The thoughtful Xu Xuezhong studied Battle's "strategic map" again. Feeling a little worried, he said to Battle:

"If the Kokand advance team has the same idea as us and wants to wipe us out completely, Cherry Valley is the main battlefield. The main force of the Kokand army must be pressed here, and it is possible to use vicious means that we do not expect...... If reinforcements don't arrive in time, you'll be in danger! ”

Battle said confidently: "They won't make a big move until the hostage is exchanged. After the exchange of hostages, if the reinforcements do not arrive, we can move with the camera, and the main task is to transfer the rescued people. At this time, if the Kokand army attacks with all its might, we can retreat in the direction of the East Valley of Cherry Valley while blocking the circumference. When we get to Higashiguchi, reinforcements will definitely arrive! At that time, a counterattack, coupled with the pikemen in ambush on the hills on both sides of Cherry Valley, will be able to defeat them in one fell swoop! ”

Everyone gave Battle a look of admiration and approval.

Xu Xuegong was still a little uneasy, and said: "It won't take so many people to attack Xigukou. For the sake of safety, I'd better keep some more of my men here for you. If something happens, take care of the people who are rescued. ”

Seeing this, Battle could only nod his head and agree. He instructed Ashan Kundu to put away the "strategic map", and set off back to the tribe with one man and two horses to move troops to the Khan king. He also explained that when passing through the Baoertu Mountain and the Nayinke Gorge of the Heshute Mongol tribe, he should see Tashi Delektaiji of the Heshute Left Banner as much as possible and explain the situation......

In the evening. In the big tent of the Turgot tribe base camp in Halmodun, Ashankundu, who had just arrived, handed over the "strategic map" to the king of the Khan, and explained everything about the Valley of the Celestial Wolf to the king and the leaders.

When the king of the Khan and all the princes heard this, they were astonished! Especially when they heard that this group of people was going to blast up the big glacier and poison the water source, they were very angry!

Lama Mu Cheng was a little frightened after listening to Ashan Kundu's words! Put your hands together and pray that the Immortal Heaven will show its power again and stop the madness of this group of sinful people.

Zabudaiji said excitedly: "I can't imagine that there are such shameless and vicious people in the world......"

Sanji Meiren couldn't sit still, and took the initiative to ask for battle: "King Khan! I want to bring a team of men and horses to support Battle and Xu Xuegong and them, and completely eradicate these bandits! Please be pleased! ”

King Khan pondered for a while and said: "Now this matter not only involves the dignity and honor of our tribe, but also the lives and safety of millions of people in the towns along the Urumqi. The stakes are high, I should personally go into battle to meet these villains and see what kind of demons and monsters they are? ”

Zabudaiji was shocked! "There are hundreds of these Kokands, all of them outlaws, and they are also armed with machine guns and cannons. If the Khan King goes there in person, once they find out, he will definitely be the first target of their attack, which is too dangerous! ”

King Khan continued: "The Valley of the Heavenly Wolf is surrounded by cliffs, and it is almost impossible to storm it from the outside. If we can lure them out of the Heavenly Wolf Valley decisive battle this time, it will be our best chance to eradicate them. If they want to destroy us with all their might, the defenses of the Celestial Wolf Valley will inevitably be empty, and we will have a chance to truly shake the lair they have built...... Judging from the situation introduced by Ashan Kundu just now, the formation of Battle and Xu Xuegong to go out in seven ways and ambush on all sides is indeed good, and it looks seamless. But there is a premise, that is, the main force of the Kokand people must be defeated in Cherry Valley! The main battlefield in Cherry Valley is the most critical link. Once lost, the surviving people of the rescued Sharga Sumu will once again be in a desperate situation. If the main force of the Kokand people is allowed to return to the Valley of the Celestial Wolf unscathed, then all the previous efforts will be in vain! And it also brings great danger to several other people...... Therefore, firmly attract them in Cherry Valley, force them to use all their strength to fight bravely, and completely defeat them in Cherry Valley! The ultimate goal of taking down the Valley of the Wolves can only be achieved. ”

Lama Mucheng said worriedly: "King Khan is using himself as bait to lure them to a decisive battle in Cherry Valley. But these people are not ordinary troops, this is too dangerous, I can't do it! ……”

King Khan said: "We have no other choice. If there is a slight delay, not only will the revenge not be avenged, but the millions of people along the way in Urumqi may encounter a catastrophe, and it will be too late to regret it! …… It's worth a try at such a price, and everyone is careful ......"

At night, the Khan King stared at the starry sky and had a lot of thoughts...... Suddenly turned around, walked into the big tent, and prepared to write to the court to explain everything, and put pen to paper:

"Chenturhut Nanlu League, Zhuoliktu Khan Buyan: I have heard that the thieves of the Kokand country have blatantly offended our China with the support of the British Empire! It has fallen into many important towns such as Kashgar, Hotan, and Aksu in southern Xinjiang, and the thieves have burned, killed, and plundered the lives wherever they went. Recently, the tribe of Sharga Sumu was also attacked by a group of unidentified thugs, and more than 100 people of Zuoling Sangeji and Ding Yong were brutally killed. It has now been ascertained that the robbers in this unit are the advance troops sent by the Kokand bandits, and the purpose is to reconnoiter the main routes for transporting troops and the state of defense of military towns and to destroy the glacial water sources in China's northern and southern Xinjiang. There are more than 400 soldiers in this unit, including a number of mercenaries from the British Empire, and many cannons, many machine guns, and countless advanced weapons. This thief is now stealing from the Heavenly Wolf Valley at the junction of my tribe and the South Mountain of Urumqi in the depths of my Tianshan Mountains. This valley is surrounded by cliffs, which are easy to defend and difficult to attack. The thieves have built this place into a fortress against the military and civilians of our Great Qing Dynasty...... The minister thought that the intention of the Kokand invaders to send an advance army this time was to show their ambition to covet the entire territory of Xinjiang. If it is not eradicated in time, it will inevitably form a horn echo with the main force of the Kokand Army approaching the towns and cities in southern Xinjiang, and it may become a major disaster for our DPRK to guard the choke points of northern and southern Xinjiang. If Bayingolin's Yanqi, Korla and other towns and the Bingdaban Pass are not secured, Ili and Urumqi will open the gates, and the consequences will be unimaginable...... What's more, the bandits actually carried a large amount of explosives and chemical agents, and planned to blast the Tianshan Glacier and poison it with water sources. This angry act has put millions of people in Urumqi and other important towns along the line in danger, and it is extremely critical! ……”

The King of Khan looked solemn, took a sip of tea, and continued to write:

"At present, Urumqi, Yanqi and other military governments have no troops to send, and the military situation is urgent. The minister decided to unite with Xu Xuegong of the Urumqi Nanshan People's League, Hailati of the Kazakh tribe, Gao Kewu of the Hutubi People's League, and Tashi Delek of the Heshute Mongolian tribe to join hands to fight this thief! If you can't win quickly, you will go all out. In case of accidents, I sincerely ask that another person be sent to continue to suppress the thief and eradicate this henchman as soon as possible! ……”

The next morning. Battle led his team to Cherry Valley ahead of schedule.

Cherry Valley is a shorter, wider, spindle-shaped valley near the east side of the Sirius Valley. The mountains are covered with wild cherry trees. Every spring, the overwhelming cherry blossoms bloom all over the valley, which is magnificent, far better than the plum blossom mountain in the south of the Yangtze River.

On the mountainside near the East Valley Entrance of Cherry Valley, there is an ancient mountain temple that sits north and faces south. Although the scale of this temple is not very large, it is the same as the beacon tower at the mouth of Alagou ditch, which is a remnant of the Tang Dynasty more than 1,000 years ago. The temple not only enshrines the mountain god holding the stone axe, but also enshrines the Guanyin Bodhisattva and the Maitreya Buddha in the solemn place, and the Veda Bodhisattva also stands mightily on one side with the pestle of the demon subduing. The couplets at the door have been mottled but are still very eye-catching: blessed and virtuous; The rule is that God is all world-honored; The cross-connection is: Guotai Min'an. According to legend, this was the title of the title when Ji Xiaolan, an important minister of the court, was exiled to Xinjiang and transited here during the Qianlong period.

On the other side of the hill there is a giant Ao Bao. The prayer flags on the Ao Bao and the Hada wrapped around the prayer stones are layered and faintly recognizable. For thousands of years, Mongolian, Han, Tibetan and other people of all ethnic groups living near this place have recognized this cherry valley as a "beautiful place". Every year, during the Spring Festival, the Midel Festival, the Zulu Festival and other large and small festivals, good men and women come as promised. The procession of chanting sutras and praying for blessings, burning incense and worshiping Buddha is endless; Young men and women stroll through the woods, and childish children shuttle and frolic and linger.

There are no permanent residents in this Cherry Valley, so choosing this place as a battlefield will not hurt innocent people, and it will be protected by the gods. The whole valley is open, which is also convenient for a thorough duel between the cavalry teams of the two sides......

Battle had already told Meng He in advance that more than a dozen snipers armed with Bodan rifles had been placed in concealed positions on the mountainsides on both sides of Cherry Valley. The cavalry of the tribe and the more than 300 cavalry of the Nanshan militia were lined up in the middle of the valley; Crossbowmen and archers also lined up and prepared to meet the enemy. He led some of the men and horses to observe and wait on the high side of the mountain.

Xu Xueying and Xiaomei walked towards Battle with Catherine and Henry.

At this time, Catherine was very confused in her heart, full of melancholy about her future life path, and had some reluctant feelings for these Chinese who had just met. The simplicity, sincerity, and kindness of these people are in stark contrast to the evil, viciousness, and brutality of the Kokand army and the hypocrisy, insidiousness, and arrogance of the mercenaries of the British Empire. For young people like Catherine and Henry, who are not deeply involved in the world, the inspiration of Chinese civilization has made a new leap in their understanding of human nature and conscience in the depths of their souls.

While Catherine's heart was fluctuating, she was also admiring the scenery of the wonderful mountains and rivers unintentionally. She suddenly saw the mountain temple not far away, and asked Xue Ying curiously:

"What kind of building is that?"

Xu Xueying told her: "It is a mountain temple for us Chinese, and it is a place for people within a radius of 100 miles to pray for blessings and wishes, burn incense and worship Buddha." ”

Catherine became more curious and wanted to take a look.

Xu Xueying took the two of them to the main hall of the mountain temple and introduced to them: "Although this ancient temple is called 'Mountain Temple', in fact, it is not only dedicated to the mountain god, but also to the most worshiped Maitreya Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva and Veda Bodhisattva among the Chinese people. It is a temple where Buddhism and Taoism are integrated. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are compassionate and compassionate, and their magic power is boundless; The god of Jinjia Mountain guards the town of demons and subdues demons, and protects the health of the people and animals, and the harvest of grains...... In a few days, it will be the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, which is the first full moon night of the year, and it is the 'Lantern Festival' and 'Maidel Festival' of the Han and Mongolian peoples. It was the busiest place that day, and the whole Cherry Valley was crowded with people without a place to stay...... Worshipping the Buddha here is very beneficial! Let's all make a wish......"

After Xu Xueying finished speaking, she folded her hands, bowed her head and closed her eyes, praying for all the people who participated in the duel today.

Catherine and Henry also folded their hands in Xueying's posture, bowed their heads and prayed that today's hostage exchange would go on peacefully and smoothly, and that they would return home safely and not step into the territory of other countries in the future......

It was close to the end of the afternoon. Ahsan Kundu rode to Cherry Valley on a flying horse, and he told Batel that the king of Khan had personally led his troops to reinforcements, and that the brigade had approached the mouth of the East Valley in Cherry Valley.

Battle was shocked when he heard this! His face sank and he blamed Ah Shan Kundu and said, "Didn't you make it clear, how could such a dangerous action allow the King of Khan to personally go out to fight?" ”

"I have made it very clear to King Khan and to all of you. The chiefs were also opposed, and the Khan insisted on going into battle himself, and we could not convince the Khan. When you see the Khan King in a moment, you will understand. Ahsan Kundu explained aggrievedly.

Seeing this, Batel felt that he could no longer change the reality of the Khan's presence on the battlefield, so he hurriedly briefed Ashan Kundu on the situation and said:

"Leader Xu has led his men and horses over the Bingdaban and marched into the vicinity of the West Valley Entrance of the Heavenly Wolf Valley, and is responsible for attacking the West Valley Entrance; Gao Kewu, the leader of the Hutubi militia group, had gone around to the mountain behind the East Valley of the Heavenly Wolf Valley overnight to ambush him, preparing to attack the East Valley Pass; Li Jiekundu had already led some men and horses to ambush in the jungle behind Qingsongzhai, preparing to attack Qingsongzhai in a containment manner...... These attack positions are the most complex and dangerous in Qingsong Village. You are most familiar with the situation in Qingsongzhai, you should quickly set off to meet Li Jiekun, act with them, establish a reliable support point as much as possible in the mountain behind Qingsongzhai, and after the general attack begins, try to contain the enemy forces in Qingsongzhai and plan the attack at the mouth of the two valleys. The signal for the start of the general attack was the two arrows we fired from Cherry Valley...... Note! Most of the cavalry they left behind, except for the two valley passes in the east and west, may be concentrated in Qingsong Village together with artillery and machine gunners, and must not be stormed. After receiving the signal, under the condition of ensuring safety, you can first find out the weak position there for a diversion attack, attract the attention of the remaining enemy troops, and wait for the main battlefield of Cherry Valley and the two valley mouths to succeed, and then carry out a general attack after everyone meets on the periphery of Qingsong Village......"

Ahsan Kundu nodded, and hurriedly added: "Yesterday, when I passed by the Heshuton Nayinke Grand Canyon, Tashi Delektaiji was not in the canyon camp, he went to the Baoertu grassland to direct the disaster relief. I didn't get to see Taiyoshi himself, but I just handed the letter you wrote to him to the sentinels guarding the mountain pass, and explained the situation, I wonder if they will be able to reach Cherry Valley in time? …… Is there a problem with the leader of Helati? ”

"Kharati had already started collecting men and horses yesterday afternoon, and he was going to mobilize some more cavalry from several other Kazakh tribes to fight," Bartel said. He's okay there, it should be almost there. Let's go! ”

Ahsankundu galloped away......

Batel and Meng He took the Khan's brigade into Cherry Valley, joined forces with the men and horses arranged earlier, and quickly set up a position in the chosen position.

Under the leadership of Batel, the leaders of Lama Mucheng, Sanji Meiren, Sukaizhaleng, Bayinqing and other leaders followed the king of Khan to the command position high on the hillside.

Xu Xueying was very excited to see King Khan coming in person! Hurriedly asked Catherine, "The Khan of the Turghut Mongol tribe has personally come to see you off, do you want to go over and meet the Khan now?" ”

Catherine had already heard of the Khan of the Mongol tribe of Turghut, and when she heard it, her eyebrows fluttered! Extremely excited, he said, "That's great! Let's go. He turned his head to Henry and said, "Go!" Let's go together to meet King Turghat Khan. ”

Xu Xueying took Catherine and Henry to take the initiative to come to the front of the leaders.

Catherine didn't understand Chinese etiquette very well, so she stepped forward and said boldly: "Catherine and Henry, interns at Oxford University in the United Kingdom, meet the venerable King Khan!" After speaking, he bowed respectfully.

The Khan pointed to Catherine and Henry and asked Battle, "These are the two English students you mentioned who helped us, right?" ”

"Yes! King Khan! Battle hurriedly replied.

When the king of the Khan and all the princes saw this, they immediately dismounted. King Khan stretched out his hand to Catherine and greeted: "Hello! ”

Catherine was surprised! Quickly shook the hand of the King of Khan with both hands and responded in surprise: "Hello! Dear Khan! ”

The Khan shook hands with Henry again.

Lama Mu Cheng stepped forward with Cairen and Hada in his hand, and prayed for the two of them: "Good hearts make good karma, good causes produce good results!" May the Bodhisattva bless you with good luck and peace in your life! Amitabha! ”

Lama Mucheng placed two white hatas on Catherine's neck, shoulders and chests. The two also folded their hands and thanked the Khan and the lama.

Bayinqing walked over with a pair of "peace charms" tied with red threads, and said to Catherine: "This is the 'peace charm' personally invited for you by the wife of the Khan, Jinhua Hatun, please accept ......"

Catherine feels a little flattered! Hurriedly took the peace charm, saluted the king of the Khan again, and thanked excitedly:

"Thank you, King Khan! Thank you, Lady Khan! ”

"I would also like to thank you for your efforts to protect the lives of the people who were killed in the Sharga Sumu of the Turghut tribe......