Kill! Capture Gelen alive, receive a three-rank promotion, and be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver!
Yuchi Jingde, a renowned general, seeing Gelen utterly terrified and spitting blood, immediately gave the order for a full assault.
Three thousand soldiers, all mounted, charged towards Gelen.
Retreat! Retreat quickly!
Gelen panicked, turned his horse, and led his remaining troops back into the mountain valley.
Since the exit of the valley was blocked by Yuchi Jingde, they had no choice but to go back.
As Gelen traveled the more than two li of mountain road, his heart felt like it was being ripped apart.
Corpses and dismembered limbs were everywhere. What made him feel even more powerless were the soldiers who were wounded but not dead, clutching their injuries or severed limbs, lying on the ground and moaning, begging their comrades to put them out of their misery.
Gelen was unable to save them, as Yuchi Jingde and his troops were hot on his heels.
He truly couldn't understand how things had devolved to this state in less than half an hour.
After finally escaping from the mountain valley, Gelen glanced back, and this sight made his heart bleed even more.
Of his entire army of five thousand, fewer than a thousand remained behind him!
Retreat!
Gelen fiercely whipped his horse's hindquarters and, with his remaining men, fled towards the direction of the Khagan's army.
Yuchi Jingde and Yuchi Baolin looked at the countless enemy soldiers dead and wounded in the valley, feeling an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
Not a single soldier of theirs had been harmed. Such great military achievements were gained with just a few explosive packages; it was truly a miracle.
"Father, Fang大哥's explosive packages are truly effective. How many do we have left?"
Yuchi Baolin asked his father.
Yuchi Jingde was unsure and turned to his adjutant.
The adjutant's surname was Zhou, and his given name was Dejiang. He had followed Yuchi Jingde in serving Li Er, and had fought alongside Yuchi Jingde in countless battles over the years. Matters of logistics were generally managed by Adjutant Zhou.
"General, we brought three thousand explosive packages with us this time. We used eight hundred in the ambush earlier, so there are over two thousand remaining,"
Zhou Dejiang reported quickly when Yuchi Jingde looked at him.
"Such excellent items. Two thousand are enough for now, but still, send someone back to Chang'an to ask the Ministry of Works to escort more over, just in case of unforeseen circumstances,"
Yuchi Jingde said.
"Yes, your subordinate will attend to it immediately!"
Fifty li from Jingzhou, at the Khagan's main tent.
"Report! Khagan!"
A soldier shouted as he entered from outside the tent.
"Report, your mother! I'll report myself!"
Gelen, disheveled and in a sorry state, entered the tent behind him and kicked the soldier, sending him sprawling.
The soldier sheepishly got up and moved aside.
"General Gelen, you must not be so rude. Military matters have their own protocols. What sort of deportment is this!"
Jie Li, seated in the center of the tent, was displeased with Gelen's behavior.
"Jie Li, it's not that I don't understand the rules, but the situation is urgent, and I don't have time to wait for him to announce me."
Gelen grabbed a wine cup from the low table in front of Jie Li and drank it down in one gulp.
"What could be so urgent? Weren't you the vanguard? Has Li Shimin made a move?"
Jie Li asked Gelen.
"Since a few days ago, Li Shimin sent Yuchi Jingde to Jingzhou. For days, he has been sending troops to harass my vanguard, which has been extremely bothersome. Today, I encountered his son by chance; there was no reason to let him go."
"So I led the vanguard in pursuit, and unexpectedly, we were ambushed by Tang troops in a valley, suffering heavy casualties. I request the Khagan to dispatch more troops to me. I must take Yuchi Jingde's head to vent my anger!"
Gelen recounted his experience with indignation.
"What? Heavy casualties? To what extent?"
Jie Li seemed to find it hard to believe.
"That old Yuchi fellow, I don't know what he used, but he was ambushed on both sides of the valley. When I led my troops through, there was a sudden loud explosion in the valley, followed by shaking earth and flying sand and stones. More than half of my five thousand vanguard were lost in there."
"I request the Khagan to quickly send troops to me. That old Yuchi and his son must not have gone far. If we go now, we can still catch up to them. I want to avenge the valley!"
Gelen angrily slammed the cup in his hand onto the ground.
"Hahaha! I never thought you, Gelen, would ever be in such a situation!"
Several other tribal leaders were also present in the tent. Seeing Gelen's demeanor and hearing his account of the crushing defeat, some leaders who had disagreements with Gelen burst into laughter.
"Go to hell! Try laughing again, and I'll kill you!"
Gelen's face turned red, and he drew the saber at his waist, striking the low table in front of the man.
"Gelen! Don't go too far! Normally, I respect you as the Khagan's uncle and give you some face, but you truly think I, Ashina Simo, am afraid of you? What right do you have as a defeated general to bellow and shout in the central command tent!"
Ashina Simo slammed the table with a bang, rising instantly from his kneeling posture. He pointed his finger at Gelen's nose and spoke.
"You! You! You!"
Gelen was struck at his sore spot. The tip of his saber pointed at Ashina Simo, his hand trembling uncontrollably, unsure how to retort.
"Gelen, cease your words! Your initial defeat has demoralized our army, and you still dare to be insolent! From now on, you will guard the army's provisions."
Jie Li roared at Gelen.
He had never been very satisfied with Gelen. Gelen always relied on being his uncle and often acted disrespectfully towards him.
This time, using the excuse of his defeat in battle, he sent Gelen to logistics, which was also a way to keep him out of sight and mind.
"Great Khagan, the old General Gelen has fought in campaigns north and south and has outstanding merits. I beg the Khagan to appease his wrath!"
Someone stood up to plead for Gelen.
"Zhi Shi Si Li, silence! Merit is merit, and fault is fault! No one is permitted to intercede for him!"
Jie Li showed no leniency and shouted at Zhi Shi Si Li, who had stepped forward.
"Great Khagan! I am your own uncle, and you are helping these outsiders like this?"
Gelen stared at Jie Li, his eyes wide, and asked in disbelief.
"Silence! Everyone present is my brother on the grassland, so what outsiders are you talking about! Guards! Drag Gelen out! If he speaks again, do not blame this Khagan for executing him according to military law!"
Two soldiers entered from outside the tent and, taking hold of Gelen, dragged him out.
The other tribal leaders, seeing that Jie Li had dealt with his own uncle, dared not make any further noise.
"Now that the Tang army knows our whereabouts, what are your opinions? Speak freely."
Jie Li knelt on a soft cushion and looked at the assembled people.
"Khagan, in my humble opinion, we should simply charge forward. I have heard that Luo Yi has also rebelled these past few days. Li Shimin is preoccupied and cannot attend to us. Let us seize this opportunity to march directly into Chang'an and capture Li Shimin. Then, Your Majesty can sit on the dragon throne, and we will also share in the glory."
Ashina Simo was the first to speak.
This fellow's opinion was very fitting for his muscular physique. Due to the heat, and because the battle had not yet officially begun, this fellow was not wearing armor, only his bare upper body. His muscles were like those of a wild ox.