Even though the guards were suffering from various physical discomforts, their military qualities were definitely not something to boast about. After passing the Jishi Mountain Pass, they immediately set up a guard formation. According to custom, they also sent out scouts to investigate the surroundings.
But before Cheng Zhijie could finish his thoughts, several black spots appeared in front of them, lingering in the distance without coming up, like vultures that saw food and couldn't move away.
Everyone knows that even if they are not Tubo people, they must be followers of the Tubo people.
This was something to be expected. The Tang army was stationed on the north side of Jishi Mountain, and the Tubo people who had suffered a huge loss would naturally not relax their vigilance.
Cheng Zhijie and Hou Junji looked at each other and saw tension in each other's eyes.
Although the two unlucky guys have very different personalities, they are both very afraid of death.
Hou Junji had been leading troops in Liangzhou, and of course he knew how the Tang army treated Tibetan prisoners of war and envoys.
Cheng Zhijie was no longer ignorant about this, and was even more frightened.
When they first came to the highlands, the only thing they could rely on was the identity of the envoys from the Tang Dynasty. If the Tubo people didn't recognize them or knew what happened to the envoys they sent before, then their trip would be a self-inflicted trap.
What was a little comforting was that the people from the Military Intelligence Department had already arrived at the high ground first. Although no news was sent back, the Tibetans did not send their heads back.
Cheng Zhijie forced out a smile and said, "Don't be afraid, dear brother, I, old Cheng, will definitely be able to keep everyone safe."
His words were more like comforting himself, but they were not convincing at all in Hou Junji's ears. He shook his head feebly, "What am I afraid of? If I was afraid of losing my life, why would I go this way with my brother?"
Suffer?"
Both guys were emboldening themselves, even if they were ambitious when leading troops, because their fate would be in their own hands. At this moment, as soon as the feeling of resignation came over, they both became timid.
Cheng Dabeard calmed down and immediately called the guide to lead the way. He quickly found a place to rest. It would be best to find a Tuyuhun or Qiang tribe and inquire with them about the situation in the highlands first.
Although it is also very dangerous, according to reports from Liangzhou, the tribes in the highlands who were short of food and clothing last winter are resisting the oppression and rule of the Tubo people. In other words, it is very chaotic here, and some tribes may treat the guests as guests.
The fat sheep come to be slaughtered.
But compared to the Tubo people, Cheng Dabeard and Hou Junji would rather deal with the local aborigines first.
……………………
The desolation on the highlands is really hard to describe. It is different from the windy and sandy Hexi area. There are more grassland vegetation here, but both the trees and the grass are very short. Even in the middle of summer, they are probably not very lush.
It's not exactly called a wilderness.
The vitality of the animals and plants here is very tenacious, but it is far from being called vibrant.
Especially the weather, it is much colder in the highlands than in the north, and it looks like winter is about to enter.
After leaving Jishi Pass, the team began to move forward slowly. They couldn't go any faster even if they wanted to. Both the people and the horses were weak in such a place, so they could only adapt slowly.
That is to say, after walking less than ten miles, a large group of cavalry finally appeared in their sight, and the Tibetan soldiers and horses arrived.
Cheng Dabeard stopped his progress and took a quick look. There were almost two hundred people coming across from them. Judging from their uniforms and flags, they must all be Tibetan people.
The Tubo people gathered around and some were shouting. Cheng Dabeard was quite talented in languages. He had already roughly learned the Turkic language on the way to Dunhuang.
In fact, it’s nothing. Except for Chinese, other languages nowadays tend to be simple, with very few phrases. Once you master some common words, you can almost express yourself to the other party.
In Liangzhou, he also learned some tribal languages such as Tuyuhun. It was a hodgepodge mixed with Chinese dialects and Turkic sentences, and the main body was Xianbei. It showed that the Tuyuhun people did not have their own systematic language at all.
It is said that they are the descendants of the Xianbei people, which should have some basis.
The Tubo language is another story. Due to being too closed, they have not been much influenced by the civilization of the Central Plains and the grassland nomads. The language family is self-contained, with only a slight indirect influence from Tianzhu and the Western Regions, and some foreign words.
There were two guides who knew some Tubo language and tried their best to translate for Cheng Zhijie. The other party was asking where they were from and what they were doing. If they were a caravan, they would have to hand over some goods before they could be released.
Cheng Zhijie looked at the flag of the sun, moon and stars flying above his head, and felt that either the Tubo people were blind, or that these people were too ignorant. Just like the Golden Wolf flag of the Turks, was the flag of the sun, moon and stars a flag that merchants dared to fly?
?
"Tell them that we are envoys from the Tang Dynasty and want to see their nemmaben."
Before coming, he had discussed with Fan Wenjin, Zhang Lun and others, and felt that he should try his best to avoid the Tubo people stationed on the highlands and head to Tubo quietly.
Tubo is still a long way from the highlands, probably no closer than going to Dunhuang.
Fan Wenjin, Zhang Lun and others are indeed thinking about them. Not to mention the abuse that Nangnie sent over in Liangzhou, let’s just say that according to the rules of the Central Plains, it is not a good thing to have an affair with a border general, and it is likely to cause
Some unnecessary troubles make this trip more difficult.
However, Cheng Dabeard and Hou Junji's understanding of Tubo was not comparable to that of Liangzhou's ministers. All the information they obtained was obtained from the mouths of Tibetan envoys from the Military Intelligence Department.
Whether it is the customs and habits of the Tubo people, the political situation in the country, or the military, the information is much more complete than the piecemeal information obtained in Liangzhou.
Cheng Zhijie and Hou Junji discussed it in private. Hou Junji was still a little hesitant, but Cheng Dabeard thought that he had to worship the god at whichever temple he went to.
The guard of the Tubo people in the highlands is Nang Ni. There is no other person with more authority than him. You must make friends with such a person before going to the Tubo Kingdom. Besides, is he someone you can avoid if you want?
If this is Wagang, how can you join the gang if you don't hand over a certificate of investment?
Cheng Dabeard has a great idea. In fact, as he said, the high ground is now Nang Nie's territory. If you want to go there safely, you can't do it without saying hello to him.
The guide stepped forward and stammered. Cheng Dabeard, Hou Junji, and the guards around them all watched nervously. This was their first contact with the Tubo people, and they had no idea what the outcome would be.
Now it seems that the Tubo people are quite polite and speak with swords and arrows before they come up. This is somewhat different from the rumors in Liangzhou. I wonder if they are the group that believes in Buddhism.
………………
On the bank of Bohai Sea, Fuqi City.
"Zanpu ascended to heaven?"
Nang Nie, who received the secret report from the south, asked in shock. The sudden news shocked his mind, and fear instinctively surged up from the bottom of his heart.
Langri Lunzan was the founder of Tubo, the king of Luoxue City, the favorite of the gods, and the greatest king under the gods. Many people thought that he would rule Tubo forever.
He is still alive in the world, and legends about him have spread throughout the mountains and streams there, and even the gods believed in by some tribes have to make way for his statues.
In the minds of those who worshiped him, he was a god walking on the earth. Such a person died, and Nang Nie felt that the sky became much darker.
But after the shock, the taste became much more complicated. Even deep in his heart, there was a voice echoing that he was finally dead...
After the founding of Tubo, many bold innovations were carried out. In order to unite the Tubo people to his side, Langri Lunzan spared no effort to consolidate his royal power.
But in the end he failed...
After a long time, Nang Nie stood up and prostrated on the ground, chanting a sacrificial speech to see his king off.
When he stood up, his face was clouded and sad, and he asked: "How did the king die?"
The emissary from the south looked at him anxiously, shook his head and said: "I don't know, some people say that he was poisoned to death... But with the gods above, who dares to do this? They will definitely kill the son of the gods.
It will be burned to ashes by God's wrath."
Nang Nie angrily hammered his leg and said loudly: "Yu Bobu, Zanggu, what are they doing? Are they still opposing the king? Is it really any good for them if the king goes to the kingdom of gods?"
At this time, Nang Nie finally regained his sense. Zamp shouldn't have died like this, at least he shouldn't have died suddenly in such a situation. This would be a disaster for everyone.
The wrath of the gods will sweep across the earth, and Nang Nie seems to have seen the scene of wanton killings by various ministries again, looking at those stupid guys in the city who only know how to accept money...
He regretted that he should not have listened to others' advice and insisted on staying on the high ground to watch the battle in the south. He should have led the most loyal guards back to Logos City to protect Zamp.
But it's too late to say anything now. When the king needed him most, he betrayed the oath he made in front of the gods and failed to fulfill his obligations.
The great king went to heaven like this, so who can replace him to rule the various tribes of Tubo? His little ambition was swallowed up by regret and disappeared without leaving many traces, and the rest was all in confusion.
And helpless.
Because he is different from Qilebu. He followed Langri Lunzan and established the backbone of the Tubo Kingdom. When Langri Lunzan died, he would definitely be at a loss.
His eyes gradually became bloodshot, and he was thinking in confusion that the Supi and Xiangxiong people would not let go of this opportunity to restore their country.
Even the Six Yak tribe from which he was born will not stand by and watch, as well as the tribes scattered in the wasteland, will be involved in the war.
Without the support from the south, he could no longer stand firm on the highlands. Once the Qiang and Tyuhun people heard the news, they would not let go of such an opportunity.
Just as he imagined, the visitor's narrative was also extremely pessimistic about the situation in the south. Langri Lunzan's death was so sudden. When he left, everyone hadn't figured out what to do, so they seemed very calm. Everyone was there.
Mourning the passing of the King.
Some people were even arguing about how to track down the murderer. They didn't show any other intentions, but everyone could see that war was inevitable.