Chapter 79 Return to Chang'an
"General Li, the assassin is thirty-five years old this year. He used to be a crossbowman in the army. After retiring, he has been wandering around the border like a knight-errant. Someone offered a piece of gold to buy your life, and the powerful crossbow was also provided by that person."

"After interrogation, we found that the man the assassin mentioned, after instructing the assassin to act, immediately fled out of the South City Gate on horseback. Now the knights sent by my prefectural governor are chasing him..."

After sitting down at Li Xuan's residence, Chen Boyu presented the clues to Li Xuan.

Although the assassins were very tough in words, few people could endure the torture.

The evidence that the assassin assassinated Li Xuan is irrefutable. There is no such thing as a confession under torture.

"Assassins are as good as dead men! They come prepared. If they change horses or routes midway, the hope of catching them will be slim."

Li Xuan understood what Chen Boyu meant.

Military crossbows, assassins, and informants.

People without a certain amount of power cannot do this.

"I came here to ask General Li. Have you offended anyone?" Chen Boyu tried to ask Li Xuan.

"It seems to have!"

Li Xuan replied indifferently.

"Excuse me, who is it?" Chen Boyu asked.

"That man is touching the sky with one hand and the earth with the other, and you and I are both in between."

Li Xuan replied meaningfully.

"Hiss! Without evidence, everything is just speculation."

Chen Boyu took a deep breath and didn't dare to ask any more questions.

Even if he found evidence, he would only give it to Wang Zhongsi.

"If Governor Chen catches the person who ordered the assassination, we can talk about it again."

Li Xuan did not make things difficult for Chen Boyu.

Li Linfu tried every possible means but failed to kill him, so he might resort to the most despicable means.

Li Linfu was afraid that he would be assassinated, so he brought hundreds of followers with him when he went out, and the Jinwu Guards led the way in front.

After Chen Boyu left, Li Xuan wrote a letter home, briefly describing his military career over the past three months and informing Li Shizhi that he would be returning soon.

Finally, he also wrote "Song of the Frontier" to Li Shizhi, showing the scene of him capturing two Khans alive.

The next morning.

Li Xuan bid farewell to Wang Zhongsi and led his cavalry back to Feng'an Army.

When he passed by the prefect's mansion, he found that, as he had expected, the person who ordered the assassination had not been caught yet.

Li Xuan could only blame Li Linfu and look for an opportunity to deal a fatal blow to Li Linfu.

Taking Zhang Xing with him, nine hundred cavalrymen returned to Feng'an Jundu one day later.

The surplus war horses were all handed over to the Jinglüe Army and distributed and disposed of by Wang Zhongsi.

"You've had a hard time on this journey, General!"

Wang Sili came out to greet them. He had led the Feng'an infantry back with the army in advance and was in charge of Feng'an's military affairs.

Although Wang Sili was a deputy envoy, after Li Xuan left office, he could basically become the chief envoy of Feng'an Army.

"Alas! We can still come back. But unfortunately, more than 3,000 soldiers have already returned to the underworld."

Li Xuan was deeply saddened when he thought that the number of soldiers in the city on the other side of the river had been reduced by nearly half.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I still didn't know whether Zhang Qiqiu had been brought to justice.

Thinking of this, Li Xuan did not return to the city.

They first went to the mausoleum where the soldiers were buried to pay their respects. The soldiers on both sides cried inconsolably when they thought that their brothers, whom they had been with day and night, were no longer with them, and could not even look up.

After returning to the military city, Wang Sili informed Li Xuan that Emperor Li Xuan's reward had arrived.

One thousand pieces of silk and one hundred taels of gold.

Li Xuan donated the silk to the disabled soldiers who had to retire.

As for other generals, Li Longji granted them generous rewards.

Soon, a batch of silk and money will be shipped from Huile City.

Li Xuan kept the gold and would use it when he went to Hexi or Longyou.

When Judge Liu Xi was about to register Zhang Xing as a military officer, he was stopped by Li Xuan.

In the future, Li Xuan will send Zhang Xing to another military town, which will be more convenient.

"General Ashina, General Gao. Marshal Wang asked me to promote a deputy envoy. You two fought bravely on the battlefield, killed dozens of people, and were wounded. Your achievements are remarkable. I think both of you are suitable, but I am in a dilemma."

Li Xuan actually had an idea in mind, but he still called Ashina Fuwen and Gao Kai over.

"Let General Gao be the deputy general! He has made greater contributions than me."

"General Ashina has made greater contributions than I can."

Both of them wanted to become deputy generals, but at this time they could only give in.

"Since you are pushing for the position, I will make the decision. General Ashina's family is in Lingwu. I will tell General Wang about your military achievements and recommend you as the deputy envoy of Feng'an Army."

Li Xuan chose Ashina Fuwen.

Just when Gao Kai was disappointed, Li Xuan said: "General Gao's contribution is no less than that of General Ashina. When I enter the court, I will recommend you to serve as a deputy general in other places."

"General, I will follow you even if I am just a small soldier. Please don't transfer me away from Feng'an Army."

After hearing this, Gao Kai immediately stood up and half-knelt.

For several months, Gao Kai was conquered by Li Xuan's charm, and he wanted to fight with Li Xuan until his death.

"But I will leave Feng'an Army sooner or later!" Li Xuan comforted Gao Kai.

The implication is very clear, Gao Kai will be transferred to a subordinate position in the future.

"Excuse me, thank you very much, General."

Gao Kai understood what was going on, and his worry turned into joy, and he bowed again.

Their general has made such great contributions, he will be promoted sooner or later.

"General, I am willing to follow you."

Ashina Fuwen also looked at Li Xuan with fiery eyes. "All good things must come to an end. If I am transferred to another place, and if I ask the saint to transfer all my old subordinates here, what will the saint think? You and I are both generals, and we cannot be so naive. You have done enough, and you can lead an army if you have the chance."

Li Xuan said this solemnly, and then jokingly said to Ashina Fuwen: "Maybe one day, I will be able to rely on General Ashina."

"Woo woo... All my achievements were made by following the general. Even if the general leaves here, he will still be the commander in my heart. As long as the general gives an order, no matter when and where, I will immediately hold a bow and put on armor and come to the right side of the general's horse."

As a real husband, he cried bitterly without caring about the people around him.

Li Xuan remained silent, got up from his seat and gently stroked Ashina Fuwen's back.

As a descendant of Ashina She'er and a Hu people, he was more likely to lead an army and be valued than Gao Kai because of these labels.

Although he has a hot-tempered and impulsive personality, he is sincere and loyal to Li Xuan.

This is also the reason why Li Xuan kept Ashina Fuwen in Shuofang.

In the next ten days, Li Xuan drew up a list of people to be promoted to deputy team leaders, team leaders, escort officers, yamen generals, and palace generals.

Li Xuan clearly listed and recorded the contributions of each person.

And circulated it in the army.

The soldiers were convinced.

But the problem is that Feng'an Army does not have that many vacancies.

Li Xuan decided to transfer some soldiers out of Feng'an Army and arrange them in other armies.

If you have made enough contributions, you will be promoted when it is time. Li Xuan will explain this to Wang Zhongsi.

A day later, cartloads of silk and money were transported to Feng'an Military City. This was the estimated value of the jewels.

Li Xuan did what he said and distributed all the silk and money to the soldiers who followed him to capture Usumish Khan and Jiedieish Khan.

After everything was arranged, Li Xuan led thirteen personal guards and Zhang Xing and prepared to go back to Lecheng. He also brought some watermelon seeds with him.

Before leaving, Li Xuan stood on the city wall of Feng'an City, gazing at the desert to the west and the frozen Yellow River to the east.

It took him a full hour to get out of the city and walk on the frozen Yellow River towards Huile City.

The soldiers in Feng'an City thought that Li Xuan would be back soon, so they reclaimed hundreds of acres of land and planned to plant watermelons together next year...

Those soldiers who fought bloody battles with Li Xuan and whose swords and bows were covered in snow...

……

On the way back to Lecheng, Li Xuan met Feng'an Ling Liu Yan who was about to report on his work.

Li Xuan asked Liu Yan to accompany him and chat along the way.

Liu Yan was surprised that Li Xuan's reputation now was no longer the same as it was more than three months ago.

But after getting to know him better, Liu Yan discovered that Li Xuan was calm and easy-going, and his words were humorous, and he did not look like a general who was feared by the grasslands at all.

After adapting, Liu Yan also talked with Li Xuan and expressed his political ideals to Li Xuan.

Li Xuan hopes that he can achieve his goal soon.

Li Xuan will meet a talent like Liu Yan in Chang'an sooner or later.

Two days later, back to the outskirts of Lecheng.

The Turkic chieftains, including Usumish Khan, Basimi Khan, Pofu Khatun, Apodagan and other chieftains, Turkic nobles, Teqin, Yehu and others, all stayed in the carriages.

There were also many other cars, as well as gold, silver and jewelry obtained from the Turkic tribes, and more than twenty bags of jade treasures seized by Li Xuan.

One thousand cavalrymen from the Jinglüe Army served as escort.

"Qi Lang, we had a long talk last night. But I feel like your heart is not in Shuo Fang anymore."

Wang Zhongsi spoke to Li Xuan quite bluntly in front of the city gate.

He thought Li Xuan could become his deputy commander!
"Now that the Turks have been pacified, there is no danger in the north. Thinking of the sufferings on the border and the rampant enemy, I couldn't sleep all night." Li Xuan expressed it tactfully.

He was very grateful to Wang Zhongsi for giving him many opportunities.

Even this time of sending Usumish Khan and others to Chang'an was a sign of Wang Zhongsi's love for him.

Other Jiedushi, such as An Lushan, would be eager to escort a chieftain or offer some prisoners to show their presence in front of the emperor.

Giving this kind of glorious task to Li Xuan would bring him great prestige.

"The swan flies high, and I cannot stop it. When the country is at peace, the general only wants to comfort the people, not to exhaust China's strength for fame and glory."

Wang Zhongsi held Li Xuan's hand.

"I will keep this in mind."

Li Xuan said solemnly.

After Wang Zhongsi defeated the Turks, he was expected to become prime minister. Li Linfu was afraid of him and would try every means to harm him.

Li Xuan can help Wang Zhongsi block the known ones, but the unknown ones are also very dangerous.

"Let's go! We should be able to get home before the New Year."

Wang Zhongsi was thoughtful and allowed Li Xuan to go home and reunite with his family before the New Year.

"I'll say goodbye!"

Li Xuan's eyes were moist. After bidding farewell to Wang Zhongsi, he began to make arrangements.

Four hundred riders led the way in front, and four hundred followed behind.

The remaining two hundred riders were on both sides.

In order not to delay the march, Li Xuan made regulations for Usumish Khan and others, including unified time for going to the toilet and eating.

Every evening they set up camp and cook.

As soon as it got light in the morning, we broke camp and set off.

Wherever Li Xuan's team arrived, local county officials would come to pay their respects.

Don't hit a smiling person. Li Xuan greeted him politely for a moment and then continued on his way, citing official business as an excuse.

This made the officials think that Li Xuan was a person who was neither arrogant nor impetuous.

After more than 20 days, four days before the New Year's Day, Li Xuan arrived at Weishui...

(End of this chapter)