Super System in the Early Tang Dynasty

Chapter 227 Stealing the Horse (Part 1) (Second Update)

At the time, the Tuyuhun rebellion was raging, and the western border of the Tang Dynasty was in turmoil. The Tang emperor dispatched generals Li Jing, Li Daozong, and Hou Junji to quell the rebellion.

The internal strife in the Tang Dynasty has long been quelled, and the country is now recuperating and building up its strength, with its military force at its peak!

A massive army pressed in. The gleam of their armor was dazzling, and their imposing presence threatened to crush one's will. After several standoffs, the Tuyuhun army scattered and their horses fell silent, retreating time and again. Soon, the Tuyuhun leader, Fuyun, led a few columns of troops, fleeing southwest like stray dogs, no longer caring about anything else.

To eliminate any thought of the Tang army pursuing them, the Tuyuhun leader Fuyun set fire to the vast grassland, burning it to the ground as part of a scorched-earth policy!

In the heart of the Tuyuhun territory, tens of thousands of military tents were set up in succession, covering the entire land. Apart from these white tents, everything around was gray and black, carrying the aura of death.

Inside the central command tent, the atmosphere was solemn, with several people sitting cross-legged.

A man with a composed demeanor, square face, long beard, and large eyes sat at the head of the table. To his left sat a burly man with a mustache, hooked nose, and a slightly gloomy expression; to his right sat a middle-aged man with a long, beautiful beard and a refined air. Below them sat several more people, all of them clad in scales and armor! Their entire bodies exuded a menacing aura, and the stench of blood was overwhelming!

"This is a stray dog. Do you all think we should pursue and kill it, or should we call it a day and return to the capital?" The man in the middle asked in a deep voice, looking at the people below him.

Everyone remained silent, only staring at the two people sitting at the head of the table.

“Even a cornered beast will fight, and a stray dog ​​will attack. I believe that pursuing them would be unlucky. Fu Yun has fled in panic, and the situation is hopeless. He can no longer pose a threat, so there is no need to expend more troops. Besides, the grasslands are cold and the moon is already in autumn, making it really inconvenient to move. In the vast grasslands, how easy is it to capture a group of thieves?”

Upon hearing this, the others echoed his sentiments.

Although I've only been in this bitterly cold place for a little over a year, it's already unbearable. And with winter approaching and the water freezing, it will be even more unbearable!

Upon hearing this, the man in the middle frowned slightly and remained silent, as if he had encountered something difficult to decide and was considering something.

Just then, the burly man to his left, with his kite-like eyes and aquiline nose, suddenly stood up and shouted in a loud voice: "To let the enemy go unchecked for even a day is a scourge for generations! Those who offend our Great Tang, no matter how far away, shall be punished!"

"General Hou, do you have a good plan?"

“The grasslands are now ashes. If Fu Yun wants to escape, he must follow the source of the water!” He pointed to the map spread out in the middle and said, “There are only two routes: one in the south, going up the Yellow River; the other in the north, going with the Ganquan River. If we divide our forces to the north and south, Fu Yun will surely be captured.”

……

On the main road heading northwest, a man and two women appeared. All three were strikingly beautiful, riding fine steeds—one gray, one black, and one white. It was none other than Li Xingzhi and his entourage!

The two horses, one black and one white, were a gift from Li Shun and were settled in Jingzhou. After several days of feeding by Li Xingzhi, they now stood tall and proud, their coats smooth and supple, their manes flowing and long. Their eyes were full of intelligence, and even those who knew nothing about horses could tell at a glance that they were top-quality steeds! The gray horse in the lead had a slightly dark coat and seemed inconspicuous, but it stood tall in front of the two horses, its presence superior to the other two. It seemed unremarkable, but it was the lead horse!

The further northwest one goes, the further away one gets from the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. Clothing gradually becomes simpler, and the people around one's appearance becomes more refined.

The north is gradually becoming bitterly cold, the wind howling like knives!

The three of them walked slowly, and before the first snowflake had even touched the ground, they arrived at an unnamed small town on the border of the Tang Dynasty.

The small town is near the northwestern border where war has raged. The city walls are low and appear rough and simple. The town is filled with sandstorms and a desolate atmosphere. However, the town is still bustling with activity. Among the people, there is no worry. Most of the business is the trading of goods, furs, cattle and sheep.

The group was surrounded by burly men in coarse linen clothes, with only a couple of women occasionally appearing, their skin also yellowish and rough. The three of them stood out conspicuously. Although the two women had worn veils, their slender figures still captivated the burly men!

Not everyone was staring at the two women.

Among the crowd were a few men with fierce expressions. They glanced at the two women briefly, but their eyes were immediately drawn to the two horses beneath them. Those men stared intently at the horses, their eyes widening in surprise, followed by ecstatic joy!

"This is a treasure delivered right to our doorstep!" the group thought to themselves.

Originally just two fine horses, after Li Xingzhi gave them several months of extra "good food," they were now in no way inferior to those renowned thoroughbreds. The price of one of them was well over a thousand gold pieces!

The group glanced at each other in the direction the three had left, and two of them quickly departed, their destination unknown. The others, unhurriedly, stealthily followed the three. Several others with ulterior motives, seeing the menacing-looking men secretly following, reluctantly retreated to the side.

Although Li Xingzhi and his two companions seemed to sense something, they did not take the petty thieves seriously.

The three of them found an inn to stay for a meal.

The small town was dilapidated and could be seen through in a few glances; there was really nothing to see. After tidying up, the group went out to gather information.

Although they had reached the border, the movements of a large army were not something an ordinary person could easily find out, so the group naturally returned empty-handed. The three ate something hastily and prepared to continue their journey the next day.

For Li Xingzhi, seeing the mighty Tang army was a good opportunity; if he missed it, he could at least enjoy the frontier scenery. As for the two women, they had no particular purpose. For them, simply following Li Xingzhi was enough!

As night fell, the wind rattled the doors and windows. In the small inn, the wind howled through the cracks in the roof, sounding like the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves.

Hearing the sobs, the two women clung tightly to Li Xingzhi, not daring to let go for even a moment. Nestled in Li Xingzhi's arms, they felt a sense of peace and security. Even with only a thin blanket, they didn't feel cold; on the contrary, they felt incredibly warm.

Exhausted from their long journey, the two women soon fell into a deep sleep.

It was midnight, pitch black, and you could barely see your hand in front of your face.

Suddenly, a horse's neigh shattered the night sky! Its sound echoed throughout the small border town!

A horse's neigh startled them, followed by several heavy thuds, and then a few piercing screams! The screams came from behind the inn, waking the three of them.

A young girl in Li Xingzhi's arms woke up with a start, exclaiming, "Black Rose!" and was about to get up to check on the horses.

Black Rose was the name Li Xingzhi gave to the black horse. The girl couldn't come up with a good name herself, so she asked Li Xingzhi to. Li Xingzhi lazily named it 'Black Rose'.

Seeing the startled girl about to leave, Li Xingzhi quickly stood up and pulled her back, saying, "Put your clothes on first! I'll go out and take a look."

When the girl saw that she was only wearing a small bodice, with large areas of her fair skin exposed, her face flushed slightly. Without saying a word, she obediently went to put on her clothes.

Li Xingzhi threw on his clothes and walked outside.

Normally, thieves would target people first, which is easy to deal with. But unexpectedly, these people actually set their sights on the horses.

Fearing for the horse's safety, he moved swiftly, lightly touching the ground with his toes, and silently slipped into the backyard.

----

Thank you to 'Reincarnation' and 'Purple Lotus Mysterious Heart' for the generous donations! Thank you to 'Starry Breeze and Bright Moon' for the monthly ticket!

Finally, thanks to 'kailia伊' for the information! The name 'Biluochun' did indeed come about after the Kangxi Emperor; during the Tang Dynasty, it was only known as 'Xia Sha Ren Xiang' (吓煞人香).

The version in the book will not be changed; I'm just explaining it here. (To be continued.)