It seems inevitable that this war will drag on into late winter.
But the first people who couldn't stand it were neither the Tang army nor the Goguryeo people huddled in Pyongyang, but the Turks coming from the south.
In mid-September, another sleet came.
As a result, the sound of fighting on the battlefield could no longer be heard. The Tang army soldiers all hid in their barracks. The Goguryeo people also had strong cities to rely on, leaving only the Turks in the wilderness suffering.
The Tang army's supply of food and grass was unknown, but the Turks did not receive even the slightest support from the Goguryeo people. The promised food disappeared, and there was no news about the people sent to the east.
In the felt tent erected by the Turks, Ashina Dawen gathered all his confidants.
Everyone huddled around the small bonfire in the tent. The winter on the peninsula was obviously different from that on the grassland. The humidity was very heavy, and the chill could penetrate into the cracks of people's bones inadvertently, making it extremely cold.
.
Ashina was well-informed and well-dressed, and the whole army was able to light bonfires to keep warm, but his face was still livid from the cold. Well, this also meant that he was not in a good mood.
Everyone in the tent lowered their heads and did not dare to speak, and the atmosphere was tense.
Someone finally couldn't help it and muttered, "We can't last much longer in such a cold weather. The tribesmen are all talking in low voices. Didn't the Khan hear it?"
This is a Khitan leader with thick hair, but no hair on his head. Only a few tufts of hair are left on the top of his head, braided together and exposed outside the leather hat.
Just because there was no time to repair it, some stubble has grown on the top of this guy's head these days. It doesn't look very neat, and his appearance is obviously different from that of the Turks.
Hearing him speak stammeringly in Turkic, everyone looked over, as if they were looking at a fool.
Sure enough, Ashina Duowen burst out laughing, and matching the atmosphere in the tent, his laughter seemed extremely sinister.
Ashina Duowen only looked up and waved his hand. Fu Li, who was guarding him, rushed forward and kicked the Khitan man who was speaking to the ground. The two men who went up held him down and stabbed him down.
, a head rolled to the ground.
The others stood aside a little, but they were indifferent, stupid fellows, and unworthy of sitting with them.
Of course, if the one who died was a Khitan barbarian, it would be even less worth mentioning. After that, everyone would just divide his tribe.
…………
Ashina let out a dissatisfied groan. He probably felt that the Fushus were too quick and made people die too easily.
After the fuli people dragged the body out, Ashina Duowen said, "What are the tribesmen talking about? Do you know?"
Everyone pretended to be dead together, and the smell of blood had not dissipated. The person who spoke must have been full.
Someone who was not afraid of death really spoke up. Master Zheng, who had become Ashina's well-informed son-in-law, squeezed out a smile and said, "Khan, please calm down. Some people don't understand the general situation. Khan has always been magnanimous, so he shouldn't follow
They care.
The weather is getting colder and colder, so I would like to ask Khan to make plans in advance."
For this dog-headed strategist who had been following him for a long time, Ashina's endurance was obviously much higher. "Then what do I plan to do?"
Master Zheng looked at the others. No one spoke at this time. Are they waiting for Khan himself to say something? What a bunch of idiots.
"We were guided by the gods, and the Khan brought the warriors here. However, the Goguryeo people did not fulfill the promise they made in front of the Khan. They hid in the grass like rabbits. They did not dare to come back to the Khan again.
Speak in front of me.
They are so abominable and should be punished..."
The Turks' brains are not very good. If they were Han people, they would be able to understand what Mr. Zheng meant right away. But the Turks couldn't. They stood up in confusion and waved their arms vigorously, looking like an indignant dog.
But as usual, Ashina loved hearing these words. At this time, he actually needed a step, or someone to take the blame, to persuade him to retreat.
There is no point in staying here any longer.
In fact, his subordinates also understand this. Like the Khitan man just now, this is what he said, but the Khitan savage does not know the art of speaking and actually expresses his accusations, so naturally he loses his head.
It was this son-in-law who knew his intentions and said it very cleverly. Yes, it was not Ashina Dawen's fault that the Goguryeo people did not keep their promises.
But the steps were a bit long, which still made him uncomfortable. "You mean, we were tricked by the Goguryeo people?"
Master Zheng was not stupid, he simply shook his head and said: "Khan is so wise and the most beloved son of the gods, how could he be easily deceived?
It’s just that the general thought that Xu from the Tang Dynasty and the Goguryeo people had colluded. Otherwise, how could the Tang people know that we would come with troops? They actually built so many strongholds in advance to make it difficult for the warriors to do anything?"
Before he finished speaking, a Turkic general slapped his thigh fiercely and said: "That's right, the Goguryeo people must have betrayed us. We killed so many Goguryeo brats in Liaodong, so they lured us over to fight with the Tang people..."
As if they had received a revelation from the gods, the Turkic generals began to attack the treacherous Goguryeo bastards.
No matter what nationality or race, people are self-taught when it comes to blaming others. Everyone seemed to understand what Mr. Zheng meant and followed his words, making the steps wider and wider.
Now Ashina was much more satisfied with Duo Wen. She looked at her son-in-law with approval and felt a little pity in her heart. This man was from the Sui Dynasty. It would be great if he was his son...
Seeing Ashina Duowen's face softening, Master Zheng knew that the heat was coming, and winked at Ashina Duowen desperately.
Upon hearing this, Ashina knew that he still had something to say, so he looked at his stupid subordinates, waved his hand, and drove them out of the tent.
Master Zheng came over and whispered: "Does the Khan want to withdraw his troops?"
Ashina Tawen nodded slightly, "If we return to Wandu City now, we can rest for a while. If we wait any longer, I'm afraid the tribe will disperse."
Master Zheng shook his head and said: "If we go back like this, how can we explain to the gods?"
Ashina frowned and asked how to explain to the gods. If they returned in vain, how to appease the tribe in winter would be the most troublesome part.
The Turks are different from the Central Plains people. After the expedition, they must get enough loot before everyone will be satisfied. Otherwise, everyone will not be able to explain to their tribes when they return empty-handed.
Who would be willing to follow an incompetent leader once or twice? When your appeal drops to a certain level, you will lose power.
And people’s hearts are inherently unstable…
"Then what do you think I should do?"
Master Zheng smiled slightly, "Goguryeo people have no credibility, but Tang people are famous for their trustworthiness..."