The weather is getting colder, the cold wind from the northern grasslands sweeps across, the leaves on the low shrubs begin to turn yellow, and the autumn colors begin to stain the green grass leaves on the ground.
On the Tule Grassland, on the Ermoji River, countless horses were grazing and drinking water by the river, and the guardsmen with their trousers rolled up were grilling fish by the river.
Zheng Kai sat on a haystack on the edge of the river, building an awning with his hands, half asleep and half awake.
The principal came over with a grilled fish and said attentively:
"General, the grilled fish is ready."
Zheng Kai opened his eyes, looked at the time, and made a mental calculation. Then he took the grilled fish, blew on the hot air, and took a careful bite.
"Bah, bah, bah, you bastard, why did you put so much salt? Doesn't the salt cost money?"
The principal handed Zheng Kai a water bag to rinse his mouth with, and said with a smile:
"This is not the salary paid last month. There are several fifty-fifty sums of money. I gave them to several places without asking for them. In the Er camp in front, there is a merchant from the capital who is willing to accept the money. I will just take those.
Money is worth its salt."
"This thing is the hard currency on the grassland."
The principal patted the salt bag in his belt and said with a proud smile.
Zheng Kai shook his head and returned the water bag to the principal, his tone full of ridicule.
"You thief, did you use the fifty coins as forty coins again? Why didn't your grandson listen to your advice? Why did the merchants in the capital dare to ask for it, because he knew that when he returned to the capital, the money could be used as fifty coins.
For copper coins.”
The principal opened his mouth wide, not quite believing it:
"No way. Many tribes on the grassland don't want it. I don't believe people in the capital can want it."
Zheng Kai really wanted to give this kid a kick, but he was so confused that he thought he was taking advantage after suffering a loss.
This coin must have been obtained by the prince and used to do important things. It will definitely be used in the future. These short-sighted bumpkins are really blind because they don't know the prince's intentions.
After eating the grilled salted fish in three bites, Zheng Kai whistled.
The guard who was eating fish finished the grilled fish in his hands in two mouthfuls, threw the bones and miscellaneous bits on the ground casually, rushed to the river, found his horse, and got on it.
Zheng Kai had also mounted his horse and pointed his whip towards the northeast.
"They say that Wu Gutu's son ran away. We have been looking for him on this grassland for eight years. This time we finally caught his tail with the help of Dingxiang Guards. We must kill him this time."
"Cut the grass and roots and serve the prince."
Zheng Kai roared several times, and the guards also started making noises, riding horses around and making all kinds of weird noises.
Seeing that his morale was rising, Zheng Kai raised his hand, whistled, and rushed out toward the northwest.
The Ermoji River meanders along the grassland, like a jade belt inlaid in the greenery, and looks extremely beautiful. Along the river, you can see villages or herder tribes on both sides of the river from time to time.
When the water reaches the intersection with the Sanggan River, there are suddenly more herders' tents. The largest tent has about a hundred tents. People walking inside and outside the tents do not look like ordinary herdsmen. Occasionally, Thule nobles wearing silk clothes appear.
In a tent in the middle, Wu Gutu was kneeling behind the table, his face was full of dust. It had been several years since the rebellion, and Wu Gutu was getting old.
In order to escape the pursuit of the Han army, Wu Gutu threw all his sons out and carried the banner of his youngest son. This was how he escaped with his life.
Although he has been hiding in Tibet these years, he has survived at least, which is much better than the other major royal families in the Four Kings Court back then.
Wucha'er, the Khan of the Western Court, preferred to die rather than surrender to Rouran. In the end, he was beaten and his family was destroyed. It is said that his only remaining son was also coerced to join the Han army and gave up his throne.
Su Lu is not a good person either. He works hard and refuses to surrender. It would be better for you to change hands and take over all the land owned by his son.
I am still most comfortable. The son is gone, but the woman is still there. If you have a woman, will you still worry about not having a son?
"Wow"
The tent curtain was opened, and the cold wind blew in along the opened curtain, making Wu Guju shiver.
He scolded angrily:
"Come in, raise the curtain and try to freeze me to death."
The tribesmen under Wu Gutu who came in, because most of the tribesmen who followed him were killed, there were fewer and fewer loyal guards. Now, Wu Gutu had to use mediocre tribesmen to protect himself.
"Something bad has happened, sir. Our whereabouts have been leaked, and the Han army has caught up with us."
Tribe member Subur's dark and red face was filled with fear, and he looked at himself at a loss.
Wu Gu suddenly stood up, and the beef and mutton on the table in front of him were scattered all over the floor. The hot broth was sprinkled on his feet, and Wu Gu didn't feel any pain at all.
"Go down with the order, pack up the baggage, assemble the cavalry, and let's go."
Wu Gutu picked up his hat and ordered Subur. His many escapes made him develop the habit of staying calm in battle, otherwise he would have died under the encirclement and suppression of the Han army.
As long as he can escape with his most elite troops, it won't be a problem to settle down and live. If there are men and horses, there will be food, women and camp.
The intensive sound of horses' hooves trampling on the ground was heard, and the dwarf and the stove vibrated amid the rumble.
Wu Gutu's face lit up. Hearing the sound of the horses' hooves, he could tell that although there were many people coming, there were no more than five hundred horsemen. He had 300 fine horsemen under his command, and as many as 800 other miscellaneous horsemen and servants.
With a thousand against a hundred, there is still no way to fight without the strength, until you can escape.
"Go down with the order, and the men will mount their horses to meet the enemy."
Wu Gutu picked up his helmet and walked out first.
In the open space between the tents, most of the elite cavalry were already on their horses, and countless horses kicked and kicked up large clouds of smoke.
"Luo Gutai, Nari Su, fight out and fight the Han army."
Wu Gu jumped on his horse and urged his subordinates to mount their horses to face the enemy.
Luo Gutai whistled and led a group of fine cavalry out of the camp. The Tulle man, wrapped in sheepskin and with half of his shoulders exposed, waved his scimitar and screamed strangely as he headed outside the camp.
Outside the camp, the well-armored guard cavalry had arrived. Zheng Kai took the lead, pointing the spear in his hand directly at the Tule people who rushed out of the camp with strange screams.
"kill"
Zheng Kai roared, and the guards behind him responded in unison, with murderous intent rising into the sky.
The black and red sword was like a sharp awl, directly piercing the chaotic formation of the Thule cavalry, and broke into the Thule camp in an instant. Before the servants and cavalry could lift the formation, they kicked the camp over.
It's just a cup of tea and the battle is over.
The Thule cavalry lost their weapons, and most of them squatted on the ground along with the old and weak women and children, holding their heads. The wandering horses were gathered up by the Han army who forced the herdsmen to gather them.
Zheng Kai was riding on his horse, looking at a group of Thule cavalry that was escaping not far away, followed by a small group of Han troops in hot pursuit. Since the bone protrusion was bitten, he couldn't run away this time.
The principal came over on horseback and excitedly reported to Zheng Kai:
"General, our troops have been wiped out. About 200 people have surrendered. There are more than 60 herdsmen and slaves, all of whom are native tribes here. And..."
"Kill them all"
Zheng Kai said coldly, his face covered by a black visor, making it impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.
The expression on the principal's face changed and he was killed!
Without waiting for the small school to make a move, the nearby guard had already dismounted, raised his sword, and headed towards the surrendered soldiers and herdsmen.
The principal’s expression changed:
"General, isn't it good to kill and surrender like this? They are all living human lives."
"They are Thule people who would rather die than surrender. They are our enemies. Little prince, don't forget your current identity."
Zheng Kai glanced at the small school, then rode forward to meet the guards who had captured Wu Gutu.
The junior colonel looked at Zheng Kai's back, his face full of fear. The evil aura on the general's body just now was so strong. Looking at the corpse on the ground nearby, the junior colonel swallowed his saliva.
No wonder people call Zheng Kai the blood barbarian. Damn, he won’t leave anyone alive. He’s such a bloody barbarian.