Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 139 Li Yi, you scoundrel, I've come to take your head!
"Oh no, pursuers!"

Li Yi was extremely familiar with the sound of horses' hooves.

The Tang Dynasty's cavalry marched with exceptional discipline, maintaining a steady rhythm even during pursuit.

So, just by listening to the sound, he knew it must be an elite force.

"Damn it, how did these Tang soldiers know we were here?" Bolu cursed, casting a suspicious glance at Li Yi.

The reason they chose this path was because of Li Yi's suggestion.

He said that if they followed the large delegation, they would soon be overtaken by pursuers.

That's why, on his advice, they chose to take a detour from this location.

Unexpectedly, they were caught up with as soon as they arrived.

"I don't know either!" Li Yi roared in anger!
Little did he know that after Wen He finished looking at the surrounding topographical map, he led his men directly from the Forbidden Garden to this place.

Compared to Li Yi and his group, who had to go around after crossing the Wei River to get here, Wen He shortened the journey by half.

There's a figure ahead!

Wen He saw several Turks at the mountain pass opposite through his binoculars and immediately shouted a warning.

With a "whoosh," in the blink of an eye, the more than thirty riders behind him drew their already cocked crossbows.

"put!"

At his command, a series of loud bangs echoed behind him.

Facing the rising sun in the distance, a volley of arrows rushed towards the Turks.

"It's a crossbow bolt! Get out of the way!"

Abal shouted, and the people around him reacted quickly.

Li Yi was even faster than him, hiding behind a rock.

However, those who did not react in time were instantly covered by crossbow bolts.

"Although the Tang army's crossbows are powerful, they cannot be cocked on horseback. After dodging this attack, we will mount our horses and charge out!"

Li Yi knew that now that they had been caught up, they had no choice but to fight back.

Otherwise, they would surely be relentlessly pursued by this cavalry.

If they wait for reinforcements to arrive, they will have no chance of survival.

"It seems there are only a dozen or so people. What a pity. But it doesn't matter. After we capture Li Yi, we'll go kill the Turkic delegation."

Wen He put down the binoculars and gestured for Zhang Wenxiao to stop.

He then waved his hand to signal, and the remaining hundred riders also stopped.

Li Yi and the others, who were hiding not far away, gripped their knife hilts when they heard that there was no more noise outside.

They were in a position of advantage, and the cavalry simply couldn't get up there.

The only option was to dismount and fight them.

Since there was no movement outside, Li Yi guessed that they were probably loading crossbow bolts.

He immediately roared, "Charge out!"

As soon as he finished speaking, someone behind him jumped up first.

Bolu shouted a curse in Turkic, and then...

"Whoosh whoosh!"

A dozen arrows rained down on him.

Before he could even react, his chest was already riddled with arrows.

"Bolu!"

Aibar was shocked and furious, watching helplessly as Boru collapsed in front of him.

"Impossible, impossible! Why were their crossbow bolts so fast!" Li Yi exclaimed in disbelief, staring in horror at Boru lying in front of him.

Those eyes were also filled with doubt.

He seemed unable to believe, even in his dying moments, that the Tang army's crossbows could be so swift.

“Prince Yan, today is the day His Highness the Crown Prince ascends the throne. You are one of the few non-royal princes in the Tang Dynasty. How can you leave like this? His Highness the Crown Prince specially sent me to bring you back.”

Wen He smiled and gently waved his small hand, and the hundred riders behind him slowly moved forward.

"I have devoted myself to the Tang Dynasty, yet Li Shimin wants to imprison me. I refuse to accept this, and today I will rather die!"

Li Yi roared and jumped out from behind the rock.

The surrounding Turks were so frightened that they immediately lowered their heads. Only Aibar roared angrily and jumped out.

Seeing the familiar face through the binoculars, Wen He couldn't help but laugh. Aibar had been ganged up on by a hundred riders not long ago, and his face was still swollen.

"You dare kill me!"

Li Yi brandished the knife and roared.

But he knew very well that these people wouldn't kill him.

Otherwise, given their numbers, they could easily overwhelm us.

But the leader shouted at him.

This clearly means they want to capture him alive.

"Young master, shall I lead men to attack?" Zhang Wenxiao volunteered.

Wen He shook his head: "The hundred riders are all precious, there's no need to waste their lives on such a trivial matter. Listen to me, fire crossbow bolts!"

What era are we living in? Who wants to fight you in close combat?

Now that Li Yi has shown his face, he shouldn't be so impolite.

“But His Highness said to capture him alive.” Zhang Wenxiao hesitated, but as soon as he finished speaking, Wen He glared at him: “Then you go.”

"No, no, I can't beat him," Zhang Wenxiao quickly shook his head.

He was absolutely confident that if a hundred riders rushed forward, he would be no match for Li Yi.

"Then what did you say? Use crossbows, leave no one alive!"

Wen He's face was cold. Did Li Yi really think that shouting at him was to capture him alive?

It was just to lure him out.

Just as Wen He was about to give the order to fire the arrows, he heard a loud hoofbeat behind him, followed by an angry shout from afar.

"Li Yi, you scoundrel, I've come to take your head!"

A lone figure on horseback, wielding a long spear, swept past Wen He.

Li Yi was also taken aback when she saw the person who came.

He never expected that Li Shimin would send Li Daozong to capture him!

"Just in time!"

Now there is no way to avoid it. Li Yi would rather die here than return to Chang'an to suffer humiliation.

He immediately mounted his horse, drew his sword, and charged towards Li Daozong.

The two drew closer and closer, but did not slow down their pace at all. Just as they were about to collide, Li Daozong swung his spear and thrust it forward.

Li Yi swung his sword to block the attack with all his might, then sheathed his sword and slashed at Li Daozong.

The latter seemed to have anticipated this, quickly retracting his spear to block, followed by another sweeping attack.

The two went back and forth, and for a time it was difficult to determine who was better.

"Who is this person?"

Wen He was somewhat displeased; something that could have been resolved in a moment was being made all the more complicated.

"It seems to be the Prince of Rencheng."

"Who?"

Wen He has no recollection of it.

"It's Li Daozong."

"Oh, it turns out it's him."

Wen He only remembered that Li Daozong was later enfeoffed as the Prince of Jiangxia, and he really didn't remember what title he had before that.

His martial arts skills are indeed quite good; no wonder he was later feared by Changsun Wuji.

Unfortunately, he was also severely vilified in later generations. Despite being a loyal minister, he was portrayed as a treacherous official.

Wen He clicked his tongue twice, watching the fight opposite him with great interest.

Suddenly, Zhang Wenxiao said anxiously.

"Young master, those Turks look like they're about to run away!"

Wen He then turned her head to look.

The Turks mounted their horses and tried to escape.

Aibar, who was in charge, turned around angrily and glared at him, which was secretly seen by Wen He.

Wen He's eyes turned cold, and she immediately ordered, "Leave no one alive!"

(End of this chapter)