, she saw He Lu sitting there with his clothes half open, holding a book in his hand and reading.

Seeing this, Wei Zijun breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed the injury wasn't serious.

When He Lu saw her come in, he put down his book and stood up. "Feng—I caught Lu Dongzan for you."

Wei Zijun's eyes welled up with tears, and she immediately understood that his reckless charge into the enemy ranks was all because of a single sentence she had uttered.

"You idiot." She walked over and gently lifted his shirt. "You're not allowed to do that again."

"So foolish, so dangerous, and you still chased after them."

“Didn’t you want to catch the wind? I’ll do anything you want.” He Lu grasped her hand that was clutching her clothes.

"Fool, it was just talk, why risk your life?" She sighed. "You fool. How can I not worry about you?"

"Then don't let it go, don't let it go..." He Lu murmured.

The winter night was bitterly cold, and the recent snowfall made the weather seem even more unbearable. Wei Zijun ordered someone to prepare a brazier for Lu Dongzan.

Lu Dongzan was a middle-aged man in his forties with a full beard, a dark red complexion, sharp eyes, and a restrained yet piercing aura. He was clearly not someone to be trifled with.

When Wei Zijun came in, he was calmly warming himself by the fire.

"How leisurely you are, Da Lun." Wei Zijun smiled faintly. Her usually cool eyes were now as gentle as water.

"Your Excellency is the Khan of the Western Turks? You truly possess a remarkable bearing!" Lu Dongzan's praise seemed genuine.

“Lu Dongzan’s argument is equally impressive.” Wei Zijun smiled slightly. “There are generally only two reasons why abducted people can remain so calm. One is that they are confident and have everything planned and under control. The other is that they are heartbroken and resigned to their fate, like rotten wood.”

"What the Khan says is true. Lu Dongzan's life and death are determined by fate. In his old age, how tragic it is for a white-haired man to bury his black-haired son. Ever since his beloved son Zanxiruo died at the Khan's hands, Lu Dongzan has had no hope." Lu Dongzan placed his hands on the brazier, facing the murderer of his son, his face remained expressionless, as if he were talking about someone else's story.