Heaven is the shore of mortal dust

Chapter 135

He leaned down and kissed her cheek from behind.

Wei Zijun sighed helplessly, "What? We've been arguing all afternoon, and you still won't let me rest? Are you trying to exhaust me to death?"

Upon hearing this, He Lu stopped what he was doing. "Does it still hurt?" he asked softly.

Wei Zijun's face flushed, but fortunately the dim lighting concealed her embarrassment. "Go back and rest."

He Lu muttered, "It's lonely sleeping alone."

Wei Zijun chuckled, "Alright, you've been sleeping for so many years, and now you're only just realizing you're lonely. I think I'll go with you, let's go."

He Lu slowly released his grip, remained silent for a moment, then turned and walked towards the sleeping tent. When he reached the tent entrance, he glanced back and saw Wei Zijun looking at him. She smiled gently at him, nodded, and gestured for him to enter the tent.

He Lu strode into the tent, then quietly went out again. The tent was empty; the figure was no longer there.

He gazed there, where it seemed her warmth still lingered, her gaze remained, and her gentle smile lingered...

A cold wind blew by, but he didn't move. He just stood there, staring...

On the frigid snowfield, a long wind howled, and swirling snowflakes drifted over the overwhelming black iron armor. Black and white intertwined in the vast snowfield, exuding a chilling and awe-inspiring atmosphere.

Upon learning that the Tibetan army had indeed turned back to attack Shule again, the Western Turkic army broke camp at dawn and headed straight for Shule.

When the army reached the vicinity of Shule, Wei Zijun received news that shocked her: the King of Shule had escaped and led the Shule army in a rebellion within the city. In cooperation with the Tibetan army, they killed Hu Luju Quechuo and tens of thousands of soldiers, and occupied Shule.

Wei Zijun could hardly believe it. The honest, kind man who had followed her through life and death was gone just like that? A wave of grief rose from her heart. "Gongsong Gongzan, I will take back all of this from you and avenge my soldiers."

The vast snowfield was a dark, oppressive expanse, filled with a chilling atmosphere. The 100,000-strong Western Turkic army roared away, leaving a trail of white waves in the endless snowfield.

When the army reached the west of Shule, a large black patch appeared on the vast white snowfield. As the army drew nearer, Wei Zijun discovered that this was a pastoral area that had not yet been relocated. However, by then, all the tents had been burned, and charred ashes swirled in the air. On the ground lay piles of corpses of Western Turkic herders—the old, the children, the women—none had survived, and bright red blood stained the snowfield.

It froze into ice, its glaring color stinging the eyes.

Looking at the few corpses dressed in Tibetan armor mixed in with the others, Wei Zijun clenched her slender hands.

Her snow-white robes fluttered on her warhorse, a surge of rage filling her chest. A profound grief and indignation erupted from the depths of her heart, a burning hatred for her country consumed her soul. She turned to the dark mass of the Western Turkic army, her deep, clear voice echoing across the land: "We will annihilate the entire Tibetan army! We will hang Gongsong Gongzan's head on the gates of Shule! We will pile their corpses into a mound of skulls, so they will forever remember this lesson and never dare to invade our land again—"

With hooves flying and neighing, the massive Western Turkic army surged across the snow-covered plains like a black whirlwind, its fury whipping up countless waves of snow and sending plumes of snow mist soaring into the sky.

Internal strife, external threats, and natural disasters plunged the Western Turkic Khaganate, a steppe empire that once made all its neighboring countries tremble, into an unprecedented crisis. Empress Wei Zijun, along with the Western Turkic herders, persevered through it all. But this time, the actions of the Tibetan army finally angered her.

This kingdom, with its powerful threats and ambitions, and its cunning and manipulative rulers, is not only the greatest crisis facing the Western Turks, but also a despicable bandit.

At that moment, she made a decision: she would not only annihilate the Tibetan invaders, but also annex Tibet, even if it meant rewriting history in her hands.

Volume 3, Dayu Chapter 121: Family Feud

The vast snowfield, boundless and expansive, was swept up by howling winds, causing the golden wolf-head banners to flutter and rustle.

The Western Turkic army marched wildly, carrying a chilling killing intent, roaring across the snowy plains. In less than an hour, they arrived at the gates of Shule City.

Looking at the heavily guarded city walls, Wei Zijun felt a pang of bitterness. He knew that attacking a city was extremely difficult, a last resort in warfare. If the defending side was resolute and had sufficient troops, supplies, and provisions, it was almost impossible to breach the city in a short period.

Throughout history, sieges have typically lasted from a few months to over a year, with prolonged sieges proving difficult to breach. If not for this, she wouldn't have felt comfortable leaving Shule. However, she never expected that Hu Luju Quechuo would fail to keep a close eye on the King of Shule, even though she had specifically instructed him on this matter before leaving. How did he manage to escape?

"Khan, when shall we attack the city?" Shunish asked, glancing at Wei Zijun who seemed lost in thought.

“Tonight,” Wei Zijun said resolutely, gazing at the tall black iron gates of Shule City, “and we must break through them in one fell swoop.”

She glanced at the city wall again, taking in everything on its walls, then turned her horse around and ordered, "Retreat and set up camp—"

As the sun began to set, its warm yellow rays shone into the main tent of the Western Turkic camp, casting a warm glow on the figure as graceful as the moon. Her profile was slightly flushed by the warm yellow light, her long eyelashes resembled a row of transparent feather fans, and her clear eyes sparkled with a crystalline light like water.

Inside the tent, all the soldiers were clad in armor, their sharp eyes fixed on the elegant figure shrouded in a halo of light.

"Your Highness, it will be difficult to take the city in one fell swoop under such circumstances. Why don't we besiege the city first, and then bring over the newly developed catapults of our Great Yu? In this way, we can break through the city in one fell swoop." The speaker was a deputy general from Great Yu.

"Victory is the priority in war, not prolonged battles. Battles between two armies are extremely costly, so a swift victory is essential. Besides, catapults are enormous, and I'm afraid they might injure the people in the city." Her eyelashes, made translucent by the sunlight, blinked, and a resolute glint appeared in her eyes.

"Khan, even if we launch a night attack, the enemy will still be on high alert. I suggest we dig tunnels," said Basai Gantun Shabosijin. "If we dig tunnels under the walls of Shule, the walls will collapse on their own."

Wei Zijun shook her head. "It's just that the frozen ground in winter makes it difficult to dig, and the enemy will frequently fire arrows from the city walls. Even if we cover our shields to block them, it will be difficult to avoid the heavy stones they throw down. If we dig from a distance, I'm afraid it will take several months to reach the city of Shule."

"Does the Khan intend to lure the enemy out of the city?" Shunish asked, half-sipping.

Wei Zijun sighed, "With someone as skilled in strategy as Lu Dongzan, he will not come out to fight in such a fortified city. No matter what schemes we devise, we cannot lure him out."

"But Khan, we are not preparing siege ladders, nor are we preparing battering rams to break through the city gates. What method does the Khan intend to use to breach the city?" Shunishi Chuban had been holding back for a long time, and finally mustered up the courage to ask. Having been with her on the battlefield for so long, he naturally knew her deep thinking and foresight. Although he knew that their Khan was meticulous in his calculations, he was still very curious about what method she intended to use.

"There's no good way, only the most rudimentary one: I'll open the city gates," she said casually.

Upon hearing this, the tent erupted in chaos. "Khan, how can we let you do such a dangerous thing? Absolutely not!"

"Yes, Khan, with the mighty cavalry of our Turks, we can certainly conquer it by force. Khan, you must not take the risk."

Wei Zijun smiled faintly, "That may be true, but a direct assault would result in too many casualties. I cannot watch our soldiers die like that; it's not worth it. Rest assured, my beloved generals, my method, though clumsy, is clever. This is the reason for attacking the city at night." She glanced at the assembled officials, her eyes clear, "Shu Ni Shi Chu Ban Chuo, listen to my command."

"Your subject is present."

"Go and prepare sulfur, hay, vines, and other such items, the more the better. Ba Sai Gan Tun Sha Bo Si Jin, He Lu, and She She Ti Tun Chuo, you will each guard the three city gates—east, south, and west—to intercept any fleeing enemy troops." She paused, then added, "I will guard the north gate."

As night fell, the snowfield turned gray and dark. The moonless night provided the perfect opportunity for an attack.

Wei Zijun gently raised her hand and said to the generals who were waiting for orders, "Let's go!"

At a single command, the entire Western Turkic army surged forth, roaring across the snowy plains in the dark night as they charged toward the various gates of Shule.

When the first horn sounded, Shuni Shi Chu Ban Chu sprinkled sulfur on the hay and then lit it upwind of Shule.

The north wind, carrying thick yellow smoke, swept over the walls of Shule City. The smoke was thick and acrid, causing the Tibetan soldiers to tear up and lose their sense of direction. A large number of Tibetan soldiers on the city walls were choked and fell down. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Wei Zijun ordered her men to throw bundles of straw into the city.

A moment later, chaos erupted within the city.

Then, the Western Turks sounded the charge, and the 20,000 troops at the south gate roared and charged forward, raising their sleepers as if to attack the city. Upon seeing this, the Tibetan army could mobilize all its forces to converge on the south gate.

Seeing that only a handful of Tibetan soldiers remained on the city wall, Wei Zijun, who was stationed at the north gate, spurred his horse forward. Thick smoke billowed over the snow-covered plain, and all his attention was focused on the Tibetan army's movements at the south gate. No one noticed the white-clad figure on a white horse, whose color matched the snow.

The nimble Tesaluo galloped across the cold snowfield. When it reached the city gate, a peerless figure suddenly leaped up and soared into the sky, like a white wind trying to break through the night. It waved its wings in the billowing smoke and danced a breathtaking dance of rebirth in the air.

In that instant, the Western Turkic army at the North Gate spurred their horses and roared as they charged toward the North Gate of Shule. As that graceful figure gracefully descended upon the Shule city gate, as muffled groans and screams erupted from within, and as the heavy iron gate swung open in an instant, the Western Turkic army swept in like a howling hurricane.

Shouts, hisses, screams and cries rang out at the same time. The Tibetan army, snotty-nosed and dizzy from the thick smoke, was like headless flies. The sudden influx of brave and skilled Turkic cavalry threw them into disarray. Before they could even figure out what was happening, they were already beheaded.

The vast snowfield was shrouded in billowing yellow smoke, which even dimmed the stars that shone in the night sky.

All the city gates were opened by the Tibetan army, and the soldiers fled out, only to be slaughtered by the Western Turkic army guarding the four gates. Gongsong Gongzan and Lu Dongzan led a team of highly skilled guards, broke through the encirclement through the west gate, and fled towards the Aksai Chin region of the Bayan Har Mountains.

Basegantun Shabosijin, who was guarding the west gate, led a group of men in pursuit. However, they encountered a group of mysterious men in black midway, who intercepted the Western Turkic cavalry.

Upon hearing Basai Gantun Shabosijin's report, Wei Zijun frowned, a sense of unease creeping into her heart. She wasn't worried about Gongsong Gongzan's escape; Fang Gu's 100,000-strong army was lying in ambush in Aksai Chin, and he wouldn't be able to escape even if he had wings. But who were those highly skilled men in black? Were they related to the men in black who massacred the Western Turkic herders back then?

She pondered for a long while, then gently raised her head from her thoughts. "Issue the order—to march on Aksai Chin tomorrow." She wanted to cross Aksai Chin and invade Tibet. The Tibetan army had suffered heavy losses in this battle, and the territory near the Western Turks would certainly be undefended. She wanted to first occupy the northern Tibetan towns, and then unite with Tibetan vassal states such as Zhangzhung and Supi to gradually erode and annex Tibet.

She wanted to destroy Tibet and make it a vassal state of the Western Turks.

Outside, the north wind howled; inside, candlelight flickered. Wei Zijun rested her chin on her hand, leaning lightly against the couch, her figure like a solitary orchid in the dark night, exuding a subtle fragrance. She held a book, yet stared intently at the candlelight, a complex and unreadable emotion flickering in her clear eyes. Finally, she sighed softly and gently closed her eyes.

The voice of Geshufa came from outside. This loyal leader of the Fuli tribe, in order to accompany his Khan, acted as a messenger and chased after the army to Qiepantuo, where they were temporarily stationed, to bring her a message: the Emperor of Dayu has led an army of 100,000 to find her.

She touched her forehead with her long fingers. Why was he doing this?

"Khan—Shabolo Yabghu requests an audience," Geshufa called out loudly from outside, still unable to shake his habit of using the same form of address.

When He Lu entered, Wei Zijun sat up from the couch, walked to the desk and sat down, gently trimming the candle flame.

He Lu walked to the desk, pulled the low stool closer to Wei Zijun, and sat down, pressing his body tightly against hers.

At that moment, an ambiguous atmosphere filled the air, and He Lu's heart pounded wildly.

A strong fragrance wafted over, the pungent aroma making Wei Zijun feel a little dizzy. She glanced at He Lu in surprise, and He Lu pressed his body even closer to her, making the fragrance even stronger.

Wei Zijun finally couldn't stand the smell anymore and frowned, asking, "He Lu, what's that smell on you?"

He Lu's eyes lit up; she had finally smelled it. He raised an eyebrow and asked with his chin held high, "Does it smell good? Do you like it?"

Wei Zijun's hand trembled. "It smells good! But I don't like it. It's pungent!"

"Pungent?" He Lu's heart sank. He had spent the whole night soaking himself to smell fragrant. He had heard that women liked men to smell nice, so he had searched all the shops in the city and bought the most fragrant spices. But she actually said it was pungent. For someone who didn't understand women very well, this was a huge blow.

He Lu laughed awkwardly and pulled away a little. "Then... should I wash it off?" He hoped she would say something like, "No need to wash it off, it doesn't smell that bad."

“Yes, wash it off.” Wei Zijun nodded emphatically.

He Lu's heart sank. He had hoped to please her with his sweet scent, but he never expected... He longed to hold her again... but it seemed all his efforts had been in vain.

He hesitated for a long time, but finally mustered up his courage and said, "Feng, I want to stay here tonight."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zijun's jade-like face instantly burned. If he had said this before, she would have taken it as nonsense, but now, hearing it, she was immediately mortified. "You're talking nonsense again. Aren't you afraid the whole army will laugh their heads off?"

"What are you afraid of? Your reputation is already so tarnished anyway," He Lu said matter-of-factly.

"You..." Wei Zijun was speechless with anger, "Get out, get out, it stinks!"

Wei Zijun pushed He Lu out, turned around and leaned against the door, her mind in turmoil.

The army camped at Qiepantuo for one night, and the next day, they continued their march toward Aksai Chin. After two days of trekking, they finally found Gongsong Gongzan and his party between the Pamir Mountains and Aksai Chin.

Because they were fleeing, they were moving very fast, but judging from their small number of people, they had clearly encountered Fang Gu's army.

There were about a hundred of them, but most of them were not Tibetan soldiers, but men dressed in black riding clothes. It seems that these were the ones who had interfered.

However, these people did not flee upon seeing Wei Zijun's army. They seemed to be quietly waiting for her arrival. When she was about a hundred paces away from them, Wei Zijun reined in her horse and stretched out her hand to Fu Li beside her, saying, "Bring me a bow and arrows."

With her bow drawn and arrow nocked, her tall, graceful figure and fierce aura were dazzling, and the sharp arrowhead was aimed at the person who had provoked her to kill.

Just then, before the arrow was even released, a strange smile flashed across Gongsong Gongzan's lips. He slowly stepped aside, and a man emerged from behind him. Tall and slender, dressed in a white robe, he was elegant and composed, handsome as bamboo. From a distance, the details of his face were not clearly visible, but his charm and features made Wei Zijun's heart skip a beat, and the image of someone suddenly jumped into her mind.

The man stretched out his hands and pushed out the two bound men. His voice rang out, "Fourth brother—why be so ruthless? Look at the people in front of you clearly, and you should stop now."

Wei Zijun looked closely and saw that the two bound men were tall and slender with gray hair, while the woman, though in a sorry state, still exuded an air of elegance and nobility. They were both staring straight at Wei Zijun with longing in their eyes, but they refrained from uttering a sound.

A sharp pain shot through her chest, and Wei Zijun suddenly felt unable to breathe. Intense pain spread throughout her internal organs, and a slightly sweet, metallic liquid oozed from her throat, which she swallowed.

She spurred her horse forward, slowly moving forward, her bow still in her hand.

Closer, finally closer. Wei Zijun held back her tears and took a deep breath. She couldn't show weakness; those two wouldn't want to see her vulnerable. "Father—Mother—don't be afraid, Jun'er is here to save you."

“Jun’er—fire the arrow—kill him, kill Dayan Mangjiebo—” Wei Shulan shouted.

Dayan Mangjiebo!? Wei Zijun looked up at the elegant and composed figure, the figure who had once smiled brightly at her, the figure who had kissed her in the cave. Now, he was staring at her with those brown eyes, and then, he gave her a charming smile. Nangong Que was actually Dayan Mangjiebo, the prince of Tuyuhun!? The Dayan Mangjiebo who fled to Tibet after the fall of Tuyuhun?

"Jun'er—don't come any closer, they want to catch you, don't worry about us—don't come any closer—don't fall for their tricks—" Mu Xiaoya shouted at Wei Zijun, her voice hoarse with worry and urgency, which tore at Wei Zijun's heart.