Love Lock

Chapter 112 A kite with a broken string
The Turkic steppes are vast and boundless; when the wind rises, the neighing of warhorses can be heard from very, very far away.

On the grassland, banners fluttered in the wind, bugles sounded across the sky, and the fighting spirit was boiling. Warriors wore bamboo or leather armor, and the sound of horses' hooves was as dense as war drums.

Beside the roaring bonfire, an old man knelt to pray for blessings, while a warrior sharpened his blade.

War between the Turks and the Great Jing was imminent.

At this time, although the sun had not yet completely set, Ashina Khan's tent was already brightly lit.

Ashina Khan is urgently mobilizing his troops and preparing for the upcoming great battle.

Dajing Beiguan has changed its coach and generals in three months, a rare opportunity.

Although it is late spring and the Turkic army is not strong, Ashina Khan still decided to seize the opportunity and launch an expedition to the northern pass at the end of the month.

His dignified face now revealed an unquestionable resolve.

"Pass down the order: summon all tribal leaders to the tent immediately to receive commands!"

As soon as Ashina finished speaking, the messenger quickly took his orders and left.

Before long, the group arrived one after another, including Princess Yujia, who was as gentle as a lamb, and Bolu, Ashina's youngest son.

Ashina scanned the crowd in the tent and began to issue orders.

"Tongga, your department is responsible for spreading the word that Ala and Meng are mobilizing large armies to attack Ling'an City before early April."

"Yes!"

Tongga straightened his back and accepted the order.

"Bater, you will lead 30,000 warriors, disguised as soldiers of Ala and Meng, to take a detour and launch a surprise attack on Ling'an City of Dajing in early April, making sure that they cannot attend to both ends."

Batel was also a Turkic tribal leader known for his bravery.

Upon hearing this, his face lit up with excitement, and he loudly replied, "Bater will certainly live up to the Khan's expectations!"

Ashina Khan continued to issue orders, each word revealing his precise control over the battle situation and his trust in his subordinates.

"General Albu, you will lead 50,000 cavalry to confront Yong'an City of Dajing head-on. You must break through their defenses with overwhelming force."

"As you command, Great Khan!"

Albu patted his left chest, stood up straight, and the surging fighting spirit in his eyes was almost tangible.

Next came the provisions.

The importance of provisions is no less than that of swords on the front lines. The Turks' provisions are even more strained during this season, and they cannot afford to be careless.

After careful consideration, Ashina turned his gaze to a middle-aged man with a calm and composed expression.

"As for provisions and supplies... Ulaqi will be in charge of them, and he must ensure that the army's rear route remains unobstructed."

Ulaqi nodded firmly, his face serious.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, the supply of provisions will be absolutely secure."

Ashina's orders flowed out like a stream, and after all the tribal leaders had received their commands, Bolu, Ashina Khan's youngest son, stepped forward.

His eyes gleamed with longing. "Father Khan, what about me? What can I do for the tribe?"

Upon hearing this, Ashina Khan's face instantly darkened, and a barely perceptible hint of pain flashed in his eyes.

"You will stay here to guard the royal court, practice your martial arts diligently, and you must not go anywhere."

Ashina Khan's words were cold and resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.

Upon hearing this, Bolu felt a surge of resentment.

As a Turkic prince, he carries the honor and responsibility of his family on his shoulders. How could he back down at this critical moment?
“Father Khan, I have grown up. I am no longer the child who needs your protection. I can also fight for the tribe.” Boru’s tone was a mix of stubbornness and urgency.

However, Ashina Khan simply shook his head, his tone even sterner than before.

"Enough! Don't you know that your brothers all died on the battlefield? I can't lose you too. You are the hope for the future of the Turks."

Before Ashina finished speaking, the atmosphere inside the tent froze instantly, as if even the air had become heavy.

Upon seeing this, General Albu felt a surge of sympathy and admiration.

He was usually quite close to Bolu, and he knew Bolu's bravery and determination. Of course, he also understood Ashina Khan's difficulties as a father.

So he tossed the braid behind his ear over his shoulder, coughed lightly, and tried to ease the tension.

“Great Khan, Prince Boru is young and promising, and indeed has the talent of bravery. Perhaps it would be good to let him take charge of some non-combat tasks in the rear, which would both train him and allow him to contribute his strength to the tribe.”

Albu's words were well-intentioned, but they touched Ashina's most sensitive nerve.

Ashina Khan slammed his fist on the table, his eyes wide with fury: "Albu, how dare you plead for him? Don't you know what I've lost? Boru, he can't go, he must stay here!"

Ashina's anger silenced everyone in the tent, even Albu was so frightened that he quickly retreated and dared not say another word.

Seeing his father's anger, Boru bit his lip and gently tugged at Albu's clothes from behind, signaling him to stop speaking up for him.

Boru gritted his teeth, and although he kept his head down, a hint of resentment flashed in his lowered eyes.

That resentment seemed to be a struggle against the injustice of fate, and also a helplessness at being powerless to change the status quo.

“Father Khan, I understand.”

Boru's voice was low and hoarse. For the sake of the greater good, he suppressed his dissatisfaction and resentment and chose to obey.

He knew his father's temperament very well. If he insisted on going to the battlefield, it would only annoy his father more and make him more determined.

But he was secretly making a vow in his heart.

One day, he will prove his worth and let all his people see that he is not just a prince who needs protection, but a warrior who can stand alone.

Ashina gave Bolu a deep look before continuing his conversation with the tribal leaders.

Soon they would be able to invade Dajing and plunder at will. The tribal leaders and generals were all full of fighting spirit and were seriously and actively discussing marching and battle plans with Ashina Khan.

At such a critical juncture, Princess Yujia, who was standing at the lower end, had been absent-minded and distracted ever since she entered the tent.

The tent was filled with a cacophony of sounds. There were calls to deploy troops, issue orders, and discuss matters at length, but none of the noise seemed to reach Princess Yujia's ears.

She pursed her lips, stood at the lower end of the table, and stared silently at the candlelight on the table, motionless.

The young girl's heart, however, was like a kite with a broken string, impossible to hold back; it had already flown out of the vast grasslands and across the Yinshan River...

After the battle plans were finalized, Princess Yujia absentmindedly left with the others and returned to their own tents to rest.

The army will assemble and set off early tomorrow morning, and Ashina Khan has ordered everyone to get a good rest tonight.

The night is getting deeper and deeper.

A cool breeze gently brushed the tips of the grass. Deep in the grassland, all was silent, broken only by the occasional howl of wolves in the distance.

Under the cover of night, Princess Yujia secretly slipped out of her tent.

She wrapped her black horse's hooves with thick strips of cloth, dressed in night clothes, and covered her face with a black veil, revealing only a pair of bright eyes, the light in which held a hint of anxiety.

At this moment, she had only one thought in her mind: to go to Dajing Cangzhou and find the man she had long admired—Zhao Zun.

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