"Does Auntie have a way to help me break through the city?"
Ashina He recognized the effeminate man before him as Fang Dafu, the trusted eunuch of his distant aunt who had married the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
He raised one eyebrow and said with a hint of anger.
Ashina He definitely had reason to be angry.
Originally, he only led his troops to the northern border to test the waters, and did not intend to actually besiege the city.
Although the powerful families of the Great Zhou Dynasty are negotiating cooperation with Father Khan.
However, the father was not at ease with these scholars who were full of cunning, and feared that the powerful families would use tricks, so he did not dare to launch a large-scale invasion of the Great Zhou.
But Ashina Khan was unwilling to give up just like that.
He simply sent his youngest son with his troops to take a look at the Great Zhou.
Unexpectedly, they successfully broke through numerous checkpoints and arrived directly at the gates of the capital.
"Those aristocratic families don't seem to be lying to Father Khan; they genuinely want to lure our Turkic army to attack the Great Zhou."
"This emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty is truly a failure. The ministers he relies on not only fail to be loyal, but also collude with foreign enemies, trying to overthrow his empire!"
As Ashina He rode on horseback, he had a lot of doubts in his mind.
Once Ashina He was certain that the powerful families truly intended to cooperate with the Turks, working together from within and without to divide the Zhou dynasty's territory, he felt reassured.
However, he still did not have the idea of attacking the capital.
Are you kidding me!
He had only five thousand soldiers, while the capital city was heavily fortified and well-defended.
There are also nearly 30,000 troops in the West Camp, East Camp, and other camps.
They were deep in enemy territory alone, without reinforcements or logistical supplies.
Once surrounded by the troops of the Great Zhou, they will be completely annihilated.
Ashina He had already plundered along the way and acquired a considerable amount of wealth.
He planned to scout out the defenses around the capital, plunder a bit more, and then retreat quickly.
Unexpectedly, at that very moment, he encountered Fang Dafu, that damned eunuch.
He also received a personal letter from Empress Dowager Ashina, which was handed over by Fang Dafu.
In the letter, Empress Dowager Ashina expressed her willingness to facilitate a renewed marriage alliance between the Turks and the Great Zhou Dynasty.
The new emperor, Helian Jue, will marry the Turkic princess as his empress and is willing to offer a generous "betrothal gift".
The Great Zhou Dynasty would also open border markets and was willing to trade with the Turks.
Salt, porcelain, cloth, and even ironware from the Great Zhou Dynasty could be sold to the Turks.
The Turks, on the other hand, only needed to exchange cattle, sheep, furs, and other goods!
Anyway, according to Empress Dowager Ashina, the Turks could gain a great deal of benefits from the Great Zhou Dynasty!
This seems more worthwhile than launching an attack.
The Turks were a nomadic people who lived on horseback and did not know how to farm.
They prefer to graze their livestock freely.
Even if they cooperated with powerful families and overthrew the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Turks would not be able to establish a new dynasty and secure their rule like the Helian royal family.
Because the Turks could not, like the Xianbei, actively and repeatedly assimilate into Han culture.
The powerful families, on the other hand, would not allow the Turks to occupy the Central Plains.
They would establish their own new dynasty and become emperors themselves.
On the Turkic side, they sent troops and shed blood, but all they did was plunder slaves and valuables!
But if Empress Ashina's plan can be completed, the Turks will gain much more without even having to fight a war.
Moreover, this benefit is not a one-time thing, but can be continuous.
Ashina He was tempted.
He didn't even report to his father, the Khan, before making the decision on his own and agreeing to the Empress Dowager Ashina's request.
In any case, Empress Dowager Ashina's request was very simple: he only needed to lead his troops to surround the capital and make it look like an attack, so as to intimidate the newly enthroned emperor!
"Hehe, what did my dear aunt say before?" www.Bǐqυgétν.net
"We can get the Great Zhou Dynasty to negotiate peace without losing a single soldier, and even restore our former cooperative relationship with the Great Zhou Dynasty!"
"And what happened? It was all a lie! The good son she raised with her own hands wasn't an obedient dog at all, but a wolf cub!"
"Just a strange, broken ball, and some other weird things, and I lost half of my warriors!"
Ashina He felt a surge of anger when he thought of the promise his aunt had made to him and the crushing defeat he had just suffered.
He suddenly stood up and launched into a tirade against Fang Dafu: "Now, my dear aunt has sent you here again!"
"What! You think I haven't been beaten badly enough?"
Five thousand men—that was all the wealth this little Turkic prince possessed.
In just half a day, more than half of it was destroyed.
Ashina He did not rush to retreat, but waited for Empress Dowager Ashina's explanation.
Of course, a sliver of hope remained in his heart—
Perhaps Empress Dowager Ashina still had a way to remedy the situation.
As long as Ashina He can persuade the Great Zhou to seek peace with the Turks, he will not be considered to have failed.
Upon returning to the Turkic royal court, he remained a great contributor.
Whether it's recruiting new soldiers or the future Khanate, he still has room to compete.
However, if he cannot force the Great Zhou to back down, and he leads his remaining troops back, he will be met with attacks from other princes, his father's disappointment, and even punishment!
"What brilliant plan? What, does Auntie think she can get the Zhou army to turn around and help me attack the city?"
Ashina He was probably furious and started talking nonsense.
The effeminate Fang Dafu remained silent after entering the tent, letting Ashina He roar and vent his anger.
Upon hearing his words, Fang Dafu suddenly spoke up: "Your Highness, Ninth Prince, you truly are the Empress Dowager's nephew, and so intelligent indeed."
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