The scorching sun was steaming in the sky, and the mountain of flames was really like the alchemy furnace that Sun Wukong kicked down from the heavenly court, emitting layers of heat waves that were almost visible to the naked eye.

Gaochang Wangcheng is surrounded by flaming mountains, just like a steamer.

Qin Shubao sat in the capital mansion with a golden knife, holding the seal in his left hand and waving it in his right hand, and he was busy folding the book all the time.

A weathered peak martial artist like him, his heart is as clear as ice, and he is not shocked, even if he turns around, his face does not change. At this moment, although he was sweating and wet inside and out, his expression was still calm as usual.

It has been more than half a month since I entered the Dadu Protectorate, and everything is normal. The subjects of the Gaochang Kingdom did not show too much hostility and abnormality from the king Koji Zhisheng down. The initial worries and gloom gradually faded, and the work of the Metropolitan Protectorate gradually got on track.

In the past, most of the capital guards Qin Shubao would approve the handling of military, political and civil affairs after the morning discussion, go out of the city in the afternoon to inspect the military parade in the Tang army camp, and stay in the capital of Gaochang Wangcheng at night.

The two scribes who were waiting for the ink on the left and right were all drenched in sweat without exception. But even if the sweat beads on his face flowed down in streams, he didn't care about it. The old handsome Qin Shubao has always been serious and resolute in the Congo, but whenever he does the right thing, he is fully committed without distractions. The generals who followed him had to be meticulous.

But today, the left and right scribes found that Qin Shubao, the old handsome man who has always been free and capable, moved half a beat slower than before, as if he had more than enough heart but not enough strength. Moreover, when I was reviewing and folding the book, I put aside my pen a few times to rest, and my face lost its ruddy luster.

"Have you ever been tired? Sick? Left and right asked.

"It's okay, maybe it's a little uncomfortable." Qin Shubao drank a cup of tea and said, "Finish cooking these folded books as soon as possible, and go out of the city in the afternoon to deliver food to Xue Rengui." It's too hard for our soldiers to be stationed outside the city, so I will find a way to get some medicinal soup to relieve the heat in the past two days and send them quickly. ”

"Yes, Marshal." Left and right answered, each sighing in their hearts. This time, the group that followed Qin Shubao's expedition to Gaochang can be said to have suffered a lot. Needless to say, the previous thousand-mile raid fought more than ten battles, and in the end, he successfully conquered Gaochang, and still had to be stationed outside the city to suffer hardships. It is certain that the world is hot, and people and horses are sick, even food and herbs are not enough.

It is not so much that the garrison is impeached to show the unparalleled benevolence and domineering of the Tang Dynasty, but rather ...... These soldiers are literally exiled!

Just after the half-burnt incense, the pen in Qin Shubao's hand shook suddenly, and he almost missed it and fell on the paper.

"Dashuai, what's wrong with you?" Exclamations left and right. They saw that Qin Shubao's face was already extremely bad, as if a seriously ill person had turned gray, his body was also trembling slightly, and cold sweat was pouring down his forehead like beans.

"None...... Impede! Maybe it's because you have eaten something unclean and have trouble with your stomach. Uncle Qin Baoqiang held the pen and said, "Hurry up and finish these folded books, I will take a break, and you will send the folded copies to Koji Zhisheng as soon as possible, and let him distribute them for execution." ”

"Yes! …… Marshal, why don't you let the lowly post go to deliver food in the afternoon? Such a small thing does not need to be done by the marshal himself. The handsome man is in poor health and must have a good rest. Later, he went to call in a military doctor. ”

Qin Shubao's eyebrows tightened, he unconsciously reached out to cover his stomach, and nodded lightly, "It's okay, you must personally hand over the grain and herbs to Rengui and sign the return." Military doctors don't need to, some minor illnesses, no need for mediocre people to disturb themselves. ”

Forty miles away from the northern foot of the Flame Mountain, there is a rare green state of lush forests and grasslands, with a radius of more than 40 miles, it is a well-known green state tribe, and the merchants on the Silk Road often settle down here to stay overnight. Over time, this place has become a little more prosperous. However, due to the recent war, the merchants have cut off their wars and chaos, and gradually become a dead land.

Last night the wind was high and the night was dark, and a large number of people quietly poured into the oasis and entrenched down. They neither cook nor hunt, whisper and shroud horses' hooves, and behave like ghosts.

The few remaining houses and inns in the oasis were forcibly occupied by them. But whenever you meet a living person, you will die without asking for love.

Many innocent travelers, before they died, had their blood-dripping scimitars and a shocking wolf-headed banner in their eyes.

Wolves, the totems of the Turks!

In the Han inn in the center of the oasis, Hu Bing was surrounded by scimitars. The tables and chairs in the center of the lobby were swept away, replaced by a thick sheepskin felt blanket, on which a few people were sitting around, drinking strong white goat's milk wine.

One of them sits in the core, and the others are arranged in a fan-shaped pattern. The freshly roasted whole sheep's head is facing his direction, which shows that this person is the head of the people.

This man has a tiger's back and a bear's waist, and his beard is like a lion, with a hooked nose, big nose, blue eyes, and cheekbones that are more prominent than ordinary Hu people. When you open your mouth to drink, you will open a bloody mouth.

Seeing this person is reminiscent of an animal - a bear!

"General Nishu, I just received a letter from Gao Changguo's secretary, saying that everything is ready, and our army can set off in the evening and enter the city at night!" The first person on the left said.

"Nishu" is the name of the Western Turkic tribe, which is also a surname, and it is a large surname of the Wang clan. The bear-like man is currently the supreme military commander of the Western Turkic Beiting, who once swept through the desert and was invincible, and almost single-handedly made the Beiting the first general.

Mud glanced at the man, his eyes as cold as those typical of carnivores. Although he was his confidant, the person who spoke just now couldn't help but feel a chill on his body.

"I have no interest or trust in Koji Zhisheng." Ni Shu spoke, but his voice was not as rough as he imagined, but very calm, but his voice was full of energy, "Who sent the secret letter?" ”

"It's our own people, Tutun and Bile sent by the Khan Court to Gaochang before."

"That's pretty much it. It seems that the time is ripe. He drank a glass of milk wine and drank it all, and said with a long sigh, "It's a pity that Uncle Qin, the tiger of the world, and the hero of the world, are going to die in such a despicable scheme!" It's a pity that I can't compete with him in a fair and just battle in this life! ”

"General, since the Great Khan personally sent the general this time, it can be seen that this battle is very important." The attendant said, "The Han people don't have a common saying that soldiers don't get tired of cheating. That Qin Shubao is brave and invincible, and has Pu Changhai and Xue Wanche as backup, if we want to face each other head-on, even if our army wins, it must have countless casualties. If Qin Shubao is killed in this battle and the Tang army is defeated, from now on, only my Beiting is left in the Western Regions, who would dare to disagree? In the end, this account will only be counted on the heads of Ko Zhisheng and Gaochang people, and it has nothing to do with me. It's a no-brainer! ”

"You're only hearsay, so how can you get insight?" Ni Shu snorted coldly and said, "The Great Khan only listened to the instigation of the Tibetan boy Garqinling, and decided to be the enemy of Tang. I don't have a good impression of this kid Galchinling. In the more than ten battles that lured Qin Shubao away from Lanzhou and went deep into the Western Regions, he punished the old and weak soldiers for only a feint, so that we and Gaochang's soldiers and horses were sent to death and suffered countless losses. In the end, he still wants to use us to deal with Qin Shubao, but he sits on the wall and waits to reap the benefits of the fisherman. No matter whether this battle succeeds or fails, there is no loss for him, that is the real net profit and no loss business! ”

"But...... And that's good for us! The servant said timidly, "After the Tang Dynasty took Gaochang, the garrison was impeached, and the people were subdued, recruited troops and established the capital protectorate, and Enwei and Shi wanted to subdue the countries of the Western Regions one by one, and its ambition was not small!" When they gradually take root here, sooner or later they will unite with Nanting to attack me. By then, it's really too late! ”

"Hmph......" Mud Shusi snorted in annoyance and helplessness, and said, "I don't know this truth?" …… If that were not the case, how could I have led the army myself? There is no room for two tigers in one mountain, and there will be no two overlords in the Western Regions. Seeing that we were about to take down the South Court and dominate the Western Regions, Tang Ting stretched out his hand to come in. Although I am quite disdainful of such treacherous people as the Garchinling, I also know that if I don't use this strategy, it will be extremely difficult to win. It's a pity that I regret that Uncle Qin, who is a hero and admired by my generation! ……”

After noon, a large number of grain convoys were escorted to the Tang Army camp in Flame Mountain, and Xue Rengui personally greeted him in full clothes, and counted them one by one and put them into storage. After finishing, Xue Rengui asked the escort officer why the marshal had not come to the parade in person today.

The extractor truthfully reported that the handsome man was in poor health and could not be there in person.

Xue Rengui frowned and said: "You and I both know the temperament of the handsome, even if the sky collapses and the earth falls into the attack, he will not change his course. Ben Jiang saw him as good as before yesterday, why is he so sick today that he can't travel, is there something strange about it? ”

The escort officer was stunned for a moment and said: "The marshal only said that the diet is not clean, the water and soil are not suitable, and it is a bit troublesome, and there is nothing wrong with it!" ”

"Really?" Xue Rengui stared at him.

"Indeed...... That's right! The marshal also instructed the general to distribute these decoctions to relieve the heat as soon as possible to relieve the suffering of the soldiers. ”

"......" Xue Rengui pondered for a moment, nodded and said, "Please report to the marshal, say that the last general will immediately carry out the military order, and after that, tomorrow morning, Gaochang will go to visit the marshal in person, and he will return to the military affairs immediately!" ”

"Yes, the lowly duty must be brought. General Xue, that humble post is gone! ”

"Wait!" Xue Rengui suddenly shouted, shocking the escort officer.

"Ben Jiang is still a little worried, so I will follow you into the city to visit Dashuai at this moment." Xue Rengui said.

"So...... It's good. I'm afraid that the marshal will blame the general for leaving his post without permission because of his personal abolition! The escort officer cautiously reminded, "After the humble duty is reported first, the general will visit again tomorrow, and it will not be too late to stay here." ”

Xue Rengui's eyebrows locked lightly and he pondered for a moment, so he had to nod: "It's okay, at the moment, the execution of military orders is the most important." Go ahead and greet the handsome man on my behalf. ”

"Yes."

In the middle of the night, the moon is like a mirror, and the wind is howling.

There was silence all around, but in the backyard of the Dadu Protectorate of Gaochang Wangcheng, there were suddenly two tragic roars!

"Ahh - Ah!! ”

"Dashuai, what's wrong!"

Several people slammed into the door panel and rushed in, and found Qin Shubao tumbling down from the bed, with a pool of blood on the ground. Qin Shubao's whole body convulsed and shrunk into a ball, and black blood kept spitting out of his mouth.

"Handsome !!"

After a while, a medical officer came in a hurry, and when he saw this, he was immediately frightened, and said, "This ...... This! The handsome man is obviously poisoned! ”

"What?!" The people around them exclaimed.

"What's going on, what's going on, what's wrong with Enshuai?" A thunderous roar came from outside the door, and then broke into a giant man covered in oil and a tower, and Yuwen Hongtai was naked and wearing only one pair of pants.

"Hong Tai, Hugh is noisy!" Qi Bi He Li stepped forward to block him, and said in a deep voice, "Dashuai has been poisoned!" ”

"What?!" Yuwen Hongtai was stunned for a moment, stared at Qin Shubao with a pair of bronze bell-like eyes, and shook his head blankly, "This is impossible, how is this possible!" Enshuai eats at the same table with me every day, why did he get poisoned, and I waited for nothing? ”

The medical officer whispered timidly: "Maybe the thief poisoned the handsome man alone in the bowl or tea - this is obviously the poison of arsenic, and the poison has entered the bones and cannot be saved!" ”

"Ahh - Ahh Yuwen Hongtai screamed twice like a tiger's roar, and desperately broke away the surrounding fence and rushed to the edge of the bed and knelt down, and immediately cried loudly like a child, "Enshuai, you can't be fine!" If you have something, how can I explain it to the third brother! ”

"Hong Tai, don't make noise, and don't cry. What kind of system has it become? Qin Shubao, who was half-lying on the bed and his face was already gray, still had a cold expression in his eyes like a knife, and said in a deep voice, "Qi Bi He Li, Yuwen Hongtai, pass on my general order, all the people of the Protector Mansion and so on, all assemble and prepare for battle!" ”

"Woo-" Yuwen Hongtai cried loudly, dragging Qin Shubao to pull him up from the bed, and shouted, "Enshuai, get up quickly, let me carry you!" Let's leave Gaochang and go to the barracks, lead the army back to Lanzhou, and go back to Lanzhou to see the third brother! ”

"Don't mess around!" Qin Shubao let out a loud sigh, then coughed violently, and vomited blood.

Qi Bi He Li endured his grief and indignation, called several lieutenant generals to come forward and forcibly pull Yuwen Hongtai away, Zhengse hugged his fists, and said loudly - "The last general is ordered!" ”

"Hong Tai, come with my weapons and armor, and put me on my horse!"

After the time of half the incense, most of the people outside the palace shouted to kill Zhentian and were surrounded by water. Countless torches lit up the night sky red. While people were shouting and neighing, I heard someone shouting in unison - "Qin Qiong surrendered, but he could leave the whole corpse!" ”

In the courtyard, all the five hundred soldiers who had entered the city with Qin Shubao arrived. The man was clothed in armor and saddled immediately, and the torches were lined up and the swords were shining.

Silence.

Qin Shubao pushed aside the left and right supports, and moved out of the room step by step. When he stood in front of the steps, Yuwen Hongtai handed over his tiger head chisel golden gun, and Qin Shubao took the gun and slammed it on the ground, shattering the bricks and slabs.

A pawn came forward to report that the Dadu Protectorate had been surrounded by at least 3,000 soldiers and horses, and that it was the headquarters of the main force of the Western Turks, the elite wolf cavalry.

"Got it, stand down." Qin Shubao responded lightly and said, "If you are willing to surrender, take off your military robe and leave quietly, this commander will not blame." But, from then on, Hugh said that he was a Tang person. ”

"I'd rather die than surrender, and swear to follow the generalissimo to the death!" Five hundred people responded almost in unison.

Qin Shubao nodded slightly, and then asked Yuwen Hongtai, "Hongtai, why do you have blood on your body?" But did you go out of the house without obeying our military orders and fought without permission? ”

Yuwen Hongtai gritted his teeth with a hideous face, and said hatefully: "I slaughtered all the people and cooks in the Duhu Mansion!" I don't know which dog|mother's beast poisoned Enshuai, but it's one of them anyway, all of them deserve to die! ”

"The real murderer has long since fled, and you have killed innocents indiscriminately." Qin Shubao did not scold, but was rare as a gentle elder, and said softly, "In the future, with San Lang, you must restrain your temper and not make mistakes." Bring him a message for me, and ask him to remember ......"

"I'm not leaving!" Yuwen Hongtai suddenly shouted, "I will die with Enshuai even if I die!" Enshuai is the father of the third brother, and he is also the father of Yuwen Hongtai! My father is going to die, how can I go, I won't be a beast! ”

Five hundred soldiers, all with tense faces and solemn eyes, looked at Qin Shubao and Yuwen Hongtai.

Qin Shubao stared at Yuwen Hongtai for a moment, there seemed to be a glitter in his old eyes, his gray beard trembled a few times, and he almost moaned weakly, "This is, military order." ”

Yuwen Hongtai was about to shout and argue again, but Qi Bi He Li hurriedly stepped forward to stop him and said, "I will follow the handsome man to live to this day, who is afraid of death?" Hong Tai, you are impulsive, and listen to the arrangement of the commander, it must make sense. ”

The shouts outside the courtyard became louder and louder, and it became clearer and clearer-"Qin Qiong will surrender to avoid death!" "Qin Qiong surrendered, he could avoid death!" ”……

"Did you hear that, they actually wanted me Qin Qiong to surrender, hahaha!" Qin Shubao suddenly laughed a few times, slammed the tiger-headed golden spear in his hand on the blue brick and stone slab, and said loudly, "Yuwen Hongtai listens to the order, I will wait for five hundred people, and ensure that you are one of you out of the city." At this moment, it is easy to die in battle, but it is difficult to survive. You must break through the siege to find Xue Rengui, so that he cannot enter the city to save me, let alone attack the city to take revenge, and immediately lead the army to withdraw to Puchanghai and order Xue Wanche to retreat to Yumen Pass, there must be no mistake! ”

"What!" Yuwen Hongtai shouted in shock, "Didn't you send me out to move the rescuers, but let me escape?" - I won't die! ”

"Hong Tai...... My son! Qin Shubao whispered, Yuwen Hongtai burst into tears again, and nodded again and again: "My son is here!" Son! ”

"You are my subordinate general and you are like a brother to San Lang, so you are like my son." Qin Shubao said softly, "We can all die generously, but you must escape." It's just because there are three - one of them, among us and others, you are the only one who is the most courageous, and the possibility of breaking through is the greatest, you have to pass my order to Xue Rengui, which is a big matter, far greater than my Qin Qiong's life and death; Second, I want you to bring a message to San Lang, so that he must remember the words of his father: there is no selfish enmity on the battlefield, and national affairs must be the priority; The Qin family has been loyal and good to his father for generations, and he has been generous all his life, so that he should not insult the ancestor Heroic Spirit......"

Five hundred people, with tears in their eyes, half-knelt on the ground and clasped their fists in a military salute, but their mouths were speechless.

"Third, tell my family that Qin Qiong misses them day and night...... Saburo's newlywed father was not present at the time, thinking it was a pity. Therefore, I only prepared a small gift for my future grandchildren, which is the wing bone of the desert eagle that I shot with my own hands, and carved an eagle flute......"

After that, Qin Shubao took out a cloth bag from his arms and handed it to Yuwen Hongtai, saying: "When San Lang's child is born, if it is a man, let San Lang name him Qin Ying; If it's a daughter, it's called Di'er! ”

Yuwen Hongtai knelt on his knees and raised a pair of big hands, took the eagle flute and carefully put it in his arms, then lay on the ground and cried bitterly, desperately smashing the ground with his fists.

"Wine!" Qin Shubao shouted loudly!

Outside the hospital, he was still shouting, "Qin Qiong surrendered, but the whole corpse can be left!" ”

Five hundred people, each holding a bowl of wine, stood still.

"Eighteen days ago, I led five hundred and two soldiers to enter the royal city; Tonight, I have a lot of five hundred and three Tang Dynasty men, and I am here to get drunk and rest, how happy! Qin Shubao held the bowl in both hands and said loudly, "My Qin Qiong's brothers and sons! Drink this bowl and go to the Yellow Spring together, life is also the same as Qiu death, how generous! ”

"Follow the generalissimo to the death! Life is also the same as death, how generous! ”

"!"

Three bowls of wine per person, Kang Guo three pulp. This kind of wine, everyone present usually doesn't know how much they drink, but tonight it was drunk with a lot of courage and grandeur!

"Get on the horse!"

Yuwen Hongtai and Qi Bi He Li wanted to come forward to help, Qin Shubao pushed the two of them away left and right, turned over on the horseback, pulled up the tiger head chisel golden gun embedded in the stone slab, and shouted: "General Order-All soldiers, swear to escort Yuwen Hongtai out of the city!" ”

"No!"

Yuwen Hongtai was fully draped, carrying a phoenix-winged gold bell and turned over on the horse, wheeled up his robe and wiped a handful of sweat and tears on his face, and roared: "En Shuai, brothers! If I don't die, I'll come here today next year, and I'll take the best of Sanle and the head of the enemy to pay tribute to you! ”

"Open the door of the mansion and follow Ben Shuai...... Rush out! ”

"Gaga...... Rattle! ”

The tall and heavy door of the Metropolitan Protectorate slowly opened. Outside the gate, the cavalry stood around the torches, and the swords and guns were like a forest.

Ni Shu sipped and stood under the wolf's head flag, squinting at the open door of the mansion, his face tense.

As soon as he rode out, he slowly walked out of the mansion gate, his robe and gray beard flying together, and the tiger-headed spear stood proudly.

"Datang, there are only soldiers with severed heads, no slaves who bend their knees...... Qin Qiong is here, who dares to step forward to fight to the death?!! ”