Tibet

Inside the big tent, Li Fei Shouyu drank a sip of hot tea, frowned and said to Li Fei Yuanli and Xu Zongran: "Why did you think of taking the northern route?"

Li Fei Yuanli and Xu Zongran looked at each other, and Li Fei Yuanli asked puzzledly: "Is there any problem with the northern route?"

Li Fei Shouyu nodded, "Last autumn, the Qarluks invaded the Yili River Valley and occupied half of the valley land."

"Qarluks from the Pofu tribe?" Li Fei Yuanli asked.

Li Fei Shouyu nodded, "The three Tuqish tribes were annexed by the Qarluks. The Serbs and Usu people could not beat them and were forced to move east. This time the Qarluks' southward movement was very strange, just in time with the loss of Suiye. I don't know if there is any external support."

"Then will the Beiting army send troops?" Xu Zongran asked hurriedly.

"The Qarluks destroyed the order of Beiting and invaded the land of the Tang Dynasty. Of course, Beiting must send troops! I was planning to send 10,000 troops next month, and you are here?"

"Have you asked the emperor for instructions?" Xu Zongran asked again.

"I have already asked for instructions. The emperor agreed with my plan and must severely damage the Qarluks."

Xu Zongran and Li Fei Yuanli discussed for a moment, and Xu Zongran said: "If necessary, we can send troops to assist!"

Li Fei Shouyu bowed and thanked: "It depends on the situation! If necessary, I will definitely ask for your help!"

After resting for five days, the army continued to set off westward. At the same time, 10,000 Hanhai troops, led by Beiting Governor Li Fei Shouyu, also set out from Tingzhou and joined the main force of the Tang army on the westward expedition. The 50,000-strong army marched towards the Yili River Valley.

In Samarkand, Kangguo, Li Chenghua ended his investigation in Kangguo and prepared to return to Suiye.

She had already found out the truth. Anga and others were murdered by the Silver Saint Kangmi La. Kangmi La's trusted maid was caught by the inner guards and confessed everything honestly.

But it was useless to find out clearly. Moreover, the Light Saint Jin Shan Ling had long known that it was Kangmi La's doing, but Kangmi La was already fully grown and could not touch her at all.

Six of the Saint's ten departments were controlled by Kangmi La, and Jin Shan Ling controlled four departments. The only department with real power was the Ministry of Finance.

As the investigation deepened, Li Chenghua discovered more shocking things. She found that a huge crisis was brewing in the Sogdian region, the increasingly fierce power struggle within Zoroastrianism, and the ruthless attack of the Six Nations Group on the Saint's Society. She even discovered the existence of the Arab forces.

The Arab forces are currently present in the Sogdian region in the form of a chamber of commerce. They have learned from the lessons of their last failure and no longer use religion to promote their power, but use commercial trade to infiltrate. In the Sogdian countries, Arab merchants can be seen everywhere, as well as the unique Arab caravan guards, which are actually small-scale armies. They follow the merchants to every corner of the Central Asian region and begin to station and train to provide security guards.

These dangerous signs may be known to all Sogdian countries, but they have been ignored by the rulers of each country. The rulers are more concerned about how to deal with the invasion of the Holy Maiden Society.

Once the Holy Maiden Society collapses, the entire Central Asian region is likely to erupt in a political storm, including wars and conflicts between Zoroastrian sects, and the Arab army is likely to take advantage of the opportunity to enter.

Li Chenghua decided to return to Suiye as soon as possible. In addition, she also persuaded Jin Shanling to allow her to take more than 3,000 Tang girls away.

The day before leaving, Li Chenghua came to the Great Light Temple and met the Holy Maiden of Light, Jin Shanling.

In a red hall with flames burning, Jin Shanling, wearing a fiery red robe, sat alone on a wide chair.

After more than a decade of vicissitudes, she is no longer the Jin Shanling of the past, but a very mature and rational strong woman, with ruthless means and a heart as hard as iron. Her eyes are always sharp and calm. Looking at Li Chenghua sitting opposite, a rare smile finally appeared on her cold face.

Her voice was very gentle, "Is Li Dutong going back now?"

Li Chenghua nodded, "The mission is over, it's time to go back, thank the leader for your hospitality these days."

Jin Shanling said lightly: "Li Dutong also feels that Samarkand is about to be in trouble!"

Li Chenghua was silent for a moment and asked: "Does the leader insist on letting Kang Mila be the Golden Saint?"

Jin Shanling sighed and said: "This is no longer up to me. The Illuminati and 70% of the Saints support her. If I don't agree, it means a bloody coup.

If it really doesn't work, the Saints will return to the beginning, and the Saints and the Illuminati will separate again, and the bridge will be the bridge, and the road will be the road, and the current situation will be resolved peacefully. sect crisis."

"According to our investigation, a series of things may happen recently that will be unfavorable to the leader. We suggest that the leader temporarily leave Samarkand."

Jin Shanling smiled and said, "Thank you for your reminder, Li Dutong. What is coming will come. I have already devoted myself to the God of Light and never fear life and death. I only beg Li Dutong to do one thing for me. I am grateful!"

"Please speak, leader!"

Jin Shanling turned around and waved, "Come out!"

A small door opened, and a boy of fifteen or sixteen years old came out. He had a handsome face and pure eyes. Li Chenghua was a little stunned. This boy looked a little familiar.

Jin Shanling smiled at him and said, "Go change your clothes! Leave with this relative later, she will protect you."

Tears welled up in the boy's eyes. He nodded silently and turned to go into the house.

Jin Shanling sighed and said, "He is my son, named Li Fang. He is my biggest secret. He has been living in Da Guangming Temple disguised as a woman, but this secret was discovered by Kang Mila half a year ago. They found the doctor who delivered me that year. Almost overnight, my subordinates were deserted by everyone."

Li Chenghua nodded silently. She knew that saints were not allowed to get married. Their chastity belonged to the God of Light. Almost all of them were lifelong virgins. This was the iron rule of the Saints' Association. Jin Shanling actually violated this rule. No wonder the Saints no longer supported her.

"The leader wants me to take him away!"

Jin Shanling nodded, "His father is in the Tang Dynasty. You are very familiar with him. His father is the first governor of Hezhong in the Tang Dynasty. Li Dutong should know who he is!"

Li Chenghua was so shocked that she couldn't close her mouth for a long time. No wonder she felt that this boy was familiar. It turned out to be the son of the emperor, but how could it be possible?

Jin Shanling smiled again and said, "Your emperor has ten caliph gems, one for each of his wives. The bright red gem inside belongs to me. Take the child to his father! He knows very well that this is his son."

"Master, come with me!"

Jin Shanling smiled faintly and said, "If I follow you now, I would have returned to the Tang Dynasty with him. Here is the foundation I created. I will never let those who oppose me get it. The only thing I am worried about is this son, but the God of Light heard my call and sent General Li here."

She took out a letter and handed it to Li Chenghua, "Give this to your emperor for me. Everything I want to say is in the letter."

At this time, the small door opened, and a beautiful girl in black walked out. Li Chenghua stared at her for a long time before recognizing that it was the boy just now. He was not only handsome, but also had a feminine temperament.

Jin Shanling hugged her son tightly, took off the three golden swords from her neck and put them on him, and said, "Follow General Li! She will take you to find your father."

"Mom, come with me!"

The boy spoke for the first time, and it was pure Chinese.

Li Chenghua sighed. She knew why the boy's identity was discovered. He could hide it when he was a child, but now he has grown up, and the traces of men are getting heavier and his voice is getting rougher, which is difficult to hide.

Jin Shanling smiled and said to her son, "Only if you leave safely, mother will have no worries. Fight them with all your strength. Mother is the Holy Maiden of Light, nothing will happen, and we will definitely reunite again in the future."

The boy nodded gently, and Jin Shanling shook the golden bell on the table. Several holy maiden guards came in, and Jin Shanling said to them, "Take them out of the Golden Gate."

There are various buildings around the Great Guangming Temple, which are very dense and very complex. There are five secret passages in the buildings, namely gold, wood, water, fire and earth.

Li Chenghua didn't know how long they walked, how many doors they passed, how many hidden alleys they passed, how many houses they walked through, and when they came out of a big gate, they found that Daguangming Temple was actually two miles away.

That afternoon, she led 300 internal guards and 3,400 abducted Tang women, riding camels and leaving Samarkand. Most of the team were girls, but there were also grown women.

After walking for two days, they met a thousand Tang cavalry led by Tang general Yuchi Xi'an, who came specifically to pick them up.