This scene wasn't something Chen Huai'an deliberately put on for the exotic beauty assassin Gu Yina Zha to see.
He didn't have the time or the inclination to put on a sentimental show to try and move the assassin who was trying to kill him, or to stage a scene where a beautiful foreign woman falls in love with him.
In fact, when he entered the village in the desert and saw a group of elderly, weak, women and children who were being driven out of their dugouts by the vanguard scouts of the army, he was immediately moved with compassion.
The young people in the village, both men and women, were abducted by the barbaric Tibetans. They were either forced into the army as laborers or sold to various countries in the Western Regions, becoming playthings kept by the local powerful and wealthy.
The remaining elderly, weak, and children were even more destitute, lacking proper clothing and food.
If Chen Huai'an doesn't offer assistance, the more than one hundred elderly and weak people in the village will definitely not survive this cold winter.
This is why Huo Qubing, the General of the Cavalry who was in charge of scouting the way for the army, ultimately could not bring himself to kill the old, weak, women and children of the village, even though he had already received military orders. Instead, he handed over the authority to Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin.
Although Chen Huai'an had learned from his conversation with the old woman in the village that they were the family members of the assassins who had tried to kill him.
However, Chen Huai'an still did not punish them.
Instead, the supply train was ordered to leave them enough food and tea bricks to get through the winter.
This led to the touching scene where the entire village, young and old, walked out of the village entrance together to wave goodbye to the Longcheng Expeditionary Army.
This was originally an unintentional act by Chen Huai'an, but it inadvertently influenced Gu Yinazha, who was determined to assassinate Chen Huai'an.
As the army set off again, Gu Yina, who was tied to a supply wagon and marching with the army, looked at the tall figure riding on the yellow horse with her bright and deep almond eyes. The hatred in her eyes seemed to have lessened.
The Longcheng westward expeditionary army continued its march through the desolate desert where yellow sand filled the sky.
After passing Dunhuang, the army split into two.
One route was led by General Huo Qubing, with 30,000 elite cavalrymen heading towards Khotan, one of the four towns of Anxi.
Another route was led by Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin, who personally led 70,000 infantry and cavalry out of Dunhuang, passed through Gaochang, and relieved the siege of Yanqi, Kucha, and Shule.
The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month in the first year of Lingwu was the traditional Laba Festival of the Chinese nation.
At this time of year, Yanqi Town, one of the four towns of Anxi, would already be filled with the sounds of firecrackers and drums, a lively scene welcoming the New Year.
Caravans traveling between the interior and the Western Regions would often adapt to local customs, transporting large quantities of items such as red lanterns, couplets, and sweets from the interior to the markets in Yanqi City for sale.
The twelfth and first months of each year are also the most prosperous times in each town.
However, on this year's Laba Festival, Yanqi City was desolate.
Apart from the armored and armed soldiers of the Anxi border army who patrolled the city from time to time and changed shifts on the city walls, few ordinary people entered or left the vast city of Yanqi.
Only 20,000 Anxi border troops were stationed in Yanqi City.
Outside Yanqi City, the Uyghur Khan, Kuli Peiluo, had personally led a coalition army of 100,000 from the Western Regions, completely surrounding the city.
Since September of the first year of Lingwu, when the Tubo launched a major attack on Hexi and Longyou, cutting off the connection between the four garrisons of Anxi and the imperial court, and then to the siege of the city by the Western Regions allied forces in late October.
The Anxi border troops in Yanqi City have not made contact with the outside world for almost three months.
Trade and commerce were completely disrupted after Gulipeiro led his army to besiege the city.
Currently, the reserves of grain, fodder, and meat in Yanqi City can last for three to five months without any problem.
However, the supply of tea bricks, fruits and vegetables had already been cut off a month ago.
Salt reserves are also running low.
If the soldiers and civilians in the city could grit their teeth and persevere without fruits, vegetables, and tea bricks to supplement vitamins, then if the supply of fine salt were cut off, the soldiers would probably not even have the strength to hold their swords and defend the city within half a month.
By then, Yanqi City will fall without a fight!
On this day, in the council hall of the Yanqi City Garrison.
Tan Li, the highest-ranking military commander in the city and a third-rank military officer, was convening a meeting of his generals from the Anxi border army to discuss matters related to defending against the enemy.
"General, I have personally gone to the supply camp to check the grain and fodder reserves!"
The speaker was Lin Chun, the deputy commander of Yanqi City. In front of Lieutenant General Tan Li and a group of Yanqi garrison commanders, he continued:
"Currently, the grain and supplies are enough to feed the soldiers and civilians in the city for more than three months, but the tea bricks and fruits and vegetables have long been exhausted. The number of people in the city suffering from scurvy has surged in recent days, and a small number of soldiers in the barracks have also begun to fall ill."
"Furthermore, the city's salt reserves are also about to run out, at most enough to feed the soldiers and civilians in the city for one month."
“In recent days, I have tried many methods and sent out many elite soldiers out of the city to seek help, but none of them have been able to break through the blockade of the Uyghur enemy.”
"It would be difficult for the Yanqi City garrison to replenish the city's scarce supplies on its own."
Inside the council hall, Tan Li, the adjutant general, sat in the main seat and nodded wearily.
He then instructed, "Deputy General Lin, prepare a notice to inform the people of the city that from today onwards, the supply of fine salt to the people of the city will be changed from once every three days to once every seven days, and the fine salt will be given priority to the soldiers."
"If ordinary people don't eat salt for a few days, at most they'll just lack the strength to work."
"If soldiers go without salt for a few days, Yanqi City probably won't be able to be defended!"
Tan Li waved his hand and said, "Next topic: Is there any news about the messenger sent to the General's Office in Anxi?"
Actually, as soon as Tan Li asked the question, he suddenly realized what was going on.
Right now, the Uyghur Khan Guli Peiluo's army of 100,000 has already completely surrounded Yanqi City. Not to mention messengers, not even a sparrow can fly over.
"Reporting to the general, no!"
Soon, Tan Li's subordinates responded.
Tan Li added, "Today is Laba Festival. In previous years, the army would slaughter cattle and sheep to celebrate at this time. This year is special, so please tell the kitchen to cook some Laba porridge for the brothers!"
"I still have some sweets in my residence. Take them to the kitchen and give them to the head chef later!"
As he spoke, Tan Li smiled wryly and continued, "Perhaps this is the last Laba Festival we will all celebrate. Letting the brothers have a bowl of sweet Laba porridge is my way of showing my appreciation!"
"Report—"
"Reporting to the General, the Uyghurs have sent an envoy to request an audience; they are right below the city walls!"
Just then, the voice of a messenger suddenly came from outside the council hall.
oh?
Upon hearing this, Tan Li frowned slightly and muttered to himself, "Guli Peiluo is like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken—he's up to no good!"
Having said that, he suddenly stood up from his chair and said sternly, "Men, help me put on my armor! I want to go up to the city wall myself to meet the Uyghur envoy and see what other tricks these Western Region barbarians have up their sleeves!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
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