Chapter 296: Hunting

The Imperial Kingdom is just a small country in the Western Regions, with a small area and a small population. Its capital is only equivalent to a county in the mainland of the Tang Dynasty, with a population of only tens of thousands. However, it is located at the critical moment of the Southern Silk Road, with merchants and travelers constantly coming and going. Camel caravans loaded with heavy goods can be seen everywhere in the city, which seems particularly busy this year.

The reason was that the black-clad Abbas captured Damascus and officially became the new caliph, but turned around and cruelly suppressed the former ally Shi'a Muslims. The war spread in the Khorasan region and blocked the Northern Silk Road. The political stability of the Central Asian region and the blockage of the Northern Silk Road, which made the trade on the Southern Silk Road particularly prosperous.

More than a month after the war quelled, the Tang army has not returned to the court for a long time. The occupation of the Imperial Kingdom was just to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys. The real purpose of the Tang Empire was to use this to attack the countries of Tochar.

Gao Xianzhi has been particularly busy these days. The kings of the Western Regions who had been watching the situation rushed to the Imperial Kingdom as the Tubo army officially retreated, paid tribute to the Tang Dynasty and slaves, expressing their re-submission to the Tang Dynasty.

In the early morning, the governor of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty came out of the palace, with hundreds of personal guards surrounded by them, and a group of hunting dogs led the way. They were dressed in bright clothes and battle flags fluttering, and drove out of the city.

More than a month of emperor-like life made Gao Xianzhi's cheeks obviously plump and gradually restored his elegant temperament. In the past few days, he was filled with praises. The noble kings crawled at his feet like dogs. Once Gao Xianzhi's proud head was lifted, it was difficult to lower it.

But there was one thing that made Gao Xianzhi always feel resentful, that is, Li Qing, who was stationed outside the city. Although the war had ended, he refused to leave, as if a person snoring on the side of the bed, making his sleep unsweet. Therefore, Gao Xianzhi decided to take advantage of this hunting opportunity to test Li Qing's attitude.

Hunting with Gao Xianzhi, there were also many kings from small Western countries, including Shimithar, the special envoy of Tochar who was rescued by Li Qing and sent to Chang'an. He arrived the day before yesterday to mediate the relationship between the Tang Dynasty and the Imperial Kingdom on behalf of Ye Hu, but Gao Xianzhi seemed to be busy with official duties and has not received him yet.

Like the cities of the Western Regions, the capital of the Imperial Kingdom also lacks planning. In front of the palace is the main road of the capital, which is equivalent to the Zhuque Street in Chang'an. However, the streets are narrow, the houses are low, the population is crowded, and there are carriages and camels everywhere, bustling, and there are endless hawking and shouting.

But Gao Xianzhi's ceremonial war suddenly appeared, causing chaos on the streets, overturning the fruit shop, missing horses, calling their mothers, and people could not hide, so they lie on the ground, dare not look up, and after a group of hunting dogs roared and rushed over, the streets were silent, and only the sound of "da!da!' horse hooves echoed rhythmically in the air.

In a small alley, there were more than a dozen gorgeously dressed people, holding a large group of horses in their hands. The head was a middle-aged man in his fifties, with a medium figure, fur, and a hat that was taken off. He had a pair of yellow and red hair on his hat. He had a pair of light brown eyes with extremely cold expressions and fine white wrinkles on the corners of his eyes. Although he was dressed by a businessman, he was noble in temperament and obviously was not an ordinary businessman.

On his left was a girl, tall, plump and young, probably less than twenty years old, with smooth, chestnut hair, and a fiery red fox skin around her neck, without a trace of variegated color, and was wearing a long golden dress made of Shu brocade, with silver silk on her skirt, and a white short coat on her neck and face. Her neck and face were dazzlingly white. Her mouth and nose were like the masterpiece of a Greek art master, perfect without any flaws. She also had a pair of blue eyes, like two lakes in an iceberg, and she was undoubtedly a suffocating girl.

But what is impressive is that her eyes, pride, stubbornness and holiness, are revealed from these blue eyes, making people afraid to look directly.

"Master, let's go back first! Gao Xianzhi doesn't seem to have time today." An old servant who looked like a housekeeper behind him respectfully advised the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man nodded and was about to lead people away, but the girl beside him looked at the crawling people all over the ground, snorted, and said disdainfully to Gao Xianzhi's back: "It would be so proud to win a small country like a lamb. If it weren't for the great cannibal civil war, would he succeed so easily?"

The middle-aged man's face sank and said, "Luo Lan, don't talk nonsense. The Tang Dynasty is your second homeland at least, so you should always maintain respect in your heart."

"Father, I am not targeting the Tang Dynasty, but this tall and handsome man."

The girl looked at Gao Xianzhi with a squint. Suddenly, she saw the last Simital walking, and couldn't help but say in surprise: "Father, Uncle Taal is here too."

"Oh! It's him." The middle-aged man smiled slightly, called a servant, and whispered a few words to him. The servant immediately chased Gao Xianzhi's team in the direction where Gao Xianzhi's team disappeared.

"Let's go! Let's follow." The middle-aged man waved his hand and led a group of people to ride out of the alley, and soon disappeared into the low and dense houses.

.........

Gao Xianzhi's team left the city gate and saw a team of Tang army cavalry from a distance. It was Li Qing who was waiting there. After Li Qing arrived at the Imperial Kingdom, he lived in the camp outside the city. He acted very low-key and allowed Gao Xianzhi to be glorious.

Li Qing had already learned about Li Longji's methods. Bian Lingcheng did not come for such an important battle. If he did not send his confidant to monitor him, how could he explain to Li Longji? Does Gao Xianzhi really think that using money can block Bian Lingcheng's mouth? Especially in the subtle situation where he came to Anxi, how could Bian Lingcheng dare to hide it for Gao Xianzhi?

But Gao Xianzhi seemed not aware of this, but lived in the palace of Master Lu with a willingness to live in the palace of Master Lu. The food, clothing and expenses were no different from those of the previous kings. He also served as the court to meet with the small country, instead of ordering them to go to Chang'an to apologize. He really thought that Li Longji wouldn't know that he had thousands of miles away from the country?

Li Qing secretly sighed for Gao Xianzhi. Is it because of this that Gao Xianzhi was killed in Tongguan in history?

Gao Xianzhi was an excellent general, but his political performance was not up to standard. He thought that expanding territory would make him win the emperor's praise, but he did not know that everything was a double-edged sword. Although he had made great contributions to expanding territory, he was easily suspicious of gaining troops. It was the same since ancient times. Even one of the reasons for An Lushan's rebellion could not solve this situation.

He always complained that Li Qinglai would not leave in the country, but could not see through the chess that Li Qing had taken. Li Qing did this to implement Li Longji's layout and restrain him Gao Xianzhi. Although he did not have his glory, he won politically.

When Li Qing saw Gao Xianzhi coming, he immediately urged him to come and laughed: "In this dead of winter, Gao Shuai and Yaxing are traveling and hunting, which is worthy of being a soldier. However, Li Qing slept all day long, what is the difference between it and the old bear in the tree hole?"

Gao Xianzhi took Li Qing's hand and looked up and down. Seeing that his face was as dark as before, he couldn't help but laugh: "I've never seen such a thin bear."

"Come! Come! Come! Let me introduce it to everyone."

Gao Xianzhi pulled Li Qing over and smiled at the dozens of accompanying kings behind him and said, "This is our deputy commander of the Anxi Army. Although he is young, he is an important official of the Tang Dynasty and the former Minister of Revenue. Have you ever heard of it?"

These kings are the monarchs of a country, but in fact they are under the jurisdiction of the Tang Dynasty and are relatively independent. Therefore, although the minister of the Ministry of Revenue has a heavy financial power, they cannot feel it and do not care. What they value is Deputy Commander Anxi, which is the position that has a direct connection with them. Although everyone knows that it was this person who defeated the Imperial Army in Xiaobojin, they only think that he was a general under Gao Xianzhi. Seeing that he is very young and has been speechless these days, everyone has a little contempt in their hearts. They bow to him in stiff Chinese and say that they have long admired him, but their tone is even lighter than a cup of tea brewed countless times.

Li Qing didn't mind either, so he just gave in and smiled faintly. He didn't have to deliberately win over these small countries of Zhuhu who were changing their responsibilities. As long as they showed enough strength, they would naturally flock to him. This has always been the law of the strong.

"Set out!" Gao Xianzhi waved his hand, and a large group of people, horses, dogs and eagles galloped westward.

The capital of the Imperial Kingdom is located in a narrow and long basin. A river crosses through it. There are large forests on both sides of the river. However, in winter, the river has frozen. Foxes and wild wolves foraging can be seen from time to time on the ice. Most of them are skinny and are not the season for hunting, but Gao Xianzhi is also for hunting.

An hour later, Gao Xianzhi's war horse rushed to a small hill. When he looked back, the team behind him had been pulled away. Except for his personal guards who had been following him closely, the other kings of the Hu and their servants were missing. However, Gao Xianzhi was concerned about Li Qing. He saw him follow him just now, why is there no one now?

At this time, Li Qingzheng stood behind a tree. Fifty steps ahead, several foxes were biting a dead antelope. The air was filled with blood, just covering up the breath of war horses.

He set his bow and arrow, and the bowstring gradually rounded. With a "swoosh!", the wolf-tooth arrow shot away like lightning. Although it was powerful, its accuracy was not good. The arrow passed through several foxes and was nailed to the dead antelope. The foxes jumped up in shock, ran away, and soon rushed into a cluster of bushes and disappeared.

"Governor! These foxes are rough and not worth much money, so it's better not to have them!" Seeing Li Qing's shooting, the personal soldiers stepped forward to comfort him, fearing that it would hurt his confidence.

"What are you guys talking nonsense?" Li Qing put away his bow and laughed: "Arrow stinks, what's so embarrassing about this? Do you want you to comfort me?"

The personal soldiers all stuck out their tongues and dared not speak anymore.

At this time, with a 'kick!', a silver-bell-like chuck came from the woods next to him, "Father, he is still the deputy coach! Even the fox standing there as a target could not be shot."

The soldiers were furious, who dared to make fun of their governors?

"Don't be rude! Why don't you go and apologize to others."

I saw more than a dozen people coming out of the woods, all riding horses. The two of them in front were watching Gao Xianzhi’s departure on the street. There was another person next to him. Li Qing knew that the Tochar envoy saved in Shazhou, Shimithar.

"Sir, please come, okay!"

The Shimithar Lord immediately saluted Li Qing, "I didn't expect that we would meet again here. My Ye Hu is very grateful to you and said that we must thank you very much."

Li Qing had a good impression of this Hu man, so he hurriedly replied: "Tal's envoy, is Sirigala Yehu coming?"

"It will be here in two days!"

At this time, the middle-aged man and the girl also came to Li Qing. The middle-aged man looked apologetically and bowed slightly to Li Qing, but the girl looked at the arrow that was still nailed to the antelope, and then the arrow in Li Qing's hand, with a hint of mockery in his eyes.

Li Qing ignored the girl and gave her a gentle bow to the middle-aged man, expressing his acceptance of his apology, and then smiled at Thomas and said, "Is this your friend?"

"He is my most honorable friend!"

Thomastal smiled proudly and introduced the middle-aged man to Li Qing and said, "This is one of the two kings of the Shi Kingdom, the deputy king Mo Hedu, and he just arrived at the Imperial Kingdom today."
Chapter completed!