Chapter 128: Falling Into the Trap

Chapter 128: Falling Into the Trap

Han Da did not understand when he first saw the letter.

But now, Jiang Xing’s words had enlightened him.

After hearing this, the eyes of the group lit up one by one.

Jiang Xing continued, “Not only that, but we can also use the Turks’ hands to get rid of those people from the New Four Great Clans.”

“Brilliant! The Prince is truly amazing! It looks like a retreat, but it’s actually luring the enemy deeper!”

The group praised in agreement.

Seeing this, Han Da said, “Everyone, but remember! We must keep this matter under tight wraps!”

The group nodded repeatedly.

“Now, go about your own tasks.”

The common people on their side packed up very quickly, mainly because they didn’t have much to pack.

After the common people arrived at the city gate, Han Da sent someone to check their identity documents and then let them leave.

These common people not only refused to take the rations Han Da’s men offered, but they also left the soldiers the food they had saved these days, along with some dried fruits and dried vegetables.

Han Da initially wanted to refuse, but the common people insisted.

One elder stepped forward. “Military officers, this is our sincere offering! You must accept it. Although it’s humble, it can still save lives in critical times…”

Han Da waved his hands. “Sir, that’s not what I meant. I’m not looking down on these humble things. On the contrary, I think they are extremely precious. You’ve already left your rations for us; we cannot take these as well.”

The elder said, “General Han, only if you live, can we live!”

An old woman beside him added, “Yes, General Han, when we see you, we feel hope for the future. We want you to live. With the King of Northern Desert here, and military officers like you who care for us common people, we feel secure and hopeful for our days ahead…”

The common people brought out more of their own food.

Seeing the common people’s enthusiasm, the soldiers’ eyes showed deep emotion.

Before, Xiao Ce always talked about the close bond between the army and the people, but Han Da never fully understood it.

However, now they felt it.

Deputy General Sun Qiang and the other deputy generals nearby persuaded, “General, perhaps we should accept it. After all, it’s everyone’s sincere wish! If we have more food, we can hold out for longer, and they will be safer.”

Han Da nodded. “Alright, we accept your sincere offering. We will not let you down!”

Then Han Da said to all the soldiers, “Everyone, let us thank the common people together!”

After Han Da finished speaking, all the soldiers bowed in respect.

The common people returned the gesture one by one.

Then they left.

Han Da looked at the pile of food at the city gate, stacked like a small hill.

Most of it had been prepared as food that was easy to store.

“The Prince was absolutely right. If you treat the common people well, they will know it! And they will surely give back!”

The deputy generals nodded in agreement. Most of these deputy generals were locals from the Northern Desert.

They had never seen such a warm and harmonious scene before.

…

Meanwhile, outside Yanbei City, at the Turkic camp.

These past few days, the army of the Ashina Tribe had also been surrounded and watched.

The other tribe leaders, having nothing else to do, mostly kept an eye on Ashina.

After these days of calm, they too had begun to suspect that the reports their men brought might have been false.

Several of the leaders were playing a game of ‘wood-sticks’ (a Turkic pastime, similar to mahjong.)

Ashina sat nearby with his eyes closed, resting.

Just then, a messenger soldier hurriedly requested an audience at the entrance.

Ashina heard the request and slowly opened his eyes.

The tribe leaders who had been playing ‘wood-sticks’ also stopped immediately.

Ashide quickly called out, “Enter.”

After the messenger soldier came in,

Ashide said with some nervousness, “Have the men we sent out returned?”

The messenger soldier shook his head. “No. It’s our people from the rear. They say they escaped! They have urgent matters to report to you.”

Hearing this, Ashide instinctively glanced at Ashina.

Ashina remained calm.

“Bring them here.”

The messenger soldier saluted and ran off. Soon, he brought in a Turk whose clothes were torn and who looked utterly disheveled.

After the Turk rushed in,

“Great Khan, save us!”

After hearing the pleading words of the Turk who had run in, Ashide frowned slightly and examined the man.

He did not recognize this person.

However, from his appearance, clothing, and accent, he was definitely from their tribe.

“Ghost Cavalry… Ghost Cavalry came and slaughtered our tribe. They destroyed our tribe, they killed our people…”

Ashide listened and frowned. “Ghost Cavalry? Or Ashina?”

The Turk tribesman shook his head. “I… I don’t know… They had no banners, they wore strange clothes, their faces looked like devil masks… I don’t know…”

Ashina quickly said, “You see, I told you it wasn’t me.”

Helu added, “Don’t be so quick to clear your name. If you were to attack, you would certainly disguise yourselves!”

Ashide asked the survivor from his Ashide tribe, “Did you see my Madam? Was she killed?”

After Ashide asked, the survivor shook his head vigorously.

He said he was from one of the sub-tribes. He survived by pure luck because he was having a bout of diarrhea.

That’s why he escaped.

At this point, the surviving Turk said to Ashide, “Oh, by the way, Great Khan, on my way back, I saw many people carrying Ashina Tribe banners, leading many captives and livestock…”

Hearing this, Ashina’s gaze sharpened. “Are you sure they were our Ashina people? Did you see clearly? You will be held responsible for your words.”

That Turk was just an ordinary tribesman.

Frightened by Ashina’s tone, he stammered, “I… I… I didn’t see if it was Ashina, but I’m sure the banners were Ashina’s…”

Ashina immediately cut in, “A banner alone proves nothing!”

Tiesa said, “Ashina, don’t get ahead of yourself! Our joint scouts should be back by now. When they return, if you are innocent, we will apologize to you and certainly get to the bottom of this. Of course, if it’s false, we won’t let you go!”

Just then, another urgent voice came from outside the tent.

“Report, Great Khan… they’re here, the joint investigation scouts have returned.” One of Ashide’s sons rushed in urgently.

Everyone immediately grew excited.

Ashide’s eyes lit up. “Quick! Bring them here.”

Helu gave Ashina a challenging look and said, “You’re dead!”

Ashina had a complicated expression. Although he did nothing, from the words of the Ashide tribe survivor who just arrived, it seemed someone was smearing his reputation.

Soon after, a five-person team walked in.

The leader was Ashide’s son, Saibai Ashide.

Ashide anxiously asked, “Saibai, what did you find?”

Saibai Ashide cupped his hands and said, “Reporting to Father Khan, our entire Turkic rear is safe and sound. Nothing unusual!”

After Saibai Ashide finished speaking, the others sent by the various tribes nodded in agreement.

“We went to check the tribes of each clan. Our tribes are unharmed, and everyone is living normally, with no signs of being attacked!” Saibai Ashide said.

“Impossible! Impossible! Prince Saibai, I am from the Ashide tribe. Our tribe was completely burned down, and everyone was killed… This can’t be true!” said the man from the Ashide tribe, his face full of disbelief.

Mosuo Ashina said, “Nonsense! Your Ashide tribe is perfectly fine—some herding sheep, some herding cattle… Nothing is wrong! Do you think we’re blind?”

“That’s right, we visited every tribe! If they were attacked, wouldn’t we know?” said the people from the other two tribes.

Seeing their confident expressions, the Ashide tribe survivor was almost in tears.

He wore a look of helplessness!

“Princes, I swear to the Celestial God! Did you get close enough to look? Could you have mistaken something?”

Hearing the survivor’s words, the princes from the various tribes were stunned.

They indeed had not approached closely.

Originally, they intended to get closer, but Saibai Ashide suggested not to inspect from a short distance.

He reasoned that if there was no problem, a scout team approaching might cause unnecessary trouble.

If the tribes learned of these matters, it might also lead to mutual suspicion and unnecessary conflict.

Moreover, with tensions on the front lines, they were pressed for time.

Saibai Ashide’s suggestion was unanimously agreed upon, as any attack on their tribes would be obvious from a distance.

Ashide asked, “Did you go close to check?”

Saibai Ashide, afraid of being blamed, said, “Of course… of course we went close to look!”

The others, seeing this, chimed in.

After all, the various khan tribes were competing for succession.

If something went wrong in this matter, it could give others a handle against them.

And everyone also thought the tribes there didn’t look like they had been attacked or looted.

So they decided to stick to their story.

Ashina then pointed at the Turk survivor and said, “Who sent you? What are your intentions in saying these things?”

“And those tribesmen of yours who falsely reported the rear situation, you should all go back and interrogate them properly. Clearly, they are spies!”

Then, Ashina asked Helu, “Helu, during this time, have any tribesmen from your Helu Tribe in the rear come here?”

Helu was first taken aback, then shook his head firmly. “No!”

Ashina said, “Exactly! It might be Xiao Ce’s doing. He deliberately used some method to bribe your tribesmen. If he succeeds, we would fight among ourselves, or even if we don’t fight, we would certainly retreat to check. That way, the siege on their Yanbei City would be lifted!”

“If we withdraw and then organize another attack, it would take over a month. By then, he would have room to maneuver!”

Ashina’s analysis made everyone present nod repeatedly.

At that moment, messenger soldiers from Tiesa and Musa came to report that tribesmen from their regions had also come seeking help.

Ashina said confidently, “See? How could it be such a coincidence? Clearly, Xiao Ce sees we haven’t fought and is trying to trick us into retreating!”

The tribal leaders listened to Ashina’s analysis and said, “Ashina, your analysis is spot on! It must be like this! We almost fell for his trick.”

After Ashide spoke first,

Musa changed his tune. “I said it all along, Ashina is not that shortsighted… So it seems the people of Yanbei City are already cornered!”

Tiesa said awkwardly, “Ashina, don’t blame us. It’s just that Xiao Ce’s schemes are too vicious! I apologize to you. Fortunately, you kept your cool, and nothing serious happened.”

Ashina looked at everyone and finally turned to Helu.

Helu said to Ashina, “Why are you looking at me? I know nothing. It’s those three who were foolish and got deceived… I only came after hearing what they said!”

Ashina said, “Since everyone is sure this is a scheme by the Xiao Kingdom People, hand those spies over to me. I’ll have someone interrogate them.”

The group, knowing they were in the wrong, agreed without another word.

Ashide said, “Ashina, when you interrogate them, let us send some people to assist you.”

Hearing Ashide’s words, Ashina agreed.

Ashina knew very well that Ashide usually seemed friendly, but from this incident, it was clear that the dog that bites doesn’t bark!

Ashina understood that Ashide was afraid he might do something unfavorable to them during the interrogation.

Ashina naturally agreed.

…

That same day, Ashina captured Zuomu Ashide and the others who had come seeking refuge.

He subjected them to severe torture.

Several tribal leaders participated in this interrogation.

At first, Zuomu refused to talk, but the Turks’ interrogation methods were too cruel.

Zuomu Ashide couldn’t hold out any longer.

Zuomu Ashide, covered in blood, said, “I’ll talk! I’ll talk! It was Xiao Ce! Xiao Ce led a Ghost Cavalry in our rear, sweeping through our entire Turkic rear—killing those who should be killed, slaughtering the elderly, and only selecting the good-looking and young to be slaves. He sent us to provoke you all!”

After Zuomu Ashide spoke, the other Turks chimed in, saying more or less the same thing.

Ashina said with a dark expression, “Hmph… Is this the truth you’re telling? Do you really think we’re fools?”

Helu, standing to the side, said, “Exactly! You’d better all start over and tell the truth? All our Turkic leaders are here. How do you think you can fool us?”