Shushi is only a small country in the Western Regions, the territory is small, the population is thin, his capital is only equivalent to a county in the interior of the Tang Dynasty, only tens of thousands of people, but it is located in the Southern Silk Road, business travel is endless, the city can be seen everywhere full of camel caravans, this year is particularly busy.

The reason is that the black-clothed Abbasids captured Damascus and officially became the new caliphate, but turned around and brutally suppressed the Shiite Muslims, the former allies, and the war spread in the Khorasan region, which also blocked the Northern Silk Road, and the political stability in Central Asia and the Northern Silk Road were blocked, which made the trade of the Southern Silk Road particularly prosperous.

More than a month has passed since the war subsided, but the Tang army has not returned to the dynasty for a long time, and the occupation of the Shushi country is just to kill chickens and make an example of monkeys, and the real purpose of the Tang Empire is to use this to knock the Tocharian countries.

Gao Xianzhi has been extremely busy in the past few days, and the kings of the Western Regions, who have been watching the situation, have rushed to the Shushi Kingdom with the official withdrawal of the Tubo army to the Tang Dynasty, paying tribute to the Tang Dynasty and slaves, expressing their re-submission to the Tang Dynasty.

Early in the morning, the governor of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty came out of the palace, hundreds of guards flocked to the front and back, and a group of hunting dogs led the way in front, their clothes and armor were bright, and the battle flag fluttered, and they drove out of the city.

More than a month of emperor-like life, so that Gao Xianzhi's cheeks obviously became plump, and gradually regained his elegant temperament, these days around him is full of singing and praising virtue, the noble kings are like dogs prostrate at his feet, Gao Xianzhi's proud head is difficult to lower once it is raised.

But there is one thing that makes Gao Xianzhi always linger, that is, Li Qing, who is stationed outside the city, obviously the war is over. But he has always refused to leave, like a person snoring on the side of the couch, so that he can't sleep sweetly, so Gao Xianzhi decided to take the opportunity of this hunting trip to test Li Qing's attitude.

Hunting with Gao Xianzhi were also the kings of many small countries in the Western Regions, including the Tocharian Yehu envoy who had been rescued by Li Qing and sent to Chang'an, who had just arrived the day before yesterday. On behalf of Ye Hu, he mediated the relationship between the Tang Dynasty and the Shu Shiguo, but Gao Xianzhi seemed to be busy with official business. He has not yet been received.

Like the cities of the Western Regions, the capital of the Shushi Kingdom also lacked planning. In front of the palace is the main road of the capital, which is equivalent to Suzaku Street in Chang'an, but the streets are narrow, the houses are low, the population is crowded and mixed, there are carriages and camels everywhere, bustling, and the shouting and shouting are endless.

But Gao Xianzhi's guard of honor suddenly appeared. The streets were suddenly chaotic, overturning fruit shops, losing horses, calling for children, and people couldn't dodge one after another, and they couldn't hide from the ground, so they crouched on the ground. The head did not dare to look up, and a pack of hounds roared and rushed past, and the street was silent. All I heard was 'Da! Da! The sound of horses' hooves echoes rhythmically in the air.

In a small alley, there stood a dozen gorgeously dressed people, leading a large herd of horses in their hands, led by a middle-aged man of about fifty years old, of medium stature, dressed in fur fur, wearing a hat with a muddy hat, a tuft of yellow reddish hair on the brim, he had a pair of light brown eyes with an extremely cold expression, and the corners of his eyes were covered with subtle white wrinkles.

To his left stood a young girl, tall, plump and young, probably not yet twenty years old, with smooth, chestnut hair, a fiery red fox fur around her neck, without a hint of variegation, and a long golden dress made of Shu brocade, the hem of which was inlaid with silver threads, and a short white coat on the outside, whose neck and face were dazzlingly white, whose mouth and nose were like the masterpieces of the Greek masters, perfect without a single blemish, and whose blue eyes were. Like two pools of lakes in an iceberg, she is undoubtedly a suffocating beautiful girl.

But what is impressive is her gaze, in the moment of staring, pride, stubbornness, and holiness are all revealed from these blue eyes, which make people dare not look directly.

"Master, let's go back first! Gao Xianzhi doesn't seem to have time today." Behind him, an old servant who looked like a butler respectfully persuaded the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man nodded, and was about to lead people away, but the girl next to him looked at the people crawling all over the ground, snorted lightly, and said disdainfully to Gao Xianzhi's back: "It's so proud to fight a small country like a lamb, if it weren't for the Great Cannibal Civil War, would he have succeeded so easily?" ”

The middle-aged man's face sank, and he reprimanded: "Luo Yan, don't talk nonsense, Datang is also your second homeland, and you should always maintain respect in your heart."

"Father, I'm not targeting Datang, but this tall and handsome."

The girl's eyes squinted at Gao Xianzhi, and suddenly, she saw the lost tower walking at the end, and couldn't help but be surprised: "Father, Uncle Tar is also there."

"Oh! It's really him." The middle-aged man smiled slightly, beckoned an attendant casually, whispered a few words to him, and the attendant immediately chased in the direction where Gao Xianzhi's team disappeared.

"Let's go! We're going to keep up with that, too." With a wave of his hand, the middle-aged man led the group out of the alley on horseback, and soon disappeared into the low, dense houses

Gao Xianzhi's team went out of the city gate, and saw a group of Tang cavalry from afar, it was the deputy marshal Li Qing waiting there, Li Qing has been living in the big camp outside the city since he arrived in the Shushi country, and he behaved very low-key, allowing Gao Xianzhi to have unlimited scenery.

Li Qing had already learned Li Longji's methods, such an important battle, but Bian Lingcheng did not come, if he didn't send his henchmen to monitor, how could he explain to Li Longji, did Gao Xianzhi really think that he could use money to block Bian Lingcheng's mouth? Especially in the delicate situation of coming to Anxi himself, Bian Ling Chengyan can dare to hide it for Gao Xianzhi again.

But Gao Xianzhi didn't seem to be aware of this, but lived in the palace of the Shushi Palace, and the food and clothing were no different from the previous kings, and he also received the small country on behalf of the imperial court, instead of ordering them to go to Chang'an to apologize, he really thought that Li Longji was thousands of miles away from the country, and Li Longji didn't know?

Li Qing secretly sighed for Gao Xianzhi, could it be that Gao Xianzhi was killed in Tongguan in history, is this the reason? Gao Xianzhi is an excellent general. But the political performance is not qualified, he thought that the opening up of the territory can win the emperor's praise, but he does not know that anything is a double-edged sword, although the merit of opening up the territory is high, but it is very easy to fall into the suspicion of supporting the army and self-respect, from ancient times to the present, even An Lushan rebellion is a reason that can not be cracked this situation.

He has always complained that Li Qinglai did not go in the Shushi Kingdom, but he couldn't see through Li Qing's chess, Li Qing was actually implementing Li Longji's layout and restraining him Gao Xianzhi. Although there is no glory for him, but politically he won .

Li Qing saw Gao Xianzhi coming over. Immediately urged the horse to come up and smiled: "In such a midwinter season, Gao Shuai and Yaxing go hunting." is worthy of the true character of a soldier, but Li Qing, who sleeps all day long, what is the difference between the old bear in the tree hole? ”

Gao Xianzhi took Li Qing's hand, looked him up and down, and saw that his face was as black and thin as before, and couldn't help but smile dumbly: "I've never seen such a thin bear."

"Come on! Come! Come! I'll introduce you to everyone."

Gao Xianzhi pulled Li Qing. He smiled at the dozens of kings who accompanied him: "This is our deputy marshal of the Anxi Army, although he is young, but he is my important minister of the Tang Dynasty, the former household servant, have you ever heard of it?" ”

These kings are nominally the monarchs of a country, but their actual jurisdiction is only equivalent to the counties of the Tang Dynasty. is also relatively independent, so although the household servants have heavy financial power, they can't feel it and don't care. What they value is the deputy marshal of Anxi, this is the position that has a direct connection with them, although everyone knows that it is this person who defeated the national army in Xiaobojin, but he is only regarded as a general under Gao Xianzhi, and now seeing that he is very young, these days and low-key and speechless, everyone has a little contempt in their hearts, and they have said in blunt Chinese for a long time, but the tone is lighter than a cup of brewed tea countless times.

Li Qing didn't mind, he only smiled faintly, for this group of small countries that saw the wind and steered the rudder, there was no need to deliberately win them over, as long as they showed enough strength, they would naturally flock to it, this has always been the law of the strong.

"Let's go!" Gao Xianzhi waved his hand, and the team of people and horses flew eagles and galloped westward.

The capital of the Shushi Kingdom is located in a narrow basin, a river crosses it, and there are large forests on both sides of the river, but in winter, the river has frozen, and foxes and wild wolves can be seen on the ice from time to time to foraging grounds, most of them are skinny, it is really not the season for hunting, but Gao Xianzhi is not for hunting.

An hour later, Gao Xianzhi's war horse rushed to a small hill, he stopped his horse and looked back, the team behind him had already opened, except for his personal guards who had been following him closely, the other kings of Zhuhu and their attendants were nowhere to be seen, but Gao Xianzhi was concerned about Li Qing, and he was followed just now, why is there no one now?

At this time, Li Qingzheng was standing behind a tree, and fifty steps in front of him, several foxes were biting a dead antelope, and the air was full of blood, which just covered the breath of the war horse.

He stretched out his bow and set his arrow, and the bowstring gradually rounded, 'Whoosh! The arrows passed through several foxes and nailed to the dead antelope, and the foxes jumped up in fright, and ran away, and soon ran into a cluster of bushes, and disappeared.

"Governor! These foxes have rough fur and are not worth a few dollars, so don't want them! Seeing that Li Qing was missing, the soldiers stepped forward to comfort him, for fear of damaging his confidence.

"What are you guys talking nonsense!" Li Qing put away the bow and said with a smile: "Archery stinks, what is there to be ashamed of, do you want to comfort me?" ”

The soldiers stuck out their tongues and did not dare to speak again.

At this point, 'Ahhh , a chuckle like a silver bell came from the woods next to him, "Father, look at him as a deputy marshal!" I can't even shoot the fox standing there as a target."

The soldiers were furious, who dared to be so rude as to make fun of their governors.

"Hugh be rude! Why don't you go and apologize to someone."

I saw more than a dozen people coming out of the woods, all riding horses, the two in front were the middle-aged man and the girl who watched Gao Xianzhi leave on the street, and there was another person next to him, but Li Qing knew, that is, the Tocharian messenger who was rescued in Shazhou.

"Don't come to the squire!"

Lost Mitar immediately stepped forward and saluted Li Qing, "I didn't expect that we would meet here again, my family Ye Hu is very grateful to you, and said that I must thank you again."

Li Qing had a good impression of this Hu man, and hurriedly replied: "Tal's envoy, is the Lost Liga Ye Protector here?" ”

"I'll be here in two days!"

At this time, the middle-aged man and the girl also came to Li Qing, the middle-aged man looked apologetic, and bowed slightly to Li Qing, but the girl looked at the arrow that was still nailed to the antelope, and then looked at the arrow in Li Qing's hand, with a hint of mockery in her eyes.

Li Qing ignored the girl, only lightly bowed his hand to the middle-aged man, expressing his acceptance of his apology, and smiled at the lost Mitar: "Is this your friend?" ”

"He's my most honored friend!"

Lost Mitar smiled proudly and introduced the middle-aged man to Li Qing: "This is one of the two kings of the Shi Kingdom, the deputy king Mo Hedu, who just arrived in the Shushi Kingdom today."

He pointed at the girl again and said with a smile: "That is the beloved daughter of His Royal Highness Mohe, and she is the princess of the Stone Kingdom, and her name is Qian Shiluo."