Jeune Premier ministre, un ermite

Chapitre 131

After a hurried journey, on the fifth day, Wei Zijun finally arrived in Gaochang. At that moment, she thought of Helu and of Tesaru, whom she had fallen for here. Gazing at this land that held endless memories and emotions for her, she dared not linger for a moment and continued westward.

When she arrived at Tiele, she saw a sunset over the snow-covered plain, so magnificent and awe-inspiring.

Her heart pounded at that moment, as if the rosy clouds in the sky could not compare to the magnificent, fiery red snowfield. The pure white snowfield was now shimmering with countless brilliant colors, captivating her completely.

She felt a wind sweep across the grassland, swirling up endless red snow, tinged with a crystalline orange-red, spreading across the landscape. A cool sensation instantly washed over her face, and tiny droplets of water formed. She gently wiped her face, then spurred her horse forward, galloping towards the red glow…

Until the endless felt tents appeared in her career, and she knew that the huge tent was proclaiming majesty, and that the fluttering wolf heads were displaying authority, she whispered in her heart: I have returned.

A deafening shout rang out, and the passageway was filled with soldiers guarding the royal tent, a dark mass stretching all the way to the gate of the main tent.

As she walked through the long corridor, as she stood before the tent and turned around to look at the prostrate foes and the fluttering wolf heads, she seemed to hear the tent door behind her open, and then a coquettish voice rang out, "Feng...aren't you going to feed me my medicine?"

Her eyes welled up with tears, and the wolf's head appeared as a double image. She gently dabbed the teardrop from the corner of her eye and flicked it off her fingertip. She missed Ashina Yugu. She missed him terribly.

Then, as if remembering something, she strode towards the felt tent behind the main tent. Having received the news, the concubines all poured out. There was also a small figure among them; she had grown a little taller.

"Di Lan..." Wei Zijun called softly, slowly walking forward, her upright body exuding the aura of a king, and she extended her right hand towards Di Lan.

Finally, Dilan rushed over. "Brother..." she threw herself into her arms, sobbing, "Brother is bad... you left me... you didn't come to get me... you didn't come to see me..." She cried harder and harder, sobbing as she accused her of her crimes.

Wei Zijun hugged her tightly, "Brother is naughty, brother is here now."

“Every day I go outside the tent and look eastward… but I never see you come back… you said you would take care of me for the rest of your life, but you abandoned me and left…” Her small body convulsed violently with grief and loneliness.

Wei Zijun sighed inwardly and hugged her even tighter. He had only thought about going along with her wishes and not wanting to force her, because he was afraid that she would be unhappy if she left her homeland. That's why he didn't take her away by force. Now it seems that where she is is not important, but who she is with is what matters.

"Dilan, let's go back to Dayu after the war is over."

Perhaps it was because the wait had been too long, and the reunion was too difficult, or perhaps it was because the separation had made her understand her own heart, or perhaps it was because she was afraid of being alone, afraid of being separated again, Di Lan nodded with a wronged expression.

With a swift movement, Wei Zijun lifted Dilan up and carried him toward the yamen tent.

She hadn't changed her clothes or taken a bath the entire way from Dayu, sleeping fully clothed every night and setting off at dawn. In those seven days of rapid travel, she had only eaten four meals.

Di Lan stroked her slightly pointed chin. "You've lost weight."

Wei Zijun chuckled and planted a kiss on her temple.

As soon as she entered the tent, she summoned her ministers to discuss military matters.

Leaning gently against the long-unseen spot of sweat, she finally felt a deep weariness. Due to the long journey, her robes were covered in dust, and her hair was somewhat disheveled, but this only made her face appear clear and clean, as if nothing could tarnish her purity.

Looking at the figure that had returned, the old ministers were somewhat excited, their throats gurgling, but they finally calmed down and, just as they had done in the past when she was there, began to report on the various situations in the Western Turks during this period.

Wei Zijun raised her hand to stop her, "These can be reported later. Let's talk about the military situation first. Hu Luju Quechuo..."

Wei Zijun threw out ten golden arrows, "Quickly dispatch ten units of troops; they must be dispatched within two days."

Just as he was about to give further instructions, a scout outside sent an urgent report.

"Khan, the Tibetans have launched an attack and besieged Shule. Ashina Buzhen and Ashina Helu are trapped in the city," the soldier who entered the tent reported breathlessly.

Upon hearing this, Wei Zijun lowered her eyelashes, her long lashes concealing the thoughts in her eyes. This was something she had anticipated, and she had even prepared for the worst. Given Shule's current state, it was highly likely to be captured in one fell swoop. She wasn't afraid of Shule being conquered by the Tibetans; if they took it, she could take it back. But now it was different. Helu was in the city; she hadn't expected him to enter. What would happen if Helu were captured? Would he be humiliated or beheaded? But she feared he wouldn't allow himself to be captured; he would rather die in battle.

Thinking of this, Wei Zijun raised her eyes and glanced at the ministers. "Hulu Juquechuo, quickly go and mobilize the troops. Two days later, you will lead the army directly to Shule. At that time, you will surely see the Tibetans attacking the city. I will wait for you in Shule City, and we will attack the Tibetans together." After saying this, she got up and stepped down from the Khan's throne.

"Khan, no! How can you go alone? It's too dangerous!" Sensing the deeper meaning in those words, the old minister Pazil worriedly stopped him. Even if he knew his Khan had a thousand abilities, how could he possibly charge into an army of hundreds of thousands alone and emerge unscathed?

All the ministers rushed out and knelt on the ground, urging each other to dissuade them.

Wei Zijun waved her hand, stopping the ministers' persuasion, and without the slightest hesitation, strode out. Halfway there, she suddenly stopped and looked back at the small figure she had placed in the corner. At this moment, the figure was staring with a pair of gray-brown eyes, filled with panic of loss and fear.

She smiled at her and said, "Dilan, wait for your brother to come back. He'll be back soon."

Volume 3, Dayu Chapter 116: Repelling the Enemy

The Tibetan Empire, a nomadic people who had long coveted the fertile Central Plains, had been steadily expanding its territory in the Jiannan region. Their decision to target the Western Regions and launch a winter offensive against the Turks was due to the long and treacherous road from Dayu to the region, making logistical support difficult. For twenty days, the Dayu army had marched through freezing snow, suffering from frostbite due to the harsh climate. Another major advantage for the Tibetans was the presence of the Bow-Moon Alliance, familiar with the local terrain. In contrast, the Dayu army was ill-suited to the climate and outnumbered, putting them at a significant disadvantage.

What worried Wei Zijun most was that the vanguard leader this time was Lu Dongzan, an extremely illustrious figure in Tibetan history, a man whose family ruled the Tibetan regime for fifty years. This man was not only brave and resourceful, adept at adaptability, but also resolute and strict in his military tactics. Wei Zijun dared not underestimate him when leading troops.

All of this was the reason for Wei Zijun's worries. Moreover, the person who caused her so much concern was still surrounded by external enemies, which forced her to move forward at the fastest speed she could.

A long wind howled, and snow filled the air. The boy, as clear and bright as moonlight, stood tall and proud amidst the endless snowstorm, heading south with the bitter cold and the north. His once translucent, jade-like face was now red from the biting wind. Yet, he seemed oblivious to the piercing pain on his cheeks.

After a tireless journey, Wei Zijun finally arrived in Shule. As her horse leaped atop the high slope overlooking everything, she saw the two armies locked in fierce combat. Shouts filled the air, and crimson blood stained the open field. The Tibetan army was numerous, powerful, and fierce as tigers; the Dayu army, outnumbered and surrounded in the enemy's center, was rapidly dwindling in numbers.

She searched carefully and found the figure in silver armor among the dark mass of heavy armor. He and a small number of Yu soldiers were surrounded by countless Tibetan soldiers and were fighting desperately.

Wei Zijun coldly observed the situation on the field. She looked at the Tibetan commander's banner, under which a general with a bushy beard, clad in black iron armor, was directing the battle. She glanced sharply in that direction, then took a deep breath, mounted her horse, and charged down the hill like a white whirlwind, whipping up piles of snow as she swept towards the Tibetan army.

The figure in white robes and riding a white horse blended into the white snow, unnoticed by the Tibetan army, until the whirlwind howled in.

She snatched a katana from a soldier, leaped into the air, soaring over the dense thicket of heavy armor. The gleaming white blade, like a sharp silver arrow, shot straight towards the Tibetan commander's banner. With a flick of her long sleeves, the blade flashed, and the Tibetan banner snapped in two. Simultaneously, a human head covered in a thick beard, trailing a spurt of blood, flew high into the air before landing with a soft thud on the sharp tip of the blade.

Wei Zijun gracefully landed on the horse that had followed her, her body straight, the long sword in her hand holding the head of the Tibetan commander. She gently pulled on the reins and slowly walked towards the soldiers.

Her clear eyes shot out a chilling killing intent, and her tall and straight figure exuded an imposing aura. As she slowly advanced, all the Tibetan soldiers retreated to the sides... Seeing their commander's head held high on the tip of her blade, the Tibetan soldiers were terrified, and not a single one dared to step forward.

Until someone in the Tibetan army shouted, "Wei Feng...it's Wei Feng..." Instantly, the Tibetan army was thrown into chaos and retreated in a rush. Those Tibetan soldiers who were entangled with Yu's army turned around when they heard the shout. When they saw that resolute figure and the head dripping blood from the tip of the knife, they all fled as if they had lost their courage.

The vast snowfield suddenly turned desolate and cold. As far as the eye could see, there were mountains of corpses, and blood and white snow intertwined to create a jarring color that was shocking to behold.

Wei Zijun gently tossed away the knife in her hand, and the head rolled down to Yu Jun's feet.

"Wind King..." All the rescued soldiers, filled with excitement, dismounted and bowed in unison. Only one person, riding a horse, slowly walked out from the crowd.

His silver armor was splattered with crimson blood, whether his or the enemy's, it was unclear. His snow-white battle robe was tattered and torn, but his exquisite face remained unchanged. His brown eyes, like two bottomless pools, were tinged with the silvery light of the snowfield, cold and composed. He gazed at her, and that cold light instantly transformed into the gentle ripples of a spring pond.

He spurred his horse toward her, silently gazing at her, all his excitement mingling with that silent look. He leaped onto her horse, pulling her tightly into his arms from behind. His lips and nose brushed against the back of her neck, rubbing against her, and then he murmured, "So fragrant!"

Wei Zijun sighed inwardly, then turned her head and chuckled, "You haven't showered for days, are you sure there's nothing wrong with your nose?"

He Lu muttered, "No wonder it smells so good, even better than usual."

Wei Zijun smiled wryly, "He Lu, go down. Tesa Lu is very tired. She hasn't had a proper rest along the way. Your armor might break it."

“No.” He Lu hugged her tighter. “I know its endurance. All you know is to pity it.”

Wei Zijun shook her head and tapped his forehead with her hand. "Alright, hurry up and enter the city. We need to prepare to defend it. They will launch a counterattack soon." With that, she spurred her horse toward the tall city gate at the rear.

Ashina Buzhen, standing atop the city wall, saw the two figures approaching on horseback. His dark blue eyes narrowed, and a meaningful smile appeared on his usually cold face.

Upon entering the city, without a moment's rest, Wei Zijun immediately summoned his generals to discuss strategies for dealing with the enemy.

She leaned back gently in the main seat, her cool gaze sweeping over the assembled officials. Two strands of hair fell across her forehead, brushing against her clear cheeks. She gently pressed her temples, trying to clear her weary mind.

"Generals, please speak up." She rubbed her temples.

“Your Highness.” Fang Gu, who had come with He Lu to serve as his deputy general, stepped forward. “This humble general believes that we can pour water on the city wall to make it freeze. In this way, the wall will be too smooth to grip, and the ladders will be too slippery, making it difficult for the Tibetan army to climb up.”

Wei Zijun glanced at him and nodded, “General Fang’s method is excellent, but Shule has always been short of water, and the people are already very frugal with their water usage. If we pour that meager amount of water onto the city wall, I’m afraid the people will suffer. Moreover, this long city wall is probably not something that can be achieved with just a little water.”

Fang Gu admired the Wind King even more for his calm analysis, long-term vision, and achievements beyond the reach of ordinary people. "So, Your Highness, do you have a good plan?"

Wei Zijun glanced at him and smiled faintly, “Our Turkic people lack water and food, but there is one thing we have in abundance.” Wei Zijun looked at the generals and saw that they could not react for a moment, so she curved her lips and said, “Iron. Our Turkic people produce iron, and the only thing we have in abundance is iron.”

"Does Your Highness mean to smash them with iron blocks?" a lieutenant asked.

Wei Zijun chuckled, "No, that would be too wasteful. We should melt the iron and pour it over the enemy's head."

Upon hearing this, the generals buzzed with excitement, and the council chamber erupted into a heated discussion.

"Yeah, molten iron. I'm afraid they'd be burned as soon as they touched it, haha, amazing."

"Moreover, from this high vantage point, there's no need to wait for them to climb up and engage in close combat; we can just pour water on them halfway up. Haha. Your Highness, what a brilliant plan!"

"Hahaha, I'll wait for him to climb up, and the moment he lifts his face, I'll pour some on his face. I don't need to waste too much, just a little is enough, hahaha."

The generals grew increasingly excited as they spoke, but Wei Zijun felt a pang of pain in her heart. She knew this was cruel, truly cruel. However, she had no other choice; to protect her homeland, she had to use any means necessary to deal with the invaders.

It's really frustrating.

At that moment, she suddenly felt very tired and exhausted, and her whole body felt weak. She slowly stood up, nodded to the generals, and slowly walked out.

Outside, it was snowing, the snowflakes falling one by one turning into a heavy, all-encompassing downfall. Gazing at the vast expanse of snowflakes, a tender feeling welled up in her heart. She reached out and caught two snowflakes, watching them melt in her palm. Suddenly, a chill ran through her, as if she had remembered something. She turned and quickly walked back to the council chamber.

"The Tibetans will surely attack the city under cover of night tonight, so we must make all necessary defensive preparations." These were the first words she uttered upon entering the room, leaving the generals stunned.

"Your Highness, the roads are difficult to travel on this snowy night, and the Tibetans have just been defeated. How could they be so quick to regroup and attack the city again?" someone asked.

“The heavier the snow, the more people will assume the enemy won’t attack again and become complacent. Lu Dongzan is a shrewd man and will surely seize this rare opportunity. Besides, with the heavy snow, visibility is limited; we can only see within twenty paces. The Tibetan army will be perfectly concealed by the snow, and by the time we discover them and prepare our defenses, it will be too late.” Her tone was certain, leading the generals to believe that what she said must be true.

"Your Highness has made a wise decision," everyone agreed in unison. Then, following Wei Zijun's instructions, they each went off to prepare.

Exhausted, Wei Zijun returned to her room after giving all the instructions. She ordered someone to prepare a bath, took a short soak, and then fell into a deep sleep. Perhaps due to her anxiety, the constant trek, or the biting wind in the wilderness, she developed a fever in the middle of the night, though she was unaware of it as she was deep in sleep.

As night fell, the generals were filled with excitement. All the soldiers stared wide-eyed at the distant snowfield. Then, snowflakes began to fall, and the world was shrouded in a thick fog, obscuring everything. By the fourth watch, the soldiers were tired and exhausted, their heads drooping, listless. The Tibetan army was not coming.

However, just as the generals were dozing off, the Tibetan army arrived, silently and without a sound. By the time the soldiers on duty spotted the Tibetan army, they were already almost at the city walls.

The Dayu army was filled with excitement. They anxiously watched the Tibetan army skillfully build their siege ladders and climb up one by one. Just as the Tibetans reached the halfway point, an itchy-handed Dayu soldier scooped up a bowl of molten iron and poured it over them. A scream rang out, a pained and piercing wail that seemed endless. The other Tibetan soldiers, hearing this incessant howling, were filled with terror; even having one's arm cut off wouldn't elicit such a scream.

Then, their misfortune struck. Molten iron, like lava, poured down relentlessly, and the Tibetan soldiers who had climbed halfway all fell from mid-air, screaming in agony as they were drenched in blood and their flesh charred black.

In less than half an hour, the Tibetan army withdrew, swiftly and completely, leaving behind only charred corpses scattered on the ground...

Volume 3, Dayu Chapter 117: Fainting

The dawn of a winter night is dark blue and deep. The snow has stopped, and the fresh snowfield is so flat that not a single footprint is visible against the deep blue sky, making it even more serene and profound, like the embrace of a sleeping mother.

As dawn broke, the sleeping man opened his eyes. How long had it been since he had a good night's sleep? Even in the peaceful days of the capital, he hadn't slept as soundly as he had now, despite the perilous situation and the clash between the two armies.

She slept so peacefully because she knew that the Tibetan army would not make any rash moves for the time being, and they could wait patiently for the army's rescue.

As she stood up, she realized that her head was throbbing and her body was burning hot, but these discomforts did not stop her from arriving at the council chamber on time.

As they entered, the generals were excitedly discussing the previous night's battle. They had never fought such a satisfying fight before, and their discussions had continued all night without showing any signs of stopping. This continued until Wei Zijun entered.

The hall fell silent. Wei Zijun slowly ascended the main seat, dressed in white, her black hair adorned with a jade crown. Her clean, clear face radiated a moonlit glow, and her clear eyes, like pools of emerald water, swept over the faces of the generals. Today, she appeared somewhat languid, her usually fair cheeks flushed slightly, revealing a touch of allure. The generals were stunned by this sight of their Wind King; they hadn't expected her to be so captivating. Even the most beautiful woman would pale in comparison.

He Lu, sitting to the side, stared straight at her with a slight smile, his eyes constantly conveying his affection.