Start from the thief

Chapter 600 Parting Ways

The entire Jiannan Road was in chaos.

Yizhou sent an urgent report to Jianmen Pass, and the reinforcements from various places that were originally sent to support Jianmen Pass were forced to return because the Red Lotus Sect and Lingnan suddenly began to put pressure on Jiannan Road and took an offensive posture.

The Red Lotus Sect would be fine, as it was originally an opponent, but Lingnan has always been in a semi-independent state. Although it has never publicly supported any emperor, it has never clearly expressed opposition to Chang'an. This sudden move really caught Jiannan Dao off guard, forcing them to return to defend.

Who on earth could persuade them to send troops?

Li Qi crushed the report and threw it into the sky.

There are no reinforcements at Jianmen Pass.

But it doesn't matter. With the help of Zhao Yushu, 4,000 veterans who retreated from Songzhou arrived safely at Jianmen Pass. With this force, let alone the mere 15,000 vanguards under the city, even if another 30,000 or 50,000 came, they would not be able to break through Jianmen Pass.

Because he had lost his source of intelligence, Li Qi had no idea that Songzhou was already in chaos. He subconsciously thought that these were just the vanguard, little knowing that this was Tubo Gampo's last fight for life and death.

Originally, the second senior sister asked Zhao Yushu to help guard Jianmen Pass until the backup plan arrived. According to the original plan, if there was no catalyst like Doji, Bunuo's army would all be pressed down at Jianmen Pass until Yang He arrived and caused internal strife from the rear. But now it seems that there is no need to guard it.

But Zhao Yushu still went back to Jianmen Pass once.

He brought a message and Hai Sheng's body to Li Qi.

Hai Sheng committed suicide, fulfilling his duty as a minister of the Tang Dynasty. Li Huan felt sorry for him, but he did not feel sorry for the Tang Dynasty.

The news told Li Qi that there were only 15,000 Tibetan soldiers at Jianmen Pass and there would be no more troops, so he should not dispatch any more laborers and supplies from Yizhou.

At the same time, Chang'an is already in danger, and he should return to Chang'an now.

"I don't believe you."

Li Qi expressed his opinion directly: "I have heard a lot of rumors about you. You are very good at saying a sentence in different ways to achieve completely opposite effects. So, I don't believe what you said. Chang'an will not fall. Tubo can't take it, and the false emperor can't take it. He can't even pass Tongguan."

Zhao Yushu sighed and said, "Perhaps you should spend more time on intelligence, but you may not have this opportunity. I am here to get Pandita's ashes and King Kong's body."

"I can give you King Kong's body."

Zhao Yushu frowned: "What do you mean?"

"I will use the ashes to repel the enemy."

Li Qi had no intention of negotiating.

Zhao Yushu did not bargain with him on this matter. Li Qi was already a politician. It was useless to talk to a man whose mind was filled with royal power, unless you intended to kill him directly.

"You'd better sneak back to Chang'an and stay with your emperor beside that chair. Don't harm the people of Yizhou anymore."

Zhao Yushu turned around and looked at General Xiao Xue who was a little bit at a loss: "Take me to get King Kong's body."

King Kong's body was well preserved. Young Master Xue looked at Zhao Yushu who was silently carrying the body and felt a little emotional. It seemed that he had been carrying something that did not belong to him.

"So, you and Li Qi have fallen out?"

"From the time we met until now, we have basically been enemies, so there is no question of falling out."

Zhao Yushu tied up King Kong's tall body with a rope and said, "I told Li Qi the truth. You are my friend. I am also familiar with General Sun. You two should find a chance to meet and discuss what to do."

Xue Xian gave a bitter smile: "I can't just surrender to the Red Lotus Sect."

Zhao Yushu spread his hands: "Why not?"

The two inner leaders of Tubo went to Chang'an with Ganbu. Now there was only one cultivator of the eighth level and one cultivator of the seventh level guarding Jianmen Pass. Zhao Yushu swaggered around them with his aura at full force, but no one dared to stop him.

After speeding all the way, when Zhao Yushu arrived in Songzhou again, the flag on the city wall had changed hands.

Yang He's military tactics are as sharp as his swordsmanship.

"Will Ganbu return?"

Zhao Yushu stood on the top of Songzhou City, looking at the Red Lotus Cultists and Western Warriors who were stepping up to repair the city defenses, and felt a little worried.

"With their retreat cut off, they will definitely return, at least part of them. Some Tibetan troops left in the plateau will also come. We can't just sit there and watch Ganbu being blocked in the Central Plains. We have to do it even if it's just for show. We will soon be attacked from both sides. It will be a fierce battle."

"Can you handle it?"

"I have to bear it even if I can't. If I can't bear it, the situation created by Mr. San will completely collapse."

Zhao Yushu sighed: "I'll help you carry it."

"That's for sure."

Yang He smiled and said, "And we don't have to hold out for too long. If the princess, no, the queen is capable, maybe things will turn out better than I thought. Also, there's something that might interest you."

Zhao Yushu rolled his eyes at him and said, "Hurry up and tell me. When did you learn to keep people in suspense?"

"I learned it from you. Miss Lan has returned to Nanyang."

"?"

Zhao Yushu was indeed interested, and he didn't even expect it.

Ever since he arrived in Yizhou, Lan Ling's letters had always come together with the letters from the academy. Most of them were about what she had done in Dongdu, how much she had learned from the professors in the academy, how was Mr. Ge's health, how were her brothers and sisters' studies, and other trivial matters. She would then repeatedly remind him not to rush forward when something happened, to put his life first, and not to be so reckless all the time.

The letter never mentioned any national affairs.

Now that Dongdu is being attacked from both sides by the Liao army, why would she suddenly return to Nanyang?

"Nanyang is going to relieve the siege of Dongdu?"

Zhao Yushu immediately thought of this possibility.

Yang He nodded, "I think so too. Miss Lan personally brought Li Tong's sincerity to Nanyang to persuade Lan Rong to join Dongdu. As long as Lan Rong nods, the Red Lotus Sect can form a line with Dongdu and share what they have. The troops from Nanyang to Xiangzhou can be freed up to rush to the aid of Dongdu. This is really a brilliant move."

Zhao Yushu frowned. Before in Yuezhou, Zhu Huo's father wanted to use Lan Ling to force Lan Rong to join the Red Lotus Sect, but failed. How did Li Tong convince her now?

Did Wei You go to persuade him personally?

Is Lan Ling willing?

Why didn't she tell herself?

He could only put all the doubts in his heart aside for the time being. His primary goal now was to help Yang He defend Songzhou.

The news of the fall of Songzhou would spread quickly. Gambu had been gone for a long time and it would take him at least a few days to return. It was more likely that the other Tibetan tribes stationed and watching on the plateau would arrive first.

"It's better to fight separately, otherwise it will be difficult for us to hold on if we are attacked from both sides."

As soon as Yang He finished speaking, a messenger came running with an urgent letter.

The Tibetan army has been discovered in the west.

"It looks like luck is on our side."

Yang He's voice was a little amused: "I will need to stay in the center of the army at that time, so it may not be convenient for me to take action."

Zhao Yushu nodded: "Leave the monks to me. They can't go up to the city if they are below the inner realm."