Qikou was the location of Xieli's main camp.
Hahahaha, well said! We'll set off tomorrow and head straight for Dingxiang City!
Li Shimin smiled, stood up, and stomped out the last bit of his cigar.
That evening, General Qi Delong slaughtered several sheep within the pass, roasted them, and sent them to Li Shimin's main tent.
He had thought this food would be quite good during the march.
But to his surprise, upon entering the tent, he saw Li Shimin enjoying a braised chicken leg in his left hand and a wine pot in his right, eating heartily.
On the table, there were plates of unfamiliar fish pieces, green vegetables, and something resembling beans.
Li Jing and the others were the same, and even the young general who had been specifically questioned by the Emperor today was no different.
From Chang'an all the way to Yanmen Pass, there was such a rich variety of food along the way. Looking at his own roasted mutton, seasoned only with a layer of salt, it suddenly felt less appealing.
Hmm? Captain Qi, why didn't you mention the mutton earlier? Bring it here quickly!
Upon seeing the roasted lamb, Fang Er immediately tossed aside the chicken leg.
These vacuum-packed things had too strong a flavor. Compared to a freshly roasted lamb leg, how could a chicken leg, shredded kelp, canned hairtail, or peanuts compare?
After speaking, he walked directly behind Qi Delong and took a piece of sliced lamb leg from a soldier.
Returning to his seat, he rummaged in his pocket and produced a round tin of pepper salt. He sprinkled it onto the still-dripping lamb leg.
He tore off a piece, popped it into his mouth, and washed it down with a gulp of Erguotou. It was heavenly!
Li Shimin looked up and wiped his mouth. Captain Qi, you are too thoughtful. I have eaten well. Divide this mutton among the brothers under your command.
Qi Delong cast an embarrassed glance at Li Jing and the others. They were all gnawing their chicken legs clean.
Not only was there not a shred of meat left on the bones, but they had even scraped off the sinew and membrane. Even the unfamiliar green vegetables on the plate were almost gone in that short time.
Seeing that no one else, except Fang Er, had come for the mutton, he awkwardly withdrew from the main tent.
Don't leave! Leave the kidneys for this Marquis!
Fang Er put down the lamb leg and ran over again, taking the two lamb kidneys he had spotted earlier.
This is good stuff! Heh heh!
The meal was a satisfying one. The soldiers below had already tidied up the living quarters.
As a group of men, there wasn't much activity at night, so they simply went to sleep in their own places.
The next day, the convoy rested at Yanmen Pass for a day, and departed on the morning of the third day.
Leaving Yanmen, passing Shuofang, and traversing Shahukou.
Beyond this point, they were not far from the Turkic capital, Dingxiang City. Furthermore, the terrain ahead was not as precipitous as the high mountains they had passed. Beyond Eyangling lay flat terrain. The snow on the ground had not yet completely melted, and their footsteps made crunching sounds.
Beyond Eyangling, the land became rolling grassland. The convoy picked up speed, more than doubling their previous pace.
After half a day's march, they encountered scattered Turkic cavalry, likely scouts.
According to the map, Dingxiang City was only a little more than ten li away. It was not surprising to encounter scouts here.
The Turkic cavalry were startled to see the Tang army suddenly appear within their sight.
Retreat!
The leader of this group of cavalry, after a moment's hesitation, realized that the Tang army was attacking.
They had seen the Tang army, and the Xuanjia Army, leading the Tang forces, had also spotted them.
"Call the Emperor. This is Xuan Yi. Spotted Turkic cavalry ahead. Over!"
Li Shimin, while driving a three-wheeled vehicle, was giving Li Tai a political lecture when he suddenly heard the voice from the walkie-talkie and immediately ended his sermon.
"Qing Que, sit tight!"
He pressed the clutch with his left foot and swiftly shifted gears with his right hand.
The speed of the three-wheeled vehicle suddenly increased to its maximum.
The six armored vehicles following behind him quickly kept pace.
Fang Er was not to be outdone. All the walkie-talkies were now on the same channel, and he had also heard the message about spotting the cavalry.
Li Shimin's action was undoubtedly the most appropriate.
When the Xuanjia Army and the cavalry spotted each other, they were at least a kilometer apart. One was running, the other pursuing, and it was uncertain when they would catch up.
However, the convoy was different. Even the three-wheeled vehicles at full speed were faster than warhorses.
Moreover, the endurance of warhorses could not compare to the three-wheeled vehicles.
The convoy skirted around the Tianhuo Army and the Xuanjia Army and directly pursued the Turkic cavalry.
The scouts had only managed to run for a short distance. When they saw that the Tang cavalry were not in pursuit, they felt a flicker of relief, thinking they hadn't been discovered by the Tang army.
Then, they suddenly heard a loud roaring sound from behind!
Li Shimin's three-wheeled vehicle was left far behind by the pickup trucks and armored vehicles.
They hadn't noticed during the large-scale march, but once they let loose and started running, the three-wheeled vehicles were completely outmatched!
This was a battle, not a time for politeness. Li Shimin was displeased with the speed of his three-wheeled vehicle, but he didn't express any dissatisfaction.
After all, it was his own choice!
The scouts watched the monsters chasing them like arrows, and their legs began to tremble with fear.
What kind of monsters had the Tang army brought!
Even the warhorses beneath them were startled, and they galloped away with all four legs.
Although the warhorses were fast, they were no match for the v16.
When the convoy was only a hundred meters away from the scouts, seven vehicles lined up abreast and simultaneously opened their sunroofs.
Fang Er, Qin Qiong, Yuchi Jingde, Li Jing, Zhang Gongjin, Li Xiaogong, and Niu Jinda, seven people, emerged from the sunroofs.
The Yun Er rifles were loaded, and each found their target.
ps: Second update