The beautiful assassin Gu Yina was imprisoned by Chen Huai'an and taken into the army to fight against the Uyghur Khanate.
Chen Huai'an did not explain to her face in person when she made the accusations.
Firstly, facts speak louder than words, and a remarkable life needs no explanation;
Secondly, as the Prince of Jin, Chen Huai'an had no reason to explain anything to a young lady from a security escort agency at Yumen Pass. Not exiling her to the supply camp to do hard labor for the troops was already an act of leniency.
However, this assassination attempt also served as a wake-up call for Chen Huai'an.
As the saying goes, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark.
The journey to conquer the Western Regions is far from peaceful!
As for Xiao Po, the commander of the Imperial Guard who failed to protect the emperor, Chen Huai'an demoted him to the supply camp to feed horses, to observe his future performance.
Clear distinction between rewards and punishments is the foundation upon which the Longcheng Jingnan Army stands, and no one is an exception.
The next day.
The 100,000-strong Longcheng Jingnan Army continued its march towards the outside of Yumen Pass.
The further west you go, the more severe the desertification becomes, and the fewer people there are.
Upon learning of Chen Huai'an's attack the previous night, the valiant General Pang Xianchu, who was accompanying him, voluntarily stayed behind to take over Xiao Po's position as commander of the Golden Guard.
The two rode side by side on the westward expedition road, amidst the endless yellow sand, chatting idly.
Chen Huai'an said, "Pang Xianchu, you followed the late king on several expeditions to the Western Regions back then, so you must know a lot about the Western Regions. I've heard that the grapes in the Western Regions are very sweet, is that right?"
Pang Xianchu replied, "Your Highness, that is indeed the case. The Western Regions have abundant sunshine and a large temperature difference between day and night, which is more conducive to the growth of grapes. The fresh white grapes are crystal clear and have a sweet taste, far superior to the raisins sent to the interior every year!"
As he spoke, Pang Xianchu couldn't help but swallow, as if recalling the sweet taste from his memory.
"Oh, really?"
Chen Huai'an smiled and said, "I have heard that the late emperor sent the late king to conquer the Western Regions because his favorite concubine, Wenren Yu, liked to eat fresh white grapes from the Western Regions. Is that true?"
Cough cough!
When this topic came up, Pang Xianchu couldn't help but cough twice, scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, and said, "Your Highness, do you really believe these hearsay rumors?"
Pang Xianchu glanced around warily before moving closer to Chen Huai'an and lowering his voice to continue, "Sending troops to the Western Regions just for grapes? That's a lie!"
"Your Highness, you must have seen the face of the female assassin who tried to kill you last night, right?"
At this point, Pang Xianchu said in a serious tone, "To be honest, Your Highness, the female assassin's appearance can only be considered slightly above average in the entire Western Regions."
"If there is an opportunity during this campaign against the Uyghurs, I will certainly find a way to let Your Highness experience the true exotic culture!"
"By then, His Highness will no longer believe the nonsense that sending troops to the Western Regions is just for raisins!"
Hahaha!
After hearing Pang Xianchu's words, Chen Huai'an couldn't help but burst into laughter.
He knew perfectly well that the emperors of past dynasties never went to the Western Regions because of raisins.
Besides the important strategic position of the Western Regions to the Central Plains dynasties, there was an even more important reason: the exotic beauties of the Western Regions.
Food and sex are human nature.
It's only human nature!
What amused him was that the usually serious and stern General Pang Xianchu also had such a wicked side.
"Report—"
"Your Highness, we have discovered a village ahead. The General of the Flying Cavalry requests that Your Highness proceed to assess the situation!"
At that moment, a messenger from the army suddenly rode up to report.
However, the fact that Huo Qubing insisted on personally inspecting a village, something so trivial, surprised both of them.
"knew!"
Chen Huai'an waved his hand and said, "I'll be right there!"
After speaking, he and Pang Xianchu exchanged a glance, then rode forward one after the other, following the messenger's directions, to the village that even General Huo Qubing, the cavalry commander, couldn't decide on.
Soon, Chen Huai'an and his group arrived at the village located in the yellow sand.
General Huo Qubing had been waiting at the village entrance for a long time.
"General Huo, didn't we already issue the order last night? All suspicious villages along the army's route must be razed to the ground to prevent Western Region assassins from hiding there and attempting to assassinate His Highness Prince Jin!"
Pang Xianchu, who temporarily took over as commander of the Golden Guard, was the first to ask a question.
It turns out that after news of Chen Huai'an's assassination last night spread, the generals of Longcheng held an emergency military meeting overnight, based on the testimony of the beautiful assassin, Gu Yina.
Adhering to the principle of "better to kill three thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free," Pang Xianchu made the decision that from then on, all suspicious villages and people along the army's march would be killed without exception.
From the moment the army stepped out of Yumen Pass, it had officially entered the enemy's controlled territory, and any personnel that appeared could be enemy spies.
To avoid exposing the army's whereabouts and to prevent the assassination attempt on the Prince of Jin from happening again, such a ruthless policy was formulated.
Faced with Pang Xianchu's question, the young General Huo Qubing did not answer. Instead, he cupped his hands to Chen Huai'an and said, "Your Highness, why don't you go and see the village for yourself?"
Um!
Chen Huai'an nodded and rode his horse directly into the village.
at the same time.
Gu Yina, who was being held captive in the army, also keenly noticed Chen Huai'an and his group entering this ancient village scattered in the yellow sand.
My heart leaped into my throat.
His bright, deep eyes revealed both concern and fear.
This village was the place where the survivors of Green Willow Manor, including women, children, and the elderly, were taken in.
Recalling her attempt to assassinate Chen Huai'an last night, Gu Yina couldn't help but worry about the families and kind villagers in the village, fearing that Chen Huai'an would take his anger out on these innocent people for the assassination.
In the "Proclamation to Punish the Rebels" by the Uyghur Khan Huai Ren, Chen Huai'an was described as an extremely wicked person.
After the uprising, his army in Longcheng frequently massacred villages and cities when faced with unarmed and innocent civilians.
Thinking of this, Gu Yina, who was tied up and thrown onto the supply wagon, couldn't help but shout, "Chen Huai'an, you have to take responsibility for your actions!"
"Assassinating you was my idea alone, Gu Yina Zha's idea. If you have any problems, come at me. What kind of skill is it to bully unarmed women, children, and the elderly!"
"Chen Huai'an, let go!"
"Chen Huai'an, you'll be punished by heaven for this! You'll be struck by lightning!"
"Chen Huai'an—"
However, no matter how loudly Gu Yina shouted, no one responded.
The soldiers, who had already received orders from the Prince of Jin, ignored Gu Yina's hysteria and didn't even glance at her, treating her as if she were invisible.
Gu Yina was tied to the carriage and unable to move, her fair face already covered in tears.
As the supply wagons passed through the village, Gu Yinaza forced herself to look up, suppressing her grief.
The next moment, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
Her large, almond-shaped eyes stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding at the village entrance.
The families of Green Willow Manor, along with all the villagers, stood at the village entrance, waving goodbye to Chen Huai'an and his army.
Their faces were clearly filled with gratitude.
Gu Yina then noticed that ten supply wagons carrying grain were parked at the village entrance, unloading sacks full of grain.
She also saw Chen Huai'an gently supporting his elderly grandmother, standing in the most conspicuous place at the entrance of the village, waving continuously at the supply wagon that Gu Yina was riding in, his lips moving as if he were saying something to her.
Although Gu Yinazha couldn't hear her grandmother's words, she could guess the gist of what her grandmother was saying from her grandmother's expressions and actions.
Grandma told her that everything was fine at home and that she could go with Prince Jin in peace.
At this moment, Gu Yina could no longer hold back her tears.
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