1059 The Bleeding Setting Sun, And The Ink-Black Deep Ocean (2/2)

She stood up in the whistling wind.

The flag of Tang Empire was partially burnt in the brutal battle. The burned part was black but the golden threads underneath were still shining in the dusk, as if it would last forever.

She stood by the burned flag, looked around then turned to the north.

The remaining troops of the Golden Tribe Royal Court were heading north. The Northern Battlefront Army had defeated the main forces of the Royal Court. But they had not wiped them out.

Before he died, Hua Ying did not give her any instructions, nothing like never to let Chanyu go. It was because he knew clearly that the Golden Tribe Royal Court would never have a second chance.

For the grassland tribes had come too far to the south. If only the grassland people had stayed along the seven cities instead of venturing to the south so aggressively, they would have a much greater chance to retreat to the grassland even if they were defeated and they would have been able to survive like they did throughout the hundreds of years.

It would be impossible to fight or even to pursue on the grassland once the summer came. The Tang army would never be able to wipe out the enemies by then. But now the grassland tribes had come all the way down to the south of Xiangwan Plain. How could they ever get back?

Situ Yilan did not believe that the grassland barbarians could make their way back. She would never allow it.

She stared at the dust blowing in the north and said, ”Take a break, then go pursue them.”

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It was very noisy inside the barracks of the Vanguard Brigade. The smell of anesthesia powder was distinctive. And in the barracks to the east with furnaces, sounds of pounding weapons were heard constantly. But the people were not talking.

After a whole day of brutal fighting, the generals and soldiers were extremely exhausted. The Tang army also suffered heavy casualties. Even General Hua Ying had died of exhaustion. They were unexpectedly rescued from a desperate situation and eventually won the battle. It was indeed cheerful. However people were pretty silent.

The flattest area of the meadow behind the barracks of the Vanguard Brigade was blocked. It was even quieter than anywhere else. Therefore the sounds of the black donkey eating the grapes were very distinctive.

The Fourth Brother came to the shabby cart and introduced his Brother and Sister to the black donkey, ”This is my Sixth Brother and Seventh Sister. I was enrolled earlier, so I'm the Fourth.”

The black donkey still acted reservedly. It nodded silently but thought secretly, Fortunately it was not the eldest three. Otherwise should I bow to them as they were enrolled to the Academy earlier than I was?

The big black horse shook his head and ran cheerfully toward him. It looked around but could not find the familiar figure. So it lowered its head in disappointment.

”I have no idea where the Youngest Brother is.” The Fourth Brother explained, ”… In fact no one knows where he went ever since he left Chang'an.”

During the brutal battle, the mysterious national master never showed up. He backed up Chanyu at the beginning. And in the end he escorted the best and most loyal thirty thousand cavalrymen to retreat to the north.

Perhaps it was also the reason why Ning Que never showed up in the battle. No one knew where he went. Like he did in the previous spring, he disappeared again.

The big black horse was a bit upset. it walked to the top of the meadow and stared silently at the setting sun. It knew that the sun was going to be devoured by the dark deep ocean in the north.

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The never setting sun on the grassland used to be the emperor of the Wild Kingdom. Later on it was the former Great Divine Priest of Light who established the Devil's Doctrine. Then it was the current Chanyu of the Golden Tribe Royal Court.

Chanyu had always regarded himself as the sun, which would always rise again the following day. But today he was worried that he could never get up again.

Thirty thousand of most loyal cavalrymen escorted him back to the City of Wei. General Bule was recovering gradually under the help of the priests. The former young slave A Da stood silently by his bed. He was still powerful and had many powerful followers, as well as the national master.

But he still felt like he was suffering under the coldest sea and would be suffocated at any time because he was very scared.

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