Love Lock

Chapter 138 The Khan's Throne

Zhao Zun, clad in full armor, led his men to Yong'an City in the north. Meanwhile, the Turkic royal court was in a state of celebration.

In April, the Turkic steppe is swept by the spring breeze, and the grass ripples like waves, as if the earth itself is celebrating the upcoming grand event.

The land was lush with water and grass, and herds of cattle and sheep grazed. The Turkic warriors gathered in front of the sacrificial altar, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.

Their gazes frequently swept towards the three plump white sheep tied to the wooden frame in the center of the sacrificial altar, their hearts filled with anticipation and nervousness.

"Have you heard? Lord Mudu has successfully replicated 'peanuts'!"

A young warrior whispered to his companion beside him, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Of course I've heard!" his companion replied, his voice tinged with awe. "Lord Mudu is the most skilled blacksmith on our grasslands. With his 'peanut' forged, the fame of our Turkic warriors will surely spread far and wide!"

“Yes, with ‘peanuts,’ we can plunder the grain and beauties of the Great Jing!” another warrior interjected, a greedy smile on his face.

Ashina Khan paced back and forth on the sacrificial altar until the crowd gathered, at which point his gaze swept over the densely packed Turkic people below.

His expression was solemn and dignified, as if he were contemplating some important decision.

After a moment, he took a deep breath and announced loudly, "My people, our Lord Mudu has spent many days forging the most powerful weapon in the world—'Peanut'!"

A cheer erupted from the audience as the warriors waved their weapons, expressing their respect for Lord Mudu and their hopes for the future.

However, Ashina Khan's voice suddenly lowered: "But our Turkic people have also lost our most valiant general, Alpi, as a result."

His gaze gradually dimmed, as if he had fallen into deep sorrow. The cheers from the audience subsided, and the warriors bowed their heads in silent tribute to their fallen hero.

After a moment, Ashina Khan composed himself and held a peanut high between his middle and index fingers.

"We have the most powerful weapons in the world, but we still need the bravest general to lead us in attacking the Great Jing. Now, I, the Khan, have decided that whoever can kill these sheep with 'peanuts' from a hundred paces away on horseback will be the bravest general of the Turks and will be able to command all the warriors of our Turks!"

These words caused another uproar in the audience. The warriors were eager to try, rubbing their hands together, ready to show off their skills.

Ashina Khan walked to the table at the sacrificial altar, opened a sheepskin the size of a book, revealing dozens of "peanuts" wrapped inside.

These "peanuts," in terms of both shape, craftsmanship, and size, look almost identical to the pistol bullets obtained by the Turks, clearly masterpieces meticulously crafted by Mudu.

However, while the "peanuts" were imitated and created, Ashina Khan did not know how to use them.

Therefore, he decided to select a new general so that all the warriors could brainstorm and explore the power of the "peanut".

Princess Yujia and Prince Bolu, along with Mudu and the tribal leaders, sat on the sacrificial altar to watch.

Their eyes were fixed on the warriors below the stage, eager to witness a spectacular competition.

The warriors lined up in a long queue, one by one going to the table to receive "peanuts," and then rode their horses to shoot sheep from a hundred paces away.

Because the "peanuts" were difficult to make, Ashina Khan's guards would quickly find and retrieve the "peanuts" after each shot.

The competition began, and in no time, the Turkic warriors displayed a variety of skills.

Some people throw "peanuts" by swinging their arms like throwing darts.

Some used slingshots to shoot; others tied peanuts to the heads of arrows and shot them out quickly.

However, no matter how hard they tried, they could not achieve the legendary power.

Prince Boru watched as the warriors below the stage returned defeated one by one, his deep eyes narrowing slightly as if he were pondering something.

A moment later, Bolu's lips curled up slightly, and he turned to Ashina Khan and said, "Father Khan, let me try too!"

Ashina Khan glanced at Bolu, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

But soon, he nodded.

"Okay! Go ahead. Anyway, it's not like we're really going to the battlefield, so there won't be any danger. Maybe you can even come up with a good idea."

Bolu was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately led his friends in a line past the table, each of them picking up a "peanut" from the sheepskin.

He had his friends tie peanuts to arrows and shoot them with bows and arrows.

After getting ready, Bolu and his friends rode off on horseback, drawing their bows and aiming as they passed the sacrificial altar.

With Prince Boru personally taking charge, everyone's eyes were fixed on the three sheep on the sacrificial altar, as if they could already see the dawn of victory.

However, at that moment, a loud whistle pierced the sky.

Bolu's whistling arrow did not hit the sheep, but went straight for Ashina Khan's face!

Ashina Khan stood on the sacrificial altar, his attention fixed on the three sheep. He wanted to witness firsthand how the "peanut" would pierce through the sheep's bodies.

Before he could react, an arrow struck his temple in a flash.

Immediately afterwards, more than a dozen arrows whistled through the air, instantly turning him into a pincushion.

The whole process happened too fast and too dramatically; none of the onlookers had time to react.

With a thud, Ashina Khan stared wide-eyed as his tall, strong body fell stiffly backward onto the log-built sacrificial altar, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Bolu rode forward a short distance before reining in his horse. He turned back and saw Ashina Khan lying on the ground, a deep smile playing on his lips.

He has been waiting for this day for a long time.

"Oh my God!"

"Khan!"

"The Khan has been shot by an arrow."

……

Exclamations of surprise rose and fell, and all eyes were fixed on Ashina Khan's body, which was riddled with arrows.

The competition was supposed to be about shooting sheep, but Ashina Khan was killed instead. Princess Yujia and the tribal leaders stood up in shock, and the scene descended into chaos.

Bolu led his friends around, rode back, and the sound of their hooves shook the earth like thunder.

He leaped nimbly from the tall warhorse, whose mane danced wildly in the wind, as if trembling with fear for the impending tragedy.

Bolu strode onto the sacrificial altar, and the chaotic crowd parted automatically before him, like waves cleaved by a sharp sword.

He walked up to Ashina's corpse, his gaze cold and deep as a whirlpool.

Ashina's body was riddled with arrows, and his clothes were stained with blood, but his eyes remained wide open, as if he were questioning the heavens in his last moments.

Boru's face showed no pain or sorrow; instead, a cold smile hung at the corner of his mouth, a smile full of mockery and smugness.

He kicked Ashina's corpse, which was riddled with arrows, as if to announce his victory to everyone.

His friends who had run up on stage with him were now terrified.

The man who sacrificed three sons to make the Turks stronger; the hero who once led them to conquer all directions; the Khan whom all the Turks revered—now lay dead in a pool of blood, his eyes wide open in death.

The children's faces were filled with fear and bewilderment, as if the whole world had collapsed at that moment.

They turned to look at Boru, the little leader they had always followed, with a smile that sent chills down their spines.

The older Abal's eyelids twitched, and he reached out to cover his mouth, which was agape in terror. He seemed to finally understand something.

Their little leader, Boru—had actually committed patricide! And the arrows they had just fired in response to the whistle of the signal arrow were Boru's accomplices in "patricide".

Aibar looked down at the iron bow in his hand and was completely dumbfounded.

At this moment, an older tribal chief nearby seemed to understand what Boru was doing.

The tribal chief's eyes were filled with fear and anger. He walked up to Boru and pointed at him, his voice trembling.

"You...you dared to kill your father!"

Boru gave him a cold look, his smile almost cruel.

"Patricide? Hmph, he is no longer worthy to be my father Khan! He only knows how to indulge in power and pleasure, and his cowardice is growing ever smaller. He has long forgotten the glory of our Turks!"

As he spoke, he drew his curved sword from his waist and swiftly slashed at the tribal chief.

In a flash of light, before the leader could even offer any resistance, his head rolled to the ground. Blood spurted out, staining the ground of the sacrificial altar red.

Boru's insidious and ruthless use of force gradually quieted the scene, and everyone stared at him in terror.

Princess Yujia looked at everything before her, her heart filled with grief and despair.

She couldn't believe that her brother could do something so cruel.

Her voice trembled as she said, "Boru...you...how could you do this..."

Bolu turned to look at Princess Yujia, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

He took a deep breath and said, "Sister, I know you can't accept all of this. But for the future of the Turks, I have to do this! Only I can lead the Turks to glory!"

Upon hearing this, Princess Yujia's sorrowful tears streamed down her face like beads from a broken string.

She shook her head, looking at Boru through her blurry, tear-filled eyes.

“No… Boru… you’re wrong… true glory isn’t achieved through killing and betrayal… but through unity and hard work…”

However, Boru rolled his eyes at her.

“Unity and hard work also require an excellent and brave leader.” As he spoke, Bolu glanced at Ashina’s corpse and said coldly, “And he was clearly not one.”

Princess Yujia shivered as she listened to his cold words.

She seemed to no longer recognize her younger brother, who often secretly roasted and ate lamb behind everyone's back.

When did this younger brother begin to become cold-blooded and ruthless? And when did he become so cruel and merciless, resorting to any means to achieve his goals?

Just as Princess Yujia was lost in thought, Bolu, wearing sheepskin boots, strode to the center of the sacrificial altar and raised his scimitar high.

"Warriors. Our beef and mutton, and our blood, are only for our Turkic warriors to advance, not for them to retreat."

As he spoke, Bolu pointed his scimitar at the corpse of Ashina Khan on the sacrificial altar.

"However, he is old. His courage has been devoured by the wolves of the grasslands. From this day forward, I, Bolu, am the new Khan of the Turks! We now have the most powerful 'peanut' in the world. I, Bolu, will lead you to conquer the Great Jing, conquer the grasslands, and create a glorious future for our Turks!"

Everyone in the audience looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

Bolu's voice continued to echo across the grassland.

"Now, all you warriors who are willing to submit to me, stand over there."

Boru pointed his scimitar at a vast, empty grassland in the distance. Then, he pointed his scimitar at the tribal chief whose head he had just severed with a single blow.

"Those who refuse to submit to me will meet the same fate as him: death!"

The crowd below erupted into chaos. But soon, a third of the Turkic warriors resolutely headed towards the distant, open grassland.

Even on the sacrificial altar, one-third of the tribal chiefs stood on the edge of the altar.

This is their statement: they will stand with Boru.

Princess Yujia was surprised that so many tribes made their choices so quickly, and she couldn't help but feel a little alarmed.

It was only then that she realized how terrifying her younger brother was.

Bolu was only fifteen or sixteen years old, and she had always thought of him as a boy who only knew how to secretly roast lamb.

Unexpectedly, right under Ashina Khan's nose, he had already quietly gathered so many forces.

Princess Yujia closed her eyes, the image of the whistling arrow flashing through her mind.

Then, her father, like a hedgehog, fell into a pool of blood.

Boru is her younger brother. She had no choice but to stand with him.

Princess Yujia opened her eyes, holding her riding whip in her hand, and slowly walked to Bolu and knelt down.

She prostrated herself on the ground, crying out, "Yujia greets Boru Khan."

Upon hearing Princess Yujia's gentle, lamb-like call, the Turks who had not yet chosen sides looked at each other in bewilderment.

They furtively glanced up at Bolu, who stood on the sacrificial altar. Under Bolu's ruthless gaze, they finally lowered their heads, prostrated themselves on the ground, and submitted.

Thus, Bolu successfully ascended to the throne of the Turkic Khan through a bloody coup.

However, he felt no joy or satisfaction whatsoever.

He knew that this throne would not be easy to sit on, and that the future path of the Turks would be full of thorns and challenges.

However, now that he has reached this position, he has no way to turn back and can only forge ahead until he achieves his goal.

"My lords and warriors!"

Bolu stood on the sacrificial altar, his gaze sweeping over the dense crowd below, his voice booming.

"Our Turkic steppes have been bitterly cold since ancient times, and our people have never had enough to eat or wear. But the Great Jing Dynasty has the most abundant grain, the finest cloth, as well as porcelain and ironware. This is unfair. Now it's different. We have a powerful weapon like 'peanuts,' which will surely allow us to break through the Great Jing's defenses in one fell swoop and seize their grain and cloth!"

A cheer erupted from the audience as the warriors waved their weapons, expressing their support for Boru and their hopes for the future.

However, at this moment, an elder tribal chief stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Khan, although we have 'peanuts,' the Great Jing army also has them! We must proceed with caution and not underestimate the enemy!"

Upon hearing this, Bolu frowned slightly.

"According to Buga, most of the Da Jing army still uses swords, and only a few people use 'peanuts' (spears). This means that Da Jing doesn't have many 'peanuts'. Therefore, we must speed up the production of 'peanuts', find out how to use them to kill the enemy, and practice diligently. With the bravery of our Turkic cavalry, we'll see who has more 'peanuts' and whose 'peanuts' can be shot farther."

As soon as Boru finished speaking, a burst of cheers erupted from the crowd below, as if victory was already in sight.

"More, further."

"More, further."

……

"Ok!"

The tribal chief nodded slightly, agreeing with Boru Khan's words.

Then we'll see who has more "peanuts" and whose warrior can shoot them the farthest.

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