I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 217 Pursuit
Within the territory of the Turks, the Northwest Army, like a sharp steel knife, divided the Ejin Banner region in two.

Deputy General Gao swiftly plunged his sword into the heart of the Turkic soldier who had launched a sneak attack from behind. "Your Highness, the entire Turkic enemy force has been killed. Should we continue the westward offensive?"

"Continue! Stop when the Turks withdraw from the northeast!" King Xuan shouted, raising his arm. "Kill!"

"Kill!" The Northwest Army soldiers were filled with high morale.

"Eighth Prince, the Northwest Army is attacking!" a Turkic scout reported.

"Eighth Prince, what should we do?" the lieutenant asked worriedly, looking at the less than three thousand soldiers behind him.

Ashina Bolu gritted his teeth, hating the Turkic Empress Dowager Ashide to the core. There's a saying in Dayu that's absolutely true: "Women and petty men are the hardest to deal with."

They gave him a mere three thousand soldiers and dared to expect him to hold off the Northwest Army for three days.

What unrealistic dreams are you having!
Ashina Bolu planned his escape route in his mind, but his face remained calm. "The Empress Dowager has given the order that we must delay until the Great Yabghu arrives to reinforce us!"

The lieutenant looked at the Northwest Army rushing towards them in the distance with a look of despair on his face.

"Let's go to Mazong Mountain!" Ashina Bolu turned his horse around. "Gentlemen, whether we survive or not depends on our own abilities!"

"Your Highness! They've entered the mountains!" Deputy General Gao shouted, holding up his binoculars.

"You're courting death!" King Xuan sneered. "Go into the mountains and search for them. Don't let a single Turk escape!"

"Yes!" The Northwest Army abandoned their horses and went into the mountains, forming a five-man formation to search for the besieging Turkic soldiers.

Ashina Bolu and his deputy rode with difficulty through the heavy snow, their horses' hooves sinking into large snowdrifts with each step.

Traveling on snow is extremely taxing on horsepower, which minimizes the advantage of the Turkic cavalry, while highlighting the advantages of the infantry.

The Northwest Army patrolled, their horses panting heavily from the strain, as they pursued and intercepted the Turkic soldiers, forcing them to abandon their horses and flee.

During the pursuit through the mountains and forests, the Northwest Army and the Turkic soldiers repeatedly encountered each other and fought to the death. Although the Northwest Army was not as strong and brave as the Turkic soldiers, they were familiar with the formations and had excellent teamwork, so they suffered fewer casualties.

Deputy General Gao led twenty personal guards in pursuit of the Eighth Prince of the Turks, finally cornering him on a slope near Jiuquan Prefecture.

"Eighth Prince, prepare to die!" Deputy General Gao brandished his broadsword and charged at him.

Ashina Bolu learned martial arts from a young age. Although he was born with insufficient strength because his mother was from Dayu, he was agile and could dodge attacks with a slight movement.

When Vice General Gao missed his first strike, he swung his sword and attacked Ashina Bolu's vital points.

Ashina Bolu continued to dodge, and in the blink of an eye, the two had already moved quite a distance away from the crowd.

"Damn it, all you can do is dodge, is that all you can do?" Deputy General Gao swung his knife down hard.

Ashina Bolu remained silent, dodging while keeping an eye out for escape routes.

Deputy General Gao realized his intentions and pressed on relentlessly, becoming even more ruthless.

Suddenly, Ashina Bolu changed his dodging stance and swung his sword backhand. Vice General Gao did not retreat but instead met the blow head-on.

Ashina Bolu sneered, stomped his foot, and suddenly a sharp blade appeared from the tip of his shoe, heading straight for Vice General Gao's neck.

Deputy General Gao's eyes widened, and he instinctively stepped back.

Little did anyone know that Ashina Bolu was just feinting, and while Vice General Gao was dodging, he and his vice general quickly jumped down the slope.

Deputy General Gao was furious and was about to continue the chase when he heard a whoosh as an arrow pierced the air and flew straight toward Ashina Bolu, who was running away.

"Eighth Prince, watch out!" The lieutenant lunged forward and pressed himself tightly against Ashina Bolu's back.

The arrow pierced through the deputy general and shot into Ashina's back. The two rolled down the sloping cliff like conjoined twins.

King Xuan put down his bow and arrow. "Chase them! I want to see them alive or dead!"

Deputy General Gao immediately led his men to give chase, but they were too late. They found only the body of the Turkic deputy general at the bottom of the cliff, while Ashina Bolu had vanished without a trace.

Deputy General Gao led his men to search along the bloodstains for a long time, but could only confirm that Ashina Bolu had disappeared within the territory of Jiuquan Prefecture.

"Seal off Jiuquan Prefecture, post notices, and make sure Ashina Bolu is captured!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" Three days later, Ashina Bolu's portrait was plastered all over the streets and alleys of Jiuquan Prefecture.

At the east gate of Jiuquan Prefecture, a caravan was about to leave the city.

The soldiers guarding the city conducted their routine inspections, opening and checking every box on every carriage from front to back.

"What, are you afraid that I brought something I shouldn't have?" After waiting for a full incense stick's time, the Lady of Zhongyong finally lost her patience and made her move.

The soldiers guarding the city were originally under the command of the Earl of Zhongyong and respected the Earl of Zhongyong's wife very much. When they saw that the Earl of Zhongyong's wife was angry, they dared not delay any longer and hastily finished inspecting the last few carriages.

The soldier apologized, "I'm sorry to have kept you in suspense, Madam. Please forgive me."

Lady Zhongyong spoke coldly, then slowly drove away in her carriage.

When the carriage had traveled for several dozen miles, a figure suddenly fell from under the last carriage and ran away quickly into the distance.

Qin Island in Northeast China.

After eating potatoes for three days, the people of Dayu who were released fell in love with the food and shamelessly asked, "May I ask, Princess, can we grow these potatoes?"

That's possible, but, "Don't you need winter wheat and soybeans?"

"Bean rice is nowhere near as delicious as potatoes!" The villager slapped his thigh. Wheat had to be taxed and exchanged for silver, so they ate bean rice three times a day and lived a very hard life.

"If you want to plant them, I'll give you some seeds," Tang Zhao said generously.

The people were filled with gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Prince An, who was eavesdropping nearby, nudged Gu Ci and winked, "Nephew, get some potato seeds for your uncle too!"

Gu Ci shook his head. "No."

"Who are you trying to fool!" Prince An said, displeased. "Even if you don't have it, ask your wife for it!"

Why isn't Uncle An going?

Why? Didn't he offend Tang Zhao? Judging from their interactions over this period of time, that girl is definitely petty!
He went to ask for it, but that girl absolutely could not be given it!

"No, as long as Uncle An has enough good things to impress Zhao Shan, she will give them to you."

Prince An: ...

But the problem is he wants to get something for nothing!
Gu Ci remained silent.

Prince An stopped his eldest nephew, who was about to leave, and asked, "Tell me, what does your wife like?"

Gu Ci was very frank, "Money!"

Prince An rolled his eyes. He liked it too!

"Name one that I possess!"

Gu Ci replied, "The land!"

Prince An: ...

Prince An clutched his aching chest, pointed at his nephew who had forgotten his uncle now that he had a wife, and was speechless for a long time.

Tang Zhao walked over with a curious look on his face. "What's wrong, Your Highness?"

Gu Ci explained, "Uncle Anwang wants to exchange land for potato seeds with you, and he's heartbroken."

Tang Zhao's eyes lit up. "Uncle Wang, why don't you just tell your niece-in-law if you have such an idea? She doesn't need any top-quality land, just some saline-alkali land by the sea will do!"

Prince An couldn't believe it. "Are you serious?"

Tang Zhao said with a serious expression, "More real than real gold!"

"Alright!" Prince An instantly felt relieved, "Then I will give you the mudflats of Jin Prefecture!"

"Thank you, Uncle Wang!"