Chapter 73

In the vast expanse of Chale Plain, under the Yin Mountains,

The sky resembles a dome, covering all the wilderness.

The sky is vast and blue, the wilderness boundless,

The wind blows the grass low, revealing cattle and sheep.

A song, "The Chale Song," vividly describes the scene Luo Shixin is encountering at this moment.

After making thorough preparations, Luo Shixin and Pei Qingyi set out on a journey to find someone, accompanied by a middle-aged man named Qi Hua.

To facilitate their actions, Luo Shixin and Pei Qingyi disguised themselves as a young Turkic couple, while Qi Hua pretended to be their older brother, who was seeking medical help in Mount Taibai due to his mother's serious illness. Initially, Luo Shixin considered using the name of the Tang Dynasty to request the assistance of Goguryeo and Silla. However, after careful consideration, he abandoned the idea. Silla was not a problem, but the key issue was Goguryeo.

Years ago, Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty launched three campaigns against Goguryeo, devastating the small northeastern kingdom with overwhelming force. Although these campaigns did not achieve any substantial results, they allowed Goguryeo to occupy the Liaodong region. The real damage, however, was not something Goguryeo could easily forget. According to reliable intelligence, Goguryeo was planning to build a thousand-mile-long Great Wall in Liaodong to prevent the Central Plains from reclaiming their territory, clearly demonstrating their hostile intentions. Additionally, they had deep trade relations with the Turks, acting like allies and using technology learned from the Central Plains to enhance the Turkish military.

If the news spread, Goguryeo, influenced by their historical enmity and incited by the Turks, might secretly obstruct their efforts, making it even more difficult to find Sun Simiao.

Deciding to pretend to be Turks, they would use the friendly relations between the Turks and Goguryeo to their advantage in searching for Sun Simiao.

The three of them passed through Gao Kaidao's territory without incident. Once they left Youzhou, Luo Shixin immediately felt a different atmosphere from the Central Plains.

The vastness of the grasslands stretched before their eyes. Herders drove thousands of cattle and sheep, grazing on the grasslands, singing joyfully, a scene that was truly captivating.

Luo Shixin said, "Having seen the beautiful landscapes of the Central Plains, the vastness of the grasslands gives a completely different feeling, refreshing and invigorating."

Even Pei Qingyi, who had been worried about Pingyang, felt a surge of indescribable emotion and temporarily set aside her concerns. "I never imagined the grasslands could be so beautiful. If there's a chance, I will definitely come back to explore it thoroughly."

Luo Shixin replied, "I don't know about you, but I will definitely come back. This land belongs to the Han people. Since the Spring and Autumn period, the State of Yan has established itself here. Due to the turmoil at the end of the Sui Dynasty, our borders have fallen into the hands of foreign tribes. As a son of the Han, it is our duty to reclaim them."

Pei Qingyi snorted, "General, don't underestimate us women. If you can fight on the battlefield, so can we. We will show the barbarians beyond the frontier the power of my dual swords."

As they walked and talked, they covered a short distance.

Qi Hua, who had been quietly leading the way, suddenly said, "Beyond the next area is the border of Liaodong, which is Goguryeo territory. The people of Goguryeo live in cities and survive by fishing and hunting. They have a strong sense of territoriality. If they hear that we are Han people from the Central Plains in Liaodong, they will likely attack us, which would be very detrimental to our mission."

Luo Shixin was annoyed but understood the gravity of the situation and remained silent, thinking to himself, "Once I destroy Goguryeo, we'll see how arrogant they can be."

He thanked Qi Hua for the warning. He had to admit that Li Yi was quite capable. The guides he found were very skilled and knowledgeable about the conditions in Goguryeo and Silla, often reminding them of important details.

Initially, Pei Qingyi had some doubts. She was biased against Li Yi and thought the people he found might not be reliable.

Luo Shixin, however, believed that while Li Yi was cunning and often did foolish things, he was not truly stupid. He had managed to reach his current position, and his way of dealing with people was to use his power to intimidate. Unfortunately, he had bad luck and encountered Luo Shixin, who preferred to use strength to overcome power.

If it were someone else, they would likely be accused of treason and punished in a tavern after being set up by Li Yi.

Li Yi would not be foolish enough to sabotage them with unreliable guides, as it would harm Princess Pingyang.

Sure enough, Qi Hua's experienced performance confirmed Luo Shixin's judgment, and even Pei Qingyi no longer doubted him.

Luo Shixin and Pei Qingyi stopped discussing sensitive topics and began talking about martial arts.

Pei Qingyi had received martial arts training from two legendary figures, the Bearded Guest and the Red Dust Lady, and her theoretical knowledge was solid.

Luo Shixin's martial arts skills were mostly inherited, and theory was his weakness. In discussions, he was far from a match for Pei Qingyi, and he learned a lot from their debates, gaining new insights into many previously confusing aspects.

Pei Qingyi also benefited. Luo Shixin, a college graduate, had some knowledge of mechanics. The foundation of martial arts is the use of force, and how to use it effectively. Even the Bearded Guest and the Red Dust Lady might not have as much experience in this area as he did. A few casual tips could keep Pei Qingyi thinking for a long time.

Suddenly, Luo Shixin pulled on the reins and turned to look behind them. A cloud of dust indicated that a group of riders was approaching.

In a short while, over fifty riders appeared in Luo Shixin's line of sight, chasing a tall, thin young man in a black robe.

"..." The most aggressive of the pursuers, a burly man, raised his long saber and shouted loudly.

Since they were speaking in Turkic, Luo Shixin did not understand what they were saying.

"Don't run... Yinan, are you running like a rabbit! Your clan is dead, you should die in battle like them, not bring shame upon them!"

Qi Hua quickly translated the words for Luo Shixin.

"Yinan!" Luo Shixin suddenly remembered hearing this name from Li Shimin. When he used Li Shimin's methods to deceive him, Li Shimin mentioned that the leader of the Xueyantuo was named Yinan. Could it be the same person?

An arrow pierced the shoulder of the thin young man, who brutally broke the arrow shaft and turned, drawing his bow and shooting down two Turkic soldiers.

"If this continues, we will be caught eventually! Should we retreat or help?" Pei Qingyi, noticing Luo Shixin's intention to intervene, asked.

"If this Yinan is the one I know, we should definitely help. Regardless, let's help!"

Luo Shixin's eyes flashed with a killing intent. Even if it wasn't the same Yinan, killing a few Turkic dogs would not be a loss.

"Brother Qi, hide first! We'll be back soon!"

Luo Shixin confidently spurred his horse forward, and Pei Qingyi followed closely behind, her dual swords drawn.

Luo Shixin and Yinan passed each other, and Luo Shixin charged straight at the burly man. His Tang saber suddenly unsheathed, he swung it in a circular arc. The burly man reacted quickly, raising his saber to block, but Luo Shixin coldly smiled and thrust upward with his long saber, splitting the burly man's head in half with a single move.