Restarting the Silk Road
*
The night was as dark as ink, and the Western Turkic envoys' procession was speeding along the only road back to the Turkic Khaganate.
Suddenly, countless torches lit up on both sides of the mountain path ahead, and the sound of arrows piercing the air arose!
"An ambush!" The Turkic guard had just drawn his sword when he was shot off his horse by a hail of arrows.
Yuwen Heng rode out, his black armor gleaming coldly in the firelight. He looked down at the besieged Western Turkic envoy, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Envoy, how have you been?"
The envoy's face turned deathly pale: "The Sixth Prince of Gaochang?! You..."
"Shh." Yuwen Heng raised his hand to signal, and the elite Gaochang troops behind him immediately killed all the remaining Turkic guards, leaving only the envoy.
“Now, you have two choices.” Yuwen Heng slowly wiped the blade of his sword. “One is to die here, your bones fed to the wolves; the other is to ‘escape’ back to the Turks and tell your Khan…”
He leaned down and whispered in the envoy's ear: "Tibet took your warhorses, but then turned its back on you and detained the delegation. You, on the other hand, escaped with great difficulty and were rescued by Gaochang."
The envoy's pupils constricted sharply: "You...you want to sow discord between the Turks and Tibet?!"
Yuwen Heng chuckled: "No, I'm giving you a better option—cooperate with Gaochang and divide up Tibet."
*
At dawn, three thousand elite troops from Gaochang, disguised as Western Turkic cavalry, quietly approached the Tibetan capital.
Xiao Zhouyan was dressed as a Turkic general, with a black iron mask covering half of his face, revealing only a pair of cold, piercing eyes.
He raised his hand and waved it, and the iron cavalry behind him instantly split into three groups:
He launched a feigned attack on the east gate while simultaneously cutting off the royal city's retreat route. He himself led his elite troops straight to the grain and supplies camp on the flank of the Tibetan royal palace.
“Remember,” he said in a low voice, “burn the granaries, release the warhorses, create chaos, and then retreat immediately. Don’t linger in battle.”
Wei Yi clasped his hands in acceptance of the order and immediately sounded the horn for attack.
"kill--!"
In an instant, fire arrows rained down, and beacon towers along the Tibetan border were engulfed in flames.
*
Early in the morning, Songtsen Gampo had just woken up when he received an urgent report.
"Your Highness! The Western Turkic army has launched a surprise attack on the border and has already breached three beacon towers!"
He jumped up, veins bulging on his forehead: "Western Turks? Have they gone mad?!"
The guard knelt down and urgently reported: "The scouts also said that those Turks were shouting 'The Tibetans have broken their promise and killed our envoy'..."
Songtsen Yunlie slammed his hand on the table, shattering it: "Absurd!"
Before he could finish speaking, another messenger rushed in: "Your Highness! Urgent report from the front! The Western Turkic vanguard has approached the capital by a hundred miles, and the leader is... their Left Wise King!"
The Left Wise King was the younger brother of the Western Turkic Khan and had always been a proponent of war.
He strode towards the outside of the palace, only to see thick smoke billowing over the royal city, and the distant sounds of warhorses neighing and people crying out.
Songtsen Yunlie clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white: "Order the entire army to prepare for battle!"
He stopped abruptly as he walked onto the city wall.
No! The Western Turkic envoy was still in the capital yesterday, how could he have turned into a large army pressing in this morning?
unless……
Someone is impersonating a Turk!
*
Xiao Zhouyan led his men to burn down the granaries of the Tibetan royal palace.
Wei Yi and his men cut off the royal city's retreat route.
Yuwen Heng's personal guards led an attack on the east gate.
[Yuwen Heng successfully released the Turkic envoy; it is expected that the Turkic Khan will receive news of 'Tibet's betrayal' within three days.]
Songtsen Gampo has mobilized the royal city's garrison and is preparing for a personal campaign.
The spies sent by Songtsen Gampo to the Turks were intercepted by Yuwen Heng.
The system broadcast the battle situation one by one.
Xu Qingyao leaned against the couch in Xiao Zhouyan's tent, eating the pastries he had brought from Liangzhou.
"Oh, these pastries would be even better if they were fresh out of the oven."
She hasn't had a proper meal in a long time.
[Beep beep—]
[Host, are you even listening? You weren't like this when you were begging me to give you battle updates.]
"Yes, of course I'm listening." Xu Qingyao finished her last bite and poured herself a cup of tea. "Are you done? If you're done, let's analyze who has a higher chance of winning."
[Analysis in progress... Both sides have their strengths and weaknesses, but overall, our side has a higher probability of winning.]
"Why?" It can't be because Xiao Zhouyan lived for quite a long time in the drama, can it?
[Because our side has higher combat strength, and Xiao Zhouyan has a "villainous aura," he definitely won't be offline so early.]
Qingyao: ...Very good, they really did think of the same thing.
"Oh right, where's my reward?" Xu Qingyao suddenly remembered that she should have completed the task.
[Beep—Mission complete. Please claim your reward promptly.]
*
Inside the Turkic king's tent, the envoy who had miraculously escaped knelt and wept, saying, "The Tubo took our warhorses, but then turned their backs on us! If it weren't for Gaochang's rescue, I would have already lost my life!"
The Turkic Khan was furious: "What a Tibetan! What a Songtsen Gampo!"
The envoy seized the opportunity to say, "Gaochang is willing to join forces with our Turks to share the territory of Tibet!"
The Khan sneered: "Issue the order! Send troops immediately to join forces with Gaochang to besiege Tibet!"
Three days later, the Turkic army marched in a grand procession to Bailong Salt Lake, preparing to join forces with the Gaochang army.
However, as they stepped into the salt lake swamp, a deafening sound of war drums suddenly erupted all around them!
"Release the arrows—!"
A rain of arrows poured down as elite troops from Gaochang, disguised as Tibetan soldiers, charged out from all directions!
Yuwen Heng charged ahead, his long sword pointed directly at the Turkic commander: "The Khan has broken his promise; today is your death day!"
The Turks then realized they had fallen into a trap, but it was too late. The swampy terrain restricted cavalry charges, and the Gaochang army had been lying in ambush for some time. The Turkic army suffered heavy losses and fled in panic.
*
A few days later, Yuwen Heng's and Xiao Zhouyan's armies met outside the Tibetan capital.
The east gate, which Songtsen Lobsang was stationed at, was breached. He himself was seriously wounded in the melee and captured alive by Gaochang soldiers.
Songtsen Gampo, however, was already quietly waiting inside the palace hall.
As Yuwen Heng stepped into the palace, Songzan Yunlie slowly raised his eyes, a complex smile playing on his lips:
"Strictly speaking, you're my younger brother."
"I never imagined we'd meet one day."
It turns out that Songtsen Gampo's father, who is also the current Zanpu, and Yuwen Heng's mother were cousins.
Back then, Yuwen Heng's maternal grandfather was sent to the Central Plains as a hostage, where he gave birth to Yuwen Heng's mother, Yuwen Yu. Later, Yuwen Yu was sent by the Tibetan Empire to marry into the Gaochang Kingdom, where she gave birth to Yuwen Heng.
Songtsen Gampo was the eldest son of the Tibetan king.
They should have been a family connected by blood.
Yuwen Heng sneered: "Who wants to be brothers with you?"
"Back then, wasn't it you who sent people to ambush my mother on her way back to Gaochang from Tibet?"
Songtsen Yunlie was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "That's right, it's me."
"But do you know why?"
Songtsen Gampo said, word by word, "It was indeed my order that your mother was attacked on her way back to Gaochang from Tibet." He paused, "But it was at her behest."
"What?!"
“She said that if her death could lead to the annexation of Gaochang by Tibet, then she would have died a worthy death.” Songtsen Yunlie slowly drew his sword. “Since you want revenge, then let’s have a good fight.”
Swords clashed, and the sound of metal clashing against metal filled the hall. Songzan Yunlie's swordsmanship was as sharp as the cold wind of a snow-capped mountain, but Yuwen Heng's moves were even more ruthless, each strike carrying a deep-seated hatred.
After a hundred moves, Songtsen Gampo was pierced through the chest by a sword.
He staggered backward, leaning back on the throne, blood flowing down the steps.
“Yuwen Heng…” He coughed up blood, but smiled, “Your mother was right…”
Before he could finish speaking, he breathed his last.
The Tibetan capital fell, and the Turks, suffering heavy losses, were forced to retreat. Gaochang annexed most of Tibet's territory, and Yuwen Heng personally hung Songtsen Yunlie's head above the capital to mourn his deceased mother.
Standing atop the city wall, Xiao Zhouyan gazed at the distant battlefield where the smoke of battle had dissipated, and murmured, "It's over."
Xu Qingyao walked to his side, handed him a plain handkerchief, and raised her small face: "Wipe your hands."
A month later, the Tibetan capital had been completely transformed.
The city walls were newly repaired, and the streets were filled with more and more vendors. The traces of war had been covered by the new prosperity. The people gradually adapted to the new rule, and in the markets, one could even hear the sounds of Gaochang merchants and Tibetan herders haggling over prices.
The city, once ravaged by war, is now at peace, except that the flags flying atop the city walls have changed from Tibetan eagles to Gaochang black wolves.
Yuwen Heng stood at the highest point of the palace, overlooking the brand-new capital, Crescent City.
"Your Majesty, the envoy from Great Zhou has arrived outside the city," the guard reported respectfully.
Yuwen Heng's lips curled slightly: "Let him in."
Xiao Zhouyan, dressed in a dark brocade robe with the golden seal of the Great Zhou envoy hanging at his waist, and followed by a team of elite guards, stepped into the city gate of Crescent Moon City.
On both sides of the street, the people curiously observed the distinguished envoy and whispered among themselves.
"I heard he is the Zhenyuan General of the Great Zhou Dynasty..."
"But wasn't he like this before..."
"Shh, don't talk nonsense. Now that Tibet has been returned to Gaochang, isn't it a good thing that the Great Zhou is coming to discuss business?"
Xiao Zhouyan kept his eyes straight ahead and walked directly towards the palace.
At the palace gate, Yuwen Heng personally greeted them.
The two exchanged a glance, and Xiao Zhouyan nodded slightly: "King of Gaochang."
Yuwen Heng smiled slightly: "General Xiao, how have you been?"
*
Xiao Zhouyan went to the palace to meet Yuwen Heng, while Xu Qingyao stayed at the post station to rest.
A maid brought over hot tea and snacks, and said respectfully, "Please do not hesitate to ask if you need anything, Miss."
Xu Qingyao nodded, and after the maid left, she opened the window and looked at the pedestrians coming and going on the street.
The system suddenly announced: [Beep—Unlocked story character "Shen Rou"]
Xu Qingyao raised an eyebrow. The female lead has arrived.
*
Inside the main hall, Xiao Zhouyan unfolded a sheepskin map, his fingertips tracing a winding route—the Silk Road.
"The Great Zhou is willing to restore friendly relations with Gaochang and reopen trade routes." He raised his eyes, his voice steady, "Jade and spices from the Western Regions, and silk and porcelain from the Central Plains, can all be exchanged."
Yuwen Heng tapped the armrest lightly with his fingertips, a half-smile on his face: "Is the Great Zhou suddenly being so generous?"
Xiao Zhouyan said calmly, "Once the trade routes are opened, both countries will benefit."
Yuwen Heng stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Alright."
He stood up, walked to Xiao Zhouyan, and extended his hand: "Gaochang and Da Zhou are now allied."
Xiao Zhouyan reached out and shook his hand, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips: "It's been a pleasure working with you."
The markets of Crescent Moon City had an even more exotic feel than those of the Gaochang capital. Tibetan woolen carpets, spices from the Western Regions, and silks from the Central Plains were on display in abundance.
Xu Qingyao stopped in front of a herbal medicine stall, fiddling with the dried snow lotus with her fingertips.
"Young lady, you have a good eye!" the stall owner laughed. "This is a rare delicacy from the snow-capped mountains; brewing it into tea can prolong life!"
Just as she was about to take out her silver, a soft voice suddenly came from behind her: "Could I have this snow lotus?"
Xu Qingyao turned around and saw a woman in an elegant long dress standing behind her, with gentle eyes and a smile on her lips.
[Host, you're the female lead! You're the female lead!]
The system shouted excitedly.
Xu Qingyao's head was throbbing: Shut up, whose comrade are you anyway?
Should I give it to her just because she says she wants it?
"Of course." She smiled slightly and handed over the fabric. "Take it if you like it, young lady."
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