Chapter 304: Hidden Intentions

The meeting ended, and everyone dispersed. However, Abus was taken to the back hall by a bodyguard. Li Qing’an had something to say to him. Without Li Qing’an needing to speak, Abus already knew what it was. Shortly after arriving in Anxi, he had heard news that An Lushan had led over a hundred thousand troops of various ethnic groups in a massive attack on the Khitans, only to suffer a crushing defeat at their hands due to poor military strategy. An Lushan then shifted the blame onto Abus, claiming that it was his failure to show up before battle that led to the defeat.

Emperor Li Longji believed An Lushan’s words and was furious at Abus for betraying the Tang Dynasty. He had already declared Abus a traitor. Abus knew that Li Qing’an must have received the emperor’s orders.

When Abus entered the back hall, he saw Li Qing’an walking back and forth with his hands behind his back. He quickly stepped forward and said, “Your humble servant greets the great general!”

“General Abus, do you know why I’ve called you here?”

Abus lowered his head and remained silent. Li Qing’an turned to look at him without saying anything either. After a long pause, Abus said, “Your humble servant knows!”

Li Qing’an sighed slightly and said, “An Lushan was defeated by the Khitans, but he blamed you. The emperor’s orders have already come down—he wants me to hand you over to the court. I’m in a difficult position!”

Abus remembered what Li Qing’an had said when he accepted him: “Nothing is perfect. At some point in the future, you may have to pay a price, even at the cost of your life. Are you willing to do that?”

Abus sighed inwardly, slowly knelt down, and said gloomily, “I promised back then that if the great general wanted my head, I would give it without hesitation. Since the great general brings this up again today, I am willing to commit suicide before him.”

With that, Abus drew his long sword and placed it across his neck. Li Qing’an glanced at him coldly and said, “I haven’t ordered you to die. Do you dare to die?”

Abus was stunned. He realized there was more to Li Qing’an’s words. Of course, he didn’t want to die, but to save his people, he had no choice but to sacrifice himself. He propped his sword on the ground and said solemnly, “Your humble servant is willing to follow the great general’s orders!”

Li Qing’an clapped his hands lightly. A few bodyguards brought in a man wearing a hood. When they removed the hood, it turned out to be another Turkic man. Upon seeing him, Abus was stunned—he looked exactly like him, even with the same gray hair and beard. He suddenly understood that Li Qing’an had planned everything. Overwhelmed with emotion, he kowtowed to Li Qing’an repeatedly and cried, “Your great general’s kindness will be etched in Abus’s heart forever!”

Li Qing’an nodded. He still needed a powerful Abu Si. Once Abu Si was gone, the Tongluo tribe would inevitably be divided between the Göktürks and the Shatuo, which was not what Li Qing’an wanted. It was in his interest to keep three independent Turkic tribes in Beiting. He waved his hand to order the man taken away, then said to Abu Si, “I found this Turk from Kucha and bought him for 500 guan. I’m handing him over to you. It’s up to you to decide how to make him more like you. In any case, I want your head delivered to the court within three days. From then on, you, Abu Si, will no longer be alive. Do you understand?” Abu Si kowtowed again and said, “The great general has thought of everything. How could I not understand? I will become my brother Abudi Na, who looks somewhat similar to me. I’ll send him to the west. Only my son and a few chiefs know this secret, and it will never be revealed.” “You decide on these matters. Additionally, if the three of you unite to defeat the Uyghurs, the northern grasslands will be divided among you. I won’t interfere in your internal affairs. That’s my promise.” Abu Si wasn’t unwilling to return to the northern grasslands; he dreamed of returning there. But there was no longer room for their Tongluo tribe on the grasslands, so they could only think of rebuilding their home north of the Yibohai Sea. Now that Li Qing’an clearly supported their return to the grasslands, Abu Si was overjoyed and speechless, only pounding the ground in kowtows to express his gratitude. After Abu Si left, Li Qing’an slowly walked over to the sand table and gazed silently at the vast lands of the northern grasslands. Whether it was the Xiongnu eight hundred years ago or the Mongols eight hundred years later, the threat from the Han people always came from the northern grasslands. A unified and powerful nomadic tribe was a disaster for the Han people. Whether it was the Turks, the Uyghurs, or the Shatuo, whether they would invade the south depended not on their relationship with the Han people but on whether the Han people themselves were strong. Once the Han people weakened, it would inevitably lead to invasions by cavalry from the north. Therefore, it was in the interest of the Han people to keep the nomadic tribes divided and engaged in internal strife. This was why Li Qing’an welcomed the Tongluo tribe to Beiting. Perhaps the alliance of the Göktürks and the Shatuo wasn’t enough to shake the Uyghurs’ dominance over the grasslands, but with the addition of the Tongluo tribe, the balance of power would change fundamentally. He believed this was also why the Uyghurs were eager to eliminate the Tongluo tribe.

He ordered these three tribes to launch a joint attack on the Uyghurs. Once the Uyghurs were defeated, a tripartite balance of power would emerge on the steppes. If the remaining Uyghurs and other tribes were added in, even a struggle among numerous warlords could arise. A divided steppes was what best served the interests of the Han people. With this in mind, he summoned Cui Qianyou. Cui Qianyou stepped forward and bowed, saying, “Please give your orders, General!” Li Qingan looked at him and said slowly, “I just want to remind you once again. This time, as the commander leading the attack on the Uyghurs, you must remember just four words: exterminate them completely!” Cui Qianyou bowed solemnly and replied, “I will obey the orders!”
…
After the meeting, Mousi Helishan and his son, as well as Zhu Xia and his son from the Shatuo tribe, all returned to their camps. They needed to organize their troops in preparation for the joint campaign.
After riding for a while, Mousi Helishan slowed down his horse. He glanced back at his son, who had been deep in thought and silent. He asked with a smile, “What are you thinking about?”
“Father, I’m thinking about why Li Qingan ordered our three tribes to attack the Uyghurs together.”
Mousi Sihan had half Han blood. He was a man of great intelligence and ambition. He knew that only by relying on the Tang army could their tribe avoid being conquered by the Uyghurs. That’s why he had been advising his father to obey the commands of Beiting over the years. With the Tongluo tribe migrating westward, he also saw changes in the balance of power on the steppes, which fueled his ambition. Yet he also sensed Li Qingan’s intention—to use them to defeat the Uyghurs.
“Father, I realize Li Qingan wants to use us.”
But Mousi Helishan had decades more experience than his son. He understood the changes on the steppes better. Back when the Gelaolu tribe split into two, one group was conquered by the Uyghurs, while his group fled west of Jinshan like stray dogs. They harbored deep hatred for the Uyghurs. Now that Li Qingan ordered the three tribes to attack the Uyghurs together, he clearly understood that Li Qingan was using them as vanguard troops. That was normal. The Tang army was preparing to launch a campaign against Tubo and naturally couldn’t spare troops. Moreover, since they were under Beiting’s control, it was their duty to follow the Tang army’s orders. Compared to his son, he was more inclined to obedience.
Mousi Helishan smiled and said, “Don’t worry about whether Li Qingan is using us or not. Just focus on what we’ll gain. If we can defeat the Uyghurs, we’ll gain vast lands east of Jinshan, which serves our interests. Why not do it?”
“But the Tongluo and Shatuo tribes will also get a share. How can we divide it fairly?” Mousi Sihan still had doubts.
Mousi Helishan smiled without answering. He took three arrows from his quiver and handed them to his son, saying, “Break them.”

Mouci Sihan didn’t understand his father’s meaning. He took the arrows and broke them one by one, looking at his father in confusion.
Mouci Heishan laughed heartily. “See? Even you know we need to break them one by one. Our three tribes are like these three arrows. If we can’t unite at this time, the Uyghurs will destroy us just like these arrows. Only by working together can we have a chance to defeat a powerful enemy.”
This time, Mouci Sihan understood his father’s deeper meaning. He couldn’t help but admire his father’s vision. Seeing his father walking away, he rushed after him and asked loudly, “What if we defeat the Uyghurs?”
From afar, Mouci Heishan’s triumphant laughter came through. “Once our two Geluo tribes unite, the steppes will belong to us, the Geluo people!”
……
Unlike the discussions between Mouci Heishan and his son along the way, the Shatuo people’s ambition emerged during a meeting of over a dozen chiefs. Although the long-standing feud between the Shatuo and Geluo people had temporarily subsided due to Li Qing’an’s mediation, the principle of “an eye for an eye” among the steppe peoples did not disappear. On the contrary, the seeds of hatred were buried deep. When the conditions—temperature, moisture, and soil—were right, they would grow vigorously. But not yet. When the dozen chiefs showed reluctance to cooperate with the Geluo people, Zhu Xia Guduzhi demonstrated his leadership qualities.
“I know you all hate the Geluo people. I hate them even more. My father died at their hands. I wish I could use Mouci Heishan’s head as a urinal, but we can’t do that now. Our enemy now is the even more powerful Uyghurs, who occupy the richest and most vast steppes. The Shatuo alone cannot defeat them. Only by uniting with the Tongluo and Geluo people can our three tribes have the strength to confront the Uyghurs. To return to the steppes where our ancestors have lived for generations, we must go to war, submit to the leadership of the Tang army, and fight side by side with the Geluo people.”
……
The vast steppes south of Jinshan—this was the place where the Bayegu tribe launched a night attack on the Tongluo tribe ten days ago. The blood hadn’t dried yet, and the bones had been devoured by the wild wolves of the steppes. Hatred settled here.
“Uuuu~”
A deep horn sound echoed across the sky. Teams of cavalry appeared at the edge of the steppes. Their fierce horses leaped into the air, their hooves pounding the ground like thunder, shaking the earth itself.
Nearly fifty thousand cavalrymen from the Geluo, Tongluo, and Shatuo tribes gathered here, like three mighty currents converging.
“Brother Heishan, how about we make a bet?” Zhu Xia Guduzhi shouted.
Mouci Heishan laughed heartily. “Since Old Zhu Xia is in the mood, I’ll take your bet. What shall we bet on?”

“Let’s bet on who can cut off Ashina’s head first; the stake is ten thousand sheep.”
“Ten thousand sheep plus a thousand women from the Uyghurs—will you go for it?”
“Sure! I’ll bet with you.”
Just then, Abudina, the new leader of the Tongluo tribe, rode in on horseback. His hair was dyed fiery red, and he had a striking black scar on his face. He resembled his elder brother Abusi greatly; in darkness, it was easy to mistake him for Abusi. Hei Shan and Zhuxie Guduzhi were aware of Abusi’s misfortune, but they preferred not to comment. In their view, trading one life for the survival of the entire tribe was a very worthwhile deal.
“My brother is gone now; it’s up to me to lead the Tongluo tribe. I ask the two great chiefs for your continued support!”
Abudina’s voice was deep and hoarse, but his tone was firm, without any hesitation. Hei Shan had met Abudina once half a month earlier. Although his fiery red hair and black scar were still striking, he felt that Abudina seemed different from their last meeting.
His hoarse voice and deeper tone could perhaps be attributed to poor sleep, but there was something about his demeanor—formerly, Abudina had been an ordinary and indecisive person, but now he exuded the aura of a leader who kept his word. Every gesture of his carried an air of royalty, making it impossible to underestimate him. If not for his red hair and black scar, Hei Shan would have thought he was Abusi. But he had seen Abusi’s head—there was no doubt—he was dead.
Hei Shan inwardly sighed. With Abudina in charge of the Tongluo tribe, it would likely be difficult to strike. Zhuxie Guduzhi also felt regretful, as the opportunity had been lost.
At that moment, a loud horn sound came from afar, followed by the rumbling of war drums. The three of them turned abruptly and saw flags fluttering in the distance as a large cavalry force rushed toward them. It was the Tang army from Beiting.
The Tang army brought about six thousand cavalrymen, all archers and crossbowmen. They surged like a torrent into the fifty thousand barbarian cavalry. At the forefront was a general in black armor and helmet, tall and imposing, with a cold gaze. He was Cui Qianyou, the general appointed by Li Qing’an to lead the northern campaigns. In Li Qing’an’s report of his achievements, Cui Qianyou was promoted to general. He claimed to be skilled in military strategy and capable of stabilizing the country, yet he had long felt frustrated. Initially a minor officer, he had planned to join An Lushan due to the corruption among the local troops, but he met Li Qing’an and followed him to Anxi. He had earned many victories in battles against the Turkic tribes and the Arabs. Due to his ruthless and cold-hearted tactics, he was nicknamed “Cui the Butcher.”

This time, he was appointed as the General Who Conquers the North, tasked with leading the forces alone, which made him feel indebted to Li Qing’an for recognizing his talents. At that moment, those who planned to assassinate Heishan, Zhuxie Guduzhi, and Abudina stepped forward simultaneously, bowing and saying, “We pay our respects to General Cui!” Cui Qianyou replied indifferently, “Elders, are your troops ready?” “Reporting to General Cui, the Göktürks have brought 20,000 skilled cavalrymen,” they said. “Our Luo tribe has mobilized all its forces; 25,000 of our finest warriors are at your disposal!” “The Shatuo have 10,000 cavalry serving in the Tang army. We have at most 10,000 elite soldiers, all of whom have been brought here!” Cui Qianyou nodded slowly. “Good. Beat the drums to boost morale, and march toward the Uyghurs!” “Boom! Boom! Boom!” The loud drumbeats sounded like thunder, and the combined army of over 60,000 soldiers set off, marching in a grand procession toward the northeast. …