Xu Youchang held a large bouquet of fiery red Nanjin flowers in his hand, and walked back and forth at the gate of the small courtyard for a few circles, but he never plucked up the courage to walk in.

On the way to flee to the western frontier before, Xu Youchang accidentally rescued the Turkic princess He Sijia who was living here, and then they went to Metasequoia City, and finally had a place to stay.

Regarding He Sijia's true identity, Xu Youchang didn't dare to publicize it to the public, but only quietly told Li Jiangyao, and Li Jiangyao didn't expect that this Turkic princess would have such a tortuous and bizarre experience.

He thought about it, and in order to avoid any bad influence on He Sijia because of his hatred with the Turks, he decided to let her temporarily live in the city guard mansion and be the companion of Xia Lian, who he had rescued from the horse bandits.

Since then, Hesjia has stayed in Metasequoia. It's not that she didn't want to return to the Turks as soon as possible, but as Xu Youchang said, there are rebels from various countries operating everywhere in the ghost desert of Western Xinjiang, and no one can guarantee her safety in the case of chaos.

In addition, Xia Lian has also become another reason why she does not leave for the time being. Xia Lian is a poor girl, but she is kind-hearted and very good to people. It didn't take long for the two girls to become good friends, eating and living together, almost inseparable. In her spare time, Xia Lian taught He Sijia to pick herbs, teach her to cook Western Xinjiang food, weave flower threads, and weave felt carpets.

In this way, the happiest person is Xu Youchang.

As long as he wasn't fighting or training, he would find a reason to come and visit Hesjia. The careful Xia Lian saw General Xu's intentions for He Sijia, and always found an excuse to go out and leave them alone.

Don't look at Xu Youchang's usual majesty in leading troops, and he talks endlessly, but when he is alone with He Sijia, this guy can't say a word stupidly, he just knows to sit quietly on the side, watching He Sijia busy with needlework in his hands.

Even if he didn't say anything, his heart was sweet.

He Sijia is in a similar situation to Xu Youchang. The tall and heroic young general in front of him has an awe-inspiring righteousness full of charm. He was captured by him once, and was rescued again, but no matter when, Xu Youchang was the same polite, upright and tolerant in front of her.

Even though Xu Youchang was almost about to write "I like you" on his face, he was still like a shy child, cautious, and didn't dare to surprise He Sijia for half a point.

Xu Youchang's "stupid look" is like a wonderful seed of affection, which has unconsciously sprouted in He Sijia's heart.

Outside the gate of the small courtyard, Xu Youchang was still hesitating. He clutched the bouquet of Nanjin flowers tightly in his hand, and kept organizing the language in his heart, repeatedly practicing the words that he had been preparing for many days. This guy wants to confess to his sweetheart.

Before, Xu Youchang also deliberately went to ask Huo Liya what kind of ways and habits a man has to show his love to his beloved girl on their western side of Xinjiang. As soon as Huo Liya heard this, she came to her senses, and personally ran to pick a large bouquet of Nanjin flowers for Xu Youchang, and taught him a famous love poem in Western Xinjiang, and asked him to recite it to the girl, and then boldly said what was in his heart.

Xu Youchang was very grateful, and finally memorized the awkward poem of the Western Xinjiang, so he ran to the backyard of the city guard mansion to find He Sijia uneasily.

However, who would have expected that General Xu, who was not afraid of thousands of troops and horses, was so afraid of the door of the small courtyard that he trembled and grinded outside for half an hour, but he didn't dare to knock on the door.

Xu Youchang, Xu Youchang, you are really unproductive! Doesn't that mean I like you? What are you afraid of? No one can die!

Xu Youchang secretly scolded himself, and finally mustered up the courage to step forward, but before he could raise his hand, the courtyard door suddenly creaked open, and Xia Lian's figure appeared at the door.

"Ah, General Xu, are you here?" Xia Lian was taken aback by Xu Youchang, and then saw the fiery handful of Nan Jinhua in his hand, instantly understood, turned her head and said with a smile: "Sister, come quickly!" General Xu has something to say to you! ”

Xu Youchang was shocked, and hurriedly hid the bouquet behind his back, looked at He Sijia who came from behind with a puzzled face, and smiled awkwardly.

He Sijia was a little curious: "General Xu, what do you want to tell me?" ”

"Huh? Yes! Nothing, nothing. Xu Youchang's face was flushed, and he glanced at Xia Lian, who was covering her mouth and stealing fun, embarrassedly, and asked, "What?" Are you going out? ”

He Sijia first looked at Xia Lian strangely, not knowing what she had been laughing at, and then turned her head and replied, "Well, we made an appointment with the county lord of Nanhua to accompany Effantia on an outing outside the city. Little Ai Fen has just come to Metasequoia and is unfamiliar with the place, so we will take her out to play, so that she can get familiar with this place as soon as possible. ”

"Don't be in a hurry to play," Xia Lian hurriedly stopped her: "General Xu seems to have something very important to tell you, it's okay if we go late." You talk first, I'll go back and get something. ”

Without waiting for He Sijia to speak, Xu Youchang hurriedly said: "No, no, no, Miss Xia Lian, I think I'd better come over another day, you guys are busy first, busy first." ”

Xia Lian looked at him narrowly and said with a smile: "General Xu, have you thought clearly?" Do you really want to come back another day? ”

"Another day, another day." Xu Youchang retreated as he spoke, and then ran away without a trace in a blink of an eye.

Looking at his back as if fleeing for his life, He Sijia was curious: "What's wrong with him?" You say he has something to say to me, what is it? ”

Xia Lian pursed her lips and smiled: "Okay, I don't know what's going on, you better ask General Xu yourself." Let's go, let's go, don't let the county lord wait for a long time. ”

"Aren't you going back to get something?"

"If you don't take it, I'll take it another day." Xia Lian laughed, took He Sijia's arm and walked out. In a few moments they came to the place where Effantia lived, and together with Horia, who was waiting there, mounted their horses and whipped out of the city.

-

The Turkic deputy marshal Marquis Durham and the leader of the Iron Pigeon Army and the new leader of the "Tracing Group" Duolun left the northern camp together and went to the court of Chechi. So far, they have been walking for seven or eight days, and they are not far from their destination when they have entered the Chechi country.

Durham and Doron were both a little anxious at this time.

According to the report sent by the Prince of Gune, the king of Loulan, Alikjiang, led an army of 50,000 and was approaching the Chechi border at this time. Not to be outdone, Gelhan dispatched his First and Second Legions, totaling 30,000 main forces, to prepare for the attack.

The new war in the ghost desert of Western Xinjiang is about to break out.

And Doron cares about something else. The generals of the Blood Guard, Kunli Mingtai and Horia, applied to the Great Khan to join the "tracing group" to search for and rescue Princess Hesijia. At this time, they had arrived at the court of King Chechi, and were discussing with Prince Gune to prepare for action. For such an important matter, he, as the head of the regiment, must not be absent.

Therefore, Durham and Duolun hurried on the road without delay, hoping to reach their destination a day earlier. However, not long after they entered the territory of Chechi, the guide in charge of leading the group suddenly proposed to take a detour, leave the convenient trade route, and walk a section of the Great Gobi.

Durham was a little confused and asked the guide why.

The guide explained that not far ahead was Metasequoia City, which was still under the control of the Holy Tang army, and there were often large-scale scout cavalry patrols. Once encountered, I am afraid that there will be more than one luck.

As soon as Duolun heard the word "metasequoia", he immediately remembered the painful memories of the previous attack there, and he couldn't help but have mixed feelings and feel unspeakably uncomfortable.

Durham was furious. At the beginning of the Battle of Crescent Bay, it was he, the Marquis, who led his troops to raid and annihilate the 120,000 elite army of the Holy Tang Dynasty in the first battle, and now he actually let him take a detour in order to avoid the remnants of the Holy Tang Dynasty, which is really unreasonable!

"What the fuck is the ghost-faced white-robed army?!" Durham shouted: "Lao Tzu kills one when he sees one, and kills one when he sees two!" Take the avenue! ”

-

"Efantia, Hesga, come and see, there are wild fruits here! It can be used to make fruit wine. Xia Lian shouted happily and beckoned everyone to come to the bushes here.

Horia played with the whip in her hand and snorted, "I said Effentia, you should be careful! The one next to it is a scorpion grass, which will bite! ”

As soon as she heard this, Effantia hurriedly withdrew her outstretched hand, and was so frightened that she did not dare to move.

He Sijia smiled: "It's not as exaggerated as the county lord said. This grass has spikes, and it hurts when stung, but it'll be fine after a while. ”

Efantia relieved herself and turned her head and grimaced at Horia, "Nasty guy, scare me all the time." ”

The lord of Nanhua laughed, and was about to tease the little Persian girl again, when suddenly two scout cavalry hurried over and reported to her that the scouts had spotted a troop of Turkic horses and were approaching this place quickly.

Hearing this, Huo Liya immediately became vigilant, and while telling Xia Lian to be careful, she turned over and got on her horse, ready to run to check on the enemy.

Seeing this, Effentia excitedly shouted that she would also go with her, and Hestya also had the idea of taking a look because she had heard that it was a Turk. So, the two of them took Xia Lian to discuss with Horia.

The county lord of Nanhua was originally a spicy girl who was not afraid of heaven and earth, since the three good sisters had this plan, of course she would not worry so much, and immediately readily agreed. The four of them rode fast horses and led dozens of escorts to gallop to the east.

-

The Turks discovered by the scouts were none other than Durham, who were planning to go to the court of Chechi.

The closer he got to Metasequoia City, the more the Marquis of Durham deliberately slowed down the whole team, and also erected the Turkic military flag to swagger through the city. Seeing this, the guide was so anxious that he scratched his ears and cheeks, and persuaded Duolun next to him again and again to quickly change his route.

Duolun naturally knew the temper of the Hou Ye very well in his heart, and he didn't dare to disobey him in person.

Durham was born into the Turkic Golden Clan, with noble blood, and was also a fierce general who could fight well. The 40,000 gold-armored warriors under his command can be regarded as the trump card of the Turkic army, and they belong to the flesh-and-blood existence of Ashina's Jin Khan.

In the Western Xinjiang War, it was Durham's golden-armored cavalry that first arrived at Crescent Bay and directly tore apart the rear defense of the Zhenjiang Protectorate, which won the victory for the Turks.

Therefore, the arrogant Marquis of Durham also became more and more confident, and he would not take the small Metasequoia City in his eyes at all. Duolun is a shrewd person, how could he touch the mold of the senior boss in this matter?

"I say little Doron," Durham asked triumphantly on horseback, "I heard you've attacked this place before, what's the matter?" Didn't hit down? ”

Duolun and Durham drove side by side: "Master Hou, it's not like we haven't beaten down. The Great Khan gave me something else at that time, otherwise ......"

Durham laughed: "Come on, I don't know about your little cubs?" On the war is far away. Wait until I get my sons and daughters over and slaughter Metasequoia City to the ground, so that you can vent your evil anger. ”

"The Prince of the Temple has ordered Gelhan to exterminate the remnants of Metasequoia, and I am afraid that there is no need for the elite of the Hou Ye." Duolun was slightly embarrassed.

Durham shook his beard, twisted his fat body, and said disdainfully: "This kind of thing, what else can you expect from those fools in Western Xinjiang?" On combat power, on blood, I am Turkic......"

"Not good!" The guide behind suddenly screamed, interrupting Durham, who was about to make a generous statement: "Master Hou, there is an enemy over there!" ”