The endless Gobi Desert really makes people feel like they can't tell east from west, south from north. Although the sun has risen and he can tell the direction, the problem is that he didn't pay attention to the direction when he came!
For a moment, Liu Tan felt extremely embarrassed. If he really had to lead the way, he might never be able to get out of this desert in his lifetime.
He did have a map in his hand, but in such an environment, the map was useless because there was no reference!
It seems that maps alone are useless. No matter how detailed a map is, it is not a three-dimensional spatial guide. Ordinary people still need to use a compass if they want to find their way. This thing must be put on the agenda!
Liu Tan suddenly understood Li Guang, and at the same time he became more and more impressed by Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, who had their own positioning systems. People who had not experienced it would probably never be able to imagine how difficult it was to lead a large army to accurately locate the enemy's position in such an environment.
As for the fact that he intercepted the Xiongnu cavalry, it was actually more likely that the Xiongnu cavalry took the initiative to come to him.
Liu Tan turned his head and looked behind him, ready to find someone to lead the way. He brought so many people with him, there must be one person he knew, right?
And... they say an old horse knows the way, maybe their horses can recognize the way too?
As for the little white horse, he didn't count on it anymore. Its big eyes revealed confusion, and it looked unreliable.
And the most reliable one is probably Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan saw Liu Tan's confusion, and while suppressing his laughter, he talked to him to divert his attention and led him in the right direction.
As Liu Tan was talking to him, he realized that a large army was advancing and was extremely embarrassed for a moment. He wanted to cover up his embarrassment by looking at the scenery around him, but it turned out that there was nothing to see in this shabby place.
The only person who can be regarded as a painting is right next to him.
Liu Tan could only lower his head and touch his little white horse, while secretly sighing in his heart that the horse was not doing well.
But... Liu Tan wondered if Lu Xuan would take him somewhere else. He hadn't mentioned where their camp was, or had someone sent by Lu Xuan found out?
Of course, he didn't suspect Lu Xuan of monitoring him. Or rather, at this moment, if he were Lu Xuan, he would also try his best to find out the other party's movements.
It has nothing to do with feelings, it’s just because this place can barely be considered his territory!
In fact, Lu Xuan did not know where Liu Tan's army was stationed, but he could judge.
There are only a few places suitable for stationing around the Jie Country, and if we want to prevent the Jie Country from discovering us in advance, this will further narrow the scope.
As long as he takes Liu Tan to that area, it will be fine. It's impossible that Liu Tan won't know the way there, right?
Even if Liu Tan didn't recognize the person behind him, there should be someone who knew him.
In fact, this was exactly the case. When they were almost there, Liu Tan finally saw the terrain that was more familiar to him, and then he took Lu Xuan all the way back to the base.
When he returned, Miao Rui and Big Gao were walking in circles outside. They wanted to follow him, but Liu Tan forced them to stay because he didn't want his men to take care of two more people.
Miao Rui and Bigo were thinking about how they should commit suicide if something happened to the Fifth Prince when they returned, when they finally saw a group of people returning with a head.
Well, take the heads. After all, these are military merits. Liu Tan doesn’t care but he has to think about his subordinates, so he has people bring them back even if it’s disgusting.
Miao Rui and Bigo were dumbfounded when they saw Liu Tan - why were there so many people fighting outside?
They accepted the fact that there were no casualties. After all, it seemed like their prince took away a lot of strange things when he left. But...what's the situation if more people are killed the more they fight?
After they went to meet him, they found out that it was not that their prince had more people the more he fought, but that their prince had kidnapped a little Wusun Kunmi when he went out to fight.
Liu Tan dismounted and asked, "How is the situation?"
Bigao said quickly: "Everything is going well, the city gate has been opened, but the Jie Kingdom has not only the outer city gate but also an inner city, and they are now attacking the inner city."
Liu Tan hummed in silence. It was too early to say that he was relieved. The inner city must have stronger defense than the outer city. Apart from anything else, the city had shrunk in size, so there were fewer places to guard. Then the soldiers could be concentrated and the defense force would naturally be greater.
Liu Tan turned around and said, "You've all worked hard today. Let's celebrate our achievements first, and then rest."
Qu Rui's face turned pale as he said, "Your Highness...what should we do with these heads?"
He had never seen so many heads in his life. This was really an eye-opener.
Liu Tan didn't dare look back. He turned to Lu Xuan and asked, "Will you be able to use the head?"
Lu Xuan was stunned for a moment: "In other words... a reward."
To be honest, he learned this method of recording merits from the big man. In the past, they used wooden pieces to record merits and then counted them. After all, there was no written record.
Liu Tan nodded: "Then I'll send someone to help you mark it down. You can reward them as you like. I'll lend you the heads."
Lu Xuan couldn't help but ask, "What...what do you want the head for?"
Liu Tan sneered: "Pile Jingguan!"
Lu Xuan was shocked for a moment after hearing this, and then he heard Liu Tan order: "After the merit is awarded, have these heads transported to the front line and piled up into a Jingguan for the robbers to see."
Although this is the head of a Hun, the more it is like this, the more pressure it will bring to the robbers.
In the Western Regions, the Huns' military strength was definitely at the ceiling level. The Huns were defeated by him, so was there any need to talk about robbing the country?
People tend to lose their composure when they are under pressure. This is called attacking the heart. No matter whether it is useful or not, just use it first.
Lu Xuan looked at Liu Tan thoughtfully, feeling as if he had learned something new. The civilization of the Han Dynasty was truly unfathomable. Every time he thought he understood this dynasty well enough, this dynasty would always surprise him.
No, the person who really surprised him was the one in front of him.
Liu Tan turned around and asked, "You've been busy for several days, right? Do you want to rest first?"
Liu Tan was really tired. He had not slept well since he started the expedition. Last night he was worried at first, and then he led the troops to the battle.
This string has been stretched for too long, he has to take a break no matter what, otherwise he will collapse before the country collapses.
After hearing this, Lu Xuan actually felt a little embarrassed and asked, "With you?"
Liu Tan: ...
What are you thinking about?
He said expressionlessly, "We don't need this tent."
Lu Xuan's expression instantly showed regret, but he was not surprised at all. He was just joking with Liu Tan.
How could he not sense the nervousness in Liu Tan's heart? Even if he appeared calm and composed on the surface, Liu Tan was actually more serious than usual. For example, his posture was always straight, and he looked tired.
After Liu Tan had Lu Xuan and his men settled down, he went to wash up. After washing up and eating something simple, he prepared to go to bed.
However, he couldn't fall asleep no matter what. His body was obviously very tired, but his mind was extremely excited. He closed his eyes and tried his best to stop his thoughts from wandering, but they were still jumping around.
From the gold mine to Chang'an, I even thought about how Li Guangli and Jiang Chong were doing now.
Finally, Liu Tandu considered whether he should get some calming soup, but he was worried that the taste of it would make it even harder for him to fall asleep.
Yes, the taste of Anshen Soup is actually very, very unacceptable.
Liu Tan sat on the bed holding the quilt, feeling melancholy and thinking how it would be great if he had sleeping pills.
Miao Rui was serving beside him. He had long heard Liu Tan tossing and turning because he couldn't sleep. Seeing him sit up, he couldn't help but ask cautiously, "Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?"
Miao Rui's heart was in his throat. Could he really be sick?
Liu Tan scratched his hair and said irritably, "I can't sleep. Forget it, I'd better not sleep."
Miao Rui immediately said, "I'll have someone make some soothing tonic for His Highness. Just take some."
Liu Tan waved his hand and said, "Forget it. Let's not bother with these things while we're away on a campaign. Besides, we may not even have the materials."
This time they were on a rush, ensuring only the most basic supplies.
How could the supplements delivered to him be so cheap? So the most likely possibility was that there were no materials here at all.
Liu Tan rubbed his face and said, "Forget it. I can't sleep anyway, so I might as well get up."
He had just finished saying this when he heard a young eunuch outside shout, "Your Highness, the young Kunmi is here to visit."
Liu Tan was a little surprised. Lu Xuan didn't go to sleep?
You know, judging from Lu Xuan's schedule, he should be more tired than himself, and there is nothing that can make him nervous now, so why not sleep?
Liu Tan let someone in while thinking about going downstairs to put on his clothes first, but he didn't expect Lu Xuan to come in so quickly. He didn't wait outside politely as usual, but just barged in directly.
Liu Tan always slept however he felt comfortable, so at this moment he was wrapped in a blanket with disheveled hair. He was completely stunned when he saw Lu Xuan coming in - damn, he couldn't show his current appearance to outsiders!
However, Lu Xuan felt that Liu Tan looked very handsome like this. With his long hair loose, his face looked smaller and his facial features softer.
Lu Xuan thought that he had heard the Han Chinese have a phrase called "looks like a beautiful woman" before. At that time, he barely understood its meaning, but now he really understood it.
He walked over and said as he was thinking, "I guessed that you might be having trouble sleeping. This is a kind of calming incense that I have been using. The ingredients are simple, but very effective. You can try it."
Lu Xuan said as he handed over a small cloth bag.
Compared to the other things Lu Xuan had given him before, that small cloth bag was not exquisite at all, and could even be said to be simple.
However, when Lu Xuan extended his hand, Liu Tan smelled a faint fragrance, which really calmed his troubled mind.
His hands are really beautiful, white, slender, and seem to have strength, Liu Tan thought dazedly. He reached out to take the cloth bag and lowered his head to smell it. Then he said hesitantly: "Well... thank you, but give it to me, what about you?"
Lu Xuan smiled and said, "I have my own. I made this for you. I got the materials from the army, and I have all the records."
The last half of Lu Xuan's sentence seemed redundant, but in fact he was telling Liu Tan, or rather the people around him, that he had not added anything that was not necessary.
Miao Rui felt relieved, but still decided to send someone to check it out later.
Liu Tan's mind was a little confused due to fatigue, and it took him a while to react: "Oh, then...you should go and rest quickly too."
Lu Xuan suddenly said, "When I was in Chang'an, I learned a little from a doctor, so I know how to relax. If you don't mind, why don't you let me help you relax?"
If it were the usual Liu Tan, he would definitely refuse.
But now his mind was full of only one thought: I want to sleep.
When people are extremely sleepy but can't fall asleep, they will accept any method, so he nodded directly.
Lu Xuan smiled faintly and was about to say something when Liu Tan asked, "What are the grades?"
Lu Xuan said, "Just lie down. Don't worry about it. Leave it to me."
Liu Tan hesitated for a moment, then lay down and closed his eyes.
Lu Xuan sat beside him and first admired the beauty's sleeping face, then reached out to help Liu Tan press the acupoints.
Before his hand could even touch Liu Tan, he heard the messenger outside shout, "Report, Your Highness, the inner city has been breached!"
Liu Tan, who was about to fall asleep, opened his eyes instantly and jumped up with a somersault: "Really?"
Lu Xuan's hand froze in mid-air.
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